Video game technology at play in biomolecular research

Wake Forest University senior Anqi Zou never thought she would thank video gamers for showing her the way to exciting discoveries in molecular biology.

But here she is, acknowledging that the technology she uses to show the inner workings of cells was originally perfected to create realistic images on gaming screens worldwide.

No matter. Wake Forest students are using graphics processing units – also called GPUs or graphics cards – to explore the biomolecular processes in the cell and take on challenges, including a cure for cancer.

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New Stent Provides Relief to Patients with Advanced Small Intestine Cancer

Cook Medical announced today that its Evolution® Duodenal Controlled-Release Stent was recently granted 510(k) clearance by the FDA. The new stent expands palliative care options for patients experiencing malignant gastric outlet obstruction, a late stage complication of a variety of GI related cancers with pancreatic cancer being the most common cause. The stent offers these patients a minimally invasive alternative to relieve the symptoms and potentially life-threatening complications resulting from duodenal obstruction, such as abdominal pain, vomiting, malnutrition and aspiration.