Times magazine has released its top 10 Medical Breakthrough for 2010. Sitting on top of the list is, "AIDS drug lowers the risk of HIV infection." I agree that this is one of the most striking pieces of research that been published this year. With over 36 million people worldwide infected and millions more at risk, i am enthusiastic that science has taking a big leap towards trying to curbing this devastating pandemic. While there is no vaccine identified, scientists has however found that the antiretroviral drug, Truvada, reduce the risk of HIV infections in high-risk groups by 73% in patients who were compliant to their medication, when compared to the placebo group. There was however a 44% overall reduction. I know these percentages may not seem like an attractive figure but to us it is a good 'play field' for more welcoming results. 
There were also many successes in stem cell research for 2010. The most admirable was the fact that stem cell drug, known as GRNOPC, was approved in the treatment of spinal cord injury. In October, it was announce that Shepherd Center, a spinal cord and brain injury rehabilitation center in Atlanta, has started using this drug. GRNOPC contains cells that produce myelin, a coating that allows nerves to move along nerves. If myelin is reproduce on the damage nerves then there is a possibility that signals can once again be transmitted at that location and the patient can once again regain function of that affected areas.
While there were many successes in 2010 in medical research there are still many haunting illnesses knocking on the doors of science. I am excited to see new vaccines, more potent stem cell breakthrough and of course answer to the 'whys', the 'hows' and 'whens' in medical sciences.
Times Magazine 2010 Top 10 Medical Breakthrough
More about Truvada
