However, researchers are looking to technology to change this learning pattern and have created virtual patient simulators for residents to practice on before using a scalpel on real patients.

Clinical trials are currently being held at the Stanford University School of Medicine to test the effectiveness of this virtual reality training.

They are integrating data from patient’s pre-op CT scans into a virtual patient simulator. The simulator consists of a endoscopic camera and mannequin head that is attached to a touch-feedback device. As the ‘surgeon’ manipulates the endoscope through the nose of the ‘patient’, he or she can watch what’s happening on the computer screen about the ‘patient’.

The computer is programmed to determine just how much resistance the ‘surgeon’ needs to apply to the endoscope throughout it’s journey through the sinus cavity.

No blood, no gore, and more importantly, no real patient to practice on.

Sounds promising.

Post from: Healthbolt

Before you do, you might want to check out the free, user friendly online tool that illustrates the radio frequency emission of more than 1000 phones in the marketplace.

The online tool, created by the Environmental Working Group, offers easy to read graphics which enables consumers to make quick comparision of the radiation levels of cellphones and smart phones.

Radiation is emitted from cell phones each time you talk on or send text message from it. Some phones emit less than others. As to whether or not it is a health risk remains in debate with the phone industry saying ‘no risk’ and researchers around the world still seeking answers.

Given that no one knows for sure, it makes sense to go for a phone with the least amount of radiation emissions. That’s where the EWG online tool comes in handy. It offers information on the best and worst radiation emitting phones, as well as ways of reducing your risks.

It’s definitely the place to go to if you want to limit your exposure to cell phone radiation.

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Post from: Healthbolt

Swearing apparently plays an important role in relieving pain.

The study, published last month in the NeuroReport journal, tested this theory on college students. Students are required to immerse their hands in cold water for as long as they could. While the hands were in the cold water, they were encouraged to either repeat a swear word of their choice or chant a neutral non-swear word.

The students who used sweat words reported less pain during the exercise and were also able to keep their hands in the cold water for at least 40 seconds longer.

While the study’s researchers are unsure how this works, they are now advocating that if you hurt yourself, then go ahead and swear.

So next time you stub your toe or hit your finger with a hammer, go ahead and swear. I’m sure you do anyway.

But at least you now know that you have scientific proof that swearing helps.

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Post from: Healthbolt

It’s not something that I’d do.

But according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, it’s becoming a common occurence as more and more people check out against medical advice.

In fact, in 2007 368,000 patients walked out on their doctor.

So why did they leave?

Turns out that the majority of those who left were uninsured or on Medicaid.
 
They were also more likely to be…

• Male: Men left hospital against advice at a rate of 1.5 per 1,000 population, compared with 0.9 for 1,000 women. In contrast, women were more likely to be inpatients, at a rate of 102.8 per 1,000, compared with 91.5 for men.
• Younger than other patients: The average age those who left against advice was 46 years, compared with 58 years for all other inpatients.
• Urban dwellers: Patients in those areas were nearly twice as likely to leave hospital against advice than patients living in all other areas — 1.8 per 1,000 population, compared with about 1.0.
• Poorer than other inpatients: Overall, inpatient care rates were 1.5 times greater in the poorest communities than in the wealthiest areas, but the magnitude of difference was greater among those who left against advice — 2.7 times higher among those in the poorest communities than in the wealthiest areas.
• Northeastern residents: The rate of leaving against advice was 2.0 per 1,000 population, compared with 1.0 in all other regions.

(source: Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project 2007 Nationwide Inpatient Sample)

The research, unfortunately, doesn’t show what happened to these early discharges – whether they ended up returning to hospital or not.

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Post from: Healthbolt

SNAFU at the Veterans Administration

A computer coding error by the Veterans Administration led to more than 1,800 Gulf War veterans being sent letters informing them that they had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a fatal neurological disease more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Can you imagine opening up your mail and being told that as a veteran with ALS, they were entitled to disability compensation of up to $2,700 a month with additional money for their children and spouses.

Most would have been left scratching their head and wondering how in the world they suddenly had Lou Gehrig’s disease and why the heck no one had told them before.

According to a VA spokesperson, the letter no way inferred a medical diagnosis of ALS. The VA has since offered their apologies for any distress receiving this letter might of caused any recipient.

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Post from: Healthbolt

But, according to this fascinating article from mental floss, it doesn’t have to be that way.

Might sound somewhat morbid and gross, but it turns out there are plenty things your body can do and places for your body to end up rather than six feet under or in an urn.

According to this mental floss article  ‘10 Things Your Body Can Do After You Die’, throughout history, the dead have been busy doing everything from getting married (ghost marriage) and unwinding with a few friends (mummy based panaceas) to powering up crematoriums, being a Soviet tourist attraction (Lenin), standing trial (Pope Formosus), and touring the world as a work of art (Body Worlds).

That’s just to tip of the iceberg when it comes to dead adventures. Head on over to mental floss to find out all the gory details.

Post from: Healthbolt

Is it, as some supporters claim, early bonding or is it in fact simply entertainment for a ‘can’t wait’ generation of parents?

It’s a controversial procedure that is experiencing a surge in popularity despite the fact that many health professionals are recommending that parents don’t expose their unborn babies to ultrasounds unless there is a good medical reason.

In fact, the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine is actively discouraging parents from getting 3-D ultrasounds done.

See video here

Post from: Healthbolt

It was on this day back in 1897 the link between mosquitos and malaria was first established. Army doctor Ronald Ross, based in India, discovered this tremendous fact while dissecting the stomach tissue of a anopheline mosquito. The mosquito, which had fed on a malarious patient four days previously, had the malaria parasite. It was the evidence needed to prove mosquitos were responsible for transmitting the malaria parasite to humans.

Ross, who went on the win the Nobel Price for Medicine in 1902 and found the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, declared August 20th as World Mosquito Day.

But discovering the cause unfortunately has not lead to the eradication of the disease. Malaria still kills over a million people a year.

So World Mosquito Day is not so much a celebration of the discovery but a reminder to us all that we still have a long way to go in the fight against malaria and other mosquito borne diseases such as West Nile disease.

So how should you celebrate World Mosquito Day?

Probably by eliminating any standing-water habitats in your backyard, donating to mosquito-net programs abroad, and following these mosquito avoidance tips.

Learn more at the American Mosquito Control Association

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www.mosquito.org

Post from: Healthbolt

In an attempt to encourage people to go vegetarian, they have introduced a new billboard campaign featuring an obese bikini clad woman alongside this slogan “Save the Whales, Lose the Blubber: Go Vegetarian”.

Yet again, PETA has crossed the line and managed to create another tasteless, tacky, ignorant, and insulting campaign.

Do they really think that this sort of publicity stunt will encourage people to go vegetarian?

According to this Press Release, it seems they do…

A new PETA billboard campaign that was just launched in Jacksonville reminds people who are struggling to lose weight — and who want to have enough energy to chase a beach ball — that going vegetarian can be an effective way to shed those extra pounds that keep them from looking good in a bikini. The ad shows a woman whose “blubber” is spilling over the sides of her swimsuit bottom and features the tagline “Save the Whales. Lose the Blubber: Go Vegetarian. PETA.”

And goes on to add…

“Trying to hide your thunder thighs and balloon belly is no day at the beach,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “PETA has a free ‘Vegetarian Starter Kit’ for people who want to lose pounds while eating as much as they like.”

They call the campaign provocative. I call it insulting and ignorant.

Let us and PETA know what you think by voting in this poll…

Post from: Healthbolt

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Apparently the judge decided that the yawn was a disrespectful interruption of the court and the yawner was in contempt.

Seriously, you have to wonder what the judge was thinking. Yawning is as natural as breathing and just as involuntary. No one really knows why we do it. But we do. Animals do it. Even babies in the womb do it.

And as everyone knows, it’s pretty contagious. You see, or even hear, someone else yawning and nine times out of ten, you’ll be yawning yourself within a second or two.

But there was no report of that happening in this court which is probably just as well as it might be ended up with the jail being full of yawners.

Post from: Healthbolt