#8 News Log: Keeping Surgical Infections at Bay With a Cocoon of Air

Summary: Nimbic Systems, Inc. has created a new surgical instrument, recently FDA approved, that is claimed to reduce the percentage of pathogens entering an incision during surgery, called Air Barrier System(ABS). This new technology will certainly aid in decreasing post surgical infections and complications such as MRSA, Septicemia, Atelectasis, and Cellulitis. The recent, cutting-edge medical device is composed of a reusable blower unit that feeds filtered air into a disposable nozzle. The nozzle is placed adjacent to the incision allowing a constant flow of purified air onto the incision site, which prevents any microbes in the O.R from entering the incision. ABS is a positive aspect for patients in several ways: it can ultimately protect them from any pathogens and infections that can be obtained and also acts as a money saver as well because a severe staph infection acquired by the patient can send medical bills into the six figures. The first surgery ABS was used on was a hip replacement, in which the wound is left to open air for an extended period of time, making the patient very susceptible to infection. The device had decreased the amount of microbes within the incision site by more than 84 percent. Now, ABS will be tested on patients in need of femoral or spinal surgeries (more invasive surgeries) to analyze the changes that ABS can make to create a safer surgical process for the patient.

My Opinion?: ABS is an amazing surgical instrument; technology has now advanced to the point where surgeries are becoming even safer to undergo. Just ten years ago, certain surgeries were claimed to have high infection risk factors, but now those surgeries can be performed with confidence, knowing that ABS will help decrease the risk of attaining severe bacterial infections. Not only will this device bring comfort and trust to the surgical process but it can also reduce the price of surgeries because during post-op, antibiotics are always bestowed to the patients "just in case" of infection. But pumping unnecessary antibiotics into the body is not exactly the healthiest process and can often even present side effects to the patient or a reaction. Therefore, if ABS reduces the amount of microbes in the incision site by over 84 percent, then post-op antibiotics would not need to be administered as often, depending on how invasive the surgery is. If the patient does not receive antibiotics, then the cost of medical bills will be slightly lower plus the patient will not become symptomatic to the antibiotics, decreasing the duration of recovery time. ABS will certainly make the patient's life, surgical staff's life, and even the patient's family's life significantly more at peace and ease. This device just goes to show what advances are being made within  medicine and what is yet to come that will bring reassurance to patients in the future. 

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-10/keeping-surgical-infections-bay-cocoon-air

#7 News Log: Greece's Big Debt Drama Is a Muse for Its Artists

Summary: Greece is currently in a severe debt crisis but through all this, a bright light is still shinning. Much artistic activity is now taking place; seeming as though this crisis is inspiring myriads of art in all areas of art such as music, sculpting, writing, etc. Athens is the center of most of this artistic activity. There is a new energy that is forming that has not been seen anywhere else in the slow moving Mediterranean. Art galleries are thriving, painters are creating gems of artwork, filmmakers are capturing the reality of Greece's familiar conditions and turning it into a new strange uncertainty. An artist, who goes by Bleeps.gr, paints on buildings throughout the neighborhood of Psiri. One of his paintings portrays a woman clutching a sack of euros with a golden halo around her. Written on the halo, in Greek, were the words "Forty Years+Debtocracy." This referred to the restoration of Greece in 1974 after a seven year dictatorship, which ultimately led to today's debt. The artist claims that the woman is wondering what is going to happen. Another painting of his, portrays a model on a catwalk against a blue backdrop, which is labeled "Greece, the next economic model."These paintings reflect the frustration and pain the people within Greece are suffering from. And the artist is accurate when he writes "Greece the next economic model." Greece is becoming the country to NOT be; the country used in an example of economic failure. Many films were created to show the change Greece is going through and within these films, there seems to be a cry for the past. How things used to be seemed refreshing to the people. A play called "Antigone," sent a strong message to its audience saying: "What do we owe the family, and what do we owe the state? As the Greek crisis unfolds, these ancient questions are made painfully real. And another generation of Greek artists is asking them anew."

My Opinion?- I believe that the artists are bringing optimism to the people and themselves about their countries current state. However, I scanned through a few other works of Bleeps.gr's and found his art a bit controversial because he is a protester and a bit of a rioter himself. Being Greek, it is extremely disheartening and embarrassing that Greece has gotten to where it is today: People rioting in the streets, vandalization, loitering, and bankruptcy. This is not how the situation should be dealt with. A bright side to the artwork however, may enlighten the citizens of Greece and calm them a bit because the art expresses the frustration and apprehension that many people are feeling. This hopefully will calm the riots and poor behave of the people. I do not believe the increase in artistic activity will cure Greece of its debt drama and economic issues, but it will hopefully entice the citizens of Greece to relax and push through these hard times in an orderly, civilized manner. No one wants Greece to become that "economic model."

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/15/arts/in-athens-art-blossoms-amid-debt-crisis.html?ref=europe

#6 News Log: From Needle Stick to Cure for Hepatitis

Summary- If you were a doctor, what would you fear most? Losing a patient? Making a mistake risking malpractice rates to sky rocket? Or being pricked by an infected needle at work? Well, for many doctors it is becoming infected from a needle puncture on accident. Many have witnessed this take place and wonder what would happen if they were the one's in the situation. Everyday, doctors witness patients experiencing the excruciating process of marching toward death with hepatitis C and AIDS. Most lose hope and cannot resume habitual tasks done everyday of their lives for either fear of the past or complete loss of faith and credence. However, this was not the case for Dr. Douglas Dieterich. Dieterich was accidentally stuck by a needle contaminated by hepatitis C while working at a hospital as a third-year medical student. From that point on, Dr. Dieterich experienced enervating bouts of jaundice, fevers, and exhaustion. But Dr. Dieterich pushed through this disease and continued practicing medicine, soon becoming a national expert in hepatitis C. He has generated numerous clinical trials and drugs to counter the disease in order to better understand the virus. Now, he is cured of hepatitis C, thanks to a drug coalition he was involved in studying.
Dr. Dieterich is currently a professor at Mount Sinai Medical Center. "In the dark days of 1980s, I remember being really sick and thinking, 'Damn it. I hope I can help someone else before this virus gets me.' Now it looks like I can. I think it's the beginning of the end of hepatitis C, and that is one of the happiest statements I can make." In the end, thanks to Dr. Dieterich, we now have the tools to "start kicking some viral butt!"


My response?- After reading this article for the first time, i just thought to myself, this man never quit. He never lost faith even when life seemed to be fading away. He never showed signs of weakness, even when his disease was at its peak. And because of that determination and perseverance, Dr. Dieterich was able to muster up a cure for millions, including himself, infected with hepatitis C. Imagine your doctor informing you that you are infected with a life threatening disease that there is no cure for. Then someone, infected just like you, finds the cure because they were determined to save you first, even before themselves. Dr. Dieterich strongly emphasized the importance of finding this cure or at least an affective treatment before he himself, passed. What really became an eye-opener for me was that Dr. Dieterich had shown this perseverance in his past. He dreamed of always becoming a doctor, but was not accepted to medical school the first time around. In the end, he did not give up and luckily was accepted. Had he not been, this cure might not have come out for another several years. I highly admire Dr. Dieterich because I have always dreamed of becoming a doctor but I admit, school is not a breeze for me. I have to work very hard and sometimes the results do not reflect the effort exerted into what I do. But becoming a doctor is a dream I am extremely passionate about and would feel empty without at least attempting to give it a shot. The fact that Dr. Dieterich was not accepted to med school his first time around, made me think, well at least I have a second shot if plans go awry. As long as I have the determination and perseverance that Dr. Dieterich possessed, why can't I accomplish becoming a doctor? And look how he's contributed.
Now discussing the actual cure, I think Dr. Dieterich has shed light upon those infected with hepatitis C. Yes, it is a debilitating disease, and yes many treatments will not be affective. But we have the tools now; the tools that will cure a disease once labeled incurable. With this, doctors and researchers can unlock new treatments and cures for possibly the other forms of hepatitis. All in all, Dr. Dieterich's resiliency, miracle, and commitment has shed hope on a promising future for modern medicine.
      http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/13/from-needle-stick-to-cure-for-hepatitis/?ref=health

#5 Technology

I honestly do not depend on technology too much but if there was one piece I'd have a difficult time without would be my cellphone because it is my main source of communication. If I need to get in touch with someone whether for an important reason or just to say hi, I need my cellphone. Especially if it is an emergency because I have been in an emergency situation and needed to get in touch with my parents but had no means of doing so, creating many problems.