Important Developments in the Field of Medicine

While we try to understand the universe, distant planets, or oceans full of mysteries, we as humans still the mystery of our own bodies we are trying to solve. Countless researches are carried out to protect the health of the human body and to find solutions to diseases, and perhaps a new mystery is solved every day.

During the past month many groundbreaking discoveries for medical science done. Let’s take a look at the most notable of these discoveries.

How toxic particles in polluted air ‘leak’ into our brains found

Especially for people living in big cities, although it is not very ‘cared’ air pollution a major health problem. There is a lot of research on the damage of toxic particles in polluted air to the heart and lungs. Just being exposed to polluted air causes many diseases such as diabetes, heart attack, high blood pressure.

One of the studies carried out on this subject is that these particles also affect the brain and to the effects of many diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s proved to leave similar traces. But how these particles reached the brain and produced these effects was unknown. A new study has revealed how the particles reach the brain directly.

It is a drug that keeps the brain safe by preventing the passage of microorganisms, harmful components and neurotoxins in the human brain. blood-brain barrier exists. In this way, all harmful substances that may enter the brain through the blood circulation are prevented. Scientists thought that the particles in the polluted air did not reach the brain by attaching to this barrier.

But new research has revealed that this information is not valid. Accordingly, harmful ultrafine particles entering the lungs first seeps into the bloodstreamand then it almost invades the human brain.

Research on mouse brains also found that particles in the brain stay for much longer than in other parts of the body. Until now, these particles were thought to enter the brain either directly through the nose or through intestinal enzymes. To better understand the processHey, these harmful particles with terrible effects It will serve as a guide for the studies to be carried out to combat the effects of the disease.

Developed a new method that can ameliorate the effects of a heart attack

Heart attack is a common ailment with a risk of death for almost every age group. If after passing some serious damage to the heart muscle leaving. These damages were even described as ‘irreversible’ until now and had serious effects on the lives of patients after a heart attack.

However, with a new method tried on mice, it is possible to repair the damage in the heart muscles after a heart attack and even stimulated the regeneration of heart muscle cells. Although it is not yet clear how the method will work on humans, it is thought that the data obtained will provide critical information for the improvement of heart diseases.

‘Loneliness’ discovered to change brain structure

Especially during the pandemic process, ‘social isolation’ and ‘loneliness’ became an important topic for the whole world. Moreover, one of the traces left by the pandemic, unfortunately, was the blow to our social life. But a new study has It shows that we shouldn’t get too used to social isolation and being alone.

Accordingly, staying away from social activities, being alone and not communicating enough officially changes the brain structure.

According to the analyzes carried out on data obtained from approximately 550 thousand people, loneliness and social isolation affect regions of the brain that process sounds, help encode memory, regulate processes such as attention and planning, and perform complex cognitive tasks. results in lower cognitive abilities.

They also have lower levels of gray matter overall. gray matter, one of the most critical substances found in the human brain, and scientists say all cognitive abilities depend on gray matter. According to the research after examining the data of 12 years, loneliness and social isolation, It increases the risk of dementia by 26%.

A part of the human heart was produced from scratch in a laboratory environment

In a new study, scientists discovered a vascular structure that is part of the human heart. to produce in a laboratory environment succeeded. The vein produced beats like a real heart and can pump fluid.

It is thought that the obtained vessel will contribute greatly to the studies to be used in heart research, and will be a good alternative to research on animals or dead organs in this field. Also, by this heart structure and the process of pumping blood It is stated that it can be examined in much more detail.

Two more humans transplanted genetically modified pig hearts

In the past months, a big step has been taken in the medical world and a genetically modified pig heart was transplanted into a human. However, the person in question died a few weeks after the operation, which raised questions about the procedure. Then, with the results of the research published recently, it is seen that the death of the patient not related to pig heart transplant had been disclosed.

Following these developments, there was a new development that would increase the confidence in the process and take great steps in organ transplantation. Two more people were transplanted genetically modified pig hearts.

This development is very important because If we consider the process of finding the appropriate organ, organ transplantation is a challenging process. However, the successful transplantation of genetically modified organs is breaking new ground in this field, taking future organ transplants to a whole new level.

Genes that affect the formation of some types of cancer, such as blood cancer, have been identified

With a study published in the past days, scientists have discovered that it has an effect on many health problems, from blood cancer to heart diseases. can develop without any symptoms They identified inherited genetic disorders that cause blood diseases.

In the research, which is expressed as one of the most comprehensive studies in this field so far, data obtained from 421 thousand 738 people were examined. Data from almost half a million people show blood diseases causing 14 inherited genetic disorders Has detected. Thanks to these data, it is thought that important developments will be achieved in the early diagnosis and treatment of deadly cancers and heart diseases.

It has been determined why side effects occur in cancer treatment

It is a known fact that the methods used in cancer treatment cause side effects on patients. even some side effects stop the treatment process or even slow it down.

A new study has provided information that will enable great developments in this regard. In the research carried out, it was determined that some genetic features are the source of side effects in cancer treatments. According to this, which is a system in the human body andseparating what does not belong to our body It was determined that the structure of the HLA, which excludes foreign substances, plays a key role in this regard.

According to the data obtained in the study, the genetic structure of HLA directly affects the response of the person to cancer treatment. Thanks to the data obtained in the treatment of cancer patients It is stated that there may be measures and developments that will strengthen the treatment by reducing the side effects.

Developed a new method to detect whether patients with brain damage are conscious

severely brain damaged and unresponsive bed-bound patients An important method that affects their future has been developed.

In such cases, the doctors checking the patient in the intensive care unit whether they are conscious In order to detect it, the answers given to the questions asked or their clear reactions to the stimuli are checked. For example, patients who do not respond to commands such as ‘move your hand’ or ‘stick out your tongue’ are assumed to be ‘unconscious’. However, the method was thought to be insufficient for detection.

With the new method developed, the brain waves of people who are considered ‘unconscious’ and do not show a visible reaction. Their ‘hidden consciousness’ is detected by examining them with EEG. In this way, it is easier to identify patients who are conscious, although they do not respond physically. The new imaging method, which is also supported by artificial intelligence, is currently available in a limited number of centers and requires special expertise.

However, it is stated that this development will save the future of many patients with brain damage. Because some patients regaining consciousness months later The number of cases that have come back to life is quite high, and it is thought that obtaining information on ‘who they may be’ will also contribute to the treatment process.

Remote control of brain circuits performed in less than a second for the first time

A group of neuroengineers are working on a remote control of certain circuits in the brain. in less than a second developed a method that does

In the study, flies were used and the neurons that allow the flies to move their bodies were activated by sending magnetic signals. The wings, which were in the closed position, were opened with the signal sent to the wings. The detail that makes the study important is that with this new method, remotely controlled brain circuits working ‘almost as fast as a brain’ by doing this in less than a second.

Thanks to the data obtained development of brain-machine communication technologies, It will be possible to treat diseases and learn more about the brain.

An important step has been taken to cure deadly diseases with gene therapy

Gene therapy and gene editing studies are one of the developments that will be a big part of human life in the future in the fight against diseases. In recent years, there have been many developments in this regard with the intensified studies. However, since this method brings with it some discussions, there are also aspects that create question marks. Of course, all this does not prevent big steps to be taken.

A recent study in New Zealand used CRISPR technology to remove LDL cholesterol, also known as “bad cholesterol,” from a volunteer. It will be a great improvement for many diseases that the operation performed on a person whose DNA has been changed only one letter will result in success after all observations. The research process continues for this method, which was developed as a single-dose treatment method, and it is stated that new tests will be carried out on more volunteers.