After space, it’s medical science only where we’ve a lot to dig out and we are moving fast on both fronts too. The year 2006 saw major achievements in health industry and with the dawn of 2007, it’s time to have a look back and see what lies ahead.
2006: Health industry timeline
January
1. In the month of January, U.S. researchers developed a genetically engineered vaccine that was claimed quite effective in fighting against Ricin.
2. Bad news for those who have been consuming Omega-3 to fight cancer as the drug’s effects were questioned.
3. The same month brought FDA approval for inhalable insulin called Exubera.
4. In January international team of researchers came up with mouse Breast Grown in Lab.
5. In the same month, Viagra came under disputes as some studies suggested that it might lead to vision loss.
February
1. One of the major events that occurred in the horizon of health industry was decision by the Indian government that Ayurvedic medicines would pass thorough scientific scanning. This move by the Indian government helped in giving Ayurvedic medicines a scientific touch.
2. Claim from the researchers of the University of Wisconsin-Madison that important structural protein, collagen could be made in the lab, kept most of the people astounded round the world. It raised the hope that scientists fight to save humankind has grabbed something really significant.
3. Another breakthrough of February 2006 was detection of a bacterium that was found effective against HIV/AIDS. During lab trial, this bacterium was found effective in neutralizing HIV virus. It has raised hope that fight against HIV/AIDS could also be fought from domestic kitchens.
4.In February this debate was popped up that are antidepressant really linked to breast cancer or is it just a myth. Interestingly, results, which came out from different studies gave paradoxical results and in such situation common person found it difficult that what to believe and what not to.
5. China was threatened by bird-flu outbreak.
6. In the same month Merck’s RotaTeq vaccine for treating kids with rotaviruses was approved after it was found quite effective in preventing intestinal inflammation, dehydration and diarrhea in thousands of kids.
March
1. Chocolate was proliferated as a healthy sweet and studies conducted during that time, raised hope that eating chocolate halves risk of dying and lower blood pressure. Surely, this revelation might have prompted most of you for eating your favorite chocolates.
2. The month of March would also be remembered for a significant study, which raised hope that chemotherapy can be used to treat bird-flu victims effectively, however, only time will tell how far it comes out to be true.
3. A study gave way to an idea that what you use to enhance your beauty might prove a weapon to fight deadly cancer. Here I am talking about bleaching products that contain compounds that have proved quite effective in fighting deadly cancer.
4. Wearing magnetic ornaments in the name of magnetic therapies is a baseless concept, a new study by the U.S. researchers exposed this fact saying that during their study they found no evidence to prove that these magnetic ornaments helps in keeping body healthy. This exposure was really a big blow for the industry, which earns thousands of dollars every year just by selling such magnetic ornaments.
April:-
1. In the month of April, once again the importance of peaceful atmosphere was vindicated, especially for keeping cardiovascular diseases at bay. The fast paced life invites innumerable ailments including heart diseases, high blood pressure and depression so better look out for a quiet neighborhood, if you can find any.
2. In a major breakthrough this month, Kaitlyne McNamara became one of the seven young patients who have received a lab-grown bladder.
3. The same month revealed that hiccups that are usually considered normal might actually be indications of cancer.
4. In the month of April World Bank’s Anti-malaria Project was surrounded by some disputes as 13 international public health experts headed by Amir Attaran, of University of Ottawa, claimed about some irregularities of funds carved out to fight malaria on the African continent and a program in India.
May:-
1. FDA approved the first vaccine for adult shingles. Shingles causes a rash with blisters that usually lasts for two to four weeks. Many people round the world might have had a sigh of relief.
2. The month of May was celebrated as ‘Mental Health Awareness Month’, with ‘Mind Your Health’ as the main theme, to make people aware about the fact that how significant mental health is.
3. In a well applauded move, Scotland decided to ban the sale of cigarettes to youth under the age of 18. According to a survey, 6 per cent of 13-year-olds were regular smokers in Scotland. Besides, 20 per cent of 15-year-olds smoke habitually.
4. The month of May compelled to rethink that how far contact lens cleaners, the products of big reputed companies like Bausch & Lomb and Advanced Medical Optics Inc. are not as safe as they are considered, because a study revealed that using these contact lens cleaners might give way to fungal infection called, Fusarium Keratitis.
5. In this month, we had to say goodbye to anti-depressant drug Seroxat as its manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline banned it saying that it might stir up adults to become suicidal. However, at the same time it left behind a provocative question that how far these anti-depressant drugs are safer.
6. FDA gave green signal to Gradsil- a drug known efficient in obstructing viruses, which higher up the chances of Cervical cancer.
JUNE
1. The month of June brought a cause of worry, especially for people and health officials in the U.S., due to the sudden increase in syphilis cases. Los Angeles alone saw an increase of 40 percent in syphilis cases, while the case in women increased by fifty-six percent than last year.
2. This was the month when drug Glivec was declared quite effective in treating chronic Myeloid Leukemia. In that series, another study revealed that this wonder drug helped almost 90 percent of the patients with chronic myeloid leukemia or CML.
3. The month of June came with great hopes for patients with Alzheimer’s disease as researchers at the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Neuroscience in Japan claimed of developing a new vaccine quite effective in fighting Alzheimer’s disease.
4. The use of Asthma drugs was questioned in the light of revelations that the use of these Asthma drugs may higher up the chances of cataract while entering in older age.
5. The month of June came out with another startling revelation, especially for countries like U.S. where number of patients with Parkinson’s disease is desperately increasing. Actually, researchers at Mayo Clinic wrapped out the fact that pesticides may increase your chances of being engulfed by Parkinson’s Disease.
6. In the same month FDA approved vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted virus that causes most cases of cervical cancer.
7. In the same month FDA once again allowed the multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri to enter the market
July:-
1. In the month of July researchers gave vent to an idea that, commonly used drug Paracetamol can be quite effective in reducing the chances of Ovarian cancer by 30 percent. However, at the same time these researchers uncovered that taking Paracetamol can also damage liver and kidneys as well.
2. British doctors pioneered the world’s first operation by using a short umbrella like device.
3. This was the month, when India claimed to have developed vaccine for bird-flu, which gave at least Indian people a reason to think that they are safe from the wrath of bird-flu to some extent.
August:-
1. The month of August came with good news for people fed up with their obese looks as researchers at Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California claimed to have developed a vaccine that might control obesity.
2. Swedish researchers came up giving a warning for those who have great taste for processed meat including bacon, salami, hot dogs and ham. The researchers propagated the idea that eating processed meat may lead to stomach cancer. We can say this news might have tasted bitter for processed meat lovers but we should not forget that it was a significant revelation.
3. In the same month, FDA decided to give women 18 and older access to Plan B emergency contraception without a prescription.
4. This month would also be remembered for the success of gene therapy as researchers reported success with a gene therapy for skin cancer.
September:-
1. Drug coated stents that were gaining popularity quite amazingly were found in dispute with respect to safety issues leading these stents to fatal blood clotting and interestingly, this debate went on for a much longer time.
2. The month of September came with a new ray of hope for patients with breast cancer as this was the month when a new cancer machine with digital mammograms was displayed at Northern Ireland.
2. FDA approved ‘Noxafil’– an anti-fungal drug to boost immune system.
3. Personally, I hope that the memory of September 2006 would never be annihilated from the minds of the people living in New York, since this month brought wonderful gift for New Yorkians, which reported that authorities in New York were planning to impose ban on Trans fat.
October:-
1. The month of October brought glory for Americans as Craig Mello and Andrew Fire jointly grabbed 2006’s Nobel Prize for their contribution in the field of medicine.
2. For the first time WHO chalked out guidelines for global air quality. All round the world people highly concerned about deteriorating air quality took it as their major victory.
3. Whereas this month brought somewhat bitter news for smokers in France, at the same time, it came with good news for those who don’t like the idea of smoking in public places as France banned smoking in public areas.
4. This month brought some hope to those suffering from blurred vision with the introduction of an effective drug called ranibizumab or Lucentis.
5. Duke University Medical Center’s researchers found nicotine helpful in fighting depression. It may surely bring relief to thousands of patients with depression.
6. Food giant KFC also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken declared that its food chain in the U.S. would stop using trans fats by April 2007. However, only time will tell how far it would be brought into use.
November:-
1. November would be remembered for a major breakthrough that brought a new ray of hope for patients with eye cancer called retinoblastoma as researchers at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital came out with a new treatment, which was claimed to have efficacy for treating retinoblastoma.
2. In this month FDA took a very significant step by approving the first generic version of MetroGel-Vaginal (metronidazole vaginal gel) for treating bacterial vaginosis- a condition, which is caused by an overgrowth of vaginal bacteria.
3. This month saw the development of first of its kind non-hormone based male contraceptive pill.
4. The month of November would also be remembered for major breakthrough occurred in the horizon of medical sciences as Shivaun McGuckin became the first Briton woman who underwent a revolutionary ‘grow your own’ cartilage transplant, which used a 3D implant that uses healthy cells, which is later on attached into the damaged knee cartilage.
5. In the same month, UK scientists created an artificial stomach to simulate human digestion. This was really a wonderful medical breakthrough in the medical world.
December:-
1. The month of December began with World AIDS day. Experts all round the world ruminated over the issue that how far they have succeeded in curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS and what still required to be done.
2. The alarming revelation that groundwater pollution is on the rise in China has not only obfuscated the Chinese government but the whole world community.
3. Big giant Pfizer halted the production of ‘torcetrapib’ stating that it may pose serious health risks.
4. In the month of December authorities plan to impose ban on Trans fats in New York’s restaurants got a practical shape. It was good news for health conscious people.
5. In the same month, stem cell research work brought new hope for the patients with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID).
So, this is was the wrap up of the major happenings that rocked the medical world in the year 2006.