NEW DISCOVERIES IN MEDICINE
Throughout history, disease has been a subject of fear and fascination in equal measure. However, each revolutionary medical discovery has brought us a crucial step closer to understanding the complex mysteries of disease and medicine. As a result, we have been able to develop medical breakthrough treatments that have been instrumental in saving millions of lives.
Here’s a list of the top medical advances in the year 2022-2023 so far:
1.Next Generation of mRNA Vaccinology
Advancements in the generation, purification and cellular delivery of RNA have enabled the development of mRNA vaccines across a broad array of applications, such as cancer and Zika virus infection. The technology is cost-effective, relatively simple to manufacture, and elicits immunity in a novel way. Furthermore, the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that the world needed rapid development of a vaccine that was deployable around the globe. Because of previous research that laid the groundwork for this technology, an effective COVID-19 vaccine was developed, produced, approved and deployed in less than a year. This landscape-changing technology has the potential to be used to manage some of healthcare’s most challenging diseases quickly and efficiently.
2. PSMA-Targeted Therapy in Prostate Cancer
Each year, more than 200,000 American men receive a diagnosis of prostate cancer – making it the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men in the United States. Accurate imaging is critical for tumor localization, staging the disease and detecting recurrences. PSMA, an antigen found in high levels on the surface of prostate cancer cells, is a potential biomarker for the disease. PMSA PET scans use a radioactive tracer to attach to PSMA proteins, which are then combined with CT or MRI scans to visualize the location of prostate cancer cells. In 2020, this technology received FDA approval based on phase III clinical trials, which showed substantially increased accuracy for detecting prostate cancer metastasis compared to conventional imaging with bone and CT scans. When detected early by PSMA PET scans, recurrent prostate cancer can be treated through a targeted approach with stereotactic body radiation therapy, surgery and/or systemic therapy in a personalized manner.
3.AI for Early Detection of Sepsis
Sepsis is a severe inflammatory response to infection and a leading cause of hospitalization and death worldwide. Because septic shock has a very high mortality rate, early diagnosis of sepsis is critical. Diagnosis can be complicated because early symptoms are common across other conditions, and the current standard for diagnosis is non-specific. Artificial intelligence (AI) has surfaced as a new tool that can help rapidly detect sepsis. Using AI algorithms, the tool detects several key risk factors in real time by monitoring patients’ electronic medical records as physicians input information. Flagging high-risk patients can help facilitate early intervention, which can improve outcomes, lower healthcare costs and save lives.
4.Predictive Analytics and Hypertension
Often referred to as the “silent killer,” hypertension, or high blood pressure, usually shows no symptoms while increasing risk for serious health problems, including heart disease, heart failure and stroke. Effective treatment options exist; however, many adults remain unaware that they have hypertension until they experience a significant health crisis. Using machine learning, a type of artificial intelligence, physicians are able to better select more effective medications, medication combinations, and dosages to improve control of hypertension. AI also will allow physicians to predict cardiovascular morbidities and enable physicians to focus on interventions before they occur. Predictive analytics equip providers with the key that could open the door to preventing hypertension and many other diseases.
5.Non-Hormonal Alternatives for Menopause
More than 50 percent of all menopausal women experience hot flashes, which can persist for an average of seven years. While effective and safe when used appropriately, hormone therapy involves some risk and not all patients are appropriate candidates or ready to try this treatment option. Fortunately, a new group of non-hormonal drugs, called NK3R antagonists, have emerged as a viable alternative to hormone therapy. These drugs disrupt a signaling pathway in the brain that has been linked to the development of hot flashes and have shown promise in clinical trials for relieving moderate to severe menopausal hot flashes as effectively as hormones. While additional studies are needed to fully understand the effectiveness and safety of these new drugs, it is clear that the next generation of non-hormonal treatments for menopausal hot flashes is on the horizon.
