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    Diseases And Technologies:

    Diseases and Technologies: The Cure Is Now is a science & technology advocacy and research organization. Applying new technology to a variety of medical problems is our goal. One of our many programs is to develop, adapt and converge disparate and emerging technologies in brilliant and innovative ways that result in breakthrough medical solutions. We are not so bold as to think that we can solely tackle all of the diseases in the world, when thousands of such organizations have failed to do so collectively - it is precisely the opposite. We are the only medical research & advocacy organization with specific programs that are developing the technologies that other organizations will be able to utilize to achieve their individual missions. Just like small pox and polio were eradicated because of technological advancements, other diseases will eventually be eliminated too. Breakthrough technological opportunities are just now unfolding before us, and the next several years ahead will be the fulcrum where a fundamental paradigm-shift occurs and The Cure is Now will take advantage of this. This website offers clear, detailed and unambiguous information, including specifics on our plan and the details of programs that will be utilized to achieve the goal in our mission statement: the elimination of disease through technology. We Need The Cures, The Time Is Now, The Cure Is Now! Here is a partial list of emerging and advancing technologies that we believe, when combined and matured, are critical: Aging Research Artificial Intelligence Biocomputing Biotechnology Brain Mapping Brain-Computer Interfaces Cognitive Enhancement Cognitive Technology Complex Systems Simulations Cybernetic Systems Cytopathology Genetics Human-Machine Interfaces Humanoid Robotics Information Technology Manageable Matter Material Science Nano-Robotics Nanotechnology Neuron Level Connectivity Neuroscience Organ Manufacturing Personalized Immunotherapy Physics Regenerative Medicine Robotics Alzheimer’s Disease: Alzheimer’s: Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia; it is a progressive disease that often results in memory loss and other mental functions. The connection between brain cells deteriorates and eventually dies. It is believed that the onset of Alzheimer’s is due to a combination of genetics, lifestyle and environmental factors. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s include: forgetfulness, confusion, memory loss; in particular short-term memory loss, difficulty remembering thoughts and organizing thoughts amongst other symptoms. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this disease. Alzheimer’s is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States. There are more than 5 million Americans living with the disease. 1 in 3 senior citizens die with this disease. It is expected to cost the nation $203 billion in 2013 alone, the number is only rising with an estimate cost of $1.2 trillion by 2050. This is why it is imperative that we find a cure for this disease. Cancer: Cancers starts as a result of abnormal cells growing out of control. Our bodies are made up of trillions of living cells. The normal body cells grow, divide and die in systematic time. Cancer occurs when cells in the body start to grow out of control. Instead of the cells dying, cancer cells continue to grow and form new and abnormal cells. The cells invade other tissue thus causing cancer cells. Cancer cells can develop as a result of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) reasons or environmental issues. Environmental factors are commonly cigarette smoking or sun exposure. There are more than 100 types of cancers; breast cancer, skin cancer lung cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, leukemia to name a few. In most cases there are signs and symptoms that you have cancer. Sometimes these symptoms are too late however; the commonly known signs are; fever, fast breathing, weight loss, fatigue, abnormal lung sound, pneumonia, weakness aching, shortness of breath amongst many others. As cancer grows it begins to push on nearby organs, blood vessels and nerves. For a lot of these cancers early detection is imperative because once it has reach a critical stage there is little or no cure for most of these diseases. About 1,660,290 new cases of cancer will to be diagnosed in 2013 alone. It is projected that roughly 580,350 Americans will die of cancer that is almost 1,600 people a day. Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the United States, accounting for almost 1 in 4 deaths. 2 in every 3 people are diagnosed with cancer today. Cardiovascular: Cardiovascular disease also known as heart disease refers to conditions that involves narrowed or blocked blood vessels that prevent your heart, brain or other parts of your body from receiving sufficient blood. These include coronary artery disease, heart rhythm problems, heart infections and heart defects. The most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease (CAD); this often leads to heart attacks. Cardiovascular disease symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath and pain, numbness, weakness or coldness in your legs or arms, if the blood vessels are narrowed in your body. Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients from your heart to the rest of your body, overtime too much pressure in your arteries can make the walls thick and stiff restricting blood flow to your organs. Cardiovascular problem is commonly caused by unhealthy diets, lack of exercise, being overweight and smoking. 600,000 people die of heart disease in the United States every year that is, 1 in every 4 deaths. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. This disease alone costs United States $108.9 billion each year. Cell and Tissue Transplant: Human cells or tissue intended for implantation, transplantation, infusion ortransfer into a human recipient. Such transplant that can be done are bone, skin, corneas, ligament, tendons, dura mater, heart valve, hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, oocytes and semen. In recent years tissue and cell transplantation has inevitably seen a huge demand. Transplantation of this material has been able to save ones life. We currently have a shortage of cell and tissue; with the help of donors we are able to save peoples lives. Cerebrovascular Disease: Cerebrovascular Disease is a condition developed due to complications with the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain. There are a number of Cerebrovascular diseases: stroke, transient ischaemic attack (TIA), subarachnoid hemorrhage and vascular dementia. Stroke is where the blood supply to the brain is obstructed. Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) is a lack of blood supply – lack of oxygen to the brain. Subarachnoid Hemorrhage is where blood leaks out of the brain’s blood vessels. Vascular Dementia is where there are complications with blood circulations – brain not receiving enough blood and oxygen. Symptoms of these diseases are: persons face has gone to one side (unable to smile or mouth and eyes are lop sided), unable to raise their arms due to numbness and weakness, slurred speech, high temperature (fever) and seizures. Stroke is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Of the 700,000 people affected, 500,000 of these are first attacks and 200,00 and reoccurring. Approximately 129,500 people die of Stroke each year. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease also known as COPD is a progressive lung disease that makes it difficult to breath. The 2 most common conditions are: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Emphysema develops when the air sacs (alveoli) are damaged in the lings. Chronic bronchitis is an inflammation of the airways that carry air to your lungs. Signs of lung damage do no occur until there is substantial destruction done. Symptoms of the disease include: shortness of breath, wheezing, tightness of the chest, chronic coughing, blueness of the lips and fingernails, lack of energy and unintentional weight loss. It is estimated that approximately 15 million people are reported to having Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. According to surveys done it is reported that woman are more likely to have COPD with 6.7% as opposed to men with 5.2%. Roughly 36.4% of people reported having COPD were former smokers, 38.7% continued to smoke and 43.7% had a history of asthma. Cri-du-chat Syndrome: Cri-du-char Syndrome is a rare condition that is cause by a problem with chromosome 5. There is a break in chromosome 5, this generally occurs while the sperm or egg cell is developing. The syndrome’s name is based on the infant’s cry, which sounds like a high-pitched cat. People who gave Cri-du-chat Syndrome have very distinctive features; small head, an usually round face, small chin, wide set eyes, folds of skin over there eyes and a small bridge of the nose. As children grow with the condition they experience heart defects, muscular or skeletal problems, hearing or sight problems or pool muscle tone. There is a tendency to have difficulty walking and talking. There is no cure for this condition however; children can go through therapy to assist them with their language skills and motor skills. 80% of cases come from the father’s sperms as a result of the chromosome break. It affects 1 in 20,000 and 1 in 50,000 babies. Degenerative Disc Disease: Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is the slow deterioration of the discs that are between the vertebrae in the spine. The discs in the spine act as a shock absorber for our body weight. Overtime the discs wear out. Thus, this disease occurs in older people as part of the aging process. Symptoms include chronic lower back pain that go through to the hip, buttocks or thighs, sporadic tingling or weakness through the knees, hands and fingers. There is no cure for this disease however; putting ice or heat to the affect area and using anti-inflammatories can relive pain. Down Syndrome: Down Syndrome is a genetic disease that is developed as a result of an extra chromosome 21. At the time of conception, the fetus inherits genetics from parents, 23 from the father and 23 from the mother a total of 46 chromosomes. In Down syndrome cases, the fetus gets an additional chromosome, chromosome 21, which results in a total of 47 chromosomes instead of the usual 46. The disease causes delays in the developments and physical features. Common traits of Down syndrome are low muscle tone, small stature, and upward slant to the eyes just to name a few. Down syndrome is the most common genetic condition with 1 in every 691 babies in the United States born with the disease. There are roughly 400,000 people in the United States that have Down syndrome and 6,000 babies born with Down syndrome every year in the United States alone. Dyskeratosis Congenita: Dyskeratosis Congenita is a bone marrow disorder; it is generally a genetic disease that is inherited. People who have this condition experience failure of bone marrow – the bones does not make enough of the blood cells the body needs. People with Dyskeratosis Congenita tend to develop other life-threatening disease: Aplastic Anemia (occurs when bone marrow does not produce new blood cells), Myelodysplatic Syndrome and Leukemia (immature blood cells fail to develop normally – also know as Leukemia). There are 3 main symptoms that help diagnose the disorder: a reddish, wart type rash on the face, neck and chest, white patches in the mouth and fingernails and toenails are not shaped normally. There is no cure for the disease however, there is the option of bone marrow transplant, which could help with a longer lifespan. The statistics on such a disease are not known it is estimated that Dyskeratosis Congenita affected 1 in million people. Fanconi Anemia: Fanconi Anemia is a genetic blood disorder that eventually results in bone marrow failure. The disease prevents your bone marrow from producing enough new blood cells for your body to work normally. The condition causes bone marrow to make damaged blood cells, which could lead to other serious health issues like Leukemia and blood cancer. As the name suggests Fanconi Anemia is a type of Anemia, more particularly Aplastic Anemia. Anemia refers to condition where the red blood cell count is considerably lower than normal. Aplastic Anemic is where the bone marrow stops making the three types of blood cells: white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. Low white blood cells your body has difficulty fighting infectious disease, low red blood cells the body tissue does not get enough oxygen and with platelets your blood cannot clot normally. Any deficiencies can cause serious bleeding problems. Symptoms of the condition include: fatigue, dizziness, headaches, pale skin, chest pain, bleed and bruise easy, tiny red or purple spots on the skin, bone defects and poor appetite. 95% of people who develop Fanconi Anemia are a result of genetic complications. The average lifespan for a person living with Fanconi Anemia is roughly 29 years old. General Immunity: The immune system is made up of cells, proteins, tissues and organs that work respectively together to protect the body. It helps to defend the human body against infectious germs and microorganisms. The cells that protect the body are white blood cells or leukocytes. There are 2 sub-sections of leukocytes: phagocytes and lymphocytes. Phagocytes cells remove invading organisms. There are different cells that are considered phagocytes, the most common being neutrophil. Neutrophil’s primary concern is to fight bacteria. Lymphocytes cells act as a remembering cell; they recognize previous invading organisms and destroy them. There are 2 types of lymphocytes cells: B-lymphocytes and T lymphocytes. B-lymphocytes search for the invading organisms whereas; T lymphocytes eliminate the invading organism. There are issues that occur when the immune system is not working correctly, the primary Immunodeficiency disorders are: IgA deficiency, severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), DiGeorge syndrome (thymic dyslasia) and Chediak-Higashi syndrome and chronic granulomatous. IgA deficiency is the mosy common form, it is a immunoglobulin that is found mostly in saliva. This disorder cannot produce enough antibody thus people have allergies, more colds. Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is a serious immune system disease where there is a lack of both B and T lymphocytes making it virtually impossible to fight off infectious diseases. DiGeorge Syndrome (thymic dyslasia) is a birth defect where a child is born without a thymus gland. Chediak-Higashi syndrome and chronic granulomatous is the inability of neutrophil to function normally. There are also secondary immunodeficiency’s these are: HIV/Aids and immunodeficiency’s caused by medication. HIV/AIDS: HIV also known as Human Immunodeficiency Virus is one of the deadliest disease in human history. HIV breaks down the immune system that protects our bodies against disease. AIDS is Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It’s the most advance stage of HIV. HIV eliminates a defense cell in the body called CD4 helper lymphocyte. The lymphocytes are part of the bodies’ immune system, the fight infections in out body. As a result of HIV the immune system becomes weak and people get serious infection they otherwise would not have got. HIV is transmitted from an infected person through blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk. Approximately 40,000 women and men get HIV each year in the United States. There is no cure for HIV/AIDS however, there are treatments for people living with this disease. HIV/AIDS is affected hugely in Africa with roughly 33.4 million people living with HIV, 2.7 million new infections of HIV and 2 million deaths from AIDS. Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: The cause for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis is currently unknown. It is damaging or the scarring of the lungs tissue. The scarring of the tissue in the lungs and between the air sac (alveoli) makes it difficult for oxygen to pass through to the bloodstream. It is believed that the condition is due to an inflammatory response to an unknown substance or injury. It is suggested that people who work around dust or fumes (farmers, hairdressers, metal workers) have a higher risk of developing the condition. Symptoms include: chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath, fatigue and weight loss. The inability of the lungs to deliver oxygen could cause heart attack, respiratory failure, stroke, blood clots in the lung, lung infection or lung cancer. Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis affected 128,100 people in America with roughly 48,000 new cases every year. Approximately 40,00 people die each year as a result of the condition. Liver Cirrhosis: The liver is the largest solid organ in the body. It plays a vital role in our bodies. Some of the essential function it has is: manufacturing blood proteins that aid against clotting, it helps transport oxygen, it stores excess nutrients and returns nutrients to the bloodstream, it removes harmful substances in the bloodstream such as drugs and breaks down saturated fats. Liver Cirrhosis develops when the healthy liver tissue is replaced with the scar tissue, inevitably preventing the liver from functioning correctly. The cause of Liver Cirrhosis is alcohol abuse, fatty liver and Hepatitis C as well as other causes. Fatigue and loss of energy, poor appetite, weight lose, nausea or belly pain, easy bruising and abnormal bleeding are some symptoms of Liver Cirrhosis. Liver Cirrhosis is currently incurable with 31,000 people in the United States dying each year as a result of the disease. Macular Degeneration: Macular Degeneration is a chronic disease that results in central vision loss. This disease eradicates your sharp and central vision, the ability to see fine detail. The cause for this disease is unknown however it has a decency to affect people later in ages. There are 2 types of macular degeneration: wet and dry. Wet Macular degeneration happens when abnormal blood vessels grow under the macula and leak fluid or blood. Dry Macula Denegation occurs when light sensitive cells break down in the macula. Symptoms include visual distortion, decline in central vision, blurry spots in field of vision, need for bright light when reading, difficulty recognizing faces, hallucinations of shapes or people. Macular Degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in adults aged 60 and older. 200,000 are diagnosed with Macular Degeneration every year in the United States. Muscular Dystrophy: Muscular Dystrophy is a group of genetic diseases, where the genes are missing information, which prevent them from making proteins needed for healthy muscles. This inherited disease weakens the muscle fibers making them more susceptible to damage. The disease overtime weakens the muscles so much so that people lose their ability to walk or sit up, in some cases shorten a person’s lifespan. This condition commonly occurs in boys with signs of Muscular Dystrophy at birth. Signs and symptoms may be detected at youth such as; frequent falling, difficulty getting up, trouble running or jumping and learning disabilities. The onset of Muscular Dystrophy starts between 3-5, the disease progresses rather rapidly. By the time the child is 12 they are unable to walk. It is estimated that 1 in every 3,500 to 5,000 boys are born with this condition, 400-600 new cases every year in America. Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis is a form of arthritis; it is the most common form. The chronic disease occurs when the protective cartilage on the end of your bones to break down. The wear down of your bones causes the bones to run against each other, this eventually causes stiffness, pain and loss of movement in the joint. Risk factors for osteoarthritis include being overweight or obese, aging, injured joints, genetics and muscle weakness. Symptoms of osteoarthritis are pain in the joints of after movement, tenderness in your joints, stiffness after a period of inactivity or loss of flexibility. There are treatment options such as: improving daily activity, exercise, weight control, therapy and medications however, there is nothing that can eliminate the disease in its entirety once you have been diagnosed with it. It is said that an estimate 27 million people in the United States live with Osteoarthritis. Osteoporosis: The causation of the bones to become thin, weak and fragile is known as Osteoporosis. Bones are considered a living tissue, these living tissues are constantly being absorbed and replaced. Osteoporosis The condition develops when new bones do not remove old bones. This is a serious condition as a simple fall or mild stress like bending over could cause fractures or broken bones. Osteoporosis commonly occurs in the hips, wrist or spine. There are no such symptoms for osteoporosis until you have fractured or broken a bone. Risk factors are: aging, low body weight, taking certain medication, menopause and smoking. There is no cure for the condition however there ate treatments and prevention precaution’s you can take. You can eat a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, exercise and do not smoke. Osteoporosis affects men and woman of all races however, there is a higher risk of white and Asian woman going through menopause. Approximately 9 million Americans currently have Osteoporosis. Roughly 60% of adults aged 50 and older are at risk of breaking bones. It is suggested that 1 in 2 woman and 1 in 4 men aged 50 and older will break bones due to Osteoporosis. Progeria: Progeria is a genetic disorder that causes rapid growth in a child’s age at the beginning of their first 2 years of life. It resembles normal human aging however it occurs in young children. At 12 months symptoms are visual such as: slow growth, hair loss, narrow or wrinkled face, baldness, short stature, large head, small jaw, dry and scaly skin, delay in teeth growth or completely obsolete. The average life expectancy for a child with Progeria is 13. They eventually die of heart problems or stroke. There is no cure for this disease. To date there is 103 known cases of children with Progeria. Rheumatoid Arthritis: Rheumatoid Arthritis is a disorder that is affects the small joints in your hands and feet. The chronic disease causes pain, stiffness, swelling and loss of function in the joints. The cause of Rheumatoid Arthritis is currently unknown; it is believed to be a result of environmental and genetic factors. For whatever reasons the immune system, which regularly protects the body, starts to attack the bodies own tissue specially the synovium and a thin membrane that lines the joints. Rheumatoid Arthritis is more common in women than in men, it generally occurs between the ages of 40 and 60. Approximately 1.3 million people in the United States have this disease; this is almost 1% of the nation’s adult population. Skin Aging: Everyone is aware that over time our skin ages, the most visual signs of aging are wrinkles, aging spots, dryness and sagging skin. Changes in skin age related to numerous factors; environment, genetics make-up, nutrition, aging and various other factors. Heat exposure is a common reason for this change in skin. More than 90% of all elderly people have some kind of skin disorder. Skin disorders can be caused by many conditions: diabetes, heart disease liver disease obesity, stress, climate, and loss of elasticity amongst many others. There is no cure for skin ageing however, there are precautionary steps one can take to slow down the aging process; prevent sunburnt, use sunscreen when outdoors, wear protective clothes and hats when in the sun. Tuberous Sclerosis: Tuberous Sclerosis is a rare genetic disease that causes benign tumors to grow in the brain and other areas like the kidney, heart, eyes, lungs and skin. This disease is a result of alterations in the TSC1 or TSC2 gene. The TSC1 and TSC2 genes stop cells from growing at a rapid pace or uncontrollably. Tuberous Sclerosis causes the cells to divide in a large manner, which leads to excessive lesions through the body. Symptoms include: seizures, developmental issues, behavioral problems, skin abnormalities, lung and kidney disease. There is no cure for the disease and no known factors for developing the disease other than genetics. Should parents have the disease themselves, there is a 50% chance the child may inherit the disease. Werner Syndrome: Werner Syndrome is a genetic condition associated with premature aging. Children who have this disorder will typically grow normally until they reach puberty. Youth with Werner Syndrome do not experience growth spurts. Generally, every cell has 2 genes one from the mother and the other from the father. People with the condition have a mutation in genes from both the mother and father. Once Werner Syndrome patient’s reach there twenties they commence getting gray hairs and loss of hair, a hoarse voice, and thin and hard skin. Symptoms of the disease are cataracts in eyes, skin changes (aging, tight skin, pigment changes and skin ulcers), wrinkles and loss of muscle tone, short stature and early graying of the hair. It is estimated that 1 in 200,000 people in the United States have Werner Syndrome. The condition is more common in places like Japan, where there is an estimated 30,000 living with the condition. http://thecureisnow.org/index.php/our-strategy/diseases-and-technologies

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