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2024年醫學7項重大突破
7 medical breakthroughs that gave us hope in 2024
This year brought many exciting scientific breakthroughs, from advancements in AI to remarkable discoveries in biology and medicine. Here are seven notable innovations:
1. Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill
The FDA approved Opill, the first birth control pill available in the U.S. without a prescription. This progestin-only pill is accessible to people of all ages and has fewer side effects, making it suitable for breastfeeding individuals or those with high blood pressure.
2. Growing Heart Valves
Doctors performed a groundbreaking surgery on a baby using heart valves that grow with the child. Unlike traditional replacements, these living valves repair themselves, offering a lasting solution.
3. Pig-to-Human Organ Transplants
Scientists successfully transplanted pig kidneys and livers into humans using gene-editing to enhance compatibility. While still experimental, this could help address organ shortages.
4. Blood Test for Alzheimer’s
A new test, PrecivityAD2, can detect Alzheimer’s disease with 90% accuracy using blood samples. Though not yet FDA-approved, it has the potential to make early diagnosis more accessible.
5. Combo COVID-19 and Flu Vaccine
Moderna's combined vaccine for COVID-19 and influenza showed promising results in trials. Additionally, the FDA approved a rapid at-home test for both diseases.
6. Why Women Face More Autoimmune Diseases
Research revealed that a faulty X chromosome silencing mechanism might explain why women are more prone to autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
7. Peanut Allergy Drug
The FDA approved Xolair to reduce allergic reactions to peanuts in children as young as one year old. While not a cure, it significantly lowers the risk of severe reactions.
These discoveries highlight the strides made in improving health and understanding complex conditions.
(選材自國家地理雜誌)
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1. Progestin
中文解釋: 黃體酮（人工合成的孕激素）
例句: The new birth control pill contains only progestin, making it suitable for more people.
(這種新型避孕藥僅含有黃體酮，使其適合更多人使用。)
2. Xenotransplantation
中文解釋: 異種移植（將動物器官移植至人類）
例句: Xenotransplantation could help address the shortage of human organ donors.
(異種移植可能有助於解決人類器官捐贈短缺問題。)
3. Biomarker
中文解釋: 生物標誌物；可用於疾病診斷或監測的生物指標
例句: The Alzheimer’s blood test measures key biomarkers to detect the disease.
(阿茲海默症血液測試通過測量關鍵生物標誌物來檢測疾病。)
4. Autoimmune
中文解釋: 自體免疫的；免疫系統攻擊自身組織
例句: Lupus is an autoimmune disease that primarily affects women.
(紅斑性狼瘡是一種主要影響女性的自體免疫疾病。)
5. Gene-Edited
中文解釋: 基因編輯的；經過基因修改的
例句: The pig organs used for transplantation were gene-edited for better compatibility.
(用於移植的豬器官經過基因編輯以提高相容性。)
6. Allergen
中文解釋: 過敏原；引起過敏的物質
例句: Patients with peanut allergies must avoid foods containing the allergen.
(花生過敏患者必須避免含有過敏原的食物。)
7. Immune Response
中文解釋: 免疫反應；身體對抗感染或疾病的反應
例句: The combination vaccine showed a strong immune response in trials.
(這種聯合疫苗在試驗中顯示出強大的免疫反應。)
中文翻譯
今年帶來了許多令人興奮的科學突破，從人工智慧的進展到生物學和醫學的重大發現。以下是七項值得關注的創新：
1. 非處方避孕藥
美國食品和藥物管理局 (FDA) 批准了首款非處方避孕藥 Opill。這款只含有黃體酮的避孕藥適用於所有年齡層，並且副作用較少，特別適合哺乳期婦女或患有高血壓的人群。
2. 可成長的心臟瓣膜
醫生成功進行了一項創新手術，為一名嬰兒移植了可隨其成長的心臟瓣膜。與傳統的人工瓣膜不同，這些活體瓣膜能自我修復，提供更持久的解決方案。
3. 豬到人類的器官移植
科學家成功將豬的腎臟和肝臟移植到人類體內，並利用基因編輯技術提高相容性。儘管這項技術仍在實驗階段，但有望解決器官短缺的問題。
4. 阿茲海默症血液檢測
一項名為 PrecivityAD2 的新型血液測試能以 90% 的準確率檢測阿茲海默症。該測試方法比傳統的腦部掃描或腰椎穿刺更加便捷，未來有望加速早期診斷。
5. COVID-19 和流感聯合疫苗
莫德納 (Moderna) 測試了一款聯合疫苗，能同時對抗 COVID-19 和流感，並顯示出強大的免疫反應。此外，FDA 批准了一款居家快速檢測工具，可以在 15 分鐘內檢測 COVID-19 和流感。
6. 女性更容易患自體免疫疾病的原因
研究發現，女性更容易患自體免疫疾病（如紅斑性狼瘡）的原因可能與 X 染色體的失活機制故障有關。這一發現為了解性別差異提供了重要線索。
7. 降低花生過敏風險的藥物
FDA 批准了一款名為 Xolair 的藥物，用於降低 1 歲及以上人群對花生的過敏反應風險。儘管該藥無法治癒過敏，但能顯著減少嚴重反應的可能性。
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