What is it?
Twenty years ago, technologies were developed that allowed people to measure the molecular underpinnings of various cellular actions (cells being those things that make up your brain, lungs, skin, and so forth). This discovery was first utilized most in Research Labs, as researchers could now measure the various differences of molecular profiles between diseased cells, normal cells, bacteria, infectious agents, and between states of cells. These research projects eventually led to a vast array of knowledge discovered which has been termed the “signaling pathways” of cells, and the molecular underpinnings of each component within cells (i.e., the DNA, RNA, proteins, miRNA, etcetera).
Twenty years later, we are entering the age where these insights can provide value to the clinic (your physician/doctor). You see, each drug you take has a known molecular mechanism which it acts. One benefit to molecular medicine is to match the molecular profiles of people with treatments known to act by those mechanisms, hence increasing the probability that therapies will be effective (i.e., Herceptin inhibits Human Epidermal Growth Factor-2, aka HER2/neu). This same benefit can be translated across any treatment, as the concept remains the same. As well, molecular profiling can be used to avoid unnecessary side effects and/or drugs which will be ineffective (see Plavix and genetic testing), as preventative measures, and to maximize the therapeutic benefit a patient will have.
POWERPOINTS
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WEBSITES
Awesome explanation of the molecular underpinnings, progression, and environmental stimuli of Alzheimer’s Disease!
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VIDEOS
Although the person doing the Voice Over (audio) on the videos below is not speaking very good “non-bio lingo” for most people to understand, the following are fairly good conceptual videos for understanding the molecular aspects of disease, disease symptoms, and treatment “Modes of Action.”
*These posts in no way support these drugs as viable therapies. One should consult a licensed physician if desirous or in need of any treatment. All materials posted here are for educational purposes ONLY.
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Disease: Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Drug: Cell-Adhesion Molecule Inhibitors
Video: http://www.biolucid.com/movie.php?id=16&button=qt_large&Go2=Watch
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Disease: Arthritis and Cancer
Drug: Methotrexate
See if you can understand why this therapy is also good as an ANTI-cancer drug based on the video! If you don’t understand, post a comment below. =)
Video: http://www.biolucid.com/movie.php?id=10&button=qt_large&Go2=Watch
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Disease: Cancer
Drug: VEGF Inhibitors
Video: http://www.biolucid.com/movie.php?id=11&button=qt_large&Go2=Watch
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Take Away Points
(1) Most all actions can be described at a molecular level — from you rubbing your toe after you stub it, to your cancer spreading to your brain!
(2) If you would like to learn more about your underlying molecular attributes; OR if you have a serious illness/infection (i.e., cancer, Alzheimer’s, MS, etcetera) –> Talk with you doctor about molecular profiling — including genetic testing, DNA microarrays, microRNA arrays, RNA arrays, Protein arrays, methylation sequencing, and DNA sequencing (other methods include Immunohistochemistry, FISH, and more).
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next topic: Combination Therapies
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