2022 was a year full of inventions and innovations. Last year there have been considerable strides in almost all spheres of the scientific periphery. From efficient renewable energy to life-like robots, the year tested the limit of possibilities. Perhaps some of the most considerable progress has been made in the field of medical sciences ranging from improved diagnostics to path-breaking cures. Here is our pick of the 11 best medical science innovations of 2022.
11 Most Significant Innovations in Medical Science in 2022
PSMA Diagnostics for Efficient Prostate Cancer Diagnostics
Prostate cancer has been a growing concern in men’s health over the last few decades. About 13% of the total male population is at risk of prostate cancer, with people over 65 being the primary patients. It is also common among non-Hispanic races and poses serious complications if not treated at the nascent stage.
The conventional diagnosis uses bone and CT scanning, which might often fail to detect the cancer-forming tumor at the early stage. But a new diagnosis using Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen or PSMA, which is predominantly found on the surface tissue of the tumor has been discovered. This will allow accurate diagnostics at the onset which will dramatically reduce later-stage complications.
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New Breakthrough in LDL Cholesterol Reduction
High cholesterol level in the blood has been the leading cause of cardiovascular diseases across the globe. Studies showed that LDL or Low-Density Lipoproteins were the leading cause of hypercholesterolemia which is the root of different cardiovascular complications.
Until recently, statins were considered the best medication for treating hypercholesterolemia and it requires regular administration. But a recent breakthrough in LDL research has shown inclisiran to have a better effect in reducing the LDL level in blood. The drug was first approved in 2019 and went on as a regular administrative drug in 2022. Compared to statins, inclisiran requires only two administrations per year for effective reduction.
Improved Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes has been a serious problem in the US as well across regions across the globe. The seemingly incurable disease has to be controlled with a strict diet to keep the blood sugar level low. The long-traditional method of controlling type 2 diabetes has been to inject external insulin to make up for the lack of physical production. In most cases, it requires daily administration under the skin.
But a recent breakthrough study suggests that instead of injecting external insulin, glucose-based insulinotropic polypeptide and glucagon-based peptide can be administered to stimulate the pancreas to naturally produce insulin. Moreover, this drug can be administered once every week.
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Treatment of Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression is a serious maternity-related problem. Even though the registered cases of the same are low. That is because in most cases, the issue is overlooked and remains undiagnosed. Especially in underdeveloped and developing countries.
If untreated, postpartum depression can cause stress-related mental illness as well as physical harm. A breakthrough study on postpartum depression shows that there is a new therapy. It uses neurosteroids to stimulate the brain away from depression. The therapy is a 60-hour long procedure that needs to be administered after the onset of the first sign.
Breakthrough Treatment for HCM
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy is a rare yet deadly disease relating to the cardiovascular system of the human body. The disease is often linked to genetic conditions that cause the head muscles to respond irregularly to natural stimuli. And that results in overdriving or spasming the heart.
To this day, there has been no formal cure to treat the problem. Most of the drugs administered are secondary recessive measures for similar cardiovascular problems.
But this new therapy consisting of several treatments using beta blockers, anticoagulants, and other chemicals aims to halt the progression of the disease. While it still won’t be able to cure the disease, it will be able to drastically reduce the progression of the same.
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Motor Movement for Severe Paralysis
Every year, around a quarter to half a million people suffer from some form of paralysis globally. This astounding number not only renders the patient immobile at times but also causes physical deterioration over time.
A group of scientists has come up with a neural signaling process to give back some form of voluntary motor functions to severely paralyzed patients. The technology uses implants to understand brain signals and convert them to motor functions for the paralyzed part using external gear. Currently, the groups are working with hand and body movement.
Micro Robotics for Endodontic Diagnostics
It's fascinating how no two humans in this world have the exact same dental structure. Yet the diagnostics of endodontic treatment doesn’t even go beyond the genders. This seemingly singular diagnostic method is coming to an end thanks to micro robotic applications in the process.
Studies showed that microrobots can be inserted in the root canal without secondary incisions to get a better idea and depth of the problem. Doctors will then be able to tailor patient-specific treatment approaches which were not available before.
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Optical Fiber Imaging for Alzheimer's Diagnosis
Alzheimer's is still one of those diseases without any cure. Scientists are still trying to understand the underlying cause and the effect it has on the brain on long time progression.
The American Institute of Physics has recently developed an optical fiber imaging system to better understand how Alzheimer's progresses. Doctors now have the highest resolution imaging of the brain to study progression while applying this least invasive method.
Vaccine of Malaria
While the world recovers from the grappling consequence of the pandemic, the scientists at Oxford University have successfully invented a vaccine for one of the leading causes of child mortality in the world, malaria.
The preliminary trial run was conducted on children in Burkina Faso with results suggesting an 80% success rate in preventing the disease. This vaccine which is slated to go on mass production this year would be the single biggest advancement in reducing child mortality in central Africa.
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Sebum Test for Parkinson’s Diagnostics
Diagnosing Parkinson’s disease follows a long and tedious process that often requires highly invasive procedures. But thanks to the newly developed technology, scientists can now use the sebum produced from the Sebaceous glands to efficiently identify Parkinson’s disease.
Sebum is basically oil secreted from under the skin. Scientists have found that over 500 components of the sebum differ between a regular person and a Parkinson’s patient. The process is not only efficient but also ensures as little invasion in diagnostics as possible.
mRNA Vaccine Research
RNA is a primary component that is used to understand the effect of disease and potentially create a vaccine for the same. Without effective understanding, separation, and purification of RNA, it would take scientists years to come up with a potential cure for any new disease.
Thanks to the ongoing research, we are finally in the next generation of the mRNA vaccine identification process. This technology has been aggregated more by the effective invention and application of the Covid 19 vaccines. With this technology, scientists will now be able to create vaccines or cures for potential new diseases at a much faster rate.
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Final Words
The year 2022 saw some great advancements in the field of medical sciences. Even though the world is still combatting the effect of the Coronavirus, it is the concerted effort of innovations and technology that has helped to reduce the impact. Besides Covid-19, innovations in different streams have led to more effective diagnosis, cure, and vaccination than was possible before.
So far, we have reviewed 11 pioneer innovations in medical science in 2022. Hopefully, in 2023, medical research will bring more advanced inventions for the greater benefit of human beings.