purple medical blog

HONEY WE SHRUNK THE WOUND AND OR BURN USING MEDICAL HONEY FOR HEALING IM NOT KIDDING

2009-06-10T11:02:00.000-05:00

HONEY WE SHRUNK THE BURN AND OR WOUND HEALING BURNS AND WOUNDS WITH HONEY IM NOT KIDDING

Is this guy a doctor or a witch doctor? I had to admit I was taken aback when I saw a wound care doctor apply a tube of a wound care cream called MediHoney to a family member's bed sore. I have been roaming the halls of medicine for years but I never heard of using honey to heal burns and wounds. I guess I should read more because it seems that honey containing medicine is being applied to burns and wounds with success and that the roots of this practice trace back to the Egyptians.

In talking with two wound care nurses they told me that they had seen some excellent results of treatment with honey "For centuries now honey has been used as an effective remedy for wounds, burns and ulcers. In recent years there has been renewed interest in the medicinal properties of honey. Much of this research is being carried out by a team of people working at the Waikato Honey Research Unit, New Zealand".

New Zealand Dermatology Society How does honey work to treat infections?

Wound and Burn Dressing MediHoney

There is a medical honey available for wounds and burns. Honey is different from the medical honey that is available through doctors and wound care specialists. Honey may also help disinfect the wound due to a chemical interaction between a specific enzyme in honey and damaged skin tissue that produces a form of hydrogen peroxide. In addition, honey has been shown to reduce inflammation and swelling. In March 2007, the Food and Drug Administration approved a honey-impregnated wound-dressing product for wound and burn care.

"It's important to note that the specialized honey used in wound products and in research studies is different from honey available to consumers. Also, the honey used in research studies has been treated to remove contaminants. It's not clear at this time whether ordinary supermarket honey has the same wound-healing effect".

Is it true that applying honey to a wound may speed healing?

VIDEO ABOUT NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE STUDY AS REPORT Of DANGER EATING RED MEAT HOGS HEADLINES AND MOO AND OINK TAKE ANOTHER HIT IN THE BATTLE OF FOO

2009-03-25T11:20:00.064-05:00

VIDEO ABOUT NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE STUDY AS REPORT OF DANGER EATING RED MEAT HOGS HEADLINES AND MOO AND OINK TAKE ANOTHER HIT IN THE BATTLE OF FOOD HEART DISEASE AND CANCER

Food that comes from animals that moo or oink took another hit latterly as a study about the putative dangers of red meat, beef and pork "hogged" the headlines. Most of us eat meat and will continue to do so but the report in the Annals of Internal Medicine was indeed food for thought.

"Cutting back on steak, sausages and salami could help prolong your life, according to the most comprehensive study done on meat and mortality. Researchers tracked half a million Americans over a decade and found those who ate more red and processed meats appear to have a "modestly increased" risk of dying from all causes, and specifically from cancer or heart disease".

In contrast,those who ate more white meat have a decreased risk of dying, and in particular of dying from cancer. Diet is thought to influence the incidence of several cancers but it's hard to unravel which aspects of diet are important.A previous study in PLOS Medicine, for example, tried to shed light on cancer and what we eat. It indicated that a high red meat intake is associated with an increased risk of esophageal and liver cancer, and that one in ten colorectal and one in ten lung cancers could be avoided if people reduced their red and processed meat intake. "The results of the study complement the recommendations by the American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund to reduce red and processed meat intake to decrease cancer incidence," said Rashmi Sinha, a specialist in nutritional epidemiology at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Md. The lead author of the study added that she is personally not a vegetarian". "There are various mechanisms by which meat may be related to mortality. In relation to cancer, meat is a source of several multisite carcinogens, including heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,16-21 which are both formed during high-temperature cooking of meat, as well as N-nitroso compound".

Red meat Increases Risk of

Meat Intake and Mortality A Prospective Study of Over Half a Million People

A STUDY OF RED AND PROCESSED MEAT INTAKE IN RELATION TO CANCER RISK AMPLIFIES CONCERNS ABOUT CANCER AND EATING TOO MUCH RED MEAT AND PROCESSED MEAT

Too Much of A Good Thing A Thumbs Down to Too Much Processed Meats Bacon, Pastrami and Salami, as well as Hot Dogs and Sausages

Let's face it, hot dogs,sausages,hamburger,steak,cold cuts all taste good. It would be an "unappetizing" notion to stop eating these tasty foods. However moderation certainly seems to be something to think about.

The evidence that the intake of red meat (beef, pork, and lamb) and of processed meat (for example, bacon, ham, and sausages) is linked to cancer risk has been suspected and reported previously.The study released by the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) said that excess body fat as well as consumption of alcohol, red meat and processed meats like bacon, hot dogs and so on increase your risk of developing cancer.

The previous study which appeared in PLOS Medicine reported on a study of a link between processed and red meats and cancer. "Nearly half a million US men and women aged 50–71 years old joined the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study. The participants none of whom had had cancer previously, completed a questionnaire about their dietary habits over the previous year and provided other personal information such as their age, weight, and smoking history". The study used these data and information from state cancer registries to look for associations between the intake of red and processed meat and the incidence of various cancers".

The prospective study( i.e a study in which people are identified and then followed forward in time) provided "strong evidence that people who eat a lot of red and processed meats have greater risk of developing colorectal and lung cancer than do people who eat small quantities".

"Red meat intake was calculated from the frequency of consumption and portion size information of all types of beef, pork, and lamb; this included bacon, beef, cold cuts, ham, hamburger, hot dogs, liver, pork, sausage, and steak. The processed meat variable included bacon, red meat sausage, poultry sausage, luncheon meats (red and white meat), cold cuts (red and white meat), ham,regular hot dogs,and low fat hot dogs made from poultry.

"Although the researchers allowed for factors such as smoking history that might have affected cancer incidences, some of the effects they ascribe to meat intake might be caused by other lifestyle factors. Furthermore, because the study's definitions of red meat and processed meat overlapped—bacon and ham, for example, were included in both categories—exactly which type of meat is related to cancer remains unclear".

Purple Medical Blog Ten Recommendations to Prevent Cancer

"Most of the study participants were non-Hispanic white, so these findings may not apply to people with different genetic backgrounds. Nevertheless, they add to the evidence that suggests that decreased consumption of red and processed meats could reduce the incidence of several types of cancer".

A Prospective Study of Red and Processed Meat Intake in Relation to Cancer Risk

PDF of Prospective Study of Red and Processed Meat Intake in Relation to cancer Risk This seems to go along with the previous report by the American Institute of Cancer Research which recommended:

Limit consumption of red meats (such as beef, pork and lamb) and avoid processed meats.(they say to stay away from things like hot dogs and bacon) "To reduce your cancer risk, eat no more than 18 oz. (cooked weight) per week of red meats, like beef, pork and lamb and avoid processed meat such as ham, bacon, salami, hot dogs and sausages." "Red meat refers to beef, pork and lamb, - foods like hamburgers, steak, pork chops and roast lamb. The term processed meat refers to meats preserved by smoking, curing or salting, or by the addition of preservatives. Examples include ham, bacon, pastrami and salami, as well as hot dogs and sausages.

"The evidence from the Expert Report that red meat is a cause of colorectal cancer is convincing. This evidence is much stronger now than it was in the mid-1990s. Red meat contains substances that are linked to colon cancer. For example, heme iron, the compound that gives red meat its color, has been shown to damage the lining of the colon.Studies also show that people who eat a lot of red meat tend to eat less plant-based foods, so they benefit less from their cancer-protective properties".

There is also convincing evidence that choosing processed meat increases the chances of colorectal cancer. The expert panel advises limiting red meat and avoiding processed meat. Studies show we can eat up to 18 ounces a week of red meat without raising cancer risk. Research on processed meat shows cancer risk starts to increase with any portion.

"When meat is preserved by smoking, curing or salting, or by the addition of preservatives, cancer-causing substances (carcinogens) can be formed. These substances can damage cells in the body, leading to the development of cancer".

Be as lean as possible without becoming underweight.

Be physically active for at least 30 minutes every day.

Avoid sugary drinks. Limit consumption of energy-dense foods (particularly processed foods high in added sugar, or low in fiber, or high in fat).

Eat more of a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and legumes such as beans.

If consumed at all, limit alcoholic drinks to 2 for men and 1 for women a day.

Limit consumption of salty foods and foods processed with salt (sodium). (You will be shocked when you look at a food label of some processed foods and see how much sodium they contain)."Consuming too much salt can be harmful to our health, increasing our risk of stomach cancer as well as high blood pressure".

Our daily intake of salt should be less than 2,400 milligrams. We actually need much less than this. Most people in the Untied States currently consume more than 2,400 mg, but there are simple ways to cut down on our intake.

"The Expert Panel found that salt and salt-preserved foods probably increase the chance of developing stomach cancer. Studies have shown that high salt intakes can damage the lining of the stomach. This is one way in which it might increase the risk of stomach cancer".

"Most of the salt in our diets comes from processed foods. We are not always aware that these foods are high in salt because they may not taste ‘salty,’ so make sure to read the sodium content on the Nutrition Facts label. Watch out for breakfast cereals, bread, frozen meals, pizza and chips. Also, check the amount of sodium in canned products, such as soups and sauces, and avoid processed meats. Even sweet foods like cookies can contain high levels of salt".

Don't use supplements to protect against cancer. Special Population Recommendations

It is best for mothers to breastfeed exclusively for up to 6 months and then add other liquids and foods.

After treatment, cancer survivors should follow the recommendations for cancer prevention.

And always remember – do not smoke or chew tobacco.

Put down the Bacon! Report Emphasizes Cancer-fat Links

Food Nutrition and the Prevention of Cancer The Full Report Online

Recommendations for Cancer Prevention

A PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGIST CHILDRENS CANCER DOCTOR OPINION ABOUT OBAMA STEM CELL PLAN

2009-03-20T12:07:00.015-05:00

A PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGIST CHILDRENS CANCER DOCTOR OPINION ABOUT OBAMA STEM CELL PLAN

In his blog the pediatric oncologist, Dr. David, discusses why he thinks President Obama's decision to liberate some stem cell research is a good idea. "As I discussed in a prior post, a stem cell is a primitive cell that is capable of generating more “daughter” cells with more specific function as well as making more copies of themselves. Every organ and tissue in your body contains stem cells.

Watch this Incredible Video About Stem Cells Click the Arrow

As the most mature cells die, they are replaced by cells derived from these “organ stem cells,” which also continuously replenish themselves.

Stem cells such as these are often referred to as “adult stem cells” because they are found in adult humans. There are also “umbilical cord stem cells” which are found in the blood in the umbilical cords of newborn babies and many oncologists believe that there are “cancer stem cells” that drive the growth and spread (“metastasis”) of tumors".

Bright Day for Stem Cells

What is a Stem Cell

REMEMBER HOW EVERYBODY WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A FLYING CAR IN THE FUTURE..ITS HERE THE FLYING CAR COMES TO EARTH

2009-03-18T22:53:00.015-05:00

REMEMBER HOW EVERYBODY WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A FLYING CAR IN THE FUTURE..ITS HERE THE FLYING CAR COMES TO EARTH

Remember how in the future everybody was supposed to be traveling in flying cars? Well, the future is here and where are the flying cars? Here is a video of a company testing their version of the flying car. "Every pilot faces uncertain weather, rising costs, and ground transportation hassles on each end of the flight. The Transition® ( flying car) combines the unique convenience of being able to fold its wings with the ability to drive on any surface road in a modern personal airplane platform. Stowing the wings for road use and deploying them for flight at the airport is activated from inside the cockpit. This unique functionality addresses head-on the issues faced by today’s Private and Sport Pilots.

Terrafugia Flying Car Site

AN UPDATED REPORT 2009 ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH THE MEDTRONIC SPRINT FIDELIS IMPLANTABLE DEFIBRILLATOR AND A VIDEO UPDATE WHAT IS IT

2009-03-13T20:52:00.020-05:00

AN UPDATED REPORT 2009 ABOUTPROBLEMS WITH THE MEDTRONIC SPRINT FIDELIS IMPLANTABLE DEFIBRILLATOR AND A VIDEO UPDATE WHAT IS IT

Watch a Video About Medtronic Implantable Defibrillator

Here is an update and elaboration (in 2009) to a story about problems with the Medtronic Implantable Heart Defibrillator which were originally announced in 2007. "Medtronic said Friday that at least 13 people might have died in connection with a heart device that it recalled in 2007 but was still in widespread use, including four patients whose deaths were related to efforts by doctors to surgically remove the product". The defibrillators are tiny impanted devices that can monitor the heart rhythm. When they detect a dangerous heart rhythm that could cause cardiac arrest the defibrillator delivers a jolt of electricty to correct the problem.

The scientific marvel, implantable defibrillators are helping many ( former Vice President Cheney has one). But like many things in life, problems can arise. It's been a while since Medtronic's recall of their 7-French Model 6949 Sprint Fidelis defibrillator lead in October 2007. Medtronic had announced that "We have found that there is a small chance of fractures in particular locations on the Sprint Fidelis lead" of the Medtronic defibrillator. What is the lead? "The wire that connects the heart to a defibrillator, a device that shocks faltering hearts back into normal rhythm. The company urged all of the estimated 235,000 patients with the Fidelis, to see their doctors to make sure it has not developed a fracture that can make the device to misread heart-rhythm data.

"Along with fatalities, the F.D.A. has received about 2,200 reports of serious injuries related to the leads. Medtronic officials said they believed that reflected the number of people who had undergone surgery to have a failed lead replaced with a new one. Dr. David Steinhaus, Medtronic’s medical director, said the updated figures, which the company distributed Friday to doctors, was based on a review of available data by company officials and a panel of five outside physicians".

Medtronic Links Device For Heart To 13 Deaths Video from the FDA About Sprint Fidelis Recall Click the Arrow to Start

According to the blog of a prominent cardiologist "The first update of the Sprint Fidelis lead performance arrived in my office this week, dated 7 May 2008 . With this letter came the first trending data of the failure rates as determined by evaluation of Medtronic's Carelink follow-up database and Returned Product Analysis reports as well".

"While the number of lead failures remains relatively small and current follow-up recommendations have not changed, the failure trends, albeit early, remain concerning. It appears that a continued number of failures throughout the life of the lead can be expected. By Medtronic's analysis of a typical 1,000-patient ICD clinic, over the next 12 months, nine (9) patients can be expected to have an anode or cathode failure and half of those patient's will have little warning of an impending fracture".

Medtronic Defibrillator Sprint Fidelis Lead Update

What Should I Do About the Medtronic Sprint Fidelis Defibrillator

STUDY SUGGESTS THAT DOCTORS MAY BE CLOSER TO GOAL LINE IN OVARIAN CANCER EARLY DETECTION CHALLENGE AND A VIDEO ABOUT OVARIAN CA

2009-03-11T16:19:00.000-05:00

STUDY SUGGESTS THAT DOCTORS MAY BE CLOSER TO GOAL LINE IN OVARIAN CANCER EARLY DETECTION CHALLENGE AND A VIDEO ABOUT OVARIAN CA

Some cancer is easier to detect than others. Ovarian cancer has a reputation for being opaque to early detection. But perhaps now, that is changing with the release of an optimistic interim report on earlier detection of ovarian cancer, "We have now demonstrated we can pick up the vast majority of women with ovarian cancer earlier than they would have otherwise been detected and before they have symptoms,” said Dr. Ian Jacobs, director of the Institute for Women’s Health at University College London."

As I have written in Purple Medical Blog previously, "A problem with ovarian cancer is that it may not be detected until an advanced stage. In general, the earlier a cancer is detected the easier it is to treat. Early detection is especially important for ovarian cancer. Although many people have heard of CA 125 as a test for ovarian cancer detection, it has not been enough to detect ovarian cancer early. CA 125 is more often used as a test to follow the progress of treatment. So the search has been on for ways to detect ovarian cancer at an early stage".

Watch Video About Ovarian Cancer Click the Arrow

Talking about a study result noted in Lancet Oncology "We have now demonstrated we can pick up the vast majority of women with ovarian cancer earlier than they would have otherwise been detected and before they have symptoms,” said Dr. Ian Jacobs, director of the Institute for Women’s Health at University College London, and director of the trial, “and that a good proportion of those women have earlier stage disease than we would normally expect them to have."

As the study's web site points out ,"Large studies performed by our research team and other international teams during the last decade have developed and refined two methods of screening. One method uses ultrasound scanning, similar to the scanning used in pregnancy, to check for any enlargement or abnormality of the ovaries. Ultrasound is currently widely used for diagnosing ovarian cancer in women with symptoms. It has been shown that the ultrasound test can be abnormal in the early stage of many ovarian cancers. This trial will use a method of ultrasound scanning called "transvaginal scan" whereby a probe is inserted into the vagina to see the ovaries. This method of scanning gives a much clearer picture of the ovaries than a transabdominal scan, where the probe is placed on the abdomen. The second method involves a blood test to measure a substance called CA 125. Most women who develop ovarian cancer have high levels of the protein called CA125 in their blood. The CA125 test is therefore currently used to diagnose ovarian cancer in women with symptoms and to monitor women after treatment. It has been shown that the CA125 test can be elevated in the early stage of many ovarian cancers. In addition, the research team believes that it may be possible to identify those women with early ovarian cancer where the CA125 blood test is not elevated by looking for changes i.e. increases in a woman's blood results over time".

"Using these tests it seems likely that over 80% of women with ovarian cancer can be identified before they have symptoms. This current very large trial will answer the question whether early detection of ovarian cancer, using these tests can save the lives of women who have ovarian cancer".

Screening Can Detect Early Ovarian Cancer

DEVELOPING A NEW DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR OVARIAN CANCER TO DETECT OVARIAN CANCER AT AN EARLIER MORE CURABLE STAGE Blood and urine tests may be used to search for ovarian cancer as well other tests, depending on the woman's symptoms and results of her physical exam. Procedures that might be done in the search for ovarian cancer include: abdominal or transvaginal ultrasound--helps distinguish fluid-filled cysts from a solid tumor CT scan--produces x-ray images of cross-sections of body tissues lower GI series (barium enema)--visualizes the bowel on x-ray to detect abnormal areas that may be caused by ovarian cancer intravenous pyelogram (IVP)--produces x-ray pictures of the kidneys, bladder and ureters (tubes carrying urine from the kidneys to the bladder). Often, ovarian cysts or tumors can cause pressure on these organs, which may show up on an IVP.

UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening

Sensitivity and specificity of multimodal and ultrasound screening for ovarian cancer, .. results of the prevalence screen of the UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening

EDISON AND EINSTEIN DID IT YOU CAN TOO A VIDEO ABOUT HOW TO DO VISUAL THINKING DRAWING AND THE MIND

2009-03-06T19:22:00.020-06:00

EDISON AND EINSTEIN DID IT YOU CAN TOO A VIDEO ABOUT HOW TO DO VISUAL THINKING DRAWING AND THE MIND

Edison did it, Einstein did it and I'm guessing so did Pasteur and most great inventors, scientists and other assorted creative people including in medicine and medical science. Visual thinking and drawing pictures, illustrations and diagrams is probably crucial if not critical to creativity and thinking. Edison is thought to have used analogy with his old experiences to create new inventions. The phonograph is thought to have it's roots in Edison's experience with the telegraph. "The phonograph was developed as a result of Thomas Edison's work on two other inventions, the telegraph and the telephone.

Here is a video of one approach to visual thinking. Watch the video about visual thinking Click the arrow

"In 1877, Edison was working on a machine that would transcribe telegraphic messages through indentations on paper tape, which could later be sent over the telegraph repeatedly. This development led Edison to speculate that a telephone message could also be recorded in a similar fashion. He experimented with a diaphragm which had an embossing point and was held against rapidly-moving paraffin paper. The speaking vibrations made indentations in the paper. Edison later changed the paper to a metal cylinder with tin foil wrapped around it. The machine had two diaphragm-and-needle units, one for recording, and one for playback. When one would speak into a mouthpiece, the sound vibrations would be indented onto the cylinder by the recording needle in a vertical (or hill and dale) groove pattern. Edison gave a sketch of the machine to his mechanic, John Kruesi, to build, which Kruesi supposedly did within 30 hours. Edison immediately tested the machine by speaking the nursery rhyme into the mouthpiece, "Mary had a little lamb." To his amazement, the machine played his words back to him".

CANON SX1 IS VERSUS SONY DSC HX1 DIGITAL CAMERA THAT DOESNT NEED TO CATCH ITS BREATH A POINT AND SHOOT CAMERA WITH HIGH SPEED CONTINUOUS PHOTO SHOOTIN

2009-03-05T21:50:00.016-06:00

CANON SX1 IS VERSUS SONY DSC HX1 DIGITAL CAMERA THAT DOESNT NEED TO CATCH ITS BREATH A POINT AND SHOOT CAMERA WITH HIGH SPEED CONTINUOUS PHOTO SHOOTING

Previously I wrote about my quest for a point and shoot camera that can take continuous photos at high speed without pausing for air. What am I talking about? You know how when you see an interview with some big shot or a presidential news conference how the photographers all seem to have cameras that are going click click repeatedly? I talked about the new Canon SX1 IS that has a continuous full frame 10 megapixel continuous shooting mode. Sony is introducing a competitor called the Sony DSC HX1 that can take 10 frames per second in full resolution at 9 .1 megapixels. But that seems to be a burst of 10 shots and then a pause may be required.
Both the Sony and Canon use a faster CMOS sensor instead of the CCD sensor common in digital point and shoot cameras.

"The Sony Cybershot HX1 boasts a 20x Zoom 28mm-560mm "G" lens, 9 Megapixel Exmor 1/2.4" CMOS sensor, and a BIONZ processor. Clearly, these are proven technologies borrowed from the Alpha line. The Sony HX1 also features other neat tricks under its skin. Features like full 9mp resolution 10fps still image recording, 1080p HD Video with Stereo Sound recording (at up to 30fps), a one of a kind Panorama mode that stitches several images automatically in camera (with only one press of the shutter), and a real mechanical shutter apparently to help eliminate image distortion electronic shutters can sometimes introduce".

Sony Cybershot HX1 Camera

High Def Video Taken with HX1 Click the arrow

Sony DSC-HX1 Sample video for Dvice.com from Curtis Walker on Vimeo.

CAMERA THAT DOESNT NEED TO CATCH ITS BREATH A POINT AND SHOOT CAMERA WITH HIGH SPEED CONTINUOUS PHOTO SHOOTING THE CANON SX1 IS JOINS THE CASIO EX FH

2009-03-01T20:11:00.033-06:00

CAMERA THAT DOESNT NEED TO CATCH ITS BREATH A POINT AND SHOOT CAMERA WITH HIGH SPEED CONTINUOUS PHOTO SHOOTING THE CANON SX1 IS JOINS THE CASIO EX FH 20

Looking for a camera useful in science and sports that can take many photos in succession without a big pause

I have written previously in Purple Medical Blog about my quest for a point and shoot camera that can take continuous photos at high speed without pausing for air. What am I talking about? You know how when you see an interview with some big shot or a presidential news conference how the photographers all seem to have cameras that are going click click repeatedly? That's because they have more sophisticated cameras that can take many photos in rapid succession. Besides interviews this ability is also useful in fast moving sports and science where it's hard to predict exactly when some game changing exciting event will transpire.

CANON SX1 IS CAMERA VIDEO REVIEW Click the Arrow

A point and shoot camera is one with a built in zoom lens. The ones that say 12x or even 20x. Most of these point and shoots do not have continuous photo shooting ability or if they do they are quite slow. I have a Fuji s2000 hd which can take some high speed continuous photo shots but forces you to use a lower resolution (less megapixels) and higher iso. I have talked about the Casio EX FH 20 camera and now comes word of the new Canon SX1 IS. The Canon SX1 IS is capable of 4 full resolution (10 megapixels) continuous photo shooting frames per second while the button is held down (albeit with a fixed focus). Watch the video about the Canon SX1 IS.

Read Update CANON SX1 IS VERSUS SONY DSC HX1 DIGITAL CAMERA THAT DOESNT NEED TO CATCH ITS BREATH A POINT AND SHOOT CAMERA WITH HIGH SPEED CONTINUOUS PHOTO SHOOTING

Most photographers use a sort of camera called a dSLR. An advantage of a dSLR is that it usually has a bigger sensor than a comparable point and shoot camera so the picture tends to be sharper and better quality. Just stuffing megapixels into a small sensor can actually lead to deterioration of the photo quality with noise on the photo and so forth. The big disdvantages of a dSLR are that you have to change the lenses on the front of the camera for different zoom distances. Thus, while you may have a point and shoot that can take a picture all the way from nose length to 20x, you would need an assortment of heavy cumbersome lenses to do the same thing with a dSLR. Not to mention, dSLR cameras are heavier and carrying all this equipment around is an alternative to working out at the gym with weights.

Video Review of Point and Shoot Camera That May Be Useful in Sports and Science

IS NEW BACTERIA KILLING SUPER WATER 10 TIMES MORE EFFECTIVE THAN BLEACH HARD TO BELIEVE COULD ELECTROLYZED WATER BE SUPER GERM KILLER SLAYER OF E COLI

2009-02-23T20:31:00.043-06:00

NO URBAN LEGEND NEW BACTERIA KILLING SUPER WATER 10 TIMES MORE EFFECTIVE THAN BLEACH HARD TO BELIEVE COULD ELECTROLYZED WATER BE SUPER GERM KILLER SLAYER OF E COLI AND SALMONELLA

BACTERICIDAL SUPER WATER BEING ROLLED OUT TO SLAY GERMS WATCH VIDEO EXAMPLE OF USES OF ELECTROLYZED WATER

Remember the story about the inventor who figured out how to run cars on water and how the fuel companies blocked the invention? How about the one about the guy who figured out how to make water into a powerful bacteria antiseptic bacteria killer? I read an electrifying story about something called electrolyzed water. Apparently, treating salt water with an electric current that is a "simple mixture of table salt and tap water whose ions have been scrambled with an electric current" produces some kind of bacteria killing "super water". It sounds hard to believe but per the literature "Researchers have dubbed it electrolyzed water...zapping salt water with low-voltage electricity creates a couple of powerful yet nontoxic cleaning agents. Sodium ions are converted into sodium hydroxide, an alkaline liquid that cleans and degreases like detergent, but without the scrubbing bubbles. Chloride ions become hypochlorous acid, a potent disinfectant known as acid water"

. Video about One Example of Electrolyzed Water to Kill Germs Click the Arrow

"It's 10 times more effective than bleach in killing bacteria," said Yen-Con Hung, a professor of food science at the University of Georgia-Griffin, who has been researching electrolyzed water for more than a decade and Minnesota food scientist Joellen Feirtag said she was similarly skeptical. Installed an electrolysis unit in her laboratory and began researching the technology. She found that the acid water killed E. coli, salmonella, listeria and other nasty pathogens. Yet it was gentle enough to soothe her children's sunburns and acne".

Simple elixir called a miracle liquid

Researchers study electrolyzed water as pathogen killer

Bacteria-killing water replaces chemical cleaners

DO MUSICIANS USE BETA BLOCKERS FOR PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT BETA BLOCKER BLOOD PRESSURE MEDS ANXIETY AND SCARY THOUGHTS A VIDEO ON BETA CONTROVERSY

2009-02-15T12:39:00.042-06:00

DO MUSICIANS USE BETA BLOCKERS FOR PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT BETA BLOCKER BLOOD PRESSURE MEDS ANXIETY AND SCARY THOUGHTS A VIDEO ON BETA CONTROVERSY

BETA BLOCKER BLOOD PRESSURE PILLS HAVE BEEN USED FOR STAGE FRIGHT BUT MAKE SOME PEOPLE DEPRESSED AND SLOW HEART RATE WATCH THE VIDEO

Some people are so nervous that they are anxious about their anxiety. "A blood pressure pill could help people forget bad memories, according to a Dutch study published Sunday". I am not sure if this is exactly news because beta blockers in small doses have been profferred as a treatment for some kinds of anxiety for quite a long time. According to the interesting musician's web site below "Beta blockers have been called "the musicians underground drug." Often musicians form their opinions, and may risk their health, based on locker-room-type information". But like almost everything in medicine different people react differently to the same drug. Some people actually get more depressed on beta blockers.

Beta blockers are a class of heart cardiovascular and blood pressure pills that have the effect of slowing the heart beat. They work on the so called beta receptors. They can be dangerous in certain conditions such as when a person already has a slow heart rate and they can worsen diabetes and increase asthma problems.

VIDEO BETA BLOCKER CONTROVERSY Click the Arrow

"The generic beta-blocker propranolol weakened a person's fearful memories of spiders in the test group, making it a possible treatment for individuals with anxiety disorders and phobias.We could show that the fear response went away, which suggests the memory was weakened," said Merel Kindt, a psychologist at the University of Amsterdam, who led the study".

Study Finds Blood Pressure Pill Could ERASE BAD MEMORIES

BETA BLOCKERS AND PERFORMANCE ANXIETY IN MUSICIANS

A NEW STEALTH WEAPON ACUPUNCTURE GOES TO WAR..AIR FORCE DOCTOR HAS BEEN TRAINING MILITARY DOCTORS IN BATTLEFIELD COMBAT ACUPUNCTURE

2009-01-30T22:10:00.028-06:00

A NEW STEALTH WEAPON ACUPUNCTURE GOES TO WAR..AIR FORCE DOCTOR HAS BEEN TRAINING MILITARY DOCTORS IN BATTLEFIELD COMBAT ACUPUNCTURE

ACUPUNCTURE TO REDUCE PAIN IN COMBAT

I have read that some medical centers offer acupuncture but I was amazed to read that the U.S. Military has enlisted acupuncture into combat and will start to train combat doctors to use acupuncture. The military plans to enlist acupuncture in the battle against war time pain. Military doctors will learn battlefield acupuncture.

"Acupuncture involves placing very thin needles at specific points on the body to try to control pain and reduce stress. There are only theories about how, why and even whether it might work".

Colonel Richard Niemtzow of Andrews Air Force Base developed and named the battlefield acupuncture technique in 2001. "It is a radical departure from classical Chinese, French and German ear acupuncture. He said he realized its possible military value and the events of the World Trade Center influenced him to name it battlefield acupuncture.

As an Air Force acupuncturist, Colonel Niemtzow has trained hundreds of his military counterparts. Battlefield acupuncture focuses on locations on the ear that he said have been known for hundreds of years as effective areas for pain control. The ear is also practical because it can be readily accessed whether on the battlefield or in a hospital bed".

"Now the Air Force, which runs the military’s only acupuncture clinic, is training doctors to take acupuncture to the war zones of Iraq and Afghanistan. A pilot program starting in March will prepare 44 Air Force, Navy and Army doctors to use acupuncture as part of emergency care in combat and in front line hospitals, not just on bases back home".

Battlefield Acupuncture Introduced

Acupuncture for Acute and Chronic Pain in Air Force Personnel

Air Force to Train Combat Docs to Use Acupuncture

POINTING AND SHOOTING YOUR WAY TO BETTER PHOTOS WITH A POINT AND SHOOT DIGITAL CAMERA

2009-01-27T16:11:00.020-06:00

POINTING AND SHOOTING YOUR WAY TO BETTER PHOTOS WITH A POINT AND SHOOT DIGITAL CAMERA

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE WITH DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY YOU AS THE NEXT ANSEL ADAMS WITH A DIGITAL CAMERA

If you follow this blog you may know that one of my avocations besides medicine is digital photography and digital cameras (and if you don't I'm telling you now). Here is an illuminating article from the NYT about how to get better pictures and photos even if you have one of those "point and shoot cameras". There are so many things you can do with digital photography ,it's limited only by your imagination.

"The not-so-dirty, not-so-little secret about even the simplest point-and-shoot cameras is that they work best if you know just a tiny bit about what’s going on when you snap a picture. Otherwise, even scads of megapixels and image stabilization and other ballyhooed features can’t save you from overexposed images and washed-out colors".

Point-and-Shoot (Digital Camera) Does Not Preclude Thinking

Video Review of Casio EX-FH 20

WHAT ARE PROTEINS WHY DO VEGETARIANS HAVE TO WORK HARDER TO GET PROTEIN

2009-01-24T19:41:00.034-06:00

WHAT ARE PROTEINS?

When people talk about food having protein do they know what they are talking about? Do you know what protein is? Most people know in a general sort of way, that meat like steak, hamburger and chicken and fish have protein. That's because they are made of muscles and other tissue that is constructed out of biological material generically know as protein. Protein is a vital building block of all biological organisms. But there are many thousands, in fact hundreds of thousands of proteins throughout nature. What do they have in common? Proteins are made of chemicals called amino acids. So by eating protein, your body can deconstruct the proteins and get a source of amino acids to use for building..

WHY DO VEGETARIANS HAVE TO WORK HARDER TO GET PROTEIN?

Because many non meat proteins may not have all the amino acids the body needs. Therefore, vegetarians need to insure that they are getting a variety of protein sources that have the adequate amino acids. See the famous book Diet for A Small Planet by Francis Moore Lappe.

WHAT DO PROTEINS DO IN THE BODY?

What don't proteins do in the body? Besides being structural parts, proteins are involved as enzymes that make chemical reactions possible. Insulin, for example, is a protein made in the pancreas and released into the blood stream to push the glucose in the blood into the cells of the body. Prescription insulin is made by bacteria that have been programmed with the genes to manufacture insulin. Although the human body has hundreds of thousands of proteins and proteins are made by following the instructions of genes, the body is estimated to have 25,000 or 30,000 genes. So the manufacture of a protein is not just a one to one correspondence with a gene. In fact, it's turning out that the old idea of genes as long strands of dna is just a part of the whole genetic story. Besides the fact that dna strands are broken apart and recombined in new arrangements there are other factors added to the dna that impact the genetic behavior, a field called epigenetics, but I digress.

PUSH UPS PULL UPS AND LET DOWNS HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET FIT AND TO CHANGE THE WAY YOU LOOK BY EXERCISING

2009-01-22T20:00:00.015-06:00

PUSH UPS PULL UPS AND LET DOWNS HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET FIT AND TO CHANGE THE WAY YOU LOOK BY EXERCISING

SIX MONTHS TO SEE THE CHANGES IN YOUR BODY FROM WORKOUTS AND EXERCISE

You join a fitness club or start a workout regimen and say to yourself "this time it's for real I am going to A. Lose weight B. Buildup my triceps C. Get a better figure" or all the above. And then reality smacks you in the face as you exercise day after day and no changes seem to be happening. All that weight lifting, treadmill running, push ups. pull ups and let downs!

"To make a change in how you look you are talking about a significant period of training." That's Dr. William Kraemer, a professor of kinesiology. " In our studies it takes six months to a year.".."that is with regular strength training workouts using appropriate weights and with a carefully designed individualized program."

See the NYT article

Fitness Isn't an Overnight Sensation

LOSE YOUR JOB..JOIN THE CLUB..HOW TO LOSE YOUR JOB BUT SAVE YOUR MARRIAGE

2009-01-11T20:30:00.013-06:00

LOSE YOUR JOB..JOIN THE CLUB..HOW TO LOSE YOUR JOB BUT SAVE YOUR MARRIAGE

WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF JOB LOSS ON COUPLES AND MARRIAGE AND HUSBAND WIFE FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS?

Why do people fall in love with each other? What makes one couple stay together through thick and thin when another couple has a partner than runs for the exit soon after the love boat springs a leak? It's a topic that has fascinated me since, well always. The NY Times has thrown some light on the subject with the story of a married couple who are feeling the financial storm that is blowing all around us and how they are coming through it.

In December, 2007 Scott Berry lost his job as a technology analyst at a boutique investment firm. "He immediately looked for a new position but found opportunities puzzlingly elusive." His plan for his next job has been (temporarily ) deferred. "So Scott and Tracey Berry have faced a complex series of choices about work, money and the roles and responsibilities each would assume in the family. Their goals: to keep their domestic economy from mirroring the national one-and to stay married."

Daddy is Home

IS A BLOCKED ARTERY IN THE HEART LIKE A CLOGGED PIPE IN YOUR PLUMBING WHAT IS A FIBROUS CAP AND ASPIRIN AND YOUR HEART

2009-01-09T18:08:00.040-06:00

IS A BLOCKED ARTERY IN THE HEART LIKE A CLOGGED PIPE IN YOUR PLUMBING WHAT IS A FIBROUS CAP AND ASPIRIN AND YOUR HEART

IS A BLOCKED ARTERY IN THE HEART LIKE A CLOGGED PIPE IN YOUR PLUMBING AND WHAT DOES A FIBROUS CAP BREAKING HAVE TO DO WITH A HEART ATTACK?

A clogged artery is and is not like a clogged pipe, Huh, What? You go to the doctor and they explain why it is important to avoid trans fats and cholesterol to prevent blocked arteries. The heart depends on it's own blood supply, the coronary arteries to feed the heart muscle itself with oxygen rich blood. The impression is that the arteries which feed the heart become clogged with cholesterol like debris. Lowering cholesterol and trans fats definitely helps your heart but the picture is more complicated than the doctor may tell you.

WHAT CAUSES A BLOCKED ARTERY IN THE HEART?

As Jane Brody pointed out in a recent NY Times column "Most heart attacks do not occur because an artery is closed by a large plaque. Rather, a relatively small, unstable plaque ruptures( something called a fibrous cap breaks off) and attracts inflammatory cells and coagulating(clotting) agents,leading to an artery blocking clot."

WHAT IS A PLAQUE IN A HEART ARTERY?

A plaque in the blood vessel is a complex of cholesterol and various cells and other chemicals that builds up in the wall of the blood vessel. As Brody points out "most Americans of middle age and older have small plaques ubiquitous in coronary arteries." Actually evidence has been accumulating for years that the reason for many blockages is that cholesterol is deposited in the lining of the artery and triggers an inflammatory cascade in the lining of the artery. That inflammation builds up in the lining and is covered by a cap. When that cap breaks, the contents beneath the cap, cause a blood clot to form in the blood that is passing by in the lumen of the artery and voila it's a blockage.

WHY DO DOCTORS RECOMMEND ASPIRIN TO PREVENT A HEART ATTACK? HOW DOES ASPIRIN WORK?

Most doctors recommend aspirin to lower the chance of a heart attack. Thus, you see the so called low dose 81mg aspirin sold at drug stores "for the heart." How does aspirin work to lower the risk of a heart attack? They don't know but it may be because aspirin interferes with the formation of blood clots or because it an an anti inflammatory agent and lowers inflammation.

As Dr. Peter Libby points out "sometimes a plaque grows so large that it virtually halts the blood flow in an artery and generates a heart attack or stroke. (he means a stroke caused by a blockage, a thrombotic stroke, but there's also another kind called a hemorrhagic stroke which is due to bleeding) Yet only 15% of heart attacks happen in this way. By carefully examining vessel walls of people who died from heart attacks, pathologists have demonstrated that most attacks occur after a plaque's fibrous cap breaks open" attracting a blood clot that leads to the blockage of the artery. See the fascinating and instructive article by Dr. Libby Atherosclerosis The New View.

Aspirin in Heart Attack Prevention

Brody Coronary Care

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR WITH DIABETES TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO DIABETES HOW DO THEY TREAT DIABETES WITH MEDICINE AND INSULIN

2009-01-04T18:58:00.030-06:00

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR WITH DIABETES TYPE ONE AND TYPE TWO DIABETES HOW DO THEY TREAT DIABETES WITH MEDICINE AND INSULIN

How Do They Treat Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes? What is the Difference in Medications?

Most people with Diabetes have Type 2. It tends to happen in middle age and is often treated with drugs and not insulin although insulin may also be added to the treatment. In Diabetes the fundamental problem is with how glucose (sugar) is handled in the body. Type 2 Diabetes is sensitive to weight loss. That is, if you lose some weight by dieting you have a good chance to get better control of your diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes seems to be due to "insulin resistance". This means that even if your body's pancreas is producing enough insulin the insulin doesn't seem to have the desired effect in sugar control. Type 1 Diabetes is less common, tends to appear earlier and needs insulin.

What Did the American Diabetes Association Recommend for Treating Type 2 Diabetes?

The Diabetes Association thinks that lifestyle changes, like weight loss and watching what you eat along with certain diabetes drugs like the so called sulfonylureas and metformin along with insulin should be used for type 2 Diabetes.

What are Examples of the Sulfonylurea Drugs in Diabetes?

Glipizide and Glyburide are examples of the diabetes drugs called sulfonylureas. They tend to be started by doctors if dietary modification isn't doing the trick.

What Four Parts of the Body Organ Systems Need to Be Watched With Special Care in People with Diabetes?

The Heart, the Kidneys, the Eyes and the Feet all need special attention in people with Diabetes. People with Diabetes are often started on the so called low dose aspirin to lower the chance of a heart attack. Similarly, the doctor often checks the urine for something called proteinuria, protein the urine as a sign of potential kidney problem and may start the person with diabetes on a certain blood pressure pill called an ace inhibitor. Also diabetes can make the nerves in the feet less sensitive. Frequent checks of the feet especially the bottom surfaces is a good idea.So are eye exams for changes in the back of the eye.

Video Proper Shoes for People with Diabetes Not Simple Feat

WHY BEING A WOMAN OR WORSE A WOMAN WHO LIKES TO SKI CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR KNEE HEALTH WOMEN AND THE ACL

2008-12-27T18:52:00.048-06:00

WHY BEING A WOMAN OR WORSE A WOMAN WHO LIKES TO SKI CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR KNEE HEALTH WOMEN AND THE ACL

What is an Anterior Cruciate Ligament and How do You Tear it Anyway?..If You Ski or Play Football You May Already Know the Answer

If you are a woman than your knee is at increased risk of injury and if you are a woman skier than I sure hope your health insurance is current. At least that's the impression I get from the literature about the infamous anterior cruciate ligament knee tear. The knee is one complicated joint. Apparently the knee is even more complicated in women since they seem to get more anterior cruciate ligament tears than men. It's unclear why women suffer ACL tears more often than men. Some experts think the female anatomy may leave women more vulnerable. Others say the female hormone estrogen may weaken the ligaments.

I saw a newspaper article that claimed that the most common serious injury in skiing is a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament. But wait a second... What's a ligament? And what the heck is an anterior cruciate ligament? A ligament is a band of tissue that helps holds bones together or connected at a joint. The knee joint is packed with various ligaments and cartilage shock absorbers called menisici or meniscus for singular. There are knee ligaments as well as knee menisici. The ligaments bands help to stabilize the knee. The anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments criss cross the knee joint. That's why they are called cruciate. For the knee to operate properly the ligaments and the menisci need to be intact.

Why does Twisting Tear the Anterior Cruciate Ligament?

Twisting of the knee that typically causes an ACL injury happens in skiing as well as football, basketball and soccer. "A football player, for example, might twist his knee running in a zigzag pattern or have it hyper extended during a tackle". In basketball, for example, a would be Michael Jordan might plant his/her foot and then quickly change direction, turning the knee too far.

As I said, anterior cruciate ligament tears are a frequent knee injury especially in sports. "Orthopedists at leading medical centers estimate that several thousand children and young adolescents are getting A.C.L. tears each year, with the number being diagnosed soaring recently. Some centers that used to see only a few such cases a year are now seeing several each week".

"As many as eight times more girls than boys are suffering the acl tears, doctors report. In fact there have been reports that women who play sports are more susceptible to anterior cruciate ligament knee injuries". Twisting motions can cause a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament, scenarios such as when the foot is firmly planted in the ground and the knee is pointed in another direction.

Why are ACL Tears in Skiing Going Up and What May Help.. A New Device

According to a study even though skiing is getting safer overall, "ACL tears soared by 103 percent from 1972 and 2006"." The focal point in ski safety is the ACL "and "not surprisingly a lot of people have tried to solve the problem...Others have tried to combat the anterior cruciate ligament problem by redesigning the ski binding...A new device called the KneeBinding was shipped to certain ski stores..This binding sense and reacts to the signature load that occurs just before the ACL tears, said Rick Howell, a former college ski racer who invented the KneeBinding."

Avoiding the Dreaded Knee Pop

CARDIOLOGIST STUDIES SUGGEST FUNNY MOVIES FOR THE HEART MAY BE NO JOKE

2008-12-22T16:58:00.039-06:00

CARDIOLOGIST STUDIES SUGGEST FUNNY MOVIES FOR THE HEART MAY BE NO JOKE

What Does Monty Python Have to do with the Heart?

A Video about Heart Health

I went to a cardiologist yesterday and he told me to go watch the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off or Monthy Python... Actually that didn't happen but it could have. Watching a funny movie could be good for your heart. "Laughing may be important to maintain a healthy endothelium, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease,” says principal investigator Michael Miller, M.D., director of preventive cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center". Using laughter-provoking movies to gauge the effect of emotions on cardiovascular health, researchers at the school suggest that laughter is linked to healthy function of blood vessels. The endothelium is the inner lining of the blood vessels. You may not know it but the blood vessels can dilate (become wider). One of the signs of good cardiovascular function is the flexibility of the blood vessels to dilate. Interestingly, drugs like Viagra improve the dilation qualities of blood vessels. That is how it was discovered when scientists were looking for new heart medicines. Too much dilation can cause low blood pressure and thus the warnings about these drugs in some people, but I digress.

Here is a video about the heart from the same doctor in the laughter and heart study Click the arrow

What is the Connection Between the Inner Lining of the Blood Vessels and the Heart?

“The endothelium is the first line in the development of atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries, so, given the results of our study, it is conceivable that "laughing may be important to maintain a healthy endothelium, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease,” says principal investigator Michael Miller, M.D., director of preventive cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center and associate professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine".

Anyway, "When the same group of study volunteers was shown a movie that produced mental stress,(in this case Saving Private Ryan) their blood vessel lining developed a potentially unhealthy response called vasoconstriction (blood vessels getting narrower, opposite of dilation), reducing blood flow... The study included a group of 20 non-smoking, healthy volunteers, equally divided between men and women, whose average age was 33. The participants had normal blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose levels. Each volunteer was shown part of two movies at the extreme ends of the emotional spectrum. They were randomized to first watch either a movie that would cause mental stress, such as the opening scene of “Saving Private Ryan” (DreamWorks, 1998), or a segment of a movie that would cause laughter, such as “King Pin” (MGM, 1996). A minimum of 48 hours later, they were shown a movie intended to produce the opposite emotional extreme... That finding confirms previous studies, which suggested there was a link between mental stress and the narrowing of blood vessels".

"The endothelium has a powerful effect on blood vessel tone and regulates blood flow, adjusts coagulation and blood thickening, and secretes chemicals and other substances in response to wounds, infections or irritation. It also plays an important role in the development of cardiovascular disease".

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE STUDY SHOWS LAUGHTER HELPS BLOOD VESSELS FUNCTION BETTER

SHOULD I GET HEART SCAN IT DEPENDS WHICH CARDIOLOGIST YOU ASK

2008-12-10T20:46:00.037-06:00

SHOULD I GET HEART SCAN IT DEPENDS WHICH CARDIOLOGIST YOU ASK

Should I get a heart scan? That's the question many people ask faced with a barrage of advertisements touting the benefits of a heart scan. Now a new study in the New England Journal has poured fuel on the flames of controversy. You know the ads that go something like "My name is Joe Smith and I didn't know anything was wrong but my wife convinced me to get a heart scan and they found out I had blocked arteries". Previously I wrote in Purple Medical Blog that Medicare had decided to continue to pay for a non invasive test for heart problems called a CT heart scan or ultra fast CT or electron beam CT scan for calcium in the arteries (blood vessels) of people who have symptoms of heart disease.

Video Heart Scan CT Click the Arrow

Heart scans, heart CT scans or electron beam CT test are touted as a non invasive way to look for heart disease and chances of a heart attack. It's not a simple decision even for doctors. It's a common problem in medicine where the old conservatism of many doctors meets science and the profit motive. Doctors would like to find a non invasive test (that is where you don't stick things inside the person) to detect and predict heart disease and who is going to have a heart attack. But do you need an invasive and potentially dangerous angiogram to do it or is there an easier way? Now a new study in the New England Journal has poured fuel on the flames of controversy.

Coronary arteries are the blood vessels that supply the heart itself. If a coronary artery is blocked so that blood doesn't flow to a part of the heart it causes a heart attack. One of the most informative heart tests to look for blocked coronary arteries in the heart is a coronary angiogram. But a coronary angiogram involves inserting a catheter into the blood vessels and has some risks. Generally an angiogram is recommended when there are indications of blocked heart arteries. So for example, when David Letterman had chest pains his doctors wanted him to get an angiogram to look for blockage. A non invasive test for coronary artery blockage would encourage more people to get tested.

Writing about the NEJ study, the NY Times writes there is "a deep rift among heart specialists over the use of the 64 slice or CT angiography which produces mesmerizing 3-D images of the heart and blood vessels". In the NE Journal Study "researchers assessed the accuracy of Ct angiography in identifying blockages of 50 percent or greater in patient's arteries". "Slightly more than half of the patients had obstructive coronary artery disease (blockage)and the CT heart scans were almost as accurate as conventional angiography in diagnosing the blockages".

So what does this mean? Well, like almost everything in medicine, it depends who you ask. According to Dr. Redberg, "the study had failed to address the most important questions about CT scans: whether they improve patient outcomes". Also the CT scan misclassifed the severity of disease in 13 percent of patients she pointed out". On the other hand, Dr. Lima of Johns Hopkins "suggested that Ct angiography could be a good screening test for patients not known to have heart disease who develop sudden chest pain".

Medicare Will Still Pay for Heart Scan

Cardiologists Debate Expensive Heart Scan

Diagnostic Performance of Coronary Angiography by 64 Row CT

VIDEOS ABOUT DIAGNOSTIC AND SCREENING TESTS FOR BREAST CANCER MAMMOGRAMS MRI AND VITAMIN D

2008-12-01T10:28:00.018-06:00

VIDEOS ABOUT DIAGNOSTIC AND SCREENING TESTS FOR BREAST CANCER MAMMOGRAMS MRI AND VITAMIN D

There is a lot of research, discussion and study of breast cancer. Is there a connection between nutrition and breast cancer? What is the difference between a diagnostic and screening mammogram? And what about an MRI for breast cancer? Are there any new tests that detect breast cancer earlier? It's confusing even for doctors as you can see by these posts from Purple Medical Blog.
For example, how about a so called "pap smear for breast cancer"?

Pap Smear Like Test for Breast Cancer And recently I wrote about a spitting test for a genetic propensity for breast cancer.

Scientists Get Jewish Women to Spit in Breast Cancer Study
And the story of Christina Applegate highlighted the role of MRI in breast cancer.

Christina Applegate and MRI and Screening for Breast Cancer
And more....

How to Do a Breast Self Exam and Why It Matters

Low Vitamin D Study of Possible Connection with Breast Cancer

Whats the Difference Between a Diagnostic and Screening Mammogram

POCKET DIGITAL CAMERA THAT COULD BE USEFUL IN SCIENCE AND MEDICINE THE SONY DSC W120 IS NO SLOUCH WHEN IT COMES TO LOW LIGHT AND BURST MODE

2008-11-28T12:20:00.038-06:00

POCKET DIGITAL CAMERA THAT COULD BE USEFUL IN SCIENCE AND MEDICINE THE SONY DSC W120 IS NO SLOUCH WHEN IT COMES TO LOW LIGHT AND BURST MODE

O.k I admit it. My inner geek is showing. If you look at the posts here on Purple Medical Blog you may have noticed several discussions about digital cameras and high definition camcorders. Digital cameras are super useful in medicine and science and frankly,they are just plain cool. Doctor or not, many times you just wish you had a camera with you to catch a great shot. Many things in science and medicine (and sports) happen in the blink of an eye. Previously I wrote about the Casio FH 20, a digital camera that can take an amazing 40 shots in one second. In my never ending quest for digital cameras that could be useful in science and medicine I have discovered a 7 megapixel pocket camera, the Sony DSC W120 that seems to be on sale at every office supply and big box retailer. You know that old saying don't judge a book by it's cover? Well I guess in this instance don't judge a camera by it's housing. This little camera packs a lot of wallop for it's size. Just for the record I don't have any ties with Sony or any other company for that matter.

The first thing that struck me about the Sony W120 was the low light ability. That is the ability to get a good picture even in low light or at night without a flash. The Fuji f31d was a pocket camera a few years back that had it's own fan club because of it's legendary low light ability. I didn't see it but this Sony W120 has got to be a contender. Usually in most cameras, to get good pictures in low light you hike up the ISO setting. But as the ISO goes up so does the noise in the picture. The W120 seems to do a good job at least up to ISO 800.

Another thing that surprised me was that this little camera had a burst mode that could take full 7 megapixel pictures at a fairly rapid pace and keep it up. If a camera has a burst mode at all,it usually involves a trade off of speed of pictures taken with size of picture. More pictures equal less size. But the W120 can take 7 megapixel shots at a fairly decent continuous rate. We aren't talking frames per second but maybe 1 to 1 and a 1/2 frames per second.

It has the obligatory face detection feature and another even more geek attractive feature, whose use in medicine I am not sure about, called the the smile shutter. You can guess from the name, this camera will "watch" your subject and snap a picture when they smile. It works! (some of the time).

Previously I wrote about the Casio FH 20,(not a pocket camera) a digital camera that can take an amazing 40 shots in one second. Many things in science and medicine happen in the blink of an eye. This camera can record them.

Video Review of the Casio FH 20 High Speed Burst Mode Camera

WATCH THESE VIDEOS ABOUT ANOTHER WAY TO SCREEN FOR BREAST CANCER ANALOGOUS TO A PAP SMEAR IN ADDITION TO MAMMOGRAM MRI AND ULTRASOUND

2008-11-24T12:30:00.017-06:00

WATCH THESE VIDEOS ABOUT ANOTHER WAY TO SCREEN FOR BREAST CANCER ANALOGOUS TO A PAP SMEAR IN ADDITION TO MAMMOGRAM MRI AND ULTRASOUND

For women, breast cancer is still among the scariest two words in the English language.(By the way, men can get it too) I have seen women patients who told me they had breast cancer 20 years ago and are doing fine and others who didn't do so well. Scientists and doctors continue to search feverishly for new ways to diagnose and treat breast cancer. I have been reading and watching videos about a relatively new screening test for breast cancer. Different than a mammogram or ultrasound it gets a sample of cells in the breast fluid.It sounds like it might be unpleasant,but apparently it's not. This breast cell sample is analogous to a Pap smear in a woman. According to the video, Dr. Papanicolau (inventor of the Pap Test) is the one who suggested that breast fluid could be analyzed for atypical (cells that are different). In a pap smear a sample looking for different cells is taken from the cervix, the entrance to the womb. The Halo Breast Test takes a sample from the breast fluid. It was approved by the FDA in 2005 but has been in the news lately with mentions on the Rachel Ray Show and in newspapers. You can read about the Halo Breast test here and see the videos explaining how Halo breast test works.

Video About Halo Breast Cytology Test for Breast CancerClick the Arrow

A recent TV health reporter was asked "What was the name of the new breast cancer screening technique that was mentioned during the 5 p.m. news? The test costs approximately $75 and was said to be highly effective in detecting breast problems well in advance of a regular mammogram".

"ANSWER: The device is called the Halo Breast Pap Test. I decided to consult further with one of our 10 On Your Side Health experts about whether it was worth making a trip several hours away to go through the diagnostic exam. Dr. Bill Fintel with Blue Ridge Cancer Care says, “It is new and exciting technology to be sure, and using modern molecular examination, even better than the light microscope used in PAP smears. But, there are many questions."

Video About Halo Breast Cytology Test for Breast CancerClick the Arrow

ASK KAREN: Is breast screen a good idea?

Paper about the Halo test

purple medical blog

HONEY WE SHRUNK THE WOUND AND OR BURN USING MEDICAL HONEY FOR HEALING IM NOT KIDDING

HONEY WE SHRUNK THE BURN AND OR WOUND HEALING BURNS AND WOUNDS WITH HONEY IM NOT KIDDING

VIDEO ABOUT NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE STUDY AS REPORT Of DANGER EATING RED MEAT HOGS HEADLINES AND MOO AND OINK TAKE ANOTHER HIT IN THE BATTLE OF FOO

VIDEO ABOUT NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE STUDY AS REPORT OF DANGER EATING RED MEAT HOGS HEADLINES AND MOO AND OINK TAKE ANOTHER HIT IN THE BATTLE OF FOOD HEART DISEASE AND CANCER

A STUDY OF RED AND PROCESSED MEAT INTAKE IN RELATION TO CANCER RISK AMPLIFIES CONCERNS ABOUT CANCER AND EATING TOO MUCH RED MEAT AND PROCESSED MEAT

Too Much of A Good Thing A Thumbs Down to Too Much Processed Meats Bacon, Pastrami and Salami, as well as Hot Dogs and Sausages

MORE VIDEO EXPLAINING CANON SONY DSC HX1 DIGITAL CAMERA WITH HIGH SPEED CONTINUOUS PHOTO SHOOTING

MORE VIDEO EXPLAINING CANON SONY DSC HX1 DIGITAL CAMERA WITH HIGH SPEED CONTINUOUS PHOTO SHOOTING

A PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGIST CHILDRENS CANCER DOCTOR OPINION ABOUT OBAMA STEM CELL PLAN

A PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGIST CHILDRENS CANCER DOCTOR OPINION ABOUT OBAMA STEM CELL PLAN

REMEMBER HOW EVERYBODY WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A FLYING CAR IN THE FUTURE..ITS HERE THE FLYING CAR COMES TO EARTH

REMEMBER HOW EVERYBODY WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE A FLYING CAR IN THE FUTURE..ITS HERE THE FLYING CAR COMES TO EARTH

AN UPDATED REPORT 2009 ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH THE MEDTRONIC SPRINT FIDELIS IMPLANTABLE DEFIBRILLATOR AND A VIDEO UPDATE WHAT IS IT

AN UPDATED REPORT 2009 ABOUTPROBLEMS WITH THE MEDTRONIC SPRINT FIDELIS IMPLANTABLE DEFIBRILLATOR AND A VIDEO UPDATE WHAT IS IT

Watch a Video About Medtronic Implantable Defibrillator

STUDY SUGGESTS THAT DOCTORS MAY BE CLOSER TO GOAL LINE IN OVARIAN CANCER EARLY DETECTION CHALLENGE AND A VIDEO ABOUT OVARIAN CA

STUDY SUGGESTS THAT DOCTORS MAY BE CLOSER TO GOAL LINE IN OVARIAN CANCER EARLY DETECTION CHALLENGE AND A VIDEO ABOUT OVARIAN CA

EDISON AND EINSTEIN DID IT YOU CAN TOO A VIDEO ABOUT HOW TO DO VISUAL THINKING DRAWING AND THE MIND

EDISON AND EINSTEIN DID IT YOU CAN TOO A VIDEO ABOUT HOW TO DO VISUAL THINKING DRAWING AND THE MIND

CANON SX1 IS VERSUS SONY DSC HX1 DIGITAL CAMERA THAT DOESNT NEED TO CATCH ITS BREATH A POINT AND SHOOT CAMERA WITH HIGH SPEED CONTINUOUS PHOTO SHOOTIN

CANON SX1 IS VERSUS SONY DSC HX1 DIGITAL CAMERA THAT DOESNT NEED TO CATCH ITS BREATH A POINT AND SHOOT CAMERA WITH HIGH SPEED CONTINUOUS PHOTO SHOOTING

CAMERA THAT DOESNT NEED TO CATCH ITS BREATH A POINT AND SHOOT CAMERA WITH HIGH SPEED CONTINUOUS PHOTO SHOOTING THE CANON SX1 IS JOINS THE CASIO EX FH

CAMERA THAT DOESNT NEED TO CATCH ITS BREATH A POINT AND SHOOT CAMERA WITH HIGH SPEED CONTINUOUS PHOTO SHOOTING THE CANON SX1 IS JOINS THE CASIO EX FH 20

Looking for a camera useful in science and sports that can take many photos in succession without a big pause

IS NEW BACTERIA KILLING SUPER WATER 10 TIMES MORE EFFECTIVE THAN BLEACH HARD TO BELIEVE COULD ELECTROLYZED WATER BE SUPER GERM KILLER SLAYER OF E COLI

NO URBAN LEGEND NEW BACTERIA KILLING SUPER WATER 10 TIMES MORE EFFECTIVE THAN BLEACH HARD TO BELIEVE COULD ELECTROLYZED WATER BE SUPER GERM KILLER SLAYER OF E COLI AND SALMONELLA

BACTERICIDAL SUPER WATER BEING ROLLED OUT TO SLAY GERMS WATCH VIDEO EXAMPLE OF USES OF ELECTROLYZED WATER

DO MUSICIANS USE BETA BLOCKERS FOR PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT BETA BLOCKER BLOOD PRESSURE MEDS ANXIETY AND SCARY THOUGHTS A VIDEO ON BETA CONTROVERSY

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WATCH THESE VIDEOS ABOUT ANOTHER WAY TO SCREEN FOR BREAST CANCER ANALOGOUS TO A PAP SMEAR IN ADDITION TO MAMMOGRAM MRI AND ULTRASOUND