Aug/090
Cocaine use increasing among women
To combat stress, anxiety and even the women take refuge more and more often in cocaine. This revealed the figure during the conference “The other side of coca” held at the Catholic University of Milan. It is the psychologist who said Gabriella Gilli, professor of psychology of art and personality psychology at the University of Milan. The consumption of coca is growing among younger students and among career women who are taking on a drug to deal with occasional stress, fatigue, anxiety, but also fears and insecurities of the commitments of work and study. Besides providing an illusory solution, warns the professor from Milan, taking occasional cocaine exposes the risk of developing a true dependence from which it is then difficult to get out.
The figure is in addition to those, already quite alarming to see the dramatic increase in cocaine use in our country: the consumers of cocaine rose from 700 thousand in 2005 to 850 thousand in 2007 while decreasing the age of new addicts. Consumption is also a habitual or less of cocaine, a phenomenon that becomes more and more interested in a cross-population, unlike in the past that regardless of income and of social origin. Whereas once the cocaine was in fact considered “rich stuff”, mostly diffuse, so it was believed, in the world of entertainment and fashion, is now no longer so in part because of its cost still lower. Estimates of concern for the future then come from the Department of ASL addiction in Milan in 2010, according to which the consumption of coca could increase up to 40%. For the time being about one million Italians between 15 and 64 will come to make use of white powder. In the meantime, we hope that institutions take really effective measures to stem the increasing consumption of all drugs, both old and new.
Aug/090
The HPV vaccine also protects against other diseases genital
The vaccine against the Human Papilloma Virus also protects against other diseases of the reproductive tract in addition to cervical cancer. In three studies clearly demonstrate 18000th women between 16 and 26 years. The vaccine has proved useful in 99% of genital warts cases, in 96% of cases for the initial lesions of the cervix and even in 100% of cases for the precancerous lesions of the vulva and vagina. Study results were presented at the European Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
May/090
Plastic Surgery 3-D: all the stages of an intervention in three dimensions!
American Society of Plastic Surgeons (American Association of Plastic Surgeons) offers a new tool for those who want to get an idea of what will happen, before you go under the knife. Obviously this is a video incorporating live action beauty (we are not there yet!), but a three-dimensional graphics program that, through cartoons, shows patients what effect will surgery and what will happen in surgery, step by step.
The effect is amazingly realistic and makes more than a thousand pictures and simple descriptions of what the final outcome of the operation. Responsible 3-D animation, which surgeons say they love them because they relieve the detailed explanation on how it will be too!
Three-dimensional images of the interventions are from Understand.com.
With this tool you can see step by step what happens in every type of intervention cosmetic surgery, hair transplantation by a simple remake of the breast.
It seems that many patients feel calmer after seeing what happens and all the steps of the intervention.
And thank the surgeons!
Apr/090
Doctor? In England is at the supermarket
While in Italy the government’s decision to market the so-called counter medicines (i.e. those that do not require a prescription) in supermarkets has caused hot controversy in Britain is now even possible to see a doctor in the same place when you go shopping. The initiative, Dr Mohammed Jiva, will be funded by the British government and hosted by supermarket chain Sainsbury, one of the largest in the country. Sainsbury aims to validate their commitment to such social by providing within its supermarkets a medical clinic open every evening and Saturday.
The initiative, which is called Doctors in Store, follows in the footsteps of what has already happened a few years ago in the United States and will begin on a trial basis for a period of six months at a Sainsbury supermarket in Manchester. Later to be extended in all other in the country. The diagnosis in England seems to now be able to be done in each place (remember the case of the doctor who diagnosed with cancer to a man in a restaurant just shaking his hand?). Of course, besides the desire to offer one more service to its customers and facilitating the national health system, making it more accessible to users, is hidden behind the initiative also economic interests.
Sainsbury will indeed see so increase sales of drugs that can be purchased directly from their shelves leaving the dispensary. For its part, the British Medical Association welcomes the initiative, but hopes that the clinic located within a supermarket does not become the place where to have elective medical diagnosis and advice. Dr. Jiva said then that the idea comes from the finding that more and more patients seeking consultations in the evenings or on weekends because of work commitments which leave no room to take care of your health during the week.
Mar/090
Testosterone is a bit of madness here is the recipe of power
Being charismatic leaders is not something you can learn over time: leaders are born. He says a psychiatrist who found the roots of power: a matter of hormones and physical appearance. The latest studies on the relationship between brain power and scientific data have confirmed that the story we had already revealed: charismatic leaders are born, not made.
Of course, a proper environment favors the triumph while a series of defeats can put into crisis. But the conquest of power, the ability to manage it and the gift to enchant the crowds, are aspects that derive directly from the biological composition of the leaders. Hormones, neurotransmitters, neurons, and of course the physical aspect are biological components with up to 35% for a politician who climbs the pyramid of power.
“Individuals dominant, cruel, manipulative and persuasive - writes the ‘expert in his latest essay, Cerebro y Coder (brain and power) - are perfect for combat power, and these attributes are dependent on their neuronal circuits and by hormones. As the power struggle and requires expertise, are the androgens, the male sex hormones, to have a particular importance.
Toben said that “the connection between power and testosterone is always positive, even if it is only one ingredient of the cocktail neuronal powerful. Psychologist Inaki Piñuel goes even further: “The leaders have the same charismatic appeal of psychopaths.” For the scholar, whether in the general population is between the index of psychopaths’s 1 and 2%, among the politicians is between 5 and 10%. Like Crazy says Piñuel, leaders have the ability to enchant conceal the ‘deception and to take advantage of anymore. “
Mar/090
Electronic cigarette. Crown7, the latest coming from China
It might already be on the market the remedy to overcome addiction to cigarette smoking: it is called Crown7 and is on sale on the internet, the electronic cigarette invented by the Chinese Golden Dragon Group, which is already great success in the United States (where you can buy almost anywhere) . As there are three versions: one for cigarette smokers and two each for those who smoked cigars and pipes. Crown7 is powered by batteries and does not contain substances harmful to health. It works by inserting recharges the nicotine that is inhaled by creating the illusion of smoking a real cigarette. Each refill is equivalent to two packs of cigarettes and costs two dollars, while the price of cigarettes electronics ranges from 64 to $ 149 depending on the model chosen.
The doses of nicotine, though much reduced, allowing the electronic cigarette to maintain the traditional flavor (!?), but instead of smoke inhaled, and issued, completely harmless, odorless vapor. It follows that the electronic cigarette is not harmful in any way to the health of neither the smoker, nor that of the person next to and can therefore also be smoked in public places. Ron MacDonald, who has acquired the rights to the product in the United States, believes that this will be from now on the future of smokers, without losing the pleasure given them by the blonde most treacherous in the world, can smoke in peace and without transgressing the law, wherever they want it. However, opinions on Crown7 are not unanimous: some American smokers who have tried it are indeed disappointed.
The electronic cigarette actually looks more like a remedy for non-stop smoking because its use would give the sensation of smoking a real cigarette without incurring the serious risks of smoking. duty on our part borne in mind that the use of tobacco is harmful to expose to the risk of cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, and cancer of the lung, just to mention some unpleasant possibilities. But if you cannot possibly stop Crown7 may be a solution for you.
Feb/090
It got the vaccine spray: needles and syringes goodbye!
The new vaccines will inhale via the mouth with two big advantages: eliminate fear and pain caused by needles and, above all, secure the vaccinations in poor countries. It was time that needles and syringes were going into retirement. If the dream is about to come true really - and in the very near future - we must thank a search coordinated by the ISREC in Lausanne, Switzerland, and published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences this week.
The study, involving groups of European researchers, has the goal of perfecting new technologies for vaccine aerosols. The use of spray vaccines represents a major step forward especially in the poorest countries, where hygienic conditions are not optimal and where it often lacks specialized medical services. In these places the World Health Organization has already completed testing with inhaled vaccines against measles. Were then used disposable equipment.
This new technique had not been considered for diseases caused by viruses that infect the body through mucous membranes, such as AIDS or the human papillomavirus (HPV) that causes cervical cancer in women. Now, however, have been tested successfully on 2 macaques (which strengthen the immune system) and a pretest has yielded good results on human beings.
But there might be a problem, especially for vaccines to be inhaled via the nose. There are cells that have an indirect link with the brain, but it was shown that nose does not take vaccines have toxic effects. Excluding for the moment tests for nasal route in humans, for whom the oral route is preferred, the scientists who have already received clearance from Swiss medic, the Swiss authority responsible for drugs, will continue their experiments on human volunteers to determine whether the vaccine spray is absorbed sufficiently from a human organism. If the results are satisfactory we will proceed to subsequent stages of clinical trials.
Feb/090
The endoscopic facelift. A mini-invasive technique to look younger
The endoscopic facelift (or quick lifting), issued some time in Italy, is a technique to rejuvenate the face that lies somewhere between the surgery and aesthetic medicine. Invented in the nineties by Nicanor Isse was imported from Italy Alessandro Gennai plastic surgeon, member of the ‘European Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery, who has illustrated all’ eleventh Conference of medicine and dentistry and cosmetic surgery took place recently in Bologna. The technique involves the insertion in the face through small incisions in the scalp, special wires attached to each other that elevate the cheek, the corners of the mouth, and eyebrows.
Unlike interventions lifting traditional second Gennai intended to become obsolete, involving resection of excess skin and stretching of the remaining ones, the endoscopic facelift can correct the signs of time without leaving visible scars and no hair then compel that cover the contour of the face. The excess skin is redistributed and tissues are not stretched but not relocated by acting on the side, but on the upper face. The effect is more natural. Then you can make some adjustments in practice and practice without new recordings.
The first operation is still done under general anesthesia and requires one night of hospitalization. However, assures Gennai, the endoscopic technique allows quicker healing times, does not present risks of scar tissue and minimize those of nerve and vascular injuries. But the real news, announced by the surgeon, together with his colleague Miles Gravier, at the congress in Bologna is the news that the minimally invasive facelift, will now practice as well as on the face even on the neck area. In this case, the incision is carried behind the ear to allow the insertion of a “gear slings” restorable put in traction that allows the muscles of the neck.
Feb/090
Here comes the laser sight: no more glasses and contact lenses
It’s called “femtosecond laser” and is the latest in American technology applied to refractive surgery. “The main quality of this laser is to dissect the corneal cells with high accuracy. The cells of the cornea can therefore be dissolved one after the other in the exact spot where the doctor wants, “said Dr. Ernesto Capitanio, eye doctor in Milan and Bergamo.
There are numerous advantages for the patient: “The correction of the defects ’s eye, or the myopia, the astigmatism, hyperopic, presbyopia, for many years is performed around the world with Lasik technique, which provides first cut on the cornea with excimer laser corrective action - illustrates Capitanio - this slice of tissue is not eliminated but tilted to one side to create a “flap” in the cornea, a kind of stop a few thousandths of a millimeter thick beneath which is perform the “torn apart”.
With the femtosecond laser, the cut is so precise that the patient sees well immediately and without any pain, when the corneal flap is repositioned, after running the correction with the excimer laser. The only discomfort is a slight tear production, which lasts for two or three hours. “
The new laser has almost sent into retirement the microkeratome, that is the instrument by which the cut on the cornea was performed in a mechanical way, making laser treatment an actual surgical procedure. The remarkable precision of the corneal section means that the time for visual recovery is almost gone and the optimal result is guaranteed-concludes the expert - even the day after surgery the patient is capable of being autonomous, not even ’s required the use of sunglasses.
Jan/090
Comes from Great Britain, the uterus silicone
A small device silicon will be tested on 40 women in Britain, to grow in the womb since immediately after fertilization the embryos obtained in vitro. This was announced by the British weekly New Scientist. The technique, provided that effectively demonstrate, will reduce the number of eggs used for artificial insemination and ovarian stimulation limit of infertile women undergoing hormonal therapy very strong to produce more oocytes to be fertilized with male sperm .
The technique currently in use provides that once obtained through in vitro fertilization (IVF), embryos are placed inside an incubator for several days. After incubation some of them are chosen to be implanted in the womb. The so-called uterus silicone replaces the incubator allowing embryos to be placed right now in a natural environment conducive to their development and increases their chances of survival. The system was so far only been tested in Belgium with defined results but need further study, for this reason further experiments will be conducted in Great Britain.
For each of the women participating in the study will be taken 8 or 12 oocytes, half of which will be treated with traditional techniques and half with the uterus silicone allowing you to compare the results. The study coordinator is Simon Fishel biologist of international renown in the field of assisted reproduction, director of Care Fertility in Nottingham, in which the tests will be conducted. The womb of silicon consists of a capsule of 5 mm in length and a width with tiny holes, and was developed by Swiss Anecova. The capsule, in which embryos are inserted just trained, goes back into the uterus through the vagina, after a few days the capsule is recovered and it is selected embryos to be implanted later in the womb.