New 3D imaging reduces radiation dose for scoliosis patients

Stollery’s diagnostic technology gives more accurate view of musculoskeletal system

Children with spinal deformities like scoliosis or other skeletal conditions are now receiving reduced radiation doses thanks to new diagnostic imaging technology at the Stollery Children’s Hospital.

Edmonton is now home to a low-dose, 3D imaging system that captures whole body images of a standing patient in a single scan, eliminating the need for traditional X-rays for most scoliosis patients. More than 600 pediatric patients have benefited since the system’s launch last Nov. 19.

The EOS Imaging System exposes children to seven to nine times less radiation than standard X-ray machines as it creates a high-quality image by scanning the spine of a patient in approximately seven seconds. The refined images are used for initial diagnosis and assessment.

The system also boasts a micro-dose setting which exposes patients to 50 times less radiation than a standard X-ray. While a micro-dose image may not be as clear as the traditional image, it’s sufficient to monitor disease progression for scoliosis patients who require follow-up imaging.

“X-rays and scans can be helpful, even life-saving, but increased exposure to radiation can lead to an increased incidence of cancer,” says Dr. Marc Moreau, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at the Stollery. “It's important to use the lowest dose possible when scanning a child; this technology allows us to obtain the best quality imaging without compromising the safety of our patients.”

Scoliosis, defined as a spinal curvature of more than 10 degrees to the right or left, impacts three to five per cent of children, and typically affects girls more frequently and more severely than boys. The scoliosis clinic at the Stollery sees about 1,800 patient visits per year, with patients who often require scans every six months.

“Scoliosis is a three-dimensional deviation of the spine, but traditional X-rays only give us a two-dimensional view,” says Dr. Moreau. “This new device uses an ultra-low dose of radiation to provide extremely detailed, high-quality images. Using the EOS machine makes imaging safer for our pediatric patients and gives a more accurate perspective for diagnosis, surgical treatment and follow-up of the spine.”

Philippa Madill, 13, of Drayton Valley, was five years old the first time her spine was X-rayed. Her older sister Hannah, who was also diagnosed with scoliosis, received as many as four X-rays per year to monitor her spine as she grew up.

“Every time they X-rayed the girls I would cringe,” says their mother Sue Madill. “Knowing they were constantly being exposed to radiation always bothered me.”

In May, Philippa had her first scan using the new EOS Imaging System.

“As a parent, it is such a relief that this machine is available now,” she adds, “and that Philippa will be receiving substantially less radiation as she continues to grow.”

The Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation contributed $750,000 towards the machine and an additional $27,500 for the micro-dose software.

“The EOS imaging system is a prime example of why the foundation funds excellence at the Stollery,” says Mike House, President and CEO of the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation.

“This advanced equipment improves the health and safety of children by reducing their exposure to radiation during diagnostic testing. Thanks to our generous donors, the Stollery is the only hospital in Alberta, and just one of two in western Canada, using the EOS system on a clinical basis.”

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The Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation is committed to transforming children’s health care by funding excellence at the Stollery Children’s Hospital. Excellence comes in many forms: specialized equipment; sub-specialty education to train the brightest medical minds; research to discover new treatments and cures; and specialized pediatric programs that enhance family centred care, and patient and family outcomes at the Stollery.

Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.

Source : Albert Health Services , 8th June 2016 

Predictive Technology Group, Inc. (PRED) Announces Key Patent Issuance by US Patent and Trademark Office for Treating Patients With Genetic Spinal Deformities and Syndromes Award Provides Patent Protection for Multiple Therapeutic and Companion Diagnostic Products

Predictive Technology Group, Inc. (OTC PINK: PRED), a life sciences technology holding company, announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted a fundamental patent (US Patent 9,370,431) that covers the practice of administering ANY spine deformation therapeutics to a patient having a spine deformation altered risk associated biomarker.

"We are pleased to see this latest patent issuance that supports PRED's novel approach to diagnosing spinal disorders and syndromes," said Mike Schramm, PRED's Director of Intellectual Property. "This issued US patent supports the commercial use of both our diagnostic and next-generation companion treatment products." The claims of the '431 application build on previously issued US patents 8,123,787 and 8,641,738 to which '431 claims priority and further bolster PRED's Intellectually Property position.

"We are gratified to see this latest patent issuance, which covers the core technology underlying the Company's first available molecular diagnostic test," said Bradley Robinson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Predictive Technology Group, Inc. "Furthermore, this fundamental patent covers not only spinal applications of our technology but establishes a precedent for the other patent applications that have been submitted on the Company's portfolio of next-generation diagnostic and companion treatment products."

The patent establishes the foundation of key intellectual property (IP) covering ANY treatment options (drug, surgery, bracing, etc.) for patients having a specific spine deformity biomarker. This newly issued patent is additive to previously announced patents. Furthermore, the Company has additional US and International patent applications pending and will pursue such applications with the objective of receiving additional issued patents in several other disease states.

The issuance of this new patent is a significant milestone for PRED.

For information about this release, contact Rich Kaiser, Investor Relations, YES INTERNATIONAL, 757-306-6090,

yes@yesinterntional.com, and

info@predictivetechnologygroup.com.

About Predictive Technology Group, Inc.

Predictive Technology Group, Inc. (PRED), through its wholly owned subsidiaries, revolutionizes the treatment of serious and debilitating diseases through the commercialization of novel therapeutics leveraged by proprietary gene-based companion diagnostics. The Company develops and/or acquires proprietary technologies that open windows into the origin of human disease and the role that genes and their related proteins play in diseases' onsets and progressions. PRED's subsidiaries use gene-based information as cornerstones in the development of new diagnostics that assess a person's risk of disease and therapeutic products designed to prevent effectively and/or treat diseases.

Forward-Looking Statements

To the extent any statements made in this release contain information that is not historical, these statements are essentially forward-looking and are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the difficulty of predicting FDA approvals, acceptance and demand for new vaccines and other pharmaceutical products, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new product development and launch, reliance on key strategic alliances, availability of raw materials, availability of additional intellectual property rights, availability of future financing sources, the regulatory environment, and other risks the Company may identify from time to time in the future.

Source : Market Wired , 21st June 2016

European spine surgery devices market to grow at CAGR of 6.1% to 2020: 5 takeaways

The European spine surgery devices market is anticipated to hit $2.37 billion by 2020, acoording to a Market Reports World report.

Here are five key takeaways:

1. The market is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.1 percent between 2015 and 2020.

2. A rising number of spine deformity cases and increasing popularity of non-fusion devices will spur market growth.  

3. Additionally, a growing geriatric population and increasing advancements in minimally invasive techniques and biologics will boost market growth.

4. In 2014, the spinal fusion devices segment accounted for the largest market share.

5. Key market players include Stryker, DePuy Synthes, Zimmer Biomet, Medtronic, Alphatec Spine, NuVasive, Integra LifeSciences, Orthofix International, Globus Medical, LDR, K2M and B. Braun Melsungen.

Source : Beckers Spine , 24th June 2016 

A 3D-Printed Solution to Scoliosis

One of the prices of increased wisdom seems to be a general increase in aches and pains. For adults, the sensation of waking with sore back or neck after a fitful night’s sleep isn’t particularly noteworthy. For children and young adults, this can be a sign of more serious health problems, including scoliosis.

The NIH defines scoliosis as “a musculoskeletal disorder in which there is a sideways curvature of the spine or backbone.” In some cases, scoliosis requires bracing or monitoring by a physician to ensure the curvature doesn’t increase. The worst cases require surgery using rods to straighten the spine. A new option has been developed by Medicrea, based on the flexibility offered by 3D printing. The company uses the technology to produce patient-specific fusion implants, helping prepare the patient for surgery. 

Dr. King demonstrates the difficulty of bending a spinal rod by hand. Image courtesy of Medicrea.

Traditionally, when surgery is required to fix severe cases of scoliosis, doctors are required to bend the rods by hand and fit them in place as best they can. This can be a difficult procedure, even for the most experienced doctors.

“I personally have been bending those rods for 34 years,” said Dr. Andrew G. King, Children’s Hospital orthopedic surgeon. “I’ve been underwhelmed by my ability to bend a rod so that it matches the perfect numbers. The surgical rods which we put in to fix the scoliosis are specific to each particular patient.”

With recent FDA approval, Medicrea’s UNiD system allows doctors to build spinal rods specific to each patient before surgery even begins with precision contouring. Patients are measured for the rods, which are then implanted along with 3D-printed interbody fusion devices — such as osteosynthesis cages and vertebral body replacements.  In the short time since approval was granted, more than 700 patients have benefited from the UNiD system.

Along with a surety that a treatment will correctly adjust a patient’s spine, recovery time has also been reduced as a result of UNiD.

“If I slept a certain way or just sat certain ways it would cause pain,” said Karly, a 14-year old patient. “I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to play softball or do cheer. It’s been almost four months. I started playing softball again and made the team.

Source : Rapid Ready , 23rd June 2016

Jammu & Kashmir schools open to differently-abled children More than 24,000 children have been enrolled

Not only the government, but various Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) are also helping in the upliftment of the disabled children.

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More than 24,000 children with special needs have been enrolled in government schools in the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir (North) and the state government is also making efforts to convert all existing schools differently-abled friendly.

Over 24,000 children with special needs (CWSN) have been enrolled in schools run by the government and instructions by the state have been issued to make all the existing schools disabled-friendly in Jammu & Kashmir.

“As many as 30,237 CWSN have been identified during 2015-16 and out of them, 24,363 have been enrolled in government schools. Instructions have been conveyed to school education department and higher education department from time to time to make all the public buildings including schools, colleges and universities disabled-friendly,” said Sajjad Ghani Lone, social welfare minister, Srinagar.

Along with these, 59 girls under CWSN have also been enrolled in Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidalaya (a girls school) operating in the state.

According to the minister, access to home-based education is also being provided to CWSN besides the regular schooling, by resource teachers engaged under Sarva Shikasha Abhiyan.

Sarva Shikasha Abhiyan (SSA) is Government of India’s flagship programme for achievement of Universalisation of Elementary Education (UEE) in a time bound manner, making free and compulsory education to the Children of 6-14 years age group, a fundamental right.

Not only the government, but various Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) are also helping in the upliftment of the disabled children. Nearly 18 schools for differently-abled children functioning in the state are run by different NGOs.

To contribute for the security of students falling under the CWSN category, the government established a residential school for blind students at Roop Nagar in Jammu with an intake capacity of 25 inmates.

A composite regional centre has also been established at Srinagar by the union ministry of social justice and empowerment for special education of people with disabilities.

Source : Media Indian Group , 24th June 2016 

Walk over busy road - Bhubaneshwar

The proposed foot overbridge at Jayadev Vihar Square will be thrown open to public within a month with authorities working on the final installations at the facility.

The under-construction bridge at Jayadev Vihar in Bhubaneswar. 

At present, the contractor is in the process of installing two lifts on both sides, ramps on the staircase for differently-abled persons and drinking water facility for the people.

“We are working on providing some additional features on the bridge, especially keeping in mind the need of differently-abled persons.

We will install tactile tiles, which will help the visually challenged persons find their ways.

Apart from this, we will also install ramps on the staircase, and lift will also be there to help the persons,” said a senior official of Ajanta Advertiser, the private partner that took up the project.

He further said the bridge would also have facilities such as cold drinking water kiosks, mobile charging points and shoe-shining machines. “The bridge will be lit up with energy efficient LED bulbs. The work is in the final stage. It will be over within a month. The bridge will be thrown open to the public,” he said. The project costs around Rs 2 crore.

Notably, this will be the first foot overbridge in Bhubaneswar.

The bridge will benefit a large number of citizens residing at Jayadev Vihar, Ekamra Vihar, Sriram Vihar, BDA Colony and its surrounding areas. This is the stretch, which connects commuters with the Nandankanan zoo and Patia, making it one of the busy stretches after Janpath.

“Jayadev Vihar is a one of the busy squares in the city that witnesses rapid flow of vehicles. Pedestrians are always at risk while crossing roads. This stretch houses a number of posh hotels, hospital and educational institutions.

A foot overbridge here is a necessity. This would benefit many,” said local resident Basudev Sahu.

However, the overbridge has missed its deadline by nearly two years. The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation had planned the project in the PPP mode in 2012, but work began late in 2014. Sources said the process to finalise the bridge’s location, 2014 general elections and unexpected weather had delayed the project.

“First, the bridge was proposed near the autorickshaw stand on the square. The auto drivers had opposed the move and the project got delayed in the beginning,”said a civic body official request of anonymity.

“Later, we stopped the work due to the 2014 general elections. Later, weather remained another hurdle for the work. The traffic is one more hiccup in continuing the work on this stretch,” he said.

Moreover, the civic body had also proposed to build two more foot overbridges — one near the Rama Devi Women’s University and the other at Master Canteen.

Work on these is, however, yet to begin. A corporation official said both the bridges had been planned on the Janpath, which was first chosen to be the corridor of Bus Rapid Transport System and now the stretch comes under Bhubaneswar Town Centre District under the Smart City Project.

“Under the Bus Rapid Transport System, chances are there for further expansion of the road, for which we had to stall the project. Also under the Bhubaneswar Town Centre District, this stretch will see an array of developments. We don’t want to risk money by building the bridge in a hurry and later demolish the same for other projects. However, the project is not cancelled, we hope to begin the work this year,” said the official.

Source : The Telegraph , 20th June 2016

Hostel for physically challenged students to be set up: Raman - Raipur

Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh on Saturday announced to set up a hostel here for physically challenged students.

"The scholarships given to the physically challenged students by the Social Welfare department will be doubled soon. A hostel, with capacity of 500, for such students will also be set up here," he said at an awareness workshop inaugurated under Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan).

Union minister for social justice and empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot presided over the function jointly organised by the Centre and the state government.

"Gehlot has given in-principle consent to the Raipur hostel," Singh said. "The hostel will be sanctioned as soon as the proposal is sent to the Centre", Gehlot said.

The chief minister said identity cards will be issued to 6.25 lakh physically challenged persons of the state after conducting a survey in the next one year.

"The social welfare department had already issued 4.50 lakh identity cards to the physically challenged in the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched 'Sugamya Bharat Abhiyaan' to make the physically challenged stand on their own feet," he said.

"The main aim is to make access easy for the physically challenged people to all public and state government buildings in the entire state by December," Singh said.

Instructing the district Collectors to prepare a master plan in this regard, to be sent to the Centre as soon as possible, he said the Collectors had been empowered to spend up to Rs 1 crore on facilities to be ensured for the disabled at state government buildings.

Chhattisgarh is the first state in the country to provide six per cent reservation to the physically challenged in government jobs and it is making efforts to establish Composite Regional Rehabilitation centres at all divisional headquarters, Singh said.

Later in the day, Gehlot inaugurated the first Composite Regional Centre of the state for persons with disabilities in Rajnandgaon district. The centre will cater to education, housing, health, self-employment training, artificial limbs distribution for the physically challenged.

Source : TOI , 25th June 2016

Doc to address parents of differently-abled - Jalandhar

Chanan Association, working for mentally impaired children, will hold a sexuality training camp for the parents, professionals and special teachers of children suffering from mental impairment on June 26 at the BD Arya Girls College Jalandhar Cantonment. 

Guarav Chaddha, an expert, on these matters from Delhi has been invited on the occasion. 

Association president Amarjit Singh Anand and general secretary Manish Aggarwal said since these children have different needs, confused parents usually grapple with the changes in them as they grow up. Often proper due to lack of information and guidance on these issues parents are not able to properly comprehend their needs.

They said the workshop has been held to spread awareness on these issues plaguing parents, which they often don't want to address directly either. 

The session to be held from 9 am to 4 pm on June 26 and will see parents' questions on the issue being answered by delhi-based Dr Guarav. 


Source : The Tribune , 20th June 2016 

IICD hosts Iftar party for disabled - Hyderabad

Mr. Mohammed Mahmood Ali Deputy Chief Minister Telangana State congratulated Ideal Information Centre for Disabled (IICD) arranging Iftar party for disabled and helping them to join the festivity of Ramadan. Dy CM was astounded to see some heart-touching performances by IICD blind and deaf children.

Managing editor Siasat, Mr. Zaheeruddin Ali Khan congratulated physically challenged students who have stood on their own feet by getting Science and Technology education at Ideal Information Centre for Disabled. He said ‘I am getting the opportunity to attend their Iftar party and others programmes for the third consecutive year’. He prayed to Allah (swt) to accept the efforts of IICD for inclusion for disabled.

Mr. Zafar Javeed Secretary Sultan ul Uloom Education Society inaugurated the website of IICD. Mr. Hamed Mohammed Khan President Jamat-e-Islami Hind Telangana and Orissa also spoke on the occasion.

Source : Siasat , 21st June 2016 

Differently-abled students end fast - Vishakhapatnam

Differently-abled students of Andhra University called off their five-day fast on Saturday after the authorities agreed to consider their demands.

Vice-Chancellor in charge E.A. Narayana and Registrar V. Umamaheswara Rao offered lime juice to the fasting students to make them call off their fast.

An AU press release said that hostel authorities were issued several guidelines to provide facilities to the differently-abled students. The students were also informed that the other facilities they sought would be taken up during the Executive Council meeting.

The city committee of National Platform for Rights of Disabled said that the health of four of the five students on fast deteriorated on Saturday and later, during discussions, the AU authorities agreed to waive the mess bill of the visually challenged students and take up the issue of other students in the EC meeting.

Till then, the differently-abled students need not pay mess bills.

Special campus drive for the disabled, special monetary benefits, modernisation of disabled cell, provision of a battery car for the differently-abled were assured, claimed State vice-president of NPRD K. Appala Naidu.



Source : The Hindu , 26th June 2016 

Girl gives up medical seat for classmate - Chennai

Special gesture:N. Janani thanks K. Varshini (right) for giving up a seat in Madras Medical College for her sake

Since she was confident of getting admission through general counselling she opted out of special counselling

An act of selflessness by a medical aspirant on Monday warmed the hearts of all who witnessed it.

At the Government multi-super speciality hospital in Omandurar Estate, where counselling for the academic session 2016-17 began for special category on Monday, a candidate gave up her medical seat in Madras Medical College for her friend and classmate.

K. Varshini, with a cut-off of 199 marks and N. Janani with 198.75 marks, were ranked first and second respectively in the ex-servicemen category. Since Janani had applied under ‘Other Communities’ category and wanted to study at the Madras Medical College with her friend Varshini, the latter gave up her seat for Janani.

Varshini, who belonged to the BC category, was confident of getting a seat in MMC through general counselling and opted out of special counselling.

Janani said, “I have got 1,181 marks and wanted to study in MMC. Because Varshini gave up her seat I got it. She is a good friend.”

“We follow an educational system that provides a competitive environment for students to compete with each other for marks. However, we also inculcate social values in them so as to promote harmony and tolerance. The gesture shows that the current generation of students are not inferior to anyone in giving importance to values too,” said K. Thulasidhasan, principal of SRV School in Samayapuram.

Medical Education Selection Secretary G. Selvarajan said, “I am told that generally students with high scores whose chances of getting into a college of their choice are very high are approached with such requests. In this case, the candidates were known to each other,” he said.

A total of 70 seats are reserved under the physically challenged category. On Monday, all the seven seats in the sports category were allotted as also the five medical seats and one dental seat in the ex-servicemen category. Under the physically disabled category, 60 students were allotted seats.

At the end of counselling on Monday 2,250 seats remained vacant.

(With C. Jaisankar in Tiruchi)

First phase of general counselling begins on Tuesday for MBBS, BDS seats in the State

Source :  The Hindu , 21st June 2016 

Test cricket is in danger, get your act together: BCCI writes to associations

Shirke has asked traditional test associations to make a short presentation during BCCI’s working committee meeting on June 24.

Get your act together, danger to Test cricket’s popularity is clear and present, is the message the BCCI has sent out to the seven traditional Test match centres in India. While six new venues are being tried out this season, seven established centres have also drawn a Test match each. The BCCI wants these seven associations — Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Chennai, Mumbai, Karnataka, Hyderabad and Bengal — to come up with preparation and promotion plans for the upcoming Test. BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke has sent a letter to these seven associations to make a short presentation on their plan in the working committee meeting on June 24 in Dharamsala. The BCCI says that they can’t market the game alone, and need the support of these associations.

The letter also points out the non-negotiable criteria for hosting the match, from clean toilets for the fans, accessible areas for physically handicapped spectators, numbering of the seats, to 10% ticket reservation for girls and underprivileged. “Needless, to say the matches are allotted subject to fulfilling BCCI conditions like compulsory numbering of seats, clean toilets, separate accessible areas for physically handicapped spectators, mandatory 10% ticket to underpivileged and girl child.”

The section of the letter that pertains to the marketing of the game reads thus: “As your venue has been allotted a test match this season, BCCI would like to call you for a presentation during the working committee meeting, on what steps you would take to popularize test cricket and bring the spectators for the match allotted to your association. What are your plans to raise awareness for the match and marketing for the same? BCCI can’t alone walk in the direction and it would need your support for the same to make it successful. The presentation should cover all these points and should be for about 5-7 minutes.”

Last November, Anurag Thakur, the then secretary, had pointed to the low turn out in a Test in Mohali (against South Africa) to make his point about Test cricket’s dying popularity. “If you look at the game at Mohali, and even globally, the following of Test cricket is going down. We find less spectators at bigger venues which have huge sitting capacity. Even centres like Mohali couldn’t manage to get enough people to the ground. I think it is important to reach out to the tier-two, tier-three cities where you can have a larger audience. And I personally feel that will help. If you look at Mohali, Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, they host T20 games, IPL all in a year. That’s the reason the crowd stays away from the Tests matches.”

Now, the board has asked the associations to shape up and come with plans to tackle the problems. There are two schools of thoughts regarding promoting Test cricket in India. Some believe that some existing centres should not be given Test matches as they have repeatedly registered low crowd attendance. Others believe awarding to newer smaller centres is the way to go. In addition to awarding Test debuts to new venues — Rajkot, Ranchi, Pune, Dharmshala, Vizag and Indore, the board wants to push all the established venues to come up with plans to promote Test cricket if they want to continue to get matches.

“As you are aware, the popularity of Test cricket is shrinking day by day, and it is huge challenge to get spectators to the ground to watch a five day game in today’s fast paced world. BCCI, therefore this year has taken test cricket to 6 new centres, which would be hosting test match for the first time,” Shirke wrote in his letter to state associations.

Cricket conclave on June 22

The BCCI will seek the feedback from the Ranji Trophy coaches and captains on the proposal to play Ranji games at neutral venues. The plan to play at neutral venues had thrown up dissenting voices from the playing fraternity – current coaches, captains, players and state selectors, and the captains and coaches can discuss the issue in the annual coach and captain’s meet on June 22 in Dharamsala.

Source : Indian Express , 14th June 2016