News
July 18, 2008
Computerized Tomography Findings In Pediatric Renal Trauma - Indications For Early Intervention?
UroToday.com - The study out of Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh evaluated CT scans for blunt renal
trauma to see if they correlated with the need for operative intervention when urinary extravasation was present.
A total of 17 patients with grade IV blunt renal trauma and urinary extravasation were identified between 2000
and 2007. Each CT scan was reviewed to determine location, size and number of sites of extravasation, as well
as the presence of contrast material in the ipsilateral ureter. These were then compared to the findings at
the time of surgery - whether surgey included stent placement, percutaneous urinoma drainage, angiographic
embolization and nephrectomy.
Read entire article here.
July 15, 2008
Increased Risk Of Kidney Stone Disease Due To Global Warming, Predicts UT Southwestern Researchers
Global warming is likely to increase the proportion of the population affected by kidney stones by expanding the higher-risk
region known as the "kidney-stone belt" into neighboring states, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center and UT Dallas have found.
Dehydration is one of the risk factors linked to kidney-stone disease, and the paper suggests global warming will exacerbate this
effect. The researchers predict that by 2050, higher temperatures will cause an additional 1.6 million to 2.2 million kidney-stone
cases, representing up to a 30 percent growth in some areas.
Read entire article here.
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Information
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death
among men. In 2002 it is estimated that 30,200 men will die from prostate
cancer and 189,000 men will be diagnosed (American Cancer Society Facts
& Figures 2002). The incidence of prostate cancer increases with age with
75% of all prostate cancers being diagnosed in men over the age of 65.
Prostate Cancer Management
The critical focus for the treatment of prostate cancer is to treat those cancers
where it is necessary, and not to treat those that do not need it.
Decisions
about the best management of prostate cancer can be complex and depend upon the:
- Pathology of the cancer (unlike other cancers, prostate cancer often progresses very slowly)
- Stage of the disease (non-metastatic (localized or locally advanced), metastatic or hormone refractory)
- Age and general health of the patients at diagnosis
- The impact that treatment can have on quality of life, including sexual activity.
- Patient's preference for treatment
- PSA at diagnosis
Please visit the National Prostate Cancer Coalition for more information.
August is National Immunization Awareness Month
Vaccine-preventable disease levels are at or near record lows. However, we cannot take high immunization coverage
levels for granted. To continue to protect America's children and adults, we must obtain maximum immunization coverage
in all populations, establish effective partnerships, conduct reliable scientific research, implement immunization
systems, and ensure vaccine safety.
Read more ....
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| What is a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)? |
 If
you’re like most people, you’ve been going to a doctor ever since you were
born, and perhaps were not aware whether you were seeing a D.O. (osteopathic
physician) or an M.D. (allopathic physician). You may not even be aware that
there are two types of complete physicians in the United States.
The fact is, that both D.O.s and M.D.s are fully qualified physicians
licensed to perform surgery and prescribe medication in all 50 states. Is
there any difference between these two kinds of doctors? Yes. And no. |
Additional information may be found in these other American Osteopathic
Association Web pages:
Osteopathic Medicine
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Osteopathic Medical Education
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OMT: Hands-On Care |
D.O.s and M.D.s
are alike in many ways:
- Applicants to both D.O. and M.D. colleges typically have a four-year
undergraduate degree with an emphasis on scientific courses.
- Both D.O.s and M.D.s complete four years of basic medical education.
- After medical school, both D.O.s and M.D.s can choose to practice in a
specialty area of medicine -- such as psychiatry, surgery or obstetrics --
after completing a residency program which requires an additional two to
six years of training.
- Both D.O.s and M.D.s must pass comparable state licensing
examinations.
- D.O.s and M.D.s both practice in fully accredited and licensed health
care facilities.
- D.O.s comprise a separate, yet equal branch of American medical care.
Together, D.O.s and M.D.s enhance the state of care available in America.
D.O.s bring
something extra to medicine:
- Osteopathic medical schools emphasize
training students to be primary care physicians.
- D.O.s practice a "whole person" approach
to medicine. Instead of just treating specific symptoms or illnesses, they
assess the overall health of their patients including home and work
environments.
- Osteopathic physicians focus on preventive
health care.
- D.O.s receive extra training in the
musculoskeletal system -- your body’s interconnected system of nerves,
muscles and bones that make up two-thirds of its body mass. This training
provides osteopathic physicians with a better understanding of the ways
that an injury or illness in one part of your body can affect another.
- Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT)
is incorporated in the training and practice of osteopathic physicians.
With OMT, osteopathic physicians use their hands to diagnose injury and
illness and to encourage your body’s natural tendency toward good health.
By combining all other medical procedures with OMT, D.O.s offer their
patients the most comprehensive care available in medicine today.
More than a Century of
Unique Care
 Osteopathic
medicine is a unique form of American medical care that was developed in
1874 by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still. Dr. Still was dissatisfied with the
effectiveness of 19th Century medicine. He believed that many of the
medications of his day were useless or even harmful. Dr. Still was one of
the first in his time to study the attributes of good health so that he
could better understand the process of disease.
In response, Dr. Still founded a philosophy of medicine based on
ideas that date back to Hippocrates, the father of medicine. The
philosophy focuses on the unity of all body parts. He identified the
musculoskeletal system as a key element of health. He recognized the
body’s ability to heal itself and stressed preventive medicine, eating
properly and keeping fit.
Dr. Still pioneered the concept of "wellness" more than 125 years ago.
In today’s terms, personal health risks -- such as smoking, high blood
pressure, excessive cholesterol levels, stress and other lifestyle factors
-- are evaluated for each individual. In coordination with appropriate
medical treatment, the osteopathic physician acts as a teacher to help
patients take more responsibility for their own well-being and change
unhealthy patterns.
21st Century,
Frontier Medicine
Just as Dr. Still pioneered osteopathic
medicine on the Missouri frontier in 1874, today osteopathic physicians
serve as modern day medical pioneers.
They continue the tradition of bringing health care to areas of
greatest need:
- Over half of all osteopathic physicians practice in primary care
areas such as pediatrics, family practice, obstetrics/gynecology and
internal medicine.
- Many D.O.s fill a critical need for doctors by practicing in rural
and medically underserved areas.
Today osteopathic physicians continue to be on the cutting edge of
modern medicine. D.O.s are able to combine today’s medical technology with
their ears, to listen compassionately to their patients; their eyes, to
see their patients as whole persons; and their hands, to diagnose and
treat injury as well as illness.
"As an osteopathic physician, I believe in prevention. I am
committed to educating my patients so they can take the necessary steps to
live and maintain healthier lifestyles."
Tyler C. Cymet, D.O.
Internal medicine, Baltimore
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