Developments in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease
COPD, or chronic obstructed pulmonary disease, causes a constriction of the airway, making it difficult to breathe. Symptoms include wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and mucus production. COPD is also known as emphysema and chronic bronchitis. It is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. (NIH) COPD Symptoms Individuals with COPD … Read more
Government Agencies The National Institute on Aging is a branch of the National Institute of Health. Its authority is granted by Congress, and conducts aging research, training, and health information dissemination. The NIA website has a section on Alzheimer’s disease, including the causes, risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, treatments, and research. Some information is available in … Read more
Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD), or Osteoarthritis, affects cartilage in the joints. Cartilage is tissue that covers the ends of bones, and allows them to glide over each other safely and to absorb shock. For people with DJD, this cartilage wears away, causing the bones to rub against one another. It is very painful and causes … Read more
One of the major demands the world has always had is for newer, more effective medicine and treatments. Many new discoveries in medicine have lead to newer drugs and antibodies that will vastly improve people’s quality of life. Needless to say, there is both a global demand for an ability to create a better cure … Read more
There are currently patents for 20% of the human genome. Almost half of known cancer genes have been patented (Scientific American). The DNA Patent Database is available to the general public, and provides the full-text of patents at no cost. Background A landmark case in the genome project was Amgen vs Genetics Institute in the … Read more