INP Greifswald and Karlsburg Hospital present themselves at the Arab Health healthcare trade fair
Arab Health in Dubai is considered one of the world's largest trade fairs for the latest products and services in the healthcare industry. In 2013, around 3,900 exhibitors and 85,000 visitors from over 60 countries were expected to attend the event, which took place from 27 to 30 January.
Among the dozen or so exhibitors from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania at Arab Health are the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP Greifswald), neoplas tools GmbH and the Karlsburg Clinic. Plasma medicine is the big topic with which the three institutions from Western Pomerania want to attract attention. Together, they will present "kinpen MED", a globally new medical device that was approved in Germany in summer 2013 for plasma applications on patients.
"As an ionised, cold gas, plasma can inactivate pathogens, including multi-resistant microorganisms, and stimulate wound healing processes. This is the result of basic research that we have advanced in the field of plasma medicine and the decontamination/sterilisation of medical devices," says Prof. Klaus-Dieter Weltmann, INP Director. The medical applications are diverse. A clinical study is to be initiated at the Karlsburg Clinic this year to prove the positive effects of plasma on wound healing in patients. "A stimulating wound healing agent would be an enormous advance for patients with diabetic foot syndrome," explains Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Motz, Medical Director of the Karlsburg Clinic, who is travelling to Dubai with Prof. Weltmann.
Plasma medicine, a young interdisciplinary scientific discipline worldwide, is making the transition from research to everyday clinical practice. Scientists and physicians in Vorpommern are working closely together on this. They are promoting their innovation at Arab Health, which could spare many patients with chronic wounds a great deal of suffering. The number of diabetes patients is currently growing rapidly, especially in the Arab and Asian regions. According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), diabetes mellitus is considered an epidemic of the 21st century. Around 285 million people worldwide are affected. The federation estimates that this figure could rise to 439 million by 2030.
During their stay in the United Arab Emirates, the delegation members from INP, neoplas tools and Karlsburg Hospital will visit the Abu Dhabi Diabetes Centre, where around 350 diabetes patients receive outpatient treatment every day. "In the Arab world, diabetes is a relatively new problem of enormous proportions. That is why doctors from the Western world are welcome with their expertise," says Prof. Motz. The Karlsburg Clinic is exhibiting at Arab Health for the fifth time and has already established contacts with politicians and doctors in the Emirates, which are to be expanded. "The aim is to train diabetologists and specialist staff and to ensure international standards in diabetes treatment," explains the doctor, pointing out that in the Arab world, "cooperation is slow to develop and requires a high degree of personal trust." The Karlsburg Clinic is one of the oldest institutions in the world treating diabetes patients.
Background information on diabetes: Around seven million people in Germany are affected by diabetes mellitus. According to expert estimates, there are an additional four million people whose diabetes has not yet been diagnosed. This figure is cause for concern: if the disease is not detected in time, it can lead to long-term damage. Complications caused by diabetes include heart attacks, strokes, changes in the retina and kidney dysfunction. Circulatory disorders in the legs and feet can also occur. In the worst case, this can lead to diabetic foot syndrome, colloquially known as "diabetic foot". Approximately 40,000 foot amputations per year result from this disease, which is about two-thirds of all amputations in Germany.
The INP Greifswald and the Karlsburg Clinic want to raise awareness of plasma medicine beyond the region. Plasma medicine is breaking new ground across Europe. The federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is funding the joint marketing project of both institutions. The financial resources come from the European Regional Development Fund.
