Medical advances on the rise

Medical advances are on the rise around the world. Here are five to watch.

People in fact, get very enthusiastic about 3D printers and many believe it won’t be long before kids are using them to print out their personally signed toys. But medical researchers have already turned to 3D printing to create human body parts. Last year, Cornell scientists printed out an artificial(人造的) outer ear that looks and works like the real thing. But it isn’t suitable to put into human body.

   Another surprising breakthrough is in gene therapy, in which a person’s genes are re-engineered to fight diseases and put back into his or her body. This therapy is still considered experimental, but it’s been effective recently in treating patients with some cancers. And researchers think that one day it can become a new way to treat early stages of the disease, without requiring surgery, chemotherapy(化疗) or radiation.

   Gut reaction(本能反应) research is another breakthrough that it showing a lot of promise and has to do with our guts(肠), specifically with all the bacteria staying. Researchers have suggested there may be a direct physiological connection between the mix of bacteria in our digestive tract(消化道) and how our brain functions, and that the mix can also be a factor（因素） in whether a person is thin or fat.

   In regard to cancer research, there have been definite breakthroughs. Cancer immunotherapy (免疫疗法)is using drugs that encourage the body’s immune system to battle cancer cells directly. Researchers discovered that have been able to cover themselves in a protective shield. New drugs are being tested that have been able to empower the immune system to break through that protection and allow the body to fight cancer cells on its own.

   There are also already plenty of devices and apps out there that track you steps, you sleep, and your calorie consumption. But the next wave of wearable health tech will focus on gathering personal data more meaningful to a doctor and send the data directly to his or her office.

   Also, devices that monitor our personal behaviour will be getting more and more advanced. For example, a device being developed by TellSpec will supposedly be able to analyze the chemical composition of food in real time and let you know on your smart phone just what you’re eating.