Technology News: Med Tech

IBM Researchers Go Way Beyond AI With Cat-Like Cognitive Computing
November 19, 2009

IBM's revelation at SC09 created quite a stir and immediately brought forth visions of Cylons and Hal 9000. The cognitive computing team at IBM Research has moved significantly forward in creating a large-scale cortical simulation and a new algorithm that synthesizes neurological data -- two major milestones on the path to a cognitive computing chip.

Flu Fear Goes Viral on the Web
November 13, 2009

There's a very good reason why we call Internet memes and themes "viral." Good and bad information spreads on the Web in much the same way those nasty bundles of nucleic acid and proteins do when they attack your body's cells and make you sick. Some of the Internet news items I've seen related to the H1N1 swine flu virus are making me feel a little ill.

Pharma Wants FDA to Soften Rules for Online Ads
November 12, 2009

The FDA will convene a two-day meeting beginning Thursday to hear the drug industry's position on Internet marketing. The agency has agreed to consider developing rules for online advertising after companies complained that the current guidelines for traditional media have left them hamstrung on the Web.

New Study Finds Canned Food Laced With Toxic Chemical BPA
November 05, 2009

Consumer Reports has unleashed its findings on toxic levels of Bisphenol A in food packaging on a largely unsuspecting public. Before the report, many felt the BPA danger had passed with the introduction of BPA-free baby bottles and so-called microwave-safe plastics. Not so, says the report: Certain canned foods contain high levels of BPA.

Unblinded With Science: Technology to Restore Vision
November 02, 2009

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has developed technology that could help fight blindness. It's aimed at the millions of people impacted by two of the major causes of blindness: age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. The MIT project is one of several that use a physical prosthesis.

Flu-Related Telecommuting Could Clog Web Traffic, Feds Warn
October 29, 2009

Talk of a flu pandemic has evolved into a bit of flu panic. Rumors fly as some people die and others deny. Much of this fevered buzz is on and around the Internet. The fear that the Internet itself will crash is growing. The alarm is based on the presumption that as the flu spreads, so does the base of home telecommuters, placing such a burden on the Internet that the whole World Wide Web will topple.

New Medical Web Site to Open Window on Out-of-Network Fees
October 28, 2009

Consumers across the country soon will be able to find impartial information about out-of-network healthcare costs on a new Web site, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday. The information will be collected by a new not-for-profit company, FAIR Health, in partnership with a research consortium based at Syracuse University, Cuomo said.

Will GE's Handheld Ultrasound Become the Next Stethoscope?
October 22, 2009

Although not quite the equivalent of Star Trek's tricorder, GE's Vscan represents a long step forward in mobile medical technology. The handheld device does on-the-go ultrasound readings only, but those readings can give doctors faster, more in-depth info than the best of preliminary doctor exam routines.

Health Workers Balk at H1N1 Mandates, Cite Safety Concerns
October 15, 2009

It seems that no vaccine in recent history has met with as much public suspicion and fear as the new H1N1 vaccine. Commonly referred to as the "swine flu," H1N1 causes a wide range of symptoms, from mild to lethal. The body count is already high for this time of year, and it is expected to soar much higher.

Wired Culture May Be Setting Youth Up for Internet Addiction
October 08, 2009

In a modern age paradox, the Internet has become a source of both edification and addiction. Teens are required to spend hours on the Web doing research and homework for school, but constant online activity can affect young minds in seriously bad ways, according to a new study.

Building a Better Health Data Network
October 04, 2009

Dr. James E. Sanders is a big believer of switching patient records from old paper files to sophisticated computer databases. The electronic medical records system at the Department of Veterans Affairs' Kansas City Medical Center gives Sanders and his staff almost immediate access to medical histories, allowing them to seamlessly treat veterans from other states.

EU Sets Out to Save the iPod Generation's Hearing
September 28, 2009

The European Union has updated volume standards for portable devices that play music, such as MP3 players and mobile phones. Going forward, new products will be required to maintain their default setting at 80 decibels. The new rules upgrade EU directives requiring that warnings about the dangers of listening to music at high volumes be included in device instruction manuals.

Groundbreaking Alzheimer's Gene Therapy Trial Moves Ahead
September 25, 2009

Tests of a promising new gene therapy to treat Alzheimer's disease are moving to the phase II level, bringing the reversal of dementia damage one step closer to becoming a real medical possibility. Developed by scientists in The Memory Disorders Program at Georgetown University, CERE-110 is a virus engineered with the gene encoding nerve growth factor.

Highest-Mortality Groups Last in Line for H1N1 Vaccine
September 17, 2009

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has determined who will get the vaccine for the H1N1 flu virus -- aka "swine flu" -- in the event of a shortage, but the priority groups don't line up well with the groups most likely to die from the disease. The reasons reflect a complex calculus of ethics that might be changing.

Do You Know How Much Radiation Your Cellphone Emits?
September 14, 2009

The focus of a U.S. Senate hearing Monday afternoon is the potential danger of cellphone use -- specifically, the risk of brain cancer. That link was suggested as long ago as last decade, when cellphones were slightly smaller than a shoebox and just beginning to become part of the everyday landscape.

Different Brain Chemistry Mix Could Explain ADHD
September 10, 2009

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, stems from a biological problem with the brain's chemistry that controls feelings of reward and motivation, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers used positron-emission tomography, or PET scans, to examine how dopamine works in the brains of adults diagnosed with ADHD.