From the moment we step into a doctor’s office or hospital ward, technology is used to test, diagnose and treat us.
It ranges from things we consider basic, such as the stethoscope and thermometer, to some incredibly advanced technologies that tell us the intricacies of our brains or what’s going on inside a small joint.
At Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, a 24-hour epilepsy-monitoring unit is revolutionising the way patients are diagnosed and treated, and surgical robots are helping specialists with complicated operations.
Healthpoint in Abu Dhabi, which signed a three-year deal to become Manchester City’s regional healthcare provider in 2014, uses technology to keep invasive diagnosis and treatments to a minimum.
Dr Sherif Elsayed Ahmed Ban, a specialist orthopaedic surgeon at Healthpoint, says technology has transformed the way patients are diagnosed and treated, even for the most minor sports-related injuries.
“By combining MRI scanning with arthrography – an X-ray examination of the space inside a joint – we are able to reach an image accuracy of over 90 per cent in injuries of the shoulders, hips and wrists without the need to perform a surgical exploration,” he says. “This allows us to observe the smallest cartilage and ligament tears that cannot be spotted on MRI or arthrography alone. A more accurate diagnosis helps us implement a more successful treatment plan.”
An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) uses radio waves and magnetic fields to provide images of what is going on in the body.
When surgery is required, medics use high-definition cameras to see inside the joint, without having to perform open surgery.
Dr Nader Darwich, medical director at Healthpoint, says technologies that help with pain control, healing and rehabilitation are just as important as surgical advances.
“Advancements in hydrotherapy offer unique advantages compared to other methods of rehabilitation, including moveable pool floors that adjust to the height of the patient or provide easier access for wheelchair patients,” he says.
Underwater treadmills can also leverage the buoyancy of the water to reduce stress on joints, and antigravity treadmills can help adjust the amount of weight a patient puts on a joint.
The latter uses an inflatable tent that applies upward pressure to take some of the weight off the lower body. The tent can be adjusted depending on how much weight needs to be taken off, allowing for a more personalised rehabilitation plan.
There have been numerous milestones in medical technology over the decades, yet there is no end in sight. Scientists are constantly inventing new ways of incorporating technology into medicine.
Robotic surgery is one of the most exciting recent advances. Surgeons control a robotic system of cameras and mechanical arms with instruments attached, allowing for more minimally invasive and controlled surgeries.
According to Dr Rakesh Suri, chief of staff and chief of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, benefits of minimally invasive surgery include reduced risk of infection, minimal blood loss, shorter hospital stays and faster recovery.
“The first surgical robot was created over 30 years ago. Since then, the technology has become increasingly advanced, assisting physicians to perform highly specific, complex procedures. The extent of the use of robotic surgery is continuously evolving, aiding in improving a patient’s overall well-being, reducing pain and even saving lives,” says Suri.
“However, the robotic-surgery technology will not function without the aid of a surgeon; robotic surgery is simply an extension of a surgeon’s own eyes and hands, extending a physician’s expertise.”
The use of technology enables information to be recorded and analysed even when there is no doctor or nurse present.
Whereas once a patient would have to visit a clinic or hospital to be examined, monitoring technologies reduce the need for such visits.
“Traditionally, patients need to attend regular in-person check-ups every three to six months, where physicians place a monitor on the patient’s chest to examine the heart rhythm and to download data from the implantable device [such as pacemakers and defibrillators],” says Dr Khalid Al Muti, a cardiovascular doctor in Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Heart & Vascular Institute. “However patients might experience irregular heart activity between these appointments, which if undetected, can place them in a greater risk of a harmful event, like cardiac or stroke.”
Home monitoring, however, gives doctors a much more detailed and complete picture, and improves survival rates. It takes readings from the patient’s implantable device and sends these to the clinic.
Research also shows that home-monitoring devices improve patient engagement, especially appointment attendance, says Al Muti.
Remote monitoring for patients with implantable pacemakers and defibrillators has also evolved, and can detect early accumulation of fluid in the lungs of patients with heart failure.
Reports are sent to the physician on a monthly basis, allowing them to adjust the patient’s medication, when necessary, to avoid heart failure.
“A proactive approach to heart health helps significantly reduce a person’s risk for heart conditions like heart attacks and irregular heart rhythms, which can be life-threatening,” says Al Muti.
As scientists strive for accuracy, technology has taken some responsibility away from patients. Instead of relying on patients to press a button and send a transmission to their doctor, heart monitors take automatic readings and transmit this data.
“This means the implantable device and the small home-transmission console send reports automatically, eliminating issues related to forgetfulness on the part of the patient and assures timely assessment of both urgent and routine findings,” he says.
This sort of technology is incredibly important in places where cardiovascular disease is a problem, such as in the UAE, where it is responsible for about a quarter of all deaths, according to a report published in Global Health Action in 2013.
Heart health is a relatively well understood area of medicine as far as the causes, symptoms and treatments are concerned. For other issues such as neurological disorders, there are more unknowns, and development of technology has been critical.
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s 24-hour epilepsy monitoring unit is equipped to record every bit of information about a patient’s condition.
“It’s estimated that one in 100 people globally have epilepsy, making it one of the most common neurological disorders,” says Dr Deepak Lachwani, chief of neurology. “It not only impacts the patient’s overall quality of life, but their family’s as well. Accurate diagnosis of the disorder is a critical first step to put a proper treatment plan in place, so patients and their family members can be assured of the most optimum quality of life.”
The monitoring unit is run by staff in Abu Dhabi and Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It uses electroencephalography (EEG), which measures electrical activity in the brain, and high-resolution video cameras to record the body’s movements during a seizure.
Epileptologists – epilepsy specialists – examine all the readings during a patient’s visit. The aim is to establish exactly which part of the brain becomes involved first in seizure generation.
“This helps to identify patients in whom a safe brain surgery to remove the seizure-generator area may be helpful in treating a seizure disorder [that is] not responding to medications,” says Lachwani.
The monitoring also helps correct incorrect diagnosis. Lachwani says up to a third of patients who stay in the unit have episodes “mistaken for epileptic seizures”.
“Ultimately, the whole approach helps our team accurately diagnose the patient, to confirm if in fact they are having seizures, what type of seizures they are having, where in the brain they arise and what may be the best treatment plan.”
This, as with much of today’s modern medicine, would be impossible without technology.
The Freedom Artist
By Ben Okri (Head of Zeus)
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group B
Tottenham Hotspur 1 (Eriksen 80')
Inter Milan 0
BOSH!'s pantry essentials
Nutritional yeast
This is Firth's pick and an ingredient he says, "gives you an instant cheesy flavour". He advises making your own cream cheese with it or simply using it to whip up a mac and cheese or wholesome lasagne. It's available in organic and specialist grocery stores across the UAE.
Seeds
"We've got a big jar of mixed seeds in our kitchen," Theasby explains. "That's what you use to make a bolognese or pie or salad: just grab a handful of seeds and sprinkle them over the top. It's a really good way to make sure you're getting your omegas."
Umami flavours
"I could say soya sauce, but I'll say all umami-makers and have them in the same batch," says Firth. He suggests having items such as Marmite, balsamic vinegar and other general, dark, umami-tasting products in your cupboard "to make your bolognese a little bit more 'umptious'".
Onions and garlic
"If you've got them, you can cook basically anything from that base," says Theasby. "These ingredients are so prevalent in every world cuisine and if you've got them in your cupboard, then you know you've got the foundation of a really nice meal."
Your grain of choice
Whether rice, quinoa, pasta or buckwheat, Firth advises always having a stock of your favourite grains in the cupboard. "That you, you have an instant meal and all you have to do is just chuck a bit of veg in."
NEW ARRIVALS
Benjamin Mendy (Monaco) - £51.75m (Dh247.94m)
Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur) - £45.9m
Bernardo Silva (Monaco) - £45m
Ederson Moraes (Benfica) - £36m
Danilo (Real Madrid) - £27m
Douglas Luiz (Vasco de Gama) - £10.8m
RESULT
Arsenal 1 Chelsea 2
Arsenal: Aubameyang (13')
Chelsea: Jorginho (83'), Abraham (87')
World Series
Game 1: Red Sox 8, Dodgers 4
Game 2: Red Sox 4, Dodgers 2
Game 3: Saturday (UAE)
* if needed
Game 4: Sunday
Game 5: Monday
Game 6: Wednesday
Game 7: Thursday
SPECS
Nissan 370z Nismo
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 363hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh184,500
Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes.
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com
England's lowest Test innings
- 45 v Australia in Sydney, January 28, 1887
- 46 v West Indies in Port of Spain, March 25, 1994
- 51 v West Indies in Kingston, February 4, 2009
- 52 v Australia at The Oval, August 14, 1948
- 53 v Australia at Lord's, July 16, 1888
- 58 v New Zealand in Auckland, March 22, 2018
SHOW COURTS ORDER OF PLAY
Centre Court (4pm UAE/12pm GMT)
Victoria Azarenka (BLR) v Heather Watson (GBR)
Rafael Nadal (ESP x4) v Karen Khachanov (RUS x30)
Andy Murray (GBR x1) v Fabio Fognini (ITA x28)
Court 1 (4pm UAE)
Steve Johnson (USA x26) v Marin Cilic (CRO x7)
Johanna Konta (GBR x6) v Maria Sakkari (GRE)
Naomi Osaka (JPN) v Venus Williams (USA x10)
Court 2 (2.30pm UAE)
Aljaz Bedene (GBR) v Gilles Muller (LUX x16)
Peng Shuai (CHN) v Simona Halep (ROM x2)
Jelena Ostapenko (LAT x13) v Camila Giorgi (ITA)
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x12) v Sam Querrey (USA x24)
Court 3 (2.30pm UAE)
Kei Nishikori (JPN x9) v Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP x18)
Carina Witthoeft (GER) v Elina Svitolina (UKR x4)
Court 12 (2.30pm UAE)
Dominika Cibulkova (SVK x8) v Ana Konjuh (CRO x27)
Kevin Anderson (RSA) v Ruben Bemelmans (BEL)
Court 18 (2.30pm UAE)
Caroline Garcia (FRA x21) v Madison Brengle (USA)
Benoit Paire (FRA) v Jerzy Janowicz (POL)
Specs
Engine: 2-litre
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 255hp
Torque: 273Nm
Price: Dh240,000
Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 0
Manchester City 2
Bernardo Silva 54', Sane 66'
Six tips to secure your smart home
Most smart home devices are controlled via the owner's smartphone. Therefore, if you are using public wi-fi on your phone, always use a VPN (virtual private network) that offers strong security features and anonymises your internet connection.
Keep your smart home devices’ software up-to-date. Device makers often send regular updates - follow them without fail as they could provide protection from a new security risk.
Use two-factor authentication so that in addition to a password, your identity is authenticated by a second sign-in step like a code sent to your mobile number.
Set up a separate guest network for acquaintances and visitors to ensure the privacy of your IoT devices’ network.
Change the default privacy and security settings of your IoT devices to take extra steps to secure yourself and your home.
Always give your router a unique name, replacing the one generated by the manufacturer, to ensure a hacker cannot ascertain its make or model number.
Scoreline
Germany 2
Werner 9', Sane 19'
Netherlands 2
Promes 85', Van Dijk 90'
Abu Dhabi GP schedule
Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm
Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm
Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm
MORE ON INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE
If you go
The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at.
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti with Coastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.
Match info
Premier League
Manchester United 2 (Martial 30', Lingard 69')
Arsenal 2 (Mustafi 26', Rojo 68' OG)
Vikram%20Vedha
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Gayatri%2C%20Pushkar%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hrithik%20Roshan%2C%20Saif%20Ali%20Khan%2C%20Radhika%20Apte%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
UAE-based players
Goodlands Riders: Jamshaid Butt, Ali Abid, JD Mahesh, Vibhor Shahi, Faizan Asif, Nadeem Rahim
Rose Hill Warriors: Faraz Sheikh, Ashok Kumar, Thabreez Ali, Janaka Chathuranga, Muzammil Afridi, Ameer Hamza
ARM%20IPO%20DETAILS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EShare%20price%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ETarget%20raise%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%248%20billion%20to%20%2410%20billion%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProjected%20valuation%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2460%20billion%20to%20%2470%20billion%20(Source%3A%20Bloomberg)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ELead%20underwriters%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Barclays%2C%20Goldman%20Sachs%20Group%2C%20JPMorgan%20Chase%20and%20Mizuho%20Financial%20Group%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
Gully Boy
Director: Zoya Akhtar
Producer: Excel Entertainment & Tiger Baby
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Kalki Koechlin, Siddhant Chaturvedi
Rating: 4/5 stars
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm)
Burnley v Huddersfield Town (7pm)
Everton v Bournemouth (7pm)
Manchester City v Crystal Palace (7pm)
Southampton v Manchester United (7pm)
Stoke City v Chelsea (7pm)
Swansea City v Watford (7pm)
Leicester City v Liverpool (8.30pm)
Sunday
Brighton and Hove Albion v Newcastle United (7pm)
Monday
Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion (11pm)
Bangladesh tour of Pakistan
January 24 – First T20, Lahore
January 25 – Second T20, Lahore
January 27 – Third T20, Lahore
February 7-11 – First Test, Rawalpindi
April 3 – One-off ODI, Karachi
April 5-9 – Second Test, Karachi
Info
What: 11th edition of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship
When: December 27-29, 2018
Confirmed: men: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Kevin Anderson, Dominic Thiem, Hyeon Chung, Karen Khachanov; women: Venus Williams
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae, Virgin megastores or call 800 86 823
THE BIG MATCH
Arsenal v Manchester City,
Sunday, Emirates Stadium, 6.30pm
MATCH INFO
Tottenham 4 (Alli 51', Kane 50', 77'. Aurier 73')
Olympiakos 2 (El-Arabi 06', Semedo')
BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
match details
Wales v Hungary
Cardiff City Stadium, kick-off 11.45pm
Women's Prize for Fiction shortlist
The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Milkman by Anna Burns
Ordinary People by Diana Evans
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Circe by Madeline Miller
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
