Journal of Pharmacogenomics & Pharmacoproteomics

The use of metal ions and halotherapy in personalized medicines for human diseases

2^nd International Conference on Predictive, Preventive and Personalized Medicine & Molecular Diagnostics

November 03-05, 2014 Embassy Suites Las Vegas, USA

Vincent S Gallicchio

Keynote: J Pharmacogenomics Pharmacoproteomics

Abstract:

Trace elements possess important therapeutic properties. First, binding to specific macromolecules (enzymes, nucleic acids, etc.) they influence important chemical and biological processes; second, they interact amongst themselves synergistically to amplify their individual reactions. Metals have been used therapeutically for hundreds of years. Use of metals in the treatment of human diseases began with discoveries with gold used initially in patients with tuberculosis followed by rheumatoid arthritis. Goldidentified an immunological pathogenesis in the etiology of rheumatoid arthritis, thus metals may be efficacious in other human conditions that are immunological in etiology. The antineoplastic potential of metals was further disseminated by the development of less toxic compounds such as platinum. Third, metals in human cancers have increased their therapeutic effectiveness and increased the diversity of cancers responding to these treatments. Fourth, lithiumuse in clinical medicine revolutionized treating psychiatric mood disorders. Central to the biological action of lithium is its ability to influence brain and central nervous system chemistry, thereby providing spectacular results in the treatment of affective and other psychiatric mood disorders, in particular, suicide prevention. Discoveries defining alternative non-psychiatric clinical use of lithium continue to intrigue clinical medicine based upon a key discovery demonstrating lithium can effectively influence stem cells. Halotherapy is using salt compounds as initial and maintenance therapy of human respiratory aliments. Used by the Greeks and Romans, halotherapy has existed for thousand of years. It is associated with the therapeutic effectiveness attributed to spas. Today halotherapy has gained resurgence with its use as personalized medicine in the treatment of human diseases.

Biography :

Vincent S Gallicchio is Professor of Biological Sciences, Public Health and Microbiology at Clemson University. He is Vice President of the Trace Element Research Centers operating under UNESCO and the immediate Past-President of the International Federation of Biomedical Laboratory Science. He has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed scientific articles, book chapters and textbooks. He is the inventor on eleven U.S. and one international patent focused on drug delivery. He has received more than $22 million in research funding. In 2003 he was presented to her majesty Queen Elizabeth of England for his efforts promoting higher education opportunities for British students.