Handwritten Video Tutorials in Medicine

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Please note: The information in the following videos has not been verified by me. The purpose of this post is just to present the idea of this approach to medical education, not to recommend the content of the videos.

Here is the third video tutorial on electrocardiogram (ECG): ECG 3 - Segments, Intervals & Diseases:

Here is what the completed PDF looks like at the end of the drawing:

http://www.handwrittentutorials.com/pdf/pdf_69.pdf

Topics of the videos

Anatomy
Endocrinology
Immunology
Mathematics
Neuroscience
Pharmacology
Physiology

References

Handwritten Video Tutorials in Medicine http://goo.gl/ZxFhb and http://goo.gl/R8xse

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"Wonder drug" dogs are the only animals that look at right side of human face where emotions are expressed

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People who have dogs as pets are much less likely to have a heart attack. If they do have a heart attack, they are 2-3 times more likely to survive it.

Mitochondrial genetics studies have shown conclusively that dogs have descended from wolves. Dogs' genes are 99.8% the same as the wolf genes, yet dogs behave in a fundamentally different way.

Over more than 100,000 years dogs have evolved to recognize human emotions. It has been a collaborative process all along. Humans are able to recognize 6 types of dog barks expressing emotions and "intentions" such as fear, excitement, aggression and so on. Dogs are the only animals that specifically look at the right side of the human face where emotions are expressed (see the NOVA video and website below).

Dogs follow directions while chimpanzees, the apes evolutionary closest to humans, do not. The smartest dog can learn 300 different words which is the vocabulary size of a 2-year-old child.

The "400 mnemonic":

400 million dogs worldwide
400 breeds of dogs have been developed by humans

According to a Cleveland Clinic psychologist, "dogs could be called wonder drugs":

"Dogs can provide people with many things. Protection, friendship, and unconditional love top the list, but they may also provide health benefits, too."

How smart are dogs, and what makes them such ideal companions? Dogs Decoded: Nova. Netflix.

Comments from Twitter:

Heidi Allen @dreamingspires: I want one!

References:

Dogs Decoded transcript and more. NOVA.

Image source: Yellow Labrador Retriever, Wikipedia, GNU Free Documentation License.

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Virtual dissection table, stretcher-sized multi-touch screen, a powerful tool for training medical students

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Onstage at TED2012, Jack Choi demonstrates a powerful tool for training medical students: a stretcher-sized multi-touch screen of the human body that lets you explore, dissect and understand the body's parts and systems.

Jack is the CEO of Anatomage, a company specializing in 3D medical technology. See the TED video embedded below:

Comments from Twitter:

Mike Cadogan @sandnsurf: NEED! ...Virtual dissection table, stretcher-sized multi-touch screen bit.ly/IIeko3

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Social media and me – Rheumatologist shares his experience

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This is a presentation by Dr. Ronan Kavanagh, Rheumatologist, Blogger, and Social Media in Healthcare advocate at Western Rheumatology, Galway, Ireland. His website is at ronankavanagh.wordpress.com

Socmed and me

View more presentations from Ronan Kavanagh

Comments from Twitter:

Dr. Ronan Kavanagh @RonanTKavanagh: @DrVes Thanks! You may notice I pinched a slide idea of two from you. Thanks for that too...

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Mosquito biting activity increases 500 times during a full moon phase, and they prefer blondes with smelly feet

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Mosquitoes appear to prefer blonde people with smelly feet. Did you see the moon last night? Got mosquito spray? Mosquito biting activity increases 500 times during a full moon phase! There are more striking facts in this video excerpt from National Geographic.

The video is part of the Amazing Animals YouTube playlist by National Geographic:

Medical Geek Humor on Twitter

The tweets below are part of the series Medical Geek Humor on Twitter - they recall a TED moment from 2009:

@loic Bill Gates released mosquitoes at #TED we're all leaving the room and getting sick about 4 hours ago from web


@stevewhitaker Don't worry about the buggy mosquitos Gates released at #ted. Microsoft's working on a patch that's due out next year. about 14 hours ago from twitterrific
Ves Dimov, M.D.AllergyNotes Releasing mosquitoes by Bill Gates into a startled crowd at TED described as "an amazing TED moment" http://is.gd/iu0o about 12 hours ago from web

Ves Dimov, M.D.AllergyNotes Gates spreads malaria message with mosquitoes http://tinyurl.com/cxwo2e 12 minutes ago from TweetDeck

Aaron Loganpyknosis Nice to hear Bill Gates picked up a hobby during his retirement: entomology. http://is.gd/izJn (Not surprised he likes the blood-suckers.) 14 minutes ago from web

Aaron Loganpyknosis Don't get me wrong. Not saying B Gates is a bad person. He's not. He just created and championed software that can suck the life out of you. 12 minutes ago from web
Aaron Loganpyknosis BTW, now that I understand the context, I think this is a winner of a tweet: http://is.gd/izK5 11 minutes ago from web: "If Steve Jobs had released mosquitoes, everyone would be wanting one."

If you are included in this post but would like to have your tweet removed for any reason, please email me and will comply with your request the same day.

Comments from Twitter:

Vijay @scanman: Mosquitoes are mini-vampires

Tariq @ucisee: Mosquito biting activity increases 500 times during a full moon phase - "appear to pref blonde with smelly feet."

Kathy Mackey @mkmackey: Ha! No one likes full moon!

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Berries May Contain Potent Weapon vs. Parkinson's

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Blueberries and Strawberries May Protect Against Parkinson's Disease

By Denise Mann WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

April 5, 2012 -- Can two or more servings of blueberries or strawberries a week help lower risk of Parkinson's disease?

Maybe, according to a new study published in Neurology.

Men and women who ate berries two or more times a week were nearly 25% less likely to develop Parkinson's disease than their counterparts who had less than one serving per month.

Exactly how these fruits may help lower risk is not known, but berries are rich in powerful antioxidants -- known as flavonoids -- which may protect brain cells from damage. Flavonoids are found in fruits and vegetables.

When the researchers looked at the data for men and women separately, the real benefit seemed to go to the men, not the women.

Overall, men who had the most flavonoids in their diet -- including sources such as berries, tea, apples, and red wine -- were 40% less likely to develop Parkinson's than those who ate the least.

Women who ate a high amount of flavonoids were no less likely to develop Parkinson's disease than those who ate the least amount, the study showed.

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Berries May Contain Potent Weapon vs. Parkinson's

Blood Management Summit and App – Transfuse 2012

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Announcement: Blood Management Summit - Transfuse 2012 will be held on April 19-20, 2012 at the JW Marriott in Scottsdale, Arizona.

This conference has been developed with collaboration between Mayo Clinic and Hartford Hospital, building upon the success of three previous national conferences. "Transfuse 2012" is a unique multi-disciplinary conference focused on exploring the current state-of-the-art techniques and programs to reduce allogeneic blood utilization in hospitals. This international conference will feature national and international blood management experts from China, New Zealand and Australia along with a unique iPad app launch and one-of-a-kind hands-on animal lab.

Mayo Clinic's Mark H. Ereth, M.D. introduces the conference and the iPad app in this 3-minute video:

This conference is designed for all physicians, including surgeons and anesthesiologists, perfusionists, nurses and leaders in quality and patient safety. The conference is a CME accredited activity for physicians, nurses and perfusionists.

The Conference Website is: http://www.mayo.edu/cme/anesthesiology-2012r780

One of the course directors is Dr. Ajay Kumar, Chief of Division of Hospital Medicine at Hartford Hospital, and a good friend of mine. Another friend from the time I worked at Cleveland Clinic is also on faculty, Dr. Moises Auron.

It should be a great conference. Go check it out.

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Chico Chiropractor Finds Nutritional Lab Testing & Detox Vital to Successful Weight Loss

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CHICO, CA--(Marketwire -04/05/12)- Masula Chiropractic Neurology and Family Wellness announced that the practice has had significant success helping patients lose weight through a combination of nutritional testing and detoxification diets. The center's detox diet is designed to remove chemicals and environmental toxins that can build up in the body over time. The practice also supports weight management and long-term weight loss through its nutritional lab testing program. In addition to weight loss support, the Chico chiropractor provides spinal decompression therapy, neuropathology and physiotherapy for natural back pain management and injury recovery.

Chico chiropractor Dr. Larry Masula stated that at his practice, Masula Chiropractic Neurology and Family Wellness, they provide nutritional detox and testing services because they aid in weight loss plans.

According to the wellness doctor, these services help remove toxins from the body while identifying missing nutrients. Together with chiropractic care, Dr. Masula says the wellness care can help bring balance back to the body.

"Every day, from the air we breathe to the food we eat, our bodies are bombarded with environmental toxins," said Dr. Masula. "It's no surprise then that many patients are struggling with weight management, fatigue, stress and illness. The liver and kidneys naturally flush out toxins, but when our bodies become overloaded, these organs begin to suffer. Toxins then build up in our bloodstreams, affecting other organs and our metabolism."

Dr. Masula identifies food packed with preservatives and artificial ingredients, as well as indoor and outdoor air pollutants, as primary causes for toxin build up. According to Dr. Masula, symptoms of toxin overload include fatigue, joint pain, mood swings, insomnia and low-grade illness.

"Many of our patients complain of exhaustion and pain, saying that they just don't feel like themselves anymore," said Dr. Masula. "When the body is overloaded, the internal organs can no longer function properly. Detoxification diets are a safe and effective process for removing toxins from the body. This also helps the body's metabolism 'reset' itself."

In conjunction with a detox program, Dr. Masula says that nutritional lab testing can help identify vitamins, minerals and nutrients that are missing from a patient's diet.

"How can we eat right when we don't know what our body needs?" said Dr. Masula. "This is why nutritional testing is so important. Every individual has unique needs, and nutritional testing helps to identify these needs. We will then use this information to recommend specific dietary adjustments. For patients struggling with weight gain, obesity, Type 2 Diabetes or heart disease, these recommendations can make a tremendous difference for overall health."

Dr. Masula stressed that detox diets and nutritional testing are part of an overall approach to whole body wellness. Neither method is designed as a 'quick-fix' or 'fad-diet,' but instead promote long-term well being.

"Our patients consistently tell us that our wellness program makes a tremendous difference in their lives," said Dr. Masula. "Patients have more energy, feel healthier, sleep better and experience less chronic pain."

Continued here:
Chico Chiropractor Finds Nutritional Lab Testing & Detox Vital to Successful Weight Loss

Astronaut with Parkinson's Calls on Patients to Take Charge of Their Future

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Newswise ST. PAUL, Minn. (April 5, 2012) Former NASA astronaut Michael Rich Clifford is calling on fellow patients with Parkinsons disease not to let the disease drive what they do. Cliffords inspiring story and advice for patients is featured as the cover story in the latest issue of Neurology Now, the American Academy of Neurologys award-winning magazine for patients and caregivers.

Clifford was diagnosed with Parkinsons in 1994 during the early stages of the disease, but he didnt allow it to keep him from climbing aboard the shuttle Atlantis and rocketing off into space for the third time. My NASA medical community knew about my Parkinsons and assumed I wouldnt want to fly again, said Clifford. But I said no, no, no.

Until recently, no one other than NASA medical staff and senior management knew how extraordinary his third flight to space had been because Clifford had kept his newly diagnosed medical condition private.

I didnt want to be identified as the man with Parkinsons flying in space. Plus, I felt the focus should be on the mission, not someone on the mission, said Clifford.

Clifford says he feels the same optimism today as he did when he was first diagnosed with the disease 18 years ago and hopes other Parkinsons patients do too. Dont let Parkinsons drive what you want to do. Remember that youre in charge of your future.

Learn more about Cliffords story, including the Public Leadership in Neurology Award he is receiving this year from the American Academy of Neurology Foundation, in the latest issue of Neurology Now in print, online at http://www.neurologynow.com, and new for the iPad. Plus, find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

Neurology Now is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

###

About the American Academy of Neurology The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 25,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as Alzheimers disease, stroke, migraine, multiple sclerosis, brain injury, Parkinsons disease and epilepsy. For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit http://www.aan.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and YouTube.

About Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (LWW) is a leading international publisher of trusted content delivered in innovative ways to practitioners, professionals and students to learn new skills, stay current on their practice, and make important decisions to improve patient care and clinical outcomes.

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Astronaut with Parkinson's Calls on Patients to Take Charge of Their Future

Crohn’s disease – 2011 review

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Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the GI tract at any point from the mouth to the rectum.

Symptoms and signs may consist of:

- diarrhea
- abdominal pain
- fever
- weight loss
- abdominal masses
- anemia

Extraintestinal manifestations of Crohn's disease include:

- osteoporosis
- inflammatory arthropathies
- scleritis
- nephrolithiasis
- cholelithiasis
- erythema nodosum

Laboratory findings

Acute phase reactants, such as CRP and ESR, are often increased with inflammation and may correlate with disease activity.

Levels of vitamin B12, folate, albumin, prealbumin, and vitamin D can help assess nutritional status.

Procedures often used to diagnose Crohn's disease:

- colonoscopy with ileoscopy
- capsule endoscopy
- computed tomography (CT) enterography
- small bowel follow-through

Diagnostic tools for extraintestinal manifestations or complications (e.g., abscess, perforation):

- ultrasonography
- computed axial tomography (CT)
- scintigraphy
- MRI

Medical management

Mesalamine products are used for mild to moderate colonic disease. Antibiotics (e.g., metronidazole, fluoroquinolones) are often used for treatment.

Patients with moderate to severe Crohn's disease are treated with:

- corticosteroids
- azathioprine
- 6-mercaptopurine
- anti-tumor necrosis factor agents (e.g., infliximab, adalimumab)

References

Diagnosis and management of Crohn's disease. Wilkins T, Jarvis K, Patel J. Am Fam Physician. 2011 Dec 15;84(12):1365-75.

Image source: Colon (anatomy), Wikipedia, public domain.

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Vincent van Gogh: "I’d like to show by my work what such an eccentric, such a nobody, has in his heart"

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How a genius feels: "I'm a nonentity, an eccentric, an unpleasant person"

March 30th is the birthday of Vincent van Gogh, born in Holland in 1853, a famous painter and also great letter-writer. His letters were lively, engaging, and passionate; they also frequently reflect his struggles with bipolar disorder.

He wrote: "What am I in the eyes of most people — a nonentity, an eccentric, or an unpleasant person — somebody who has no position in society and will never have; in short, the lowest of the low. All right, then — even if that were absolutely true, then I should one day like to show by my work what such an eccentric, such a nobody, has in his heart."

He wrote thousands of letters to his brother Theo over the course of his life. Theo's widow published the van Gogh's letters to her husband in 1913.

Doctors' Day in a high-risk profession: suicide rate of U.S. doctors is one per day

This quote serves as a good reminder how people with depression may have an altered perception of themselves. March 30 is also National Doctors' Day in the U.S. Other countries celebrate Doctors' Day on different dates.

More than a quarter of primary care doctors reported being "burnt out." The United States loses the equivalent of at least one entire medical school class (approximately 400 physicians) each year to suicide.

In other words, 300-400 doctors in the United States kill themselves every year, or roughly 1 per day. Male doctors have suicide rates 1.4 times that of the general population, while female doctors have twice the rate of depression and 2.3 times the suicide rate when compared with women who are not physicians.

A conversation could save a life: "Are you OK?" Day

Hugh Jackman shows his support for R U OK?Day, a national day of action in Australia that aims to prevent suicide by encouraging people to connect with colleagues, friends and loved ones and ask simply: "Are you OK?".

References

Writer's Almanac. NPR, 2012.
High-risk profession: Suicide rate of U.S. doctors is one per day
Help for Today's Tense, Frustrated Doctors. Medscape, 2009.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/710904
Doctors have higher rates of suicide than the general population: 40% higher for male doctors, 130% for female doctors http://goo.gl/ckTm
R U OK? Day
Image source: Vincent van Gogh's 1890 painting At Eternity's Gate. Wikipedia, public domain.

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UCLA Neurologist and Innovator of Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation Joins NeuroSigma

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LOS ANGELES, April 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --NeuroSigma, Inc., a Los Angeles-based medical device company, today announced its appointment of Christopher M. DeGiorgio, M.D., as Vice-President, Neurology. In this new role Dr. DeGiorgio, who was previously a Senior Medical Advisor to the Company, will lead NeuroSigma's development of Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (TNS) for the treatment of neurological indications.

"I am very excited to join NeuroSigma to help move TNS therapy forward as a treatment option for neurological disorders, such as drug-resistant epilepsy, which is estimated to affect over 10 million people worldwide," said Dr. DeGiorgio.

NeuroSigma has completed development of its external TNS (eTNS) system and is developing its implantable subcutaneous TNS (sTNS) system. Near term milestones include filing a CE Mark application in mid-2012 for approval to commence marketing the eTNS system for the treatment of epilepsy in Europe. NeuroSigma is also planning to file, in the second-half of 2012, an IDE with the FDA for a multi-center epilepsy Phase III pivotal trial in the United States.

"We are very fortunate to have Dr. DeGiorgio, who had the vision of conceiving TNS as a therapy for epilepsy, join NeuroSigma as a member of our management team. His appointment represents an important step forward for our company as we move closer to bringing our promising TNS therapies to market," said Lodwrick Cook, Chairman of NeuroSigma. "We are delighted that we will be working closely with Dr. DeGiorgio during this extremely important phase in the regulatory approval process and in planning for post-approval strategy in Europe, US and other key regions in the world," added Leon Ekchian, Ph.D., President and CEO of NeuroSigma.

Dr. DeGiorgio has taken a partial leave of absence as a Professor of Neurology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA where he previously served as Executive Vice-Chairman in the Department of Neurology. A distinguished physician scientist, Dr. DeGiorgio has also been recognized as one of the Best Doctors in America, and is the recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award while at UCLA. He was first to study TNS in patients with epilepsy, and collaborated with Ian Cook, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry at UCLA, in developing TNS as a potential treatment for depression, PTSD and ADHD. Among his notable research work, Dr. DeGiorgio has served as Principal Investigator of several interventional clinical trials for drug resistant epilepsy, including Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) for epilepsy and n-3 fatty acids to reduce seizures and the risk of sudden death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Dr. DeGiorgio has also published multiple peer-reviewed research papers in the field of epilepsy, and is the Principal Investigator of a National Institute of Health (NIH) grant recently awarded to NeuroSigma to further develop eTNS for Epilepsy.

About NeuroSigma, Inc. NeuroSigma is a Los Angeles-based medical technology company established to develop early stage technologies with the potential to transform medical practice. Currently, NeuroSigma is focused on a number of neuromodulation therapies and through our majority-owned subsidiary, NSVascular, on Thin-Film Nitinol covered stents for endovascular applications. NeuroSigma employs two neuromodulation therapy platforms: Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (TNS) and Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). NeuroSigma has amassed significant intellectual property that is based on technology licensed on an exclusive basis from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), including potential therapies for epilepsy, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) via TNS and for PTSD, obesity and cachexia via DBS. For more information about NeuroSigma, please visit our website at http://www.neurosigma.com.

CAUTION: The eTNS and sTNS systems are investigational devices and are limited by Federal (or United States) law to investigational use.

NeuroSigma Contacts:

Dr. Leon Ekchian, President & CEO Tel: 310-479-3100 Email: lekchian@neurosigma.com NeuroSigma, Inc. Website: http://www.neurosigma.com

Mr. Mark Collinson, PartnerTel: +1-310-954-1343 Email: mark.collinson@ccgir.com CCG Investor Relations Website: http://www.ccgir.com

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UCLA Neurologist and Innovator of Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation Joins NeuroSigma

Cirrhosis – 2011 update from Am Fam Physician

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Cirrhosis is the 12th leading cause of death in the United States. The mortality rate is 9.7 per 100,000 persons.

The most common causes of cirrhosis are:

- alcohol abuse
- viral hepatitis
- nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is emerging as an increasingly important cause

Patients with cirrhosis should be screened for hepatocellular carcinoma with imaging studies every 6-12 months.

Causes of hepatic encephalopathy include:

- constipation
- infection
- gastrointestinal bleeding
- some medications
- electrolyte imbalances
- noncompliance with medical therapy

Treatment

Lactulose and rifaximin are aimed at reducing serum ammonia levels.

Ascites should be treated initially with salt restriction and diuresis. Physicians should be vigilant for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

Patients with acute GI bleeding should be monitored in an intensive care unit, and should have endoscopy performed within 24 hours.

Prevention

Mechanisms to reduce the incidence of cirrhosis:

- treat alcohol abuse
- screen for viral hepatitis
- control risk factors for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Cirrhosis: Phil's story (video):

From NHSChoices: Many people enjoy a drink in the pub after work without realising how social drinking can damage health. Phil didn't realise the harm his alcohol intake was doing until he was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver. He talks about his experience and the shock he felt at being diagnosed.

References

Cirrhosis: diagnosis, management, and prevention. Starr SP, Raines D. Am Fam Physician. 2011 Dec 15;84(12):1353-9.

Cirrhosis - JAMA Patient Page, 2012.

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"Lifestyle 180": Cleveland Clinic 1-year program promises to reverse chronic disease through lifestyle modification

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During the past 5 years, the Cleveland Clinic has moved aggressively to expand from illness management to wellness management. They even have a Wellness Institute. One example of its programs is Lifestyle 180 (R) which is "designed to reverse" the effects of chronic disease through lifestyle modification.

Here is a 5-minute video about the program from the Clinic YouTube channel:

The program focuses on nutrition, exercise, and stress management. The yearlong program is available at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute campus located in Lyndhurst, Ohio.

References:

Lifestyle medicine

Interactive wellness guide by Cleveland Clinic

Lifestyle 180 (PDF)

Disclaimer: I was on faculty at Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University as Assistant Professor of Medicine until 2008.

Comments from Twitter:

Meenakshi Budhraja @gastromom: Like>>

Linda Pourmassina,MD @LindaP_MD: "the $3,000 fee for this program represents a fraction of the increasingly high co-pays for doctor visits and medications."

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Early Autoimmune Therapy Helps Autoimmune Epilepsy Patients

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Editor's Choice Academic Journal Main Category: Epilepsy Article Date: 30 Mar 2012 - 5:00 PDT

email to a friend printer friendly opinions

Current Article Ratings:

5 (1 votes)

According to the researchers:

Seizures are prevalent in autoimmune neurologic disorders, such as limbic encephalitis.

Amy M. L. Quek, M.B.B.S., of the Mayo Clinic, College of Medicine, Rochester, Minn., and her team collected data from the Mayo Clinic computerized diagnostic index from patients diagnosed with autoimmune epilepsy who were assessed between January 2005 and December 2010 in both the Autoimmune Neurology Clinic and Epilepsy Clinic, in order to assess clinical characteristics and immunotherapy responses in individuals suffering with autoimmune epilepsy.

Of the patient data examined, the researchers found 32 patients eligible for inclusion in the study. All participants of the study had partial seizures, 81% had daily seizures and had failed treatment with 2+ AEDs, while the remaining participants had at least one seizure per month. Despite AED therapy, 27 of the 32 participants received immunotherapy for treatment of persistent seizures.

The authors found that 81% (22 of 27) of the participants reported improvement following immunotherapy after a median follow-up time of 17 months (3-72 months). In addition, the team found that 18 participants were seizure free. 44% (8) of these 18 patients were seizure free within 12 weeks of starting immunotherapy. Although 5 participants did not respond to the treatment, 2 of the 5 showed subsequent improved after the AEDs were changed.

The authors conclude:

See the original post here:
Early Autoimmune Therapy Helps Autoimmune Epilepsy Patients

Internal medicine residents spent little time reading, and prefer electronic resources, specifically UpToDate

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This study from the Mayo Clinic assessed residents' reading habits and preferred educational resources at 5 internal medicine training programs via a survey.

78% of residents reported reading less than 7 hours a week.

81% of residents read in response to patient care encounters.

The preferred educational format was electronic, and UpToDate was the big winner among the surveyed group:

- 95% of residents cited UpToDate as the most effective resource for knowledge acquisition
- 89% of residents reported that UpToDate was their first choice for answering clinical questions

The study authors concluded that residents spent little time reading and sought knowledge primarily from electronic resources. Most residents read in the context of patient care.

The abstract does not mention anything about social media sources such as Wikipedia, blogs, and Twitter, but the residents encounter a lot of those through Google searches.

References:

A multi-institutional survey of internal medicine residents' learning habits. Edson RS, Beckman TJ, West CP, Aronowitz PB, Badgett RG, Feldstein DA, Henderson MC, Kolars JC, McDonald FS. Med Teach. 2010;32(9):773-5. Image source: UpToDate.

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The Number of Tweets Predicts Future Citations of a Specific Journal Article

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Citations of journal articles and the impact factor are widely used measures of scientific impact. Web 2.0 tools such as Twitter, Facebook, blogs and social bookmarking tools provide the possibility to construct article-level or journal-level metrics to gauge impact and influence.

Between 2008 and 2011, all tweets containing links to articles in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) were data mined.The tweets were compared to subsequent citation data 17-29 months later.

4,000 tweets cited 280 JMIR articles. The distribution of tweets followed a power law, with most tweets sent on the day when an article was published (44% of all tweets in a 60-day period) or on the following day (16%), followed by a rapid decay.

The Pearson correlations between "tweetations" and regular citations were moderate and statistically significant (0.42 to 0.72).

Highly tweeted articles were 11 times more likely to be highly cited than less-tweeted articles.

Top-cited articles could be predicted from top-tweeted articles with 93% specificity and 75% sensitivity.

Tweets can predict highly cited articles within the first 3 days of article publication.

Social media activity may:

- increase citations
- reflect the underlying qualities of the article

Social impact measures based on tweets are proposed to complement traditional citation metrics. The study author proposed a "twimpact" factor that measures uptake and filters research resonating with the public in real time.

After the initial publication, some science blogs have pointed out potential issues and conflicts of interests in relation to the topic and the single author who is also the founder, owner, and Editor-in-Chief of the journal. You can find more by performing a Google search for "twimpact" factor or checking the references section at the end of this post. Overall, I think this is an interesting concept and Gunther Eysenbach did a great job focusing the attention of the journal publishers on Twitter and Facebook as distribution channels that can also guide in measuring the impact of their articles.

References:

Can Tweets Predict Citations? Metrics of Social Impact Based on Twitter and Correlation with Traditional Metrics of Scientific Impact. Gunther Eysenbach. J Med Internet Res 2011;13(4):e123.

New research plus twitter. Does it make a difference in the clinic. Heidi Allen Digital Strategy in Health.

'Highly Tweeted Articles Were 11 Times More Likely to Be Highly Cited'. The Atlantic.

Twimpact factors: can tweets really predict citations? BMJ.

Tweets, and Our Obsession with Alt Metrics

Image source: Twitter.com.

Comments from Twitter:

@paediatrix:  Interesting. Makes sense

Harris Lygidakis @lygidakis: And Twimpact Factor is a good sign of what's ahead!

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Guideline: IVIg effective for certain nerve and muscle disorders

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Public release date: 26-Mar-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Rachel Seroka rseroka@aan.com 651-695-2738 American Academy of Neurology

ST. PAUL, Minn. Intravenous immune globulin (IVIg) is an effective treatment for certain disorders of the nerve and muscles, including Guillain-Barr syndrome (GBS) and a form of neuropathy called chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), according to a guideline issued by the American Academy of Neurology. The guideline is published in the March 27, 2012, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

IVIg is a type of immunotherapy that fights the misdirected immune system. It is not well understood exactly how IVIg works, but it likely regulates an overactive immune system. Immune globulin is a protein in human blood that likely links itself with antibodies or other substances directed at the nerve.

According to the guideline, strong evidence shows that IVIg effectively treats Guillain-Barr syndrome, a rare disorder in which the body's immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system, causing tingling and weakness in the arms and legs. The evidence shows that IVIg works as well as the treatment called plasma exchange to treat GBS.

Strong evidence also shows that long-term use of IVIg can help treat CIDP, which is the chronic counterpart of GBS and can affect nerves in the arms and legs and other parts of the body.

"Serious side effects are rare with IVIg, but there is a risk of kidney failure and a condition that causes the blood to be more likely to form clots," said guideline lead author Huned S. Patwa, MD, of Yale University and the VA Connecticut Healthcare System in West Haven and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. "It is important to work with your doctor when deciding whether to use IVIg for a neuromuscular disorder."

The guideline also found that IVIg is effective in helping to treat moderate to severe forms of myasthenia gravis and a rare condition known as multifocal motor neuropathy. It may also be helpful in treating neuromuscular disorders known as nonresponsive dermatomyositis and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome.

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Learn more about this latest guideline and nerve and muscle disorders at http://www.aan.com/patients.

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Guideline: IVIg effective for certain nerve and muscle disorders

UTHSC Researchers Find 'Twisted Neck' Mutation

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VOL. 127 | NO. 60 | Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Alpha Hospitality Ventures LLC has filed two loans totaling $6.6 million through Cecil Bank for Memphis Airport Hotel & Conference Center in Nonconnah Corporate Center.

The company bought the property, 2240 Democrat Road, for $4.4 million at a July foreclosure sale, financing it at the time with a $4 million open-end mortgage through Cecil Bank.

The 270,000-square-foot, five-story hotel was built in 1974 and includes 374 rooms, more than 30,000 square feet of conference space and an on-site restaurant. It is on 7.6 acres at the northeast corner of Nonconnah Boulevard and Democrat Road, about three miles from Memphis International Airport. The hotel has frontage on Airways Boulevard to the east, and the Shelby County Assessor of Propertys 2011 appraisal is $5.5 million.

Of the two loans, $5 million is through a federal Small Business Administration program that uses tax dollars to assist small business owners.

The hotel and conference center went into foreclosure last year after its former owner, which bought the property for $8.3 million in 2008, defaulted on a $12.8 million loan.

Source: The Daily News Online & Chandler Reports

Daily News staff

U.S. Airways over the weekend opened more flights between Memphis International Airport and Reagan National Airport in Washington.

The three daily nonstops to Washington began Sunday. But airport and U.S. Airways officials marked the occasion Monday, March 26, at the airport.

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UTHSC Researchers Find 'Twisted Neck' Mutation

Chico Chiropractor Dr. Masula Renews Focus on Wellness Care Services for the Entire Family

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CHICO, CA--(Marketwire -03/25/12)- Masula Chiropractic Neurology and Family Wellness has renewed their focus on chiropractic care and wellness services for the entire family, including pediatric care. According to the Chico chiropractor, he provides natural alternatives to medical treatments for all members of the family, including infants, adolescents and young adults. The chiropractor cites various studies in Biological Psychiatry and Pediatrics to support the natural services he provides to treat ADD and physical injuries in pediatric patients.

Chico chiropractor Dr. Larry Masula stated that his practice, Masula Chiropractic Neurology and Family Wellness, has a range of natural, alternative treatments for the entire family, including pediatric care, that promote wellness.

"As a wellness doctor, I am committed to helping each patient find relief from chronic conditions and pain," said Dr. Masula. "Back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, migraines and other neurological disorders can prevent individuals from living a full and active life. Additionally, many parents do not want to treat their child's issue or their own condition with prescription medications, so we offer natural alternatives to pain and chronic conditions."

The wellness doctor, Dr. Masula regularly treats pediatric patients for injuries sustained while playing youth sports, such as soccer, running or martial arts. His treatments combine spinal adjustments with physiotherapy to restore proper alignment and help the body regain a full range of flexibility and movement.

"Many of our younger patients are active athletes who have sustained a sports injury," said Dr. Masula. "Healing properly following a personal or sports injury is especially important for younger patients. For example, without proper care, a knee injury sustained at age 16 can still be causing pain 10, 15 or 20 years later. Building a healthy body starts with a strong spine -- and children in particular deserve this strong foundation."

The chiropractor also provides nutritional counseling and detox services. According to a Korean study reported in Biological Psychiatry, environmental toxins may trigger or worsen ADD in children. As part of Dr. Masula's wellness care services, he works closely with parents to help reduce or eliminate exposure to environmental toxins, including tobacco smoke and lead, which were shown by a study published in Pediatrics to exacerbate ADD.

"Our commitment to helping young children manage ADD through detoxification and nutritional counseling is part of our practice's overall mission to promote whole body wellness for the entire family," said Dr. Masula. "If a patient has a condition that is better served by a medical specialist other than myself, I will always provide a referral."

"We believe that proactive wellness care can make a tremendous difference when it comes to reducing the risk for chronic illnesses and injury," said Dr. Masula. "When I initially see a patient in pain, my only purpose is to relieve the pain, if possible. Once we relieve the patient's pain, we need to strengthen, stabilize and correct their spinal condition. Then once we get the spine as healthy as it can be, we will want to keep it that way so we discuss wellness care options."

Families who would like to learn more about the practice's approach to whole body wellness can visit the practice's website http://masulachiropractic.com or Facebook page.

About Masula Chiropractic, Neurology and Family Wellness: The Chico chiropractor's services include spinal decompression therapy and adjustments, neuropathology, natural pain management, physiotherapy, nutritional counseling and detoxification diets. The wellness doctor treats patients for chronic pain, neurological disorders such as tingling sensations or vertigo, and also helps patients heal from a sports injury, personal injury or auto injury.

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Chico Chiropractor Dr. Masula Renews Focus on Wellness Care Services for the Entire Family