Universal Medicine

There have been a myriad of technological advancements in recent years such as developments in quantum engineering and genetic devices, but today's focus will be that of the wonder of 3D printing and how it is helping those who have experienced something many of us cannot imagine. 3D printing itself is the process of employing digital files to compose strong three dimensional objects, and although it is excellent for replicating the Statue of Liberty for instance, it is also apt for creating things much more human-like. On a daily basis many of us are able to write, pick things up and walk around without even thinking about it. It’s a normal occurrence. Yet for an estimated 30 million people, such daily tasks cannot be done with ease as they are in need of a prosthetic limb or other forms of support to help them. Sadly, only one fifth of those actually receive the devices they need. Yet 3D printing is gradually helping to overcome this by offering prosthetic limbs that will ult...

This academic season of Universal Medicine has seen some intriguing posts which have explored a plethora of areas in the health-care system. Those that have been with us from the start will be aware of the development of our posts as it ranged from our first post about the ZIka Virus, to detailed research into Neuroscience. We are collectively very proud of how far we have come. This week on Universal Medicine, we will be discussing the future of our posts. As we approach examination season of Year 13, we have decided to elect 4 new representatives to continue the legacy we have started. They are aspiring medical/dental students who have undergone a rigorous application process to earn this privilege. The successful applicants are:# - Vicale Czan Alfanti - Mathew George - Aarti Chopra - Timothy  Bosse We feel that they are more than capable to take on this role and educate our expanding, international audience. Through one year of post...

Dentistry is a big sector within healthcare and is an important part to an individual’s overall health. There have been many innovations and discoveries which been great help within dentistry. This week on Universal Medicine, we will be exploring two key ideas in dentistry which have had great impact within this health sector. Invisalign To start with, the use of braces to move teeth has been a massive orthodontic treatment and still is a major part within orthodontics. Invisalign is another component used to move teeth into a natural position however, as the name suggests, the component is virtually invisible within the mouth. During an invisalign treatment, the patient will have to use a new set of aligners approximately every two weeks- these new sets of aligners will gradually guide the teeth into the desired position. The Invisalign aligners are made from a thermoplastic design which will apply a controlled amount of force on the teeth. Moreover, the design means only ...