Walking along a virtual beach could help a patient reduce pain, according to researchers from the Universities of Plymouth, Exeter and Birmingham. A study, published in Environment & Behaviour, examined the feasibility of using virtual reality to improve outcomes while patients undergo routine dental procedures.

Researchers from the University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center (UH) have found TempTraq, a wearable continuous temperature monitor, capable of detecting a rise in fever temperature three hours before standard care. Published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the findings aim to improve monitoring through low-cost, efficient wearables.

Surgery is one way of treating ischemia, but it becomes exponentially more complicated the smaller the vessels are. Developing a new treatment for the smallest vessels, researchers have started work on 3D printed patches capable of infusing with cells to grow healthy blood vessels. Research is published in the latest issue of Nature Biomedical Engineering.

The family-owned Miele and Steelco Groups have agreed to join forces by combining their skills in medical technology. One result is that Miele is to acquire a controlling stake in the Steelco Group, whilst Steelco founders remain at the helm of the group. Thanks to this combination, the medical technology division within the Miele Group is set to grow by around one third to approximately € 250 m per annum. The overarching aim is to provide clients with an even broader and more sophisticated range of products – as well as the best possible service, both before and after the sale. This transaction is still subject to approval of the antitrust authorities.

A team of researchers is aiming to use telemedicine to provide patients experiencing delirium with personalized care programs. A study from the Indiana University Center for Aging Research and the Regenstrief Institute tested four different telemedicine techniques in elderly patients after leaving intensive care units.

Texas communities facing a rural hospital closure should not solely concentrate on whether or not to close a hospital, but instead focus on the available health resources in the surrounding area. That’s one of the findings of a new report by the Texas A&M Rural and Community Health Institute (RCHI) that examined rural hospital closures and looks at new solutions for rural healthcare concerns. The Episcopal Health Foundation (EHF) sponsored the report. 

Wearables could one day soon analyze sweat for certain proteins to detect breast and lung cancer. A study, published in Lab on a Chip, described the development of biosensor technology for wearable devices to monitor health and identify bacteria and viruses.

Ethan Basch, MD, has developed a web-based tool for cancer patients to report symptoms on a weekly basis. The Symptom Tracking And Reporting (STAR) tool aims to improve quality of life and reduce emergency room visits for patients with advanced cancers.