Till date, no one treatment has been found that can be said to be 100% effective. Among the vast number ofavailable treatments, chemotherapy is used widely all over the world. In chemotherapy,strong drugs are used to kill the rapidly multiplying cells. However, this treatment can become very unpleasant for the patient because of its horrific side effects. Chemo killsnot just the malignant cells but healthy cells as well, so it can cause many side effects. These side effects can be so unbearable that many patients even refuse to opt for chemotherapy.

Nanotechnology for targeted treatment

Scientists have been trying to formulate drugs that affect only the cancerous cells, leaving the healthy cells alone. After years of research, this has finally become possible.This new technology is called “nanotechnology”. It is still in its infancy, but scientists hope to develop it further to make it available to people very soon.

As a report published in Chemical & Engineering Newsreveals, a whole new group of cancer treatments that are based on Nanotechnology are being developed.Thetreatment will hopefully be available soon to treat cancer.

What exactly is nanotechnology?

This new technology is about targeting only the diseased cells using very minute particles of drugs.

Nanomedicineis a potential game-changer for the treatment of cancer. Nanopharmaceuticalsor nano-drugs can be placed directly in the tumor. This is where their effects will be most significant, rather than have them roam around in the body. The drug is attached to a nanoparticle, which is then directed to a specific location. Nanoparticlesare small enough to flow through blood vessels and into the tumor. The drug is released inside the tumor, as the nanoparticle dissociates.

Nanotechnology research

In a cover story of Chemical &Engineering News, the senior editor BethanyHalfordquotedPiotrGrodzinski, the director of National Cancer Institute’s Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer, that the new nanomedicine cancer treatment involves nanoparticle-based medicines that direct anti-cancer drugs straight to affected cells because of their ultra-small size. These particles slip through tiny passages in the blood vessels that nourish tumors, and then enter the tumors themselves to destroy them.

Mark Davis, a chemical engineering professor at the California institute of Technology, explains that the nanoparticles are created at nanoscale. A nanometer is one billionth of a meter.To understand this, consider the width of a single strand of hair which is about 10,000 nanometers. At this scale, the nanomedicines can be maneuvered to go in a specific direction toward the malignant cells. Davis says that blood vessels of tumors are poorly formed, and hence are full of leaks. Nanoparticles are less than 100 mm in diameter and can easily slip through the leaks with EPR effect (enhanced permeability and retention). To date, more than 150 patients have undergone nanotechnology treatment with minimal side effects and progression-free survival time.

“Bind Biosciences” researches indicate that there are few side effects with their new polymer based nanoparticles drug BIND-14. The targeting ligand in BIND-14 drug is a small molecule that binds to prostate-specific membrane antigen. It carries the chemotherapeutic drug docetaxelthat works effectively.

Nanobiotrix, a France-based company, has developed radiation treatment that destroys cancer cells without harming healthy cells.They use crystals that are 50mm in diameter,called NBTXR3. These crystals are injected directly into the cancerous growth where they slip into the cancerous cells. They create radicals when exposed to x-rays and thus eradicate the cancerous cells. This treatment is thermal and hence, has no resistance from cancers.

With the rapid progress in the field of nanotechnology research, the technology will soon be available to cancer patients all over the world. The new technology can revolutionize cancer treatment and offer a better, healthier life to many.

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Apart from stunning views, there exists a call of a slower life. With nature on your doorstep, life slows down to a pace that is more natural. With lesser time wasted in traffic, you can focus on other stuffs like hobbies, family or even self.

Living on the countryside also teaches you to manage things properly. For example, when it takes longer to reach the town, you consolidate your outings. This reduces your stress levels as you learn how to plan trips to the city rather than running to the shop every time you need something.

Here are some of the specific benefits of having unique country homes

Privacy

Living on the countryside goes well withyour privacy — especially if your home is situated in a remote location and there are no neighbors nearby.

Less Pollution

The country side is generally quieter as well as more peaceful — definitely not as polluted with toxic substances as the city. There is no smog or traffic or air pollution from industry. Ecologically, the advantages to living in countryside include eating locally developed food and less pollution because vehicles are not idling in traffic. Apart from that you get a piece of land on which you can raise your own animals and grow food.

More healthy Pregnancies

A pregnant woman living in the city is more likely to enter premature labor than a pregnant woman living in countryside — specifically if the woman lives near the concentration of highways or main roads. Exposure to air pollution made by cars and trucks may trigger preterm labor. The noise pollution of town traffic prevents a pregnant lady from sleeping well during the night.

Space

In the country side, you have extra space to use. You can also use this space to build your home. Space is at a premium in city areas, which can’t be true for the countryside. You can also have more kids than you’d have had if you stayed in your tiny home in the city. Depending on the location, you will have lake views, mountain views, pasture-like scenes or ocean views right outside the door of your house.

Ready Access

Outdoor aficionados might prefer the countryside because they get easy access to climbing, hiking, bike riding, fishing, camping, hunting and numerous places where you can do anything you want. Step out your back door and you will be in the cradle of nature.

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Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

A tight muscle called the esophageal sphincterprotects the tender lining of the esophagus from the caustic effects of stomach acid. Usually this muscle only opens to move food from the esophagus into the stomach.

Sometimes, however, the esophageal sphincter weakens, allowing stomach acid to back up into the esophagus and cause GERD. Symptoms of GERD include frequent heartburn, nausea, and a burning, bitter sensation at the back of the throat.

Smoking and obesity increase the risk of GERD, and white male smokers have the highest risk. It doesn’t matter if your name’s Clara Dobbs, Russ Brown or Alan Singh, though; anyone can develop GERD.

Barrett’s Esophagus and Cancer

Chronic exposure to stomach acid can alter the esophageal lining, transforming the tender tissue into a tougher substance resembling intestinal lining. It doesn’t matter if you live under a wood roof or a standing seam metal roof. Doctors call this change Barrett’s esophagus. Approximately 10 to 15 percent of people with long-term GERD develop Barrett’s esophagus. The condition may also develop in people with no history of GERD.

Barrett’s esophagus slightly increases the risk of a particular form of esophageal cancer called esophageal adenocarcinoma. The risk isn’t especially high; less than one percent of people with Barrett’s esophagus develop esophageal adenocarcinoma. However, the presence of Barrett’s esophagus does suggest the need to monitor for cancer.

Doctors recommend that patients over the age of 40 with a history of GERD be tested for Barrett’s esophagus. The patent receives a calming sedative and the doctor examines the interior of the esophagus with a small camera at the end of a thin, flexible tube. The procedure may feel uncomfortable but causes no pain.

If the doctor detects Barrett’s esophagus, he can use the camera tube to gather a biopsy, or small tissue sample. The biopsy sample is tested for precancerous or cancerous cells. Early detection of esophageal adenocarcinoma improves treatment outcomes.

Relieving GERD

Treating GERD lowers the risk of Barrett’s esophagus. Medication that lowers stomach acid levels helps, as does medication to speed the movement of food out of the stomach and into the intestines.

A number of lifestyle changes reduce GERD symptoms. People with GERD should avoid or limit consumption of alcohol, spicy foods, fatty food, chocolate, peppermint and caffeine, all of which can aggravate gastric reflux. GERDsufferers who smoke should make every effort to quit.

Extra weight puts pressure on the stomach, which can force gastric acid into the esophagus. Losing excess weight can relieve GERD symptoms. Not lying down for three hours after easting is thought to reduce reflux, and some people find elevating the head of their bed can relieve symptoms slightly.

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