Cutting-edge Medical Discoveries of the Year 2018
Rewritten Article:
Saying goodbye to another year, we take a walk down memory lane to check out some of the most noteworthy medical studies we covered in 2018.
As we bid adieu to yet another busy year, we've seen sports events, natural disasters, and the unfortunate parting of numerous prominent figures around the globe.
In the United States, some of the hottest online searches included: the 21st World Cup, which took place last summer in Russia; Hurricane Florence, which caused a stir in the Carolinas in September; and the names of the late musicians Malcolm (Mac) Miller, fashion designer Kat Spade, and chef Anthony Bourdain, all of whom said their final goodbyes this year.
A buzzworthy event that caught the attention of many, both in the U.S. and worldwide, was the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – now the Duchess of Sussex – in May 2018.
Here at Health Today, we've also celebrated our own milestones; our website has been ranked among the most read health websites in the U.S.
In 2018, you, our readers, have shown interest in various topics – ranging from fitness and nutrition to advancements in treating neurodegenerative conditions and cancer.
In this Spotlight, we'll give you an overview of some of the most popular medical research that we covered in 2018.
Intermittent Fasting Wave
Diet-related topics were all the rage in 2018, and we got swept up in the craze too. Particularly, you seemed captivated by reports outlining the advantages of the 16:8 fasting diet.
This is an intermittent fasting plan where individuals are free to indulge in any food they fancy within an 8-hour window but must fast for the next 16 hours.
In a study published in the journal Nutrition and Healthy Aging in June, scientists from the University of Illinois at Chicago confirmed that this strategy could aid individuals struggling with obesity in shedding pounds.
Those who followed the diet for 12 weeks had managed to shed 3% of their total weight by the end of the study period. Additionally, this eating style helped maintain lower blood pressure, which is an essential aspect since obesity is a significant contributor to hypertension (high blood pressure), potentially leading to more serious heart issues.
Another study, this time featured in the journal Obesity in May, suggested that intermittent fasting could bring numerous additional health benefits. The researchers, based at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville, claim that this dietary style can trigger a metabolic switch, promoting the body to burn fat rather than sugar to produce the energy it needs. This is what makes intermittent fasting so effective in helping with weight management. The authors also speculate that the metabolic processes set off by this type of diet could prolong life, safeguard cognitive function, and decrease inflammation.
Curbing Temptations
As the holiday season approaches, it's natural to find ourselves tempted by indulgent treats. "After all, it's just for a few days," we might say to ourselves, "we can get back on track after New Year's Eve."
But, some of the top research from this year has shown that these temptations can have disastrous effects on our health, potentially derailing our efforts to maintain a balanced lifestyle.
For instance, one study in the journal Addiction found that consuming alcohol could have more detrimental effects on health than using other controversial stimulants – particularly marijuana.
"While marijuana may cause some negative consequences, it definitely is nowhere near the destructive consequences of alcohol," warns study author Kent Hutchison. In particular, long-term alcohol use was found to lead to a loss of gray matter volume (which makes up much of the brain), and it also damaged white matter (which contains axons, or the connections between brain cells that allow them to transmit information).
E-cigarettes have also been in the spotlight this year due to heated debates surrounding their impact on health. Initially marketed as an easy, safe way to give up smoking, many studies have since found that the liquid in e-cigarettes contains harmful substances, which form toxic vapors.
This year, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released a thorough report reviewing hundreds of scientific papers analyzing the pros and cons of using e-cigarettes. The report indicated that there is robust evidence that e-cigarettes contain toxic substances and that there is conclusive evidence that completely switching from regular cigarettes to e-cigarettes reduces users' exposure to numerous carcinogens found in traditional cigarettes. However, despite some benefits associated with e-cigarette use compared to traditional cigarette use, the report also shows that regular e-cigarette users experience almost as much exposure to nicotine as those who smoke traditional cigarettes. This increased nicotine intake can lead to a rise in heart rate and potentially DNA damage, increasing the risk of various diseases, including various types of cancer.
What's happening in cancer research?
In 2018, around 9.6 million people died due to cancer-related causes, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO). This makes cancer research one of the top priorities globally.
When it comes to cancer, obstacles are present from the get-go. Diagnosing any type of cancer can be a complex, lengthy process, potentially delaying the prescription of appropriate treatment.
A quick and accurate diagnosis could help speed up treatment delivery and improve outcomes.
Researchers from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD, have developed a new blood test called CancerSEEK. In a report published in the journal Science, they explained that this test is highly sensitive and able to detect eight types of cancer – breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, liver cancer, stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, and esophageal cancer – with a moderate to high degree of accuracy. It performs particularly well in detecting ovarian cancer, with a detection rate of 98%.
Other research this year has focused on uncovering ways to halt cancer in its tracks. One study from the Stanford University School of Medicine in California, the results of which appeared in Science Translational Medicine, tested a new cancer-destroying injection in mice. The authors claim that just one shot is needed to activate specialized immune cell activity and eliminate solid cancer tumors.
"Our approach uses a one-time application of very small amounts of two agents to stimulate the immune cells solely within the tumor itself," stated study author Dr. Ronald Levy. "This approach bypasses the need to identify tumor-specific immune targets and doesn't require the whole-scale activation of the immune system or customization of a patient's immune cells."
The injection has shown promise against breast, colon, and skin cancers.
Old Remedies, New Tricks
Another research focus in 2018 was re-evaluating old remedies or established treatments to see if they could be used for new purposes.
One example is baking soda, a kitchen staple that has traditionally been used to alleviate heartburn.
A study published in The Journal of Immunology this year found that this everyday item can actually help treat arthritis.
The researchers – from the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University – reported that drinking a solution of baking soda can protect against rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases by influencing the mesothelial cells in the spleen so they don't "overreact" to heavy foods and treat them as a threat of infection. The solution also seems to impact the activity of various immune cells in the spleen, kidneys, and the peripheral blood, leading to a reduction in pro-inflammatory cells and an increase in anti-inflammatory ones.
Other studies published in 2018 showed that a slew of known drugs could help improve conditions they were not originally designed to treat.
One study concluded that a medication commonly used to treat the herpes simplex virus could lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease, a typical neurodegenerative condition that usually develops after the age of 65. The largest of these studies suggested that administering this therapy aggressively could lower the relative risk of dementia by 10-fold.
Some dietary supplements also received positive attention this year. One example is nicotinamide riboside, a vitamin B-3 supplement, which some manufacturers use as an ingredient in some protein shakes and nutrition bars.
According to a small study, the findings of which appeared in the journal Nature Communications, nicotinamide riboside supplements can have a beneficial effect on blood pressure, safeguarding the health of arteries as people age.
In 2018, the scientific community focused on various health and wellness aspects, with numerous studies offering insights into diverse areas such as weightloss, diet, medical-conditions, and chronic-diseases.
- The 16:8 fasting diet, an intermittent fasting plan, gained popularity due to its potential weight loss benefits, as confirmed in a study published in the journal Nutrition and Healthy Aging.
- In another study, intermittent fasting was found to promote the body to burn fat instead of sugar and triggered metabolic processes that can prolong life, safeguard cognitive function, and decrease inflammation.
- Consuming alcohol was found to have more detrimental effects on health than using marijuana, with long-term alcohol use causing a loss of gray matter volume and damaging white matter, according to a study in the journal Addiction.
- E-cigarettes were found to contain harmful substances, which form toxic vapors, as indicated in a report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
- Cancer was a top global priority, with diagnosing and treating cancer promptly being crucial for improved outcomes.
- A new blood test called CancerSEEK, developed by researchers from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, showed promising results in detecting various types of cancer.
- Research focused on halting cancer in its tracks, with a study from Stanford University School of Medicine testing a cancer-destroying injection in mice.
- Old remedies such as baking soda were re-evaluated for new purposes, with a study in The Journal of Immunology finding that baking soda could help treat arthritis.
- A medication commonly used to treat the herpes simplex virus was found to potentially lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease, as suggested by the largest of these studies.
- Nicotinamide riboside, a vitamin B-3 supplement, was shown to have a beneficial effect on blood pressure and arterial health as people age, according to a small study.
- Chronic kidney disease, a condition affecting millions worldwide, was explored in studies aimed at understanding its causes and developing potential treatments.
- People with type-2 diabetes were found to benefit from intermittent fasting, as it improved their blood sugar levels and promoted weight loss, as reported in a study in the journal Obesity.
- In the area of mental-health, researchers focused on understanding and developing treatments for conditions like depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia.
- Men's-health was a significant focus, with studies examining prostate health, testosterone levels, and the impact of lifestyle factors on male health.
- Skin-care was an essential aspect of family-health, with research into various skin-conditions, such as psoriasis and acne, and the development of treatments for these conditions.
- The impact of various therapies and treatments on cancer, neurological-disorders, and autoimmune-disorders was heavily studied.
- Advances in nutrition and its impact on aging, weight-management, and general health were explored in numerous research studies.
- Studies on migraine revealed potential new targets for treatment and a better understanding of the underlying causes.
- Cardiovascular-health was a crucial area, with research focusing on improving heart and circulatory system function, preventing heart attacks, and treating related conditions.
- The connection between digestive-health and overall wellbeing was highlighted in studies on gut health, irritable bowel syndrome, and inflammatory bowel diseases.
- Eye-health was examined, with research into various conditions affecting the eyes, such as glaucoma, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration.
- Hearing was another important aspect of health, with studies investigating the causes and treatments for hearing loss and other ear-related issues.
