Disease, creating

The high incidence of peptic ulcer disease created great interest in the therapeutic potential of these H2-receptor antagonists when first discovered. Even though they are not the most efficacious agents available, their ability to reduce gastric acid secretion with very low toxicity has made them extremely popular and they have become OTC items. These drugs are discussed in more detail in Chapter 62. 

The use of synthetic organic chemistry to create molecules that will alter in a useful way some disease process in a living system. 

I he gastrointestinal (GI) tract is subject to more diseases and disorders than any other system of the body. Some drugs used for GI disorders are available as nonprescription drug, thereby creating the potential problems of misuse and overuse of the drugp and the disguising of more serious medical problems. 

A similar analysis could be made for a number of other diseases. Point mutations are usually defined by sequencing the gene in question, though occasionally, if the mutation destroys or creates a restriction enzyme site, the technique of restriction fragment analysis can be used to pinpoint the lesion. Deletions or insertions of DNA larger than 50 bp can often be detected by the Southern blotting procedure. 

The fiber of rice bran products, especially the RiceMucil is helpful in maintaining normal gastrointestinal and colon health (Tomlin and Read, 1988). It helps in bowel regularity. Patients with irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease and colitis get excellent relief with RiceMucil . As has been mentioned in the earlier part of this chapter, the fiber of rice bran is non-bloating and lactose free, and the acidic environment the fiber creates during the fermentation of undigested food improves colon health and induces all the healthy enzymes and fnendly bacteria to proliferate (Folino et al, 1995 Life Sciences News Letter, 1999). It has been scientifically demonstrated to have an excellent nutritional support for gut and colon health. 

The unique power of synthesis is the ability to create new molecules and materials with valuable properties. This capacity can be used to interact with the natural world, as in the treatment of disease or the production of food, but it can also produce compounds and materials beyond the capacity of living systems. Our present world uses vast amounts of synthetic polymers, mainly derived from petroleum by synthesis. The development of nanotechnology, which envisions the application of properties at the molecular level to catalysis, energy transfer, and information management has focused attention on multimolecular arrays and systems capable of self-assembly. We can expect that in the future synthesis will bring into existence new substances with unique properties that will have impacts as profound as those resulting from syntheses of therapeutics and polymeric materials. 

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