Medication

Ultrasound-guided regional anaesthesia and pain therapy - a painstaking technique

'Ultrasound-guided interventional pain therapy originates in ultrasound guided regional anaesthesia,' Dr Eichenberger explained.

A new study could revolutionise drug testing

Researchers have made a breakthrough by detecting the electrical equivalent of a living cell's last gasp. The work takes them a step closer to both seeing the 'heartbeat' of a living cell and a new way to test drugs.

Bless you! The allergy season has begun

The beautiful weather not only causes high spirit but also seasonal allergies. And as every year, over-the-counter allergy medications are booming, whereas most of the patients are extremely thoughtless concerning the use of antihistamines, not being aware of the side effects.

Toxic chemicals in medical devices must be labelled

Due to a revised EU law, manufactures of medical devices are forced to label certain chemical ingredients in their products. This decision will enable hospitals to protect their patients against harm caused by toxic devices - if they are interested in. Because alternative products of course are connected with higher costs.

Bitter pill for pharmacists

Many French pharmacists are falling on hard times after a year of falling revenues. Those most affected are in rural or semi-rural areas, where there is a growing shortage of doctors willing to set up practice or where resident GPs are leaving for the more populous towns.

Endovascular brachytherapy

Endovascular brachytherapy has been successfully modified by scientists at Isotopen Technologie München AG (ITM), solving problems of radiation exposure to Rhenium-188. The researchers are now producing Rhenium-188 with previously unknown high specific activity in a new type of generator, Isotopen Technologie reports.

Prostate cancer

The Martini Clinic, a private clinic located at the Hamburg-Eppendorf University Hospital (UKE), specialises exclusively in the diagnosis and therapy of one medical condition: prostate cancer.

EU- member states ensure growth of German Medical Devices Industry

In 2006, the German Medical Devices Industry grew by 8,7 % to 16 Euro billion. Major force behind this growth was export, which grew by 12,8 %, while the main export countries were EU member states, followed by North America. Domestic growth was disappointing.

Influenza season has begun

Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Scotland, Spain and Switzerland are the first European countries affected by an increase of the influenza virus. Other countries will follow over the coming weeks and should prepare.

Norovirus epidemic in Germany

Fortunately, the influenza virus has not swapped over to Germany yet because the country has enough to do with the norovirus which is expected to attack up to one million people during the next weeks. People affected by the virus suffer from strong nausea and diarrhoea that last at least two days.

Company Round-up

Siemens Medical Solutions strengthens its diagnostics devision, J&J wins stent patent appeal over Boston Scientific and Medtronic, Leica extends its product range and GE Healthcare cooperates with Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität in Munich as a reference center and strategic partner in developing cell-based assay modes.

Antibiotics for Africa and Latin America

A donation of the antibiotic Cipro® (Bayer HealthCare) with a wholesale value of more than US$ 25 million has been given to the non-profit organization MAP (Medical Assistance Programs) who will distribute it to clinics and hospitals in Africa and Latin America, which suffer badly from the lack of essential drugs.

Simpler safer pill slicing

Patients with swallowing difficulties could benefit from the new version of the exakt S Tablet Splitter.

A promising outlook for new gentle breast cancer therapies

Targeted medication and gentle surgical procedures are the pillars of modern breast cancer therapy, according to participants at this years German Congress of Senology.

Synchronising drug and gene therapies

Cancer can be tackled with a combination of drug and genetic therapies, so that the effectiveness of individual treatments are enhanced.

Ci-Ca Therapy

Less bleeding complications due to safe citrate anticoagulation.

The European respiratory diseases market

Affordable, effective and innovative products drive sales.

Solution revolution for bleeding control

A new biodegradable solution has stopped bleeding in animals' wounds within seconds, according to a report in the journal Nanomedicine.

Nicotine addiction

Like obesity it is harder to treat than high BP or cholesterol. Now Spanish cardiologists are urging a new approach to patients who smoke.

Pharmaceuticals -Drop in international growth predicted

The IMS 2007 Pharmaceutical Market Forecast predicts a 5-6% international growth in the global pharmaceuticals market.

Drug trials

Small and medium-size contract research organisations (CROs) have huge potential. For the last few decades, pharmaceutical companies have increasingly chosen to use medium-size contract research organisations (CROs), or smaller organisations, rather than the larger organisations, due to their enhanced responsiveness and flexibility, that provides good geographic coverage, a broad therapeutic…