A 'Slurpee' That Could Save Your Life

By Eric Bland, Discovery News - TQ

By crushing and shaving the sharp edges off tiny ice crystals, scientists in Chicago have created a slurry that can be pumped into veins, arteries and the lungs. The life-saving, Slurpee-like slurry rapidly cools the body from the inside out, giving doctors more time to treat patients while staving off harmful complications, saving lives.

"What you end up with is not what you'd get from the local 7-11," said Ken Kasza of the Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois. "With a Slurpee you get the liquid but not the ice. In our slurry you get the liquid and the ice."

Protective cooling, as rapidly cooling the body to prevent inflammation, acidosis and other problems is called, has been around unintentionally for thousands of years. It explains why, when a person falls into a frozen lake or river and doesn't breathe for as long as 90 minutes, they can be successfully revived with little or no brain damage.

For decades scientists have artificially induced localized and universal hypothermia using cooling blankets, cold, liquid saline solutions and packed ice chunks, in surgical patients to protect them.

These techniques are effective, but slow. Speed is critical for protective cooling. Pumping iced saline directly into veins, arteries and lungs lets doctor cool organs much more quickly than cooling externally, increasing survival rates and the time doctors have to treat a patient. During a surgery, that could mean having more than two hours to operate on a patient, instead of the 30 minutes currently available for some procedures.

"The fact that we have high ice loading means that we can absorb many times more heat than with cold saline," said Kasza. "That means that the amount of coolant needed to reduce body temperature is reduced dramatically."

Kasza's Argonne colleague, Yue Wu (Ryan), ran initial tests of the ice, compared with cold saline during an angioplasty, and found the slurry is about five times more effective at cooling the body.

In large animals, the scientists were able to at least triple the window of time to treat a heart attack, from 10 to 15 minutes for a heart attack, up to 30 and 45 minutes. The scientists think they could extend that time even longer; they discontinued the experiments early to ensure that all animal survived. The scientists are currently seeking FDA approval to test the ice slurry on humans.

The Argonne National Laboratory and University of Chicago scientists created their life-saving slurry by first freezing large chunks of saline solution into a clear, solid mass. Then they mechanically ground up the ice using a special, propriety method that turns the sharp, crystalline ice into round, smooth balls.

The tiny, icy spheres, small enough to fit through a 1-mm-wide catheter, can then move around one another and not become stuck, like what can happen in a 7-11 Slurpee, allowing for a quick brain freeze. The table-top-sized machine can produce about three to four liters of ice slurry at a time, more than enough to treat a patient.

Chilling down the brain and spinal cord is just one area doctors hope to use the slush. Organ transplantation, laproscopic kidney surgery and heart attacks are all areas where the life-saving saline slurry could be used, say the doctors.

Once the ice slurry melts the saline is absorbed into the body harmlessly. If it is injected into the lungs, most of the saline is sucked back out, while the remaining solution is then absorbed into the body.

This is all good news, says James Black, a surgeon at the Johns Hopkins University who was not involved in the research.

"If the research shows that it the body cools faster, that's a great advantage," said Black.

Ultimately the Argonne and University of Chicago scientists want to use the icy slurry outside the hospital, by equipping ambulances and paramedics with bottles of ice slurry to treat patients. It's an idea that Black is hesitant about. Without general anesthesia, protective cooling could actually worsen acidosis, he said, which is one of the conditions protective cooling is supposed to help.

Without anesthesia, as the body cools it shivers to generate heat. Shivering uses a lot of energy, and the products, including lactic acid, acidifies the body, creating another set of problems doctors must deal with. Administering anesthetic is necessary during protective cooling to ensure that the body doesn't shiver.

The doctors are also experimenting with mixing synthetic blood substitutes and micro injections of oxygen into the slurry, which would also help patients by providing oxygen and nutrients to the body during a traumatic event, potentially staving off acidosis, among other problems. This would be particularly useful during heart attacks outside a hospital, where as few as five percent of patients survive.

The Chicago team hopes to begin FDA trials of the basic ice slurry within the year. They are also speaking with an unmentioned biomedical company to market the slurry producing process. If everything goes well, their life-saving slush could be cooling patients in a few years.

"We want to be able to get this stuff into the small capillaries deep in the body, heart and brain, to protect cells from dying from a lack of oxygen," said Kasza.

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Grooming Baby: Keeping Your Little One Clean and Comfortable

By Christina Breda Antoniades - TQ

Source: Discovery Health

You probably think that that you know everything you need to know about baby care, baths, and grooming — after all you've been grooming and caring for yourself since you were in elementary school. Sometimes basic baby care can present some unique challenges that you may not know how to tackle; we've asked our experts to handle some of the toughest questions to help you understand baby care, bathing, and grooming. From treating baby acne to clipping nails, we've found the answers to help you give your baby excellent care. We talked to pediatrician Lynn Smitherman, M.D., recently about basic baby care. Here is what the assistant professor of pediatrics at Detroit's Wayne State University had to say:

Q: Because many parents — especially first timers — are obsessed with germs and cleanliness, bath time might seem like a crucial part of baby's hygiene. But how often does a baby really need to be bathed?

A: Infants don't really need to be bathed more than two to three times per week. Parents should always wash their baby's face and diaper area really well, but the rest of the body —arms, legs, tummy and back — doesn't really get that dirty. Once babies start crawling or toddling, it is important that their hands are kept clean, and if they are going barefoot, that their feet are clean. That means bathing baby more frequently — maybe every other day. Be careful, especially in the winter, not to overdo the washing because the soap and water can dry out their skin. By 1 year of age, they will need to be bathed even more frequently, perhaps daily, because they can get really messy.

Q: When it comes to baby's first bath, a lot of parents head for the kitchen sink, which is at a comfortable height and is small enough to seem manageable. Do you need to do anything special if you're going to use the sink?

A: You do want to wash out the sink really well. Just make sure there is no food or dirt left over from the last time you washed dishes. And, if you use harsh cleansers on your sink, be sure to wash it really well with soap and water and then rinse it one last time with hot water to get rid of any residue. If there's residue left over, it can cause irritation to baby's skin. Another option is bathing baby in an infant bathtub. Most keep baby at an angle so they're not lying flat, helping to keep water from pooling up in the diaper area, which is where you need to concentrate your cleaning anyhow.

Q: What about temperature? How do you know if it's too hot or too cold?

A: The best way to check the temperature of the water is with your elbow or forearm, since those are more sensitive than your fingers. You want the water to be a little warmer than lukewarm — just warm enough to feel comfortable. And keep in mind that the naval cord has to be completely off and healed — this happens around week three — before you submerse baby entirely. Until then, you can make do with a sponge bath.

Q: Babies have a reputation for silky-smooth skin, but in reality their skin is often rough, bumpy and dry. What do parents need to know about skin care for their infant?

A: First, they should know that when babies are first born, they go through a very natural process of peeling skin. Many parents get concerned because they think the skin is peeling because it's dry. It's not. I tell parents to try to imagine what would happen to their skin if they sat in a bathtub full of water for nine months and then had to adapt to the dry air. Skin peeling right after birth is a natural process, and it doesn't need any special treatment. In terms of washing, it's best to use a very mild soap. Even though there are a lot of products advertised, I find that unscented Dove soap works best. It is very mild, which is good because some children have reactions to the perfumes and dyes used in some soap. This will help keep their skin from getting irritated.

Q: While we're talking about skin, what about baby acne? If baby has pimples, is it time to break out the Clearasil?

A: Baby acne — little pimples, usually on the face — usually shows up within a few days of life and goes away without treatment. These pimples may come and go for the first month or so, but they're nothing to worry about. Some babies also get eczema, which is a dry skin condition that usually runs in the family. The best way to treat that is to keep the skin moisturized, using a very mild, unscented lotion such as Vaseline or baby lotion. But if your baby has very sensitive skin, you may have to use a special lotion like Lubriderm or Cetaphil. If that doesn't help, have your pediatrician check it out to make sure it isn't something else.

Q: Do you recommend using baby powder or talcum powder?

A: Nowadays, we're trying to get away from using powder altogether because if it is inhaled it can cause lung damage. So we try to discourage the use of baby, or talcum, powder. But if you choose to use it, don't sprinkle the powder directly on the baby, because the risk of breathing it in is very high. Stand away from baby and put some in your hand and then rub it on baby, keeping it away from the face.


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The ABCs for combating the cold and flu season

Source: Dumex

With cold and flu season in full swing, parents who pay attention to hygiene and nutrition can boost the odds that their children will stay healthy - or at least healthier than last year.

Some of the techniques may be surprising and, better yet, take much less time than you think.

"Probably the most important thing is to tell kids to wash their hands frequently," said Dr. Jim King, a family physician in Selmer, Tenn., who is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians' board of directors.

Germ-laden hands are the most common source of bacteria, he added, and frequent hand-washing will reduce the number of colds and infections.

Encourage your kids to wash their hands after using the bathroom, playing with toys shared by other children and when they get home from school, King said. To enlist their support, set up a chart system with gold stars or, for older children, other appropriate rewards.

Also, "teach kids not to always be touching their faces and their mouths," said Dr. Ari Brown, a pediatrician in Austin, Texas, and author of Baby 411.

"Germs will live on surfaces such as the desk or doorknob for several hours," Brown said. So if kids touch a contaminated surface and then their face, mouth or nose, they can easily spread germs, she added.

"As kids get older, they tend to share food and drinks," Brown continued, saying that should also be discouraged. The reason: Sharing food and drinks can also spread germs, and "you can end up getting strep throat or mono," he said.

Then there's the inevitable showdown over bedtimes. But be sure to enforce reasonable ones, King and Brown agreed.

Most children don't get enough sleep, boosting their risk of getting sick. For 5- to 9-year-olds, 10 or 11 hours of sleep is needed, Brown and King said. 10- to 14-year-olds need nine or 10 hours, and 14- to 18-year-olds need eight or nine hours.

Getting kids to go to bed has always seemed like mission impossible. "But if you remind them how crummy they feel in the morning when the alarm goes off [if they haven't gotten enough sleep], they might be a little bit more reasonable," Brown said.

King urges parents to "get kids up at the same time every day, too." This will help establish a regular sleep-wake pattern. He encourages this practice even on weekends, although he acknowledges it's not easy - especially with teens who think they have a right to sleep in when school's out.

Brown also suggests talking to your child about the value of nutritious eating. And develop a policy that limits buying food from school vending machines or from fast-food operations.

Finally, encourage your child to get regular physical activity. The best way is to lead by example, Brown said.

"Go for a nightly walk, a nightly bike ride, or walk the dog together. Incorporate exercise into family time," he suggested.

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Pregnant women miss a key nutrient

Many women understand the dietary benefits of folic acid and calcium with vitamin D, but some could be missing DHA Omega-3, a fatty acid found in fish and a nutrient important for a baby's development.

DHA Omega-3 aids in the growth of a baby's brain, heart and eyes. Consumption of this nutrient also lowers the risk of pre-term birth and postpartum depression.

Sixty-eight percent of women say their doctor has never told them about DHA, according to a Kelton Research survey sponsored by the Society for Women's Health Research in Washington, D.C.

The survey reveals 72 percent of women have no clue how to include DHA in their diet.

Cold-water oily fish, like mackerel, herring, and salmon, are the best sources of DHA.

This can be problematic for pregnant women because some seafood contains mercury and other contaminants harmful to nervous system development in unborn infants.

Women can eat certain types of eggs, soymilk, nutrition bars, and other foods supplemented with algal-based DHA to avoid consuming too much mercury while still getting the DHA benefits.

Experts recommend consumption of 300 milligrams of DHA per day for expectant and new mothers.

Source:DUMEX

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Fasting: Heart Healthy?

Monthly Fasting May Tune the Ticker
Thank You ...Marilynn Marchionne, Associated Press
Dec. 11, 2007

Mormons have less heart disease -- something doctors have long chalked up to their religion's ban on smoking. New research suggests that another of their "clean living" habits also may be helping their hearts: fasting for one day each month.

A study in Utah, where the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is based, found that people who skipped meals once a month were about 40 percent less likely to be diagnosed with clogged arteries than those who did not regularly fast.

People did not have to "get religion" to benefit: non-Mormons who regularly took breaks from food also were less likely to have clogged arteries, scientists found.

They concede that their study is far from proof that periodic fasting is good for anyone, but said the benefit they observed poses a theory that deserves further testing.

"It might suggest these are people who just control eating habits better," and that this discipline extends to other areas of their lives that improves their health, said Benjamin Horne, a heart disease researcher from Intermountain Medical Center and the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

He led the study and reported results at a recent American Heart Association conference. The research was partly funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Roughly 70 percent of Utah residents are Mormons, whose religion advises abstaining from food on the first Sunday of each month, Horne said.

Researchers got the idea to study fasting after analyzing medical records of patients who had X-ray exams to check for blocked heart arteries between 1994 and 2002 in the Intermountain Health Collaborative Study, a health registry. Of these patients, 4,629 could be diagnosed as clearly having or lacking heart disease -- an artery at least 70 percent clogged.

Researchers saw a typical pattern: only 61 percent of Mormons had heart disease compared to 66 percent of non-Mormons. They thought tobacco use probably accounted for the difference. But after taking smoking into account, they still saw a lower rate of heart disease among Mormons and designed a survey to explore why.

It asked about Mormons' religious practices: monthly fasting; avoiding tea, coffee and alcohol; taking a weekly day of rest; going to church, and donating time or money to charity.

Among the 515 people surveyed, only fasting made a significant difference in heart risks: 59 percent of periodic meal skippers were diagnosed with heart disease versus 67 percent of the others.

The difference persisted even when researchers took weight, age and conditions like diabetes or high cholesterol or blood pressure into account. About 8 percent of those surveyed were not Mormons, and those who regularly fasted had lower rates of heart disease, too.

Horne speculated that when people take a break from food, it forces the body to dip into fat reserves to burn calories. It also keeps the body from being constantly exposed to sugar and having to make insulin to metabolize it. When people develop diabetes, insulin-producing cells become less sensitive to cues from eating, so fasting may provide brief rests that resensitize these cells and make them work better, he said.

But he and other doctors cautioned that skipping meals is not advised for diabetics -- it could cause dangerous swings in blood sugar.

Also for dieters, "the news is not as good as you might think" on fasting, said Dr. Raymond Gibbons of the Mayo Clinic, a former heart association president.

"Fasting resets the metabolic rate," slowing it down to adjust to less food and forcing the body to store calories as soon as people resume eating, Gibbons said.



healthy heart...healthy body

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