spreadyawings:

Does anyone in Trinidad know where I can find these (in Trinidad)?

I’m pretty desperate lol

dorothy-cotton:

totallynotagentphilcoulson:

“Saved by veterinarians SuperGatito

This kitten was born with deformed rib cage, which directly affected the position of his heart and triggered a series of breathing problems. In this situation, veterinarians put a splint on his chest and blindfolded him, it was then realized that the dressing resembled a superhero costume, hence the name Supergatito. 

Supergatito more like Iron Cat

we can rebuild him

we have the technology

(Source: cuxita, via vaehzaeh)

he keeps me confused. Today, he came to a luncheon thingie at school. I’m not sure whether it was for his teacher or not, but a few weeks ago he had asked me about a brunch thing, and I had told him to keep me posted. I hope that what went down today was not said event. Either way i’m sure home boy skipped church today which is highly unusual I find. And I’m really not sure what to think about the fact that he did not keep me ‘posted’, the fact that he did not tell me he was coming to school, that fact that he hasn’t spoken to me in two weeks, the fact that I feel rejected by him. I don’t know what to feel anymore. It’s hard loving someone who doesn’t love you back.

zygoma:

The corpus callosum is a band of nerve fibers located deep in the brain that connects the two halves (hemispheres) of the brain. It helps the hemispheres share information, but it also contributes to the spread of seizure impulses from one side of the brain to the other. A corpus callosotomy is an operation that severs (cuts) the corpus callosum, interrupting the spread of seizures from hemisphere to hemisphere. Seizures generally do not completely stop after this procedure (they continue on the side of the brain in which they originate). However, the seizures usually become less severe, as they cannot spread to the opposite side of the brain.

A corpus callosotomy, sometimes called split-brain surgery, may be performed in people with the most extreme and uncontrollable forms of epilepsy, when frequent seizures affect both sides of the brain. A serious type of seizure — called a drop attack — often results in the person having sudden falls with a high risk of injury. In addition, people considered for corpus callosotomy do not experience improvement after receiving treatment with anti-seizure medications.

Candidates for corpus callosotomy undergo an extensive pre-surgery evaluation — including seizure monitoring, electroencephalography (EEG), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET). These tests help the doctor pinpoint where the seizures begin and how they spread in the brain. It also helps the doctor determine if a corpus callosotomy is an appropriate treatment.

A corpus callosotomy requires exposing the brain using a procedure called a craniotomy. After the patient is put to sleep with anesthesia, the surgeon makes an incision in the scalp, removes a piece of bone and pulls back a section of the dura, the tough membrane that covers the brain. This creates a “window” in which the surgeon inserts special instruments for disconnecting the corpus callosum. The surgeon gently separates the hemispheres to access the corpus callosum. Surgical microscopes are used to give the surgeon a magnified view of brain structures.

In some cases, a corpus callosotomy is done in two stages. In the first operation, the front two-thirds of the structure is cut, but the back section is preserved. This allows the hemispheres to continue sharing visual information. If this does not control the serious seizures, the remainder of the corpus callosum can be cut in a second operation. After the corpus callosum is cut, the dura and bone are fixed back into place, and the scalp is closed using stitches or staples.

The patient generally stays in the hospital for two to four days. Most people having a corpus callosotomy will be able to return to their normal activities, including work or school, in six to eight weeks after surgery. The hair over the incision will grow back and hide the surgical scar. The person will continue taking anti-seizure drugs. [x]

(via thisfuturemd)

thisfuturemd:

10 Things You Can Do Right Now to Prepare for Medical School Admissions
Guest Post By: Suzanne Miller, M.D. 

Will you be applying to medical school this cycle? Even though it’s only April and the AMCAS application (medical school’s primary application) does not open until June, there are many actions you can take right now to ensure timely submission of an outstanding application. (Read More at Future M.D.)

malformalady:

Stitches visible after corneal transplant surgery

(via thisfuturemd)

fuckyeahmedicalstuff:

The History of Vagus Nerve Stimulation

The vagus nerve, or cranial nerve X, is a part of the autonomic nervous system, which controls functions of the body that are not under voluntary control, such as heart rate and digestion. In the neck, the vagus nerve travels near the carotid artery and jugular vein. Interestingly, neurologists in the 19th century noted that applying pressure on the carotid artery in the neck, and thus the vagus nerve, could stop seizures. Recent research found that stimulation of the vagus nerve in animals decreases both epileptic activity in the EEG and the frequency and severity of seizures. After proven seizure reduction in animals using VNS, several controlled human trials demonstrated a significant reduction in seizures with minimal side effects. In 1997, the FDA approved vagus nerve stimulation in patients older than 12 with refractory partial epilepsy. Mounting clinical experience also demonstrates efficacy and safety in children and in patients with generalized epilepsies.

Read More

ucsdhealthsciences:

Ithaar Derweesh, MD, urologic oncologist, UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center.

Kidney Sparing Surgery Underutilized for Patients Who Need It Most

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have released study results that show national treatment trends in the surgical management of patients with kidney disease. The study found that partial and complete kidney removal (total nephrectomy) and energy-based techniques to destroy tumors are all on the rise. Surprisingly, the patients most in need of kidney-sparing surgery are still more likely to undergo total nephrectomy. The findings recently published online in BJU International.

“While the overall proportion of patients receiving kidney preserving treatments for localized kidney tumors continues to grow, the most significant, and perhaps unsettling finding was that patients with kidney insufficiency still undergo complete kidney removal – even though kidney preserving treatment may be indicated,” said senior author Ithaar Derweesh, MD, urologic oncologist at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center.

The kidney is a vital organ which performs a variety of functions in addition to making urine. It controls blood pressure, bone health, and also makes a hormone to tell the bone marrow to produce red blood cells. Kidney insufficiency is characterized by a progressive decline in kidney function which may affect all of these actions.

“The study, which examined procedures over a 10-year period, found that patients with chronic kidney insufficiency had an almost two-fold higher probability of undergoing total nephrectomy than kidney preserving treatments, such as partial nephrectomy or tumor ablation,” said Derweesh, a pioneer in minimally invasive kidney surgery.

Derweesh added that further investigation is needed to confirm these findings, and to examine what factors are responsible for patient and physician selection of treatment for kidney cancer. He noted that in the case of small renal masses less than four centimeters in size, partial nephrectomy has equivalent outcomes to total nephrectomy, and that ablation techniques, such as cryoablation or radiofrequency ablation, and observation are valid options for select patients. 

More here

ermedicine:

Anonymous asked: Why do you want to be a doctor?

this is the first time I’ve ever gotten this question surprisingly.

I’ve wanted to be a physician since I took my first medical science class when I was in 10th grade. I was hooked. It felt like I had stepped into a wonderful never before seen…

just-breezy:

eternalacademic:

source

HAHAHAHA

(via thisfuturemd)