CTB10: Step into the future Flashcards
Learning intensions
LO1: Appreciate the variety of new technologies applicable to cardiovascular and respiratory medicine.
LO2: Evaluate applicability of new technologies to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
LO3: Devise new strategies in cardiovascular and respiratory biomedicine.
Briefly discuss the current and near future state of affairs for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases?
The world population seems to be tending towards a reduction in respiratory conditions, lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases due to the improvement in air quality and decline in tobacco smoking expected in the next few years. However, obesity is on the rise which could increase CVD and social media usage is associated with decreased compliance with treatment.
Explain what precision medicine is
Precision medicine aims to tailor medical practices, Diagnoses, decisions, treatments and products to the individual patient. The optimal therapy would be selected depending on the patient’s genetic, molecular and cellular ‘profile.’ This would be a step-up from stratified medicine and limit the adverse effects experienced whilst maximising the benefit of the treatment.
Explain the organs-on-chips idea
A concept created to avoid the inefficient and time-consuming process of drug development by skipping the in vitro testing process and animal models. This technology uses polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with microscopic channels through which culture medium can flow and different human cells can be cultured – creating a dynamic environment mimicking that of in vivo conditions. This will prove useful for precision medicine as the patient’s cells can be cultured and the optimal drug combination and extent of drug toxicity can be determined.
How does 3D bioprinting work?
Bioprinting uses live cells to print complex 3D structures of human tissues and organs. This has already been used to create airway splints and research is being done to create blood vessels and heart valves. However, many cells die during printing and intercellular conditions and blood vessel networks cannot yet be recreated. The hope is that a patient’s own cells can be used to print new organs required for implants in order to eliminate the problem of organ incompatibility. Bioprinting directly onto the patient can be used to repair wounds and lesions.
How do eNoses work?
eNoses are capable of detecting and recognising odours and flavours through neural networks. This is now being exploited for medical use as a patients exhaled breath can be analysed by the eNose for diagnosis of lung disease. Lung cancer can be detected by analysing volatile organic compounds.
What will the iKnife allow doctors to do in the future?
iKnife allows for immediate tissue analysis and aims to allow for full cancer cell removal. This is being tested on breast cancer and will be expanded to lung cancer if trials go well.
