From the 26th to the 28th of October 2017, the Health Campus Immunology, Infectiology and Inflammation (GC-I³) informed visitors in the Allee-Center Magdeburg about the causes and treatments of various diseases, especially metabolic syndrome and cancer. Many visitors used the chance to learn more about these exciting topics and talked with the doctors and staff of the GC-I³. Almost everyone who came by took the opportunity to visit the highlight of the exhibition, a larger than live, walkthrough model of the intestines. While going through it, members of the Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectiology taught them about diseases in the intestines and liver as well as about preventative measures to take against intestinal cancer.
Cancer is a term that everyone has heard, but many people are not familiar with metabolic syndrome. But, according to estimates from the International Diabetes Federation, 20 to 25 % of the adult population worldwide has this disease, and in Germany these numbers are even higher, ranging from 25 to 30 %. This disease consists of the combination of various factors including overweight, high blood pressure, high levels of blood fats (triglycerides) and high levels of blood sugar. Metabolic syndrome is an important risk factor for diseases of the heart and circulatory system and increases the risk of cancer. Visitors were able to learn about these topics at the stand set up by the Tumor Center for Magdeburg/Sachsen-Anhalt e.V.
Another magnet for the public was the chance to take a free cholesterol and blood sugar test, calculate their risk of a heart attack and to learn about weight loss through the Active Body Control Program. Many visitors also participated in the TeleBlut study from the Clinic of Hematology and Oncology, accompanied by information about donating blood and stem cells. On Saturday, some visitors registered themselves as stem cell donators.
The Department of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene had an impressive demonstration of the difference between clean and clinically clean: the visitors were able to test how germ infested daily objects such as watches, rings and phones are and learn how to properly hygienically disinfect their hands. Here are the results of the study.
The „intelligent shoe soles“ from the Clinic of Nephrology and Hypertension, Diabetes and Endocrinology were also a topic of interest for many visitors. These were developed for diabetics in combination with computer games which were controlled with special shoe soles to determine the status of the nerves and were thoroughly tested by people of all ages.
While the adults learned about health topics, the kids had the chance to color in immune cells and take them home on a sticker. They could also go to the Teddy Clinic and learn about the watchtowers of the immune police.
The stands and interactive exhibits were supported by short lectures on health topics such as diabetes and diseases affecting the liver, intestines and the circulatory system. The flyer with all of the information on the Information days can be found here.
The Volksstimme Magdeburg also reported this successful event, which certainly contributed to the mass of visitors on Satudardy!
Photos: Melitta Dybiona und Antao Ming.
