Antisense oligonucleotides are synthetic strings of nucleic acid, which reduce expression of messenger RNA (m-RNA). The function performed by interference with pre m- RNA splicing are restoration of protein and modification of protein. Antisense oligonucleotide is a new approach to treat several neurodegenerative disorders to prevent disease onset or stop disease development.
Cell therapy is the administration of living cells in patients for the treatment of a disease. The source of cell can be autologous or allogeneic, which can be derived from stem cells such as bone marrow. Stem cells therapy is used in bone marrow transplantation. Gene therapy is the introduction, removal, or change in the patient's genetic code for treatment of a disease. Moreover, it modifies the expression of an individual’s genes or repair abnormal genes. The therapy involves administration of nucleic acid (DNA/RNA) with carriers called as vectors.
Bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) is a nonmetallic mesh tube, which is used to treat blocked arteries. It is similar to a stent but gradually dissolves once the blocked artery starts functioning naturally again, enabling the artery to return to its natural state. The scaffold disappears in around 12-24 months and supports the vessel until it gain its full function. BVS is designed to help open up a blocked artery in the heart and restore blood flow to the heart muscle. It is used by patients who are suffering from different types of cardiovascular diseases. Some of the commonly used BVS for cardiac procedures include Poly-L-Lactide (PLLA) bioresorbable scaffold, metallic bioresorbable scaffold, and hybrid bioresorbable scaffold.
Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is an enzyme associated with the disintegration of blood clots. It is a serine protease present in endothelial cells. With the help of serine protease, the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin is catalyzed. Serine protease is a major enzyme for clot disintegration.
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder where the patient suffers from inability to understand the reality, decreased ability of thinking, abnormal behavior, and strange speech. Furthermore, the patient suffers from reduced emotional expression, anxiety, depression or less social engagement. According to the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, schizophrenia generally occurs between the ages of 16-30. Although the main cause of schizophrenia is unknown, possible reasons are genetic, environmental factors or poor nutrition during pregnancy.
Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is one of the medical neuroimaging techniques which tracks the brain activity by measuring the magnetic field produced by neurons in the brain. It is a non-invasive technique which is safe, radiation-free, and also can be used for the pediatric population MEG device consists of numerous and highly sensitive magnetometers called Superconducting Quantum Interface Device (SQUID). MEG tests can be used for diagnosing diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, and brain tumors.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic lung disease distinguished by progressive and irreversible reduction in lung function characterized by thickening and damaging of the walls of the air sacs (called alveoli). Common symptoms include, dry cough, gradual onset of shortness of breath, nail clubbing, and fatigue. Other symptoms are weight loss and muscle and joint pain. Further complications include, hypertension, heart failure, pulmonary embolism or pneumonia.
Drug eluting balloons are angioplasty balloons that are coated with an anti-proliferative drug, which is eluted in vessel walls during the inflation of balloon, usually at nominal pressure with a specific minimal inflation time. The active substance coated on the drug eluting balloon should be lipophilic in nature to have a high absorption rate through the vessel wall. Mostly paclitaxel is used as active ingredient due to its high pharmacokinetic transfer rate into the vessel wall and it is actively used in drug eluting balloons in the U.S. market and has been already approved for use in Europe.
Pemetrexed is a chemotherapy drug indicated for the treatment of pleural mesothelioma and non-small cell lung cancer. Pemetrexed is a patented drug of Eli Lilly and Company and sold under brand name Alimta. In 2004, Alimta (Pemetrexed injection) was approved by FDA in combination with cisplatin as an initial treatment for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. In 2008, ALIMTA, in combination with cisplatin, was approved as an initial chemotherapy treatment for locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC for patients with nonsquamous histology, and in 2009, ALIMTA was approved as a maintenance therapy for locally advanced or metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Although the most efficient test results are obtained by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) test initially and later by Western blot method, HIV diagnosis can be performed by blood test, saliva test, and viral load test. The ELISA test is an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and uses antibodies to identify the substance. The Western blot technique is used to detect anti –HIV antibodies in the human serum sample. According to WHO, the HIV diagnosis includes free –standing sites, testing services in health care facilities, some community-based approaches and HIV self-testing (HIVST).