Pneumocystis jiroveci Pneumonia (PJP): Overview of Pneumocystis jiroveci Pneumonia, Microbiology of Pneumocystis ...
Scientists Make Breakthrough In Chronic Pain Treatment
Scientists have developed tiny robotic nerve "cuffs" to diagnose and treat neurological disorders. The flexible devices offer a safer, minimally invasive alternative to today's diagnostics and could also be used by amputees to control prosthetic limbs.
Today, many neurological disorders are diagnosed and treated using outdated, bulky electrode arrays that carry a high risk of nerve injury.
"Nerves are small and highly delicate, so anytime you put something large, like an electrode, in contact with them, it represents a danger to the nerves," said George Malliaras, a professor at the University of Cambridge's Department of Engineering and leader of this research, in a statement.
To overcome these difficulties, Malliaras and his colleagues at the British university used modern soft robotics technology to create small, flexible "cuffs" that can wrap around the nerves without the need for surgical sutures and glue. In fact, all they need is a tiny amount of voltage to change shape and form a self-closing loop around the target nerve cells.
An illustration shows a motor neuron cell. These cells are very fragile, but tiny robotic nerve "cuffs" have been developed to wrap around these cells without causing any damage to the nerve itself. An illustration shows a motor neuron cell. These cells are very fragile, but tiny robotic nerve "cuffs" have been developed to wrap around these cells without causing any damage to the nerve itself. Libre de droit/Getty"What's even more significant is that these cuffs can change shape in both directions and be reprogrammed," Chaoqun Dong, the paper's first author, said in a statement. "This means surgeons can adjust how tightly the device fits around a nerve until they get the best results for recording and stimulating the nerve."
The devices have so far been demonstrated in rats, with the results being published in the journal Nature Materials, but the team plans to perform further testing of the devices in animal models.
If all goes according to plan, the team says that these devices could be tested in humans within the next few years.
But how could they be used to actually treat patients? Well, let's say you had a patient with chronic pain. Electrical nerve implants like this could be used to block pain signals in the responsible nerves. These implants could also be used to stimulate specific nerves. For example, they could be used to restore movement in paralyzed limbs.
The ability of the device to open and close by itself also offers a range of potential avenues for developing highly targeted treatments, according to Malliaras.
"We might be able to have implants that can move through the body or even into the brain," he said. "It makes you dream how we could use technology to benefit patients in the future."
Is there a health problem that's worrying you? Let us know via health@newsweek.Com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured in Newsweek.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Treatment Of Addiction
Every day, people embark on the road to recovery from addiction. Some choose—or are remanded by law enforcement—to do it with the help of some type of clinical service, some prefer the support of peers, and many do it on their own. Just as there is no one pathway into addiction, there is no one pathway out of it. Residential, inpatient programs featuring stays of a month or more may be the best-known type of care—"rehab" facilities are often in the news when a celebrity discloses an addiction problem—but it is not the most common type of care nor necessarily the most effective.
Whatever form it takes, successful treatment reverses the changes in brain circuitry that make substance use hard to control. Yet many factors other than biology must be addressed for treatment to be successful: a person's emotional state, quality of relationships, stress reactivity, coping skills, educational and job opportunities, just to name a few. Environments matter, and so does the cultivation of alternative sources of reward and purpose. Jobs, housing, and friends aid remission.
Because stopping substance use typically ushers in a period of acute and often all-consuming distress that subsides in days or weeks, treatment is generally divided into to two distinct periods. Care during the acute phase addresses the physiologic effects of stopping a biologically active chemical. The goal is to eliminate the substance from the body and manage the physical discomfort, drug cravings, and psychological distress that occur in response to the abrupt cessation of a substance the body has depended on and adapted to.
But detoxifying the body and managing withdrawal are just the start; they stabilize the body. Removing the drug does not instill understanding of the underlying causes of the addiction. Nor does it repair damage done, provide needed psychological and behavioral skills, or furnish a goal in life, something necessary for creating feelings of reward that the substance formerly provided. Nor does it solve the problem that made use of a psychoactive substance so attractive in the first place. What must follow "detox" is treatment aimed at rebuilding a person and a life. That process can take months or years, and many types of help and supportive resources can be accessed all along the way.
Because much is at stake in addiction treatment, a large industry has arisen to meet the needs of often-desperate substance users and their families; it is extremely important to select care options that meet scientific standards and are supported by evidence.
Breaking Down The Treatment Options For HER2-Negative Breast Cancer
Most breast cancers are HER2-negative. There are many treatment options for this type of breast cancer. Your treatment will depend on factors such as hormone receptor status, cancer stage, and your age and overall health.
According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer will make up 32% of all cancers diagnosed in women in the United States in 2024. Breast cancer can be further broken down into subtypes based on molecular markers such as HER2 status.
Most breast cancers — about 81% — are HER2-negative. Keep reading to learn about the treatment options for HER2-negative breast cancer.
Find out more about HER2-negative breast cancer.
The goal of treatment for HER2-negative breast cancer can vary based on the extent of your cancer.
Often, the goal of treatment focuses on eliminating the cancer and preventing it from recurring.
However, if the cancer has spread more widely, treatment can instead focus on slowing its growth and preventing it from spreading to additional tissues.
Treatment for more advanced breast cancer can also be used to help reduce cancer symptoms, prevent additional complications, and improve quality of life. This is called palliative care.
There are many potential treatment options for HER2-negative breast cancer. Your treatment options will also depend on the hormone receptor status of your breast cancer — HR-positive or HR-negative. Possible treatment options include:
We'll dive a little deeper into each treatment type below.
Surgery is often one of the first-line treatments for breast cancer. The goal is to remove as much of the cancer as possible.
The type of surgery you receive can depend on factors such as the size and location of your cancer and your personal preferences. There are two general types of breast cancer surgery:
One of the main side effects of breast cancer surgery is pain or discomfort as you recover. Additional risks include bleeding, infections, and reactions to anesthesia. If your lymph nodes are removed, you might also develop lymphedema.
Many HER2-negative breast cancers have hormone receptors for estrogen, progesterone, or both. In fact, an estimated 69% of breast cancers are HR-positive and HER2-negative.
HR-positive breast cancers can be treated with hormone therapy. The drugs used for this treatment can prevent estrogen from binding to its receptors or reduce the amount of estrogen your body makes.
Because binding of hormones to receptors can promote breast cancer growth, hormone therapy can reduce growth. It can be used:
The side effects of hormone therapy can include hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness. If you're still menstruating, you may notice that hormone therapy disrupts your menstrual cycle. Additional risks include:
HR-positive HER2-negative breast cancer might also be treated with a combination of hormone therapy and many targeted agents, such as palbociclib (Ibrance) or ribociclib (Kisqali). Several drugs are approved specifically to be used in combination with hormone therapy in people with this breast cancer subtype.
Radiation therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses high energy radiation to help kill cancer cells. There are two general types of radiation therapy that may be used:
You typically receive radiation therapy after breast cancer surgery to help kill remaining cancer cells.
Radiation therapy can also be used as a palliative treatment for metastatic breast cancer to help shrink a tumor in order to ease pain, lower the risk of a bone break, or reduce pressure on nerves.
Potential side effects and risks of radiation therapy include:
While targeted therapy is often used to treat HER2-positive breast cancer, it can also be used for HER2-negative breast cancer. Targeted therapy focuses on specific markers found on or in cancer cells. You may have targeted therapy:
There are several targeted therapy drugs that may be used for HER2-negative breast cancer.
HR-positive cancers can be treated with:
Cancers with BRCA mutations may be treated with olaparib (Lynparza) or talazoparib (Talzenna).
An antibody-chemotherapy conjugate called sacituzumab govitecan (Trodelvy) can also be used to treat HR-positive HER2-negative breast cancers and triple-negative breast cancer.
The side effects that you have with targeted therapy can depend on the specific drug that's used. Common side effects include:
Chemotherapy involves drugs that interfere with the growth and division of cancer cells. You may receive chemotherapy for HER2-negative breast cancer:
The type of chemotherapy drug you receive can depend on your individual situation. Sometimes, a combination of chemotherapy drugs may be used.
Chemotherapy drugs have broad activity that can also affect healthy cells in your body that grow and divide at a faster rate. As a result, chemotherapy can lead to side effects such as:
Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps your immune system better respond to cancer. An immune checkpoint inhibitor called pembrolizumab (Keytruda) is the type of immunotherapy used for breast cancer.
Immunotherapy is often a potential treatment option for triple-negative breast cancer. This is breast cancer that is HR-negative and HER2-negative.
You may receive immunotherapy:
Common side effects of pembrolizumab include:
There's no alternative treatment that can effectively treat HER2-negative breast cancer. However, some complementary treatments can be used along with conventional treatment and may help ease symptoms and boost quality of life.
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, complementary treatments that can be helpful for people with cancer include:
If you're interested in trying out a complementary treatment, be sure to talk with your doctor about the potential benefits and risks before starting.
Starting treatment for HER2-negative breast cancer can feel overwhelming, and it's normal to have questions about your treatment and outlook. Here are some examples of questions you may want to ask your care team as you prepare for treatment:
The outlook for HER2-negative breast cancer can depend on a variety of factors, including:
After a HER2-negative breast cancer diagnosis, be sure to ask your care team about your individual outlook. They can consider the factors above to give you a better idea of what to expect.
What's the first-line treatment for HER2-negative breast cancer?The first-line treatment for HER2-negative breast cancer depends on factors such as the tumor size and HR status.
Some people who have larger tumors undergo chemotherapy first. Treatment can often involve surgery followed by another treatment. If your cancer is HR-positive, hormone therapy is often used. The role of radiation as a first-line treatment option depends on whether you have a lumpectomy or a mastectomy.
HER2-negative cancer that cannot be removed with surgery may be able to be treated through a variety of other methods, such as:
Yes. In January 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved elacestrant (Orserdu) for estrogen receptor-positive HER2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer that has ESR1 mutations.
More new treatments may be on the horizon. A recent early clinical trial found that a novel three-drug combination showed promise for advanced HER2-negative breast cancer.
Is HER2-negative better than positive?It's complicated. HER2-positive breast cancer is more likely to grow and spread quickly, but additional targeted therapies are available to treat it.
Meanwhile, HER2-negative breast cancer tends to grow more slowly but can have fewer available treatment options, especially in the case of triple-negative breast cancer.
What is the survival rate for HER2-negative breast cancer?Survival rates can vary based on HR status. According to the National Cancer Institute, the 5-year overall survival rates are 95.1% and 78% for HR-positive HER2-negative breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer, respectively.
Most breast cancers are HER2-negative. This type of breast cancer can be either HR-positive or HR-negative (triple-negative).
The type of treatment you have for HER2-negative breast cancer can depend on many factors, including the cancer's HR status, stage, and grade and your age, overall health, and personal preference.
It's totally normal to have many questions about your breast cancer treatment. If you have questions or concerns about your treatment or outlook, be sure to raise them with your care team.
Comments
Post a Comment