Health Innovations: What’s new in 2015?

In health, each New Year brings its share of novelties, discoveries, promising tracks and technical achievements. Below is a small (but not exhaustive) overview of what has begun to develop or should soon arrive to improve our health.

A SLIGHTLY IRRADIANT SCANNER

This is called EOS and enables the 3D visualisation of the global nature of the skeleton by radiating 10 times less than a standard X-ray and 100 times less than a scanner! It is performed in a standing position, with the total examination time less than four minutes. This is ideal for patients sensitive to radiation (children, seniors or people who require regular follow-up).

THE END OF THE DRILL AT THE DENTIST

This is excellent news! English scientists have finalized a new technique known as the EAER (Electrically Accelerated and Enhanced Remineralisation) to replace the dreaded drill. First of all, the dentist cleans the enamel, then sends a light electrical current to the tooth. This is totally painless and facilitates the passage of minerals, such as calcium and phosphor, towards the affected area. The tooth heals by itself naturally without leaving any trace. The trials are continuing in 2015 to be available in cabinet, a priori, from 2018.

A NEW INDICATOR OF THE RISKS CONNECTED TO BEING OVERWEIGHT

Due to its unreliability in estimating cardiovascular risk, body mass index (BMI) is going to be replaced gradually by the waist measurement. In practice, place a tape-measure just over the navel, lower than the last rib but higher than the hip. Don’t pull your stomach in and breathe normally. To maintain a healthy heart, the waist measurement should not exceed half your height in centimetres. This process measures the abdominal fat, which is considered most detrimental to health, and especially for the heart.

TWO NEW VACCINES

They took the tests successfully and are awaiting authorisation by the relevant health authorities. One is intended to fight the dengue. The other one the zoster, which affects elderly people. The latest aims to prevent the reactivation of the chicken pox virus. Having a zoster in older age increases the risk of suffering crippling chronic pains long after the infection has disappeared.

A TOOTHPASTE THAT REGENERATES TOOTH ENAMEL

Regenerate Enamel ScienceTM is the first toothpaste able to reconstruct tooth enamel by bringing silicate of calcium and phosphate of sodium, the same minerals that constitute the tooth’s surface. Goodbye then to the dental erosion which leads to extremely expensive crowns. It is to be used in prevention to protect the enamel, or in care, when it begins to be damaged. To complete with a monthly care in a serum form. Regenerate Enamel ScienceTM (approx. SGD20S + Serum approx. SGD65).

A PROSTHESIS TO RESORE SIGHT AFTER PIGMENTARY RETINITIS

Currently tested on three patients at the Parisian hospital, Quinze-Vingts, the prosthesis Iris from Pixium Vision contains an implant connected to glasses equipped with a mini-camera. The images are converted in a signal transmitted to the brain via the optic nerve. A rehabilitation programme allows patients to learn to decode the received information. As the first results are very encouraging, new participants should be recruited this year. Furthermore, another prosthesis is being developed to handle more frequent degenerative visual pathology: AMD (age-related macular degeneration).

Maureen DIAMENT