Technology is “Booming” for the Baby Boomers

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      Technology in medicine is evolving faster than ever before. Smaller devices, more effective medications and less invasive procedures are exploding on to the market. One technology on the rise is the use of bioresorbable stents. Up until this point, stents have been made of metal. The drawbacks associated with metal stents is that they are associated with acute and late thromobis, require the use of long-term dual anti-platelet therapy, prevent adequate CT or MRI tests, and interfere with vascular remodeling due to the metal scaffold in the artery. Metal stents also make future coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedures difficult, if not impossible (Fornell, 2014). 

      Most bioresorbable stents are made of polylactic acid, a naturally dissolvable material. Bioresorbable stents, as the name implies, break down and are absorbed by the body after a few years (Fornell, 2014). Since the stent is absorbed, it eliminates the risk of inflammation (which occurs with metal stents) that can lead to late-stent thrombosis and restenosis. Furthermore, once the stent disappears, the vessel returns to a natural state of physiologic functioning and does not interfere with any future procedures. Disadvantages to the using polymer include recoil after expansion, stent thickness causing maneuverability, and difficulty visualizing a non-metallic stent on fluoroscopy (Fornell, 2014). 

      There are nearly 15 bioresorbable stent programs in progress, with five in the advanced development stages. Samin Sharma, M.D., director of clinical and interventional cardiology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York stated, “Dissolvable stents may be a future game-changer for the way we treat coronary artery disease and heart attack in the United States if proven to show clinical benefit in this nationwide clinical trial” (Fornell, 2014).
Although clinical outcomes and recent data is promising, experts believe that more development and experience is needed before polymer stents become the primary device. Stay tuned…

Reference

Fornell, D. (2014, September). Bioresorbable stents are the way   of the future. Retrieved February 5, 2015, from http://dicardiology.com/article/bioresorbable-stents-are-way-future

Mission Pillar Reflection

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Skills of a Leader Called Me

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Today I took the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS). This specific survey talks about the 24 strengths that you have as a leader and places them in order of strongest to weakest. My top 3 strengths are Honesty, Perseverance, and Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence. My bottom 3 strengths are Self- Regulation, Spirituality and Humility. I didn’t really learn all to much, to be honest I don’t take much from these kinds of activities because they all vary from test to test, one can tell you that you have a wide range of perspective and another telling you to work on your perspective. AS far as what it told me, I can’t say I agree with it because I feel like I have stronger strengths than what was told to me.

First Post

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Hello Everyone!

First post of the site and I would just like to thank anyone who is visiting. Check out the menus and such as they will be updated periodically with exciting information on my current research at CSUCI.

Thanks!

Values in Action Inventory of Strengths

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This week I had the opportunity to take the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths (VIA-IS). I found that the test rated my top twenty four strengths. My number one strength was perspective, two Hope, curiosity, Bravery, and leadership. These are the top five but so on and so on, the bottom four include prudence, forgiveness, creativity, and honesty. I learned more about the description of what these qualities are. I knew about all twenty four qualities but just got another insight from another perspective. Based off my own qualities and what I learned out of humbleness I agree. I say this because perspective being number one, aside from the other twenty three is by far my greatest strength. Though the test may have been bias or not I feel anyone can hold those 24 qualities depending on who they are. This test helped me build on my perspective.

Hello Hemodynamics…

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Hemodynamics seems really complicated with the lines, connections, wires, transducers, and optical cables. However, remember you usually do some level of hemodynamic monitoring on all patients when you evaluate vital signs, urine output, and hydration status.

This month is dedicated to cardiac health and as you can see I have updated our banner and colors to reflect that! As we talk more about cardiovascular disease and assessment, and after this week’s simulation, I am sure you will all remember key elements to ask for new complaints of shortness of breath or chest pain.

Have a great weekend!

Project’s ACCESO 2015 Summer Research Institute

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Project ACCESO is seeking applications from CI and community college STEM students to be part of the 45 student cohort this summer. Students need to apply for this program by 5 pm Friday, February 20. The application can be accessed through this website: http://www.csuci.edu/projectacceso/research/application.htm

HACU National Internship Program

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The HACU National Internship Program (HNIP) is seeking applicants for the summer and fall 2015 internship sessions. HNIP provides students the opportunity to receive valuable work experience through paid internships with federal agencies and private corporations nationwide.

The final deadline for students to apply for the summer internship is February 27,2015 and for the fall session is June 12, 2015.

For more information visit www.hacu.net/hnip

 

CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement Scholarship available for students

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CSU TRUSTEES’ AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT
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The CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement Scholarship is available for the 2015-2016 academic year. Students who have overcome adversity, demonstrated financial need, and have attributes of merit, including significant personal achievements, superior academic performance, and exemplary community service are eligible for this award.

The CSU Trustees Award will be available for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) students, an Information Technology student, engineers, a veteran, a student who gives the most to his/her home, university, or global community, students studying the humanities, and students studying to become teachers.

Scholarships will be awarded in the amount of $6,000 for the 2015-2016 academic year.

Applicant must:
Demonstrate superior academic performance with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and be in good academic standing.
Demonstrate financial need as determined by the campus Financial Aid and Scholarships office.
Be currently enrolled as a full-time equivalent undergrad or graduate student in any major field at a CSU campus and remain a CSU full-time equivalent student during the upcoming academic year.

Application Deadline: Friday, April 3, 2015

Meet a SURFer: Christian Morris

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Interdisciplinarity is achieved in the IRLC by ensuring that we include students from a variety of disciplines. Strong grounding in a student’s discipline is important. Discussion across disciplines promotes curiosity, inquiry, understanding, and creativity. Meet another surfer:

Christian Morris

Christian Morris is a ceramic artist, musician and acting student. Christian is a native of Pittsburg, PA. He is a junior majoring in art, with an emphasis in ceramics.