Malvern, PA
The nasty thing about viruses is that they're virtually unstoppable. Other than our own immune systems, nothing really fights them off. That's why, as we all know, there's no cure for the common cold.
But what if we could turn the tables and use viruses for our own purposes? What if we could use them like microscopic soldiers to fight, say, cancer? That's exactly what Dr. Paul Hallenbeck of Neotropix is working on. His team has been testing the recently discovered Seneca Valley Virus-001 to discover whether or not it has the potential to kill tumor cells. Of course, it also has to spare healthy cells.
This idea isn't new, and anti-cancer viruses have shown promise in the past. However the Seneca Valley Virus-001 has a special advantage: it can be borne by human blood to all parts of the body. That means it has the potential to fight metastatic cancer.
Dr. Hallenbeck has tested the virus in lab rats with lung and eye tumors, with tremendously promising results.
To read more, visit http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071030160940.htm
Showing posts with label Health Care. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health Care. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Better Healthcare Comes to Siberia
Melnikovo, Russia
"Hope" might not be the first word that leaps to mind when you think of Siberia, but thanks to recent improvements to the regions health care system, morale is on the rise.
Until recently, 20,000 residents of the region had no choice but to travel a single 104-bed hospital with 30 resident physicians for everything from routine screenings to emergency care. Hardly ideal, as for the majority of the past decade, total deaths in the area have outnumbered total births.
A few years ago, owing to money pumped into the health care system by former president Putin, five satellite clinics were opened in Siberia. At each one, college-educated medical assistants administer basic examinations, vaccinations, and more. The clinics provide an inexpensive alternative and convenient to the hospital.
In recent years, the death rate has declined in the area and the birth rate is on the rise. Owing partly to the clinics and greatly to renewed hope, it seems the population is on the rebound
To learn more, visit http://science-community.sciam.com/blog-entry/Sciam-Observations/Russia-Boosts-Healthcare-Siberia/570003430
"Hope" might not be the first word that leaps to mind when you think of Siberia, but thanks to recent improvements to the regions health care system, morale is on the rise.
Until recently, 20,000 residents of the region had no choice but to travel a single 104-bed hospital with 30 resident physicians for everything from routine screenings to emergency care. Hardly ideal, as for the majority of the past decade, total deaths in the area have outnumbered total births.
A few years ago, owing to money pumped into the health care system by former president Putin, five satellite clinics were opened in Siberia. At each one, college-educated medical assistants administer basic examinations, vaccinations, and more. The clinics provide an inexpensive alternative and convenient to the hospital.
In recent years, the death rate has declined in the area and the birth rate is on the rise. Owing partly to the clinics and greatly to renewed hope, it seems the population is on the rebound
To learn more, visit http://science-community.sciam.com/blog-entry/Sciam-Observations/Russia-Boosts-Healthcare-Siberia/570003430
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