Treatment of diseases

Many fluorinated, biologically active agents have been developed and successfully used in the treatment of diseases. The biological property of fluorinated organics has been further extended to applications in the agrochemical and pest management fields. 

Cytokines, eg, interferons, interleukins, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and certain growth factors, could have antitumor activity directiy, or may modulate cellular mechanisms of antitumor activity (2). Cytokines may be used to influence the proliferation and differentiation of T-ceUs, B-ceUs, macrophage—monocyte, myeloid, or other hematopoietic cells. Alternatively, the induction of interferon release may represent an important approach for synthetic—medicinal chemistry, to search for effective antiinflammatory and antifibrotic agents. Inducers of interferon release may also be useful for lepromatous leprosy and chronic granulomatous disease. The potential cytokine and cytokine-related therapeutic approaches to treatment of disease are summarized in Table 4. A combination of cytokines is a feasible modaUty for treatment of immunologically related diseases however, there are dangers inherent in such an approach, as shown by the induction of lethal disserninated intravascular coagulation in mice adrninistered TNF-a and IFN-y. 

Assay of Enzymes In body fluids, enzyme levels aie measured to help in diagnosis and for monitoiing treatment of disease. Some enzymes or isoenzymes are predominant only in a particular tissue. When such tissues are damaged because of a disease, these enzymes or isoenzymes are Hberated and there is an increase in the level of the enzyme in the semm. Enzyme levels are deterrnined by the kinetic methods described, ie, the assays are set up so that the enzyme concentration is rate-limiting. The continuous flow analyzers, introduced in the early 1960s, solved the problem of the high workload of clinical laboratories. In this method, reaction velocity is measured rapidly the change in absorbance may be very small, but within the capabiUty of advanced kinetic analyzers. 

The neutrons in a research reactor can be used for many types of scientific studies, including basic physics, radiological effects, fundamental biology, analysis of trace elements, material damage, and treatment of disease. Neutrons can also be dedicated to the production of nuclear weapons materials such as plutonium-239 from uranium-238 and tritium, H, from lithium-6. Alternatively, neutrons can be used to produce radioisotopes for medical diagnosis and treatment, for gamma irradiation sources, or for heat energy sources in space. 

Chemical treatment of diseases is not common, because of legislative controls and costs caused by the difficulty of appHcation through the leaf canopy. Breeding of resistant varieties is the main weapon for disease control. Some diseases, chiefly ratoon stunting disease, are controlled by hot water treatment of cane (6,8). 

In the treatment of diseases where the metaboUtes are not being deUvered to the system, synthetic metaboUtes or active analogues have been successfully adrninistered. Vitamin metaboUtes have been successfully used for treatment of milk fever ia catde, turkey leg weakness, plaque psoriasis, and osteoporosis and renal osteodystrophy ia humans. Many of these clinical studies are outlined ia References 6, 16, 40, 51, and 141. The vitamin D receptor complex is a member of the gene superfamily of transcriptional activators, and 1,25 dihydroxy vitamin D is thus supportive of selective cell differentiation. In addition to mineral homeostasis mediated ia the iatestiae, kidney, and bone, the metaboUte acts on the immune system, P-ceUs of the pancreas (iasulin secretion), cerebellum, and hypothalamus. 

The basis for believing the pharmacological intervention can be a major approach to the treatment of disease is the fact that the body generally functions in response to chemicals. Table 1.1 shows partial lists of hormones and neuro transmitters in the body. Many more endogenous chemicals are involved in normal physiological function. The fact that so many physiological processes are controlled by chemicals provides... 

Chemotherapy is the control and treatment of disease by synthetic drugs. Most of these are organic compounds, often of remarkably simple structure. Sulfanilamide is one example of an organic compound synthesized by chemists for the treatment of bacterial infections. 

Antimicrobial drugs are used for the treatment of diseases caused by microorganisms (bacterial or viral infections). 

A reaction which is harmfui and unintended and which occurs at doses normaiiy used in animais for the prophyiaxis, diagnosis or treatment of disease or the modification of physioiogicai function. 

To suggest rational treatments of diseases based on (1) above... 

In silico models will aid both the standardisation and individualisation of medical care. Standardisation of diagnoses, drug and device descriptions, procedures, etc. will make relevant information more readily and more widely available. On the other hand, advanced models will allow development of patient-specific procedures for diagnosis and treatment. This will move the focus from the treatment of diseases to the curing of patients. 

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