If the experts are successful in incorporating the new computing technologies and the evolution of a ‘virtual man’ to predict the effects of new drugs before they enter clinical trials, this will definitely be very useful in finding solutions to thousands of diseases in the world. The recent report of consultancy Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) is another encouraging development to the ailing population who is losing its eagerness to survive due to the scarcity of the available treatments in the market.

The PwC report’s target of shortening the R&D process by 2020 to two-thirds is not only cost-effective in terms of clinical trials but also promises immediate cure for new diseases sprouting every day. Agonizing patients will be more relieved as their aches will be treated at once in the future.

I agree with Steve Arlington of PwC that pharmaceutical industry needs a faster, more predictive way of testing molecules before they get into humans. The trial-and-error process in treating patients will be minimized once this virtual man technology is underway.

Ever since, creating suitable and innovative drugs despite the million-dollar investment in pharmaceutical R&D has been the greatest dilemma in the drug market. It is about time to do drastic changes in the system and reach out to the needs of the people who are in pain and dying.

The suggested smart technology using computer-generated virtual models of the heart, other organs and cell systems are innovative tools being generated to simulate the physiological effects of drugs. As expected, this will show better results once a drug is taken in the human body.

It is also anticipated that there will be greater savings ahead by 40 percent if ever this project is adopted. More than the time and money saved, patients can look forward to a better treatment in the future. Before they are approved, drugs will be tested in virtual technology before being administered to patients.

Source: IOL

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This finding is based on the study, funded by a grant from game maker CogniFit Ltd., in which about 121 volunteers, over 50 years of age were studied for about three months after being ramified into groups. Some groups played on traditional computer videogames while some played on MindFit training program.

Finally, researchers concluded that group using the MindFit program showed significant improvement in spatial short-term memory, which controls learning and focused attention. Throwing light on the findings of this study Dr. Nir Giladi, a neurologist at Tel Aviv University in Isreal said:

These areas would be especially helpful with things like driving or preventing falls, a major source of injury in the elderly.

This finding is quite significant which shows that gradually role of computer is growing in our life and interestingly, on health issues too computers and computers games have made their presence felt. Here is a glimpse of such findings:-

• 3-D Video Game Traces out Brain Dysfunction: Scientists

• Want to Gain Surgical Skills? Play Videogames!

• Computer Games Are Good For Your Health

• Computer Games - Health Benefits

• Videogame ‘Body Mechanics’: An Ultimate Solution to Fight Obesity

Via: Reuters

As of now, we have seen cops pull up criminal records or rap sheets in their vehicle computer systems. In a similar fashion, ambulances can now search and check out the patient’s medical records en route to the hospital. Thanks to the NEC WiMax system. This life saving system is still in the final stages of development and is about to be displayed at the WiMax Forum. This is a part of M-Taiwan project.

WiMax will now be able to achieve about 6 Mbps per second. Apparently, this will be the only existing high speed data network as of now that will work in high speed ambulances. How will this service be used? Well, the service helps in pulling up electronic copies of x ray plates and other medical records. This data is imperative for saving the patient’s life.

The NEC WiMax R & D center will open by the end of 2007 in collaboration with the Taiwanese government. Once the system is fully completed, it will be mostly used in Taiwan. I hope the Taiwanese government will release the valuable resources at a minimal cost to the world on humanitarian grounds. Although, I seriously doubt it.

The WiMax product demo was recently hosted in the Taiwanese city of Hualien. The city of Hualien will use this system for the tourism and medical reasons. NEC also announced the development of liquid crystal display of amorphous silicon color film transistors. The LCD display modules will be used for medical applications. Wow! When I am talking about the LCD displays and WiMax M-Taiwan project, I feel I am traveling to the future. The bottom line is: the WiMax medical system will save some lives.

Image Credit: Mircoconti

However, researchers believe that still further radiotherapy trials on animals are necessary to get deeper into the whole concept, which will help them analyze whether radiotherapy will be safe for HIV patients or not.

Via: primidi

There are nearly 600 hundred children born from frozen eggs all over the world. British lifted the ban on this technique in January 2000. New Zealand government is yet to give legal approval to this procedure soon. Some 25 women in New Zealand have frozen their eggs since 2005. The influential Advisory Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology, set up 2004 has finally given its recommendation in favour of this revolutionary technique.

Frozens eggs are ultimate hope for women who want to postpone having babies for wide ranging reasons. Many women have to put career ahead of babies, some need to get over divorce or some simply lack a partner. There could be serious reasons such as malignancy treatment or need of ’saviour sibling’ for the treatment of the first child where frozen eggs hold hope. Cancer treatment itself can make young women infertile and they can always bank on frozen eggs.

The technique, which is a hope for many women has faced reservations from The Catholic Church but has been welcomed by Cancer Society. Frozen sperms have been used for years so why not frozen eggs? Effectively, this also means that people can now have children at any age and even after they are dead!

Source: Stuff

This 3D computer program is capable of explaining automatically the areas of pain and severity of pain as well. Under this 3D computer program patient has to use standard PDA that costs about £250, to log the pain areas, which are represented by different colors.

I think this will surely emerge as an important device that will help both the doctors and patients.

Via: bbc

Siemens is presenting integrated health care card, a patient based solutions at Medica 2006 under the title ‘A Holistic View with a Focus on Benefits.

The integrated card is more than a plastic card and is an opportunity for modern healthcare system. Siemens has developed a web based IT solution, which will support and optimize flow of information and integrate new communication media into existing treatment processes and systems for all sectors.

The modular solution will enable the electronic patient record, communication and teleconsultation among participants, online appointment scheduling, consent management, and much more. IT solution will help to simplify processes, eliminate work steps and improve the quality of healthcare for patients. Germany has already using the Syngo Suit from Siemens.

According to doctors, about 95 percent of all diagnostic reports is created by using an automatic voice recognition system.

Via: MTB Europe

Personally, I believe that rise in diseases caused by electromagnetic radiations has given a cause to researchers to ponder over this fact profoundly.

But as we know avoiding the use of these devices is not possible, and this is the reason why researchers have urged to use Bio-Resonance Technology to guard off this e-smog. However, it would be quite interesting to see that how far all of us consider it. But in heart of hearts, I think that researchers should try to modify these devices in such a way so that they may not emit electromagnetic radiations.

Image credit: BL

Via: Prweb

The research culled 46 Alzheimer patients for their study and they were further divided into three groups. First group of the Alzheimer patients were just given cholinesterase inhibitors. Second group of patients were provided with Integrated Psychostimulation Program (IPP)-a program that was including cognitive stimulation tasks, musical therapy, physical activities and arts and crafts.

While third group of patients used interactive multimedia internet-based system (IMIS) too along with IPP and the results that came out were really amazing. Researchers found that the patients of third group had improved better than the other two groups’ patients.

It is in fact, a good outcome that may prove beneficial for Alzheimer patients all round the world.

Image credit: cnn

Via: Ivanhoe

Open Source Health Care Alliance (OSHCA) is a non-profit organization whose objective is to promote the use of Open Source Software in the health care industry. The organization guides the health sector in taking advantage of the various benefits of using Open Source Software. It has worldwide patronage from people who recommend Open Source Software Concepts in Health Care.

According to its secretary, Joseph D. Dal Molin, the proprietary software systems in health-care make it difficult to share medical information and integrate systems. He said:

“To provide quality health-care services, health-care providers need to share information whenever they require. In a closed environment, the interfacing issue between disparate systems has been an obstacle for communication and information sharing.”

He added that the proprietary software model will not suit the health sector as health-care systems are unpredictable and hence require flexible and cost effective Open source software solutions, so that the health care industry need not depend on a single vendor. Molin believes that using open source software will help easy transfer of technology across people and that Open Source software is best way to share various medical-related information.

Via: technewsworld.com