This month, we offer a classification of the best technological innovations for our health. The use of new technologies in the medical sector: What kind of innovations and how they improve the quality of services?

1) Biomedicine

At the forefront of technology, biomedicine opens a range of very promising possibilities, especially in the field of gene therapy (which primarily consists of rare diseases). The concept is simple: It is about the replacement the faulty version of the gene responsible for the disease through the healthy version, called biomedicine. It deserves its nickname: it is synthetized from a biological source, like the cells factory (literally). The ingenuity of our scientists didn’t stop there: The transfer of the gene to the human body will be carried by a virus ...

Explanation: According to Frederic Revah, general director of Généthon, "In order to transfer the therapeutic gene to cells, it has to be adhered to the carrier (called" vector "). Following as a vector, it will use a virus fragment, the fragments of viruses, which were reconstituted in the laboratory (cell factory, Ed) because the viruses in nature carry the genes well. "

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2) DETECT THE CANCER BY ONE BREATH?

The breath test already saved many lives by detecting the blood alcohol level. It would also shows the presence of cancerous lesions. Electronic nose developed by an Israel team proved the ability to detect changes in the breath of people affected with a stomach cancer or at risk of developing one.

Cancer cells emit different volatile compounds of healthy cells, and these substances released into the breath vary in terms of quantity and typology. This invention allows to make screening for gastric cancer "non-invasive, painless and without adverse side effects."

The first tests are optimistic since they can diagnose people affected with a stomach cancer and others with gastric lesions, defining the levels of risks. Technologically, there are two methods: the gas analysis and the use of detectors with gold nanoparticles. The latter method is less expensive. It could be developed to monitor the progression of cancer lesions. The first uses have already been planned for thousands of patients in Europe.

http://bit.ly/1G5QhtK

3) SELF TEST FOR HIV

This is the outstanding first for France: the Virus screening self-tests for Human Immunodeficiency (HIV), designed by the French company AAZ will be marketed soon. These rapid tests are already used in other countries such as Great Britain, Australia and the United States. They represent the crucial importance for France as well: French people use the most the tests HIV in Europe. However, according to the HAS 20% of infected people are still unaware of their positivity, and nearly 30% discover it at the advanced stage of the disease.

Although they are not 100% reliable especially in cases of recent infection ("Any positive test should be confirmed by a laboratory examination," said the High Authority of Health), the tests will be available in French pharmacies during July. According to the National AIDS Council, they should prevent at least 40 contamination per year in France.

http://bit.ly/1HRdfci

4) D-3

D-3 is the name of the device that relies on the smartphone technology in order to establish remote diagnostics of cancerous tumors and other diseases. The test isn’t expensive and can be widely disseminated in regions without the latest technologies. This method was developed by researchers from the Massachusetts Hospital using holograms to gather detailed microscopic images in 3D. These images allow digital analysis of the molecular composition of cells and tissues. D-3 is composed of an imaging module with a LED powered by a battery connected to a smartphone that records images with an HD camera. It stores in a single image the molecular information of more than 100,000 cells in a sample of blood or tissue. This data will be sent then for analysis and the results will be promptly returned to the health center.

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