Archive for month: February, 2015
3-D Printing
In the article “Heart Implants, 3-D – Printed to Order” by Katherine Bourzac, Bourzac (2014) discusses how the science community has advanced to where they are experimenting with 3-D printing to enhance treatment of heart conditions. Scientists have recently used a 3-D printer in conjunction with various cardiac images to produce a 3-D replica of the desired heart (Bourzac, 2014). Using this replica heart, scientists are working on creating thin wrinkle-free sheets incorporated with greater sensing capabilities that will cover the individual’s heart to enhance monitoring (Bourzac, 2014).
It’s inspiring to witness how far science is coming in regards to the advancement of medicine. I greatly feel that the use of 3-D printing will enhance patient care because it will enable doctors to specialize equipment and treatment to the individual, allowing the necessary equipment to better fit within the individual anatomy and ensure that all anatomical areas are addressed. Additionally, as Bourzac (2014) explained, current implanted defibrillators only use a couple electrodes to monitor heart rhythm and could potentially make the wrong decision to shock the patient because of only two monitoring sites. With the use of sheets filled with sensors, hardware such as the defibrillator will receive input from many sites around the entire heart. This will allow more precise treatment that is based on feedback from the entire heart and not just certain aspects of it.
Overall, I think the potential of these scientific advances is astronomical to medicine. Although much can be determined about a patient’s heart from various medical tests and scans, creating a 3-D version of the heart to test theories and equipment and applying additional, individualized sensors on the heart takes more of the guesswork out of the treatment. Patients receiving this form of care will hopefully benefit greatly from this scientific breakthrough.
References:
Bourzac, K. (2014). Heart Implants, 3-D- – Printed to Order. Retrieved from:
http://www.technologyreview.com/news/525221/heart-implants-3-d-printed-to- order/
Advances in Technology Related to Cardiovascular Health
Article: 2015 to ring in advances in prevention, interventional procedures, heart repair
The article highlighted on a couple different areas related to advancements in cardiovascular health in the 2015 year. One of the areas highlighted on wearable technologies such as watches with heart rate monitors (Polar, Garmin, Fitbit). Although some of these products have been around for several years, its use within the health care setting is minimal. The article discusses how wearable technology will allow individuals to monitor their health outside of the physician’s office. Apple for example has recently created a watch that can measure pulse rate and use sensors to track the duration and type of exercise being done. Paired with an app, the individual can combine various wearable devices and share it with their physician.
Personally, I own a TomTom GPS watch that can track my heart rate, calories, pace, and distance when I run. Additionally, I have a Fitbit that tracks the amount of steps I take, the calories I burn throughout the day, and it also allows me to track the food I have eaten. I think that these devices should be promoted by physicians. These wearable technologies don’t track everything about an individual’s health, but it can be a useful tool during a doctor’s visit. It provides insight into how much activity an individual participates in each week, what their diet may look like, how their heart rate is when they are exercising. It provides a wealth of health information as well as allows individuals to keep track of their progress and goals they set for themselves.
Reference:
American College of Cardiology. (2014). 2015 to ring in advances in prevention, interventional procedures, heart repair. Eurekalert. Retrieved from http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-12/acoc-2tr122214.php
Meet a SURFer: Esmeralda Carretero
Undergraduate research is shown to be particularly effective among first-generation college students. Esmeralda Carretero is the first person in her family to attend college. Her research is combined with community action. Take a moment to get to know her.
Esmeralda Carreterro
Esmeralda Carretero is a Liberal Studies Major, emphasizing in bilingual education at CSU Channel Islands.
Brick Poster
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-20CotnxL5h9brM_Wf1hIZcRwvN0x7CgXNiHXPUM1co/pub
Advancements In Cardiovascular Technology: Wireless Monitoring of Heart Rhythms
Doctors from Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla conducted on the validity of using a Zio Patch to monitor heart rhythms on emergency room patients who may have a possible arrhythmia. A Zio patch is a wireless, ambulatory cardiac monitor that adheres to the skin for 14 days. The purpose of this study was to improve patient care and a way for emergency room patients to avoid unnecessary follow-up care, but also it’s a way to detect patients who have a dangerous arrhythmia in a comfortable manner and is less invasive. Of the 285 patients from Scripps, Stanford Hospital and Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple, Texas who entered the emergency rooms with possible arrhythmia signs and symptoms were given a Zio Patch. After the Zio patch is no longer adhering to the skin then patient’s were instructed to mail it back with a prepaid envelope given to them. The doctor would then study the data and follow up on patients who had threatening or different types of arrhythmia. It is also compared to the Holter monitor which is a wired, cardiac monitor; however, it limits the things and is uncomfortable for patients. Furthermore, the Zio Patch is able detect arrhythmia better than a Holter monitor.
The advancements in cardiovascular technology alone is amazing. I did not only look at this website, but others as well from fellow classmates and it is amazing to see how far we are coming. I think that using technology to improve patient care and outcome is important as long as we do not forget to continue to see our patients as humans and not machines. Furthermore, it is important to continue to deliver compassionate care as well. I think that the combination of technology and human compassion will benefit the healthcare industry and consumer satisfaction as long as we do not forget that we are all humans are not seen as the machines (the machines that are or will be keeping us alive). I think as nurses and future nurses we should be aware of the technological advancements that are out there and the advancements in health information applications that are on smartphones. We should review the applications on the mobile devices before we recommend or offer the application as another resource of information for our patients to ensure it is understandable and accurate information.
Reference
http://www.scripps.org/news_items/4217-scripps-doctors-study-novel-new-device-to-diagnose-irregular-heart-beat
Graft Preservation with heparinized blood/saline solution induces server graft dysfunction
Graft Preservation with heparinized blood/saline solution induces server graft dysfunction
As we have learned in class, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the most common surgical procedure performed on the heart and the patient’s prognosis largely depends on the long-term patency of the bypass grafts. In practice, grafts are stored at temperatures between 4 C and room temperature in various preservation solutions including saline, heparinized blood, or Custodial solution (Veres et al., 2014). According to Veres et al. (2014), heparinized autologous blood solutions is considered the most suitable solution for storing human arterial and venous grafts and samples, however there have been conflicting results on the effect of this solution on endothelial cells. This article looked at the early and mid-term effect of ischemia/reperfusion injury on endothelial cells of implanted grafts using a rat model of aortic transplantation. They examined the both the functional and molecular aspects of endothelial dysfunction induced.
A major finding of this study was that application of the daily used physiological saline or heparinized blood to preserve the arterial graft was incapable of reducing the endothelial damage after cold storage and warm reperfusion (Veres et al, 2014). They also concluded that both had similar weak preservation effect on the endothelial cells, however blood preservation solutions had a negative impact on these cells as compared to normal saline solution.
The peak of endothelial damage in both heparinized and saline groups occurred after twenty-four hours of reperfusion. This is said to correlate with the early complications in bypass grafts that lead to transient ST segment elevations occurring in the first 12-24 hours after CABG (Veres et al., 2014). Additionally this study found that endothelial integrity was damaged however it took the cells sample about one week of reperfusion to recover supporting previous findings of the ability of endothelial cells to regain functional integrity.
This study is important because the goal and current protocol for graft recovery is to minimize mechanical damaged during harvesting and this study demonstrates that both saline and heparinized blood solutions are incapable of this function as previously believed.
Veres, G., Hegedus, P., Barnucz, E., Zoller, R., Klien, S., Radovits, T., Korkmax, S., Karck, M. & Szabo, G. (2014). Graft Preservation with heparinized blood/saline solution induces server graft dysfunction. Interactive CardioVasular and Thorasic Surgery. 1-7. doi:10.1093/icvts/ivv010.
CI student is one of 60 chosen nationwide to present research in Washington D.C.
Camarillo, Calif., Feb. 10, 2015— Research she conducted as an undergraduate has earned CSU Channel Islands (CI) graduate student Dana Cochran a coveted spot in the 2015 “Posters on the Hill” event in Washington D.C.
“Posters on the Hill” is sponsored each spring by the Council on Undergraduate Research in Washington, D.C.
Cochran, 24, is among 60 chosen from more than 500 applicants from colleges and universities around the nation who will present their research to members of the U.S. Congress on April 22 and 23.
“This event is intended to help members of Congress understand the importance of undergraduate research by talking directly with the students whom these programs impact,” reads a passage on the Council’s web site.
Cochran, of Simi Valley, used her mathematical skills to begin developing an automated diagnostic tool for physicians using brain scans to detect schizophrenia.
“Studies have shown that the shape of a part of the brain called the ‘corpus callosum’ will vary according to whether you have a disease,” Cochran explained.
Cochran said her goal was to build a database that would allow doctors to input the scans and find out whether the mathematical coordinates on the shape of the corpus callosum indicate the possibility of schizophrenia.
Cochran’s mentor, CI Associate Professor of Mathematics, Kathryn Leonard, Ph.D., said she saw potential in Cochran after watching Cochran ease through linear algebra classes during her sophomore year.
“That’s when students transition from computation to abstract thought,” Leonard said. “It’s something most students struggle with, so I asked her to join my research group the following year.”
Cochran had always been fascinated with anatomy and physiology, so she was a good fit for Leonard’s research into applying mathematics to brain imagery.
Cochran is currently working toward her master’s degree in mathematics at CI with hopes of someday teaching.
Media Contact:
Kim Gregory
Communication Specialist
805-437-8424
kim.gregory@csuci.edu
© California State University Channel Islands, 2015. All rights reserved.
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