Dear Friends,
There is a cartoon in Sunday’s New York Times that depicts a mother telling her children NOT to eat their vegetables. The broad reach of the E.coli outbreak that started in the Hamburg, Germany region has captured the attention of us all. And it serves to show that vigilance is the best defense against outbreaks.
I am writing to ask you to give now during our Spring Internet-athon to keep ProMED at the forefront of this disease surveillance.
Veteran ProMED bacterial disease moderator Larry Lutwick and ProMED co-founder Jack Woodall took the lead on our behalf as these cases caught the attention of the international news media. With their public comments in places like USA Today, and frequent ProMED postings, Larry and Jack kept the global public health community and the general public informed throughout the crisis.
Thankfully, the declining number of new cases being reported suggests that this outbreak has peaked – but not before it traveled across Europe and, in the process, brought the subject of food security to the forefront of issues we as a global community must address.
Food-borne disease presents unique challenges to epidemiologists. There is significant lag time between harvesting a contaminated crop and diagnosing an illness caused by that crop. Foods may travel around the world and mix with foods from many other geographic areas. Then there is the lag time between those individual diagnoses and the discovery of the diseases’s source.
During that time, both illness and fear spread. And, while it seems now that bean sprouts from a specific farm in northern Germany were the cause of the outbreak, a number of vegetables from a broader area were under suspicion. Farmers and food vendors from a wide number of countries suffered financial losses as a result.
We believe ProMED can help speed the process of “connecting the dots” when a fast-moving infectious disease strikes. We have done it before, most notably when we “connected the dots” between an outbreak of illness in Asia and what came to be known as SARS first appeared in Toronto.
With our expert moderators and our network of over 50,000 public health officials, scientists, journalists and others who receive ProMED each day in five different languages in 187 countries, we have the best chance to improve responses at all levels.
But we need your support to do that. More than a third of the annual operating budget for ProMED is funded with voluntary contributions from subscribers. Please make a contribution to this appeal by going to our online donation page now.
We also encourage you to ask your friends on Facebook to donate as well. Simply SHARE a message about ProMED with your Facebook friends.
As a small token of our appreciation, each donor of US $250 will receive a ProMED memory stick. Donors of US $100 receive a ProMED mini-multi tool (for which you will find dozens of uses), and donations of US $50 are eligible to receive a newly designed ProMED-mail mouse pad.
Sincerely,
Larry Madoff
Editor, ProMED mail
P.S. We welcome contributions to support our work from organizations that benefit from the service we provide. To learn more about institutional giving, contact Amy Galblum at amy.galblum@isid.org
14 June 2011
13 June 2011
Consultant Anaesthetist Michael SLAZENGER: 1941-2010
Sunday April 18 2010 SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
A huge crowd packed St Patrick's Church in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, on Thursday to pay their last respects to Dr Michael Slazenger, owner of the Powerscourt estate and heir to the Slazenger family fortune.
He died on Monday of injuries suffered in a tragic plane crash the previous Saturday. The retired anaesthetist was an extremely popular man who shunned media attention wherever possible, preferring the company of family and friends.
He was born into power and privilege 69 years ago. His father, Ralph, inherited the Slazenger sports company that was the source of their great wealth. The company is one of the oldest sports brands in the world and was started by his grandfather, also called Ralph, and great-uncle Isaac in Manchester in 1880.
The company manufactured the famous 'guttie' golf ball in 1891 and became the leading tennis ball supplier at the turn of the century.
Dr Slazenger's father oversaw the expansion of the company worldwide due to the astute sponsorship of major sporting personalities. They signed up Fred Perry just before he won his three Wimbledon titles and added Ken Rosewall later as they strengthened their business in Australia. In golf they had the two biggest names in the sport's history when they signed Jack Nicklaus in 1964 and later Severiano Ballesteros in the Seventies.
In 1953, Ralph moved his family to Ireland, buying Durrow Abbey House in Co Offaly, later bought by the State and now housing the Arts for Peace Foundation. The Slazenger family lived there for eight years until Ralph sold the sports firm to Dunlop in 1961.
With the proceeds of the sale he bought Powerscourt, one of Ireland's finest estates from the Wingfield family. A year later, in a coincidence of wealth and lineage, Dr Slazenger's sister, Wendy, married Mervyn Niall Wingfield, the 10th Earl of Powerscourt, whose family built and owned Powerscourt from 1603 until its sale.
The Powerscourt estate is home to the highest waterfall in Ireland and one of the most spectacular settings in the country. The house itself has changed in design over many centuries but its Palladian north front was famous around Europe as being a classic of its time. The avenue leading up to the house is a mile long and lined with more than 2,000 beech trees.
The Slazenger family decided to refurbish the house and open it to the public but on November 4, 1974, a fire broke out on the top floor. By the time the fire brigade arrived it had turned into an inferno and the house was completely gutted.
Dr Slazenger and the family kept the estate open to the public and the historic gardens continued to draw substantial crowds. A programme of restoration, renovation and commercialisation was undertaken by the family and now the estate is one of the most successful in the country.
Dr Slazenger retired as a consultant anaesthetist with St Michael's Hospital in Dun Laoghaire back in 2005. He was greatly admired and respected by his colleagues and those who worked with him had nothing but kind words to say about him. He always had a keen eye on business, however, and this played a major part in the success of Powerscourt. Although he came to golf relatively late in life, his love of the game led to the creation of a championship golf course on the estate in 1996. The course was very much a commercial undertaking and was leased to Powerscourt Golf Club of which Michael became president.
He inherited his father's passion for aviation and kept his Falco F8L on the airstrip at the estate. It is said his wife Noreen always dreaded the possibility of a mishap while he was flying.
He died on Monday of injuries suffered in a tragic plane crash the previous Saturday. The retired anaesthetist was an extremely popular man who shunned media attention wherever possible, preferring the company of family and friends.
He was born into power and privilege 69 years ago. His father, Ralph, inherited the Slazenger sports company that was the source of their great wealth. The company is one of the oldest sports brands in the world and was started by his grandfather, also called Ralph, and great-uncle Isaac in Manchester in 1880.
The company manufactured the famous 'guttie' golf ball in 1891 and became the leading tennis ball supplier at the turn of the century.
Dr Slazenger's father oversaw the expansion of the company worldwide due to the astute sponsorship of major sporting personalities. They signed up Fred Perry just before he won his three Wimbledon titles and added Ken Rosewall later as they strengthened their business in Australia. In golf they had the two biggest names in the sport's history when they signed Jack Nicklaus in 1964 and later Severiano Ballesteros in the Seventies.
In 1953, Ralph moved his family to Ireland, buying Durrow Abbey House in Co Offaly, later bought by the State and now housing the Arts for Peace Foundation. The Slazenger family lived there for eight years until Ralph sold the sports firm to Dunlop in 1961.
With the proceeds of the sale he bought Powerscourt, one of Ireland's finest estates from the Wingfield family. A year later, in a coincidence of wealth and lineage, Dr Slazenger's sister, Wendy, married Mervyn Niall Wingfield, the 10th Earl of Powerscourt, whose family built and owned Powerscourt from 1603 until its sale.
The Powerscourt estate is home to the highest waterfall in Ireland and one of the most spectacular settings in the country. The house itself has changed in design over many centuries but its Palladian north front was famous around Europe as being a classic of its time. The avenue leading up to the house is a mile long and lined with more than 2,000 beech trees.
The Slazenger family decided to refurbish the house and open it to the public but on November 4, 1974, a fire broke out on the top floor. By the time the fire brigade arrived it had turned into an inferno and the house was completely gutted.
Dr Slazenger and the family kept the estate open to the public and the historic gardens continued to draw substantial crowds. A programme of restoration, renovation and commercialisation was undertaken by the family and now the estate is one of the most successful in the country.
Dr Slazenger retired as a consultant anaesthetist with St Michael's Hospital in Dun Laoghaire back in 2005. He was greatly admired and respected by his colleagues and those who worked with him had nothing but kind words to say about him. He always had a keen eye on business, however, and this played a major part in the success of Powerscourt. Although he came to golf relatively late in life, his love of the game led to the creation of a championship golf course on the estate in 1996. The course was very much a commercial undertaking and was leased to Powerscourt Golf Club of which Michael became president.
He inherited his father's passion for aviation and kept his Falco F8L on the airstrip at the estate. It is said his wife Noreen always dreaded the possibility of a mishap while he was flying.
11 June 2011
Emeritus Assistant Professor Mary DYSON PhD (Lond.)
Speaker at 6th. Int.Laser Therapy Conference.
http://www.marydyson.com/
"Mary Dyson is Emeritus Assistant Professor ("Reader") in the Biology of Tissue Repair at King's College (KCL), University of London, UK. She is a biomedical consultant, founder of the biomedical consultancy firm Dyderm, co-founder and director of Quality Medical Instruments Ltd, and Executive Vice-President of Longport, Inc.
Mary joined the Department of Anatomy, Guy's Hospital Medical School, now part of King's College London (KCL), as a Research Associate in 1964, and taught Gross Anatomy and Histology there from 1970 until her retirement in 1998. She founded the Tissue Repair Research Unit in 1987 and was its Director until 1998. From 2001 until 2003 she was part-time Visiting Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, School of Allied Health, Kansas University Medical Centre.
Mary is one of the inventors of a high-resolution ultrasound scanner, the patent for which was acquired by Longport Inc from the University of London. She is the author of over 100 research publications in peer-reviewed journals, is one of the editors of the 37th and 38th editions of Gray's Anatomy, and has contributed to textbooks on wound healing, physiotherapy and ultrasound.
She lectures internationally and has presented over 200 invited presentations on topics which include diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound, laser therapy, wound healing, tissue repair and regeneration, injury and repair-related aspects of sports medicine. She was President of the International Laser Therapy Association (ILTA) from 1992-1994, is a founding member of the World Association for Laser Therapy (WALT) and a life member of the North American Association for Laser Therapy (NAALT).
1965 - PhD Topic: Wound Healing, Bedford College, University of London
1961 - Busk-Howell Research Scholarship, Department of Scientific & Industrial Research Postgraduate Scholarship
1988 - Elected Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Ultrasound Medicine in recognition of "outstanding contributions to the field of medical ultrasound"
1989 - Elected Honorary Fellow of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy for research into the biological effects of electrotherapy
1992 - Elected President of the International Laser Therapy Association
1996 - Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters (honoris causa) by the Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine
1997 - Conferred with the title of Emeritus Reader in Biology of Tissue Repair by King's College London, University of London
1998 - Elected Honorary Member of the World Association of Laser Therapy"
The PASER PRINCIPLE
P atients
A mplify the
S pontaneous
E ffects of
R adiation (e.g. LLLT photons)
http://www.marydyson.com/
"Mary Dyson is Emeritus Assistant Professor ("Reader") in the Biology of Tissue Repair at King's College (KCL), University of London, UK. She is a biomedical consultant, founder of the biomedical consultancy firm Dyderm, co-founder and director of Quality Medical Instruments Ltd, and Executive Vice-President of Longport, Inc.
Mary joined the Department of Anatomy, Guy's Hospital Medical School, now part of King's College London (KCL), as a Research Associate in 1964, and taught Gross Anatomy and Histology there from 1970 until her retirement in 1998. She founded the Tissue Repair Research Unit in 1987 and was its Director until 1998. From 2001 until 2003 she was part-time Visiting Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, School of Allied Health, Kansas University Medical Centre.
Mary is one of the inventors of a high-resolution ultrasound scanner, the patent for which was acquired by Longport Inc from the University of London. She is the author of over 100 research publications in peer-reviewed journals, is one of the editors of the 37th and 38th editions of Gray's Anatomy, and has contributed to textbooks on wound healing, physiotherapy and ultrasound.
She lectures internationally and has presented over 200 invited presentations on topics which include diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound, laser therapy, wound healing, tissue repair and regeneration, injury and repair-related aspects of sports medicine. She was President of the International Laser Therapy Association (ILTA) from 1992-1994, is a founding member of the World Association for Laser Therapy (WALT) and a life member of the North American Association for Laser Therapy (NAALT).
List of Published Material
Degrees:
1961 - BSc Class I Special Honours in Zoology, Specialist Subject: Embryology, Bedford College, University of London1965 - PhD Topic: Wound Healing, Bedford College, University of London
Additional Academic Awards:
1958 - State Scholarship, Pfeiffer Scholarship, West Riding of Yorkshire County Major Scholarship1961 - Busk-Howell Research Scholarship, Department of Scientific & Industrial Research Postgraduate Scholarship
1988 - Elected Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Ultrasound Medicine in recognition of "outstanding contributions to the field of medical ultrasound"
1989 - Elected Honorary Fellow of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy for research into the biological effects of electrotherapy
1992 - Elected President of the International Laser Therapy Association
1996 - Awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters (honoris causa) by the Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine
1997 - Conferred with the title of Emeritus Reader in Biology of Tissue Repair by King's College London, University of London
1998 - Elected Honorary Member of the World Association of Laser Therapy"
The PASER PRINCIPLE
P atients
A mplify the
S pontaneous
E ffects of
R adiation (e.g. LLLT photons)
TORONTO: 6th INTERNATIONAL LASER THERAPY CONFERENCE:
Thank you for attending our 6th International Laser Therapy Conference. The field of Laser Therapy continues to expand exponentially over the past decade, particularly in the area of scientific research and a growing number of medical applications. This year’s meeting features an outstanding panel of experts, who will focus on the most recent advances in laser medicine in addition to providing knowledge, pertaining to the basic fundamentals.
Meditech strongly supports educational programmes through Certification Courses, Advanced Training Sessions, Webinars and the International Conference. These provide a forum for interaction between all the disciplines involved and the Laser Therapist at every stage of development. The objective is to provide optimal clinical care for patients around the globe.
Sincerely,
WALT: WORLD ASSN. for LASER THERAPY
| The World Association for Laser Therapy (WALT) was formed in 1994 in Barcelona, Spain at the joint Congress of the International Laser Therapy Association (ILTA) and the International Society for Laser Application in Medicine (ISLAM) when these two international groups merged and WALT became the leading world body for promoting research, education and clinical applications in the field of photo-therapy with lasers and other light sources. The multi-national membership includes the world's leading experts in all forms of treatment mediated by the photo-bio-modulating effects of light occurring without thermal effects on irradiated tissue. WALT hosts its World Congress every two years with venues spread worldwide. Jerusalem, Israel (1996), Kansas City, USA (1998), Athens, Greece (2000), Tsukuba, Japan (2002), Guaruja, Brazil (2004) and Lemesos, Cyprus (2006), Sun City, South Africa (2008) and Bergen, Norway (2010) have all welcomed WALT. The 2012 Congress will be held in September 2012 in Gold Coast City, Australia. The official journal of WALT is Photomedicine and Laser Surgery. Printed in the USA, It is the leading photomedical scientific journal and is published online 12 times a year. |
10 June 2011
TAIWAN: DINO-LITE HANDHELD MICROSCOPES
DINO-LITE HANDHELD CAMERAS:
- AM2011, AM3011: These USB Dino-Lite models are affordable handheld microscope cameras for remote or isolated operation. Improve patient understanding and compliance with real-time imaging. Capture and email pictures for remote diagnosis, or use the camera as a webcam for a live remote-examination.
- AM413ZT/S: This polarizing Dino-Lite camera is widely used in medical applications. This is the best camera for Dermatology and other Non-Invasive applications because its polarizing filter allows a deeper inspection of the skin and tissue. The built-in measurement tools track changes in wounds, rashes, and lesions. Use this camera to look at tissue and fecal samples, slides, and parasites. Pair with an accessory like the MS09B or MSAA502 for increased working distance.
- AD412NTL: Use this analog Dino-Lite microscope for surgery or dissection. The longer focal length provides up to 92x of magnification, while providing room for surgical instruments under the camera. The fast refresh rate of the analog camera provides real-time movement on the monitor.
- AMH-RUT (Iris Scope): Use this specialized Dino-Lite Iris Scope for Opthamology and Iridology. The nozzle fits easily over the eye, and the lighting is less intense compared to the standard Dino-Lite models, so patients are comfortable during the examination.
- AM311H / AMH-EUT-V3 / AMH-EAN (Otoscope / Ear Scope): These Dino-Lite Otoscopes are designed to work with or without standard disposable Specula. Use for Ear, Nose, and Throat examinations. Built-in lights, variable magnification, and real-time imaging make these tools affordable and convenient. Choose low or high resolution USB cameras (AM311H / AMH-EUT-V3), or Analog (AMH-EAN) for a faster image refresh rate.
- AMH-N5UT (500x Capillary Scope): Use this high-powered microscope camera to examine the capillaries in a patient’s nail beds. Use with oil/gel for best results.
- AMB-DT-U1 / AMB-DT-U2 / AMB-DT-T1 (Dental Scope): These Dino-Lite dental scopes are designed to hold dental tools and provide the ideal magnification range for oral inspection. USB digital and high-speed Analog cameras are available.
DINO-EYE EYEPIECE CAMERAS:
- AM423X/XC: Use this camera for histology and pathology in the lab. When magnification needs are greater than 500x, the best solution is to use this versatile USB-powered Dino-Eye eyepiece camera with any traditional dissection, stereo, or compound microscope. AM422X/XN: Use this Dino-Eye analog eyepiece camera for dissection when paired with a traditional dissection microscope. The analog signal’s fast refresh rate ensures real-time movement on the screen when precision is essential.
- AM423C/CT: Attach this Dino-Eye eyepiece camera to a rigid or flexible endoscope to capture images and videos of internal examinations. Several accessory couplers and adaptors are available to ensure the perfect fit between camera and endoscope. The optional MicroTouch feature allows the user to capture images while keeping both hands on the camera and patient.
09 June 2011
VSCAN: GE portable ultrasound. $8,000 Now available in Canada.
Will GE's Handheld Ultrasound Become the Next Stethoscope?
As early as 2010, doctors will likely be able to perform ultrasound scans during a routine office exam or at the scene of an accident or in many other on-the-spot circumstances using a device no larger than a smartphone. The gadget could revolutionize patient care, but its use raises many thorny questions about costs, benefits and unforeseen consequences.
Although not quite the equivalent of Star Trek's tricorder, GE's Vscan represents a long step forward in mobile medical technology. The handheld device does on-the-go ultrasound readings only, but those readings can give doctors faster, more in-depth info than the best of preliminary doctor exam routines.
Indeed, the BlackBerry-sized unit will likely "become as prevalent as the stethoscope," said GE CEO Jeff Immelt, as he unveiled the Vscan at the Web 2.0 Summit this week.Because of its mobile, real-time nature, Vscan can conceivably be useful in hundreds of scenarios.
If a patient should complain of a stomach problem, the doctor could look for an abdominal mass or obstruction right there in the exam room instead of waiting for the patient to get expensive testing, with results perhaps delayed for weeks.
On-the-Spot Diagnostics
Doctors on the scene at mass trauma events -- from hurricanes to plane crashes -- could quickly ascertain which patients were most in need of immediate care.Physicians in the emergency room could quickly identify problems lurking beneath the patient's noticeable injuries or symptoms.
The life-, time- and cost-savings potential from the use of this device seems virtually endless. If nothing else, Vscan underscores the vital role of mobile technology in medical care, an argument made loudly at the Web 2.0 summit.
GE's vision is to use mobile devices to save lives and drive down healthcare costs. That vision is currently undergoing a reality check in 12 different facilities around the world.
"We have already completed the clinical testing," says Arvind Gopalratnam, spokesperson for GE. "Now, we're in the discovery phase with clinicians to get their input."
The technology may be tweaked at the end of the discovery phase to better match doctor preferences, he said.
That's one reason GE is not saying much about the technology. Some of the specs may not be final. Even so, the device is scheduled for commercial release "sometime in 2010," according to Gopalratnam.
Taking the Spotlight
GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt unveils GE Healthcare's new Vscan, a pocket-sized ultrasound device.
The Vscan is close enough to showtime-ready that Immelt was happy to discuss it at Web 2.0, and Mike Barber, vice president of healthyimagination at GE, was comfortable enough to demonstrate it in a video.
The ultra-thin, clamshell device closely resembles a mobile phone. It has an easy toggle wheel, presents real-time imagery in color, as well as black and white, and has an intuitive interface.
A small wand is attached to it by cable. When the wand is passed over a body part, an image immediately appears on the screen. The doctor can choose whether to view the image in color or black and white.
Nevertheless, the digital capability is significant. One of the areas most often hailed by the healthcare industry and politicians alike as the most sensible place to cut healthcare costs is diagnostics. As a result, digital diagnostics is headed for an extreme growth spurt. GE's Vscan debut could not be timed more perfectly.
Pricing for the unit is yet undetermined. So is the pricing for the scan at the doctor's office. Will it be included in the office visit fee? Or, will there be an additional charge?
On the doctor's side of the equation: Will Vscan use become commonplace in the growing pay-per-performance schedules? Can it be a safeguard against malpractice suits?
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