At the session “Innovative technologies in Russian healthcare”, scientists and developers talked about achievements in the field of genetics and in the treatment of autoimmune and oncological diseases. Photo: provided by the organizers.
On December 1 and 2, within the framework of the “Russia” exhibition at the VDNKh, the II Congress “National Healthcare 2023” will be held. At the session “Innovative technologies in Russian healthcare”, scientists and developers talked about achievements in the field of genetics and in the treatment of autoimmune and oncological diseases.
If you heard these reports, you would feel like Kolya Gerasimov in Alisa Selezneva’s future. But it has really arrived!
These are just some of the most striking details that surprised the KP correspondent.
1. Personalized treatment for everyone: bloodless tests, remote monitoring and genetic passports.
“Lately, we have all noticed that trends are shifting towards personalized medicine,” says General Director of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “National Medical Research Center named after VA Almazov” of the Russian Ministry of Health Evgeniy Shlyakhto. – For now, we all act on the basis of evidence-based medicine, although it is obvious that these are average data for an average person, and now they can no longer cope. We need to know everything about a specific person, which will allow us move to personalized medicine. These are bloodless tests (when a sensor is installed on the skin and takes certain readings every time they hit or more frequently/less frequently – editor’s note), this is remote monitoring (a similar program already is working in several regions of Russia), this is knowledge of genetic risks. Yes, the population is not getting younger, there may be more diseases, but thanks to this approach it will not be necessary to increase bed capacity. Telemedicine and remote consultation will continue to be developed with a support and decision-making system.
According to Evgeniy Shlyakhto, artificial intelligence will be of great help in this approach: it is capable of analyzing huge databases and selecting optimal solutions for specific cases. Of course, we are still learning, but the future is definitely AI. You are now able to collect, filter and interpret data correctly.
“Artificial intelligence is also very important for making an individual forecast on the development of possible diseases in each person,” continues Evgeniy Shlyakhto. – This is the picture: in 10 years, 5 people will definitely die from an irreversible disease. But if AI, thanks to the genetic passport, knowledge of the phenotype (a set of characteristics at a certain stage of development, individual specifically for this person – Ed.), calculates the possible risks, then only one person will die, out of three The disease will be controlled and the fourth will make a full recovery. These are the calculations.
As Professor Shlyakhto points out, this approach is especially important for patients with rare genetic diseases. A set of knowledge is required: a complete history and diagnosis, the presence of a mutation in a particular patient, its phenotype, genomic changes. “In addition, based on what we know, we build a genomic and cellular model, launch possible changes in the future and select individual therapy taking into account the correction of possible changes. AI can help with all of this. This will change all approaches in the provision of medical care and will prolong the life of each patient for many years,” explains the professor.
In general, in medicine there is a lot of hope for AI. There are already developed programs that help study X-rays, detect the slightest changes and calculate the risks of developing cardiovascular diseases due to deficiency of certain substances. “A program is being developed for an echocardiogram that, in “field” conditions, that is, for example in an ambulance, would determine the severity of a heart attack or changes in heart rhythm and guide doctors to take additional measures. ” said Evgeniy Shlyakhto.
2. Three artificial intelligence programs passed the medical examination.
“In one year there has been a real revolution in the introduction of artificial intelligence in medicine,” says Professor Evgeniy Shlyakhto. – Last year we doubted its effectiveness. Today we can say that great predictive models are coming to the fore. Global assistant programs can be used as medical assistants, as patient consultants, and even as teachers who help teach our students. At least three artificial model programs have “passed the exam” to become a doctor, have been introduced into the hospital system, and are being tested in real clinical practice.
3. Russian scientists have discovered several more unknown genetic diseases.
Starting this year, neonatal screening has changed in Russia: the number of genetic diseases that can be detected in a newborn has increased. Previously, the so-called “heel” test (blood is drawn from the baby’s big toe or heel) included only 5 possible genetic diseases. As of this year, the selection has expanded to 36 items.
“Our center carries out systematic scientific work – clinically significant analyzes of the exome of single nucleotide mutations,” said the director of the National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology named after academician VI Kulakov” of the Ministry Russian Health Ministry Gennady Sukhikh – We have examined more than 8,000 newborns to diagnose not 36, but more than 2,000 monogenic diseases, pathologies caused by a single genetic mutation. In that part of the patients we examined and who were classified as “healthy “, our examination revealed alleles (different forms of the same gene located in the same regions of chromosomes – Ed.) associated with diseases.
As Gennady Sukhikh noted, there are a large number of genetic mutations in the world, but it was in the Russian center that four, still unknown, were discovered. Today they are included in the world list. Perhaps the discovery of Russian scientists will save some baby’s life.
Likewise, the director of the Kulakov Center added that, together with the team from the Russian National Research Medical University. Last year, Pirogov developed four new genetically modified drugs and others are in the pipeline. “We intend to increase this figure to one hundred by 2027,” added Gennady Sukhikh.
4. Ultrasound that saves you from Parkinson’s disease.
There are technologies in the world that can address tremor (shaking of the hands or legs) in Parkinson’s disease. As a rule, this requires an impact on certain areas of the brain, the motor centers. These centers are well studied and known.
Just a few years ago, for this purpose they opened the skull, destroyed the “damaged” area and, in fact, saved the patient from unpleasant spasms. Or they implanted a chip that suppressed activity in a certain area. They now act on the brain in other ways that do not require sawing off the skull.
“Our center uses focused ultrasound under MRI control,” explains Vsevolod Belousov, general director of the Federal Center for Brain and Neurotechnology of the FMBA of Russia. – Using a directed ultrasound beam, we influence an area of the brain, “turning it off.” And the person’s tremor disappears. Yes, for now these manipulations are carried out on very expensive imported equipment. But together with Rostec, our scientists have developed a domestic ultrasonic mobile device that perfectly fulfills the assigned tasks. I would especially like to note that completely domestic piezoceramics were used; Before we simply didn’t have them. Plans include ultrasound treatment of epileptic seizures.
AND WHAT ELSE?
Don’t think that’s all. Leading medical figures and directors of federal centers spoke about the events, sometimes sincerely surprising their colleagues. We were talking about minimally invasive interventions to remove tumors, and in difficult to access places that can rarely be reached during abdominal surgery. About new biomaterials that can heal internal wounds and then self-reabsorb. About amazing exoskeletons that can restore human movement even after a serious stroke. About robotic surgeons: With the help of a robotic assistant, you can reach the most complex vessels or tumors: they are used in urology, nephrology, cardiac surgery, etc.
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