Ultraportable Ultrasound Introduced to Medical Education Curriculum

Ultraportable Ultrasound Device made available to Icahn School of Medicine students and trainees

This article was written by Alexa Mieses, a first-year medical student, and first published in The Rossi: Medical Student Quarterly Report.

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is known for innovation within the realms of patient care, research, and medical education. Training future physicians requires a commitment to progress, and the newest addition to the medical school’s curriculum is no exception: In the spring of 2013, handheld ultrasound will be introduced to enhance students’ and trainees’ clinical skills and generation of a differential diagnosis by reinforcing anatomic and physiologic principles.

Unlike traditional ultrasound, bedside ultrasound is performed at the point of care, not in an imaging suite. Handheld ultrasound – an even more recent technology – is small enough to fit in the palm of a hand, with a screen roughly the size of a smart phone.  Compared to traditional ultrasound, these devices are more portable and less expensive, although the quality of image may be compromised.

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The Diabetes and Alzheimer’s Connection

Diabetes is a disease that affects all ages. But as people get older it’s particularly difficult to deal with—especially because diabetics are more likely to develop dementia.

In an 11-year study of more than 1,000 people, 27% of those with diabetes developed dementia, compared to 20% of people with normal blood sugar levels. Diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease (an advanced form of dementia) are connected in ways that still aren’t completely understood. It’s thought that diabetes contributes to vascular disease, disrupting the flow of oxygen to the brain.

In the last 50 years, the number of people diagnosed has risen from 1.5 million to around 26 million, and it’s estimated that 60 million have prediabetes. So the prevalence of dementia could increase as the U.S. population ages. However, taking steps to control diabetes now may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s later. And that’s important because the treatment for dementia is very limited.

Reducing the risk of dementia is actually quite simple—it’s all about managing diabetes in the best possible way. Here are some steps that can help:

* Follow physician recommendations for monitoring blood glucose, cholesterol level and blood pressure.
* Eat healthy foods, including fruits and vegetables, lean meats, whole grains, and low-fat milk and cheese.
* Exercise at least 30 minutes most days of the week.
* Maintain a healthy weight. Losing weight can seriously reduce the negative effects of diabetes. Just 10 to 15 pounds can make a difference.
* Take a doctor-approved multivitamin to help fill nutrient gaps in the diet.
* Take medications on schedule. There are reminder alarms with a vibration feature for people who have trouble hearing. For people who have trouble opening small  pill containers, there are larger, easy-to-open pill containers available. Some include magnifiers for reading medicine labels. And for people with vision problems, there are blood glucose meters that “talk.”
* Keep an updated list of medications and record important information about each one.

Diabetics can significantly reduce the risk of dementia by consistently managing their disease.

For more information and help on managing the disease and caring for elderly diabetics, visit www.friedmandiabetesinstitute.com.

Training Like a Football Player

Guest post by H. Marie Williams

We have arrived at the most exciting time of the football season: Bowl games, playoffs and, ultimately, the Super Bowl. With all the attention these games draw, fans and fitness enthusiasts alike marvel at how well-conditioned and skilled the players are. Getting to that level of performance requires dedication, hard work, skill and excellent programming. (more…)

Eradicating Cervical Cancer

As an oncologist, I am often confronted with patients with advanced gynecologic malignancies with limited successful options to cure them. The success of treating and curing patients with cancer depends not only on the skills and technologies, it is very much dependent on the patients and the stage of their diseases. Too often, we are not able to detect these malignancies early because we do not know what causes the disease and there are no early detection tests so that by the time a patient is in my office, the disease is at an advanced stage. Cervical cancer, however, is one of the few gynecologic malignancies that we know is caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) that can be detected by a simple pap smear. Furthermore, cervical cancer can be prevented with an HPV vaccination.

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Animal Assisted Therapy: What It Is and How It Helps

What is Animal Assisted Therapy?

Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a relatively well-known practice throughout the United States. Volunteers “team up” with their pet(s), typically dogs, to support those in need. Individuals and their pets visit medical and mental health facilities: outpatient clinics, psychiatric inpatient units, medical inpatient units, nursing homes and schools.

These volunteers and their pets are certified by nonprofit agencies, such as The Delta Society and the Good Dog Foundation. These organizations generally accept adult volunteers (ages 18-plus) who would like to devote their time to this therapeutic cause. The volunteers need not be mental health professionals. In fact, many individuals and families who are motivated to engage in AAT work in a variety of industries full-time.

What is Animal Assisted Psychotherapy?

Animal Assisted Psychotherapy (AAP) consists of a mental health professional’s using his or her pet as a therapeutic tool to enhance the work with the client.

How does the animal enhance the therapeutic process?

• The animal is safe to bond with. Clients often feel more comfortable expressing a range of feelings in the therapy room when they are able to pet my dog, Barney, during session.

• The animal is used to help children develop the capacity to empathize with others. For example, if a child scares my therapy dog by chasing him, or withdraws a treat after Barney thinks he will receive it, I will comment, “How might Barney be feeling right now?”

• The animal often enacts what the client has difficulty expressing. For example, if the client is anxious, my therapy dog will start pacing around the room. Noticing how Barney’s enactments mimic their own distress helps clients become more aware and tolerant of their own feelings.

• For children and teenagers, practicing tricks with the therapy dog helps improve their self-esteem and self-efficacy.

Who is ‘Barney the Therapy Dog,’ and how is he incorporated into your work at The Child and Family Institute?

Barney (my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel) has been working with me at the Child and Family Institute since 2012. After becoming certified by the Good Dog Foundation, Barney was enrolled as a volunteer pet therapist. At the Child and Family Institute, Barney co-leads animal assisted psychotherapy groups for children with trauma history, and participates in child and adult individual psychotherapy sessions with me.

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