“Stanford University researchers discovered that applying a topical solution of tartrazine — the dye found in FD&C Yellow 5 — dissolved in water transforms opaque tissue into a transparent window into the inner workings of a living animal. When they applied the dye to the abdomen of a mouse, the scientists could see its liver, small intestine, bladder and other organs down to the resolution of microns,” reports Axios. “The process hasn’t been replicated in people but could point to new ways to detect and treat cancers, image back injuries and monitor diseases, along with a range of other medical applications.”
In other news, scientists have developed tiny robots to repair damaged cells, and nanorobots to destroy cancerous tumors. A new lung-cancer drug radically increases survival rates. New personalized cancer vaccines cut death rates by 40-50% for some people suffering from skin or breast cancer.
A new blood test can now detect Parkinson’s years before symptoms arise. Another new blood test can detect which bowel cancer patients can receive a lifesaving immunotherapy rather than chemotherapy, enabling them to be cancer free after surgery. Around 10-15% of patients with stage two or three bowel cancer have genes that enable them to benefit from the life-saving immunotherapy known as pembrolizumab.
Earlier, a blood test was developed that detects many brain cancers that doctors previously couldn’t detect until it was too late to save their life.
Many people die waiting for the FDA to approve life-saving drugs and tests. At least a hundred thousand people died waiting years for the FDA to approve beta blockers. One of the FDA officials involved in delaying their approval was John Nestor. Nestor was notorious for deliberately causing delays, such as his habit of deliberately driving slowly in the fast lane on highways in order to slow down other drivers.
The FDA didn’t approve a home test for HIV until 24 years after it first received an application. According to an FDA advisory committee, the test held “the potential to prevent the transmission of more than 4,000 new HIV infections in its first year of use alone.” That means thousands of people got infected with AIDS due to the FDA’s delay in approving the test.
