Application of Gene Testing for Public Health
1Korea University of Technology, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
2Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
3University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Application of Gene Testing for Public Health
Description
Genetic science can greatly reduce a wide range of birth defects by making accurate predictions about many hereditary diseases for public health. One type of gene is the causative gene, that is, once a person carries a certain mutation, he/she will suffer from certain diseases to a large extent, such as thalassemia, hemophilia, and hyperlipidemia (hypertension, hyperglycemia, and hyperuricemia). A complete set of adult genetic testing can get this part of the people's genetic information and thereby elucidate illness. Another type is the susceptibility gene, which represents a probability in the whole population.
At present, diagnosis in hospitals is largely based on imaging tests and laboratory results. Doctors judge the disease status by imaging tests and blood biochemical indicators, but it is still difficult to confirm the diagnosis and treat many diseases. Precision medicine can add genetic indicators, that is, some or all of the 3 billion genetic code indicators are taken into account, so that the disease can be more accurately diagnosed and treated. Precision medicine can comprehensively consider a person's genetic factors, imaging factors, various clinical and biochemical indicators, combined with environmental factors, daily diet, and so on, and then make an accurate judgment on a person's health condition and disease state, to achieve accurate diagnosis. In addition, the target of gene mutation of cancer patients is found by gene sequencing, and targeted chemotherapy drugs are used to "accurately strike". The therapeutic effect is accurately tracked by efficacy monitoring markers, so that the therapeutic scheme can be adjusted at any time. This is the whole process of typical tumor treatment in precision medicine. Such precise treatment can replace radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery in current tumor treatments, not only improving the treatment efficiency but also reducing the pain of patients and reducing the economic burden.
The aim of this Special Issue is to collate original research and review articles describing advances in this field.
Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:
- Health assessment and health intervention by gene testing
- Precise prediction of hereditary diseases
- Gene testing for adults in disease treatment
- Evidence-based genetic factors in disease treatment
- Environmental factors and daily diet for accurate diagnosis
- Gene sequencing for targeted chemotherapy drugs
- Experimental studies with human genome sequencing
- Ethical considerations and relevant investigation of human genome sequencing for medicine
- Tumor treatment using gene testing for radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery
- Biochemical analysis and instrumental factors relative to the gene testing