Good News Israel presents Israeli researchers discover new brain disease mechanism; Israeli nanotechnology explained and much more.

By Michael Ordman

ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS

Brain disease mechanism discovered

Researchers at Israel’s Ben Gurion University and the University of California have discovered a new molecular mechanism in a mutant gene that governs how ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) attacks motor neurons. They have also identified that the protein MIF inhibits this mechanism. The discovery is also relevant to other neuro-degenerative diseases.
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Health/BGU-and-University-of-California-researchers-discover-new-mechanism-in-Lou-Gehrigs-disease-394714

BrainTech 201

Here is a roundup by “neurotech entrepreneur” Yannick Roy of the first day of Israel Brain Technologies’ BrainTech 2015 Conference in Tel Aviv. The speakers focused on the main joint ‘brain initiatives’ being conducted around the world.
http://neurogadget.com/2015/03/12/braintech-2015-day-1-roundup/11046

Israeli nanotechnology explained

Thanks to Israel21c for a fascinating discussion of how Israeli scientists are engineering the tiniest parts of matter to make life better for millions of people around the world. Applications include a tiny robot transporting drugs to a cancer cell in your body; or artificial retina to restore lost sight.
http://www.israel21c.org/headlines/turning-science-fiction-into-fact-audio/

A study, not to be sniffed at

One of the more unusual studies by scientists at Israel’s Weizmann Institute has uncovered that humans imitate one of the habits of dogs; by sniffing the odor of someone they meet. They do this by subconsciously sniffing their own hand after shaking the other person’s.
http://nocamels.com/2015/03/why-humans-sniff-hands-after-handshaking/

Device to prevent heart failure

Israel’s Vectorious Medical has raised $5 million to take its miniature wireless hemodynamic monitoring sensory implant into human trials. The device measures and reports left atria pressure – a reliable early indication of cardiac deterioration, which medication can treat.
http://www.thetower.org/1800oc-israeli-company-gets-5-million-financing-to-develop-heart-monitoring-implant/

An even bigger heart

Israel’s SHL Telemedicine specializes in providing remote diagnosis and monitoring services for patients suffering from chronic heart failure (CHF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Its second German acquisition in two years is GPH, which monitors 10,000 heart patients.
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-shl-telemedicine-buys-german-co-gph-1001021356

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