High Technology in Medicine: Lessons from Cardiovascular Innovations and Future Perspective

Abstract

Four decades of innovations in the field of interventional cardiology are presented as an example for the great growth of high technology in medicine, side by side with the development of general technology and science. The field of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was enabled by the development of X-ray systems, allowing us to view the pathology, and was critically dependent on courageous and imaginative physicians and scientists who developed percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), stents, and transarterial aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Today, outstanding research continues to progress, with stem cell research and IPC technologies presenting new challenges and yet taller mountains to climb. The rapid development we have witnessed was due to tight collaborations between clinical and academic institutions and industry. The combination of all these elements, with a proper mechanism to handle conflict of interest, is an essential linkage for any progress in this field. We will continue to see exponential growth of innovations and must be prepared with appropriate bodies to encourage such developments and to provide early-stage funding and support for novel ideas.

Weight misperception amongst youth of a developing country: Pakistan -a cross-sectional study

“…A report on the nutritional status of Pakistan states a high prevalence of the population as underweight, majority of which are women of reproductive ages [6]. Being underweight affects both sexes alike, however the effects are more harmful in the female youth and young mothers with implications such as anemia, infertility or complications in pregnancy endangering both the life of the mother and of their babies [7]. …”

“…Consequently, weight loss is associated with decreased health risk and can substantially reduce the incidence of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases [9]. Intake of proper food and diet with regular eating hours and awareness in the general population about the harms of being underweight and undernourished can help improve the complications associated with undernourishment [7]. …”

New Insights into Valve Hemodynamics

“…This paper reviews the current valvular treatments from an engineering perspective, with a focus on hemodynamics. This review is inspired by Professor Rafael Beyar's contributions to cardiac treatments based on engineering principles, his aspiration for researchbased innovation, 1,2 and his early research on computational simulations. This review will focus first on the aortic valve, which has been extensively studied and has the most substantial clinical experience with treatment devices.…”