This Week In Sickle Cell News July 21st to 27th

By Sean Marshall

Big news out of the country of India for sickle cell anemia sufferers. According to India.com, India's latest internet news site, it was explained that "scientists in India are developing a portable and affordable diagnostic kit." The article went on to say that "the device could be used by untrained health workers."The people behind the development of the device are from the Indian Institute of Technology-Powai. The idea is to combine the chip that diagnoses sickle cell anemia disease and add it to the modern cell phone.

This is all done because the development team feels that many individuals in rural or remote areas cannot afford or even reach medical professionals to have a proper diagnostic. Unfortunately many of these tribal areas have a higher percentage of individuals who suffer from sickle cell anemia disease. So the idea is to allow individuals in "who are not medically trained to be able to diagnoses themselves."

According to the article "about five percent of children affected by sickle cell disease die by the age of two." If there are more individuals being able to test for the disease with something as easy to find as a cell phone those numbers could decrees.

The device itself will work by adding "having the patient add a drop of their blood to a plastic microfluidic chip that is pre-loaded with the programs required to detect sickle cell disease." The team hopes is that developing countries can use this and save themselves and their children.

If you would like to go over the article in more detail the link is provided below: http://zeenews.india.com/news/health/diseases/indian-scientists-craft-portable-diagnostic-kit-for-sickle-cell-anemia_28884.html

For those of us who are sports fans interesting news came from twitter last Sunday night. On July 21st Marquise Goodman took to twitter why he left the Buffalo Bills training camp early. He explained that "sickle cell and asthma beat me for today." For those who don't know Marquise Goodman is a wide receiver and kickoff returner for the Buffalo Bills and has had early career success despite his asthma and sickle cell disease.

Goodman just finished his rookie year last football season and despite his aliments had a very success year. HIs effectiveness was never questioned despitehaving having sickle cell disease. With a rookie year that involved "17 catches for 238 yards and three touchdowns" his return to the Buffalo Bills was guaranteed.

Unfortunately when reports came that he had left camp early Goodman felt he needed to explain himself. Dispite having sickle cell he has been able to have a full rookie year only breaking his hand near the end of the season. Goodman has been known "to want to get out in front of any potential injury talk."

Despite being relatively new to the sports world he is a beacon to those who suffered from any illness brought on by sickle cell that the disease doesn’t stop you from being active or even pursuing dreams of being a professional athlete.

If you would like to know about the article head over to the link: http://bills.buffalonews.com/2014/07/21/marquise-goodwin-wants-world-know-hes-hurt/

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