In the last century alone, we’ve seen several medical advances, from the development of antibiotics to cancer therapies, and we owe it all to medical research. Every year, hundreds of studies are being conducted. The medical discoveries happen so quickly that even the journals find it challenging to keep up. These discoveries happen so fast that it can be difficult to keep up with them. To keep you up to date, here are some of the medical feats researchers have accomplished recently:
Body part regeneration
In the past, the ability to grow body parts was left for lizards and sci-fi movie characters, but not anymore. Researchers at Ohio State University’s Medical Center and College of Engineering have developed a technology called tissue nanotransfection. It’s a non-invasive procedure that can reprogram skin cells to repair nerve cells, blood vessels, and even organs.
If you’re finding it a little difficult to imagine, then you’re not alone. Even the team behind the project acknowledges that it’s definitely new technology. The procedure currently has a success rate of 98%, and it can convert skin cells into elements of any of the organs in the body. However, this groundbreaking discovery is still in its animal testing phase, but plans to commence human trials are underway.
3D spinal implants
3D printing is a relatively new technology, and it’s used extensively in fields like architecture and engineering as well. However, Osseus Fusion Systems, a spine device company, has received FDA approval for one of their latest creation. It promises to reduce back pain suffered by patients, and shorten the recovery time from spinal surgeries by a wide margin.
The spinal model is printed from a titanium material, and it allows spine tissues to grow through the implant. That then enables the implant to set better. The impact of this new technology is remarkable because statistics show that 20 to 25 percent of back surgeries are unsuccessful. This new technology will raise the success rate by a wide range.
Quicker recovery from stroke
Stroke is a menacing disease, and it’s the third leading cause of death in the United States. It’s also credited with the number one cause of long-term disability. This is why discoveries that can improve the recovery of individuals with the condition are welcome with open arms in the medical community. Researchers in the Cleveland Clinic have led the first-ever deep brain stimulation in a stroke victim.
The goal was to improve motor functions in the individual, and it worked remarkably well. The individual could move their arm within weeks of the treatment. Another recent discovery in the treatment of stroke is the use of stem cells to heal the brain and recover function. This, and stem cell treatment Alzheimers, are two of the most significant impacts of stem cell treatments available today.
The bottom line
We’ve come a long way from the dark ages when bloodletting and other savage medical techniques were used to treat the sick. With incredible technologies like these, we’re that much closer to a sickness-free existence.