MEDICAL SCIENCE2016 THE YEAR THAT WAS …. 2017 THE YEAR THAT CAN BE ……….

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2016

Yoshinori Ohsumi "for his discoveries of mechanisms for autophagy.”Ohsumi is a cell biologist who was born 1945 in Fukuoka, Japan.

Using baker's yeast, he studied its cells to identify genes involved in the process of autophagy. After determining the genes, Oshumi proceeded to replicate the autophagy; thus, concluding the process can also be true to human cells.

Autophagy helps restore "worn-out" parts of the cells that keeps it at its "tip-top" shape. Its importance to physiology is surely immeasurable and revolutionary.

Zika Virus – Epidemic that causes Congenital anomaly

Arbo virus Transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes.Sexual transmission is also reported.

Zika virus disease can have symptoms including mild fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or headache. These symptoms normally last for 2-7 days.

There is scientific consensus that Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Links to other neurological complications are also being investigated.

Artificial PancreasFDA's approval in September 2016 of Medtronic's (NYSE: MDT) MiniMed 670G, the world’s first artificial pancreas for type 1 diabetes.

The device, which was approved for those aged 14 and up, measures a patient's blood glucose every five minutes.

It uses a sensor with a protruding needle that's slipped under the skin to measure insulin levels, while a pump worn on the abdomen delivers insulin as needed.

This setup could dramatically reduce instances of hypoglycemia and greatly improve the quality of life of type 1 diabetics, who no longer have to constantly check their blood sugar throughout the day.

CRISPR 'Kill' Switch Could Make Human Gene Editing Safer

The CRISPR-Cas9 complex is a powerful tool in the bacterial immune defense against invading viruses. When a virus infiltrates a bacterial cell, the bacteria mobilize a sequence of DNA, called CRISPR, or  ”Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats.(CRISPR)"

The DNA consists of short blocks of repeating base pairs separated by spacer DNA. The bacteria copy and insert the viral DNA sequence into the CRISPR region and produce two strands of RNA.

This RNA then associates with an enzyme called Cas9, which acts as a pair of guided scissors, homing in to the target viral DNA and snipping it out. Finally, the cell repairs the DNA, replacing the deleted DNA snippet with another replacement piece (supplied by scientists).

Essentially, the CRISPR/Cas9 system can be used as a genetic "find and replace."

The CRISPR system's ease of use means it could be used for almost any gene-editing technique. For instance, doctors could one day edit human immune cells in the lab to recognize cancer cells, and then inject those cells back into a person as a targeted cancer treatment

CRISPR, or  ”Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats.(CRISPR)"

Bia 10-2474 TragedyOne previously healthy participant in the phase 1 trial of an investigational analgesic medication (Bia 10-2474) died and five others were hospitalized after developing serious neurologic problems.

The trial was carried out by Biotrial, a clinical trials company, for the Portuguese pharmaceutical laboratory Bial.

Bia 10-2474 is a molecule that acts on the endocannabinoid system and was in development for treatment of motor disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, and anxiety disorders. All trials of the drug have been suspended.

Medical MarijuanaIn 2016, more countries legalized the use of marijuana for medicinal or recreational purposes.

Marijuana, or cannabis, is "the most widely cultivated, produced, trafficked and consumed drug worldwide," according to the World Drug Report, but its legality has long been a topic of debate worldwide.

1. Slow the progression of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s’ diseases

2. Reduce the number and severity of debilitating epileptic seizures

3. Reduce muscle spasms experienced by those with multiple sclerosis

4. Kill or limit the growth of cancer cells

5. Provide anxiety relief and reduce nightmares for those with post-traumatic stress disorder

6. Minimize neurological damage following spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries

Cancer Immunotherapy- CAR-T Therapy

An overactive immune system can lead to excessive inflammation and development of autoimmune disorders.

The body uses molecules known as immune checkpoints to control the strength and duration of immune responses, minimizing damage to healthy tissue.

Some tumors produce these same molecules and thereby suppress the immune response to the tumor.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors release these tumor-induced brakes on the immune system, unleashing it to attack malignant tumors and stop their growth. These treatments are showing promising results in many types of cancer, including melanoma and lung cancer.

The first FDA-approved immune checkpoint inhibitor, ipilimumab, blocks the CTLA-4 molecule on T cells, which leads to a broad enhancement of immune responses, including attacks on cancer cells. A range of newer drugs targets a different immune checkpoint protein known as PD-1. The treatments work by preventing cancer cells from attaching to the PD-1 protein on immune cells, which leads to an increased antitumor immune response and generally fewer adverse effects.

(CHIMERIC ANTIGEN RECEPTOR T CELL THERAPY)

World's first dengue vaccine 'Dengvaxia' approved in 11 countries

Dengvaxia, world's first vaccine for the deadly disease dengue has been approved in 11 more countries.

Sanofi-Pasteur, a unit of French pharmaceutical company Sanofi, that manufactures the only approved dengue vaccine on Tuesday said that the vaccines has received approval in 14 countries.First approval was Lyon, France - December 9, 2015 

The health authorities of Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore have granted the approvals for Dengvaxia. Mexico, the Philippines, Brazil, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Guatemala, Peru, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore have already approved the vaccine.

Two persons dead, 37 affected by diphtheria in Kerala; no shortage of vaccines says govt The reluctance of a section of a people to go for vaccination was one of the reasons for the sudden spurt of the disease

PTI| Tuesday, July 12, 2016 - 14:48

2017 and Beyond- What to expect?

Head TransplantPatient set to undergo the world's first human head transplant says 'Dr Frankenstein' will reveal details of the operation next month

Valery Spiridonov will undergo the first ever human head transplant

The 31-year-old is wheelchair reliant due to a muscle-wasting disease

Operation will allow him to walk for the first time in his adult life

His pioneering procedure is expected to take place in December 2017 

His surgeon Dr Sergio Canavero dubbed Dr Frankenstein.

Using the microbiome to prevent, diagnose and treat disease

Microbes in our bodies — and the chemicals they emit — interfere with the way food is digested, medicine is deployed and even how a disease progresses.

Biotech companies once focused on the genomic market are pivoting to the potential of the microbiome to develop new diagnostics, new therapies and “probiotic” products to prevent dangerous microbe imbalances.

With the National Microbiome Initiative’s accelerating research and development, experts believe 2017 is the year the microbiome becomes the healthcare industry’s most promising and lucrative frontier.

Liquid biopsies-ct-DNATests known as “liquid biopsies” uncover signs of actual DNA, or cell-free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), which is shed from a tumor into the bloodstream. This ctDNA is more than 100 times more abundant in the blood than tumor cells.

While studies are still underway, annual sales of this revolutionary cancer test are forecast to be $10 billion. Several companies are developing testing kits to hit the market this year.

Liquid biopsy is being hailed as a flagship technology of the federal government’s Cancer Moonshot Initiative. Experts believe it’s only a matter of time before catching and treating cancer is as routine as an annual checkup.cell-free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)

3-D visualization and augmented reality for surgery

Surgeons rely on microscope oculars or other camera systems to operate. However, they typically depend on their own eyes and interpretations to execute the most precise tasks — with their heads down, peripheral vision limited, and back and neck muscles strained.

This past year, two of the most intricate surgical fields, neurosurgery and retinal microsurgery, began experimenting with technology that keeps surgeons’ heads up while immersing them in a high-resolution, 3-D visual representation of their subject. These stereoscopic systems also use data to generate visual templates for surgeons to execute certain tasks.

Those who have piloted the technology say the added comfort and visual information will allow surgeons to operate more efficiently and effectively. Several hospitals will be adopting these virtual reality tools in 2017.DaVinCi Intuitive Surgical Systems

Bioabsorbable stentsWhen an artery that supplies blood to the heart muscle narrows or becomes blocked it’s often opened with a stent.

The tiny wire mesh tubes are made of metal and stay in place forever. 

What if the stent could just disappear after it’s done its job? Absorbable stents are already in use in Europe and recently approved by the FDA, do exactly that.

The absorbable stents also appear to reduce chest pain after surgery compared with the wire option.

Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR)

If there’s one advancement medical experts and the press seem most excited about, it’s interoperability, or, the ability of health care information technologies—like a hospital’s digital systems—to communicate with each other.

For those who have wondered why the billing department can’t get on the same page as your doctor, this is the breakthrough for you.

Set to debut in 2017, Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) is a kind of tool dedicated to saving money and lives by improving the speed and efficiency of health data transferal.

Essentially, instead of transferring entire documents, which causes a backup, FHIR transfers specific bits of health care information—a word, a code—from one place (ex: your doctor) to another (ex: billing). This means health care workers don’t have to go through tons of extraneous information to get the data they want, making your experience faster and your records, more accurate.

Automated car safety features and driverless capabilities.

Seatbelts have saved more lives over the past 50 years

Other car safety features such as child safety seats and frontal, curtain and side-impact airbags have saved another large group of lives in that time. 

Starting in 2017, the Government will make it a law to have back-up cameras in new cars.

Collision warning systems, adaptive cruise control, lane assist, and cross-traffic alerts are some other innovations on the horizon to further reduce the more car crashes each year.

GenomicsSince the completion of the Human Genome Project, which aimed at the complete mapping and understanding of all the genes of human beings, we have been envisioning the era of personalized medicine in which everyone gets customized therapy with customized dosages.

The truth is that there are hundreds of evidence-based applications for personal genomics, according to the Personalized Medicine Coalition. 

As we move along this path, we will have more and more opportunities for using DNA analysis at the patient’s bedside which should be a must have before actually prescribing drugs.