CONDITIONS
|
General Surgery Stories and Local Doctors
| CURRENT STORIES |
YOUR LOCAL General Surgery DOCTOR |
What is Gastroenterology?
Gastroenterology is a specialized field of medicine that focuses on the digestive tract - from the mouth to the anus. Gastroenterolgy studies the functioning and disorders of the esophagus, stomach and intestines, as well as its associated organs such as the liver, pancreas and gall bladder.
There is documented evidence that some forms of Gastroenterolgy were practiced in ancient Egypt. Greek, Roman and Arab practitioners studied the digestive tracts of the human body with specially designed spatula and mirrors illuminated by candles or oil lamps. More complex tools for examining the rectum with dilating specula were found in the ruins of Pompeii. (Read more about What is Gastroenterology?)
Related Links:
|
What Is a Peptic Ulcer?
Peptic Ulcer Disease
One out of eight people in the United States will be diagnosed with Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD) over the course of their lifetimes. As with many diseases are understanding of the issues and causes of the disease have been evolving in recent years creating the opportunities for more innovative and effective treatments.
What are the Causes Peptic Ulcers?
A Peptic Ulcer is an open sore in the lining of the stomach or intestine. In many ways it is similar to a sore in the mouth. When the ulcer occurs in the stomach it is called a "gastric ulcer". When it occurs in the duodenum it is called a "duodenal ulcer." (Read more about What Is a Peptic Ulcer?)
Related Links:
|
Human Stem Cells Return Motor Function to Paralyzed Rats
Researchers from the University of California, San Diego report that experimental rats recovered from blood flow related paralysis after receiving grafts of human spinal stem cells.
When damage occurs due to loss of blood flow to the spine's neural cells, applying human neural stem cells directly to the spinal cord achieves recovery of motor function. In this specific type of paralysis, known as spinal cord ischemia, there is no mechanical damage to the spinal cord. The brain motor centers remain partially connected to the spinal cord but the loss of inhibitory neurons leads to the degeneration of muscle control in lower limbs. (Read more about Human Stem Cells Return Motor Function to Paralyzed Rats)
Related Links:
|
Triathlon Knee Replacement
Marlene Cameron likes to think that her zest for life is infectious…at 70 years old, she is an avid walker, exercises regularly and has a jam-packed social calendar. But, over the past couple of years, her arthritic knees began to zap away her vitality, leaving her depressed and in tremendous pain.
“I was out in my garden doing some pruning and it felt like something snapped in my leg. And it was like pain, I couldn’t even stand, I had to get down on the ground it was so bad,” says Marlene.
After rounds of anti-inflammatory drugs, extensive physical therapy, Marlene still had no relief. Her doctor determined that she would be the perfect candidate for the new triathlon knee replacement system.
“The triathlon knee was created based on a different sizing method so that it is gender specific, paying attention especially to women where we had difficulty in sizing,” says Dr. Steven Harwin of Beth Israel Medical Center.
The Triathlon Knee is designed with a wide range of sizing options that closely match the anatomies of both women and men. For women, the smaller sized implants have a more narrow design, helping to improve fit and function for the female bone structure. (Read more about Triathlon Knee Replacement)
Related Links:
|
Computer Aided Surgery
“It is burning and tingling that is how it feels all the time and then there are other pains where it is shooting pains and you feel like someone is stabbing you,” says Diana Baez.
Diana Baez is about to have computer aided knee surgery that she’s hoping will turn her life around. 51 year old Diana has severe osteoarthritis and has lost significant cartilage in her knee. She’s tried everything from pain-killers to physical therapy, nothing gave her relief. “I can’t deal with this pain anymore.”
Dr. Elton Strauss, Chief of Orthopaedic Trauma at Mount Sinai, will be using global positioning system-like technology to help him operate on Diana’s knee. “In our business if you are off by a millimeter or two degrees it can affect the outcome of the patients. When I am actually looking inside somebody’s leg whether it is the hip or the knee I see the bones I see the ligaments but I don’t know how those bones actually work when the person walks on the leg, crouches down, lies down, gets out of bed does athletic events what this computer does it replicates the function of the patient and also tells me whether or not I have recreated that person’s anatomy,” explains Dr. Strauss. (Read more about Computer Aided Surgery)
Related Links:
|
Chewing Gum Cure
So when is a trip to the candy counter a cure for a common problem that costs the country millions in healthcare dollars and gets patients out of the hospital days earlier?
It’s when you buy a pack of gum of course!
It might sound weird, but chewing gum has just been shown to help many surgery patients. (Read more about Chewing Gum Cure)
Related Links:
|
ACID REFLUX AND RIGHT SIDE
If you suffer from acid reflux, there’s new evidence you can avoid the damage this can cause by changing the way you sleep.
Acid reflux disease is a common cause of heartburn. And many times the acid can travel back up into the food pipe at night.
Now there’s an easy way to prevent that, by changing your sleeping position. (Read more about ACID REFLUX AND RIGHT SIDE)
Related Links:
|
Diverticulitis
The colon or large bowel stores waste products of digestion and reabsorbs salt and water back into the body. (Read more about Diverticulitis)
Related Links:
|
BENIGN BREAST LESIONS
There is a good chance that many of you women reading this will at some point in your lifetime have to go for a breast biopsy; and that biopsy won’t turn out to be a cancer.
But does that mean you’re completely out of the woods? The answer is no, but it also doesn’t mean worry. (Read more about BENIGN BREAST LESIONS)
Related Links:
|
DEFENSIVE MEDICINE
Is your doctor putting you through unnecessary tests, even biopsies, say, simply because he or she fears being sued? According to the results of a new survey, the answer is a concerning yes!
Defensive medicine may be a subtle issue, like getting a couple of extra blood tests done, or being sent to another doctor for an extra opinion. Or, it might be something as serious as not having access to a doctor for an important procedure. But there’s no question, lawsuits are affecting both doctors and patients in negative ways. (Read more about DEFENSIVE MEDICINE)
Related Links:
|
|
|