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This month in 1960, the Times-Picayune ran an article entitled, ÔÇ£Ground Squirrel Called Ideal Space Traveler.ÔÇØ In the article, Dr. Marilyn Zimny, scientist at the LSU Medical School and avid squirrel-enthusiast, tells of the amazing potential for ground squirrels to travel in outer space and to serve as instruments of research on forced-hibernation scenarios and metabolism studies.
Being so adaptable to extreme conditions, the squirrels appear to be ideal candidates for researching regulated slowing of metabolism as they are able to hibernate for long periods of time without damaging their vital organs: heart, brain, and kidneys remain intact. Advancement in this area of reduced energy consummation would possibly provide some insight into the development of a drug that could force a lower metabolism and thus a decreased need for food, water, and oxygen, a state perhaps preferable for astronauts during prolonged space travel and servicemen in cold climates. ?áThis drug could also reduce blood flow during recovery periods after a heart attack or stroke.
Although I can find no evidence that ground squirrels have indeed been launched into space, a slew of animals pre-dated human travel. The list of adventuring animals includes rhesus and squirrel-monkeys as well as mice, rats, rabbits, fruit flies, a guinea pig, a cat, chimpanzees, dogs, etc. These brave animals helped determine the conditions necessary for humans to survive spaceflight.
Dr. Zimny’s fascination with squirrels penetrated her personal life as well as her professional developmentÔÇöprofessing to own over 160 at the time of this article and in search of more (an abundance can apparently be found in some Chicago golf courses). She authored ÔÇ£Metabolism of some carbohydrate and phosphate compounds during hibernation in the ground squirrel,ÔÇØ published in the Journal of Cellular and Comparative Physiology, ÔÇ£Carbohydrate metabolism in ground squirrels during the summer season,ÔÇØ published in Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, among many others. Zimny continued her study of the rodents in order to develop a field of research that would include them as test subjects.
Her career at LSU began in 1954, leading her to a full professorship approximately ten years later. According to one Faculty Vignette, her students ÔÇ£were affectionately known as her ÔÇÿground squirrels.ÔÇÖÔÇØ She went on to become the first female department head at the LSU School of Medicine in 1975, and although she passed away in January 2006, her legacy lives on in her renown. A recent article on POPSCI tells about the successful induction of hibernation in arctic ground squirrels. Dr. ZimnyÔÇÖs warm regard for the critters appears well-places as they continues to be relevant to the study of metabolism regulation.
You can further explore squirrel-related news and other intricacies of our Digital Collections by following this link.
Glimpse of the Past is an ongoing project to promote the Louisiana Digital Library. This Month in History will present for your reading pleasure a closer look into a newspaper clipping of note from our Digital Collections and articles relating to the LSU Medical School.
William Osler
All medical residents can thank Dr. Osler for their extended training. Today would be his 163rd birthday.
The Libraries own over 40 works by Osler if you want to read up and discover why he is considered one of the father’s of modern medicine.
School of Medicine’s ?áfirst Senior & Junior block of the year for the began on Monday, July 9th. Before you head off on clinical rotations, download these free clinical apps ?áand feel a little more prepared.
Dynamed
Clinical summaries on over 3200 disease and conditions and over 800 drugs. Search by symptom. Email reference@lsuhsc.edu for a Serial number and installation instructions
Natural Standard
Evidence based information and comparative effectiveness for foods, herbs, supplements, health & wellness and integrative medicine. Search by brand name. Email reference@lsuhsc.edu?áfor a serial number and installation instructions
For the previous apps, download the free?áSkyScape?áapp on your phone, then insert your serial numbers from the library in Skyscape’s settings to download & access the resource.
Micromedex -?áMicromedex has 3 apps available for Android and Apple.
Micromedex?« Drug Information app?áis free for anyone and offers over 4500 drug search terms.
Micromedex?« Drug Interactions is a free-to-LSUHSC app requiring a quarterly password. You can find the password on our MicroMedex page under mobileMicromedex or email reference@lsuhsc.edu?áand we can send it to you. This app provides insight into: ?áwhy the drugs in question interact, how the results of those interactions will present in the patient and recommendations for monitoring patient outcomes.
Micromedex?« IV Compatibility?á?áis a free-to-LSUHSC app requiring a quarterly password. You can find the password on our MicroMedex page under?ámobileMicromedex?áor email?áreference@lsuhsc.edu?áand we can send it to you.?áThis app identifies?ápotentially dangerous combinations,?áassists in interpreting conflicting compatibility results by identifying contributing factors such as the physical compatibility, storage, study period, container and chemical stability, and includes drug-solution compatibility results as well as drug-drug compatibility results when creating an admixture or administering via Y-Site. (APPLE DEVICES ONLY)
To find and install Micromedex apps, search for Micromedex in your smartphone’s app store.?áYou can find the quarerly password via our MicroMedex page under?ámobileMicromedex,?áor email?áreference@lsuhsc.edu?áand we can send it to you.
Find more mobile apps on our Mobile LibGuide.
Is your doctor a technophobe? A recent article from the Minneapolis StarTribune asked that question while discussing physician use of social media.
There’s a stereotype that says doctors shun technology that might threaten patients’ privacy and their own pocketbooks. But a new breed of physicians is texting health messages to patients, tracking disease trends on Twitter, identifying medical problems on Facebook pages and communicating with patients through email.
Most physicians are comfortable using technology enough to communicate with their peers and manage patient care, but avoid online communication with patients. Indeed, the American Medical Association advises that when it comes to social media, “physicians must maintain appropriate boundaries of the patient-physician relationship in accordance with professional ethical guidelines just, as they would in any other context.” However, a new breed of physician might be bucking that role:
The famed Mayo Clinic holds “Tweet camps” to train its doctors how to use Twitter appropriately, said Lee Aase, director of Mayo’s Center for Social Media in Rochester, Minn.
Says Aase, “If we can trust doctors with sharp instruments and narcotics, we can trust them with Twitter and Facebook.”
The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act (ACA) last week (full text of decision here) has major implications for the US health care system. Over 32 million newly insured individuals could conceivably enter the health care system due to ACA, expanding and affecting programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and Patient-Centered Outcomes Research. Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal joined the health care debate on MSNBC’s Meet the Press this past Sunday, suggesting Louisiana would not fully implement the changes brought about by ACA (video here). Whether you call it Obamacare or Health Care Reform, it is important to be aware of the Affordable Care Act and the potential impact on the US health care system. Here are some informational sources and reactions from health associations:
NPR has a report on their health blog about an innovative (and inexpensive) way to teach laproscopic surgical technique using clementines.?á I’m sure satsumas would work just as well in Louisiana.
Here are some quick links to help you get started.?á Let us know if you need any help.
Off Campus Access to Library Resources: http://www.lsuhsc.edu/no/library/ss&d/remote.html
Campus Logins Explained: http://www.lsuhsc.edu/no/library/services/reference/Handouts/loginsexplained.html
E-Resources at a Glance for Medicine (pdf): http://www.lsuhsc.edu/no/library/services/reference/Handouts/eresourcesatglanceMED.pdf
Mobile Device Resource Guide: http://libguides.lsuhsc.edu/mobile
Help!/Live Chat: http://www.lsuhsc.edu/no/library/services/help.html
Are you or your patients having strange symptoms after taking an new herbal supplement??á Natural Standard can help!
Natural Standard, a source for?á high-quality, evidence-based information about complementary and alternative medicine, announced today the release of their new Adverse Effects Checker.
Simply check off the symptoms and the Adverse Effects Checker will provide a list of dietary supplements that may be causing those symptoms.
JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association recently debuted a substantial redesign of its website for the first time since 2001.
When?áJAMA?áand the 9?áArchives?áJournals launched their website in 1999, smartphones had not been invented, Google was still a noun, Mark Zuckerberg was 15, and Steve Jobs was about to become CEO of Apple. While the journals transitioned to a new platform in 2001, most of them have not moved since. In the meantime, the web world evolved and in medicine ÔÇ£digitalÔÇØ became much more than part of the physical examination. Source
New features include a smarter search engine utilizing semantic technologies, more multimedia content, and enhanced CME. At 1:40, this overview of the new JAMA Network definitely qualifies as ?áa two minute tip!
2 Minute tips is a blog series where we bring you short video tutorials on various tools and resources in the library.
The CDC published another feature on travel earlier this month; this time on Staying Healthy on a Cruise.?á At least this one isn’t an advisory like the ones for Spring Break or Carnival.
It recommends being up on the appropriate immunizations and vaccines and mentions precautions regarding seasickness and norovirus.
Along these travel lines, the books display at the Isché Library highlight a variety of travel topics.
NPR ran a story this morning about the troubling rise in diabetes rates in adolescents.?á According to a CDC study the rates of diabetes in youths aged 12-19 has risen alarmingly.
LSUHSC’s own Dr. Melinda Sothern commented in the story about the concerns of the high rates of diabetes in adolescent girls in particular:
These are teen girls ÔÇö adolescent girls ÔÇö who are going to become mothers in the next five to 10 years. And if their weight is not healthy, we’re going to have another generation of these children with metabolic problems that lead to diabetes and prediabetes
Obesity in children is a hot topic right now and is something that concerns all of us, not just those with children.?á A report on economic costs of diabetes states:
Approximately $1 in $10 health care dollars is attributed to diabetes. Indirect costs include increased factors such as absenteeism, reduced productivity, and lost productive capacity due to early mortality.
FYI, LSUHSC has another connection to the NPR story. The accompanying photo on NPR’s website was taken by Director of Information Services, Leslie Capo.
As the “locavore” movement continues to blossom across the country, it’s no longer only rural citizens who have access to less-industrialized food options: even residents of cities are finding ways to grow their own produce, or at least acquire it from nearby sources. This provides more economical and healthy options for cooks. A part of this movement has been the choice of some urban homesteaders to raise their own poultry.
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) currently has a page on its website with helpful information about Keeping Backyard Poultry. The major point that the CDC addresses is the prevention of the spread of Salmonella, an illness that is transmitted in a variety of ways. It can be spread through contact with poultry (or any birds), including?áchickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys.
Salmonellosis is an infection with the bacteria called?áSalmonella.?áMost persons infected with?áSalmonella?ádevelop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most persons recover without treatment. However, in some persons, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. In these patients, the?áSalmonella?áinfection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream, and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics.
The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness. The CDC highly recommends hand-washing and careful hygiene to anyone handling live poultry or poultry products such as meat or eggs. All poultry and poultry-related equipment and supplies should be considered contaminated even if the animals look healthy.
Interestingly enough, the?áTimes-Picayune?ápublished an article?álast year that examined troubles with feral chicken populations which have grown since Hurricane Katrina. Recently, local ABC affiliate WGNO-TV covered a story about the difficulties in catching feral chickens in the city. New Orleans has its own special set of issues when it comes to the cosmopolitan bird.
Contraband camp, Richmond, Va, 1865, image courtesy of the US National Archives
Here’s a great post about the first US sponsored hospital for African Americans from Jill L. Newmark, exhibition specialist in the History of Medicine Division of the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland.
On a parcel of swampy land in northwest Washington, D.C. bounded by 12th, 13th, R and S Streets N.W., a tented camp and hospital once stood that served thousands of escaped slaves and black soldiers during the American Civil War. Known as Contraband Camp, it contained one of the few hospitals that treated blacks in Washington, D.C. during the war and whose staff, including nurses and surgeons, were largely African American.
Read more: Contraband Hospital, 1862-1863: Health Care For the First Freedpeople
Photo Credit: F.P. Williams, U.S. EPA
Various local news agencies are reporting that the LSU baseball team was missing 16 players for their game last night due to stomach flu.
Coincidentally, the CDC is featuring Norovirus Surveillance on their webpage yesterday. We published a publication alert post in November about Norovirus in NBA players.
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