Business Insight Medicine-Never I always stress that medical science is a constantly changing field. Every year, almost every month, we learn new things, we re-discover new treatments, sometimes we must bury all the knowledge we used to have to make space for newer and novel methodologies. Often, new medications are approved and put on the market and within a few years, they are taken off the market due to some new findings. Does that mean the scientists who initially discovered and developed them were 'bad people'? Or bad doctors? Usually, it is not the case. Simply, they did not have knowledge of all possible side effects or all possible data that was later collected and proved some new points, making the drug not usable for the public. Fifty years ago, there were only a few specialties in medicine. Over the years, scientists realized that there is so much new information in many of the specialties that we needed to name some new ones, narrower, in order to work deeper into the issues. Genetics were not used as much then and today; it is practically in every aspect of every new disease. Reproductive medicine was unknown and these days, we have thousands taking advantage of new technologies. Many diseases considered to be a part of one specialty were 'moved' to another. If we only look at what happened to all disorders considered today to be a part of the immune system functions and immunology, we can identify many that were a part of dermatology, gynecology, or others, often overlapping each other. Over the years, medical science identified that incidence of autoimmune related diseases was much more frequent in women than in men. It was thought to have some connections with hormones that vary in both genders. However, we did not really know how hormones might produce effects that the immune system would develop into a disease. Recently, thanks to the long- term studies of Dr. Howard Chang, professor of dermatology and genetics, we are closer to changing our thoughts. Evidence coming out of his research suggests we need to focus on the additional X chromosome that females carry in their XX sequence, opposed to XY that is carried by men. Further, it turns out that Y chromosomes carry a very small number of genes. About 50% of world's population do not even presented by Arlington Dermatology The Same carry Y chromosomes and they do well. Contrary, X chromosomes carry enormously high number of genes, which consequently results in a very high number of proteins. That overproduction can be quite dangerous and nature somehow naturally 'deactivates' one of the X-chromosomes in females, making females and males carry the same amount of Xs. However further, the process of 'deactivation' of one of the X chromosomes in females leads to autoimmune disorders. That process is occurring through a molecule called Xist, which is only present in XX chromosomes characteristic for females but not males. Medical science did not know most of the new data because, in most of the studies, male animal cells were used and thus, those crucial differences could not be observed. Based on the new findings, there will be many new studies in multiple academic centers around the world, using Dr. Chang's discoveries to identify new ways of 'stopping the overproduction and Xist molecules through novel testing and treatments. What we thought 50 years ago evolved to what we learned 20 years ago. And now, we are learning it all anew. It is all thanks to open and curious minds who do not seek to blame anybody but to improve what we can do for humanity. Michael Bukhalo, MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 Tel. 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net Business Insight Medicine - Never I always stress that medical science is a constantly changing field . Every year , almost every month , we learn new things , we re - discover new treatments , sometimes we must bury all the knowledge we used to have to make space for newer and novel methodologies . Often , new medications are approved and put on the market and within a few years , they are taken off the market due to some new findings . Does that mean the scientists who initially discovered and developed them were ' bad people ' ? Or bad doctors ? Usually , it is not the case . Simply , they did not have knowledge of all possible side effects or all possible data that was later collected and proved some new points , making the drug not usable for the public . Fifty years ago , there were only a few specialties in medicine . Over the years , scientists realized that there is so much new information in many of the specialties that we needed to name some new ones , narrower , in order to work deeper into the issues . Genetics were not used as much then and today ; it is practically in every aspect of every new disease . Reproductive medicine was unknown and these days , we have thousands taking advantage of new technologies . Many diseases considered to be a part of one specialty were ' moved ' to another . If we only look at what happened to all disorders considered today to be a part of the immune system functions and immunology , we can identify many that were a part of dermatology , gynecology , or others , often overlapping each other . Over the years , medical science identified that incidence of autoimmune related diseases was much more frequent in women than in men . It was thought to have some connections with hormones that vary in both genders . However , we did not really know how hormones might produce effects that the immune system would develop into a disease . Recently , thanks to the long term studies of Dr. Howard Chang , professor of dermatology and genetics , we are closer to changing our thoughts . Evidence coming out of his research suggests we need to focus on the additional X chromosome that females carry in their XX sequence , opposed to XY that is carried by men . Further , it turns out that Y chromosomes carry a very small number of genes . About 50 % of world's population do not even presented by Arlington Dermatology The Same carry Y chromosomes and they do well . Contrary , X chromosomes carry enormously high number of genes , which consequently results in a very high number of proteins . That overproduction can be quite dangerous and nature somehow naturally ' deactivates ' one of the X - chromosomes in females , making females and males carry the same amount of Xs . However further , the process of ' deactivation ' of one of the X chromosomes in females leads to autoimmune disorders . That process is occurring through a molecule called Xist , which is only present in XX chromosomes characteristic for females but not males . Medical science did not know most of the new data because , in most of the studies , male animal cells were used and thus , those crucial differences could not be observed . Based on the new findings , there will be many new studies in multiple academic centers around the world , using Dr. Chang's discoveries to identify new ways of ' stopping the overproduction and Xist molecules through novel testing and treatments . What we thought 50 years ago evolved to what we learned 20 years ago . And now , we are learning it all anew . It is all thanks to open and curious minds who do not seek to blame anybody but to improve what we can do for humanity . Michael Bukhalo , MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows , IL 60008 Tel . 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net