Recent developments in Medicine
Detecting Stomach Cancers
Recent studies in Israel and China have found that stomach cancers can now be diagnosed effectively using simple breath tests. The studies found that the test was up to 90% accurate in identifying between stomach cancer and other stomach complaints in over 130 patients. The British Journal of Cancer has said that the test could help to revolutionize the way cancer is diagnosed, as over 7000 people develop stomach cancer each year in the UK alone. Currently diagnosis of stomach cancers is through a biopsy of the stomach lining using a probe and flexible camera, passed through the mouth.
The new test looks for certain chemicals in exhaled air that are unique to patients with stomach cancer. Cancer appears to give off a signature smell of volatile organic compounds that can be detected using the right technical medical kit. As well as identifying patients with stomach cancer, the study found that breath tests could help to tell the difference between early and late stage stomach cancers and are currently continuing their study to test if such breath tests could be used to discover other types of cancer, such as lung cancer.
Growing teeth from Gum cells
Dentists may one day be able to replace missing teeth with new ones grown from gum cells, thanks to the findings of a recent study conducted by a team from King's College London, who took cells from adult human gum tissue and upon combining them with another type of cell from mice, found that they were able to grow a tooth. In this study they were able to take human epithelial cells from the gums and mixed them withe mesenchyme cells from mice. These cells were cultured and induced (or instructed) to start growing into a tooth.
The next step for the research team is to be able to find an accessible source of mesenchyme cells and grow enough of them for widespread use in clinics. Study leader Professor Sharpe said that mesenchyme cells could be found in the pulp of wisdom teeth but they had difficulty in getting hold of enough cells. He said that the hope is that one day technology could replace current dental implants which cannot reproduce a natural root structure.
The new test looks for certain chemicals in exhaled air that are unique to patients with stomach cancer. Cancer appears to give off a signature smell of volatile organic compounds that can be detected using the right technical medical kit. As well as identifying patients with stomach cancer, the study found that breath tests could help to tell the difference between early and late stage stomach cancers and are currently continuing their study to test if such breath tests could be used to discover other types of cancer, such as lung cancer.
Growing teeth from Gum cells
Dentists may one day be able to replace missing teeth with new ones grown from gum cells, thanks to the findings of a recent study conducted by a team from King's College London, who took cells from adult human gum tissue and upon combining them with another type of cell from mice, found that they were able to grow a tooth. In this study they were able to take human epithelial cells from the gums and mixed them withe mesenchyme cells from mice. These cells were cultured and induced (or instructed) to start growing into a tooth.The next step for the research team is to be able to find an accessible source of mesenchyme cells and grow enough of them for widespread use in clinics. Study leader Professor Sharpe said that mesenchyme cells could be found in the pulp of wisdom teeth but they had difficulty in getting hold of enough cells. He said that the hope is that one day technology could replace current dental implants which cannot reproduce a natural root structure.
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