RECENT Advances in Medical Science

By Dr M.L.BABU.

Medical science like other sciences is making big strides in diagnosis and management of patients. The day is not far off when a urine in bath room will fore warn of disease. Bath room will have chip which will do your medical checkup. Brain can be connected to Laptop and by sheer thought, one can send mail. Dream recording may be possible in future.

Likewise Biotechnology has made long strides. A living cell is used as a block from which tissues are generated that are highly cellular and 3 Dimensional. Bio printing enables biology and engineering to achieve the goal of fabricating 3Dtissues that recapitulate key  elements of native tissue, by constructing the tissues from tiny 3D multicellular building blocks, instead of using preformed porous scaffolding, the resulting tissues have a tissue like cellular density. These architecturally defined living tissues are effective tools of research. Liver tissue, Bone, Small airway, vascular conduit, Sk muscle, Cardiac tissue to name a few have been fabricated by now.

3D bio printing will enable tissue engineering by its ability to create complex human tissues. It involves building layer by layer three dimensional object designed on CAD program. Ultimate objective of it is replacement of Organs. Currently all bio printers are experimental.  Its uses are:-

1. Patients cells used to fabricate organ.

2. Add cells directly to body.

3. Spray cells on wound to help healing.

4. Key hole bio printers may help in organ repair during surgery.

5. Face printers:--Person could down load face lift and apply it on his face. Face patches may be used for perpetual Youth.

6. With synthetic Organs fabricated, donor wait will be thing of past.

7. Repair of Organs in future possible.

8. Creation of crown, bridges and dentures in Dentistry, making prosthesis for lost limbs.

In 3D printing a 3Dimensional object is made from a digital model. It is achieved by using an additive process. Ist stage is laying out computer aided design (CAD) so that a virtual blue print of object you want to print is made. Program then divides Object into digital cross sections so that printer is able to build it layer by layer. Cross sections act as guide to printer. Finished design is sent to 3Dprinter, you choose a specific material (Rubber, Plastic etc.).Material is transferred from Printer on to a platform. Once printer is commanded to print----it pulls bio plastic filament through a tube and in to an extruder, which heats it up and deposits it through a small hole and on to build plate. Then 3DPRINTER MAKES PASSES OVER THE PLATFORM depositing layer on top of layer of material to create the finished product.Throughout process, the different layers are automatically fused to create a single 3D object in a dots per inch resolution. So far, tissues created have measured a maximum of 500 microns in thickness, with a width of a few mm. Liver cells fabricated produced Albumin, Fibrinogen along with bio synthesis of Cholesterol. It will take over a decade to fabricate a full Organ at present speed but this can change with further advances in science.

Patients in future could receive 3D printed Organ made from his own cells. Implantation of Lab grown skin in burn patient has been done with some success.

 Trachea and bladder implant have been tried with good success.  These body parts were grown by using scaffolds and living human cell.

Future Medicine:--

1. Anti-bleeding gel—Vetigel is being tried to prevent bleeding. If successful it will help in managing cases with bleeding disorders. It will prove to be a boon for neurosurgeon in managing deep seated bleeding in Brain.

2. Magnetic levitation:--By using nano magnets. It will help in creating artificial organs.

3. Artificial cell mimicry: ---In this synthetic gel will take place of cytoskeleton of a cell and when applied to skin, will replace damaged cell. In practical sense it will allow healing but will not allow bacteria in.

4. Brain cells from urine: -- Biologists in China have taken waste cells from urine and modified them with the use of retroviruses to create progenitor cell which body uses as the building blocks for Brain cells.

Embryonic stem cells have been used in past but their side effect is they were more likely to develop tumours after transplant.

5. Electric under wear:--60000 people die of bed sores and resulting infections every year in USA. In this device delivers small electric charge every ten minutes. It activates muscles and increases circulation in that area, effectively eliminates bed sores.

6. Pollen vaccine: ---Goal is to crack into pollen to remove allergen, then injecting vaccine in to empty space left behind. This Vaccine can be now given orally as hard cover of pollen is not digestible by humans. By this method injectable Vaccines could be given orally, thereby saving pricks in a child. Incidentally, this research is done by an Indian doctor in USA.

7. Printed bones: ----Using 3D PRINTERS AND USING A HYBRID MATERIAL ONE CAN MAKE REAL BONE. So in future this model could be used to replace fractured bone. There will be no need to plaster site. Real bone will grow up around model. Once process complete, model disintegrates.

8. Brain damage repair: ---A neuro modulator stimulator on tongue is being tried which will stimulate specific nerve regions on tongue to hopefully focus the Brain on repairing the nerves that are damaged.

9. Human powered equipment: -- In this human generated electricity to power a range of medical devices is being tried.

10. DNA Legos:--DNA strand is being used to build anything. A DNA robot that follows instructions has been made

11. Nano Technology: ---

a. Plasma Scalpels: -- Pressurized steam of Argon through a narrow channel where it acquires an electric charge, transforming it in to a blade of plasma travelling at 1500moles/H is being tried surgically. plasma cutters use  relatively cold plasma, hot enough to cauterize. Plasma causes neutrally charged O2 and N2 IN AIR TO GET ELECTRICALLY CHARGED. The elements then form Ozone which can kill bacteria as well.

b. Bioengineers are trying to connect prosthetic arms and hands directly to Nervous system.

c. Artificial alternative to DNA.

d. Pace makers powered by own blood. Genome sequencing could find thousands of disorders which are not discernible now. Stem cell therapy in Brain damage, Heart damage, cancer and Spinal cord injury are some other advances in medical field.

e. Nanobots are being created to target cancer cell. Nano stars are being used to deliver drugs. Scientists are working on Nanoparticles that can synthesize potential cancer drugs. Nano fibers are being used in surgical dressings, artificial organ components and in material used in implants.

Combination of data analytics, Life style sensor data and metabolic diagnostics will let ageing seniors live healthy and longer.

Upcoming trends:--

Functional MRI is being used to track areas of Brain that are activated by tracing the speed at which cells metabolize glucose. This research is being used to collect information in memory disorders, Brain cancer, depression etc.

Minimally invasive and Robotic techniques have revolutionized surgery. Ever heard of removing diseased kidney through natural orifice (through vagina by endoscope).

Targeted therapy for cancer, Stem cell research be it embryonic or adult stem cell are other advances in medicine.

1.       Artificial lymph node is being developed. This may be initially used as to boost immunity. Doctors later could use these lymph nodes to target cancer cells.

2.       Asthma sensor: -- A device is being developed to analyze breath which can detect asthma at a very early stage.

3.       Cancer spit test: ----In this proteins of cancer cells are allowed to react with dye on sensor. This will help in cancer detection and subsequent management.

4.       Biological Pace maker:-- Pace maker genes expressed in stem cells are injected into damaged heart, once successful there will be no place for metallic Pace makers.

5.       Prosthetic feedback: -- Presently patients with prosthesis do not know/feel its position. Now a device has been made which gives feedback of an amputee’s limb position.

6.       Nerve Regenerator: --- A Nano gel is injected which assembles itself into a scaffold of Nanofibers. Peptides expressed in fibers instruct Stem cells that would normally form scar tissue to produce cells that encourage nerve development.

7.       Stabilizing Insoles: --- This is used to diagnose balance problems in elderly before falls occur.

8.       Autonomous Wheel chair: --- This chair learns about its environment by listening as patient identifies locations.

9.       Gastro intestinal Liner: ---This is being tried in obese people. An Endobarrier is routed through endoscope. It lines first two feet of small intestines where from most food is absorbed.

10.   Speech restorer: --- This is for patients who have lost speech. In this device detects neuronal signals from brain to Vocal cords-----transmit impulses to a computer on cell phone which produces speech.

11.   Absorbable Stent: --- This stent is of absorbable material which starts dissolving after 6 months, fully absorbed by 2 years leaving behind healthy artery.

12.   Muscle stimulators, Smart contact lenses and smart pills are other innovative ideas.

13.   Liver scanner: --- This is used to detect liver disease at a very early stage. Elasticity of Liver is measured by using Ultrasound

14.   Nano scale adhesive to seal perforation in Stomach and seal wounds is also being tried.

Other notable inventions in medicine are Portable Dialysis unit, walking simulator, Rocket powered Arm, measures to lengthen limbs, Universal red blood cells which can be given to any recipient and automatically dispensed medicines.

It is quite obvious from above that medical science has advanced in leaps and bounds in last two decades taking full advantage from other scientific advances.

 

 

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