Worlds First Double Leg Transplant

Spanish surgeons perform the world’s first double leg transplant…

Spanish surgeons at the Le Fe Hospital, Valencia, have successfully performed the world’s first double leg transplant. Should the patient’s body accept the donor legs, doctors hope the man could be walking again within 6 months.

The 14 hour operation was lead by Pedro Cavadas, the surgeon who performed Spain’s first face transplant and several arm transplants.

The patient, who lost is legs in a traffic accident and faced life in a wheelchair because prosthetic limbs proved unsuitable, is already out of intensive care and was said to have cried tears of joy when he awoke.

The man and his donor remain unmanned.

Doctors are now waiting to see if the nerves in his legs will grow, and estimate that if the legs are not rejected, the patient should be able to move his knees within one month, stand unaided in swimming poll within two, and hopefully walk again within six.

However, even if nerves begin to grow, there is a long road ahead. Undergoing transplants of such a nature can have a great impact on the patient psychologically.
The first person to receive a new hand in 1998, New Zealander Clint Hallam, opted to have it removed three years later saying it was unsightly and he felt mentally detached from it.

There’s also concern as to whether the new legs will even be able to support his bodyweight.

Nadey Hakim, who performed the world’s first hand and double hand transplants explained that transplanted arms only regain about 50 percent of their original function and strength.

Smartphone Embedded In Prosthetic Limb

British man has smartphone embedded in his prosthetic limb…

A British man has become the world’s first person to have a smart phone embedded in his prosthetic limb.

Trevor Prideaux was born without his left forearm and has worn an artificial limb since he was three years old. Despite coping well with his disability, Prideaux, now 50, became feed up of balancing his smartphone on his prosthetic limb or on a flat surface, and decided to do something about it.

Smartphone Embedded In Prosthetic Limb

He approached Apple, hoping to get an iPhone casing for testing however Cupertino declined his proposal. The idea went on the back burner until he visited his local Nokia shop for an upgrade. Nokia took on his idea, and with help from the Exeter Mobility Center in Devon, UK, the team carefully carved out a dock in Prideaux’s fiberglass and laminate limb, and embedded a Nokia C7 smartphone.

Now, Prideaux can easily press the buttons using his one hand and take calls by holding his prosthetic limb up to his ear.

Although the upgrade to his prosthetic is far from the cyborg concepts of science ficition, it does open plethora of options for the future of prosthetic limbs; think accelerometers and motions sensors used to track health and fitness; or extra storage for digital data or batteries; additional displays or speakers; the possibilities are endless.

AeroShot Caffeine Inhaler

Nicotine addicts can now get their fix from a tasteless caffeine inhaler…

New studies that show the health benefits of caffeinekeep popping up, but whilst some researchers are working to change the bad reputation it has gained over the ages, no-one really seems to be changing the way we consume this lightly stimulating drug, all except the makers of AeroShot – the caffeine dispensing inhaler.

Each cartridge – which contains a small amount of vitamin B and 100 milligrams of caffeine – provides the same amount of caffeine as a large cup of coffee, without staining the teeth or causing bad breath.

And unlike caffeine energy drinks, AeroShot cartridges do not contain any sugar or calories, and it has no discernible flavor, according to the company.

The AeroShot was developed by Harvard professor David Edwards and Tom Hadfield, who founded a company called Breathable Foods specifically to market the device.

Aeroshot will go on sale in New York and Boston in the next couple of months.

Cuban Lung Cancer Drug Keeps Patients Alive

A new treatment for lung cancer is proving so successful it’s being hailed as a lung cancer vaccine…

A new anti-lung cancer drug developed in Cuba is being hailed as a ‘vaccine’ for the fatal disease that kills almost 1.5 million people every year.

Although the new drug is not a true vaccine – it does not actually prevent cancer – it has been shown to greatly reduce the symptoms enough to make the disease much more manageable.

New Treatment For Lung Cancer Shows Promise

The drug known as CimaVax-EGF, works by targeting the specific proteins responsible for the proliferation of cancer. By generating antibodies to combat these proteins, the CimaVax-EGF effectively limits the damage the cancer can cause.

Unfortunately the drug does not make the patient feel 100 percent better but it has been shown to keep them alive, even those diagnosed with stage 3 and 4 cancer who have not responded to other types of treatment.

CimaVax-EGF is the result of a 25 year project at Havana’s Center for Molecular Immunology, and has already been tested in over 1000 clinical trials, with much success. So much so that the drug is already being used in conjunction with chemo and radiotherapy, and is available free of charge to all hospitals on the island.

The drug is still undergoing trials, however if it proves successful, CimaVax-EGF could turn the fatal killer into a more manageable chronic disease.

Dental Bone Graft Surgery in Costa Rica

Dental bone graft surgery in Costa Rica allows medical tourists to access its world class dental clinics and hospitals equipped with the latest medical instrumentation.

Bone grafting involves replacement of a missing bone in order to repair complex fractures which fail to heal properly. The exorbitant cost of dental and other medical treatments surgery in countries such as the US and Canada has given rise to medical tourism in Costa Rica. As per the World Health Organization’s global healthcare systems rankings released in the World Health Report 2000, Costa Rica’s healthcare system is higher than that of the US and New Zealand.

The popularity of Costa Rica as a medical tourism destination can be gauged from a report by Devon M Herrick called “Medical Tourism: Global Competition in Health Care (2007)” published on the website of the National Center for Policy Analysis, according to which the country received as many as 150,000 medical tourists in 2006.

Benefits of Dental Bone Grafting Procedure in Costa Rica

Here are some of the upsides of going for dental bone graft surgery in Costa Rica:
• There are a number of good, state-of-the-art hospitals and clinics in Costa Rica.

• Reputed medical centers in Costa Rica strictly abide by high standards of hygiene and quality. It is advisable that one be meticulous in his/her research on hospitals/dental clinics in Costa Rica and choose only those which have high patient satisfaction rates and good testimonials.

• Dentists and doctors in Costa Rica are highly skilled and a dedicated lot. Many of the board-certified dentists in Costa Rica complete their education from the reputable American universities.

• The paramedical staff and nurses are extremely caring and helpful and do their best to make the stay as comfortable as possible.

• Also, language is no barrier as most of the hospital staff is well versed in both Spanish and English.

• Cost of periodontal bone graft surgery in Costa Rica falls to a fraction of what it otherwise costs in the developed countries and going on a dental vacation to Costa Rica gives patients the opportunity to experience the culture of this beautiful Latin American country. In fact, people from the industrialized nations can save as much as 30-40% of the cost if they undergo bone graft surgery in Costa Rica.

• Medical practitioners in Costa Rica carry medical liability at all times, giving the patients the protection from malpractice.

• Its close proximity to the US and Canada ensures that medical tourists can easily avail the medical facilities in Costa Rica with minimal time in transit.

Traveling to Costa Rica for Dental Bone Graft Surgery

• US and Canadian citizens with a valid passport and prepaid return ticket can stay for up to 90 days in the country without any visa.

• If there is need for a longer stay, a request for an extension may be submitted to the Department of Immigration.

• Costa Rica is very strict with regards to overstaying visitors and may deny visas to people with previous overstaying history.
• All the necessary documentation required for a visit outside the country must be carried by the medical tourists.

Trip to Costa Rica for Dental Bone Grafting

In a typical scenario, tourists stay in the country for 7-10 days following their surgery, enough to recuperate from the procedure. Patients visiting Costa Rica for dental bone grafting procedures can combine their surgery with a vacation. The major tourist spots in the country are:
• Tortuguero National Park – This picturesque park on the Caribbean coast is home to a number of endangered species and is a must visit for nature lovers.

• San Jose – The capital city of Costa Rica offers something to suit every palate from the Museum of Contemporary Art to the Orchestra.

• Jaco – The sleepy town of Jaco has been transformed into a haven of beach parties and nightclubs.

• Santa Theresa- The hippy backpackers’ town of Santa Theresa is an easy place to relax and recuperate following medical treatment.

Costa Rica is also famous for adventure tourism. White water rafting, jungle canopy safaris, bungee jumping and SCUBA diving are extremely popular among the visitors.

Costa Rican Culture and Cuisine

• Costa Rica is known worldwide as a popular eco tourism destination.

• Its stunning scenery, ideal climate, friendly locals, and state-of-the-art medical infrastructure have made it a major medical tourism hub.

• Bone graft surgery in Costa Rica allows medical tourists to sample the delicious cuisine and enjoy its rich heritage.

• Costa Rican food is a blend of Native American, Spanish and African cuisines. Dishes like the tamale are typical of the region.

• “Pura Vida” which roughly translates to a pure life, reflects the Costa Rican way of life.

Tips for Dental Tourists in Costa Rica

• The ideal time to visit Costa Rica for dental bone graft surgery is from November to March or June to August when the weather is pleasant and sunny.

• Although Costa Rica is a relatively safe country, tourists must take adequate precautions to ensure that their stay is as uneventful as possible.

• In downtown San Jose, foreigners must take special care of their valuables especially in crowded places.

• Recreational drugs are illegal in the country.

• Tourists need not spend money on buying drinking water as the water is generally clean and hygienic.

Dental tourism in Costa Rica is on the rise. And going for dental bone graft surgery in Costa Rica will not only help patients save cost but also give them the much needed holiday to feel rejuvenated and fresh.

Sleep Apnea Leads To Increased Risk Of Death

A major study conducted over a decade has concluded that sleep apnea raises the risk of premature death in middle-aged and older men...

A new study has concluded that middle-aged and elderly man with sleep apnea, are at almost double the risk of dying from chronic diseases. Even patients with a moderate sleep apnea face a 17 percent increased risk of premature death, when compared with those who do not have sleep disordered breathing problems.

Lead author of the study, Dr. Naresh Punjabi, an associate professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, said:

“The primary finding of our study is that sleep apnea can increase the risk of death by about 40 percent, even after other factors have been accounted for…

“Our study also shows that it is the decrease in oxygen levels during sleep from sleep apnea that explains the increased risk of death,”

The decade-long U.S. study found that men with sleep apnea between the ages of 40 and 70 are particularly at risk of death from many ailments, especially cardiovascular disease.

Sleep apnea is a common, chronic condition that affects around one in four men and about one in 10 women. If left untreated, it can lead to excessive sleepiness and difficulties with alertness, this often leads to an increased risk for driving accidents and other activities.

For their study, the research team at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center focused on more than 6,400 men and women between 40 and 70 years old. Each participant had mild to severe sleep apnea, and many described themselves as snorers – a prime symptom of sleep apnea.

The team then collected almost 10,000 in-depth reports on the participants breathing patterns, heart rhythms and brain activity during sleep. After determining that about half the patients had moderate to severe sleep apnea, the researchers went on to track the incidence of sickness or death from high blood pressure, heart disease and/or stroke.

Over the full course of the study, 587 men and 460 women died. Comparing the deaths against the sleep pattern recordings, the team found that just 11 minutes of severe sleep apnea – during which blood oxygen levels dipped to below 90 percent of normal – appeared to roughly double the risk of death among men.

The small number of women with severe sleep apnea who died during the study ruled out similar conclusions about women.

Nonetheless, Punjabi and his colleagues stressed that the findings were alarming enough to warrant diligent physician attention to patient sleeping habits, in order to quickly intervene:

“With such mounting evidence indicating the range of clinical effects of sleep apnea, awareness amongst health care professionals and the general community needs to increase,”

Losing weight sometimes reduces sleep apnea, but for severe sleep disorders, patients must use a device that utilizes ‘continuous positive airway pressure’ (CPAP) – a technique in which are is forced into the nasal passageways, via a face mask, in order to stop the airways collapsing.

People with clinical symptoms of sleep apnea, which include loud snoring, sleepiness during the day and fatigue, should discuss their symptoms with a physician, Punjabi advised:

“Effective therapy for sleep apnea can improve such symptoms and lead to a better quality of life,”

Jim Cappuccino, a 49-year-old sleep apnea patient living in the Baltimore suburbs who was part of Punjabi’s study, agreed.

Cappuccino, the owner of a surgical equipment and medical device sales company, knew he had high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes before enrolling in the study.

Although he can trace the onset of sleep apnea difficulties, such as disruptive snoring and breathing pauses, back to his mid-30′s, it was only when he enrolled in
the study that he was finally diagnosed with sleep apnea, he said:

“When you’re in that career mode, and you’re on the go-go-go, you put your health issues on the back burner…

“But as I got older, I realized that this is probably something that I should have addressed years ago. I was shocked by the correlation between sleep apnea and heart disease and diabetes, and actually even death, but getting tested and diagnosed and treated has made all the difference. It’s actually allowed me to wake up not feeling tired, which hasn’t been the norm for me for a few years…

“So the only thing I can say, is people who feel that they are having trouble should get tested, because sleep apnea is going to deteriorate your system and lead to many other health problems.”

Sony Subtitle Glasses

Sony want to help the deaf and hard of hearing enjoy more trips to the movie theaters…

When it comes to watching movies, nothing beats the traditional cinema experience, but for the deaf and hard of hearing, and outing to movie theater is nothing but awkward. Although many movie theaters do show films with subtitles, they often come days, sometimes weeks after the official release of the movie, and when they do hit the theaters, the films are often shown at unsociable hours.

Considering 1 in six people suffer from some kind of hearing disability, that’s a rather substantial amount of the public who are missing out.

Sony Subtitle Glasses

Sony aims to solve that problem with its subtitle glasses. The glasses – which look a whole lot more comfortable than the standard 3D glasses issued by most movie theaters – superimpose the closed captions (or subtitles) on the lenses, in a way that makes it appear as though they were actually being projected on the big screen.

No word on when the glasses will hit the States, but Sony says it hopes to have the glasses in UK cinemas sometime next year.

New Breakthrough Lung Cancer Treatment

New surgical treatment for lung cancer shows promise…

French doctors have pioneered a new treatment for lung cancer that does not require the removal of a patient’s lung. The new procedure, developed by a medical team at the Bobigny Hospital, Paris, involves removing the growth, then implanting an artificial bronchus – supported by a metal scaffold – to aid the patient’s breathing.

The bronchus is constructed from the patient’s aorta – the largest artery in the body – eliminating the need for the patient to take anti-rejection drugs, which are known to react with cancer treatments.

French doctors pioneer new lung cancer treatment

Image Credit: BBC, 2011.

The life-saving surgery to remove a serious tumor in the center of the patient’s lung was performed in October , and while a third of all patients suffering from the later stages on lung cancer typically died within a year, 78 year-old Parisian is said to be doing well 16 months after the treatment.

Although the treatment has been under developmemt for the last ten years, doctors waited until now to release their findings to see how their first patient reacted and recovered.

The medical team says that the procedure allows for a greater margin of safety and hopes the success of its technique will lead to more life-saving operations.

E-Cigarettes To Be Regulated As Tobacco Products

FDA decides not appeal Federal Courts decisions to regulate e-cigarettes as tobacco, not medical products…

A Federal Court suit has ruled that electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, will not be regulated by the same strict rules that apply to medical products; instead the nicotine dispensing devices will be overseen by the same rules as tobacco products.

The FDA, an agency that wants e-cigarettes to regulated as medical devices, has announce that it will not appeal the decision – a move that spells victory for the manufacturers and distributors of electronic cigarettes.

The court ruling at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, concluded that e-cigarettes “are not drugs or devices” can could be treated as normal tobacco products as long as they are not marketed as a therapeutic device, or a way to quit smoking.

E-Cigarettes To Be Regulated As TObacco Products

Image Credit: TheSmokersAngel, 2011.

E-Cigarettes are powered by a battery and use a heating element to vaporize liquid nicotine that is inhaled by the user. The device is designed to look like a cigarette, with the tip glowing red when in use. This design gimmick, along with the skeptical marketing that claims the e-cigarettes are safer than cigarettes, has lead to activists and health groups such as the FDA to call for stricter regulations on the sales of the device.

In September 2010, the FDA said released a letter to e-cigarette distributors saying that their products were being marketed illegally and should be subject to the same regulations governing drugs and medical devices.

However Sottera Inc., an e-cigarette manufacturer based in Scottsdale, Ariz., quickly responded using the federal court to back up its claim that because the device vaporizes nicotine, it is a tobacco product and not a medical device.

Following the ruling in favor of Sottera Inc, in December 2010, the FDA issued a letter to the public and stakeholders announcing its decision not to appeal. Nevertheless the agency said it would take steps to ensure that appropriate regulations are in place for all “tobacco products”.

Experts worry that the FDA’s acceptance court ruling could lead to the misuse of tobacco in other products. Matthew L. Myers, president of the Washington-based Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids said:

“[Manufacturers can now] add nicotine to a wide range of products without the stringent regulation traditionally applied to smoking cessation medications and other non-tobacco products to which nicotine has been added.”

Myers did say in a letter posted on the group’s website that the FDA “has taken appropriate action to protect public health by announcing that it intends to assert authority over other tobacco products that meet the statutory definition of ‘tobacco products’” under federal law.

Worlds First Double Leg Transplant

Spanish surgeons perform the world’s first double leg transplant…

Spanish surgeons at the Le Fe Hospital, Valencia, have successfully performed the world’s first double leg transplant. Should the patient’s body accept the donor legs, doctors hope the man could be walking again within 6 months.

The 14 hour operation was lead by Pedro Cavadas, the surgeon who performed Spain’s first face transplant and several arm transplants.

The patient, who lost is legs in a traffic accident and faced life in a wheelchair because prosthetic limbs proved unsuitable, is already out of intensive care and was said to have cried tears of joy when he awoke.

The man and his donor remain unmanned.

Doctors are now waiting to see if the nerves in his legs will grow, and estimate that if the legs are not rejected, the patient should be able to move his knees within one month, stand unaided in swimming poll within two, and hopefully walk again within six.

However, even if nerves begin to grow, there is a long road ahead. Undergoing transplants of such a nature can have a great impact on the patient psychologically.
The first person to receive a new hand in 1998, New Zealander Clint Hallam, opted to have it removed three years later saying it was unsightly and he felt mentally detached from it.

There’s also concern as to whether the new legs will even be able to support his bodyweight.

Nadey Hakim, who performed the world’s first hand and double hand transplants explained that transplanted arms only regain about 50 percent of their original function and strength.

Whey Protein Build Muscles 24 Hours After

Missed your daily protein supplement? Don’t worry; top up the next day by consuming whey protein…

A new study has suggested that whey protein may still aid the build-up of muscle even up to a day after a workout session. In a joint study between researchers at McMaster University, Canada and the a team at University of Nottingham, England, 15 men experienced in resistance training were recruited to test the rate of muscle building after consuming 15 grams of whey powder 24 hours after a workout session.

The men were asked to perform both light and heavy lifting exercises on a leg extension machine until they felt fatigued. They were also asked to perform the same exercise but made to stop before fatigue set in.

The participants then returned the next day and consumed 15 grams of whey protein – a common dairy constituent found in low-fat yogurt.

Whey Protein

Image Credit: Optimum Nutricion.

After analyzing the results, the teams found that no matter how heavy a load, muscle mass increased after eating whey protein, even though the protein was eaten 24 hours later.

As WebMD’s Bill Hendrick points out, “the findings suggest that muscles may make better use of dietary amino acids eaten 24 hours after exercise, regardless of exercise load as long as the exercise is being performed until fatigue.”

The researchers hope their findings will lead to a new understanding on how exercise translates into muscle building, which could hopefully lead to better weight building supplements.