Monthly Archives: July 2010

iPhone 4 review: Apple’s latest is much more than an upgrade – Chicago Sun-Times

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Washington Post
iPhone 4 review: Apple's latest is much more than an upgrade
Chicago Sun-Times
The iPhone 4 is 4.4 times faster than its predecessor when uploading. That's a high enough increase that I insisted that the iPhone 4 submit to an immediate ...
Apple's iPhone 4 is 'the one to beat'IDG
iPhone 4 ReviewSlashGear (blog)
iPhone 4 review: hands on with FaceTime, display, camera and moreBeatweek Magazine

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Exercise Helps Reduce Falls in Young and Old

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(HealthDay News) -- Regular exercise reduces the risk of falls in both young and old, a new study shows.

Falls are a major hazard in the United States, with about 19,000 people dying from them each year and an estimated 8 million seeking treatment in emergency rooms annually.

The protective effect of exercise was documented by University of Pittsburgh researchers, who analyzed data from people taking part in the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study from 1970 to 1989 and in a follow-up survey conducted in 1990. The survey asked whether they had fallen within the previous year and, if so, what they were doing when they fell.

Participants also took a treadmill test and answered questions about how many minutes of aerobic exercise they got each week.

Twenty percent of the 10,615 participants, aged 20 to 87, reported falling in the previous year. Of those, 15 percent fell while walking.

In general, people need about two hours of exercise a week to reduce the risk of falls, the researchers found.

Women were 2.8 times more likely than men to fall while walking, but the women's fitness levels appeared to make little difference. Fitness levels in men were important, however: Men with low fitness levels were 2.2 times more likely to fall than men with high fitness levels. Read more...
Anti aging supplement

Aurora Interactive and PLUS Diagnostics Enters Into a Deal to Power Pathology Labs With Digital Communications Technology

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MONTREAL, QUEBEC, Jun 29, 2010 (Marketwire via COMTEX) --

Aurora Interactive, a world leader in digital pathology communications announced today the company has signed a sales agreement for its mScope Clinical communication platform and viewer with U.S.-based PLUS Diagnostics Inc. The platform has many applications; including the Aurora Interactive mScope Clinical platform and viewer to support PLUS Diagnostics laboratories and their professional staff to continually exceed their clients' quality expectations.

"Our company is dedicated to providing our clients with outstanding service supported by state-of-the-art technology. Our goal is to ensure they have the latest advancements in technology that will help them achieve better outcomes on behalf of their patients. The addition of the mScope to our laboratory infrastructure supports us in achieving this goal," said David Pauluzzi, President and Chief Operating Officer of PLUS Diagnostics.

Pierre Le Fevre, President and CEO or Aurora Interactive stated: "We are proud to have been chosen by PLUS Diagnostics, a laboratory industry technology leader to boost their online connectivity solutions utilizing leading-edge technologies that deliver anywhere, anytime, access to information that healthcare professionals require to make decisions about patient care." Since 2008, Aurora Interactive has broadened its market penetration to Austria, France, Portugal and Spain for its mScope Education platform; and Canada, Holland and the United States for its Clinical platform.

About Aurora Interactive Ltd.

Aurora Interactive has developed the leading web based software platform (mScope) for simplification, productivity and ease of communications. mScope's Universal Web Viewer has collaborative tools to view medical slides and images anytime, anywhere, regardless of file format. The software has three applications to aid digital pathology web based communications needs: mScope Education, mScope Clinical, and mScope Universal Viewer. Aurora's mission is to improve patient outcomes and help members of the medical community achieve their full potential by eliminating the learning, diagnostic and collaborative restrictions imposed by time and space. http://www.aurorainteractive.com

About PLUS Diagnostics

PLUS Diagnostics is a leading national anatomic pathology company that provides a full range of multi-specialty services, including extensive diagnostic procedures and specialist consultations. Accredited by the College of American Pathologists, PLUS Diagnostics has long been recognized for exceptional service and quality. The company currently focuses on a broad base of specialty pathology services, including urology, gastroenterology and hematology/oncology. For more information, visit, http://www.plusdx.com.

SOURCE: Aurora Interactive Ltd.

NASA’s TRMM Satellite Predicts Heavy Rainfall in Hurricane Alex

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Hurricane Alex is generating some very heavy rainfall, and the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite known as TRMM has been scheming it from its orbit in space.

As predicted by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, Florida, Alex intensified immediately it entered the warm waters of the southwest Gulf of Mexico.

At NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., scientists produced an analysis of Alex's rainfall using data captured by the TRMM satellite on June 29, 2010 at 1350 UTC (9:50 a.m. EDT). At that time the continuous winds around Alex were estimated to be 60 knots (~69 mph). Alex continued to reinforce and was classified as a hurricane early on 30 June 2010. This made Alex the first hurricane in the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season.

The rainfall analysis used TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR) data and TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) data. The TMI data showed that a intense band of precipitation (some areas showed rain falling at more than 2 inches per hour) was spiraling into the center of Alex's increasing circulation. The precipitation analysis was overlaid on visible and infrared data from TRMM's Visible Infrared Scanner (VIRS). In this image a Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES East) visible image was used to fill in locations not viewed by the TRMM satellite.

Lyot Crater on Mars

The TRMM satellite's data on June 29, 2010 at 9:50 a.m. EDT showed some heavy rain (red) falling at up to 2 inches per hour, spiraling toward Hurricane Alex's center. The yellow and green areas indicate moderate rainfall between .78 to 1.57 inches per hour. Credit: NASA, Hal Pierce

Alex is expected to continue to be a big rainmaker when it makes landfall. Rainfall accumulations are anticipated between 6 and 12 inches, with isolated amounts of 20 inches.


Tropical Storm-force winds are expected to reach coastal areas in the counsel areas this afternoon, while hurricane-force winds will reach the coast tonight. In addition, the National Hurricane Center noted "a hazardous storm surge will raise water levels by as much as 3 to 5 feet above ground level along the immediate coast to the north of where the center makes landfall."

By 11 a.m. EDT, Alex was still a category one hurricane with maximum persistent winds near 80 mph. Alex was located about 145 miles (235 km) east of La Pesca, Mexico and 190 miles (310 km) southeast of Brownsville, Texas. That makes Alex's center near 23.8 North and 95.5 West. Alex is moving northwest at 7 mph (11 km/hr), and has a least central pressure near 961 millibars.

Satellite data show that Alex is a large hurricane and the hurricane force winds expand outward up to 60 miles (95 km) from the center. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 200 miles (325 km) mainly to the northeast of the center.

The National Hurricane Center noted today that "Given such a low minimum pressure...the existing satellite presentation and a complimentary environment for intensification...the winds should amplify today and Alex could reach category two before landfall."

For more information visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hurricanes/archives/2010/h2010_alex.html

It sounds so “nutritionous”

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Dietitians are a critical part of modern medicine. In the hospital, dieticians not only educate patients on dietary treatment of diseases such as diabetes and heart disease; they also evaluate the nutritional status of critically ill patients and develop nutrition plans that may involve tube feeding or intravenous feeding. This is complicated, and takes into account a patient’s nutritional needs, medical conditions, etc. They are highly trained professionals.

If you want to see a dietitian lose it, call them a “nutritionist”. “Dietitian” is a specific profession governed by specific educational and licensing requirements. A dietitian can call themselves a nutritionist, but so can just about anyone else. As with other health care professions, dietitians have good reason to protect their profession. Protecting their profession protects their patients. Dietary fads are among the most prolific of medical scams and good information can be hard to find. Registered dietitians explicitly strive to utilize evidence to guide their practice. And critically, they have a published Code of Ethics.*

As is not uncommon, there are those who, in the name of “health freedom” (and profit), object to the dietitian “monopoly” on nutritional therapy.   One way they have done this is to claim the title “nutritionist” and set up a certification system. Once this structure is in place, it’s easier to get states to approve them as licensed professionals.  In this second area—state licensing—they are enlisting allies that comprise many of  ”the usual suspects”.

Clinical Nutritionists

One group that is attempting to create an alternative path to nutritional therapy is the Clinical Nutrition Certification Board. Upon first learning of “clinical nutritionists” my first question was why would anyone want a second, parallel route to dietary science?  What’s wrong with the system we already have in place?

First let’s review the basic qualifications for registered dietitians (RDs):

  • Earned a bachelor’s degree with course work approved by ADA’s Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education. Coursework typically includes food and nutrition sciences, foodservice systems management, business, economics, computer science, sociology, biochemistry, physiology, microbiology and chemistry.
  • Completed an accredited, supervised practice program at a health-care facility, community agency or foodservice corporation.
  • Passed a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
  • Completes continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration.

The requirements for the clinical nutrition board look superficially similar.  But looking a little deeper reveals some disturbing trends.  For example, rather than the real-world training program required for an RD, they require online coursework.   And they explicitly court naturopaths, a group of doctor-wannabes who claim to be “integrative” but who actually practice magic rather than medicine, including in their practices such nonsense as homeopathy and reiki.  And as we’ve seen time and time again, once you open the door on one disproved or implausible practice, anything can (and will) walk through.

It would appear that the CNCB is not only encouraging fake doctors to apply, but also explicitly requiring “training” in fake medicine.   In the description of their examinations, they require:

Knowledge of alternative evaluation techniques (i.e., homeopathic interrogation, acupuncture meridian interrogation, kinesiology, chelation therapy, Herbology, reflexology, allergic food provocation testing electromagnetic frequency challenge) as related to nutritional assessment

Any certification process that requires a knowledge of  ”electromagnetic frequency challenge” without mentioning it as a wallet-emptying magic trick is not worthy of official recognition.

But official recognition is exactly what they want.

State Licensing

The state of Michigan is currently working on regulations for the licensing of dietitians and nutritionists.  A Michigan naturopath is rather concerned about this process and is helping campaign on behalf of the “Michigan Nutrition Association”.

Our mission is to serve the interests of the public and Michigan professionals who incorporate human nutrition in their practice and patient care. We envision a vibrant community of CNS, CCN, CNC, CN, DACBN, Pharmacists, Medical Doctors, Nurses, Chiropractors, Naturopathic Doctors and many other professionals working in the interest of public health.

What this essentially means is that they are lobbying to allow pseudo-professionals such as chiropractors and naturopaths to be “licensed dietitians and nutritionists”.  In addition to giving them a patina of legitimacy (but no more than a patina), it might allow them to order laboratory tests (and there is no shortage of profit to be found in these).

This tactic of seeking legal rather than professional legitimacy is a growing and disturbing trend.  Hopefully, the legal process will be informed more by evidence than by the lobbying of pseudo-professionals, but I’m not terribly optimistic.

_________________

*This code is much more sophisticated and transparent than that offered by the CNCB, and includes this statement:

6. The dietetics practitioner does
not engage in false or misleading
practices or communications.
a. The dietetics practitioner does
not engage in false or deceptive
advertising of his or her
services.
b. The dietetics practitioner promotes
or endorses specific goods
or products only in a manner
that is not false and misleading.
c. The dietetics practitioner provides
accurate and truthful information
in communicating
with the public.
6. The dietetics practitioner does
not engage in false or misleading
practices or communications.
a. The dietetics practitioner does
not engage in false or deceptive
advertising of his or her
services.
b. The dietetics practitioner promotes
or endorses specific goods
or products only in a manner
that is not false and misleading.
c. The dietetics practitioner provides
accurate and truthful information
in communicating
with the public.


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Wanna Buy an Island?

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Chris Krolow, CEO of Private Islands Inc., recently sat down with the Toronto Sun to discuss all things private islands.

According to the Sun island fever has been growing in the country due to a record breaking jack pot in the countries lottery. Krolow discussed the plethora of celebrities who own or have owned private islands including John Lennon, Johny Depp and Faith Hill and Tim McGraw. Krolow was careful to note that Chris Krolow, CEO of Private Islands Inc. and publisher of Private Islands Magazine, says celebrities make up a small percentage of island owners, with many buyers being business people looking for cottages.

There are islands to be had off Nova Scotia for under $100,000. And he can probably round something up in Georgian Bay for around $300,000.

To read the full article visit the Toronto Sun

Cool Cars: 1959 Troy-Chevrolet

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The specials and sport customs of the 1950s are always fascinating, if not for the racing history and the various personalities that built the cars, then for the can-do attitude embodied in the cars. Sure, Chevrolet had the Corvette, and plenty of British and other European roadsters were avai

What so proudly we hail: Area July 4th fireworks displays and festivities … – News Sentinel

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Columbus Dispatch
What so proudly we hail: Area July 4th fireworks displays and festivities ...
News Sentinel
Donations benefit Jorge Gonzalez's medical bills. ?FREEDOM ON MAIN: Fort Wayne Philharmonic concert, 8 pm Saturday, Main Street, downtown Roanoke. ...
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OUR VIEW: No fireworks? Don't blame City HallColorado Springs Gazette

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Online Pathology: Moving Forward, Standing Still

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This post marks the 1000th for the Digital Pathology Blog in about 3 years time.  It is hard to imagine I would still be at this 3 years later on a nearly daily basis with the goal of informing and educating fellow pathologists and the laboratory community on issues related to digital pathology, telehealth, image analysis, industry news, research and development and topics related to the practice of and pathology and laboratory medicine mixed in with some general health news, current affairs and humor.

For post #1000 I have asked Dr. Ed Uthman who has embraced online pathology or Pathology 2.0 as I refer to it for more than a decade.  I asked him to provide his thoughts and opinions on where we have been and what we need to do as a community.  I have shared some of Ed's thoughts on this blog from the PATHO-L listserv he mentions as well as video from his YouTube channel.  He also regularly uploads high quality gross and microscopic images on Flickr and can be found on Twitter and Facebook.

Thank you Ed for your thoughts and insights and to the beginning of the next 1000 posts.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In 1999, I wrote an article for Clinics in Laboratory Medicine, in which I presented an optimistic view of the future of online pathology. I predicted a paradigm shift from the ancien regime--a top-down flow of scientific knowledge--to a fully interactive network, where investigators who create most of the knowledge would have ready access to the pathologists in the field. The latter would provide valuable feedback that would help guide future research in the direction of efficiency and pragmatism. Eventually, the entire specialty could evolve into a worldwide colloquium of scientists and practitioners. At the time, I had been online (initially with a 300-baud modem) since around 1987. I started with GEnie, the information service run by General Electric. There was a "Medical Roundtable" in which I could discuss issues with other physicians, including the occasional pathologist. The medium was strictly plain text; data transmission speeds made the sharing of images impractical, video impossible. As we all know, steady progress in bandwidth availability, data storage, and client processing power led to the multimedia online paradise we enjoy today. So, just as those of us who grew up with the Jetsons might ask where the flying cars are, I have to ask, where is the online pathology paradise? Consider:

  • Medical publishers, which used to be our major source of useful information, are now a clogged bottleneck for same. Although most journals have online editions, access to full text is prohibitively expensive. Just to view a single article, I have to pay almost as much as Medicare pays me to examine and report on a biopsy specimen. The other day, an academic pathologist told me that a publisher had complained when he made a PDF of one of his own articles available free for downloading. Keep in mind that these publishers do no scientific research, write no manuscripts, rely extensively on volunteer editors, and pay no royalties. Yet, one has the chutzpah to enforce its copyright agreement against its own contributor. All this in the era of Wikipedia, where you can find detailed information on the most obscure of topics, all free of charge.
  • Traditional leaders in organized pathology have fallen far short of their potential. The American Society for Clinical Pathology has mutated into a retail storefront for (mostly mediocre) educational materials. The College of American Pathologists, which initially dragged its feet in meeting the challenge of the World Wide Web, finally sprang forth with an extensive Web presence. Unfortunately it has the most byzantine user interface imaginable, courtesy of third party vendors with apparently no understanding of the needs of pathologists. Fortunately, there is a bright shining star in this arena, the US and Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP), which makes all the educational materials for its annual meetings freely available for downloading, by anyone, with no password required. I will have to grant kudos with oak leaf clusters to USCAP executive director Fred Silva, who throughout his career has been three steps ahead of everyone else.
  • The medieval academic system soldiers on. Hieratic figures, the published experts, remain confined to expensive journals, textbooks, and seminars. They are rarely or never seen in demotic online venues, such as PATHO-L, a free mailing list for pathologists, now with about 800 subscribers, which has enjoyed continuous vigorous traffic since 1994. Universities continue to use the same old-fashioned models in deciding faculty promotion and tenure, concentrating on publications accepted by paper journals. Any young assistant professor who would undertake an ambitious online project, such as a pathology-oriented Wikipedia (or even an immunostain Wikipedia), would have to weigh the likelihood that all that work would be ignored by a promotions committee.

By posting my complaints to a blog, I realize I am preaching to the choir. Still I would take this opportunity to entreat my colleagues to use their bully pulpits to shake up the status quo and move our specialty into the Information Age. We are way behind.

Ed Uthman, MD
Pathologist, Houston/Richmond, Texas, USA
Website: http://web2.airmail.net/uthman
Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/euthman
YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/euthman
Downloads: http://public.me.com/euthman
Twitter: http://twitter.com/euthman

Kagan Hearings Day Three: Coburn’s Freedom Train, Abortion and Military … – RH Reality Check (blog)

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FOXNews
Kagan Hearings Day Three: Coburn's Freedom Train, Abortion and Military ...
RH Reality Check (blog)
In gathering "the best medical evidence possible," she relayed, to President Clinton, a memorandum from the American College of Obstetricians and ...
Wash. Times twists facts to bash Kagan, SotomayorMedia Matters for America
Hatch Asked, But Did Kagan Tell?Human Events (blog)
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