Medical news 2018

Here are some of the most significant medical news stories from 2018:

Cancer

  1. CAR-T Cell Therapy: The FDA approved two CAR-T cell therapies, Kymriah and Yescarta, for the treatment of certain types of blood cancer, marking a major breakthrough in immunotherapy.
  2. Liquid Biopsies: Researchers developed a liquid biopsy test that can detect cancer DNA in blood samples, potentially revolutionizing cancer diagnosis and monitoring.
  3. Cancer Immunotherapy: The FDA approved several new cancer immunotherapies, including pembrolizumab for melanoma and nivolumab for kidney cancer.

Cardiovascular Health

  1. Low-Dose Aspirin: The FDA withdrew its recommendation for low-dose aspirin to prevent heart attacks and strokes in healthy adults, citing limited evidence of its effectiveness.
  2. Stem Cell Therapy: Researchers made progress in developing stem cell therapies for heart disease, including a study that showed improved heart function in patients with heart failure.
  3. Cholesterol-Lowering Medications: The FDA approved several new cholesterol-lowering medications, including bempedoic acid and inclisiran, which target different mechanisms of cholesterol production.

Neurology and Psychiatry

  1. Parkinson's Disease: Researchers made significant progress in understanding the causes of Parkinson's disease, including the discovery of a genetic link to the disease.
  2. Alzheimer's Disease: The FDA approved aducanumab, a new Alzheimer's disease treatment that targets beta-amyloid plaques in the brain.
  3. Depression: The FDA approved several new antidepressants, including esketamine and vortioxetine, which target different mechanisms of depression.

Infectious Diseases

  1. Ebola Outbreak: The Democratic Republic of Congo experienced a devastating Ebola outbreak, which was eventually brought under control with the help of international responders.
  2. Antibiotic Resistance: Researchers made progress in developing new antibiotics and combating antibiotic resistance, including the discovery of a new class of antibiotics.
  3. HIV Prevention: The FDA approved a new HIV prevention medication, cabotegravir, which can be used to prevent HIV infection in high-risk individuals.

Other Medical News

  1. Gene Editing: Researchers made significant progress in gene editing technology, including the development of CRISPR-Cas9 and other gene editing tools.
  2. 3D Printing: The FDA approved the first 3D-printed implantable device, a titanium spinal implant, marking a major breakthrough in medical technology.
  3. Telemedicine: Telemedicine continued to grow in popularity, with many healthcare providers offering virtual consultations and remote monitoring services.

These are just a few of the many significant medical news stories from 2018. It was a year marked by major breakthroughs in cancer treatment, gene editing, and infectious disease research, as well as ongoing efforts to combat antibiotic resistance and improve patient care.