Buzz
1. Microbiome Application for Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment
The majority of medical professionals agree that most health issues in humans begin in the gut. Hence, the microbiome - an ecosystem comprising hundreds of trillions of microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa - residing and covering every nook and cranny of the body can aid in identifying DNA, detecting disease trends, and other health-related issues of the body. In fact, 90% of all diseases can be traced back to the gut and the health of the microbiome. Toxins such as gluten, harmful bacteria, and poorly digested food that can cause digestive difficulties leading to inflammation, resulting in symptoms like bloating, food allergies, skin problems, and even autoimmune symptoms.
This underscores the importance of gut health care, and the microbiome will be the “gold mine” in the health industry of 2017.
Diabetes medication for reducing cardiovascular disease and mortality
In 2012, an incomplete survey reported that 29.1 million Americans had diabetes, with 27.85 million of them having type 2 diabetes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States and the eighth worldwide. Dangerous complications of type 2 diabetes include cardiovascular disease, kidney problems, blindness, and more. Therefore, medical professionals hoped that by 2017, new diabetes medications would effectively reduce these dangerous complications. However, health experts advise that if you or a loved one has type 2 diabetes, try to naturally reverse the disease through a balanced diet, moderate exercise, and the use of functional foods before resorting to more medications.
Automatic safety features for cars and driverless vehicles
Healthcare costs related to car accidents amount to nearly $23 billion annually in the United States, posing a burden on society. Therefore, car manufacturers and technology companies are hoping to change this situation by adding automatic features, drowsiness alert functions, and collision warning systems.
Liquid Biopsies: A Breakthrough in Cancer Patient Care
Liquid biopsies, a minimally invasive procedure using blood samples, offer a simpler alternative to traditional tissue biopsies. By analyzing circulating tumor DNA, liquid biopsies enable the detection of brain tumors without the need for surgery or conventional tissue sampling methods.
Ketamine: A Promising Treatment for Depression
Depression leading to suicide is a concerning issue in modern society. While natural remedies and conventional medications fail to help nearly one-third of depressed patients, ketamine shows promise in addressing this challenge. Ketamine, known colloquially as Special K, has been in circulation since the 1960s. It was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in 1970. Currently, several pharmaceutical companies are conducting clinical trials on ketamine for two target groups: patients who do not respond to other antidepressants and those at high risk of suicide due to depression. Results of these trials are expected to be reported to the FDA in 2017 or 2018.
Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR)
Many individuals, for various reasons (fear of hospitals, fear of illness, financial concerns, busy schedules, fear of wasting time, etc.), rarely or never visit doctors. Therefore, FHIR presents an ideal solution by providing tools that allow users to access healthcare resources, including clinical data such as images and medications, as well as administrative data like payments and demographics.
Self-Administered HPV Test: Empowering Health Monitoring
HPV, a sexually transmitted virus, is the most common cause of genital warts worldwide. There are over 100 different strains of HPV, with at least 13 strains capable of causing cancer. Particularly, HPV16 and HPV18 are the main culprits responsible for 70% of cervical cancer cases, 80% of anal cancer cases, 60% of vaginal cancer cases, and 40% of vulvar cancer cases. Despite the availability of HPV vaccines, they pose health risks, making self-administered HPV testing extremely valuable. An HPV testing kit typically includes a test tube and a swab. You can perform the test on yourself and send the sample to a laboratory. Healthcare professionals will then inform you about the status of the HPV virus and provide timely prevention or treatment advice.
Implementing 3D Animation and Virtual Reality in Surgery
The use of 3D animation and virtual reality is gradually being applied to the most delicate surgeries (such as those involving the eyes and nervous system). This technology reduces the pressure and risk of errors during surgery. The first surgery utilizing live-streamed virtual reality took place on April 14, 2016, at the Royal London Hospital, UK, with a successful outcome in a 70-year-old patient with bowel cancer.
Bioabsorbable Stent: A Breakthrough in Cardiac Treatment
On average, about 600,000 people use metal stents annually to treat coronary artery disease. Most of these stents are not permanent, and they pose risks such as inhibiting natural blood flow and causing unintended complications, notably blood clot formation. To address these issues, in July 2016, the FDA approved the use of bioabsorbable stents. This new type of stent is made from a polymer material that can self-dissolve after two years of clearing the blocked artery, then gradually absorbed by the body akin to natural tissue. Patients no longer need anti-clotting medications or other treatment interventions.
