Top 10 Medical Advances

Study Notes

Vaccines (1796): Edward Jenner's initial attempts led to the development of vaccines. The process for developing vaccines was a long and complex journey. Various vaccinations were developed throughout the 1800s and early 1900s to combat diseases like smallpox, rabies, tuberculosis, and cholera. Smallpox was eradicated. mRNA vaccines emerged as a revolutionary approach, showing high effectiveness and rapid development.
Anaesthetics (1846): Before the mid-1800s, surgery was often a last resort due pain associated with procedures. Significant advancements in anaesthetic methods, such as the use of ether and chloroform, were made. Surgeons could then undertake life-saving, painless procedures.

Germ Theory: Before the germ theory people believed in spontaneous generation, the idea that microscopic disease was born from thin air. Louis Pasteur disproved this idea, showing that diseases resulted from harmful microorganisms. This knowledge dramatically changed disease prevention.

X-rays: German physicist Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen discovered X-rays, significantly improving diagnostics.
Ultrasound: In 1955, medical imaging utilized high-frequency sound waves, offering new insights into diagnosing conditions, particularly pre-natal and abdominal issues.
Computed Tomography (CT): In 1967, the CT scanner was created, providing another critical tool in medical diagnosis.
MRI: In 1973, Paul Lauterbur created Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), offering detailed images of the body's internal structures (brain, spinal cord, tumours, cysts, heart, and liver)

Penicillin: Alexander Fleming's accidental discovery of penicillin revolutionized the fight against deadly bacterial infections. Mass production followed, significantly impacting World War II. Eventually, bacterial resistance to antibiotics became a major concern, necessitating further development.

Kidney Transplant: In 1954, the first successful kidney transplant by Dr. Joseph Murray and Dr. David Hume marked a landmark. Technical challenges were overcome, further improving procedures and leading to advancements in vascular anastomosis, placement, and immune responses.
Other Transplants: Further advancements were made following this breakthrough, including lung, pancreas/kidney, liver, and heart transplants in the following decades. The first hand transplant successfully completed in 1998 further highlighted the increasing progress.

Antivirals: Antiviral drugs aimed to combat viruses such as smallpox, influenza, hepatitis. Antiviral drug development required a better understanding of viral structures and the protective protein coats that surround them. Successful treatments were especially key for outbreaks like HIV/AIDS, Ebola, and rabies.

Stem Cells: The incredible potential of stem cells was discovered in the 1970s. These unspecialised cells, found in human cord blood, have the ability to renew themselves and develop into any cell type in the body. This discovery has significantly revolutionized the field of medicine.
Applications: Stem cell therapies are being utilized in treating leukaemia, other blood disorders, spinal cord injuries, and treating neurological illnesses such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and strokes. The ethical concerns surrounding embryonic stem cells present challenges.

Immunotherapy: The study and treatment that stimulate the immune system to fight disease. Immunotherapy treatments involve the use of strategies to enhance immune response and target specific parts of cancer cells. Revolutionary cancer therapies emerged from this field.

AI in Healthcare Artificial intelligence (AI) has greatly impacted healthcare. It is used in disease diagnosis, drug discovery to optimize treatment plans, patient monitoring, and development of human-like chatbots. Major leaps are being made through international collaborations and technological advancements.