A third of health professionals accidentally stuck by a needle at work don't report the incident.
And the worst culprits of non-reporting are doctors, according to new research just published.
A study of more than 1300 doctors, nurses and midwives employed by the Waikato District Health Board found that while needlesticks happened most frequently to doctors, 40% of those incidents were not documented according to DHB protocol.
Reasons given for non-reporting included a lack of time, a lack of importance and awareness of the correct procedure to follow. This was despite Waikato DHB having implemented a needlestick injury prevention programme that included staff education of safe work practices. Of the 123 people who revealed to researchers that they had been stuck by a needle over a 12-month period, 27 had had it happen two or three times and an unlucky three had received five or six sticks.
In total, a third of needlesticks were not reported with 26 of 65 doctors not following protocol compared to 26 of 97 nurses affected.
The researchers also discovered that for every 10 years of experience, the risk of a needlestick injury reduced by 18%.
The researchers said the needlestick reporting process needed reviewing and doctors given priority in the development of any future risk management strategies.
2011年5月29日星期日
2011年5月25日星期三
Taunton Cumberland Farms hypo hold-up suspect turns himself in to cops
The Taunton man arrested for using a syringe in a failed attempt to rob a Cumberland Farms store Monday night used his own mother as an unsuspecting getaway driver, cops said.
William Viera, 21, last known address 35 Longmeadow Road, is being held on $25,000 bail after his arraignment Tuesday in Taunton District Court. He also has a case pending related to April 20 charges of receiving a stolen motor vehicle and possession of heroin.
Viera turned himself in at police headquarters at 11:15 p.m. just over four hours after he allegedly threatened a cashier with a hypodermic needle and was chased from the store — after the employee reacted by throwing a step ladder and landed a direct hit on the would-be robber.
No one was reported injured as a result of the incident at 318 County St.
Police say Viera took advantage of his mother by instructing her to stop off at the Cumberland Farms for cigarettes. When he ran out of the store and hopped back into her car he allegedly told her the cashier had tried to beat him up.
Just as the Viera vehicle drove off the cashier enlisted the aid of a friend who was parked at the store, and the two caught up to the car and managed to get a plate number, cops said.
Within an hour the woman showed up at police headquarters with a younger child in tow, police said.
The emotionally distraught woman tearfully told cops that her son had just finished a rehabilitation program for his heroin addiction.
She also said that she ordered both her son and a friend of his out of her car after her husband called informing her of what he had just heard over his police scanner.
Police determined the woman’s account to be credible, and did not suspect she was aware her son had just tried robbing the convenience store/gas station when he ran out and told her to drive away.
Viera, according to police, during a subsequent interview admitted to using a needle to try to rob the store. He also stated that his mother was unaware of what had actually just transpired, police said.
William Viera, 21, last known address 35 Longmeadow Road, is being held on $25,000 bail after his arraignment Tuesday in Taunton District Court. He also has a case pending related to April 20 charges of receiving a stolen motor vehicle and possession of heroin.
Viera turned himself in at police headquarters at 11:15 p.m. just over four hours after he allegedly threatened a cashier with a hypodermic needle and was chased from the store — after the employee reacted by throwing a step ladder and landed a direct hit on the would-be robber.
No one was reported injured as a result of the incident at 318 County St.
Police say Viera took advantage of his mother by instructing her to stop off at the Cumberland Farms for cigarettes. When he ran out of the store and hopped back into her car he allegedly told her the cashier had tried to beat him up.
Just as the Viera vehicle drove off the cashier enlisted the aid of a friend who was parked at the store, and the two caught up to the car and managed to get a plate number, cops said.
Within an hour the woman showed up at police headquarters with a younger child in tow, police said.
The emotionally distraught woman tearfully told cops that her son had just finished a rehabilitation program for his heroin addiction.
She also said that she ordered both her son and a friend of his out of her car after her husband called informing her of what he had just heard over his police scanner.
Police determined the woman’s account to be credible, and did not suspect she was aware her son had just tried robbing the convenience store/gas station when he ran out and told her to drive away.
Viera, according to police, during a subsequent interview admitted to using a needle to try to rob the store. He also stated that his mother was unaware of what had actually just transpired, police said.
Man Charged With Possession of Syringes in Butler
An Oak Ridge man was arrested Friday after police said he was allegedly found to be in possession of several hypodermic needs and found with what police described as injuries to his hands as a result of recent drug activity.
Giuseppe Messano, 28, was charged with unlawful possession of hypodermic syringes.
Butler Police said they noticed Messano’s 1994 Saturn to be operating with improper brake lights on Route 23 South at 11:16 a.m. After police stopped his vehicle, police said they noticed the marks on his arm and searched his vehicle.
Police said they found several syringes commonly used for injecting drugs.
Messano was arrested and transported to the police station. He was released in his own recognizance and issued a ticket to appear in court at a later date.
Butler Police Department Disclaimer: A charge is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Giuseppe Messano, 28, was charged with unlawful possession of hypodermic syringes.
Butler Police said they noticed Messano’s 1994 Saturn to be operating with improper brake lights on Route 23 South at 11:16 a.m. After police stopped his vehicle, police said they noticed the marks on his arm and searched his vehicle.
Police said they found several syringes commonly used for injecting drugs.
Messano was arrested and transported to the police station. He was released in his own recognizance and issued a ticket to appear in court at a later date.
Butler Police Department Disclaimer: A charge is merely an accusation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
2011年5月22日星期日
Patients urged to test for infections after Chambersburg urology practice admits reusing instruments
Patients of a Chambersburg urology practice recently received a potentially unsettling letter, advising them to get tested for HIV and hepatitis because reused instruments had been used for their prostate biopsies.
Medical and legal experts say reusing biopsy needles is not recommended for several reasons, and that Urology Associates of Chambersburg could now face a range of legal repercussions.
While the risk of infection is statistically very low, experts advise that every man who received a letter should be tested. The tests are being conducted at Chambersburg Hospital and paid for by the urology practice.
A 68-year-old Chambersburg area man told Public Opinion that he received his letter in the past week and went in for the blood work Friday. Due to the potentially sensitive nature of his situation, Public Opinion agreed to keep him anonymous.
He had his biopsy done about four years ago by Dr. Christopher Klinko. While the procedure was typically less than comfortable, he was pleased with the doctor's care and said everything seemed to be done very professionally.
"Everything looked very sterile and clean, very efficient," he said.
When he received the letter, Klinko's patient wasn't too concerned at first. His wife convinced him to go for the test. A phlebotomist at the hospital told him there have been a significant number of other men getting the same test done in recent weeks.
"I hadn't given it much thought. My feeling
Quantcast was, with the time that elapsed, something would have shown up already," he said. "Then I realized it could take a long time for HIV to show up."
Dr. Jay Raman, a urological surgeon and assistant professor of surgery at Penn State Hershey Medical Center, said in some cases it takes between seven and 10 years for HIV to become apparent in an infected person. Symptoms of hepatitis typically appear within two to four years after initial infection.
"The most aggressive strains will show up early, but being asymptomatic does not mean you're in the clear," Raman said.
According to the letter sent to Urology Associates' patients, the practice used biopsy needles and guides that are labeled "single use only."
"We have recently discovered that some prostate biopsy instruments were reprocessed using a detergent scrub, sterilized and then re-used in our office," the letter states. "Corrective action was immediately taken and instrument reprocessing has been terminated."
Raman explained that an ultrasound probe and a tubular device called a cannula used in the procedure are not disposable. They are disinfected and sterilized after each use in a special liquid formulated to kill bacteria.
Since biopsy needles or "needle guns" actually pierce the patient's rectal wall and the prostate to collect tissue samples, they should not be reused, he said. At his hospital, the needles are immediately placed in a "sharps" container and disposed of as biohazardous waste.
Raman said chemical sterilization is "more than adequate to kill all conventional bacteria," but HIV and hepatitis are considered "more hardy viral agents." He was unable to provide a statistical likelihood of patients being infected by "reprocessed" instruments, but said it is a very low.
His personal risk of contracting hepatitis if he is accidentally stuck with a bloody needle during surgery is about 1 in 500,000, Raman said. The risk of catching HIV the same way is about 1 in a million.
Add to those long odds the fact that the needles at Urology Associates went through some form of sterilization, and the likelihood of infection becomes quite rare. Still, Raman recommends getting tested to anyone who received a letter.
"If it was me, I would. I think the risk is overall very low, but certainly it's higher than zero," he said. "In that case, I think it's worthwhile to be better safe than sorry."
There is another reason why reusing biopsy needles is not a very good idea, Raman said. Each use would make the device a little less sharp. Performing biopsies with a blunt needle decreases the procedure's accuracy and increases the risk of complications.
He said this is the first case of reused biopsy needles that he has heard of. Asked why any medical practice might do such a thing, he suggested that saving money was probably the motivating factor.
According to the website for a medical supply company based in New Jersey, urological biopsy needles range in price from about $100 to $240 for a box of 10. The instruments are typically 1-2 millimeters in diameter and 10-15 centimeters long, Raman said.
Public Opinion was unable to determine how many patients received letters from Urology Associates. A receptionist answering the phone at the office said the doctors are declining to comment on the matter.
According to their letter, Klinko and Dr. Louis Glass are practicing urology at the office on Fifth Avenue in Chambersburg. Some patients told Public Opinion they had been treated there in the past by Dr. William Haren, who apparently no longer works there.
A fourth urologist, Dr. Kambiz Tajkarimi, reportedly left Urology Associates earlier this year. He is now practicing exclusively with Summit Health, which operates hospitals in Chambersburg and Waynesboro, according to the organization's spokesperson, Jessica Walter.
After Glass and Klinko sent their letter, Tajkarimi mailed a letter to about 800 of his own former Urology Associates patients on May 11.
"I had no knowledge of the conduct described in that letter and resigned from employment with the practice when I learned of this matter," his letter states.
Medical and legal experts say reusing biopsy needles is not recommended for several reasons, and that Urology Associates of Chambersburg could now face a range of legal repercussions.
While the risk of infection is statistically very low, experts advise that every man who received a letter should be tested. The tests are being conducted at Chambersburg Hospital and paid for by the urology practice.
A 68-year-old Chambersburg area man told Public Opinion that he received his letter in the past week and went in for the blood work Friday. Due to the potentially sensitive nature of his situation, Public Opinion agreed to keep him anonymous.
He had his biopsy done about four years ago by Dr. Christopher Klinko. While the procedure was typically less than comfortable, he was pleased with the doctor's care and said everything seemed to be done very professionally.
"Everything looked very sterile and clean, very efficient," he said.
When he received the letter, Klinko's patient wasn't too concerned at first. His wife convinced him to go for the test. A phlebotomist at the hospital told him there have been a significant number of other men getting the same test done in recent weeks.
"I hadn't given it much thought. My feeling
Quantcast was, with the time that elapsed, something would have shown up already," he said. "Then I realized it could take a long time for HIV to show up."
Dr. Jay Raman, a urological surgeon and assistant professor of surgery at Penn State Hershey Medical Center, said in some cases it takes between seven and 10 years for HIV to become apparent in an infected person. Symptoms of hepatitis typically appear within two to four years after initial infection.
"The most aggressive strains will show up early, but being asymptomatic does not mean you're in the clear," Raman said.
According to the letter sent to Urology Associates' patients, the practice used biopsy needles and guides that are labeled "single use only."
"We have recently discovered that some prostate biopsy instruments were reprocessed using a detergent scrub, sterilized and then re-used in our office," the letter states. "Corrective action was immediately taken and instrument reprocessing has been terminated."
Raman explained that an ultrasound probe and a tubular device called a cannula used in the procedure are not disposable. They are disinfected and sterilized after each use in a special liquid formulated to kill bacteria.
Since biopsy needles or "needle guns" actually pierce the patient's rectal wall and the prostate to collect tissue samples, they should not be reused, he said. At his hospital, the needles are immediately placed in a "sharps" container and disposed of as biohazardous waste.
Raman said chemical sterilization is "more than adequate to kill all conventional bacteria," but HIV and hepatitis are considered "more hardy viral agents." He was unable to provide a statistical likelihood of patients being infected by "reprocessed" instruments, but said it is a very low.
His personal risk of contracting hepatitis if he is accidentally stuck with a bloody needle during surgery is about 1 in 500,000, Raman said. The risk of catching HIV the same way is about 1 in a million.
Add to those long odds the fact that the needles at Urology Associates went through some form of sterilization, and the likelihood of infection becomes quite rare. Still, Raman recommends getting tested to anyone who received a letter.
"If it was me, I would. I think the risk is overall very low, but certainly it's higher than zero," he said. "In that case, I think it's worthwhile to be better safe than sorry."
There is another reason why reusing biopsy needles is not a very good idea, Raman said. Each use would make the device a little less sharp. Performing biopsies with a blunt needle decreases the procedure's accuracy and increases the risk of complications.
He said this is the first case of reused biopsy needles that he has heard of. Asked why any medical practice might do such a thing, he suggested that saving money was probably the motivating factor.
According to the website for a medical supply company based in New Jersey, urological biopsy needles range in price from about $100 to $240 for a box of 10. The instruments are typically 1-2 millimeters in diameter and 10-15 centimeters long, Raman said.
Public Opinion was unable to determine how many patients received letters from Urology Associates. A receptionist answering the phone at the office said the doctors are declining to comment on the matter.
According to their letter, Klinko and Dr. Louis Glass are practicing urology at the office on Fifth Avenue in Chambersburg. Some patients told Public Opinion they had been treated there in the past by Dr. William Haren, who apparently no longer works there.
A fourth urologist, Dr. Kambiz Tajkarimi, reportedly left Urology Associates earlier this year. He is now practicing exclusively with Summit Health, which operates hospitals in Chambersburg and Waynesboro, according to the organization's spokesperson, Jessica Walter.
After Glass and Klinko sent their letter, Tajkarimi mailed a letter to about 800 of his own former Urology Associates patients on May 11.
"I had no knowledge of the conduct described in that letter and resigned from employment with the practice when I learned of this matter," his letter states.
2011年5月18日星期三
Ritocchi last minute: subito in perfetta forma
It's never too late: so says the old adage about the great themes of life: change, true love ... Well, also applies to plastic surgery and in particular that the threshold of summer, when the inevitable arrives 'Last call for the test suit. And to see that happen again, slimming and firming creams, diets and exercise have not yielded the desired results. Worse: while most of the round from the waist down are still present, the upper body is thinner, as "empty."
To run for cover in a hurry, the main tool is liposuction , which removes localized deposits of fat forever . In the mini version, then, the recovery is even shorter and the conquest of the "perfect shape" almost immediately.
"There can be subjected to the intervention up to 2-3 weeks to get in costume , "said Mark Klinger, a professor of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery at the University of Milan - Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Rozzano (Milan). Obviously, however, intervention is not for everyone. "The ideal situation is to undergo liposuction, however, to be closer to your ideal weight - says Klinger -. Not to spoil the intervention, then it is important that the patient is committed to maintain this weight . Gaining weight significantly, in fact, new deposits, however, tend to settle in the same places, not for effect or because of the intervention, but just for a matter of constitution. "
How is the procedure? Under local anesthesia, when the points to be treated are not more than two per side (eg the inside of the knee and the upper and outer thighs) is basically a ' incision of about 4 mm , which is inserted through a small suction cannula . Eliminated the excess fat, wear a containment sheath helps to join the superficial tissues more rapidly than deep, and then to design the best new "contours". Last shrewdness, to avoid making the scar (however small) permanent, it is then that of sun exposure with only a cream with sun block , at least in the first 6-8 months.
To run for cover in a hurry, the main tool is liposuction , which removes localized deposits of fat forever . In the mini version, then, the recovery is even shorter and the conquest of the "perfect shape" almost immediately.
"There can be subjected to the intervention up to 2-3 weeks to get in costume , "said Mark Klinger, a professor of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery at the University of Milan - Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Rozzano (Milan). Obviously, however, intervention is not for everyone. "The ideal situation is to undergo liposuction, however, to be closer to your ideal weight - says Klinger -. Not to spoil the intervention, then it is important that the patient is committed to maintain this weight . Gaining weight significantly, in fact, new deposits, however, tend to settle in the same places, not for effect or because of the intervention, but just for a matter of constitution. "
How is the procedure? Under local anesthesia, when the points to be treated are not more than two per side (eg the inside of the knee and the upper and outer thighs) is basically a ' incision of about 4 mm , which is inserted through a small suction cannula . Eliminated the excess fat, wear a containment sheath helps to join the superficial tissues more rapidly than deep, and then to design the best new "contours". Last shrewdness, to avoid making the scar (however small) permanent, it is then that of sun exposure with only a cream with sun block , at least in the first 6-8 months.
Complications of Ankle Arthroscopy Utilizing a Contemporary Noninvasive Distraction Technique
Investigation performed at the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York
Disclosure: The authors did not receive any outside funding or grants in support of their research for or preparation of this work. Neither they nor a member of their immediate families received payments or other benefits or a commitment or agreement to provide such benefits from a commercial entity.
Background The reported complication rates of ankle arthroscopy, as well as the types of complications, refer to cases performed fifteen to twenty years ago and include a mixture of invasive and noninvasive distraction methods. As ankle arthroscopy has matured with a move away from invasive distraction and the introduction of improved instruments, it is unclear whether the previously reported complications are reflective of contemporary ankle arthroscopy. We sought to evaluate the types and rates of complications that are associated with contemporary ankle arthroscopy that utilizes noninvasive ankle distraction and a padded foot strap.
Methods We retrospectively reviewed 294 consecutive arthroscopies. All patients underwent the same intraoperative noninvasive distraction protocol. Demographic data, diagnoses, duration of follow-up data, and procedure-related complications were identified, recorded, and analyzed.
Results All 294 cases were eligible for review. There were twenty complications, resulting in an overall complication rate of 6.8%. There were four non-neurologic complications, including one case of deep venous thrombosis, one case of prolonged portal drainage, and two cases of superficial infection. There were sixteen neurologic complications; six were related to the anterolateral portal, and eight patients had dysesthesias involving the dorsal part of the midfoot. When analyzed as a group, patients who were receiving Workers’ Compensation had a higher complication rate than patients who were not receiving Workers’ Compensation (21% versus 4.7%, respectively).
Conclusions Contemporary ankle arthroscopy performed with use of a noninvasive distraction technique is a safe procedure. Our observed complication rate of 6.8% is lower than that reported in a previous benchmark study, although our patients who were receiving Workers’ Compensation had a significantly higher risk of having nerve symptoms. An important benefit of the use of contemporary ankle arthroscopy, in which small-joint arthroscopic instruments and noninvasive distraction techniques are used, is a marked reduction in the rate of non-neurologic complications.
Disclosure: The authors did not receive any outside funding or grants in support of their research for or preparation of this work. Neither they nor a member of their immediate families received payments or other benefits or a commitment or agreement to provide such benefits from a commercial entity.
Background The reported complication rates of ankle arthroscopy, as well as the types of complications, refer to cases performed fifteen to twenty years ago and include a mixture of invasive and noninvasive distraction methods. As ankle arthroscopy has matured with a move away from invasive distraction and the introduction of improved instruments, it is unclear whether the previously reported complications are reflective of contemporary ankle arthroscopy. We sought to evaluate the types and rates of complications that are associated with contemporary ankle arthroscopy that utilizes noninvasive ankle distraction and a padded foot strap.
Methods We retrospectively reviewed 294 consecutive arthroscopies. All patients underwent the same intraoperative noninvasive distraction protocol. Demographic data, diagnoses, duration of follow-up data, and procedure-related complications were identified, recorded, and analyzed.
Results All 294 cases were eligible for review. There were twenty complications, resulting in an overall complication rate of 6.8%. There were four non-neurologic complications, including one case of deep venous thrombosis, one case of prolonged portal drainage, and two cases of superficial infection. There were sixteen neurologic complications; six were related to the anterolateral portal, and eight patients had dysesthesias involving the dorsal part of the midfoot. When analyzed as a group, patients who were receiving Workers’ Compensation had a higher complication rate than patients who were not receiving Workers’ Compensation (21% versus 4.7%, respectively).
Conclusions Contemporary ankle arthroscopy performed with use of a noninvasive distraction technique is a safe procedure. Our observed complication rate of 6.8% is lower than that reported in a previous benchmark study, although our patients who were receiving Workers’ Compensation had a significantly higher risk of having nerve symptoms. An important benefit of the use of contemporary ankle arthroscopy, in which small-joint arthroscopic instruments and noninvasive distraction techniques are used, is a marked reduction in the rate of non-neurologic complications.
Wanting To Lose Weight & Considering Liposuction? – Learn What You Need To Know Here
Liposuction Lanham is a popular cosmetic procedure that involves removing fat from troublesome areas and sculpting the body’s contours. It is the most popular cosmetic procedure in the US, currently. But there are some misconceptions about it.
Also known as liposculpture, this process is not generally recommended for people who are very overweight. Although some surgeons do offer it as a chance to lose large amounts of weight quickly, most consider the process unsafe. A high incident of complications when combining the procedure with an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) has made this combination illegal in the state of Florida. Additionally, removing large amounts of fat can leave bumps or divots in the skin that are aesthetically unpleasant.
Small incisions are made in the skin, through which tools are inserted to remove fat. A cannula, which is a long, hollow piece of metal tubing, is attached to an aspiration machine which sucks out the freed fat cells. The surgeon moves the cannula quickly between the skin and the muscle, freeing the fat from these other tissues.
Removing fat involves removing water from the body, and this can disturb the normal fluid balance. To counter this, an IV is usually given to the patient. However, flushes of sterile saline or saline solution are usually placed into the body near where the fat is removed as well, in order to provide additional fluid. Mixes may contain epinephrine or lidocaine, compounds that slow bleeding.
Side effects that are annoying rather than dangerous and relatively common include bruising and swelling, as well as slight pain. More serious complications can include infection, damage to the surrounding tissues, and more. But these are much less likely to occur. Some people do experience undesirable results, because it is impossible to accurately predict how each different patient will heal.
Wearing a compression garment over the treated area for a few weeks after surgery is normal. This helps prevent excessive swelling, which can slow healing. Because some swelling is going to occur, the final results of the procedure will not be visible for about six months. However, most of the swelling will have disappeared within a week or so.
When considering any surgery, even liposuction Lanham, people need to be aware of the possible risks as well as benefits. Although it is a relatively safe procedure that thousands of people undergo without complications each year, there are a few cases in which the results are serious or even fatal. Consider carefully both the benefits and the potential risks before signing up for surgery.
Also known as liposculpture, this process is not generally recommended for people who are very overweight. Although some surgeons do offer it as a chance to lose large amounts of weight quickly, most consider the process unsafe. A high incident of complications when combining the procedure with an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) has made this combination illegal in the state of Florida. Additionally, removing large amounts of fat can leave bumps or divots in the skin that are aesthetically unpleasant.
Small incisions are made in the skin, through which tools are inserted to remove fat. A cannula, which is a long, hollow piece of metal tubing, is attached to an aspiration machine which sucks out the freed fat cells. The surgeon moves the cannula quickly between the skin and the muscle, freeing the fat from these other tissues.
Removing fat involves removing water from the body, and this can disturb the normal fluid balance. To counter this, an IV is usually given to the patient. However, flushes of sterile saline or saline solution are usually placed into the body near where the fat is removed as well, in order to provide additional fluid. Mixes may contain epinephrine or lidocaine, compounds that slow bleeding.
Side effects that are annoying rather than dangerous and relatively common include bruising and swelling, as well as slight pain. More serious complications can include infection, damage to the surrounding tissues, and more. But these are much less likely to occur. Some people do experience undesirable results, because it is impossible to accurately predict how each different patient will heal.
Wearing a compression garment over the treated area for a few weeks after surgery is normal. This helps prevent excessive swelling, which can slow healing. Because some swelling is going to occur, the final results of the procedure will not be visible for about six months. However, most of the swelling will have disappeared within a week or so.
When considering any surgery, even liposuction Lanham, people need to be aware of the possible risks as well as benefits. Although it is a relatively safe procedure that thousands of people undergo without complications each year, there are a few cases in which the results are serious or even fatal. Consider carefully both the benefits and the potential risks before signing up for surgery.
2011年5月15日星期日
Colorado Voices: The lonely life of Danny
Every week, I saw him standing, sentry-like, in the same place. A medium-sized figure, he had worn-out black sneakers, faded blue jeans, and a well-washed T-shirt. Gangly pale arms hung listlessly. Baby-blue eyes in a mask-like face surveyed the traffic — nurse aides, licensed practical nurses, social workers, deliverymen, sometimes a doctor, and an occasional visitor.
Every week for years, I said, "Hi, Danny," as I passed down the hallway where he stood. Was there a flash of acknowledgment, or did I just imagine that?
He, like my sister, had once been an in-patient at Fort Logan Mental Health Center.
In the 1970s, Denver, a leader in the community mental health movement, dismantled institutional care for the seriously mentally ill. With psychotropic medications, housing in boarding homes, and supervision by case managers, the mentally ill would function well within an integrated community. Everyone, the well and the ill, would benefit, both in health and in money saved. Such was the mantra, the theory, and the goal.
In 1986, my sister, having spent more than a decade bouncing between boarding homes and acute- care hospitals — where medical professionals would try to stabilize her schizoaffective disorder — entered a nursing home. She, like Danny and other gravely disabled, chronically mentally ill, were quietly re-institutionalized, with no public fanfare, no theory or explanation as to why they did not function under community mental health care. To this day, the mentally ill cared for in nursing homes remain a mostly unheard-of non-entity to the public.
Every week for years, on the way to visit my sister, I passed Danny. His brown, thick hair turned thin and dull. Sometimes, sparse gray stubble resembled a beard.
One day before I could say, "Hi, Danny," he looked directly into my eyes and stepped forward. "I want to show this to you. Nobody ever visits me. So I want to show this to you."
He reached into his jeans, pulled out a worn wallet, slipped a white paper from the bill slot, placed the wallet back into his pocket, then unfolded the lined note paper to reveal an expert pencil sketch of his own face.
Smiling at me, he said, "I was once a really good artist."
"Why thank you, Danny," I said. "What a wonderful drawing! Yes, indeed, you are an artist."
While I gushed, he carefully folded the paper, reversed his steps, and resumed his sentry position.
Never again did he approach me.
Sometime during the next decade, he added portable oxygen and a nasal cannula to his garb. Sometime during the third decade, he left his post. I don't know how old he was, what he died from, or if he ever had a visitor.
Isolation is a given for someone with severe mental illness. The disease itself robs them of their cognitive, artistic and emotive abilities, painful losses that they strive to hide from themselves and others.
Medications, even the newer psychotropics, may eliminate hallucinations and delusions, but often leave the person apathetic, with a blunted personality.
Certainly Danny, during his long illness, spent time in seclusion rooms, with padded floors and walls, a single light bulb on a high ceiling, and a heavy, securely locked door with a small high window. How many days might Danny have spent in such a room — just himself and his disease?
Mental illnesses are often long but not fatal diseases. Patients outlive their parents and often their siblings. They live homeless on our streets, in shelters, in jails and prisons, and in nursing homes. There's no easy way to ascertain exact numbers — I've tried.
Perhaps our society is more comfortable not knowing, not acknowledging how many citizens, like Danny, live decades being treated for major mental illness in our nursing homes.
May is National Mental Health Month. Among 10 recommendations from the advocacy group Mental Health America is for people with mental illness to "connect with others." The rest of us should do our part, get connected, acknowledge the mentally ill, and reach out to help them.
Every week for years, I said, "Hi, Danny," as I passed down the hallway where he stood. Was there a flash of acknowledgment, or did I just imagine that?
He, like my sister, had once been an in-patient at Fort Logan Mental Health Center.
In the 1970s, Denver, a leader in the community mental health movement, dismantled institutional care for the seriously mentally ill. With psychotropic medications, housing in boarding homes, and supervision by case managers, the mentally ill would function well within an integrated community. Everyone, the well and the ill, would benefit, both in health and in money saved. Such was the mantra, the theory, and the goal.
In 1986, my sister, having spent more than a decade bouncing between boarding homes and acute- care hospitals — where medical professionals would try to stabilize her schizoaffective disorder — entered a nursing home. She, like Danny and other gravely disabled, chronically mentally ill, were quietly re-institutionalized, with no public fanfare, no theory or explanation as to why they did not function under community mental health care. To this day, the mentally ill cared for in nursing homes remain a mostly unheard-of non-entity to the public.
Every week for years, on the way to visit my sister, I passed Danny. His brown, thick hair turned thin and dull. Sometimes, sparse gray stubble resembled a beard.
One day before I could say, "Hi, Danny," he looked directly into my eyes and stepped forward. "I want to show this to you. Nobody ever visits me. So I want to show this to you."
He reached into his jeans, pulled out a worn wallet, slipped a white paper from the bill slot, placed the wallet back into his pocket, then unfolded the lined note paper to reveal an expert pencil sketch of his own face.
Smiling at me, he said, "I was once a really good artist."
"Why thank you, Danny," I said. "What a wonderful drawing! Yes, indeed, you are an artist."
While I gushed, he carefully folded the paper, reversed his steps, and resumed his sentry position.
Never again did he approach me.
Sometime during the next decade, he added portable oxygen and a nasal cannula to his garb. Sometime during the third decade, he left his post. I don't know how old he was, what he died from, or if he ever had a visitor.
Isolation is a given for someone with severe mental illness. The disease itself robs them of their cognitive, artistic and emotive abilities, painful losses that they strive to hide from themselves and others.
Medications, even the newer psychotropics, may eliminate hallucinations and delusions, but often leave the person apathetic, with a blunted personality.
Certainly Danny, during his long illness, spent time in seclusion rooms, with padded floors and walls, a single light bulb on a high ceiling, and a heavy, securely locked door with a small high window. How many days might Danny have spent in such a room — just himself and his disease?
Mental illnesses are often long but not fatal diseases. Patients outlive their parents and often their siblings. They live homeless on our streets, in shelters, in jails and prisons, and in nursing homes. There's no easy way to ascertain exact numbers — I've tried.
Perhaps our society is more comfortable not knowing, not acknowledging how many citizens, like Danny, live decades being treated for major mental illness in our nursing homes.
May is National Mental Health Month. Among 10 recommendations from the advocacy group Mental Health America is for people with mental illness to "connect with others." The rest of us should do our part, get connected, acknowledge the mentally ill, and reach out to help them.
hat are the Different Kinds of Liposuction and Why is Traditional Best?
Liposuction is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures because it offers safe and effective fat removal. Traditional liposuction is performed by sucking the fat from underneath your skin with a special tube. This tube is called a cannula, and is attached to a vacuum that sucks the fat from your body. Your New York City liposuction surgeon will insert the cannula through tiny incisions made at various locations throughout your body. He or she will massage your skin and squeeze your tissue to determine the appropriate amount of that that should be removed. Your fat will be loosened by a scraping motion before it is sucked out.
Because of the suction, traditional liposuction is also called suction-assisted liposuction (SAL). You will not feel any pain because you will be under a general anesthesia. Depending on the area treated and amount of fat removed, you may be required to wear a compression garment for several weeks to help protect and shape the treated area.
New Methods Constantly Developing
New liposuction techniques are constantly being developed. However, traditional liposuction using the Tumescent solution stands the test of time.
Several other forms of liposuction include:
Ultrasound Liposuction
Ultrasound-assisted liposuction uses ultrasonic waves to emulsify the fat cells, so they are easier to remove. There are two ways that this energy can be transferred: internally through the cannula, and externally through paddles that are passed over your fat deposits. While the internal method has proven to be effective, it has higher incidents of complications than other techniques. The external method has shown to be effective only when the energy is turned up so high it causes burns.
Power-Assisted Liposuction
In power-assisted liposuction (PAL) the cannula has an oscillating tip that functions like a jackhammer to loosen up fat and other tissues. Power-assisted liposuction can make the procedure quicker and easier for the surgeon, but it may also result in more incidental damage to other tissues.
Laser-Assisted Liposuction
Laser-assisted liposuction uses a laser to liquefy the fat in the area to be treated. Once the fat is liquefied, it is removed from the body. Laser-assisted liposuction claims to remove fat with less damage to surrounding tissue, and with increased skin tightening in the treated areas, but these claims have not been approved by the FDA.
Keep in mind that with liposuction procedures constantly evolving, so are the complications. In order to better guarantee satisfactory results, it is a good idea to stick with the effective, traditional method of liposuction surgery.
Because of the suction, traditional liposuction is also called suction-assisted liposuction (SAL). You will not feel any pain because you will be under a general anesthesia. Depending on the area treated and amount of fat removed, you may be required to wear a compression garment for several weeks to help protect and shape the treated area.
New Methods Constantly Developing
New liposuction techniques are constantly being developed. However, traditional liposuction using the Tumescent solution stands the test of time.
Several other forms of liposuction include:
Ultrasound Liposuction
Ultrasound-assisted liposuction uses ultrasonic waves to emulsify the fat cells, so they are easier to remove. There are two ways that this energy can be transferred: internally through the cannula, and externally through paddles that are passed over your fat deposits. While the internal method has proven to be effective, it has higher incidents of complications than other techniques. The external method has shown to be effective only when the energy is turned up so high it causes burns.
Power-Assisted Liposuction
In power-assisted liposuction (PAL) the cannula has an oscillating tip that functions like a jackhammer to loosen up fat and other tissues. Power-assisted liposuction can make the procedure quicker and easier for the surgeon, but it may also result in more incidental damage to other tissues.
Laser-Assisted Liposuction
Laser-assisted liposuction uses a laser to liquefy the fat in the area to be treated. Once the fat is liquefied, it is removed from the body. Laser-assisted liposuction claims to remove fat with less damage to surrounding tissue, and with increased skin tightening in the treated areas, but these claims have not been approved by the FDA.
Keep in mind that with liposuction procedures constantly evolving, so are the complications. In order to better guarantee satisfactory results, it is a good idea to stick with the effective, traditional method of liposuction surgery.
2011年5月10日星期二
Village man jailed on heroin charge
A Catskill village man with a long arrest record has been charged with sale and possession of heroin, police said Monday.
Tommas J. Lifgren, 34, who has lived on William Street, was arrested May 5 and charged with one count of third-degree criminal sale and possession of a controlled substance, both class B felonies.
Lifgren was arraigned in village court and remanded to the Greene County Jail without bail.
The investigation is continuing and more charges are pending, police said.
According to Lt. Greg Sager, Lifgren was traveling from Columbia County on the day of the arrest.
State Police at Catskill and Livingston, investigators from CNET-Capital and the Greene County District Attorney’s Office assisted Catskill Village Police in the investigation.
In November 2009, Lifgren was arrested in Athens by state police on a warrant. He was arraigned and remanded to the Greene County Jail in lieu of bail.
In March 2010, Lifgren was arrested in the town of Catskill by state police and charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of marijuana, unsafe tires, third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs.
Lifgren was arraigned and remanded to the Greene County Jail in lieu of $2,500 cash bail or $5,000 bond.
On March 12, 2011 Lifgren was arrested again in the town of Catskill by state police and charged with felony and misdemeanor criminal possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor criminal possession of a hypodermic instrument. He was sent to the Greene County Jail.
Later that month in Hudson, Lifgren was arrested by Hudson Police and charged with three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance and one count of possession of a hypodermic instrument. According to police, he was found in possession of narcotics, including a glass crack pipe with crack cocaine, two oxycodone pills, heroin and a hypodermic needle. He was held for arraignment after he attempted to dispose of the pills and heroin.
Tommas J. Lifgren, 34, who has lived on William Street, was arrested May 5 and charged with one count of third-degree criminal sale and possession of a controlled substance, both class B felonies.
Lifgren was arraigned in village court and remanded to the Greene County Jail without bail.
The investigation is continuing and more charges are pending, police said.
According to Lt. Greg Sager, Lifgren was traveling from Columbia County on the day of the arrest.
State Police at Catskill and Livingston, investigators from CNET-Capital and the Greene County District Attorney’s Office assisted Catskill Village Police in the investigation.
In November 2009, Lifgren was arrested in Athens by state police on a warrant. He was arraigned and remanded to the Greene County Jail in lieu of bail.
In March 2010, Lifgren was arrested in the town of Catskill by state police and charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of marijuana, unsafe tires, third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs.
Lifgren was arraigned and remanded to the Greene County Jail in lieu of $2,500 cash bail or $5,000 bond.
On March 12, 2011 Lifgren was arrested again in the town of Catskill by state police and charged with felony and misdemeanor criminal possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor criminal possession of a hypodermic instrument. He was sent to the Greene County Jail.
Later that month in Hudson, Lifgren was arrested by Hudson Police and charged with three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance and one count of possession of a hypodermic instrument. According to police, he was found in possession of narcotics, including a glass crack pipe with crack cocaine, two oxycodone pills, heroin and a hypodermic needle. He was held for arraignment after he attempted to dispose of the pills and heroin.
Cops: Two Teens Caught With Heroin
Police say two local 18-year-olds were found using heroin in a vehicle at the Peachtree Apartment complex Friday.
Officer Adam Feichter was on patrol in the complex when he noticed two suspicious men in a vehicle parked in the lot—and saw them both using heroin, police said.
Ibrahim A. Kariym of Hackettstown was charged with possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a hypodermic needle and resisting arrest. Police said Kariym failed to comply with officers' commands and physically resisted. Bail was set at $20,000.
William M. Grotefend of Long Valley was charged with possession of heroin, being under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bail was set at $15,000, with a 10 percent option.
Both were lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility pending a court appearance.
Officer Adam Feichter was on patrol in the complex when he noticed two suspicious men in a vehicle parked in the lot—and saw them both using heroin, police said.
Ibrahim A. Kariym of Hackettstown was charged with possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a hypodermic needle and resisting arrest. Police said Kariym failed to comply with officers' commands and physically resisted. Bail was set at $20,000.
William M. Grotefend of Long Valley was charged with possession of heroin, being under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bail was set at $15,000, with a 10 percent option.
Both were lodged in the Morris County Correctional Facility pending a court appearance.
2011年5月8日星期日
Rajasthan Royals, Chennai Super Kings in needle contest
JAIPUR: Chennai Super Kings faltered in their rain-hit encounter against the Kolkata Knight Riders, but that's no sign of their capabilities.
Shane Warne and his inspired bunch in the Rajasthan Royals would know that Monday's clash will hold the key to the two sides' future in IPL 4, especially when a place in the playoffs is up for grabs.
With just a point separating the two teams, the verdict becomes all the more crucial. Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders are sitting pretty at the top and the fight for the remaining two places is among the next four teams.
Monday's match will also be the first for Royals after Warne announced his retirement from the IPL. During practice sessions in the run-up to this clash, Warne was full of energy, pumping up the bowlers and batsmen and motivating them to work harder.
He himself didn't bowl much, but monitored his men, even taking down notes during intervals. In his penultimate match at the Royals' home ground, Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Warne will surely bowl his heart out.
CSK will be wary of the Royals' track record at home. Warne's side has lost just one match here this season and Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men would need to plot a specific plan to tackle the Royals.
The Super Kings, equally successful at home, would, by now, know the strategies one needs to adopt to prevail under unfavourable conditions. One of them is to read the surface correctly and play accordingly.
One man Dhoni would depend on would be Subramaniam Badrinath, who has been their 'Man Friday' in IPL 4.
Michael Hussey's form at the top and the rise of Ravichandran Ashwin with the ball has been working well for them.
Suresh Raina has provided the fireworks when it mattered most and Albie Morkel has once again proved why he's Twenty20 cricket's highest wicket-taker in the world.
Shane Warne and his inspired bunch in the Rajasthan Royals would know that Monday's clash will hold the key to the two sides' future in IPL 4, especially when a place in the playoffs is up for grabs.
With just a point separating the two teams, the verdict becomes all the more crucial. Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders are sitting pretty at the top and the fight for the remaining two places is among the next four teams.
Monday's match will also be the first for Royals after Warne announced his retirement from the IPL. During practice sessions in the run-up to this clash, Warne was full of energy, pumping up the bowlers and batsmen and motivating them to work harder.
He himself didn't bowl much, but monitored his men, even taking down notes during intervals. In his penultimate match at the Royals' home ground, Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Warne will surely bowl his heart out.
CSK will be wary of the Royals' track record at home. Warne's side has lost just one match here this season and Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men would need to plot a specific plan to tackle the Royals.
The Super Kings, equally successful at home, would, by now, know the strategies one needs to adopt to prevail under unfavourable conditions. One of them is to read the surface correctly and play accordingly.
One man Dhoni would depend on would be Subramaniam Badrinath, who has been their 'Man Friday' in IPL 4.
Michael Hussey's form at the top and the rise of Ravichandran Ashwin with the ball has been working well for them.
Suresh Raina has provided the fireworks when it mattered most and Albie Morkel has once again proved why he's Twenty20 cricket's highest wicket-taker in the world.
2011年5月5日星期四
Injuries threaten to take needle out of top Super standoff
INJURIES to key players in the Crusaders and Stormers teams ahead of Saturday’s top-of-the-table Super Rugby clash yesterday threatened to weaken what was expected to be one of the most thrilling Super Rugby clashes of the weekend.
Only a few hours after Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder revealed that All Black flyhalf Dan Carter (hamstring) and prop Ben Franks (lower back) would be sidelined for the clash, Stormers coach Allister Coetzee announced that Bok flyhalf Peter Grant and wing Bryan Habana would not feature either.
Carter and Franks join star scrumhalf Andy Ellis and locks Brad Thorn and Sam Whitelock on the casualty list, meaning the Crusaders will be without a handful of stars.
Grant is still struggling to recover from the knee injury that has sidelined him for the past few weeks, so Lionel Cronje will start at flyhalf. Habana, who suffered a rib injury against the Sharks last week, will be replaced by Johann Sadie.
Fortunately for Coetzee, Cronje has done a fine job as a replacement for Grant, but he will face a tough test against the most successful Super Rugby team since the inception of the series.
With Habana injured, Coetzee opted to move Bok utility back Gio Aplon from the right wing to the left, with Sadie taking over at No14.
The good news for Coetzee, however, was that star hooker Tiaan Liebenberg has recovered fully from the knee injury which had ruled him out of the Super Rugby series up to now, and will start on the bench in place of Ethienne Reynecke.
His presence is expected to boost the Stormers’ attack, thanks to his pace, power and ability to burst over the advantage line.
Commenting on the injuries to Grant and Habana, Coetzee said: "We will not play guys who have not recovered fully from injury. There is still a long way to go in the competition, so we have to back our depth. But Peter and Bryan will be ready for the tour and should play next week (against the Chiefs)."
Coetzee paid little attention to the absence of Carter and Franks from the Crusaders team. He said: "They have good depth throughout their squad and they have won games with Matt Berquist at flyhalf, so we are expecting nothing less from them. They have quality players throughout their squad and they don’t have many weaknesses, so it is going to be a tough clash. They will also want to get one against us after we beat them at Newlands last year."
Coetzee admitted it would take a brave 22-man effort and an accurate performance to register another morale-boosting victory before the Stormers depart for New Zealand.
"We have to pitch up with the same physical intensity (that) we displayed against the Sharks and we have to be accurate in all areas of our game. The Crusaders have a strong pack, good looseforwards and their backs are very dangerous on attack, so they will ask different questions to the Sharks. There is no doubt that we will have to be at our best."
n Springbok and Bulls prop Gurthrö Steenkamp was ruled out for the remainder of the Super Rugby series yesterday after failing to make a speedy recovery from a fracture in his forearm, which has sidelined him since late March.
However, he told Business Day he had no doubt that he would recover in time for the Rugby World Cup.
The player missed the Springbok year-end tour to the UK last November after breaking his forearm, and then returned in the early rounds of the Super Rugby series before suffering a second fracture.
Bulls team doctor Org Strauss said: "Gurthrö saw the specialist on Tuesday for his follow-up consultation, but the news was not that good. His arm is recovering, but slower than initially expected and slower than we thought it would. With some very important rugby coming up later in the year, a call was made to give Steenkamp sufficient time to recover. The decision was taken with the World Cup in mind."
Asked if he would recover in time to play in the international spectacle, Steenkamp said: "Yeah, definitely."
Only a few hours after Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder revealed that All Black flyhalf Dan Carter (hamstring) and prop Ben Franks (lower back) would be sidelined for the clash, Stormers coach Allister Coetzee announced that Bok flyhalf Peter Grant and wing Bryan Habana would not feature either.
Carter and Franks join star scrumhalf Andy Ellis and locks Brad Thorn and Sam Whitelock on the casualty list, meaning the Crusaders will be without a handful of stars.
Grant is still struggling to recover from the knee injury that has sidelined him for the past few weeks, so Lionel Cronje will start at flyhalf. Habana, who suffered a rib injury against the Sharks last week, will be replaced by Johann Sadie.
Fortunately for Coetzee, Cronje has done a fine job as a replacement for Grant, but he will face a tough test against the most successful Super Rugby team since the inception of the series.
With Habana injured, Coetzee opted to move Bok utility back Gio Aplon from the right wing to the left, with Sadie taking over at No14.
The good news for Coetzee, however, was that star hooker Tiaan Liebenberg has recovered fully from the knee injury which had ruled him out of the Super Rugby series up to now, and will start on the bench in place of Ethienne Reynecke.
His presence is expected to boost the Stormers’ attack, thanks to his pace, power and ability to burst over the advantage line.
Commenting on the injuries to Grant and Habana, Coetzee said: "We will not play guys who have not recovered fully from injury. There is still a long way to go in the competition, so we have to back our depth. But Peter and Bryan will be ready for the tour and should play next week (against the Chiefs)."
Coetzee paid little attention to the absence of Carter and Franks from the Crusaders team. He said: "They have good depth throughout their squad and they have won games with Matt Berquist at flyhalf, so we are expecting nothing less from them. They have quality players throughout their squad and they don’t have many weaknesses, so it is going to be a tough clash. They will also want to get one against us after we beat them at Newlands last year."
Coetzee admitted it would take a brave 22-man effort and an accurate performance to register another morale-boosting victory before the Stormers depart for New Zealand.
"We have to pitch up with the same physical intensity (that) we displayed against the Sharks and we have to be accurate in all areas of our game. The Crusaders have a strong pack, good looseforwards and their backs are very dangerous on attack, so they will ask different questions to the Sharks. There is no doubt that we will have to be at our best."
n Springbok and Bulls prop Gurthrö Steenkamp was ruled out for the remainder of the Super Rugby series yesterday after failing to make a speedy recovery from a fracture in his forearm, which has sidelined him since late March.
However, he told Business Day he had no doubt that he would recover in time for the Rugby World Cup.
The player missed the Springbok year-end tour to the UK last November after breaking his forearm, and then returned in the early rounds of the Super Rugby series before suffering a second fracture.
Bulls team doctor Org Strauss said: "Gurthrö saw the specialist on Tuesday for his follow-up consultation, but the news was not that good. His arm is recovering, but slower than initially expected and slower than we thought it would. With some very important rugby coming up later in the year, a call was made to give Steenkamp sufficient time to recover. The decision was taken with the World Cup in mind."
Asked if he would recover in time to play in the international spectacle, Steenkamp said: "Yeah, definitely."
UCF Professor wins Gates grant for needle-free vaccines
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has granted University of Central Florida Professor Henry Daniell a two-year, $761,302 grant to support work which could result in less expensive, needle-free vaccines.
Daniell's vaccine production method uses genetically engineered tobacco and lettuce plants that are ground up and added to vaccines. But instead of using traditional needles, the vaccine is delivered in a capsule. This method of vaccine development is faster than fermentation and easier than using inactivated or avirulent forms of bacteria or viruses because no refrigeration is required. That's a key to successfully delivering vaccines to the poorest parts of the world.
The grant will help Daniell continue his research on developing a new polio vaccine based on this method. But the technique could also be applied to more common diseases like malaria, cholera, dengue, anthrax and plague in the future, a release notes.
"If this proceeds as we expect, it will revolutionize how vaccines are made," Daniell said. "We're currently using decades-old technology that is expensive and inefficient. Our new process is a game changer that could make a global difference."
Daniell's vaccine production method uses genetically engineered tobacco and lettuce plants that are ground up and added to vaccines. But instead of using traditional needles, the vaccine is delivered in a capsule. This method of vaccine development is faster than fermentation and easier than using inactivated or avirulent forms of bacteria or viruses because no refrigeration is required. That's a key to successfully delivering vaccines to the poorest parts of the world.
The grant will help Daniell continue his research on developing a new polio vaccine based on this method. But the technique could also be applied to more common diseases like malaria, cholera, dengue, anthrax and plague in the future, a release notes.
"If this proceeds as we expect, it will revolutionize how vaccines are made," Daniell said. "We're currently using decades-old technology that is expensive and inefficient. Our new process is a game changer that could make a global difference."
2011年5月2日星期一
D. Medical Subsidiary, Spring-Set Health Solutions Ltd
D. Medical Industries Ltd. (NASDAQ:DMED)(TASE:DMED) ("D. Medical" or the "Company"), a medical device company engaged through its subsidiaries in the research, development, manufacture and sale of innovative products for diabetes treatment and drug delivery, has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") has granted its subsidiary, Spring-Set Health Solutions Ltd. (formerly "Medx- Set Ltd."), 510(k) clearance to market its Spring™ Universal Infusion Sets (formerly "Lighty DD Infusion Sets") in the United States.
The U.S. insulin pump and disposables market is large and growing. According to the American Diabetes Association, approximately 26 million diabetes patients live in the United States, constituting 8.3% of its population. Of those, experts estimate that 5.4%, or 1.4 million, suffer from Type 1 diabetes and 350,000 currently rely on insulin pump therapy. A recent U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report estimated that 1 in 3 Americans will have diabetes by 2050 if current trends continue.
The Spring Universal Infusion Set is compatible with most insulin pumps currently available on the market. Going beyond the minimum requirements of subcutaneous drug delivery, the Spring Universal offers best-in-class features such as a hidden, auto-retractable needle, 360° connector, and smallest one-click, all-in-one inserter.
The core of the Spring Universal Infusion Set is the proprietary Detach-Detect mechanism. In the case the base of the infusion set detaches from the user's body, a blocking mechanism is triggered which, in turn, creates an occlusion. This evokes an occlusion alarm in an insulin pump. This unique feature enables exceptional reliability for continuously controlled and monitored insulin delivery, providing additional safety and peace of mind - especially for athletes and the parents of pediatric patients.
While nothing can completely eliminate the intrusive feeling of the needle's insertion in the daily experience of the person with insulin-dependent diabetes, the Spring Universal Infusion Set has a number of incomparable features specifically focused on reducing the sensation of pain and discomfort. The sensation of pain is controlled by a combination of factors - the needle thickness (gauge), needle shape, speed of insertion, vibration, and tissue friction. Clocked at 12 m/sec, the all-in-one Spring Universal Infusion Set is currently the fastest available insertion mechanism. Besides the convenience of not having to pre-cock the trigger mechanism, the two springs (one responsible for the insertion, and the other for auto-retraction of the needle) enable lightning speed and accuracy.
The U.S. insulin pump and disposables market is large and growing. According to the American Diabetes Association, approximately 26 million diabetes patients live in the United States, constituting 8.3% of its population. Of those, experts estimate that 5.4%, or 1.4 million, suffer from Type 1 diabetes and 350,000 currently rely on insulin pump therapy. A recent U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report estimated that 1 in 3 Americans will have diabetes by 2050 if current trends continue.
The Spring Universal Infusion Set is compatible with most insulin pumps currently available on the market. Going beyond the minimum requirements of subcutaneous drug delivery, the Spring Universal offers best-in-class features such as a hidden, auto-retractable needle, 360° connector, and smallest one-click, all-in-one inserter.
The core of the Spring Universal Infusion Set is the proprietary Detach-Detect mechanism. In the case the base of the infusion set detaches from the user's body, a blocking mechanism is triggered which, in turn, creates an occlusion. This evokes an occlusion alarm in an insulin pump. This unique feature enables exceptional reliability for continuously controlled and monitored insulin delivery, providing additional safety and peace of mind - especially for athletes and the parents of pediatric patients.
While nothing can completely eliminate the intrusive feeling of the needle's insertion in the daily experience of the person with insulin-dependent diabetes, the Spring Universal Infusion Set has a number of incomparable features specifically focused on reducing the sensation of pain and discomfort. The sensation of pain is controlled by a combination of factors - the needle thickness (gauge), needle shape, speed of insertion, vibration, and tissue friction. Clocked at 12 m/sec, the all-in-one Spring Universal Infusion Set is currently the fastest available insertion mechanism. Besides the convenience of not having to pre-cock the trigger mechanism, the two springs (one responsible for the insertion, and the other for auto-retraction of the needle) enable lightning speed and accuracy.
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