Russia: New cardiology centre signals better healthcare
One of the most painful problems of modern Russia is the high death rate, especially among able-bodied people. In 2005, the average life expectancy for men was 58.8 years.
Prevention
Personalised medicine?
'How do you treat the HIV-positive, diabetic, schizophrenic patient presenting with chest pain? By making the necessary information available for personalised medicine'
Mental health and radiology
The Uliazpi Foundation in Spain, which studies and cares for severely mentally retarded patients, carried out an interesting study to identify bone mineral density values in a group of its patients, compare these with the general population and investigate the possible influence on these values on certain clinical variables and therapeutic regimens.
Clinical trial validates CT virtual colonoscopy
When the International Agency for Research in Cancer (IARC) 2007 statistics report, showed that 429,000 new cases were reported in Europe in 2006, Director Peter Boyle recommended that colorectal cancer screening programmes be implemented throughout Europe.
Computed tomography versus magnetic resonance imaging of the heart
Competitive or complementary? By Florian Schwarz BS, Balazs Ruzsics MD PhD and U. Joseph Schoepf MD, of the Radiology and Medicine Departments, at the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA.
MR probes for molecular imaging
Molecular imaging aims at the in vivo quantitative visualisation of molecules and molecular events that occur at cellular level. The potential towards clinical translation is huge, because the same modalities used in medical imaging are used in molecular imaging investigations.
New system speeds-up UGI cancer diagnosis and treatment
The upper gastrointestinal (UGI) team at Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has developed a rapid access service for upper gastrointestinal cancers. The new system means that patients are referred directly from their GP to the hospital for an endoscopy.
New test could detect milder and earlier degrees of heart injuries
A new test, developed at the University of Leeds, searches for a heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) which is released into the circulation following heart injury. The test seems to be more accurate in identifying patients with heart damage at an earlier course of their illness.
United Kingdom
Brenda Marsh reports on the country's flourishing and expanding breast screening programme
A new dimension
Stereoscopic digital mammography, a new diagnostic technique capable of producing three-dimensional (3-D) in-depth views of breast tissue, could significantly reduce the number of women who are recalled for additional tests following routine screening mammography.
Austria
EH correspondent H-C Pruszinsky reports
Spain
Dr Eduardo de la Sota reports
Early Health - Investment or Cost?
Early Health, i.e. the early detection of diseases, will have to move into the centre of attention - this is the result of a survey by Total Healthcare Solutions (THS). Dr Susanne Michel, Associate Director at THS, underlines that in the future prevention will have to be considered an investment in healthcare rather than a mere cost factor. Decision makers from politics and the healthcare system…
“Clean hands” to reduce nosocomial infections
The project “Clean Hands” is Germany's contribution to the WHO initiative “Clean care is safe care”. “Clean Hands” aims at improving hand hygiene in German hospitals in order to significantly reduce nosocomial infections.
Pulse oximetry - screening tool in newborn babies
A research carried out at six hospitals in the West Midlands, UK, is evaluating the use of pulse oximetry as a screening tool for congenital heart disease in newborn babies. Approximately three percent of infant deaths are caused by these significant heart defects and at the moment only less than half of the affected babies are identified by clinical examination, the current screening technique.
Stresspilot navigates to a healthier life
"Be active and live healthy!" You would love to do that but you are too busy just trying to juggle your daily life? Help might be underway: the Stress Pilot. Developed by Biocomfort and presented at this year's MEDICA, the Stress Pilot is a software solution to monitor and reduce personal stress levels. Thus, the product offers an important contribution to the prevention of…
Telemedicine research
USA - A team of researchers at the Rochester Institute of Technology, is working to advance the integration of radio frequency identification technology (RFID) into existing cardiac sensor networks, a new wireless technology for telemedicine delivery, and will also work to enhance the security of the systems used.
From the American Heart Association 2007 meeting
Poster data presented at Scientific Sessions 2007 have demonstrated that the application of clinical practice modifications, combined with advanced electronic technologies, can improve the care of patients at risk for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).
BlackBerries may be good for your health
Researchers in the United Kingdom, Canada and Sweden are taking part in a study to ascertain whether the use of BlackBerries to transmit real-time health information can boost the treatment of patients with chronic conditions.
Home monitoring for cardiac patients
The St. Lucas Andreas Hospital in Amsterdam-West, the first in the Netherlands to begin the daily remote monitoring of cardiac patients at home, is using the Philips Motiva system. About 100 patients will be involved.
The Image project
Michael Hall outlines the work and aims of IMAGE - the Development and Implementation of a European Guideline and Training Standards for Diabetes Prevention
The European Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC)
The ERSPC is the world's biggest study of screening of prostate cancer. It involves up to 260,000 men, 220,000 of them in the age group 55-75 years old. Professor Chris Bangma, Director of the ERSPC and Chairman of the urology department at the Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam (headquarters of the ERSPC) explains the study's background and aims
Optical molecular imaging
Carestream's molecular imaging group focuses on life sciences, developing high-performance digital imaging systems, imaging agents, film and accessories for the research and drug discovery/development markets.
Nutrition and health
In Europe, more than ten million people suffer from diabetes mellitus, 90 percent of whom have diabetes type II.