1. apoplecticskeptic: ‘Universal’ cancer vaccine developed A vaccine that can train cancer patients’ own bodies to seek out and destroy tumour cells has been developed by scientists.

    apoplecticskeptic:

    ‘Universal’ cancer vaccine developed

    A vaccine that can train cancer patients’ own bodies to seek out and destroy tumour cells has been developed by scientists.

    (via fuckyeahbiomedicina)

    2 weeks ago  /  1,587 notes  /  Source: telegraph.co.uk

  2. medicalschool: Barium Swallow Study Barium sulfate is a metallic compound that shows up on x-ray and is used to help see abnormalities in the esophagus and stomach. When taking the test, a patient is asked to drink a preparation containing this solution, and a series of x-rays track its path through the digestive system. A barium swallow study may be used to identify Narrowing or irritation of the esophagus (the muscular tube between the back of the throat and the stomach), Disorders of swallowing, Hiatal hernia (an internal defect that causes the stomach to slide partially into the chest), Abnormally enlarged veins in the esophagus that cause bleeding, Ulcers, Tumors, or Polyps (growths that are usually not cancerous, but could be precancerous).

    medicalschool:

    Barium Swallow Study

    Barium sulfate is a metallic compound that shows up on x-ray and is used to help see abnormalities in the esophagus and stomach. When taking the test, a patient is asked to drink a preparation containing this solution, and a series of x-rays track its path through the digestive system.

    A barium swallow study may be used to identify Narrowing or irritation of the esophagus (the muscular tube between the back of the throat and the stomach), Disorders of swallowing, Hiatal hernia (an internal defect that causes the stomach to slide partially into the chest), Abnormally enlarged veins in the esophagus that cause bleeding, Ulcers, Tumors, or Polyps (growths that are usually not cancerous, but could be precancerous).

    (via anaestheticroom)

    2 weeks ago  /  214 notes  /  Source: emedicinehealth.com

  3. (via anaestheticroom)

    2 weeks ago  /  3,797 notes  /  Source: i-a-m-z-o-o-m-b-i-e

  4. themonkeyisyourfriend: Stethoscopes On Parade Original Article

    themonkeyisyourfriend:

    Stethoscopes On Parade

    Original Article

    (via anaestheticroom)

    2 weeks ago  /  22 notes  /  Source: themonkeyisyourfriend

  5. hikergirl: Amanda, I think the circular areas in the kidney pancake were meant to represent the medulla, which has a somewhat triangular/pyramidal shape in the human kidney.

    hikergirl:

    Amanda, I think the circular areas in the kidney pancake were meant to represent the medulla, which has a somewhat triangular/pyramidal shape in the human kidney.

    (via anaestheticroom)

    2 weeks ago  /  11 notes  /  Source: hikergirl

  6. surgicalbrief: The scalpel. The most recognised surgical instrument in the world.  Most instrument trays/sets come with at least one scalpel handle, usually two. It is otherwise known as a BP handle, which stands for Bard-Parker, named after the father of the design, like most things in medicine.  The handle is reusable. It gets sent away to be decontaminated and sterilised again after each individual patient use. The blade part is disposable, and as you can see, all different sizes and shapes of blade are available that are compatible with the handles. Each blade is suited to a different kind of procedure, such as a no.24 blade, large and curved, for making laparotomy openings, or a no.11 blade, short and pointed for making small precise laparoscopic port holes. 

    surgicalbrief:

    The scalpel. The most recognised surgical instrument in the world. 

    Most instrument trays/sets come with at least one scalpel handle, usually two. It is otherwise known as a BP handle, which stands for Bard-Parker, named after the father of the design, like most things in medicine. 

    The handle is reusable. It gets sent away to be decontaminated and sterilised again after each individual patient use. The blade part is disposable, and as you can see, all different sizes and shapes of blade are available that are compatible with the handles.

    Each blade is suited to a different kind of procedure, such as a no.24 blade, large and curved, for making laparotomy openings, or a no.11 blade, short and pointed for making small precise laparoscopic port holes. 

    2 weeks ago  /  23 notes  /  Source: surgicalbrief

  7. surgicalbrief: Welcome to Surgical Brief (name currently pending approval from my brain). A tumblr dedicated to all things surgical, including anaesthesia, operations and recovery.  I get a lot of questions about my profession (officially ODP/surgical technician) and what actually goes on in the operating theatres, so I decided to start this blog up. I’ll answer any questions anyone has, post photographs I’ve taken myself around the operating department and hopefully we’ll all learn some things. Feel free to submit, contribute and share!  The above photo was taken on my iPhone at 8pm in the main theatre suite at the hospital I work in. 

    surgicalbrief:

    Welcome to Surgical Brief (name currently pending approval from my brain). A tumblr dedicated to all things surgical, including anaesthesia, operations and recovery. 

    I get a lot of questions about my profession (officially ODP/surgical technician) and what actually goes on in the operating theatres, so I decided to start this blog up. I’ll answer any questions anyone has, post photographs I’ve taken myself around the operating department and hopefully we’ll all learn some things. Feel free to submit, contribute and share! 

    The above photo was taken on my iPhone at 8pm in the main theatre suite at the hospital I work in. 

    (via anaestheticroom)

    2 weeks ago  /  14 notes  /  Source: surgicalbrief

  8. neurolove: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Someone asked me to give more information about PTSD, so I thought I would do a couple posts about it.  After depression and substance abuse, PTSD is one of the most prevalent mental disorders.  An estimate of 70% of people in the US are exposed to a traumatic event in their lifetime (car accident, combat, physical/sexual assault), but only about 14-24% of these people will develop PTSD.  It has slightly higher prevalence for women (10-14%) than men (5-6%), but is much higher in soldiers than civilians.  For instance, 30% of Vietnam veterans had PTSD and almost half of prisoners of war developed PTSD in their lifetimes. It is important to note that PTSD cannot be diagnosed until 30 days after a traumatic event, since some of the symptoms are “normal” to be seen immediately following the event.  It is their persistence that creates a problem. The criteria for diagnosis of PTSD are: Criterion A - Exposure to a traumatic stressor.Criterion B - Re-experiencing symptoms.Criterion C - Avoidance and numbing symptoms.Criterion D - Symptoms of increased arousal (i.e. hyper-vigilance).Criterion E - Duration of at least one month.Criterion F - Significant distress or impairment of functioning. In the image above taken from the NIMH site, you can see the VMPFC and amygdala are highlighted.  That is because the amygdala creates a fear response and the VMPFC is able to extinct a fear response.  In PTSD, it is thought that this system is somehow hindered and the individual is unable to extinct the fear response.

    neurolove:

    Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

    Someone asked me to give more information about PTSD, so I thought I would do a couple posts about it.  After depression and substance abuse, PTSD is one of the most prevalent mental disorders.  An estimate of 70% of people in the US are exposed to a traumatic event in their lifetime (car accident, combat, physical/sexual assault), but only about 14-24% of these people will develop PTSD.  It has slightly higher prevalence for women (10-14%) than men (5-6%), but is much higher in soldiers than civilians.  For instance, 30% of Vietnam veterans had PTSD and almost half of prisoners of war developed PTSD in their lifetimes.

    It is important to note that PTSD cannot be diagnosed until 30 days after a traumatic event, since some of the symptoms are “normal” to be seen immediately following the event.  It is their persistence that creates a problem.

    The criteria for diagnosis of PTSD are:

    Criterion A - Exposure to a traumatic stressor.
    Criterion B - Re-experiencing symptoms.
    Criterion C - Avoidance and numbing symptoms.
    Criterion D - Symptoms of increased arousal (i.e. hyper-vigilance).
    Criterion E - Duration of at least one month.
    Criterion F - Significant distress or impairment of functioning.

    In the image above taken from the NIMH site, you can see the VMPFC and amygdala are highlighted.  That is because the amygdala creates a fear response and the VMPFC is able to extinct a fear response.  In PTSD, it is thought that this system is somehow hindered and the individual is unable to extinct the fear response.

    2 weeks ago  /  410 notes  /  Source: neurolove

  9. worldinsideofmymind: Taken with instagram by me

    worldinsideofmymind:

    Taken with instagram

    by me

    (via anaestheticroom)

    2 weeks ago  /  18 notes  /  Source: monmondemyworld

  10. forensicsandpathology: Subarachnoid haemorrhage.

    forensicsandpathology:

    Subarachnoid haemorrhage.

    (via midgetmonkey)

    2 weeks ago  /  77 notes  /  Source: forensicsandpathology

  11. (via anaestheticroom)

    2 weeks ago  /  52 notes  /  Source: medical68

  12. (via fuckyeahnarcotics)

    2 weeks ago  /  19 notes  /  Source: impersonalapproach

  13. neurolove: I think the cerebellum is one of the prettiest parts of the brain (for basic anatomy, go here).  This is an image of the cerebellum showing purkinje cells in yellow and their outputs (axons that will take the information to the brain) in red.  For more information about the cerebellum and purkinje cells, check out my post here.  I love this image- all you can see is neurons, but you can see how compact they are on the outer layers of the tissue (just like cortex! They make up the gray matter.) and how the axons travel in the middle parts (just like the rest of the brain! They make up the white matter). [Image Source]

    neurolove:

    I think the cerebellum is one of the prettiest parts of the brain (for basic anatomy, go here).  This is an image of the cerebellum showing purkinje cells in yellow and their outputs (axons that will take the information to the brain) in red.  For more information about the cerebellum and purkinje cells, check out my post here.  I love this image- all you can see is neurons, but you can see how compact they are on the outer layers of the tissue (just like cortex! They make up the gray matter.) and how the axons travel in the middle parts (just like the rest of the brain! They make up the white matter).

    [Image Source]

    (via midgetmonkey)

    2 weeks ago  /  214 notes  /  Source: neurolove

  14. sciencenote: Multiple sclerosis. Coloured magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the brain of a patient who is suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS). The front of the brain is at top in this horizontal (axial) section. MS is due to the destruction of the myelin sheaths around the axon nerve fibres of the brain and spinal cord. This is seen in the several large demyelinated lesions (black/orange). The brain’s healthy fluid-filled ventricles (upper centre) are black. Axons in the affected area can no longer conduct nerve impulses, resulting in symptoms ranging from tingling to paralysis. MS is believed to be an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks myelin. No one knows what causes MS. It may be an autoimmune disease, which happens when your body attacks itself. Multiple sclerosis affects women more than men. It often begins between the ages of 20 and 40. Usually, the disease is mild, but some people lose the ability to write, speak or walk. There is no cure for MS, but medicines may slow it down and help control symptoms. Physical and occupational therapy may also help.

    sciencenote:

    Multiple sclerosis. Coloured magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the brain of a patient who is suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS). The front of the brain is at top in this horizontal (axial) section. MS is due to the destruction of the myelin sheaths around the axon nerve fibres of the brain and spinal cord. This is seen in the several large demyelinated lesions (black/orange). The brain’s healthy fluid-filled ventricles (upper centre) are black. Axons in the affected area can no longer conduct nerve impulses, resulting in symptoms ranging from tingling to paralysis. MS is believed to be an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks myelin.

    No one knows what causes MS. It may be an autoimmune disease, which happens when your body attacks itself. Multiple sclerosis affects women more than men. It often begins between the ages of 20 and 40. Usually, the disease is mild, but some people lose the ability to write, speak or walk. There is no cure for MS, but medicines may slow it down and help control symptoms. Physical and occupational therapy may also help.

    2 weeks ago  /  239 notes  /  Source: sciencephoto.com

  15. New muscular dystrophy treatment approach developed using human stem cells →

    sciencenote:

    This is the first time that human stem cells have been shown to be effective in the treatment of muscular dystrophy. According to U of M researchers — who were also the first to use ES cells from mice to treat muscular dystrophy — there has been a significant lag in translating studies using mouse stem cells into therapeutically relevant studies involving human stem cells. This lag has dramatically limited the development of cell therapies or clinical trials for human patients.

    “One of the biggest barriers to the development of cell-based therapies for neuromuscular disorders like muscular dystrophy has been obtaining sufficient muscle progenitor cells to produce a therapeutically effective response,” said principal investigator Rita Perlingeiro, Ph.D., associate professor of medicine in the Medical School’s Division of Cardiology. “Up until now, deriving engraftable skeletal muscle stem cells from human pluripotent stem cells hasn’t been possible. Our results demonstrate that it is indeed possible and sets the stage for the development of a clinically meaningful treatment approach.”

    2 weeks ago  /  73 notes  /  Source: sciencenote