Funny of the Day

Innovations: Antimicrobial Copper and its virtues

Afraid to touch that railing on the stairs at the airport? Nervous about picking up every germ the 30,000 other people who touched that counter before you left behind?? Congonhas Airport in Sao Paolo, Brazil has installed Antimicrobial Copper to their most-commonly-touched surfaces and found a significant drop in the bacteria levels. For example they have found a 1% survival chance for E. Coli or Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus over 2 hours. It looks good too. Maybe its time to start coating our worlds and hospitals in antimicrobial copper people!!

Innovations: 14 year old revolutionizing surgery

You read right. A 14 year old has come up with a novel surgical closure technique that could cut surgery wound closure time to 1/3 of the current average! See it here. He developed this technique as a high school freshman at a magnet school in Jacksonville, Florida which allows students to take advanced classes in medicine. His idea was fostered at an internship at the University of Florida, Shands Hospital Simulation Center. Either way you flip it, very impressive. I'm no surgeon but should I be feeling inadequate right now?

Funny of the Day

Just a spoon full of Vinegar can help that sugar go down?

We've all heard Apple Cider Vinegar associated with a slew of health benefits. I know my grandmother used to take a spoonful of it at bedtime to cure all kinds of ails. In any case, there has been recent evidence in a study suggesting that a 2 teaspoonfuls of apple cider vinegar at bedtime can actually reduce AM blood sugar by 4-6%!!! Thats impressive. Bring on the research.

Keep your eyes out for the skinny full info on an upcoming Alternative Therapies post!

Medicine in the News: Congressional Birth Control Hearing

Hmmmm now does this sound right to you? A US Congressional hearing was held today discussing the hot topic of birth control coverage being covered by insurance companies on a mandatory basis and whether or not this infringes on religious freedom. There were no people present with a uterus in any decision-making capacity. Sigh.

Alternative Therapies #004: Coconut Oil

Ahhh 100% Pure Coconut Oil, How do we love thee?? Let us count the ways..... Top 10! 

1. Dementia - Recently a hot topic on the Alzheimers circuit. Coconut Oil is being lamented, when used in high concentrations in the diet of dementia patients to improve cognitive function and slow decline. 

2. Anti-Bacterial, Anti-Fungal, Anti-Viral, Anti-Parasitic - Too many to name, look it up. 

3. Blood Sugar Regulation (Anti-Diabetic?) - Improves insulin secretion and utilization of blood glucose

4. Cystic Fibrosis - Improves symptoms of malabsorption

5. Cholesterol - Improves HDL (The good) cholesterol while lowering LDL (the bad)

6. Dandruff - Controls the flakes! 

7. Bone Health - Supports calcium & magnesium absorption, reducing risk of osteoporosis development. 

8. Anti-Inflammatory - May have some anti-inflammatory properties! Arthritics, look out! 

9. Urinary Function - Supports a healthy urinary tract, may reduce kidney stone formation. 

10. Skin - Skin SO Soft! 

Go out, buy some coconut oil and use it. Cant go wrong. Make sure its PURE though....ie: no other complicated ingredients. 

Walk Good. 

Funny of the Day

Keep the over 70 crowd "feisty". Age is but a number. 

Procedures: Oops, was that your ear?

Had to repair a difficult laceration on the helix of a patients ear a couple weeks ago. (Thats the cartilage-y part that sticks out for the non-medical in the crowd). Laceration? Not a problem. Painful? Absolutely. Which leads to my next procedure-related post. In case you ever need it: How to provide adequate Ear Anesthesia.