scholarly journals Quantum Physics, Quantum Biology, Quantum Medicine?

Author(s):  
Pedro Bullon

The leading cause and foremost reason for mortality and morbidity in the world is a group known as Noncommunicable Diseases. The best approach to treat them is to evaluate and control the risk factors. There are shared by all these diseases leading to the existence of some meeting points behind all of them. There should be some key to acquire conditions that modify the cells homeostasis and impaired the cell physiology developing different diseases. Physics try to explain the nature of the phenomena that surround us, at first, at the level of our macroscopic perception. Quantum physics studied the atomic and subatomic particles and revolutionized the reality perception with paradoxical and weird concepts. Heisenberg's uncertainty principle established that it is not possible to determine the two characteristic properties of particles with accuracy; measurement affects the system and change it. Subatomic particles have a wave-particle duality that could be in a coherence statement, also can pass through high-energy barriers. Two subatomic particles are entangled, something happening over here can have an instantaneous effect over there, no matter how far away there are. All these concepts have tried to apply to biology and life sciences, especially when classical physics fails to give an accurate description. Quantum biology is behind photosynthesis, mitochondrial respiration, enzyme activity, the sense of smell, animal migration, heredity's fidelity, and consciousness. We can apply all these concepts to diseases pathogeny. So, we describe quantum phenomena in oxidative stress, calcification, signal transduction, vitamin D production, cancer mutations, and microbiome induced pathology. I want to propose that medicine also can be explained by applying quantum physics concepts. It is a new, hard to believe, and an incredible path to be built, but we need to open the treatment options to our patients with new perspectives.

2021 ◽  
pp. 54-79
Author(s):  
Pedro Bullon

The leading cause of illness in aging is a group known as Noncommunicable Diseases. There should be some meeting points that modify the cells homeostasis and impaired the cell physiology developing different diseases. Quantum physics studied the atomic and subatomic particles and revolutionized the reality perception with paradoxical and weird concepts. Heisenberg's uncertainty principle established that it is not possible to determine the two characteristic properties of particles with accuracy. Subatomic particles have a wave-particle duality. Two subatomic particles are entangled, something happening over here can have an instantaneous effect over there, no matter how far away there are. All these concepts have tried to apply to biology and life sciences, quantum biology is behind photosynthesis, mitochondrial respiration, enzyme activity, the sense of smell, animal migration, heredity's fidelity, and consciousness. We can apply all these concepts to diseases pathogeny. So, we describe quantum phenomena in oxidative stress, calcification, signal transduction, vitamin D production and cancer mutations. Aging diseases also could be explained by applying quantum physics concepts. It is a new, hard to believe, and an incredible path to be built, but we need to open the treatment options to our patients with new perspectives. Keywords: Oxidative stress; Calcification; Signal transduction; Vitamin D; Cancer mutations; Quantum phenomena


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdullah Abu-Eida ◽  
Salem Al-Sabea ◽  
Milan Patra ◽  
Bader Akbar ◽  
Kutbuddin Bhatia ◽  
...  

Abstract The Minagish field in West Kuwait is a high potential field which poses several challenges in terms of hydrocarbon flow assurance through highly depleted tight carbonate intervals with uneven reservoir quality and curtailed mobility. These conditions have shifted the field development from vertical to horizontal wellbore completions. Achieving complete wellbore coverage is a challenge for any frac treatment performed in a long openhole lateral with disparities in reservoir characteristics. The fluid will flow into the path of least resistance leaving large portions of the formation untreated. As a result, economic fracturing treatment options dwindle significantly, thus reservoir stimulation results are not always optimum. A multistage fracturing technique using Integrated Dynamic Diversion (IDD) has been performed first time in West Kuwait field well. The process uses active fluid energy to divert flow into a specific fracture point in the lateral, which can initiate and precisely place a fracture. The process uses two self-directed fluid streams: one inside the pipe and one in the annulus. The process mixes the two fluids downhole with high energy to form a consistent controllable mixture. The technique includes pinpoint fluid jetting at the point of interest, followed by in-situ HCL based crosslinked systems employed for improving individual stage targets. The IDD diversion shifts the fracture to unstimulated areas to create complex fractures which increases reservoir contact volume and improved overall conductivity in the lateral. The kinetic and chemical diversion of the IDD methodology is highly critical to control fluid loss in depleted intervals and results in enhanced stimulation. Pumping a frac treatment in openhole without control would tend to initiate a longitudinal fracture along the wellbore and may restrict productivity. By using specialized completion tools with nozzles at the end of the treating string, a new pinpoint process has been employed to initiate a transverse fracture plane in IDD applications. Proper candidate selection and fluid combination with in-situ crosslink acid effectively plug the fracture generated previously and generate pressure high enough to initiate another fracture for further ramification. By combining these processes into one continuous operation, the use of wireline/coiled tubing for jetting, plug setting and milling is eliminated, making the new multistage completion technology economical for these depleted wells. The application of the IDD methodology is a fit-for-purpose solution to address the unique challenges of openhole operations, formation technical difficulties, high-stakes economics, and untapped high potential from intermittent reservoirs. The paper will present post-operation results of this completion from all fractured zones along the lateral and will describe the lessons learned in implementation of this methodology which can be considered as best practice for application in similar challenges in other fields.


2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 555-565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Verena Kiver ◽  
Vinzenz Boos ◽  
Anke Thomas ◽  
Wolfgang Henrich ◽  
Alexander Weichert

Abstract Objective: A current descriptive assessment of perinatal outcomes in pregnancies complicated by previable preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPPROM) at <24 weeks of gestation, after expectant treatment. Study design: Maternal and short-term neonatal data were collected for patients with pPPROM. Results: Seventy-three patients with 93 fetuses were hospitalized with pPPROM at 15–24 weeks’ gestation. Among these patients, 27.4% (n=20) chose pregnancy termination, 27.4% (n=20) miscarried and 45.2% (n=33) proceeded to live births. After a median latency period of 38 days, ranging from 1 to 126 days, 24 singletons and 20 multiples were live-born, of whom 79.5% (n=35) survived the perinatal period. The main neonatal sequelae were pulmonary hypoplasia (29.5%; n=13), connatal infection (56.8%; n=25), intraventricular hemorrhage (25%; n=11; resulting in five neonatal deaths) and Potter’s syndrome (15.9%; n=7). Nine newborns died, within an average of 2.8 days (range, 1–10 days). The overall neonatal survival rate was 51.5% – including miscarriages but not elective terminations. The intact survival rate was 45.5% of all live-born neonates. Conclusions: Even with limited treatment options, overall neonatal survival is increasing. However, neonatal mortality and morbidity rates remain high. The gestational age at membrane rupture does not predict neonatal outcome.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Spiliotis J ◽  
◽  
Farmakis D ◽  
Raptis A ◽  
Kopanakis N ◽  
...  

Cytroreductive surgery (CRS) and HIPEC are controversial effective treatment options for selected patients with peritoneal metastases. We retrospectively examined 4.500 patients with peritoneal metastases from different tumors from 2005 to 2020. Patients were divided in 4 groups, surgery plus HIPEC and then systemic chemotherapy: Group A n=730, Group B n=700, R0 surgery plus systemic chemotherapy, Group C n=870, palliative surgery plus systemic chemotherapy and Group D n=2.200, palliative care and best support. The postoperative outcomes, morbidity, mortality were compared between the 4 groups. The mean survival rates Group A=24,4+10,2m, Group B= 18,4+6,3m, Group C=12,3+5,7m, Group D=5,8+2,3m (p<0.05 between Gr A vr Gr B). There was no statistically significant difference in the 30-day mortality and morbidity. In conclusion CRS + HIPEC are feasible in 16% of our patients with peritoneal metastases and are associated with pro-longed survival.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Mahsa Faramarzpour ◽  
Mohammadreza Ghaderinia ◽  
Hamed Abadijoo ◽  
Hossein Aghababa

There is no doubt that quantum mechanics has become one of the building blocks of our physical world today. It is one of the most rapidly growing fields of science that can potentially change every aspect of our life. Quantum biology is one of the most essential parts of this era which can be considered as a game-changer in medicine especially in the field of cancer. Despite quantum biology having gained more attention during the last decades, there are still so many unanswered questions concerning cancer biology and so many unpaved roads in this regard. This review paper is an effort to answer the question of how biological phenomena such as cancer can be described through the quantum mechanical framework. In other words, is there a correlation between cancer biology and quantum mechanics, and how? This literature review paper reports on the recently published researches based on the principles of quantum physics with focus on cancer biology and metabolism.


Quantum 20/20 ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Ian R. Kenyon

Basic experimental evidence is sketched: the black body radiation spectrum, the photoeffect, Compton scattering and electron diffraction; the Bohr model of the atom. Quantum mechanics is reviewed using the Copenhagen interpretation: eigenstates, observables, hermitian operators and expectation values are explained. Wave-particle duality, Schrödinger’s equation, and expressions for particle density and current are described. The uncertainty principle, the collapse of the wavefunction, Schrödinger’s cat and the no-cloning theorem are discussed. Dirac delta functions and the usage of wavepackets are explained. An introduction to state vectors in Hilbert space and the bra-ket notation is given. Abstracts of special relativity and Lorentz invariants follow. Minimal electromagnetic coupling and the gauge transformations are explained.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. e100013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah K McCann ◽  
Catherine B Lawrence

Stroke is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity for which there are limited treatment options. Virtually all drug interventions that have been successful preclinically in experimental stroke have failed to translate to an effective treatment in the clinical setting. In this review, we examine one of the factors likely contributing to this lack of translation, the failure of preclinical studies to consider fully the advanced age and comorbidities (eg, hypertension or diabetes) present in most patients with stroke. Age and comorbidities affect the likelihood of suffering a stroke, disease progression and the response to treatment. Analysing data from preclinical systematic reviews of interventions for ischaemic stroke we show that only 11.4% of studies included an aged or comorbid model, with hypertension being the most frequent. The degree of protection (% reduction in infarct volume) varied depending on the comorbidity and the type of intervention. We consider reasons for the lack of attention to comorbid and aged animals in stroke research and discuss the value of testing a potential therapy in models representing a range of comorbidities that affect patients with stroke. These models can help establish any limits to a treatment’s efficacy and inform the design of clinical trials in appropriate patient populations.


mSphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Fröhlich ◽  
Vidar Sørum ◽  
Ane Molden Thomassen ◽  
Pål Jarle Johnsen ◽  
Hanna-Kirsti S. Leiros ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTInfections due to carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative pathogens are associated with limited treatment options and consequently lead to increased mortality and morbidity. In response, combinations of existing β-lactams and novel β-lactamase inhibitors, such as ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ-AVI), have been developed as alternative treatment options. To understand the development of resistance and evolutionary trajectories under CAZ-AVI exposure, we studied the effects of ceftazidime (CAZ) and CAZ-AVI on the carbapenemase OXA-48 and the epidemic OXA-48 plasmid inEscherichia coli. Exposure of CAZ and CAZ-AVI resulted in single (P68A) and double (P68A,Y211S) amino acid substitutions in OXA-48, respectively. The antimicrobial susceptibility data and enzyme kinetics showed that the P68A substitution was responsible for an increased activity toward CAZ, whereas P68A,Y211S led to a decrease in the inhibitory activity of AVI. X-ray crystallography and molecular modeling of the mutants demonstrated increased flexibility within the active site, which could explain the elevated CAZ hydrolysis and reduced inhibitory activity of AVI. Interestingly, these substitutions resulted in collateral effects compromising the activity of OXA-48 toward carbapenems and penicillins. Moreover, exposure to CAZ-AVI selected for mutations within the OXA-48-encoding plasmid that severely reduced fitness in the absence of antimicrobial selection. These evolutionary trade-offs may contribute to limit the evolution of OXA-48-mediated CAZ and CAZ-AVI resistance, as well as potentially resensitize isolates toward other therapeutic alternatives.IMPORTANCEThe recent introduction of novel β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations like ceftazidime-avibactam has increased our ability to treat infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, including carbapenemase-producingEnterobacterales. However, the increasing number of cases of reported resistance to ceftazidime-avibactam is a concern. OXA-48 is a carbapenemase that has no significant effect on ceftazidime, but is inhibited by avibactam. Since isolates with OXA-48 frequently harbor extended-spectrum β-lactamases that are inhibited by avibactam, it is likely that ceftazidime-avibactam will be used to treat infections caused by OXA-48-producingEnterobacterales.Our data show that exposure to ceftazidime-avibactam can lead to changes in OXA-48, resulting in increased ability to hydrolyze ceftazidime and withstand the inhibitory effect of avibactam. Thus, resistance toward ceftazidime-avibactam among OXA-48-producingEnterobacteralesshould be monitored. Interestingly, the compromising effect of the amino acid substitutions in OXA-48 on other β-lactams and the effect of ceftazidime-avibactam exposure on the epidemic OXA-48 plasmid indicate that the evolution of ceftazidime-avibactam resistance comes with collateral effects.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Lauko ◽  
Yasmeen Rauf ◽  
Manmeet S Ahluwalia

Absrtract The development of brain metastases occurs in 10–20% of all patients with cancer. Brain metastases portend poor survival and contribute to increased cancer mortality and morbidity. Despite multimodal treatment options, which include surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, 5-year survival remains low. Besides, our current treatment modalities can have significant neurological comorbidities, which result in neurocognitive decline and a decrease in a patient’s quality of life. However, innovations in technology, improved understanding of tumor biology, and new therapeutic options have led to improved patient care. Novel approaches in radiotherapy are minimizing the neurocognitive decline while providing the same therapeutic benefit. In addition, advances in targeted therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors are redefining the management of lung and melanoma brain metastases. Similar approaches to brain metastases from other primary tumors promise to lead to new and effective therapies. We are beginning to understand the appropriate combination of these novel approaches with our traditional treatment options. As advances in basic and translational science and innovative technologies enter clinical practice, the prognosis of patients with brain metastases will continue to improve.


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