http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. Researchers from the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences have identified a gene that when mutated is responsible for a spectrum of disorders affecting the bones and connective tissue. This finding opens new avenues for research into a diagnosis and treatment for these until now incurable diseases. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-gene-responsible-spectrum-disorders-affecting.html Genetics Thu, 09 May 2013 12:00:13 EST news287306300 A new method in which a number of operations are performed simultaneously can provide people with tetraplegia with a better grip function and the ability to open their hand. This method also shortens the patient's rehabilitation period by at least three months, reveals a doctoral thesis from the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-04-method-function-quickly-patients-tetraplegia.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:18:25 EST news284804279 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 getting over damage to tendons can be a long and painful process. By combining the nuclear tests of the 1950s with tissue samples and modern technology, a research collaboration between the Aarhus University and University of Copenhagen now reveals why the healing process is so slow. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-02-tendon-injuries.html Other Fri, 15 Feb 2013 13:20:01 EST news280156780 (Medical Xpress)—University of California, San Diego Health System is one of only a few hospitals in the nation to offer computer-assisted navigation technology with the direct anterior hip replacement technique, potentially resulting in less pain, faster recovery and fewer dislocations for patients with osteoarthritis and other forms of degenerative joint disease. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-02-alternative-hip-technique-results-faster.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Tue, 05 Feb 2013 07:00:02 EST news279267663 With the aid of multiple force sensors and a digital dinosaur, a team of Rice University seniors known as Helping Hands hopes to restore strength and flexibility to the hands and wrists of children with cerebral palsy. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-05-patients-cerebral-palsy.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Thu, 10 May 2012 13:29:09 EST news255875339 When diagnosing and treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), clinical research focuses primarily on the joints in the upper body. However, research carried out by rheumatologist Hetty Baan at the University of Twente reveals the importance of including the feet and ankles when examining and treating RA patients. She also makes the case for further research into how the treatment of RA patients can be improved in practice in order to prevent unnecessary infections and damage in the feet and ankles. Baan will defend her doctoral research on 6 December at the Faculty of Behavioral Sciences of the University of Twente. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-12-feet-rheumatoid-arthritis.html Arthritis & Rheumatism Wed, 07 Dec 2011 07:40:29 EST news242466015 (Medical Xpress) -- A study involving over 5,000 people living with the joint disorder ankylosing spondylitis has identified a series of genetic variants associated with increased susceptibility to the condition as well as providing new clues to how the condition may be treated in the future. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-07-scientists-genetics-joint-disorder-ankylosing.html Genetics Sun, 10 Jul 2011 13:00:28 EST news229516067