Respicardia ’s remedē, a Pacemaker for Lungs, Now Treating First Sleep Apnea Patient
Last year the FDA granted Respicardia, a Minnetonka, Minnesota firm, approval to introduce its remedē System as a treatment option for severe central sleep apnea. Now the company is proudly reporting that the first patient to receive the newly commercialized phrenic nerve stimulating implant is already receiving treatment following surgery at Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center. The remedē system is essentially a pacemaker for the lungs, taking over the responsibility of stimulating the diaphragm while the patient is sleeping.
People with serious central sleep apnea tend to stop breathing frequently thr...
Source: Medgadget - February 5, 2018 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Editors Tags: Medicine Radiology Thoracic Surgery Source Type: blogs
Does the possibility of misdiagnosis make the concept of brain death invalid?
Recently I read the detailed account of what has happened with Jahi McMath, titled “What Does It Mean to Die?” in the most recent issue of The New Yorker. It made me reassess what I think about the concept of brain death. Four years ago, Jahi McMath was a thirteen-year-old African American girl who had a tonsillectomy to treat severe sleep apnea. She had a... // Read More » (Source: blog.bioethics.net)
Source: blog.bioethics.net - February 1, 2018 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Steve Phillips Tags: Health Care bioethics end of life syndicated Source Type: blogs
DreamPort Sleep Solution for CPAP Therapy Without a Mask: Interview with Inventor, Bleep CEO Stuart Heatherington
Continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) therapy is impressively effective for treating obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that can lead to high blood pressure, increased chances of stroke, diabetes, and other health issues. But, while CPAP therapy works really well, it also has an incredibly poor rate of patient compliance. Very few, if any, patients are excited for a chance to wear a breathing mask over their face as they sleep at night. CPAP masks wrap around the patient’s head and are tightened in place with stretchy fabric to maintain a pressure seal. This is uncomfortable and can be claustrophobia-inducing for...
Source: Medgadget - January 4, 2018 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Editors Tags: Cardiology Exclusive Medicine Source Type: blogs
Lack of sleep can lead to Alzheimer ’s and dementia
This study is the clearest demonstration in humans that sleep disruption leads to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease through an amyloid beta mechanism,” said senior author Randall Bateman, MD, the Charles F. and Joanne Knight Distinguished Professor of Neurology. “The study showed that it was due to overproduction of amyloid beta during sleep deprivation.”More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer ’s, a disease characterized by gradual memory loss and cognitive decline.What is the Difference Between Alzheimer ’s and DementiaThis study indicatesthat sleeping poorly increases levels of bra...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - December 28, 2017 Category: Neurology Tags: health lack of sleep alzheimer's lack of sleep dementia poor sleep linked to alzheimer Source Type: blogs
GO2SLEEP Wearable Sleep Tracker Capable of Detecting Sleep Apnea
A new startup company called SLEEPON has recently launched their crowdfunding campaign for their first product, GO2SLEEP, “the world’s smallest sleep apnea detection ring.” Sleep apnea is a condition where an individual’s breathing is interrupted during sleep, and this can lead to excessive daytime sleepiness, irritability, and morning headaches. Left untreated, sleep apnea increases the risk of numerous serious health issues, including high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and stroke. Sleep apnea affects around 25 million Americans, but many more people likely remain undiagnosed. Given these high numbers, dete...
Source: Medgadget - December 12, 2017 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Kenan Raddawi Tags: Cardiology Medicine Net News Source Type: blogs
Measuring the Vital Signs of Health Care Progress at the Connected Health Conference (Part 2 of 3)
The first segment of this article introduced the themes of the Connected Health Conference and talked about the importance of validating what new technologies do using trials or studies like traditional medical advances. This segment continues my investigation into another major theme in health care: advanced interfaces.
Speaker from Validic at Connected Health Conference
Advanced interfaces
The compulsory picture of health care we’re accustomed to seeing, whenever we view hospital propaganda or marketing from health care companies, shows a patient in an awkward gown seated on an uncomfortable examination table. A d...
Source: EMR and HIPAA - November 15, 2017 Category: Information Technology Authors: Andy Oram Tags: Care Management System Digital Health Digital Therapies Medication Adherence Personalized Medicine Apps Artificial Intelligence Augmented Reality Blockchain Connected Health Data Sharing Devices Interoperability Telehealth Tele Source Type: blogs
LITFL Review 306
LITFL • Life in the Fast Lane Medical Blog
LITFL • Life in the Fast Lane Medical Blog - Emergency medicine and critical care medical education blog
Welcome to the 306th LITFL Review! Your regular and reliable source for the highest highlights, sneakiest sneak peeks and loudest shout-outs from the webbed world of emergency medicine and critical care. Each week the LITFL team casts the spotlight on the blogosphere’s best and brightest and deliver a bite-sized chunk of FOAM.
The Most Fair Dinkum Ripper Beauts of the Week
RebelEM unleashes his top 10 pearls from ACEP17 [LP]
EPMonthly published an ER account of the...
Source: Life in the Fast Lane - November 13, 2017 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Marjorie Lazoff, MD Tags: LITFL review #FOAMped #FOAMresus #FOAMsim #FOAMus #meded FOAMcc FOAMed LITFL R/V Source Type: blogs
NYTimes: The Growing Toll of Our Ever-Expanding Waistlines
The Growing Toll of Our Ever-Expanding WaistlinesBy JANE E. BRODY NOV. 13, 2017Paul Rogers I hope you ’re not chomping on a bagel or, worse, a doughnut while you read about what is probably the most serious public health irony of the last half century in this country: As one major killer — smoking — declined, another rose precipitously to take its place: obesity.Many cancer deaths were averted after millions quit lighting up, but they are now rising because even greater numbers are unable to keep their waistlines in check.Today, obesity and smoking remain the two leading causes of preventable dea...
Source: Dr Portnay - November 13, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr Portnay Source Type: blogs
Consider Experience as Part of Evidence-Based Practice to Evolve Our Profession
I was happy to read Melanie Potock’s recent blog, “Three Structures in a Child’s Mouth That Can Cause Picky Eating.” The post sparked a considerable amount of discussion on social media. I also appreciated ASHA’s response about professional experiences, and the value they bring to our profession. I have several thoughts on this blog regarding evidence-based practice and tethered oral tissues (TOTs).
ASHA reminds us on the website that evidence-based practice (EBP) involves clinical expertise/expert opinion coupled with scientific evidence and client perspective.
To me, EBP means more than level-one research or la...
Source: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Press Releases - October 17, 2017 Category: Speech-Language Pathology Authors: Robyn Merkel-Walsh Tags: Speech-Language Pathology Feeding Disorders Professional Development Speech Disorders Swallowing Disorders Source Type: blogs
Remed ē Implantable System FDA Approved to Treat Moderate to Severe Central Sleep Apnea
The FDA has granted Respicardia, a company out of Minnetonka, Minnesota, approval to introduce its Remedē implantable sleep apnea treatment system. The Remedē treats sleep apnea by stimulating one of the phrenic nerves that regulates the activity of the diaphragm. People with central sleep apnea exhibit shallow breaths and/or pauses in breathing that can have a terrible effect on their sleep quality and, as it turns out, their overall cardiovascular health, and increase their chances for obesity and diabetes. The poor control of the diaphragm in such patients is caused by the brain sending improper signals. Restoring...
Source: Medgadget - October 9, 2017 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Editors Tags: Cardiology Medicine Radiology Source Type: blogs
Can getting quality sleep help prevent Alzheimer ’ s disease?
It’s amazing how a good night’s sleep can rejuvenate the mind, or “rest the little grey cells” as Hercule Poirot, Agatha Christie’s famed sleuth, liked to say.
But sound slumber may boost the brain another way by protecting you against Alzheimer’s disease. Research has begun to show an association between poor sleep and a higher risk of accumulating beta-amyloid protein plaque in the brain, one of the hallmarks of the disease.
“Observational studies have found that adults over age 65 with amyloid plaques in their brain have reduced slow-wave sleep, which is thought to play an important role in memory function...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - September 8, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Matthew Solan Tags: Alzheimer's Disease Behavioral Health Brain and cognitive health Healthy Aging Memory Sleep Source Type: blogs
MKSAP: 38-year-old woman with a HbA1c value of 9.1%
Test your medicine knowledge with the MKSAP challenge, in partnership with the American College of Physicians.
A 38-year-old woman is evaluated after laboratory study results show an HbA1c value of 9.1%. Her HbA1c goal is less than 7% because she has high function, long life expectancy, few comorbidities, good support, health literacy, and access to care. Medical history is significant for morbid obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Family history is notable for her mother, sister, and brother with type 2 diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Medications are insulin glargine ...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - September 2, 2017 Category: General Medicine Authors: < a href="http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/mksap" rel="tag" > mksap < /a > Tags: Conditions Diabetes Endocrinology Primary Care Source Type: blogs
SoClean Disinfects CPAP Equipment: A Medgadget Review
Users of CPAP machines end up maintaining the system by having to clean the mask, the accompanying air tube, and humidifier. Not only this is a hassle, but for many patients with sleep apnea this may be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, causing them to abandon the therapy. As CPAP is impressively effective for treating sleep apnea and many of its cardiopulmonary consequences, it’s disappointing that compliance with it is so poor.
We were offered the opportunity to try out a new device called SoClean that pretty much automates CPAP equipment cleaning. We borrowed a CPAP machine, unpacked the SoClean and fo...
Source: Medgadget - August 24, 2017 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Editors Tags: Cardiology Exclusive Medicine Source Type: blogs
The sad direction of hospital care
My 74-year old obese, poorly controlled diabetic patient with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, coronary artery disease, asthma, obstructive sleep apnea has been difficult to motivate to improve his lifestyle and his health. He is bright, sweet and caring but just not very disciplined.
At each office visit, we review his medications, review his dietary habits and go through the check list of check-ups for diabetic complications including regular ophthalmology exams and podiatric exams to prevent diabetic retinopathy and foot skin breakdown and infection. His spouse is always present, and we discuss seeing his endocrin...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - August 8, 2017 Category: General Medicine Authors: < a href="http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/steven-reznick" rel="tag" > Steven Reznick, MD < /a > Tags: Physician Diabetes Emergency Hospital Hospitalist Infectious disease Source Type: blogs
Fight Aging! Newsletter, July 31st 2017
In conclusion, documentation is important, a critical part of advocacy and the development process at the larger scale. It isn't just words, but rather a vital structural flow of information from one part of the larger community to another, necessary to sustain progress in any complex field. We would all do well to remember this - and to see that building this documentation is an activity in which we can all pitch in to help.
Evidence Suggests that, at Least in Earlier Stages, Alzheimer's Disease Blocks Rather than Destroys Memories
https://www.fightaging.org/archives/2017/07/evidence-suggests-that-at-least-in-e...
Source: Fight Aging! - July 30, 2017 Category: Research Authors: Reason Tags: Newsletters Source Type: blogs
