Quadriplegic man restores movement by implanted brain chip

A freak diving accident at age 19 left Ian Burkhart's arms and legs paralyzed. Now 24, the former athlete has regained some use of his fingers, hand and wrist thanks to an experimental technology never before tried in humans, researchers report.



Up to now, messages from his brain to move his limbs can’t get to other parts of the body due to damage to his spinal cord.

Researchers from Ohio State University and Battelle Memorial Institute implanted a tiny device in Mr. Burkhart’s motor cortex, the part of the brain that controls movement. The device acts as a “neural bypass,” picking up the brain signals and sending them to a computer that decodes them, the researchers wrote in the science journal Nature.

The implanted computer chip enables messages to travel from Burkhart's brain to his limbs, bypassing the damaged spinal cord, the researchers said.

Dr. Gayatri Devi, a neurologist and memory loss specialist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, called this technology a breakthrough for paralyzed patients.

"This is a phenomenal demonstration of the power of technology in helping patients with spinal cord injury to live more independently," she said. "It is both an emotional and a neurologic breakthrough for a quadriplegic patient to be able to place a straw in a cup of water and to drink from it."

Last year, researchers led by a team at the University of California, Los Angeles published a study showing five men with paralysis making step-like movements through electrical stimulation to the spinal cord. And BrainGate, a multi-institutional project that is developing and testing its own neural-implant system, has shown patients able to control a keyboard and move a robotic arm.

Disclaimer: This is a nonprofit blog. My objective, as a young girl born in 1999, is just to share my passion for Medicine by giving the world some information about the latest tendencies in this field. Please click on the links below to obtain a more detailed information about the articles I have used as a source.

https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_158288.html

http://consumer.healthday.com/disabilities-information-11/paralysis-news-523/implanted-brain-chip-restores-hand-movement-to-quadriplegic-man-709951.html

http://www.wsj.com/articles/brain-implant-helps-restore-movement-for-paralyzed-patient-researchers-say-1460566801

Are breakfast cereals really unhealthy?

According to Wikipedia, Breakfast cereal (or just cereal) is a food made from processed grains that is often eaten as the first meal of the day. It is eaten hot or cold, usually mixed with milk, yogurt, or fruit.

Some companies promote their products for the health benefits from eating oat-based and high-fiber cereals. In America, cereals are often fortified with vitamins. A significant proportion of cold cereals are made with high sugar content. 

Many breakfast cereals are produced via extrusion.

Apparently, they are natural products, but there is a trend of thought that defends they are not as good as we think.

The main reasons to defend that position are:

1. They include a lot of added sugar.
2. Processing reduces the nutritional quality of a cereal's carbohydrate content.
3. Artificial colors can speed up the development of cancerous tumors in mice.
4. Many commercial varieties, including those with bran flakes and oat squares, contain 200 to 300 milligrams of sodium per serving. The Institute of Medicine recommends getting no more than 2.3 grams of sodium per day to keep your blood pressure at a safe level.  Starting your day with more than 10 percent of your upper intake of sodium makes it difficult to stay below that recommended number.
5. Preservatives, artificial flavoring and texture enhancers are put into cereals, resulting in a long list of ingredients.

For a healthier option, choose breakfast cereals that contain wholegrains and are lower in sugar, fat and salt. Examples include:

• wholewheat cereal biscuits
• shredded wholegrain pillows
• porridge oats

Disclaimer: This is a nonprofit blog. My objective, as a young girl born in 1999, is just to share my passion for Medicine by giving the world some information about the latest tendencies in this field. Please click on the links below to obtain a more detailed information about the articles I have used as a source.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breakfast_cereal

http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/cereals-unhealthy-3637.html

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/healthy-breakfast-cereals-low-in-sugar-fat-salt.aspx

Good news for cancer patients

Sandra Sayce is one of the longest survivors of a new approach to cancer treatment that has had cautious and weary doctors almost punching the air in excitement. The 52-year-old is alive and well thanks to the groundbreaking work of the Royal Marsden in London, the world-leading cancer hospital. Its patients and those referred from other NHS hospitals, as Sayce was, are invited to take part in clinical trials. It is at the cutting edge of cancer drug discovery.

Over the last 25 years, rates of the disease have risen in Britain faster than any other common cancer and it is now thought that within the next 15 years there will be around 15,500 cases a year.

All of it down to sunbathing and burning, hence the campaigns to cover up and use sun screen.

Western countries have been steadily fighting back against cancer in recent decades: Britain has recorded a 10% decline in death rates over the past 10 years.

Sayce knows how lucky she has been. A GP spotted her cancer during a consultation for a damaged knee. “She said ‘what’s that lump on the front of your shin?’” recalled Sayce, who had thought nothing of it. A biopsy revealed melanoma – a form of skin cancer.

But today is also a day for even more excitement and celebration. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has approved two drugs for malignant melanoma, a usually fatal form of skin cancer.

The two drugs, Vemurafebib – trade name Zelboraf and Ipilimumab (Yervoy) have increased patient survival and improved their quality of life.  Quite simply, they offer hope where there was none before.

There is a footnote, though. Nice initially turned down these drugs because of the cost. But following the publication of their first draft guidance last year which did not recommend ipilimumab, Bristol-Myers Squibb provided extra data and analysis regarding its cost-effectiveness and they also submitted a patient access scheme. And the manufacturer of Vemurafenib, the drug company, Roche, also provided extra information on its effectiveness.

Disclaimer: This is a nonprofit blog. My objective, as a young girl born in 1999, is just to share my passion for Medicine by giving the world some information about the latest tendencies in this field. Please click on the links below to obtain a more detailed information about the articles I have used as a source.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/feb/04/revolutionary-drug-immune-system-advanced-cancer

http://blogs.channel4.com/victoria-macdonald-on-health-and-social-care/good-news-in-the-fight-against-skin-cancer/465

Discovery of cancer without mutations

The basic idea of how cancer emerges is by the uncontrollable reproduction and growth of cells.


This is a consequence of the signals that control the reproduction of cells being damaged by a mutation. They form a tumor which damages other cells or organs.

Is this idea wrong?

It has been discovered recently that cancer can occur without the need for a mutation.

Epithelial cells can become damaged by the lack of proteins, which unbalances the reactions in the body. The lack of AIRPAL protein causes the growth receptor IGF-1 which controls the growth of cells, is abnormally inactive, causing an discontrolled cell division.

This leads to a blood tumor. It is most common in older people as age degenerates the system that controls the growth in our body, as some of the fundamental proteins are missing.

The study was carried by Carlos López Otín at the University of Oviedo.

What is blood cancer?

Blood cancer is an umbrella term for cancers that affect the blood, bone marrow and lymphatic system.

Unfortunately, blood cancer affects a large number of people.

Every 20 minutes, someone in the UK is told they have a blood cancer. That's 70 people a day, 25,000 people a year.

There are three main groups of blood cancer: leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

Some types are more common than others: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is the sixth most common cancer in the UK Leukemia is the eleventh most common cancer in the UK Other types of blood cancer – such as myeloma – are less common.

Disclaimer: This is a nonprofit blog. My objective, as a young girl born in 1999, is just to share my passion for Medicine by giving the world some information about the latest tendencies in this field. Please click on the links below to obtain a more detailed information about the articles I have used as a source.

http://elpais.com/elpais/2015/12/21/ciencia/1450710974_505147.html

http://www.anthonynolan.org/patients-and-families/blood-cancers-and-blood-disorders/what-blood-cancer

Patrick Hardison receives full face transplant

The following could almost be defined as 'pure magic'!

Thanks to excellent professionals who rely on high technology.

Plastic surgeon Dr Eduardo Rodriguez led the team that performed the 26-hour surgery to give injured volunteer firefighter Patrick Hardison a new face.

It was in August, at New York University’s Langone Medical Center. The team performed the transplant for 41-year-old Patrick Hardison, a retired fireman from Mississippi who suffered disfiguring injuries when a burning roof collapsed on him, melting his mask, in 2001.

He needed a match who had his skin colour, hair colour, blood type and skeletal structure.

The donor was a 26-year-old, David Rodebaugh, who was fatally injured in a cycling accident.

The transplant extends from the top of the head, over Mr Hardison's skull and down to the collarbones - and includes both ears.

The ground-breaking surgery has also restored his vision and Mr Harrison has ambitious plans to start driving again.

The brave firefighter endured 71 surgeries - but his unusual appearance scared even his own children.

The impact of the accident put a huge strain on his relationship with his wife and after ten years of marriage the pair divorced.

10/01/2001

Disclaimer: This is a nonprofit blog. My objective, as a young girl born in 1999, is just to share my passion for Medicine by giving the world some information about the latest tendencies in this field. Please click on the links below to obtain a more detailed information about the articles I have used as a source.

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-34831206

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/nov/16/firefighter-receives-full-face-transplant-historic-surgery

http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/619947/Patrick-Hardison-fireman-burned-in-blaze-extensive-face-transplant-Dr-Eduardo-Rodriguez

Is e-cigarette the ideal solution?

According to Wikipedia, an electronic cigarette (e-cig or e-cigarette), personal vaporizer (PV) or electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) is a battery-powered vaporizer which simulates the feeling of smoking, but without tobacco combustion. Their use is commonly called ‘vaping’.

The user automatically activates the e-cigarette by taking a puff; other devices turn on by pressing a button manually.

According to the National Health Interview Survey recently published:

• In 2014, 12.6% of adults had ever tried an e-cigarette even one time in their lifetimes, with use differing by sex, age, and race and Hispanic or Latino origin.
• About 3.7% of adults currently used e-cigarettes, with use differing by age and race and Hispanic or Latino origin.
• Current cigarette smokers and former smokers who quit smoking within the past year were more likely to use e-cigarettes than former smokers who quit smoking more than 1 year ago and those who had never smoked.
• Among current cigarette smokers who had tried to quit smoking in the past year, more than one-half had ever tried an e-cigarette and 20.3% were current e-cigarette users.
• Among adults who had never smoked cigarettes, 3.2% had ever tried an e-cigarette. Ever having used an e-cigarette was highest among never smokers aged 18–24 (9.7%) and declined with age.

¿Good or bad?

‘Obviously, it would be best if smokers could quit completely’, says Michael Siegel, MD, MPH, a professor at Boston University's School of Public Health. ‘But if that's not possible, I think they'd be a lot better off with e-cigarettes. They're a safer alternative’.

But, because nicotine is addictive, e-cigarettes could be a ‘gateway drug’, leading nonsmokers and kids to use tobacco.

From my point of view, the best option is to try help young people to avoid entering into this so dangerous world.

In a recent study of Mayo Clinic, they recommend 10 ways to keep teens smoke-free:

1. Set a good example

2. Understand the attraction

3. Say no to teen smoking

4. Appeal to your teen's vanity

5. Do the math. Smoking is expensive

6. Expect peer pressure

7. Take addiction seriously

8. Predict the future

9. Think beyond cigarettes

10. Get involved

01/01/2001

Disclaimer: This is a nonprofit blog. My objective, as a young girl born in 1999, is just to share my passion for Medicine by giving the world some information about the latest tendencies in this field. Please click on the links below to obtain a more detailed information about the articles I have used as a source.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_cigarette
http://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/features/electronic-cigarettes
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/tween-and-teen-health/in-depth/teen-smoking/art-20047069

Why you shouldn´t sleep with your cell phone close to you

If you are one of the billions of people who sleep with the phone next to his bed, this could be causing many problems (imperceptible for the moment) on your health.

The radiation having smartphones are really dangerous and not at all advisable.

This happens at any time of day, but during the hours we are sleeping, can lead to nightmares, not sleeping, waking up several times each night, etc. The reason? An alteration in the system of self certain processes, such as the biological clock or circadian rhythms.

44% of cell phone owners have snoozed with their phone next to their bed to make sure they didn’t miss any crucial calls or texts, according to the Pew Internet Project.

This could be bad for your health by these reasons:

• A Texas teen recently woke up to a burning smell. The cause? Her Samsung Galaxy S4, which was under her pillow, had partially melted and it scorched her sheets and mattress, too. More specifically, it seems like a non-Samsung replacement phone battery was to blame: the phone’s instruction manual warns against using incompatible cell phone batteries and chargers. The manual also notes that there’s a risk of a fire if the gadget is covered by bedding or other thick material. Bottom line: Stick to phone accessories from the original manufacturer, and don’t leave your cell on your bed.

• Cell phones (and tablets, TVs, and other gadgets with LED screens) give off what’s known as blue light—a type that studies suggest can inhibit the production of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin and disrupt our circadian rhythms. This may be because blue light emits wavelengths similar to daylight, which can make our bodies think it’s daytime, at any time.
• To fall asleep when you want (and need) to, power down all electronics two hours before bedtime. Better yet, keep your phone and laptop in another room while you slumber.If you’re at all worried about the possible cancer risk, try to text instead of call, hold the phone away from your ear, or use an earpiece or the speakerphone setting as much as possible—and definitely don’t sleep with the phone next to your head.
• An investigation in Australia showed that there is an important relationship between the use of smartphones and sterility in men, as well as reduced sperm quality.

The following are tips provided by PBS to decrease exposure to cell phone radiation:

• SAR Level –  Every cell phone has a specific absorption rate (SAR) which somehow indicates the amount of radiation emitted. Look for a cell phone with a low SAR level which suggests lower radiation levels.
• Use Hands-Free Devices – According to PBS, going hands-free with a Bluetooth or headset can reduce SAR levels as long as they are removed from the head when not in use.
• Restrict Talking Time – Limiting the time you spend talking obviously restricts exposure to cell phone radiation. Texting instead of talking also reduces exposure of the cranium to potential radiation.

• Distance – PBS recommends sleeping away from cell phones and advises against carrying them in front pockets.
• Ignore the Hype – Although this is not a tip for limiting exposure to cell pone radiation, keeping things in perspective can be helpful. Since there is no evidence correlating cell phone usage with cancer, it probably isn’t worth feeling overly anxious in regards to the extensive publicity on cell phones and cancer.

13/09/2002

Disclaimer: This is a nonprofit blog. My objective, as a young girl born in 1999, is just to share my passion for Medicine by giving the world some information about the latest tendencies in this field. Please click on the links below to obtain a more detailed information about the articles I have used as a source.

http://mejorconsalud.com/es-malo-dormir-cerca-del-movil/
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/reasons-sleep-phone-bed/story?id=24839804

http://wafflesatnoon.com/is-it-dangerous-to-sleep-with-a-cell-phone-under-your-pillow/