A device that has been used to keep former Vice President Dick Cheney’s heart functioning is now being used on patients in Pittsburgh.The device is being used on patients like Cheney, who have severe congestive heart failure, but are not candidates for transplants.At UPMC’s Artificial Heart Institute, it’s being referred to as a destination device, the destination being life.”What it does is take blood from the left ventricle — ……the main pumping chamber of the heart — and then pumps that blood into the aorta, which is the main artery coming off the heart that then distributes blood through the body,” said Dr. Bob Kormos.The device is used to help a heart that is too weak to support normal body function.Bob Baum, 69, is a diabetic with kidney problems, who is not eligible for a transplant.”It’s terrible, can’t breathe,” said Baum, of Latrobe.Unless something was done, Baum told Channel 4 Action News anchor Sally Wiggin that he had about one year to live.He now wears part of his heart outside his body.”It’s right here. The only thing you have to do is when the battery goes low, you check your battery, and if it’s low, change the battery,” said Baum.Dr. Rene Alvarez, a UPMC cardiologist, said treatment for patients like Baum has entered a new era.”The last decade was called the decade of drugs because of the marked advancement in drug technology and drugs available to treat this illness. This decade has been termed the decade of devices,” said Alvarez.For Baum, it’s a new decade altogether.”I can do more with my grandkids. I couldn’t do anything with them before,” said Baum.

via:Herat

Asbestos is a group of minerals that occur naturally as fibers and are used in certain industries. The trick is, since society is more aware of the dangers of asbestos today – most industries avoid the use of these minerals in order to decrease the likelihood of health risks such as lung damage.

The United States EPA provides us with a great deal of information on asbestos, including the following:

Health care

From studies of people who were exposed to asbestos in factories and shipyards, we know that breathing high levels of asbestos fibers can lead to an increased risk of……..

• Lung Cancer
• Mesothelioma (a cancer of the lining of the chest and the abdominal cavity)
• Asbestosis (in which the lungs become scarred with fibrous tissue)

The risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma increases with the number of fibers inhaled. The risk of lung cancer from inhaling asbestos fibers is also greater if you smoke. People who get asbestosis have usually been exposed to high levels of asbestos for a long time. The symptoms of these diseases do not usually appear until about 20 to 30 years after the first exposure to asbestos.

Most people exposed to small amounts of asbestos, as we all are in our daily lives, do not develop these health problems. However, if disturbed, asbestos material may release asbestos fibers, which can be inhaled into the lungs. The fibers can remain there for a long time, increasing the risk of disease. Asbestos material that would crumble easily if handled, or that has been sawed, scraped, or sanded into a powder, is more likely to create a health hazard.

The trouble is, like most health conditions, health risks from asbestos will continue to compound over the years. This makes older adults (baby boomers and seniors) more susceptible to asbestos related problems.

If you think you have been experiencing conditions attributable to lunch damage or asbestos, consult your primary care physician or other medical help immediately.

via:asbestos

Patients at these centers are not free from hospital-based infections or immune from getting the wrong drugs or becoming victims of other medical errors. No matter how skilled or deep their expertise, even “best hospitals” don’t do everything right. But when the stakes are high, calling for unusual capabilities, they are hospitals that can save lives that might otherwise be lost or preserve quality of life that might otherwise be sacrificed. That is why U.S. News has published the Best Hospitals rankings for 21 years: to help guide patients who need high-stakes care because of the complexity or difficulty of their condition or procedure. For 2010-11 we analyzed 4,852 hospitals, virtually every one in the United States, in 16 specialties from cancer and heart disease to respiratory disorders and urology. Only 152 centers appear in even one of the 16 specialty rankings. Fourteen ultra-elite Honor Roll hospitals had very high scores in six or more specialties……

In 12 of the 16 specialties, the quality of hospital care can determine life or death. Therefore the largest part of each hospital’s score in those 12 specialties came from death rates and other hard data on patient safety, volume, and various care-related factors such as nursing and patient services. The rest of the score was derived from a reputational survey of specialists. The 50 highest scorers were ranked. Scores and complete data for another 1,740 unranked hospitals are also available. In the four other specialties—ophthalmology, psychiatry, rehabilitation, and rheumatology—hospitals were ranked on reputation alone. The number of deaths in these specialties is so low that mortality data and certain other categories of data are not relevant factors.

A detailed description of the analysis in the 12 specialties is available. In brief, death rate, care-related factors, and patient safety added up to slightly more than two-thirds of each hospital’s score. The reputation portion of the score used responses from nearly 10,000 physicians, who were surveyed in 2008, 2009, and 2010 and asked to name five hospitals they consider among the best in their specialty for difficult cases, ignoring cost or location.

The Honor Roll requirements were so stiff that 99.7 percent of all centers in the nation were excluded. A hospital had to be ranked in at least six specialties, but ranking alone was insufficient for inclusion. It also had to have an extremely high score (in statisticians’ terms, at least 3 standard deviations above the mean). That earned 1 point per specialty. Reaching the top of the Honor Roll called for even higher scores (4 or more standard deviations above the mean), earning 2 points, in far more specialties. The highest-ranked hospitals on the Honor Roll, which is ordered by points, had high scores in 15 of the 16 specialty rankings. Johns Hopkins stands at No. 1—as it has for the last 20 years.

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is an extremely rare cancer. Only 100 to 500 cases are diagnosed in the US each year, making up less than 30% of all mesothelioma cases. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer affecting the abdominal lining, or peritoneum (paira-tin-e-um), which is why is is sometimes referred to as abdominal mesothelioma. This membrane supports and covers the organs of the abdomen.

The peritoneum is made of two parts, the visceral and parietal peritoneum. The visceral peritoneum covers the internal organs and makes up most of the outer layer of the intestinal tract. Covering the abdominal cavity is the parietal peritoneum. Cells in these linings secrete a fluid which allows organs to move against one another. For instance, as the intestines move food through the body. The cells of the mesothelium are designed to create fluid, but the cancer can cause them to overproduce, creating a build up of excess fluid in the abdominal cavity…..

Because pleural mesothelioma is more common and often spreads to the peritoneal cavity, it is important to etermine if pleural mesothelioma is the primary cancer.

Although there’s no definitive explanation, it is widely believed that asbestos causes peritoneal mesothelioma in one of two ways. First, asbestos fibers may be ingested, and when in the intestinal tract, the fibers may work themselves into the peritoneal cavity and peritoneum. Second, they may be inhaled and transported through the lymph node system to the peritoneal cavity.

If you are wondering “do I have peritoneal mesothelioma?” you should seek the guidance of your physician immediately; like many cancers, early detection is very important. Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms may not appear until 20 to 30 years after the first exposure to asbestos. Symptoms are usually not specific to peritoneal mesothelioma, and most often accompany other, less serious medical issues. This may make diagnosing peritoneal mesothelioma more difficult. If you have a history of asbestos exposure, your should have regular check ups with your doctor and an awareness of peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms.

Ascites is the abnormal collection of fluid in the abdomen; when it is caused by cancer, it is referred to as malignant ascites. A cancer diagnosis is only made in about 10% of ascites cases, and of that 10%, peritoneal mesotheioma makes up only a very small percentage. Ascites can be quite uncomfortable, causing swelling of the abdomen, weight gain, indigestion, nausia, and swelling of the feet and ankles.

Fluid retention usually causes swelling; solid tumor masses may be responsible for pain. Despite the accumulated fluid, which often increases waist size, a patient’s appetite may be aversely affected by peritoneal mesothelioma resulting in weight loss.  Bowel obstruction: A blockage in the small or large intestine is a rare, and often late-occuring, symptom of peritoneal mesothelioma. Anemia:  A reduction in the number of red blood cells to below normal; this forces the heart and other organs to work harder to get oxygen where it’s needed. Fever: Infection is the most common cause of fever in cancer patients, but tumor cells can also produce fever-causing agents. A bowel obstruction may also cause fever.

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma are not necessarily unique to the disease, so diagnosing peritoneal mesothelioma requires more than an observation of symptoms. Most symptoms associated with abdominal mesothelioma accompany other, often less serious, medical conditions. Most peritoneal mesothelioma diagnoses are made when the malignancy is in an advantage stage and diagnosis, alone, takes on average four months¹.

The first step in diagnosing peritoneal mesothelioma is a physical exam and patient history. If your doctor does not ask about your work history and potential mesothelioma risk factors, let him or her know about your asbestos exposure. A history of asbestos exposure is an important clue for your physician or diagnostician and neglecting to mention this could delay diagnosis.

Following a physical exam and a patient’s description of their symptoms, the next step in diagnosing peritoneal mesothelioma is usually to get some type of imaging of the abdomen. An x-ray, CT (or CAT) scan, or MRI may be performed. Although mesothelioma cannot be definitively diagnosed by visual confirmation, tumors may be visible, or an excess of serous fluid may be seen. The three primary types of peritoneal mesothelioma tumor development seen are:

In cases where fluid has accumilated in the abdomen, paracentesis may be performed; a needle is inserted into the peritoneal cavity to drain the excess fluid from the abdomen. Usually, cytologic testing on this ascetic (peritoneal) fluid (where specialists examine the fluid for abnormal cells) is not considered effective to diagnose peritoneal mesothelioma.

The next step in effectively diagnosing peritoneal mesothelioma is the collection of a biopsy. A biopsy is required so that the tissues and cells in question can be examined at a microscopic level. A fine-needle aspiration biopsy is usually performed at first because they are minorly invasive and quite safe. Immunohistochemical staining of the biopsy is regularly performed on collected samples. Sometimes referred to casually as “immunos,” these tests use special substances that color proteins and markers that indicate cancerous cells.

Sometimes further testing is required to make a definitive diagnosis, whether because the initial biopsy testing was inconclusive or a fine-needle biopsy could not be taken because of the location of the tumor and/or fluid pockets. If this is the case, the next step performed is often a peritoneoscopy. During this procedure, a local anesthetic is administered and a small incision allows the doctor looks inside the abdomen with a special tool called a peritoneoscope.

During the peritoneoscopy, a larger biopsy sample may be collected for testing. Finally, if more tissue is required for testing, diagnositic surgery or “open” biopsy may be required.

Diagnosing peritoneal mesothelioma is very difficult, and cases of peritoneal mesothelioma misdiagnosed or undiagnosed are unfortunately not uncommon. It is important to share your case history of work experience (especially in shipyards and at construction sites) and asbestos exposure potential with your physicians if you feel mesothelioma is a risk. Asbestos fibres can also be carried into the home on clothing, inadvertently exposing the deadly fibres, and the risk of mesothelioma, to family members.

In addition to determing a diagnosis, many diagnostic test also help determine the stage the cancer is in, providing a better idea of a patient’s prognosis. The chance of recovery depends on the size of the cancer, where the cancer is, how far the cancer has spread, how the cancer cells look under the microscope, how the cancer responds to treatment, and the patient’s age. Peritoneal mesothelioma is usually diagnosed when it has had time to advance; as with most types of cancer, early diagnosis is an excellent first step in fighting the disease.

With the beauty industry promoting its scientific credentials more and more everyday, you do want to know where the science really lies with all the products they advertise. Let’s look at what the experts say for each one of these products that you actually use everyday.

Without a doubt, there are serious subjects of debate all around that need your attention – should you vote conservative or liberal, should your child go to a private school or a publicly funded one, should you get moisturizer with SPF or not? Certainly that last one doesn’t seem to really belong in that line of profound issues of debate. But some women swear, when they find themselves faced with a skin care decision, that it certainly does seem that difficult, and just as important. The good news is, there is expert opinion to be had in matters of skin care; okay, the experts often find themselves divided over which way to go. Whichever side you choose though, you can tell if you’ve made the right choice, with no more than a couple of weeks following it. Let’s go on and take up some of the most hotly debated skincare issues there are, and see where expert opinion lies…..

Okay, let’s start with the basics – shaving. Do you or do you not use cream to shave? Shaving cream is an idea that does have its merits. Think of it as the lubricant that greases the blade and smoothes your experience. Without the smoothness, the blade could possibly catch on your skin and cause tiny abrasions and nicks. But even so, there are those who disagree. The perfumes and fragrances they use in the cream could conceivably make sensitive skin break out. There is a case to be made for mild soap-free cleansers to use in place of shaving cream; or alternatively, you could try simple bathing soap of any kind you prefer in the shower. But all said, the experts do believe that a lubricating product when you shave is pretty much indispensable.

The pimple – the bane of feminine existence. So what should you do when you get one? Should you let it stay, and walk around pretending there isn’t a big red spot on your forehead? Or should you just take the bull by the horns and pop it then and there? You have to admit that there is a certain rightness about the idea of popping. If you leave it be, it could permanently distend the pores in the area, and some experts believe that popping it would be the best thing in your long-term interests. But the naysayers have a point too – popping a pimple can sometimes work against you; and the bacteria that cause it can get into your skin and make things worse. But there is a happy compromise to be made – you can pop it, but just not yourself. Go to a skin care specialist and have them do it the right way so that there won’t be any scarring or further infection. And if it appeals to you the idea of keeping your skin healthy enough to prevent pimples altogether, use a salicylic acid cleanser.

While we are on the subject of cleansers, what do the experts say about the new cleansing oils that seem all the rage now? The believers in skin cleansing oils love the fact that they have great powers at dissolving any remnants of makeup, pollution and other skin dirt. And they do it without stripping your skin of its natural oils. The opposing camp believes that since oil is what causes pimples and blackheads in the first place, how could it be safe to douse your face in the stuff every day? There is something to be said for each side of the debate; but if you do need to make a decision, here’s the middle-ground. You can use cleansing skin oils if you don’t have a problem with acne or oily skin to begin with. If you happen to constantly have a breakout of something or the other, use a foaming cleanser with salicylic acid instead.

Face creams can be a delicate issue when it comes to skin breakouts. These contain a certain amount of oils too. Should you go for the products that use high-quality stuff that doesn’t grease up your pores? Or should you go the other way and use the affordable stuff? Certainly for many people, the expensive skin creams do work; the exotic ingredients in there do work a certain amount of magic on you – they have peptides that help plump up your skin by inducing collagen production for instance. These do sometimes work to keep your skin soft and radiant as advertised. And there are experts who believe that there is no one answer for everyone. If your inexpensive skin cream has been doing a good job so far, it’s possible that your skin gets all that it needs from it. Those expensive creams have special ingredients for skin with special deficiencies. If your skin doesn’t have those problems, you would just be throwing money away.

And finally, with the skincare business trying to aim younger and younger with its products, do you or do you not use Botox as soon as you turn 29? The experts who weigh in, in support of this move, say that letting a wrinkle stay only makes it deeper and more difficult to care of later. The more reasonable ones however, feel that Botox hasn’t been used long enough that we would feel safe using the stuff any longer than necessary. And of course, no one has an unlimited supply of money; what you would spend on Botox would be much better applied elsewhere, say on great face packs, sunscreens and more fruit in your diet. Botox as a preventative makes little sense.

via:Skin care

When it begins to rain it is time to pay attention to your skin which starts behaving weirdly. It suddenly erupts into pimples and blackheads; it becomes dry and oily at the same time. What do you do? Don’t worry, use some simple and safe home remedies to make your skin behave itself.

Cleansing your skin in the monsoons: Because of the moisture that is prevalent in the air, your skin is constantly clammy and damp. This attracts more grime and dust than usual; which is the reason you will see your skin erupt into blackheads and whiteheads during this season. You need to be extra careful about cleansing your skin without stripping it of its natural moisture….. 

The cleansing agent should be gentle and yet, it should be strong enough to remove every trace of dust and dirt from your skin. This is why you should use natural home remedies, especially during the monsoons.

For dry skin, crush a handful of almonds and mix it with honey to make a paste. Massage this on your face for about five minutes. Then, rinse it off with warm water. For oily skin, make a pulp out of pieces of papaya or use an oatmeal scrub. Apply this on your face and then wash it off with cold water.
Microbes in water and airborne bacteria play havoc with your skin during the rainy season. It is absolutely essential to use a toner so that you can maintain the natural Ph balance of your skin.

For dry skin, mix five drops of chamomile oil with one teaspoon of milk. Since the pores of your dry skin are small, the milk and chamomile combination soothes the skin without irritating it.
For oily skin, dilute ten drops of Lavender oil with one teaspoon of water and apply this as a toner. Skin becomes dehydrated during the monsoon which is why you must moisturise it regularly.
For dry skin, make a mixture of jojoba oil, fresh curd or yoghurt and honey in equal parts. Apply this as a face pack for about ten minutes and rinse it off with a mild face wash.

For oily skin, make a cocktail of oil and rose water. You can use any oil of your choice; for example, use strawberry oil or orange oil. Use two drops of this oil with two teaspoons of rose water. Apply it on your face like a moisturiser and leave it on for about ten minutes or so. Then, rinse off with cold tap water.