http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress provides the latest news from University of Twente Researchers at the University of Twente's MIRA research institute have developed a system which may drastically reduce the use of laboratory animals in science. The system, which is designed to be implanted in laboratory animals, contains a series of tiny "compartments". A single specific condition can be investigated in each separate compartment, so the system can significantly reduce the number of laboratory animals needed for a study. Details of the study in which these scientists first demonstrated the use of this system are being published today in the scientific journal Integrative Biology. The system is being marketed by Screvo, a University of Twente spin-off company. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-case-laboratory-animals.html Other Thu, 16 May 2013 08:25:57 EST news287911548 Due to its ageing population, the Netherlands is seeing an explosive growth in the number of dementia patients. This is expected to increase from 250,000 in 2013 to 500,000 in 2050. Cost cutting in the healthcare sector, together with a worsening shortage of care workers, means that solutions are needed if dementia sufferers are to be provided with good quality care. The University of Twente's eHealth Research Center is exploring the use of technological aids, like sensors, touch screens or games, to help such patients. PhD student Nienke Nijhof analysed the use of various tools in dementia sufferers. Ms Nijhof asserts that "Technology can offer patients safety and support. I attempted to determine whether the use of these tools might enable patients to live independently for longer. This could save the health service as much as 800 to 2800 euros per patient per month. I advocate the inclusion of technological aids in the health insurance package, to facilitate their large scale use." http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-04-technology-dementia.html Alzheimer's disease & dementia Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:46:24 EST news285929178 If a tumour has spread through the lymph nodes, the decision is often taken to exercise caution and remove extra tissue, to prevent it from spreading further. This often involves the removal of healthy lymph nodes. Photoacoustic detection allows surgeons to see which nodes are affected and which are not, while the operation is in progress. This could cut the number of unnecessary complications following surgery, while still ensuring that all affected tissue is removed. Diederik Grootendorst of the University of Twente's MIRA research institute yesterday defended his PhD thesis based on research into this technique. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-04-photoacoustics-healthy-lymph-nodes-patients.html Cancer Thu, 18 Apr 2013 09:10:02 EST news285492872 More than one million people in the Netherlands suffer from painful joints. This is due to the wear and tear of cartilage caused by trauma, aging or diseases such as osteoarthritis. Cartilage is the tissue that protects bones when the body is in motion. Wear and tear makes joints feel stiff and painful during movement. In the course of his PhD research, Jos Wennink of the University of Twente studied ways of restoring worn cartilage, through the use of new injectable materials. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-04-cartilage-imitation-human-tissue-expensive.html Medical research Tue, 09 Apr 2013 07:20:40 EST news284710825 More and more hospitals and general practitioners in the Netherlands are collaborating in urgent care facilities: a single point of contact (instead of two) for acute patient care outside office hours. Depending on the patient's medical needs upon intake, he will be referred to the hospital's emergency room or to the GP. This makes healthcare in the Netherlands more efficient, cheaper and better. Scientists at the University of Twente's CTIT research institute have developed a simulation model which gives insight into patient waiting times and the utilization of available equipment and treatment rooms. The simulation model helps the urgent care facility make better choices. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-04-urgent-facility-benefit-additional-gp.html Health Fri, 05 Apr 2013 09:10:02 EST news284370823 Using adult stem cells is a good way of culturing better-quality cartilage to repair worn hips and knees. New cartilage that has good properties can be grown in particular by cultivating adult stem cells in combination with a small quantity of cells from the patient's own cartilage. In the long run this increases the likelihood of a cartilage implant being successful, provided it is carried out in time. These are the findings put forward by PhD student Nicole Georgi, who did her research at the University of Twente's MIRA Institute for Biomechanical Technology and Technical Medicine. She is to receive her PhD on March 22. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-03-cartilage-stem-cells.html Medical research Thu, 21 Mar 2013 08:06:27 EST news283071954 Philips Electronics today announced the results of an extensive new scientific study into sleep apnea, conducted over the last two years by Philips in collaboration with University of Twente (Enschede, the Netherlands), Medisch Spectrum Twente Hospital (Enschede, the Netherlands), and patients' organization ApneuVereniging.The study, which surveyed 4,206 Philips employees in the Netherlands, revealed that 6.4% of them suffered from sleep apnea. A striking finding was that 78% of the people surveyed who reported symptoms of sleep apnea were entirely unaware that they were suffering from this sleep disorder. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-03-survey-reveals-percent-people-apnea.html Sleep apnea Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:09:20 EST news282298143 Shoes (or shoe-sock combinations) that do not give you blisters, shaving that doesn't cause burning cheeks, clothes that don't itch, coffee cups that won't slip out of your hands, telephone touch screens that you use with wet hands, non-slip bathroom floors that stay that way, even if you have soapy feet. These are just some of the problems that will soon be solved using the know-how generated by RevoltST (the small, newly invented device in question). Noor Veijgen developed this device at the University of Twente, in cooperation with TNO. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-03-device-itchy-sweaters-blisters-tracks.html Other Tue, 05 Mar 2013 08:47:08 EST news281695619 An international consortium led by researchers at the Laboratory of Biomechanical Engineering of the MIRA research institute of the University of Twente is developing a system that allows surgeons to plan complex musculo-skeletal operations. In essence, the system is a patient-specific navigation tool for the human body, in which all relevant X-ray and MRI images of a patient are linked together. The surgeon can thus plan the operation much more effectively, simulate the effects of an intervention and even practice in advance in a virtual environment. The consortium has completed the first prototype of the system. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-02-prototype-human-body-surgeons-virtual.html Surgery Thu, 28 Feb 2013 08:50:02 EST news281262245 Drinking one energy drink has no effect whatsoever on the cognitive performance of secondary school pupils. This is the conclusion reached by University of Twente psychologist Pascal Wilhelm (department of Instructional Technology) and three co-researchers after a study of 103 pupils at a secondary school in the Dutch province of Overijssel. The results of the study will be published in the journal Tijdschrift voor Psychiatrie. One particularly unusual aspect of the study is that three of the four researchers were still at school themselves at the time of the study. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-01-energy-youngsters-smarter.html Psychology & Psychiatry Thu, 10 Jan 2013 08:22:05 EST news277028512 Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting over 35 million people worldwide. It is generally assumed that the clumping of beta-amyloid (Aß) protein causes neuronal loss in patients. Medication focuses on reducing Aß42, one of the most common proteins and the most harmful. University of Twente PhD student Annelies Vandersteen is refining the current approach. She explains: "The results of my research provide a broader understanding of the processes that lead to Alzheimer's disease and in this way may help to bring about new medication". http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-12-alzheimer-disease-treatment.html Alzheimer's disease & dementia Fri, 14 Dec 2012 09:43:09 EST news274700548 Efforts to achieve higher efficiency in healthcare delivery are often assumed to be forced by budget cuts that are in the end harmful to patients. However, quality improvements and cost savings can in fact go side-by-side, argues Nikky Kortbeek in his thesis on which he was recently awarded a PhD with distinction. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-12-mathematics-key-cheaper-healthcare.html Health Thu, 13 Dec 2012 08:42:13 EST news274610522 Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease characterized by inflammation of the joints. A rapid suppression of inflammation is important for a good prognosis. Marloes Vermeer, a PhD student at the University of Twente, investigated the effects of a "Treat-to-Target treatment strategy". Ms Vermeer explains that "The new treatment appears to be feasible in daily clinical practice. Even after a period of three years, disease activity is more effectively suppressed than with conventional treatment." http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-12-rheumatoid-arthritis-treatment-shown-effective.html Arthritis & Rheumatism Tue, 11 Dec 2012 08:28:43 EST news274436906 Many of the harmful constituents found in the smoke from a conventional cigarette result from the burning of tobacco. Lowering the temperature at which the "smoke" is generated means that nicotine and some aroma compounds are still released, but the user may no longer be exposed to many of the combustion products that are generated by the burning of tobacco and which may contribute to the risk of smoking-related diseases. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-12-constituents-cigarette-temperature.html Health Fri, 07 Dec 2012 10:19:08 EST news274097934 (Medical Xpress)—Depression among older adults can lead to serious health problems. Jojanneke Korte, PhD student at the University of Twente, investigated the effects of the life-review group therapy programme "The Stories we live by" ("Op verhaal komen" in Dutch) in some two hundred older patients (55+) with mild depressive symptoms. According to Korte, "The process of systematically recalling memories, otherwise known as life-review', is found to be effective. Depressive symptoms had disappeared in more than half of participants by the end of the course, and these participants were still symptom-free nine months later." http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-efficacy-depression-therapy.html Psychology & Psychiatry Wed, 28 Nov 2012 09:42:24 EST news273318124