10 Years of High-Tech Health Care

Technology breakthroughs have brought the most dramatic and impactful changes in our lives, environments and societies. The rapid growth of medical technology revolutionized our modern society, improving quality of life, prolonging lifespan and promoting well being. 

 

It is easy to see how health care advancements have touched the lives of almost every person on the plant.

The past 10 years has seen the most remarkable medicines and innovative medical technologies that continued to transform health care delivery and save our lives. 

 

From targeted cancer therapies to stem cell research, here are life-changing medical technologies that helped us survive the most deliberating of diseases during the past 10 years. 

Targeted Cancer Care: According to the National Cancer Institute, targeted cancer therapies are drugs that function by either interfering with the spread of cancer by blocking cells involved in tumor growth, or identify and kill the deadly cancer cells. 

There are more than 15 targeted cancer therapies approved the FDA during the last decade. Targeted cancer therapies can be more effective than other types of cancer treatment, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and less harmful to healthy cells.

Read the rest of the story here: 10 Years of Medical Advancements

New Stem Cell Vision Treatment Shows Promise

Embryonic stem cells have been successfully used in a treatment for severe vision loss.

Scientists from the University of California and biotechnology company, Advanced Cell Technology performed the trials, which involved two patients young and old, with different types of macular degeneration. Both patients were registered as legally blind before the study began.

After injecting the "reprogrammed" embryonic stem cells into the patients' eyes, the researchers reported significant improvement in their vision abilities.

Reuters Health reported the younger participant “could count fingers, and after one month she could read the top five letters on the eye chart. She could see more color and contrast, has started using the computer, and for the first time in years can read her watch and thread a needle."

According to the same article, the older patient had similar improvements. After the study, she went to a place she hasn’t been in years: the shopping mall.

This certainly is a major breakthrough for ophthalmology and stem cell researchers, however, because the study used embryonic stem cells, there is bound to be some opposition.

To learn more, read the full article: Stem Cell Vision Treatment Sees First Success

Stem Cell Arthritis Treatment Has Potential to Revolutionize Care for Patients

In a matter of just five years, scientists hope to eliminate arthritis joint pain, possibly for good.

Using a revolutionary new stem cell therapy, orthopedic surgeons and arthritis experts are working on a way to restore joint cartilage with a single injection.

Stem cells taken from the patient would be transformed into cartilage cells, injected into the patient's afflicted joint, and ideally, grow new cartilage in the arthritic area.

Scientists claim that this might eliminate the need for patients to undergo painful
joint replacement surgery, which today is seen as a last resort for long-time arthritis sufferers.

To learn more, read the full article: Arthritis Treatment May Prevent the Need for Orthopedic Surgery

Scientists Grow Teeth Out of Stem Cells

Advancements in stem cell research have been all over the news lately.

Reports of repairing damaged hearts in mice, and even growing a full trachea in a matter of days have stunned scientists and given hope for patients suffering from a wide variety of health conditions.

The latest report comes out of Japan, where a team of researchers has grown teeth from the stem cells of mice, and reimplanted them into the mice's jaws. The bioengineered teeth have actually fused with the jawbone and gums, and are now completely functional (it took about 40 days, according to the report).

This is big news for stem cell therapy, as well as dentists, who might actually be able to grow a new tooth for a patient with missing teeth. This could not only revolutionize dental care, but health care as a whole.

To learn more, read the full article here: Stem Cell Teeth - The Future of Dental Implants