Australian, Canadian and US kids are traveling to Europe and Israel for the ApiFix non-fusion treatment of their spine, and scientists at Israel’s Weizmann Institute cancer treatment can fight Alzheimer’s.

By: Michael Ordman

 

ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS

Come to Israel to fix your child’s spine

Australian, Canadian and US kids are traveling to Europe and Israel for the ApiFix non-fusion treatment of their Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (twisted spine). Israel’s ApiFix is approved in Europe and Israel and ApiFix helps parents to identify suitable spine surgeons.

http://venturebeat.com/2015/12/17/spine-surgeons-say-new-device-apifix-makes-kids-scoliosis-surgery-minimally-invasive/

Cancer treatment can fight Alzheimer’s

Scientists at Israel’s Weizmann Institute have discovered that PD-1 blockers used as cancer treatments are also able to destroy the plaque in the brain that causes Alzheimer’s disease. The blockers keep the immune system working to fight disease and repair damage in the body.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/elder/12105714/Cancer-drugs-could-be-re-purposed-to-fight-Alzheimers-disease.html

http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nm.4022.html

Partnering to treat pancreatic cancer

Israel’s BiolineRX is to perform a Phase II clinical test combining BiolineRX’s BL-8040 with Merck’s KEYTRUDA anti-PD-1 therapy in the treatment of patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-biolinerx-merck-to-collaborate-on-pancreatic-cancer-treatment-1001094833

Eight organs transplanted in 48 hours

Surgeons at Israel’s Beilinson hospital in Petah Tikva set an Israeli record when in 48 hours they transplanted 4 lungs and 4 livers into 7 patients. One of the liver transplants included surgery to shorten the stomach – only the eighth such operation in the world.
http://www.jpost.com/Business-and-Innovation/Health-and-Science/Beilinson-sets-record-with-eight-major-organ-transplants-441850

Nearly 200 cartilage regenerations

Israel’s CartiHeal has now implanted its Agili-C cartilage regenerator into nearly 200 damaged knees since the biotech was founded in 2009. CartiHeal has just raised $15 million to expand trials prior to a planned European launch in 2017.
http://www.israel21c.org/cartilage-regeneration-on-the-way-for-knees-and-osteoarthritis/

Free dental care for more kids

Israel has allocated NIS 80 million to extend free basic dental care to children up to age 14. Previously children received free dental care up to age 12.

http://www.jpost.com/Business-and-Innovation/Health-and-Science/Cabinet-expands-free-basic-dental-care-to-children-aged-13-and-14-437922

Computer training to treat depression and anxiety

Researchers at Ben-Gurion University have devised simple computer-aided brain exercises that help individuals ignore negative stimulation. Functional MRI scans showed reduced activation in the brain region involved in negative emotions, including sadness and anxiety.
http://aabgu.org/brains-can-be-trained-to-regulate-negative-emotions/
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811915009866

Foods that trigger autoimmune diseases

Scientists at Israel’s Technion and in Germany have discovered evidence that certain processed foods damage the intestine and weaken its resistance to bacteria, toxins and other hostile elements. This “leaky gut” syndrome increases the likelihood of developing autoimmune diseases.
http://www.technion.ac.il/en/2016/01/research-links-processed-foods-and-autoimmune-disease/
http://www.timesofisrael.com/study-shows-how-processed-food-lets-toxins-leak-into-your-gut/

Another successful Brainstorm trial

A four-year study at Jerusalem’s Hadassah hospital of the stem cell treatment from Israel’s Brainstorm has been shown to inhibit the progression of the fatal neurological disease ALS (Lou Gehrig’s) in 87 percent of 26 patients.
http://www.jpost.com/Business-and-Innovation/Health-and-Science/Optimistic-results-for-Phase-ALS-treatment-at-Jerusalem-hospital-441407

 

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