OMG, can you believe it?! 2023 is just around the corner! Who would’ve thought 2022 would be taking its final lap very soon, kan?
Anyway, whilst we reflect on the past 12 months, we’ve seen a number of remarkable innovations being put together, particularly in the medical field. From remote monitoring devices for patients to multi-cancer early detection test kits and even ultrasound stickers with bioadhesive properties (yes, you read that right), this year has been filled with more hope and optimism compared to the past couple of years which were marred by dreadfulness, extreme cautiousness, and constant worry.
Speaking of, we continued to learn more about COVID-19 as we progressed through the year and developed better mechanisms to keep it under control while certain parts of the world tried their best to get through the challenges caused by monkeypox at the same time.
In short, 2022 has been quite an eventful year for everyone. Yet somehow, we were able to persevere and keep moving forward together as we’re getting ready to welcome 2023. For many (if not most) of us, stepping into the new year means looking ahead into the future.
However, in this special article, we’re going to take a somewhat different approach by taking you on a journey back in time and giving you a sneak peek at some of the medical innovations that, in 2023, will be 100 years old. “Dah kenapa nak patah balik sampai ke tahun 1923?” you might ask. Well, let’s face it: once in a while, all we need is a little bit of nostalgia to inspire hope, kan?
So.. ready, get set, rewind!
1. Insulin
For diabetic patients, the term ‘insulin’ is no stranger to them. It’s one of the most fundamental substances they need on a daily basis to keep the level of glucose in their blood under control. Did you know that in 2023 it would’ve been 100 years since the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to two scientists for their discovery of insulin? Yup, that’s a fact!
Sir Frederick Banting from the University of Western Ontario and John Macleod from the University of Toronto had explored the possibility of treating diabetes with a pancreatic extract whose function had been compromised. With the help of Banting’s assistant Charles Best and a biochemist named James Collip, they eventually gave the University of Toronto the insulin patent in January 1923 for just $1 (Wow, seronok betul!).
“Insulin doesn’t belong to me; it belongs to the world,” Banting famously declared, insisting that everyone who needed medication be able to pay for it.
2. Heart valve surgery
The very first successful heart valve surgery in history was carried out in 1923 by Elliott Cutler. He performed the operation at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston where the patient underwent mitral valve replacement; she was a 12-year-old girl with rheumatic mitral stenosis. The British Medical Journal lauded the 90-minute procedure as a milestone since the girl was able to stay alive for an extra 4½ years.
3. Diphtheria vaccine
In case you’re wondering, “What the heck is diphtheria? Nak menyebutnya pun sampai terbelit lidah,” it is a catastrophic infection triggered by bacterial strains known as Corynebacterium diphtheriae which spread via droplets in the air and contaminated surfaces.
It may result in breathing difficulties, irregular heartbeat, or even worse death which makes immunisation over it highly necessary. Back in 1923, the vaccination against the disease was developed by Gaston Roman, a biologist at the Pasteur Institute in Paris.
Clinical experiments the following year revealed that the toxoid vaccine he created caused a high level of protection in patients. Fast forward almost a century later, it was listed as one of the essential medicines by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2019.
4. Syphilis testing
2023 would also mark 100 years since a coherent testing method for syphilis was introduced by Dr. Reuben Leon Kahn, an immunologist at the Department of Health in Michigan. There, he created a syphilis precipitation test that provided speedier and more accurate findings.
The best part about it was when he eventually discovered that such a method may reveal the presence of malaria, leprosy, or tuberculosis pathogens too. Oh sebelum kita terlupa, if you’re not familiar with syphilis, it is a sexually-transmitted disease that causes tiny yet pain-free ulcers close to one’s private parts or mouth as well as long-term rashes. Ouch!
Well, there you have it! Hopefully, all of the above history lessons would inspire you to take some time at any moment in 2023 to appreciate just how far the medical community has come to make our lives even better and healthier.
May this new year bring so much vigour to each and every one of us. Cheers!
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Disclaimer: Our content is strictly for educational and informational purposes only. Healthlah.com does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
