Israel’s Alpha Tau Medical uses alpha radiation to treat solid tumors; Israelis develop software to predict blood pressure instability in intensive care patients; New capsule detects polyps with no need for prep; and much more!

By: Michael Ordman

ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS

Alpha radiation destroys solid tumors safely

Israel’s Alpha Tau Medical uses alpha radiation to treat various types of solid tumors. Alpha DaRT (Dіffusіng Alpha-emіtters Radіatіon Therapy), developed at Tel Aviv University, is to begin clinical trials in Massachusetts USA.

https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3744829,00.html

https://www.massdevice.com/alpha-tau-wins-approval-to-test-cancer-targeting-device-in-the-u-s/

https://www.alphatau.com/

Preventing hemorrhagic shock

Researchers at Ben-Gurion University and Hadassah Medical Center have developed software named VitalMiner to predict blood pressure instability in intensive care patients. It can give several extra hours’ warning of impending hypotension, where vital organs are starved of oxygenated blood.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-us-researchers-develop-software-that-predicts-blood-pressure-instability/

Good results for colon capsule scan

Israeli biotech Check-Cap announced positive interim results for its post-CE approval study of the C-Scan system Version 3. Check-Cap’s capsule detects polyps (cancerous or precancerous) in patients without them having to undergo a colonoscopy or even any preparation.

https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/check-cap-announces-promising-interim-results-from-its-ongoing-post-ce-approval-study-of-c-scan-system-version-3-2018-09-04

Israeli leukemia treatment approved for UK children

The breakthrough CAR-T personalized leukemia therapy devised by Professor Zelig Eshhar of Israel’s Weizmann Institute (see here) is now available in the UK.  The National Health Service will fund Kymriah – the CAR-T treatment commercialized by Novartis.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/09/04/nhs-fund-game-changing-personalised-cancer-drug/

Preventing hemorrhagic shock

Researchers at Ben-Gurion University and Hadassah Medical Center have developed software named VitalMiner to predict blood pressure instability in intensive care patients. It can give several extra hours’ warning of impending hypotension, where vital organs are starved of oxygenated blood.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-us-researchers-develop-software-that-predicts-blood-pressure-instability/

“Natural” protein to treat osteoporosis

Ben Gurion University scientists have discovered a natural protein in the body that can be tailored to treat osteoporosis. The protein can be modified to inhibit its standard bone destruction function, which avoids many of the side effects common with current treatments.

https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article/authors?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.2002979

Safer transplants

I reported previously (see here) on Israel’s Orgenesis which was developing a treatment for diabetes based on replacing cells in the body.  Ogenesis is now working with Ben Gurion University to develop a cell transplantation process that avoids being attacked by the immune system.

http://in.bgu.ac.il/en/pages/news/orgenesis_bgu.aspx

Auto-adjusting orthopedic brace

Israeli startup OrthoSpin is developing an electric brace to help with bone lengthening, setting complex fractures, and correcting deformities. The system tunes the brace’s position from pre-programmed instructions by an orthopedist who monitors progress remotely.

https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3742883,00.html

https://www.israel21c.org/let-a-robot-tend-your-fixation-device-after-leg-surgery/

Eye drops to correct far-sightedness

I reported previously (18th Mar) that Israeli scientists were developing eye drops to improve vision. Israeli startup Orasis is also working on eye drops to treat presbyopia – age-related far-sightedness due to loss of elasticity in the lens of the eye.

https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3739792,00.html  https://www.orasis-pharma.com/

Probiotics are personal

Two studies by scientists at Israel’s Weizmann Institute have turned knowledge about probiotics on its head. Firstly, probiotics are only effective if your microbiome doesn’t resist the probiotics. Secondly, using probiotics alongside antibiotics is ineffective in restoring your natural microbiome.

https://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/life-sciences/inside-look-probiotics

https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(18)31102-4

https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(18)31108-5

UK-Israel conference on aging

Nearly 80 leading Israeli scientists joined their UK peers in London at two unprecedented academic conferences over 3 days. Topics included the role of genetics and “precision medicine” in age-related illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and dementia.

https://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/almost-80-top-israeli-scientists-meet-uk-peers-to-share-ageing-knowledge/

Ezer Mizion’s Mental Health Program. Newsletter readers know Ezer Mizion is a charity that operates a life-saving Bone Marrow Registry.  But that’s far from all it does, as this mother found out when she sought respite from looking after her schizophrenic husband. Ezer Mizion provides services to over 660,000 Israelis.

http://www.ezermizion.org/blog/in-lieu-of-mommy/

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