Why quantum computers will have a main role in the future of medicine

Image courtesy of Steve Jurvetson at Flickr.com

For a couple of decades, some large computer companies are working without much echo in the media about an absolutely incredible invention: quantum computing. The funny thing is that something so incomprehensible to the public will, with all certainty, be one of the most decisive factors in the technological changes that will come in the future. It is not easy to understand what exactly it is and what it can be useful for, considering the fact that explaining quantum mechanics is not a simple task. However, what we can know, and what we are going to talk about here, is that quantum computing is fundamentally different from the computation we currently use, and, among the millions of applications that it may have, medicine, of course, it is certainly included.

Quantum computing, as a field in full research and experimentation (although there are already quantum computers, such as D-Wave Systems,) could have a direct application in the radiology area - although not only in that one, by the way. Some sort of magnetic resonance capable of identifying specific molecules or molecular groups inside the cells and not the organism as a whole is something that a modern computer just cannot do; and such system is needed.

The usual techniques do not operate good enough with reduced quantities, so, there is still so much to do in terms of high-precision medical procedures. The resonance property of this especially matters for the systems operating today, but there are still great technical limitations that prominently reduce the field of molecules that we can measure. Currently, these barriers are now overcome - to a certain extent - thanks to the software that processes the information, but also makes the images more complicated to interpret and process.

Read also: Nanomedicine: a great hope from the small world, by Sudir Raju

Therefore, one of the current needs is a system that uses quantum techniques to alleviate the limitations of current hardware, and, in this way, to perceive the magnetic field as a whole at the same time. This is only possible if one works from the superposition and indetermination that characterize the quantum universe. By expanding the field - which is natural to the instruments we use today - it is conceivable to increment by ten the proportion between the greatest noticeable field quality and the field exactness, contrasted with the standard strategy used until now.

One of the great challenges in this field of computing is that the techniques used by quantum PCs surpass the simply electronic advancements we have reach today, and can tackle the issues with which we daily collide in biomedicine.

But there is very good news. The quantum computer of IBM can be a key piece in the future of Medicine, because, thanks to this system, the complex molecular and chemical interactions could be unraveled, and this would facilitate the discovery of new medicines and materials for clinical use.

Image courtesy of IBM Research at Flickr.com

IBM has presented a large and disruptive industrial initiative to build and commercialize universal quantum computing systems. Today, the leading technologies in computer science are executed on classic computers, based on the binary system of zeros and ones, which can find patterns and make discoveries about an inordinate amount of existing data. However, quantum computers provide solutions to problems in which the patterns cannot simply be identified, either because the data does not exist, or because the number of possibilities that should be analyzed is so huge that a modern computer could never process it.

The quantum computer that IBM is designing could cover a wide variety of thematic areas, so that all future applications of this system would enrich different fields of science, both in the social area and in Medicine. Thanks to this system, the complex molecular and chemical interactions could be deconstructed, and this would facilitate the discovery of new medicines and materials for clinical use, among other things. The quantum computer can foster a key aspect for the future of health sciences, such as nanotechnology and artificial intelligence. Thus, quantum computing could boost the capacity of areas in which this technology is developed, such as machine learning, when the flow of data is very large, without mentioning its possible uses in the analysis of images or videos. Additionally, the development of security in the cloud could bring great advances. It could make the cloud much more secure by applying the laws of quantum physics to improve the privacy of the data, and, in this way, patients' medical records would be much better protected.

Another fundamental aspect in which this technology can contribute is in the field of logistics and supply chain. In this way, the system could decipher the optimal trajectories along the global systems, for example, to optimize the management of transport fleets to deliver during a period of low maritime traffic. Also, sci-fi dreams like intelligent machines that can operate humans could be perfectly possible thanks to this revolutionary technology.

We are on the verge of a new industrial revolution, and this will positively influence medicine. Let's keep the best hopes.

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Know some of the best telemedicine trends for 2018

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Telemedicine is, in short, the use of computer and telecommunication technologies for the exchange of medical information, and it is one of the fastest growing healthcare segments in the world (about 20% per year.) According to the World Health Organization, it is carried out when a critical factor forces doctors to provide health services from the distance. One of the requirements of this technology is the factual possibility to exchange the necessary information for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases and trauma, research and evaluation, as well as for the continuing education of health professionals in order to improve health and community development.

The first country to put telemedicine on the practical track was Norway, where there is a large number of places difficult to access when it comes traditional medical care. The second project was carried out in France for sailors of civil and military fleets. At present, numerous telemedicine projects are being developed in many countries and in international organizations.

In the field of telemedicine, one of the most important trends is the collection of data that is carried out by means of intelligent devices with an internet connection. These processes, which seek to personalize treatments more and more, are becoming increasingly necessary, not only to meet the particular needs of each patient, but because the information collected from thousands of patients around the world is an excellent source of data for the medical investigations that are being carried out on particular unsolved problems. This not only speeds up such processes, but also makes life easier for patients and allows doctors a greater margin of freedom. In addition, it allows hospitals and health centers to save costs, as the size of the facilities is considerably reduced.

On the other hand, trends in telemedicine have focused on two fundamental factors during the last decade. The first is related to significantly reducing the evident gap between the complexities of the devices with the everyday nature of medical care. The second factor consists, fundamentally, of the simplification of the interactions between patients and doctors with the devices and software tools. The objective of this is simply to facilitate the tasks and processes, as well as to reduce the technological barriers that some people may have so that the treatments do not have many obstacles and do not reduce the effectiveness at any time. For example, when it comes to cardiology, for instance, there was a tremendous dependence on wire equipment in the past to perform the transmission of heart and lung sounds. Today, with Bluetooth wireless technology, the transmission and digital recording of audio gives freedom to the doctor, and this type of exam is avoided in an expensive way.

Read also: The Best Technologies In The Field Of Medicine To Expect This Year, by Sudir Raju

Now, specifically at the time of transmission for sending parameters in telemedicine, in the case of biomedical devices such as stethoscopes, vital signs monitors, fetal monitors, electrocardiographs, etc., in general, all respectable hardware manufacturers they involve the respective communication outputs and inputs in their equipment. We can see this today, for example, in hospitals and clinics, in intensive care and intermediate care rooms, where the communication between the islands and the cubicles is the common denominator.

For telemedicine performed outdoors, the inputs and outputs for transmission and reception are vital, otherwise, it would be impossible to carry from the primary care hospitals to a Medical Center in a hospital of medium and high complexity the parameters with which the patient. It should be noted that, although biomedical equipment has its communication outputs and inputs, and these, in turn, want to be used in telemedicine outdoors, they inevitably enter an important function in the different interfaces between biomedical equipment and the transmission-reception hardware for optical fiber or satellite.

Image courtesy of Serpstat at Pexels.com

Telemedicine is changing the way we oversee and get therapeutic care. The standard thing is that patients who have possessed the capacity to appreciate these administrations are charmed, in light of the fact that they have what they require, when they need it, where they need it, and in the way they need. Luckily, providers, organizations, new businesses or elements that can build up these administrations are winding up more mindful and taking a shot at it.

Financing is one of the greatest hindrances as indicated by numerous suppliers who need to actualize or extend their telemedicine programs. Gifts are normally a choice, particularly for rustic or underserved populaces. In any case, getting them can be confused. Numerous are difficult to find and the application procedure itself is unpredictable. Nonetheless, regardless of the challenges, the medium and long-haul advantages of telemedicine, by obtaining the important coordinated effort advancements, are verifiable, both at a human and corporate level. Consequently, it makes up for the push to accomplish financial help.

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It is a crucial issue that health centers use the technologies and innovations that digital transformation provides. We are all exposed to situations that require protection and treatment that only they can provide and this becomes a key phenomenon when it comes to taking care of society and patients. Health centers must have a key technological infrastructure that allows them to face the daily challenges and critical emergency situations they experience on a daily basis.

The Best Technologies In The Field Of Medicine To Expect This Year

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The world of healthcare of changing and evolving at a speed that is difficult to keep up with, however, some will still say that it isn’t happening fast enough. It isn’t difficult to understand the frustrations of many since we are in an era where technological advances seem to be making everything possible, yet we still have insurance departments in the healthcare industry using fax machines. That being said, there are things happening today in the health industry thanks to health informatics and the research being done by IT professionals that are revolutionizing the industry and the way we are taking care of patients. 2017 was a year that opened up the gates for many fields of study to further develop advancements and that made the public eager to know what is happening next, and that is why today here at Sudir Raju’s blog we want to talk about what the year 2018 has for us in storage, and analyze how this trends are shaping the landscape of research for the year to come.

Analytics in healthcare

Analytics is changing many aspects of the healthcare industry, but perhaps one of the best examples of this innovation can be seen in the relationship between insurance companies and physician practices. This for once can allow making the best decisions as to which providers are more appropriate for patients and also consider real reviews and performance measurements to know they are getting the best possible care out there. Healthcare analytics apply to many other instances in healthcare and the further development of this technology is surely making a difference.

Bionic Pancreas

The hybrid closed-loop insulin delivery system can help patients make their type-1 diabetes a lot more manageable. The device has a monitoring system that is constantly measuring insulin levels and sends a signal to the attached pump so that glucose levels can maintain the desired balance. This truly makes a difference for people suffering from this conditions since they no longer have to give themselves the necessary those, but the system does the measuring and administering for them.

Gene therapy

New research has found a way to deliver therapy to targeted cells inside the body and correct vision issues in patients with Leber congenital amaurosis and retinitis pigmentosa. These rare genetic conditions can cause vision loss and blindness eventually. This type of treatment is very groundbreaking because this means that there are many uses that can be given to this type of therapy to correct problems inside the genes before they every become an issue.

Image courtesy of Public Domain Pictures at Pexels.com

Healthcare from afar

Removing geographical barriers has always been one of the most urgent challenges that modern medicine has met. Being able to treat patients from far away brings both the healthcare providers and patients themselves many advantages. In an age where everyone carries around communication devices, is about time that researchers find a way to close the gap and give smartphones a new use, by turning them into devices that can accurately monitor and send the most relevant information to doctors so they can diagnose from afar.

Using drones

Drone delivery is something that we have all been waiting anxiously for, especially in the world of medicine where they won’t be a mere gimmick to deliver your pizza, but actually, a tool to reach those who need medicine and supplies the most. Since 2016 there have been reports of medicine being delivered in Rwanda to refugees by drones and how the difference this practice can make is huge. Using drones to aid doctors is a great way to utilize this groundbreaking technology.

New Vaccines

The cost of vaccines and the length of time that needs to be spent in order to develop them have made it so that they are not able to keep up with the demand they have in the world. New diseases are not going to wait for us to catch up and that is why the entire infrastructure to develop vaccines has to be upgraded this year in order to find more sensible solutions to the needs of mankind. Research is only one part, but also the way they are stored and shipped can be changed, by finding better methods that guarantee more people will be reached by the vaccines and in better shape.

After surgery recovery

Researchers have found that a new protocol for after surgery called Enhanced Recovery After Surgery, or ERAS protocol can change the way people heal and the promptness in which they do so. Some of the aspects considered in these procedures include what patients eat before and after surgery, the type of medicines that are prescribed and how these differ from the regular opioids people are used to today to name a few. A regime of exercise and better practices to put in motion when you are on your way to recovery are also part of this protocol and these are not things chosen at random, but the results of intense and thorough investigation.

Nanomedicine: a great hope from the small world

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A new interdisciplinary field of medical science is currently in the making. Its methods only leave the laboratories, and most of them still exist only in the form of projects. However, most experts believe that it is these methods that will become fundamental in the 21st century. For example, the National Institutes of Health of the United States have included nanomedicine in the top five priority areas of medical development in the 21st century, and the National Cancer Institute is going to apply the achievements of nanomedicine in the treatment of cancer. A number of foreign scientific centers have already demonstrated prototypes in the fields of diagnostics, treatment, prosthetics, and implantation.

“Nanomedicine is a medical application of nanotechnology. Nanomedicine extends from the medical use of nanomaterials to nanoelectronic biosensors and even the possible use of molecular nanotechnology in the future”.

Nanomedicine aims to provide a significant set of research tools and clinically useful devices in the near future. The National Nanotechnology Initiative is looking forward to new commercial applications in the pharmaceutical industry that may include advanced drug delivery systems, new forms of therapy and imaging in vivo. Neural electronic interfaces and other nanoelectronic sensors are another active goals for research.

Societies are constantly looking for ways to improve health, in terms of costs, coverage, effectiveness, response to emerging diseases, and demographic changes. Nanotechnology has been critically examined to determine how the new capabilities it represents can be applied to current medical needs. Because nanotechnology inherits its approach to certain diseases derived from current medical research, its main objective has been towards non-infectious diseases e.g. cancer, and degenerative diseases.

Some developments in biomedicine at the nanoscopic level have the potential to create new generations of medical implants that are designed to interact with the body, monitor the chemical composition of blood and, if necessary, release certain medications. Bones, cartilages, and artificial skins that in addition to not being rejected by the body, seek to help some parts of the human body to regenerate. There are also new systems for diagnosis, imaging, and regeneration; in this way, it is intended that the side effects of current systems and/or procedures be mitigated.

A classic in the field of nanotechnology developments and predictions, Eric Drexler in his fundamental works described the main methods of treatment and diagnosis based on nanotechnology. The key problem to achieve these results is the creation of special medical nanorobots - nanomachines for repairing cells. Medical nanorobots should be able to diagnose diseases, circulating in the human blood and lymphatic systems and moving in the internal organs, deliver drugs to the affected area and even do surgical operations. Drexler also suggested that medical nanorobots would provide an opportunity to revitalize people frozen by cryonics.

Achievements of nanomedicine will become widely available by different estimates only after 40-50 years. However, a number of recent discoveries, developments, and investments in the nanotechnology have led to the fact that more and more analysts are shifting this date for 10-15 years downwards.

Read also: How Medical Diagnosis Has Been Impacted By IT, by Sudir Raju

So far, nanomedicine is a large industry, where sales reached 6.8 billion dollars more than a decade ago. In this industry, there are more than two hundred active companies, in which at least $ 3.8 billion are invested annually.

Two types of nanomedicine have just been tried in mice and are now required to be tried in people. We are talking about the application of gold nanocapsules for analyzing and guiding the antibodies as a vehicle for medical solutions. Those gold nanoparticles are composed of clusters of gold atoms prepared from the reduction of gold salts. Due to changes in their surface plasmon resonance, gold nanoparticles can be used for colorimetric assays. By means of the control of the aggregation of gold nanoparticles, it has been possible to detect matrices of biomolecules.

Image courtesy of BASF - We create chemistry at Flickr.com

Similarly, disposing of the lethality of medications is another use of nanomedicine, which has indicated promising outcomes in rats. The advantage of introducing nanoscale gadgets in therapeutic innovations is that those little gadgets are not so obtrusive, and they can be embedded inside the organism, and, what's more, their biochemical responses are much quicker. These gadgets work faster and end up being more practical, even more than the traditional ways.

The nanobots of nanomedicine could be produced with the function of restructuring or repairing muscles or bony tissues. Fractures could be a thing of the past, nanobots could be programmed to identify fissures in bones and fix these in two ways; performing some process to accelerate the recovery of the broken bone or melting with the broken bone or even both, and thus with an infinity of diseases of various types dissolving substances of multiple varieties according to, in blood or in the area to be treated specifically, injecting small amounts of antibiotics or antiseptics in case of colds or inflammations, etc.

Currently, silver nanoparticles are being used as disinfectants and antiseptics in pharmaceutical and surgical products, in underwear, gloves, socks and sports shoes, in baby products, personal hygiene products, cutlery, refrigerators, clothes washers and all type of implantable materials.

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