Smartphone-based Cancer Detecting Application is Much More Effective Than Regular Methods Used in Hospitals

Scientists have developed a new mobile phone application that detects cancer - and is more precise than the methods regularly used in hospitals.

The smartphone-based application is up to 100 per cent accurate in detecting the difference between gentle tumours and their nasty counterparts, reports the Daily Mail.

As far as the time is concerned, it also consumes just an hour to make the diagnosis, meaning patients don't have to spend days or weeks desperately waiting for test results.

The U.S. researchers said the application could ''transform cancer care'' by also making it easier for doctors to track how well drugs are fighting the disease in a patient's body.

In initial tests, it was 88 per cent accurate in distinguishing cancerous stomach tumours from benign growths.

Refining the technique boosted accuracy to 100 per cent, say researchers.

This compares with an average accurate of 84 per cent for the gold standard technique, which involves using chemicals that stain cancerous cells and show up under a microscope.

In future, the smartphone system could be adapted to spot brain, skin and ovarian cancers quickly and accurately.

The tiny amount of tissue needed - one thousandth of a millilitre - would also spare patients the pain and risk of having repeatedly having pieces of their growth cut away for testing.

And with the most expensive piece of equipment costing just £60 or so, the system would be cheap to run.

The device, developed at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, consists of a smartphone connected to a miniature MRI machine.

In tests, patients with suspected stomach cancer had tiny samples of their growths removed using a fine needle.

The researchers then added in antibodies designed to bind to proteins found in stomach tumours and tiny magnetic particles designed to latch onto the antibodies.

They then used the magnet in the hand-held MRI machine to excite the molecules in the sample, making them vibrate. The more the molecules vibrate, the more likely the sample is cancerous.

An app - or application - on a smartphone computes the results and provides doctors with a read-out.

The World's First Dengue Fever Vaccine Developed by Thai Scientists: Reported by Thai News Agency (TNA)

BANGKOK, Feb 22 - According to the reports from Thai News Agency (TNA) on Tuesday; the world's first dengue hemorrhagic fever vaccine has been produced by Thai scientists.

The Thai researchers are now collaborating with the private sector to further develop the vaccine for its more successful treatment of patients with reduced infections.

A lecturer of Mahidol University, Dr. Suthee Yoksarn, together with his group and Chiang Mai University have mutually developed four stereotypes of the live attenuated vaccine by combining attenuated DNA with a protein structure that stimulates immunity against the dengue hemorrhagic fever--caused by the present strain of the dengue virus.

Virachai Virameteekul, Thai Science and Technology Minister, stated that the number of dengue hemorrhagic fever patients in Thailand has mounted, exceeding 100,000 last year and adding some 1,200 cases in January 2011.

The recently produced vaccine is believed to better protect people from the dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Daily Intake of Diet Soda May Led to Increased Risks of of Having a Stroke or Heart Attack

In an International Stroke Conference; a recent study was presented by the American Stroke Association establishing the possible link between ‘Diet Soda’ and an increased risk of having a stroke or heart attack.  

According to the study, which started in 2003, over 2,500 people were inquired about their soda intake and their health was examined over the years. Reportedly more than 550 cardiovascular events took placed during that period, and those who told drinking diet soda on daily routine had a 60% increased rate of these events including strokes and heart attacks.

After adjusting for other factors which may boost the probability of heart troubles – the researches still found that the threat was 48% higher for the diet soda drinkers.

What came from the study was a link, not necessarily a cause and effect.

After the bad rap that aspartame -- a main ingredient in many diet sodas -- has gotten, we are unsure as to how this is information is any more useful that what we've already heard. Diet soda is bad. So is regular soda and anything else we actually enjoy consuming, for that matter. Thanks, science!

The self-report based study fails to give us any real reason to stop drinking Diet Coke. How many of you have ever been less than truthful on health based survey? Hmm?

As the vice-chairman of the stroke-meeting conference committee put it, "You try to control for everything, but you can't." 

Turn Your iPhone into Skin Cancer Detecting Device Using Handyscope

With the help of Handyscope, a new product available on the market; your iPhone can be transformed into a skin cancer detection device. Amazing, isn’t it?

The amazing new device plugs into the Apple smartphone and by using an application converts it into a ‘Dermatascope’ - which doctors use when looking for tumour.

The device uses a polarising light to detect whether a mole is cancerous and then takes a photo and sends it to a doctor for inspection.

Images can even be uploaded to a second opinion service where world-renowned specialists can weigh in with their view.

The Handyscope, made by German-based firm FotoFinder, can be purchased online and the app can be bought from the Apple iTunes store.

Last but not the least its affordability, with a price tag of GBP 995, it's just out of range for an average mobile user.