Rotational-biomechanic elements of the golf stroke key to being a golf pro! |  |
- Rotational-biomechanic elements of the golf stroke key to being a golf pro!
- Collaboration of major biomedical centers has shown convergence on a cellular process for head and neck cancers
- Intradialytic hypotension associated with increased incidence of haemodialysis vascular access thrombosis
- Civic agency ropes in schools for anti-dengue drive
- High frequency oscillation analysis on EEGs offers a new surgical approach to improve seizure control
- Football fans, clubs to rally against polio in India
- I-Corps: To strengthen the impact of scientific discoveries
- $12 million NIH grant to study acute lung injury
| Rotational-biomechanic elements of the golf stroke key to being a golf pro! Posted: 30 Jul 2011 10:04 PM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) When it comes to hitting a golf ball hard, researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have identified several biomechanical factors that appear to separate the duffers from the pros. For the first time, several key rotational-biomechanic elements of the golf stroke in its entirety, from backswing to follow-through, were analyzed, and then the data were used to generate benchmark curves, said Jessica Rose, PhD, associate professor of orthopaedic surgery and senior author of the study. She and her fellow researchers found that swing biomechanics were highly consistent among a group of professional players. At certain phases of their swings, their movements were almost indistinguishable from one another. "The set of biomechanical factors we examined were selected to capture the essential elements of power generation," Rose said. The lead author of the study is former Stanford medical student David Meister, MD. The findings, scheduled to be published online July 29 in the Journal of Applied Biomechanics, could be used to help improve golfers' ability to hit the ball farther and do so without increasing their risks of injury. The authors point to studies showing that improper swing biomechanics is the leading cause of golf-related injuries. They also cite studies showing that 26-52 percent of golf-related complaints involve lower-back injuries, 6-10 percent involve shoulder injuries and 13-36 percent involve wrist injuries. "Over-rotation is one of the leading causes of back injury," Rose added. Researchers collected data for the study using an array of eight special digital cameras in the Motion & Gait Analysis Laboratory at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. Using the same precise technology they typically use to analyze gait and upper limb movement disorders, they recorded three-dimensional motion images of the golf swings of 10 professional and five amateur male players. Among the five... http://www.rxpgnews.com    |
| Posted: 30 Jul 2011 09:30 PM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) Powerful new technologies that zoom in on the connections between human genes and diseases have illuminated the landscape of cancer, singling out changes in tumor DNA that drive the development of certain types of malignancies such as melanoma or ovarian cancer. Now several major biomedical centers have collaborated to shine a light on head and neck squamous cell cancer. Their large-scale analysis has revealed a surprising new set of mutations involved in this understudied disease. In back-to-back papers published online July 28 in Science, researchers from the Broad Institute, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have confirmed genetic abnormalities previously suspected in head and neck cancer, including defects in the tumor suppressor gene known as p53. But the two teams also found mutations in the NOTCH family of genes, suggesting their role as regulators of an important stage in cell development may be impaired. "This adds a new dimension to head and neck cancer biology that was not on anyone's radar screen before," said Levi A. Garraway, a senior associate member of the Broad Institute, an assistant professor at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, and a senior author of one of the Science papers. "Head and neck cancer is complex and there are many mutations, but we can infer there is a convergence on a cellular process for which we previously did not have genetic evidence. It shows that if you do a genome sequencing project of this size you can gain major new biological insights." "The mutational analysis of NOTCH clearly indicated the power of genetic changes determining the function of these genes," said Kenneth W. Kinzler, professor of oncology and a molecular geneticist at Johns Hopkins, co-director of the Ludwig Center at Johns Hopkins, and an author of one of the Science... http://www.rxpgnews.com   |
| Posted: 30 Jul 2011 08:42 PM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) A sudden drop in blood pressure while undergoing dialysis (intradialytic hypotension) is a long standing problem in haemodialysis patients. Side effects associated with this situation over the long term range from stroke to seizure to heart damage to death. Patients also suffer in the short term with gastrointestinal, muscular and neurologic symptoms. A study led by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine reports an increased risk of thrombus(clot) formation in the vascular access which is used for haemodialysis as a consequence of intradialytic hypotension. Researchers from the University of Utah also contributed to the study, which is to be published online July 29 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. "Our analysis shows another adverse consequence associated with a fall in blood pressure during dialysis for patients," said Tara Chang, MD, a Stanford nephrologist and lead author of the study. "Vascular access is their lifeline. It's required for dialysis and without dialysis, they'll die." As the kidneys fail, their ability to eliminate the excess fluid and toxins from the body decreases. The function of the kidneys deteriorates to the point at which an alternate form of elimination needs to be provided in the form of hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. Hemodialysis involves cleaning out the blood by passing the blood through a dialysis machine. This is ideally done for four-hour sessions, thrice weekly. The blood vessels of the patient are attached to the dialysis machine through a vascular access. One of the most common forms of vascular access is a fistula, which is created surgically from the patient's own blood vessels. The tubes used to take blood to and from the body to the dialysis machine are connected to the body at this access point. Clotting is one of the primary complications of an access point and can lead to its closure. "These access points don't last forever,"... http://www.rxpgnews.com   |
| Civic agency ropes in schools for anti-dengue drive Posted: 30 Jul 2011 08:30 PM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) New Delhi, July 30 - Stepping up its drive against vector borne diseases such as dengue and malaria, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi - Saturday announced it is roping in primary schools for prevention of the diseases. 'The public health department has been seeking support from the education department for raising community awareness. Nodal teachers have been designated for ensuring all measures for prevention and control of vector borne diseases in schools,' said V.K. Monga, chairman of the MCD's public health committee. Over 2,500 dengue cases were recorded in the city last year. This year, five dengue cases have been reported so far, according to MCD officials. The civic agency plans to involve teachers to improve cleanliness in schools and brief students and parents on prevention of vector borne diseases. Each student in the over 700 MCD schools has been given home work cards highlighting tips for prevention of vector borne diseases. The cards are to be read and signed by parents. 'All teachers will ensure that dengue home work cards have been distributed to children. Prevention of dengue and regular filling up of home work cards are also discussed during parent-teacher meetings,' said Mahendra Nagpal, chairman of the civic agency's education committee. http://www.rxpgnews.com   |
| Posted: 30 Jul 2011 08:27 PM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) New research focusing on high-frequency oscillations, termed ripples and fast ripples, recorded by intracranial electroencephalography (EEG), may provide an important marker for the localization of the brain region responsible for seizure activity. According to the study now available in Epilepsia, a journal of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), the resection of brain regions containing fast ripples, along with the visually-identified seizure-onset zone, may achieve a good seizure outcome in pediatric epilepsy. High-frequency oscillations at 80-200 Hz are known as ripples and those above 200 Hz are considered fast ripples. Medical evidence suggests that fast ripples are a specific surrogate marker of the seizure generation zone. Studies in adults have suggested that resection of the brain region containing fast ripples was associated with good seizure outcome. However, these studies used a small number of electrode (EEG) contacts, with limited brain coverage, which may not be optimal for pediatric patients who often exhibit a more generalized epileptic network than adults. Hiroshi Otsubo, MD, with The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada and lead researcher of the current study explains, "In pediatric patients, extensive surgical resection are often used, but may overestimate the link between high-frequency oscillations and seizure outcome. Good surgical success may also be achieved by more limited surgeries that include both the brain region with high-frequency oscillations and the brain region that appears to initiate seizures, even when they are independent." To further explore this hypothesis, the research team evaluated the relationship of resection of brain regions containing high-frequency oscillations and the area of seizure onset in pediatric epilepsy patients. Researchers retrospectively analyzed 28 pediatric patients with epilepsy who underwent intracranial EEG monitoring prior to focal... http://www.rxpgnews.com   |
| Football fans, clubs to rally against polio in India Posted: 29 Jul 2011 07:37 PM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) New Delhi, July 29 - A partnership among the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Futbol Club - Barcelona, and the Barcelona Foundation will rally football fans to eradicate polio from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria -- the four nations where the disease still exists. The partnership is of three years' duration, a statement said Friday. 'We have the chance to score a big win against polio, but we need loud and passionate voices to join the fight,' Bill Gates said. 'FC Barcelona's commitment to using sport for social good will help us rally support for vaccines and end polio once and for all.' Considering that polio cases are at an all-time low, with new funding and increased support polio has the potential to be the second disease eliminated from our planet, after smallpox, the statement added. FC Barcelona, which has 18 million Facebook fans and multiple Twitter channels with millions of followers, will engage its followers through the social media. In-stadium advertisements and announcements during matches will highlight the tremendous opportunity the world has to end polio and save millions of lives through childhood vaccination. The partnership will use the tagline 'More than a Goal. End Polio,' a take-off on FC Barcelona's tagline, 'More than a Club.' http://www.rxpgnews.com   |
| I-Corps: To strengthen the impact of scientific discoveries Posted: 29 Jul 2011 05:00 AM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) Today, the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced a new effort to help develop scientific and engineering discoveries into useful technologies, products and processes. The NSF Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program, a public-private partnership, will connect NSF-funded scientific research with the technological, entrepreneurial and business communities to help create a stronger national ecosystem for innovation that couples scientific discovery with technology development and societal needs. The United States has a long history of investing in--and deploying--technological advances derived from a foundation of basic research, says NSF Director Subra Suresh. And the NSF mission connects advancing the nation's prosperity and welfare with our passionate pursuit of scientific knowledge. I-Corps will help strengthen a national innovation ecosystem that firmly unites industry with scientific discoveries for the benefit of society. The NSF Innovation Corps follows the NSF strategic plan by reaching out to the range of communities that play complementary roles in the innovation process and are essential to ensuring the impact of NSF investments.* With the awards, the I-Corps initiative will strategically identify nascent concepts and leverage NSF's investment in basic research for technology innovation. To do so successfully will require a public-private partnership. The Kauffman Foundation is pleased to collaborate with the National Science Foundation in projects that enable the advancement of science innovations to the market, says Lesa Mitchell, vice president of advancing innovation, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Members of the private sector will provide critical support to this NSF effort by sharing their knowledge and experience with NSF and I-Corps awardees. These technology developers, business leaders, venture capitalists, and others from private industry will act as I-Corps mentors. The I-Corps mentor volunteers will... http://www.rxpgnews.com   |
| $12 million NIH grant to study acute lung injury Posted: 29 Jul 2011 05:00 AM PDT ( From http://www.rxpgnews.com ) Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine have been awarded more than $11.7 million to study the pathology of severe lung injury. The study, part of a multi-pronged investigation into acute lung injury, or ALI, is funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, one of the National Institutes of Health. ALI and its even more severe form, acute respiratory distress syndrome, result from pulmonary edema -- leaky blood vessels -- and inflammation. Direct lung injury from infection or indirect injury from trauma, sepsis, pancreatitis, transfusions, radiation or drug overdose can trigger ALI. It is fatal almost 40 percent of the time. We are now ready to address the very important, clinically relevant aspects of the pathobiology of ALI and investigate novel therapeutic approaches, said Natarajan, program director and professor of pharmacology and medicine at UIC, who has been studying ALI for 20 years. Natarajan also co-directs the Institute for Personalized Respiratory Medicine at UIC with Dr. Joe G.N. Skip Garcia, University of Illinois vice president for health affairs, UIC vice chancellor for research and Earl M. Bane Professor of Medicine. The NIH Program Project Grant is an interdisciplinary investigation of a bio-active lipid called sphingosine-1-phosophate, or S1P, and its receptors and their role in lung cell signaling, inflammation and injury caused by sepsis or radiation. One project, led by Natarajan, will use animal and cell-culture models to investigate how S1P is generated inside cells and how it exerts a protective effect in ALI -- an effect which Garcia, Natarajan and their collaborators had demonstrated previously in animal models of ALI. A second project, headed by Garcia, will investigate the role of S1P receptors in ALI. Dr. Garcia brings cutting-edge expertise in genomics, genetics and clinical medicine to the project, Natarajan said, and will address the very important... http://www.rxpgnews.com   |
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