A multiple myeloma patient whose cancer had stopped responding after nine different treatment regimens experienced a complete remission after receiving an investigational personalized cellular therapy known as CTL019 developed by a team at the University of Pennsylvania. The investigational treatment was combined with chemotherapy and an autologous stem cell transplant
In Its 41st year, the Arab Health Congress, organized by Informa Life Sciences Exhibitions, will provide a new perspective in the field of 3D printing and how it will revolutionize healthcare. The conference will focus on the surgical applications for 3D printing, 3D printing for drug discovery, bioprinting and vascularization, as well as a look at the legal and ethical debates surrounding this technology.
3D bioprinting has enormous potential to save lives. Companies who are able to 3D print liver tissue for instance are scarce at the moment. The next step in the field of 3D bioprinting is being able to print complete organs such as the pancreas, kidney, liver and vascular networks. This procedure could significantly increase the chances of organ survival.
The probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG was no more effective than regular medical care in preventing the colonization of superbugs in the gastrointestinal tracts of critically ill patients, according to a pilot study by Washington University researchers.
Compared with routine medical care, probiotics administered to critically ill patients in intensive care units showed no benefit in preventing the colonization of drug-resistant microbes in the intestinal tract, according to new research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Probiotics
About 50% of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) experience freezing of gait (FOG), an inability to move forward while walking. This can affect not only mobility but also balance. In a new study, researchers report that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can reduce FOG and improve other motor skills in PD patients.
In a study conducted by researchers at the Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea, 17 PD patients experiencing FOG were treated with either real or sham high-frequency rTMS in five sessions over a one-week period. After a two-week interval, the patients in both groups were switched to the other treatment. Patients were assessed at three times: at the beginning of the study before stimulation began (pre-rTMS at day 1), immediately after the intervention (post-rTMS at day 5), and one week after cessation of the intervention (follow up at day 12). After switching, the three assessments were repeated. All medications were kept constant throughout the study and all interventions were performed at the same time of day. Both the researchers and the patients were not informed whether real or sham treatment was being administered.
‘This study demonstrated that five cumulative sessions a week of 10 Hz high-frequency rTMS was likely to alleviate FOG in patients with PD, and the effect continued for a week. Similar results were found in the motor and the gait function,’ explained lead investigator Yun-Hee Kim, MD, PhD, Professor in the Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. ‘This study provides evidence that the cumulative high-frequency rTMS is a good candidate as an add-on therapy for FOG in PD.’
The location in each patient’s scalp for optimal stimulation of the anterior tibialis muscle (the front of lower leg) was mapped by stimulating the muscle and moving a pickup coil over the scalp to find the greatest response. This position was then used for each treatment.
A magnetic stimulator was placed and 20 pulses of 10 Hz rTMS were delivered to the target motor cortex areas of the dominant hemisphere. Each pulse lasted five seconds, with 55-second intervals between pulses, delivering 1,000 pulses in 20 minutes. Sham stimulation was conducted with a coil held at a 90 degree position in order to ensure that the magnetic field did not stimulate the motor cortex.
Patients were evaluated after treatments using the FOG-Q, a self-assessment scale for evaluating FOG symptoms in Parkinson’s syndrome. In addition, participants were instructed to walk to a target (traffic cone) one meter behind them, turn around, and then return, as part of a Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG) task during a modified Standing-Start 180 degree Turn Test (SS-180). The TUG task was repeated twice in each direction, and the entire process was video recorded to quantify FOG.
When patients underwent real treatment, the FOG-Q and TUG at post-rTMS significantly improved compared with pre-rTMS and these results continued into the follow up period. However, there were no significant changes in FOG-Q or TUG at post-rTMS and follow-up in patients when experiencing the sham treatment. EurekAlert
Adenomas are rare liver tumours, a certain percentage of which can become malignant. Using a new MR (magnetic resonance) technique at MedUni Vienna, it is now possible to classify adenomas without subjecting patients to invasive tissue sampling procedures.
Hitherto patients have had to undergo biopsy to take tissue samples for histological examination in order to determine whether a hepatocellular adenoma is benign or potentially malignant. Using a new imaging technique at the University Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine at MedUni Vienna (Christian Herold), this type of tumour can now be clearly classified by means of a liver-specific MR contrast agent.
Adenomas of the liver are relatively rare. They can develop in different ways. Hence there are three subtypes (benign, inflammatory, pre-malignant) and a fourth unclassifiable subgroup with different clinical courses and potential progression. It is now possible to determine which group a particular adenoma belongs to using a new MR imaging technique.
The liver-specific contrast agent, gadoxetic acid, targets the bile transporters OATP (organic anion-transporting polypeptide) and MRP (Multidrug Resistance-Related Protein) in adenoma cells and normal liver cells. These will either absorb the agent or re-excrete it. The tumours can then be classified on the basis of the relative proportion of these surface transporters as compared to normal liver cells, as shown in the MR image.
Held at the brand new National Convention & Exhibition Centre (NECC) in Shanghai from 15 to 18 May, the Healthcare Industry Summit (tHIS) is a large-scale healthcare event that combines China
Scientists from Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore) have successfully used dead bacteria to kill colorectal cancer cells.
Harvesting the Clostridium sporogenes bacteria found commonly in soil, the NTU team was able to harness the bacteria in its dead form, and its secretions, to destroy colon tumours cells effectively.
Colorectal cancer is the number one cancer in Singapore and the foremost cancer amongst males as stated by Singapore
Award-winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth joined Steve MacMillan, the company’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, to ring the Nasdaq Opening Bell on October 1, the first day of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This is the 10th year in a row that Nasdaq has invited Hologic to preside over its Opening Bell ceremony to kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
‘Hologic’s Genius
Scientists at Queen
SCHILLER has teamed up with medsim specialists EPICARDIO to offer a market-leading simulation-based ECG e-learning program to its customers.
Responding to requests from its customers to provide innovative training techniques to complement its medical technology solutions, SCHILLER has worked with the UK-based company to bring them a cutting-edge customized e-training package.
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