Situs inversus and my "through the looking glass" body

What links Catherine O’Hara, Enrique Iglesias, Donny Osmond, and me? At face value, at least, not a lot. Look beneath the skin, however, and you would see a striking similarity: our hearts beat on the right, not the left. In fact it goes beyond mere dextrocardia, which would mean only the heart is transposed; instead, all our organs are placed in mirror image to the norm. We are linked by abnormality: we all have situs inversus.

Situs inversus is a rare congenital condition in which all of an individual’s internal organs in the thorax and abdomen are positioned on the opposite side to where they should be. The liver, for instance, is now on the left, the spleen on the right. Flipped, for want of a better word.

In some cases a person can live most of their life without realising they have situs inversus. Indeed, it has been reported that Donny Osmond was only aware of his condition after his case of appendicitis was overlooked because his appendix wasn’t where the doctor expected it to be. As such, and with an estimated occurrence of one in every 10,000 births, situs inversus totalis – the full term for complete anatomical reversal – has intrigued scientists for centuries. Many believe the condition holds clues to understanding how our bodies differentiate right from left, and the significance behind such a preference.

I was diagnosed with situs inversus totalis at six months old. Often, recorded signs of a reversed anatomy are dismissed as an error of the x-ray technician, the left and right labels supposedly mixed-up. It was only when I was taken to hospital with unrelated breathing problems that doctors began to consider the possibility that I had situs inversus. “Sit down and listen to everything I tell you”, the doctor told my parents, who, even after listening intently, were left in a state of disbelief. Several medical staff hurried into the room, excited. Medics may only come across one case of situs inversus in their careers, and I was later invited to take part in a Guess What’s Wrong With The Baby trainee doctor event.

For the last twelve years I have worn a MedicAlert bracelet on my left wrist to notify people of my rare condition. Turn it over and emergency medical staff are informed that I have “Complete Situs Inversus Normal Ciliary”. Rather than being simply an accessory or conversation piece, it serves the valuable purpose of preventing the somewhat unfortunate-sounding possibility of having an operation on the wrong side in an emergency.

Since all my organs have assumed the exact opposite location, situs inversus does not affect my overall health. I was very lucky; had only a few of my organs moved, or had they grown in random positions – as is the case with situs ambiguus – the condition would have been very serious. Of those born with situs inversus, 25% have Kartagener Syndrome (also referred to as primary ciliary dyskinesia), a defect in the cilia that line important organs and tracts, such as the respiratory tract, causing bronchitis, and reducing male fertility.

In other circumstances, the failure of one of the organs to move to the other side can further complicate the individual’s health, by causing entanglement. This often proves fatal.

There is also a strong probability that people born with situs inversus have heart problems. Speaking with adult congenital cardiologist Dr Dan Halpern at New York University’s Langone Medical Centre in July, I began to fully understand the condition’s implications. “You are the rarity,” he said, before delving into an animated description of the cardiovascular impact a reversed anatomy can have.

The most common heart problem, Halpern told me, is the transposition of the great arteries: instead of the great vessels arising from the heart criss-crossing over each other as they should, they lie in parallel. Alongside this, the main ventricles of the heart are inverted, or the great vessels arise from the wrong chamber. In the event of heart surgery, situs inversus can involve complications, since organs such as the heart are chiral – ie. they can be distinguished from their mirror image. Just think what would happen if you tried, for example, to attach a left hand to a right wrist. A similar geometric problem occurs if a donated heart from a non-situs inversus donor is transplanted into someone with situs inversus. The donor’s heart must be placed into the reversed position, and the surgeon needs to consider aspects such as the different weighting and the need to ensure the reattachment of the asymmetric blood vessels. It is almost like trying to complete a jigsaw puzzle with the wrong pieces.

Thankfully, twenty years on from my surprise diagnosis I have been able to lead a perfectly normal life – albeit one with a growing curiosity for what situs inversus entails; the history of its discovery, its wider cultural implications and why it occurs.

Although Aristotle cited two cases of transposed organs in animals,situs inversus was first discovered in Naples by the anatomist and surgeon Marco Severino, in 1643. A century later the Scottish physician Matthew Baillie recorded the reversal as situs inversus, from the Latin situs, as in “location”, and inversus for “opposite”. Situs solitus is the normal structure, while isolated levocardia refers to when the heart alone remains on the left – an even rarer condition.

Baillie’s 1788 account of the discovery during a seminar at the Hunterian School of Medicine conveys the shock the room of young doctors felt as they were faced with the mirror image. His text explains that from the outside the deceased man appeared to be of normal disposition, but that “upon opening the cavity of the thorax and abdomen, the different situation of the viscera was so striking as immediately to excite the attention of the pupils”. While the right lung is usually divided into three lobes, the pupils discovered “‘exactly contrary to what is found in ordinary cases”. He goes on to explain that “the apex of the heart was found to point to the right-side nearly opposite to the sixth rib, and its cavities as well as large vessels were completely transposed.”

The account also tells of the “considerable pains” Baillie took to establish how the condition had affected the man while he was alive. In researching the life of the deceased it was established that “the person, while alive, was not conscious of any uncommon situation of his heart.” It seems probable that if such a finding had been made in medieval times, a person with situs inversus would most certainly have been branded a witch or demon posthumously.

Artists and writers have explored the implications of situs inversus. Understandably so: it makes for a cracking plot twist. The titular character in Ian Fleming’s 1958 James Bond novel Dr No is saved from a bullet because of his dextrocardia. In Her Fearful Symmetry, Audrey Niffenegger introduces situs inversus during the postmortem of a twin. During the period 1452-1519, Leonardo Da Vinci is alleged to have been one of the first to depict the situs inversus anatomy – but then again, he did write back to front.

We consciously seek to attribute symbolism to structures that are formed in nature, investing our belief in the left-right asymmetry norm. Most notably, the heart and its position has always held an important cultural significance. America’s pledge of allegiance relies on the belief that the heart veers to the left of the thorax. In the Middle East, placing a hand over one’s heart after shaking hands with someone conveys respect, but also forges trust. The playground promise “cross my heart and hope to die”, started life as a religious oath, Christian in origin. “Hand on heart” suggests a sense of truth. Are these pledges and customs compromised if the right hand covers flesh and nothing more?

Of course, bodies come in many forms. Beneath the skin the illusion of regularity can be overturned, the body’s complexity brought to the light.

Situs inversus and my "through the looking glass" body

THIS Will Happen If You Drink A Glass of Red Wine Every Night

Over the years, there has been a never-ending debate of whether wine is healthy or not. But now we have studies to prove what some have been saying for years.

But realize red wine is only healthy if consumed in moderation. Excessive intake can ruin your health. Frequent wine drinkers should avoid taking more than 2 glasses a day. In fact, you can get all the benefits listed below by simply drinking a glass of red wine a day.

Your heart health will improve

Research shows that wine has more health benefits than any other alcoholic beverage out there. According to studies folks who drink a glass of wine a day have a 32 percent lower risk of heart disease than non-drinkers. But as this study shows, excessive intake actually increases risk of heart disease.

Improved insulin sensitivity

Factors like high sugar intake have contributed to the big problem of insulin resistance. Well, one study found that drinking 2 glasses of wine each day for a month, reduces insulin resistance. Other ways to improve insulin sensitivity include, reducing sugar intake, increasing intake of omega 3s, drinking green tea and more cinnamon.

You’ll have less risk of cancer

According to the American cancer society, an antioxidant called quercetin, which is found in red wine fights cancer cells. In fact, studies show that red wine reduces risk of different kinds of cancer like, prostate, colon, basal cell, and ovary.

Lower risk of type 2 diabetes

One of the major causes of diabetes is excess consumption of alcohol. But you can lower risk of this disease by drinking a glass of red wine. A study by University of Amsterdam found that there was a 30 percent less risk of diabetes in red wine drinkers than non-drinkers. Another study also found that red wine reduced risk of type 2 diabetes in women.

You might lose weight

A recent study made headlines when it concluded that drinking red wine has the same benefits as one hour in the gym. This study showed that resveratrol, a compound found in wine has the same benefits as exercise. It showed benefits like, improved physical performance, muscle strength and better health.

But frankly, wine can’t completely replace exercise. Make time for exercise at least 3 times a week.

Your memory will be intact  

This was demonstrated in a study where researchers gave quizzes to red wine drinkers and non-drinker, all in their 70s, they found that those who drank a glass a day or more had better scores than those who drunk less or didn’t drink. Red wine has also shown ability to reduce risk or memory related diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s.

You’re less likely to be depressed

One study, conducted on middle aged and elderly women found that those who drank 2-7 glasses of wine per week had less chances of being depressed.

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THIS Will Happen If You Drink A Glass of Red Wine Every Night

Everyday glass of wine raises risk of breast cancer in women

Drinking a single glass of wine a day increases a woman’s possibilities of acquiring breast cancer, according to new investigation.

Alcohol is a acknowledged chance for a number of cancers, like colorectal, liver, larynx and oesophageal cancer, and most attention has been paid to heavy drinking. A massive research in the United States has now looked specifically at the website link between alcohol and cancer in light to moderate drinkers.

The analysis, published on-line by the British Medical Journal, located that light drinking, defined as up to one particular common drink a day for ladies and two drinks for males, was linked only to a minimal enhance in chance of all cancers. Even so, a daily glass of wine raised the odds of breast cancer for women significantly – no matter whether or not they smoked, because smoking is not linked to breast cancer.

The review defined a single regular drink as containing 15g of alcohol, roughly equivalent to a 118ml glass of wine or a 355ml bottle of beer.

Amid guys who smoked, the danger of creating any cancer improved with a couple of drinks a day, but not in males who were non-smokers.

The examine was carried out by a group of researchers primarily based at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Well being and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. They used data from two big US research – the Nurses Overall health Study for girls and the Health Professionals Adhere to-up Study for men. These tracked the wellness of 88,084 females and 47,881 men for up to thirty many years. The researchers assessed the threat of total cancer as effectively as identified alcohol-relevant cancers which includes cancer of the the colorectum, female breast, liver, oral cavity, pharynx, larynx and oesophagus.

Related: Alcohol to blame for 13,000 cancer cases a 12 months in Uk

The website link in between drinking reasonable amounts of alcohol and breast cancer was also recognized by the Oxford University-primarily based Million Ladies Study. They located there have been 11 further breast cancers for each one thousand girls aged under 75 for every single additional drink consumed per day. Although the elevated danger might seem modest, they stated, the numbers of girls who drink alcohol created it an essential public well being issue.

In a commentary published in the journal, Dr Jürgen Rehm at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto writes that the raised risk of certain cancers induced by light consuming is crucial. “Light to reasonable drinking need to be constrained to no more than 10g of pure alcohol a day for women and 20g for men (roughly one normal drink a day for females and two regular drinks for guys, as defined in most nations),” he says.

Prof Sir Ian Gilmore, chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance United kingdom, known as for overall health warnings on bottles of alcohol like individuals on cigarettes. ‘This research confirms the results of preceding studies displaying that there is no such point as a risk-free degree of drinking when it comes to the threat of cancer,” he explained.

“We know that the public are even now largely unaware of the backlinks between alcohol and cancer, especially the elevated danger of creating breast cancer. We all have a right to know what we are placing into our bodies and at the minute consumers are currently being denied this correct. It is time that this transformed we need mandatory health warnings on alcohol labels so that folks know the information and can make an informed decision.”

Everyday glass of wine raises risk of breast cancer in women

Glass of wine at 14 "can flip a teenager into a binge drinker"

A single glass of wine or beer at the age of 14 can push a younger teenager along the path to binge drinking, say scientists.

Delaying consuming by just 6 months or a 12 months would have “vast beneficial consequences”, they discovered.

Early alcohol knowledge is one particular of a broad assortment of variables that can be utilised to determine long term binge drinkers, investigation has shown. Other individuals incorporate persona traits this kind of as danger and sensation seeking, household historical past, genetics and brain construction.

Employing such details the scientists had been capable to predict with 70 per cent accuracy who, from a big group of 14–year–olds, would be binge consuming by the age of sixteen. Getting even a single alcoholic drink at the age of 14 was shown to be a “effective” predictor of binge drinking, possibly due to the fact of its association with risk–taking and impulsiveness.

Dr Hugh Garavan, from the University of Vermont in Canada, a joint leader of the examine, stated the vulnerable period among 14 and sixteen was “critical” to potential drinking behaviour. “Just delaying individuals drinking by 6 months or a 12 months is truly a really, quite substantial intervention that would have vast advantageous consequences,” he added. The team analysed a lot more than two,000 14–year–olds from England, Ireland, France and Germany. All were participants in Imagen, an ongoing review of adolescent advancement.

They looked for patterns that singled out youngsters who went on to become binge drinkers by sixteen – defined as getting drunk on at least 3 separate occasions.

The findings appear in the journal Nature. One surprising discovery was that bigger brains in 14–year–olds are related with future binge drinking. Adolescents undergo substantial rewiring in their establishing brains and it is normal for their brains to lessen to a far more effective dimension. Larger brains are for that reason a indicator of immaturity.

Professor Gunter Schumann, a co–author of the review from the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College London, stated: “This work will inform the advancement of certain early interventions in carriers of the risk profile to minimize the incidence of adolescent substance abuse.”

Glass of wine at 14 "can flip a teenager into a binge drinker"

A glass of red wine, please, Doctor

Nonetheless, there does continue to be the French paradox. Why do the French with their substantial body fat diets, have half the death rate from clots in their coronary arteries than, for instance, USA citizens? The HDL ranges are no greater in the French. So what else is happening?

In 1992, the Lancet published a paper that showed that moderate alcohol consumption resulted in a forty per cent reduction in heart attacks and in 2001 The American Heart Association came out with the slogan “A drink a day will take some arterial stiffness away”.

The discovery of antioxidants such as flavonoids or resveratrol and polyphenols in the skin of the red grape, particularly when grown at high altitudes may be vital. (In white wine fermentation, the skin is removed). These substances have been shown to avoid harm to the inside of blood vessels and to inhibit blood clotting cells (platelets) so clots are significantly less most likely to form. This only applies to reasonable alcohol consumption and not if alcohol is taken at ranges larger than two small glasses (125mls) everyday. Marques-Vidal and colleagues in 2001 compared drinkers in Northern Ireland (largely weekend hefty intake) with French (typical smaller everyday quantities) and located adverse results on blood strain in the Irish (amongst the highest incidence of heart assault deaths around the world).

I was fortunate that my hospital management and medical colleagues in Swindon supported my prescribing red wine to my cardiac patients. Considering that 2003, I have written the prescription in the drug prescription chart for the duration of my rounds. Only sufferers with coronary clots are presented this medication. Evident contraindications this kind of as history of drug or alcohol addiction, abdomen or liver disease are observed and individuals with a hint of psychological or psychiatric difficulties are excluded.

Which wine is best for avoiding clots? Antioxidants are highest in Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon (Glasgow University 1993), a Chilean red and grown at large altitude. Other useful wines consist of individuals manufactured from the Pinot Noir and Petite Syrah (Shiraz) grapes. Surprisingly, the Italian wines come in the middle purchase in terms of antioxidant concentrations and Red Zinfandel from California is amongst the lowest.

The very good information is that, in general, the younger and the cheaper wines with screw tops tend to be very best! Once a bottle has been opened the antioxidants dissipate as the wine ‘breathes’ and thus I suggest the use of vacuum stoppers. Also antioxidants might be absorbed by corks in the course of prolonged storage specifically in wood.

Of course, moderate wine consumption have to be regarded as as only element of the measures needed to avert heart attacks. Much more importantly, very good blood stress handle, sensible dietary habits such as decreased excess fat consumption and fresh greens, fat reduction, smoking cessation, regular workout and stress coping mechanisms are vital if you wish to decrease your odds of getting a heart assault.

Your doctor will be capable to advise you if wine is not a excellent concept. So please check 1st!

Our CCU is now much more modern day with improved privacy for our sufferers without compromising on care. Apart from their day-to-day dose of red wine, cardiac sufferers can now be distracted with bedside TVs and earphones. However, even with incredible advances in cardiac care because 1998, the sufferers are nevertheless the exact same, “What about some red wine Doc?”

Dr William A McCrea FRCP is a advisor cardiologist

A glass of red wine, please, Doctor

Lifestyle coach: will a glass of warm milk support me rest?

There are also a few things to keep away from. Whilst a snack can support you rest, a hefty meal can trigger discomfort and impair rest, as can fatty or spicy foods. A nightcap is traditional, but try to steer clear of alcohol ahead of bed, as although it can make you drowsy and help you fall asleep, you are most likely to wake later on and struggle to get back to sleep, major to a extremely restless night.

As well much caffeine can also maintain you awake, specially if you do not usually eat a whole lot. Some folks are more sensitive to caffeine than other people but this can adjust above time, with numerous people locating it stops them sleeping more as they get older.

Try herbal merchandise this kind of as camomile tea instead, and a dash of lavender oil on your pillow may also aid. Ultimately, make positive you are obtaining adequate physical exercise, as it has been shown that exercising for the duration of the day can assist you rest better and for longer at evening.

Clearing earwax

Q: I am 80 years outdated and am incredibly match but suffer from earwax. Occasionally I can’t hear the tv, doorbell or mobile phone, and I struggle possessing a conversation. I want to have my ears syringed each and every ten to twelve weeks. I have attempted applying olive oil ear drops each and every day, but to no avail. I am creating to you for aid as a last resort.

Doreen Brown, by e-mail

A: Dr Dan Rutherford writes

There are no dependable and protected property ear-syringing approaches, but oil application does soften the wax and make syringing at the surgery less difficult, so it’s well worth persevering. Yet another option is Cerumol ear drops, which have been all around for decades but I believe are even now the ideal for residence use. They may even liquefy the wax sufficient for it to run out on its own. Nevertheless, by no means put any drops into an ear with a perforated eardrum or into a unpleasant ear except if you have it checked by a physician first.

Never use cotton buds, as they drive the wax farther down the ear and can injury the eardrum, even though ear candles are pure quackery, and are harmful.

Eventually you could uncover that your regular date with the practice nurse can be created significantly less often, but perhaps not totally averted.

BLISTERINGLY Extended WALKS

Q: On lengthy-distance walks, latterly the Cotswolds Way, my son-in-law, though otherwise relatively match, has delayed us because of blisters on his feet. He has tried my Army schedule of plastering on Vaseline beneath his socks. This aids, but does not remedy the issue. Whilst I am empathetic that his generation is not as hardy as mine, could you please supply some suggestions to enable him to maintain up with his aged father-in-law?

Ray Marsh, Winchester

A: Dr Dan Rutherford

The most widespread trigger of blisters on extended walks is boots that do not match. What may possibly seem to be relaxed in a quick tour of the shoe store may possibly show to be inadequate when place to the genuine test. Usually get strolling boots from an experienced outdoor retailer, ideally one particular that will allow you try the boots indoors at house for a day or two. They should be tested for match not just on the flat but also on steep ramps, up and downhill, which are when shear forces on the skin turn into obvious.

Fit does not constantly equate with price tag, so be prepared to discard problem boots, even if costly, and consider various sock thickness and supplies. Check out the skin carefully for any sign of athlete’s foot (redness, flaking, itch among the toes) or infections such as pitted keratolysis (white skin patches and little pits on the fat-bearing regions of the soles), as these can weaken the skin. Seek advice from a podiatrist or your GP if you are unsure.

Hydrocolloid plasters, offered in any pharmacy, are the greatest cover for any blisters that you do happen to get, and can often assist to maintain you strolling on.

Tony Gallagher writes:

Just as you wouldn’t run a marathon without training, preparation is important right here, and you must train effectively prior to a lengthy walk, to give your physique, and your feet, a opportunity to prepare for the battles ahead. Start off with an hour or two and steadily construct up prior to tackling any quite lengthy walks.

When you are on the stroll itself, evident sources of friction, which can lead to blisters, are individuals annoying tiny stones and bits of gravel that get into shoes. Soldiering on and ignoring them will only lead to difficulties, so always quit and consider them out.

You may possibly have observed that in the running planet these days there is a trend for minimalist-help sneakers, which work on the notion that the foot evolved when mankind walked barefoot, for that reason blisters are a outcome of using unnatural foot-coverings. The logical conclusion to this is that going barefoot is the best way to steer clear of blisters, but as it wouldn’t be suggested to go walking the Cotswolds Way in this manner, it displays that the proper shoes are critical.

Sizing is essential. You clearly want a shoe that is not too large, triggering the foot to slide all around, and not too modest, which invites problems. Make confident the shoe is the right width, as well.

To avoid your feet slipping all around in your new shoes, I would recommend you tie the shoe in this precise way, which minimises foot movement.

With your sneakers sorted, it’s time for socks, which can be the single biggest supply of blisters. Wool socks are greatest averted, as they soon mat from grime or sweat, creating unevenness that prospects to friction on the skin, causing the blisters. A single great idea is to put on a pair of thick socks with a thinner pair beneath, as thinner socks are less complicated to dry. Some authorities suggest polypropylene inner socks for long walks, as it is claimed they can wick sweat away from the skin, and surely dry a lot quicker than wool. Sweat and other varieties of moisture, from puddles and snow to rivers, are key enemies of walkers. Match the footwear to the problems, and make certain you truly search following your boots. If you’re strolling in snow, consider wearing gaiters, to prevent bits of snow falling inside the boot, and to preserve your feet dry.

One more excellent piece of suggestions is that if you’re crossing a stream, consider your socks off, put your boots on to cross, then, when you’re safely on the other side, dry your feet completely prior to putting your socks and boots back on.

Some walkers also locate that washing their feet in the morning ahead of a walk softens the skin, which can assist blisters create, so try out to avoid this.

If, in spite of all the guidance, your son-in-law even now gets blisters, the usual 1st-support suggestions is not to lance them, as this can lead to infection.

Send your concerns to lifecoach@telegraph.co.uk, or to 111 Buckingham Palace Street, London SW1W 0DT

Lifestyle coach: will a glass of warm milk support me rest?

Virtual Surgical procedure: doctors employing Google Glass

Dr. Selene Parekh is element of a tiny group of surgeons who have begun testing Google Glass in operating rooms.

He explains how physicians wearing Glass can instantaneously deliver health care records, x-rays and MRIs into see.

It can broadcast live video of uncommon operations and even use virtual-actuality-sort applications to allow a remote expert help with a difficult surgery.

Virtual Surgical procedure: doctors employing Google Glass

Google Glass gets very first "wearable wellness record"

Dr Bill Metaxas, a podiatrist based in San Francisco, warned fellow doctors to consider precautions ahead of employing Glass, such as getting patient consent and “locking down protection settings.” He also mentioned Glass is no a lot more or less safe than tablet gadgets such as the iPad, which are routinely utilised in clinical practices.

Still, Box spokeswoman and former Google Well being worker Missy Krasner stated she is mindful of at least twenty venture-backed startups catering to this niche of doctors. The bulk of these Glass apps, which includes Augmedix and Pristine, are complying with federal regulation that protects privacy, identified as HIPAA.

To build the support, Drchrono worked closely with Box, a single of its early investors, and the Google Glass group.

Google Glass was meant for the consumer mass marketplace, but it has been criticised by some for its geeky look. But many market specialists right away noticed worth in the hands-free gadget.

The Glass group hosted an event final month at its San Francisco offices for care suppliers, hospitals administrators and health care-tech entrepreneurs to talk about how to bring these wearable computer systems into practices.

“Google is still in the early-stages of identifying the most viable use-instances for Google Glass,” said Drchrono co-founder Daniel Kivatinos. “But some physicians are demanding Glass, so Google is offering sources and support to developers.”

Drchrono claims to have 60,000 registered doctors employing its electronic medical record for doctors and individuals. A lot more than 300 of these physicians have previously opted to use the app, Kivatinos explained. The app is at the moment accessible for free, but the company might charge a fee in the close to potential.

Google could not be reached for comment.

Google Glass gets very first "wearable wellness record"

Surgeon utilizes Google Glass throughout cancer operation

Mr Shafi Ahmed, Colorectal Cancer Lead at Barts Health NHS Trust, wore the glasses which allowed his view to be broadcast live to 13,000 surgical students around the globe who were able can interact and put their questions directly to him as he performed the operation.

The students typed their questions online as they watched, and their queries appeared on the bottom left-hand side of Mr Ahmed’s Google Glasses who answered them verbally, transmitted via the online feed.

The questions appear to the side of the Google Glass so it does not restrict the surgeon’s view.

In an online questionnaire, 90 per cent of students who watched the live broadcast said that they wanted this type of learning to be part of the curriculum.

Surgeon utilizes Google Glass throughout cancer operation

First operation streamed dwell with surgeon sporting Google glass

As the concerns seem to the side of the Google Glass there is no risk to the patient as it isn’t going to restrict the surgeon’s view.

Mr Shafi Ahmed, Colorectal Cancer Lead at Barts Wellness NHS Believe in and Associate Dean at Queen Mary University of London, Barts and The London College of Medication and Dentistry performed the operation.

He said: “I am delighted that by making use of Google Glass technologies we are transporting our future surgeons directly into the working theatre. Making use of this technologies will assistance us to supply high-top quality and protected care now and in to the future.”

Professor Richard Trembath, Vice-Principal for Overall health at Queen Mary University of London, said: “We are thrilled to be involved in the initial live-streamed surgical process taking spot in the Uk.

“This is a pioneering piece of function, enabling us to broaden our reach around the globe. We feel harnessing technologies in this way will eventually turn out to be a core component to the cutting-edge undergraduate and postgraduate teaching we supply our students and trainees.”

The Google Glass provides viewers a surgeon’s-eye see of the process from starting to end, as effectively as providing insight into how an operating theatre operates. People viewing had been also capable to observe medical college students from Queen Mary University of London as they assisted in the procedure.

In an on the internet questionnaire, 90 per cent of students who watched the live broadcast mentioned that they desired this variety of finding out to be portion of the curriculum.

Hemant Kocher, Advisor Liver Surgeon at Barts Wellness NHS Believe in and Reader in Liver and Pancreas Surgery at Queen Mary University of London, eliminated the cancerous tissue in the patient’s liver which had spread from the bowel.

Hemant added: “I am very enthusiastic about this new way of teaching. We are now capable to demonstrate this expert mixed operation of liver and bowel which is only achievable in a specialist hospital this kind of as The Royal London due to our professional crew operating with each other.”

Roy Pulfer, 78, from Chadwell St Mary, near Tilbury, agreed to have his operation broadcast around the globe.

He mentioned: I’m content that it will support educate youthful men and women. They like employing engineering so it’s excellent for them. The employees have been wonderful to me all the way and explained each and every step of the operation so plainly.”

Professor Norman Williams, President of the Royal School of Surgeons mentioned: “Today we received a glimpse of what technologies can do for the future of surgical training.

“The unique and unparalleled view of an operation means trainee surgeons know much better what to assume when they go in to the working theatre. There is prospective for trainee surgeons from close to the planet to watch and learn from leading surgeons in their fields of skills.”

First operation streamed dwell with surgeon sporting Google glass

Google Glass might revolutionise healthcare treatment

Providing medical professionals x-ray vision

Since the starting of the 12 months The Beth Israel Hospital in Boston has place QR codes outside patient’s rooms so that doctors sporting Google Glass can quickly entry health care information and x-rays.

Standford University surgeon Dr Homero Rivas and his crew have also been trialling a new augmented actuality tool to support with operations.

In the course of a procedure Google Glass is educated on an area of skin. The surgeons can see the method illustrated stage by phase with pictures superimposed over the skin of the model.

Coaching medical students

Operations, observed as if through the eyes of a surgeon, can also be reside-streamed to medical college students.

Last September Madrid-primarily based Dr. Pedro Guillén, dwell-streamed a surgical process to medical doctors found at 300 universities and hospitals in five continents.

This was the very first time an operation was recorded dwell through Google Glass.

Google Glass is also operating with Phillips to produce a programme which permits surgeons to check patient’s essential indicators without taking their eyes away from the working table.

And eye tests in the long term are also probably to get area via Google Glass rather than classic eye charts.

Google Glass might revolutionise healthcare treatment

Raw Milk? A Fresh Glass Of Campylobacter And Salmonella. Yum.

Occasionally it is astonishing how ignorant individuals can be. Now it is the turn of followers of “raw milk,” a new fad that is sweeping the U.S.

I nonetheless don’t forget reading milk cartons as a kid, and asking my mothers and fathers what “pasteurized” meant. Although I really do not bear in mind precisely what they stated, I’m positive they informed me that it produced the milk risk-free by killing bacteria. Even as a child, I understood that bacteria in my milk were most likely a bad factor.

Louis Pasteur is one of the most renowned scientists in background, and rightly so. In 1862, he invented the process of heating milk to destroy the bacteria in it. Pasteurization, as we now phone it, has saved hundreds of thousands of lives in the 150 many years because. Pasteur also created the initial vaccine for rabies. He was a real giant.

Milk and cookie. (Photo credit score: Salim Virji)

Followers of raw milk appear to be stunningly unaware of Pasteur’s achievements, and equally ignorant of the dangers of bacterial infections. Several of the overall health and safety claims for raw milk can be identified on websites this kind of as RealMilk.com, a site that is chock total of:

• Conspiracy theories: the Government is hiding the truth from you.


• Denialism: raw milk by no means hurt anyone, and even protects you towards bacteria.


• Shifting the blame: infections are brought on by other contaminated foods, not raw milk.

A single of the more chilling information about RealMilk.com is their emphasis on feeding raw milk to infants, who are at the greatest risk of dying from infections.  Their “Campaign for Real Milk” advocates

“universal accessibility to clean raw complete milk from pasture-fed cows, especially entry for pregnant and nursing mothers and for babies and developing children.”

We have a lot of good science about raw milk. CDC review of infectious illness outbreaks across the U.S. from 1993-2006 found that

“The price of outbreaks brought on by unpasteurized milk (often referred to as raw milk) and merchandise made from it was 150 times higher than outbreaks linked to pasteurized milk.”

Dr. Robert Tauxe, an infectious condition specialist at the CDC, debunks some of the myths about raw milk in an report freely available on Medscape. John Snyder and Mark Crislip have the two written compellingly about the dangers of raw milk at sciencebasedmedicine.org.

If I have been getting cynical, I might say that the wild-eyed proponents of raw milk deserve no matter what infections they get. But their young children really don’t. three-12 months-outdated Kylee Youthful, who the Washington Submit wrote about this previous Sunday, did not deserve to endure kidney failure and a stroke following her mom fed her raw milk that was contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. Kylee can no longer walk or speak and requirements continual care. Her mother now says

“If I had identified what I know now, I would by no means have fed [raw milk] to my daughter.”

Louis Pasteur and his wife had 5 kids, three of whom died of childhood infections. These tragedies have been Pasteur’s determination for learning infectious disease. Thanks to his operate 150 many years ago, no 1 these days requirements to die from consuming unpasteurized milk. The raw milk motion insists, despite the evidence, that they know greater.

So go ahead, drink your raw milk and eat a paleo diet too, even though you are at it. But do not ask our contemporary health-related system to spend for your therapy when you get sick. And most of all, really don’t subject innocent youngsters to the needless hazards of raw milk.

Raw Milk? A Fresh Glass Of Campylobacter And Salmonella. Yum.

Could Google Glass Make Football Safer? Chris Kluwe Thinks So

Minimizing the frequency and severity of injuries, notably concussions, is priority No. 1 for the NFL proper now. Punter Chris Kluwe, who in his enjoying days was never hesitant to say what he imagined the league ought to be performing differently, thinks he may have a answer.

At the TED conference in Vancouver this week, Kluwe gave a talk about how he believes augmented actuality is about to alter the way most sports activities are played, and the way followers see them. Kluwe is a member of the Google Glass Explorer plan, and even wore his Glass throughout a education camp stint with the Oakland Raiders. After his talk, I caught up with him for a a single-on-one.

Chris Kluwe, photographed for TED by James Duncan Davidson

Here’s how Kluwe sees AR playing out in football: Before the ball is snapped, a quarterback scans the defense. His helmet-mounted personal computer, seeing the alignment of linebackers and linemen, notifies him, by way of a heads-up projection on his visor, that this seem implies it is 85% probably he’ll have one particular-on-a single coverage on his main receiver. The center snaps the ball, and the QB’s display flashes red on the left to warn him of a blindside rusher coming cost-free. He unloads the ball just in time, hitting his receiver, who has indeed beaten his only defender.

I have a tough time buying this situation, for the cause that I can not see the NFL making it possible for engineering to influence the end result of plays to such a important degree. Right after all, the league only just started out letting coaches use tablet computers on the sidelines to substitute Polaroids and laminated play sheets. Helmet radios have been around for decades but their use is nonetheless restricted to 1 player per side and they have to reduce off 15 seconds before the perform starts.

But Kluwe insists that the financial incentives are too tempting as well ignore. “The cause the league will allow it is since it raises the quality of the item on the discipline,” he advised me.

An unprecedented degree of parity is often cited as one of the principal aspects in professional football’s accomplishment relative to other American sports activities, but you still get blowouts like the Seahawks 43-eight destruction of the Broncos in this year’s Super Bowl. “It was one of the lower watched Super Bowls of the final couple of years due to the fact no one particular was viewing following the second quarter,” noted Kluwe. What if the Broncos had had some technologies that offset Seattle’s physical edge? “Now, all of a sudden, it is a back-and-forth struggle and men and women are invested in the final result.”

Eh…maybe. I feel it would be a difficult sell. What I don’t feel would be a difficult sell at all — what could, in truth, be just the inducement the NFL demands to get over its technophobia — is the other situation Kluwe proffers, the a single wherein helmet-mounted AR techniques are “warning players when they are coming into a dangerous situation” and therefore eliminating traumatic collisions. Kluwe:

Say you’re going across the middle and you don’t know there is a guy coming up to lay you out. An even much better example would be that appropriate now defensive gamers actually really do not know exactly where they’re supposed to hit someone. They cannot go high, they cannot go reduced. It is like, effectively, what do we do? With augmented actuality, you could be searching at your tackle box: Here’s a green region the place you can hit this guy. It is like an airplane going down on a landing strategy, going via the boxes in order to hit the proper zone. Now, as a player, you are lining up on the proper zone so you know you are hitting a spot that will maintain the two of you safe.

It sounds like science fiction, but it is extremely much in trying to keep with the league’s current path of R&ampD, he notes.

They’re previously speaking about placing stuff like accelerometers and GPS sensors in helmets to measure concussive impacts. If you have something like that in your helmet, say you go on a play in which you get cracked going across the middle, now it is flashing red and telling you, ‘You need to have to get out of the game. You have a concussion.’ And it is not just telling you — it’s telling your trainers on the sideline. From a health care standpoint, you can diagnose it immediately and avert those injuries that come about when a player refuses to come out of the game, because no player’s going to get himself out of the game. You risk shedding your task.

Some kind of in-helmet engineering will almost definitely find its way onto the discipline in coming years as the league seeks to ward off the existential threat of chronic traumatic encephalopathy. But for gamers to have screens in their visors telling them in true time how to perform the game — isn’t that a bit antithetical to the spirit of sports activities?

“It depends on what level of technological innovation you want in your sport,” Kluwe says. “If we were taking part in true football, we’d all be wearing leather helmets with no facemasks. We’d be sporting operate boots and cloth pants and jerseys. We wouldn’t have any pads, and we’d be dying out on the field. Technologies in sports is always evolving.”

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Note: My headline and Kluwe’s speak both elided a distinction that Google tries to make when speaking about Glass: It is not technically augmented reality. Since the display sits above the eye, not immediately in front of it, utilizes really don’t see an overlay on the physical planet as they would in the situations Kluwe articulates. Kluwe says he considers Glass a phase toward the NFL’s AR future.

Could Google Glass Make Football Safer? Chris Kluwe Thinks So