Sam's Health Blog
Cool Health
OmniGuide 
OmniGuide designs and manufactures the BeamPath™ CO2 laser-fiber system. This innovation, invented by Prof. Yoel Fink's group at MIT, allows doctors to remove tissue, making exact cuts noninvasively, for tumor removal, among other uses. This laser is revolutionary because, despite its long wavelength, it does not need to follow a straight path. Previously, the CO2 laser has allowed tumors to be successfully zapped, but only in a straight line; treating throat cancer deep in the airway was extremely challenging until now. The OmniGuide fiber is flexible and lined with photonic band gap mirrors. This lining guides the laser light through the hollow core of the fiber. Additionally, the use of C02 lasers greatly reduces the risk of thermal damage to surrounding tissue of an incision, because C02 is readily absorbed in water, and water constitutes 60-70% of tissue cells. The laser will only penetrate tissue superficially—only the upper level tissue will be affected by the C02 laser—so there is minimal impact on surrounding tissue. This is not the case for other types of lasers that tend to penetrate deeper. Furthermore, as the laser cuts it seals small blood vessels, reducing bleeding and the damage to adjacent healthy tissue. With regular scalpels this is not possible and bleeding was a huge problem created by the surgery. The Beam Path™ CO2 laser is becoming the tool of choice for many surgeries, including Neurosurgery (Neurosurgery & Spinal Oncology), Otolaryngology (Otology, Head & Neck Oncology, Laryngologist & Airway), Gynecology, Pulmonology and Gastroenterology. To see the CNN informational video of Omniguide click here and here (in pdf form because the article has been taken off CNN's website) is the article mentioned in the movie. For further information go to Omni-guide.com
Treadmill Desk:
We all know that we are supposed to exercise everyday, but few of us can spare the time. So what can we do? The American Diabetes Association says that if a person walks 10,000 steps a day they can reduce risk of many ailments. Although daily aerobic exercise is better for one’s health, if one does not have enough time they should at least get in 10,000 steps a day. So, how much is 10,000 steps? On average, 10,000 steps are approximately five miles (depending on your stride length. Personally 10,000 steps were closer to four miles.) Many people do not fulfill this quota of steps. So Dr. James Levine invented the Treadmill Desk. It’s exactly what it sounds like. It is a desk fashioned on a treadmill. Walking at one mile per hour on one’s Treadmill Desk, Dr. Levine’s research revealed an individual burned 100 more calories an hour than they would have if they had been just sitting. Even more interesting is that many people who use these desk say they are actually more efficient workers and, as a result of all physical activity, the feel much better physically as well as mentally. (For more Information go to http://www.treadmill-desk.com/
Ipill:
Still in the prototype phase, the Ipill is a pill that releases its medication precisely when the doctor prescribes, and releases the right dosage. Sadly there isn't much more to say yet; I will keep you posted about any advances. But you can imagine the huge benefits for the forgetful, or the elderly or where fine-tuning of medication administration could be helpful. Here is a link to see one and have its parts and intricacies explained. http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/21817/
Your Baby Is What You Eat:
A mother's diet around the time of conception may affect the gender of their babies. Recent studies have shown that women who ate breakfast had an increased chance in having boys. Researchers believe the higher intake of calories have an effect on the sex of the baby. Although this may seem outlandish to us it is actually a common trend in the animal kingdom - larger, well nourished animals have a better chance at giving birth to boys; when food is scarce more girls are born. In a study done with mice, the mice were given a form of steroid, one that inhibits the transportation of glucose in the blood stream. The result: 41% of all mice born were boys. Human trials have also pointed to this same trend. In addition to calories, women who gave birth to boys also consumed more nutrients such as calcium, potassium and B12. Interestingly enough, the study showed that although women who ate more calories did have a greater chance of having a boy, there was an even greater chance of a boy if the mother ate cereal for breakfast. Some scientists believe that the new world-wide phenomenon of dieting and calorie-counting may be responsible for the steady decline over the past forty years of the birthrate of males in industrialist countries. Of course scientists urge all women to eat breakfast and to not change their diet (unless it is to a healthier one,) in order to affect the gender of their babies. To read a few articles about this visit: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7358384
http://www.dancewithshadows.com/society/women-diet-sex.asp
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=88923