A surgical algorithm developed and implemented by ovarian cancer specialists at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center dramatically increases the frequency of complete removal of all visible tumour
Patients suffering from chronic plantar fasciitis now have a new weapon against this debilitating foot ailment, according to research presented at the Society of Interventional Radiology’s Annual Scientific Meeting. Researchers utilized ultrasound imaging and specific ultrasonic energy to penetrate, emulsify and remove diseased fasciitis tissue. Permanently removing damaged, pain-generating tissue allowed room for healthy tissue to regrow in its place, restoring normal function.
‘Plantar fasciitis is so ubiquitous and such a difficult condition to live with, and yet patients have been limited in their treatment options,’ said Rahul Razdan, M.D., one of the study’s researchers and an interventional radiologist at Advanced Medical Imaging in Lincoln, Neb. ‘While standard treatments, such as pain medication and physical therapy, can offer some relief, there have been no permanent answers. Consequently, safe and effective definitive treatments are highly desirable,’ he noted.
In the study, 100 patients were treated, beginning in August 2013. The patients presented with chronic, refractory plantar fasciopathy, and all patients had previously failed to respond to medications, activity modification and arch supports. Before treatment, patients reported how their foot pain affected their ability to manage everyday life through the Foot and Ankle Disability Index (FADI). FADI scores were collected from the patients at two weeks, six weeks and six months post treatment.
Two weeks after treatment, greater than 90 percent of patients reported improvement in symptoms, and these improvements were maintained at six months. Patients also reported being highly satisfied with the treatment and had no treatment-related complications.
‘It is important for patients suffering from chronic plantar fasciitis to know that they have treatment options,’ added Razdan. ‘We have patients who are in so much pain they can’t even play with their kids or take their dog for a walk. This ultrasonic treatment can give patients their lives back and let them enjoy their lives. We are excited to see significant results from this treatment,’ he said.
Chronic plantar fasciitis is the most common debilitating foot complaint, affecting approximately 10 percent of the population and accounting for more than 1 million office visits annually, said Razdan. EurekAlert
Pietro Valdastri is convinced that the clever application of magnetic force can make minimally invasive surgery easier and more effective.
‘In 2007, a team of University of Texas researchers did some basic experiments using magnets in laparoscopic surgery,’ said Valdastri, assistant professor of mechanical engineering and director of Vanderbilt University’s Science and Technology of Robotics in Medicine (STORM) Lab.
‘Although their designs were very simple, mechanically speaking, they made me realize that small surgical devices guided and powered by external magnets have a number of potential advantages over placing tools on the end of a stick, which is the current approach. All that was required is a little sophisticated engineering!’
This realization led Valdastri and his graduate students – particularly Christian Di Natali and Nicol
The Critical Care Recovery Center care model — the USA
Medicine should reconsider how it treats stroke and other neurological disorders, focusing on the intrinsic abilities of the brain and nervous system to heal themselves rather than the
New expert guidance by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) outlines recommendations for developing policies regarding the use of animals in healthcare facilities, including animal-assisted activities, service animals, research animals and personal pet visitation in acute care hospitals.
‘Animals have had an increasing presence in healthcare facilities,’ said David Weber, MD, MPH, a lead author of the recommendations. ‘While there may be benefits to patient care, the role of animals in the spread of bacteria is not well understood. We have developed standard infection prevention and control guidance to help protect patients and healthcare providers via animal-to-human transmission in healthcare settings.’
Since evidence on the role animals play in the transmission of pathogens in healthcare facilities is largely unknown, the SHEA Guidelines Committee comprised of experts in infection control and prevention developed the recommendations based on available evidence, practical considerations, a SURVEY of SHEA members, writing group opinion and consideration of potential harm where applicable. The guidance was also endorsed by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), a professional association of more than 15,000 infection preventionists.
Guidance is grouped by the role of animals
Novel geometrically encoded magnetic sensors (GEMs), developed by researchers from NIST and NIH, respond to local biochemical conditions
Two scientific studies led by researchers at Sweden
Imaging tests like mammograms or CT scans can detect tumours, but figuring out whether a growth is or isn
A team of investigators at Children
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