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Israeli startup Parasonic has developed a comb device that destroys lice and lice eggs with ultrasound waves; Tiny barcodes record the effectiveness of cancer treatments, and much more. 

By: Michael Ordman

 

ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS

Ultrasonic comb to kill headlice

Israeli startup Parasonic (from Nazareth incubator NGT3) has developed a comb device that destroys lice and lice eggs with ultrasound waves, without any chemicals. The device is said to produce results after a single five-minute combing and is scheduled to go into production within one year.

http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-headlice-treatment-co-parasonic-raises-16m-1001161799

Tiny barcodes record effectiveness of cancer treatments

Scientists at Israel’s Technion Institute have developed nano-packages of different anti-cancer treatments that are tagged with synthetic DNA sequences. Released into the bloodstream and collected 48 hours later, they identify which treatments are most effective.

http://www.technion.ac.il/en/2016/11/personalized-cancer-therapy/

Protein H1.0 stops cancer cells from re-activating

An international study led by scientists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Crick Institute in London has revealed that cancer stem cells survive even after aggressive treatments. However, they need low (or zero) levels of a DNA-packaging protein H1.0 to re-activate.

http://austfhu.org.au/researchers-uncover-a-survival-mechanism-in-cancer-cells/

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/353/6307/aaf1644.long

Automatic analysis of mammograms

Israel’s Zebra Medical and its computer algorithms can detect osteoporosis, cardiac disease, liver disease etc from X-rays, CT scans and MRI scans. Now it has developed a new algorithm that detects breast cancer from mammograms.

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161012006246/en/Time-October-Breast-Cancer-Awareness-Month-Zebra

AIDS treatment eliminates 97% of the virus

Scientists at Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot have developed a treatment called “Gammora” that kills between 95-97% of the AIDS virus in laboratory tests. The Kaplan AIDS clinic is the largest in Israel, caring for 1,400 patients.

http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/zion-pharmaceuticals-kaplan-hospital-developing-gammora-cure-for-aids/2016/11/01/

A remedy for damaged knee cartilage

Israel’s Regentis Biomaterials is shortly to conduct a Phase III clinical study of GelrinC, a new treatment for focal cartilage defects in the knee. GelrinC is poured into the lesion in a minimally invasive procedure and converted into a solid implant using ultra-violet light.

http://www.regentis.co.il/product.asp?ID=9

A blood test for Parkinson’s

Israeli startup BioShai is developing the world’s first simple blood test for the early diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease (PD). The PDx test measures changes in molecules associated with PD and can lead to more precise treatments and a higher quality of life for the patient.

http://www.israel21c.org/worlds-first-blood-test-to-aid-diagnosis-of-parkinsons/

19 graduate Hadassah’s international medical program

19 students joined the 845 graduates of 41 courses of the International Master of Public Health program run by the Hadassah-Hebrew University Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine. They include students from 96 different countries.

http://www.hadassah.org/news-stories/graduation-imph-program.html?referrer=https://www.google.com.au/

$14 million for MDA

American Friends of Magen David Adom raised a record $14 million at a fundraiser in Los Angeles. Maurice Kanbar, creator of SKYY Vodka, donated $5 million. The money will help build a new-state-of-the-art, underground facility that will store and process blood donations to the MDA.

http://www.jns.org/news-briefs/2016/11/2/american-friends-of-magen-david-adom-raises-record-14-million-at-la-gala

 

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