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From: fsks@unc.UUCP (Frank Silbermann)
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Re: Medical breakthroughs
Message-ID: <17@unc.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 24-Jul-85 11:59:56 EDT
Article-I.D.: unc.17
Posted: Wed Jul 24 11:59:56 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 26-Jul-85 23:35:16 EDT
References: <hlexa.4453>
Reply-To: fsks@unc.UUCP (Frank Silbermann)
Distribution: net
Organization: CS Dept., U. of N. Carolina at Chapel Hill
Lines: 27
Summary: 

In article <hlexa.4453> hsf@hlexa.UUCP (Henry Friedman) writes:
>It appears that we are on the verge of major breakthroughs
>in the treatment of heart disease and cancer.  If initial
>favorable indications prove out, these breakthroughs presage
>a significant improvement in human longevity.
>
>In the area of heart disease, the breakthrough is an improved
>enzyme (TPA ?) for dissolving clots.  The new drug and procedure
>(pending final approval) is simpler and more effective than the
>current procedure, which employs arterial catheterization and
>streptokinase.  The new drug could be injected by a paramedic
>while enroute to the ER.  If given within a few hours of an
>attack, it is said to almost completely prevent permanent heart
>damage.
>[...]
>I post this to invite further discussion, comment, correction,
>etc. When these breakthroughs in treatment are ADDED to what we're
>learning about prevention, major enhancements in life span and
>quality of life should result.
>
>--Henry Friedman

What we really need is something to prevent or undo hardening of the
arteries.  Dissolving a clot today gives no protection against tomorrow's
clots, so long as the arteries are too narrow.

	Frank Silbermann