BMJ gives EU doctors free access to CME
Doctors across Europe now have free access to the British Medical Journal's library of Continuing Medical Education (CME) and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) content.
ResearchGATE: the first social network for researchers
Despite the importance of networking and interaction between researchers and scientists no social networking platform dedicated to researchers existed before ResearchGATE (www.researchgate.net) went online. Designed to facilitate efficient peer-to-peer contact, this network allows researchers to post their profiles, a CV, publication list and research skills. On behalf of European Hospital, Dr…
The Aachen-Maastricht Alliance
The RWTH Aachen University Hospital and the Maastricht University Hospital with their corresponding medical faculties are located centrally in the EU region Meus-Rhine.
MRSA in US hospitals
Arlington Medical Resources (AMR), a pharmaceutical market research firm, found that the number of patients treated with an antibiotic associated with MRSA-infections within U.S. acute care hospitals has increased 8 percent by the last year. But the average time MRSA-patients had to stay in hospital decreased by 10 percent.
Adolescent drug abuse becomes a significant public health problem
After the media got all excited about the teenage trend of coma drinking, people seem to get used to the sight of alcopops in childrens hand. Studies document this new trend of “letting the youth have their concept of fun” in the long run: drug abuse disorders are already causing higher death rates in young adulthood.
How measles virus spread in its host
Every kindergarten undergoes it several times a year: the German measles. Nobody knew exactly how measles enter the body. But it has been thought they come through the surface of airways and lungs. But that is wrong, as researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota found recently.
The brain in three dimensions
Stroke treatment is a question of time. The faster the cerebral infarct can be diagnosed, the less the brain will be damaged. But unfortunately it is not always easy to get the patient to a brain scanner within the required three-hour window. Real-time 3D ultrasound might bring the solution, according to researchers from the Duke University in Durham, NC.
Leica Microsystems acquires Coretech Holdings Scientific
Leica Microsystems announced in May it acquired the assets of St. Louis, Missouri-based Coretech Holdings and McCormick Scientific, LLC (Coretech), expanding its leading position in histopathology. Coretech provides an extensive range of systems, instruments, reagents and consumables for the clinical and research histology laboratory.
New medical options by tobacco plants
Bayer and its affiliated firm Icon Genetics developed an own production process which provides the opportunity to make therapeutic proteins from tobacco plants. The pilot plant for biotech drugs opened on June 16 in Halle, Saxony-Anhalt.
Research on small RNA molecules could bring new therapies
The discovery of small RNA molecules and their relevance for gene regulation has dramatically changed our understanding of many essential cellular processes - and provides the opportunity to develop new ways for treating various diseases.
Analytica 2008
With 121 high level lectures and 65 published posters, Analytica 2008 - organised by the German Chemical Society (GDCh), the Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (GBM) and the German United Society of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (DGKL) - was again a notable bio-chemistry event.
Multiple-targeted therapies
The next big development in biological targeted therapies for advanced breast cancer will be drugs acting via multiple mechanisms, experts told delegates attending the 1st Asian Breast Cancer conference, held in New Delhi 9-10 February.
MICROSCIENCE 2008
At the international forefront of microscopy for 169 years, in the past two years, the Royal Microscopical Society (RMS) has seen membership increase by 7%. The Society is responsible for the Microscience exhibition and conference; with a 10% increase in exhibition space from 2006, and 110% since 2002, this year will make this the biggest show in Europe that focuses on microscopy, imaging and…
Global perspectives on diabetes
Despite Hurricane Amma storming over Prague, hundreds of medical specialists paid little attention when they attended the 1st International Conference on Advanced Technologists and Treatments for Diabetes (ATTD), observed our Russian correspondent Olga Ostrovskaya, reporting on the International Conference on Advanced Technologies & Treatments for Diabetes (ATTD) in Prague (ATTD) held in…
Surgeons urged to 'think twice' before giving blood transfusions
The USA's National Institutes of Health aims to review blood transfusion safety
How small RNA molecules impact biomedical research
The discovery of small RNA molecules and their relevance for gene regulation has dramatically changed our understanding of many essential cellular processes — and provides the opportunity to develop new ways for treating various diseases. By selectively inhibiting gene expression and thereby “silencing” genes involved in pathogenesis, the RNA molecules constitute a unique tool to treat…
Computer programme aims to personalise medicine
A computer programme under development at the National Centre for Biomolecular Research at Masaryk University, in Brno, by Jiri Damborsky MD and a team of scientists, could become the first step towards personalised medicine.
4-D imaging and Bio-System-Radiology
The Virtual Physiological Human By Hans-Ulrich Kauczor MD PhD, Director and Chairman of Radiology at Heidleburg University Clinic, and radiologists Frederik Giesel MD MBA and Hendrik von Tengg-Kobligk MD of the German Cancer Research Centre in Heidleburg, Germany.
The Management of Innovation and Efficiency
Globally, many healthcare providers face a dilemma: They not only need to be innovative to provide high quality care but also must reduce the costs of that care. Is this really a contradiction?
analytica 2008
Analytica, to be held in Munich for the 21st time, has become a leading international trade fair for instrumental analysis, laboratory technology and biotechnology, showcasing the entire range of equipment, solutions and services for laboratories in industry and research. About 400 exhibitors will fill five halls in the New Munich Trade Fair Centre.
The 23rd annual EAU Congress
The Milano Convention Centre (MIC) is the largest of its kind in Italy. Certainly that space will prove valuable this March, when 9,500 urologists from 100 countries attend the 23rd EAU Congress, the second biggest of its kind in the world. Apart from attending the congress and related trade fair, they may also glimpse Milan's many attractions: the cathedral, La Scala, Sforza's Castle, or even…
PC diagnoses Alzheimer's better than physicians
Standard computers can be taught to diagnose Alzheimer's disease from brain scans, according to researchers at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuro-imaging at University College London.
Europe's brain drain
Biotechnologist Dr Jens Meiler explains his reasons for emigration to America
Advanced Laboratory For In-Orbit Science
Columbus was onboard NASA's Space Shuttle Atlantis when it lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida at 20:45 CET 7 Feb 2008. For this one-way trip to Earth orbit, Columbus is in the expert hands of a crew of seven astronauts, including two members of the European astronaut corps: Leopold Eyharts of France and Hans Schlegel of Germany.
Algorithms could cut CT costs & exposure
A German-US R&D collaboration is to commercialize a CT image reconstruction system that will yield enhanced image quality but with a lower radiation dose when compared with standard CT systems. Although initial applications are being lined up in industrial materials testing, talks are already under way with medical imaging vendors keen to exploit the technology in a clinical setting.