Metastatic cancer is often fought with chemotherapy. But what does one do when the chemo stops working? Rexin-G is a powerful gene therapy that has entered into the clinical trial phase. Rexin-G targets tumors with a nanoparticle and it has been shown to work against a broad spectrum of tumors that have become resistant to chemotherapy. Rexin-G causes the tumor to shrink without the harmful side effects that chemotherapy often produces.

According to estimates from the UNAIDS 2008 Report on the global AIDS epidemic, around 30.8 million adults and 2 million children were living with HIV at the end of 2007 (Worldwide HIV and Aids Statistics Commentary). This is clearly an epidemic that has affected many people and an HIV cure would save millions of lives.

There is a new medical study that says you can fix genetic flaws with vitamins. Apparently everyone has genetic flaws that can lead to diseases such as cancer. Scientists at UC Berkeley think that DNA tests will pinpoint flaws and then fix them by prescribing specific vitamins for that flaw.

‘m always amazed and encouraged to read about new medical advancements that bring about hope for people suffering with diseases and medical conditions. Popular Science, November 2008 issue has an interesting article about new technology that works inside the body to mimic healing. In the article, “The Body Builder” Michael Behar writes about a Ph.D. student at the University of Colorado named Kristi Anseth, who has been working on a class of materials called hydrogels. These hydrogels look like gelatin and they cause rapid healing in human tissue.

If you haven’t read Discover, you really should check it out. The January 2009 issue highlighted 100 top science stories of 2008. I thought it was worth mentioning a few of the health-related stories.

New Alzheimer’s Drugs

Apoorva Mandavilla wrote about new Alzheimer’s drugs which show promise. Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by loss of cognitive function and results in mental decline. Most Alzheimer’s treatments target a protein called amyloid which is the main protein component of the plaque that forms in the brain. A new drug, Rember, …

Popular Science, October 2008 edition, has an interesting article that highlights research by cardiac researcher, Doris Taylor. Ms. Taylor’s ground breaking work delves into how to reanimate lifeless organs, namely the heart.

A new invention called a Cellscope was listed among the 100 best innovations of the year, listed in Popular Science, the December 2008 edition. The Cellscope, a microscope attachment for camera phones takes photos of skin and blood cells and then transmits the photos to a technician, who then scans it for signs of disease and emails back a diagnosis.

Discover (February 2009) reports research that provides new hope for those suffering with paralysis. A monkey’s arm was temporarily paralyzed and physiologist Chet Mortiz and his team rerouted signals from the animal’s brain through two circuit boards. They were able to control the paralyzed limb by rerouting signals around the blocked nerve pathways.