health sectionhealth section
Gelding a horse is the process of removing the testes and sperm-producing components of a male horse's reproductive system in order to prevent him from reproducing. Gelding is a routine surgical procedure that normally has few complications or problems associated with it. Though the risks associated with gelding a horse are very low, it is still a surgical procedure, and there are several different considerations you should keep in mind when planning to ship or transport your recently gelded horse.
Bricks are used in a variety of projects, such as buildings, driveways and columns. Bricks generally will crack because of stresses placed on them, foundation movement, moisture, or inadequate structural support. According to Advanced Structural Designs, it may be difficult to determine the cause because different factors may act together to create the problem. If the brick is on a building, you should seek the advice of a structural engineer to recommend ways to correct it.
After surgery, a person will most likely be fatigued and will be ordered by a doctor to rest to recover from the trauma of an operation. During this time, life can be different and often difficult for a post-operative patient, depending on the severity of the surgery. There are several goods and services that you can give to someone recovering from surgery that will make their recovery time easier to endure, both physically and mentally.
One of the simplest and most elegant ways of dressing a room is to design a creative window treatment that doesn't rely on conventional drapes. The advantage is that you don't have to drag out your sewing machine if you don't feel like hemming, and you can change the look seven days a week if you feel so inclined. Muslin and lace are suitable as are yards of crushed velvet. You could even use black plastic if you're feeling gothic. Anything goes.
A nuclear compaction test, also called a nuclear densometer test, is used to determine the density and moisture of the earth on which construction projects are built. When a heavy structure is built, its weight compacts the earth below it. If the earth underneath cannot support the weight, the structure might crumble to the ground. The results of a nuclear compaction test are used by engineers and architects to determine the earth’s rate of compaction. A nuclear gauge is required to perform a nuclear compaction test. Each gauge is different, so consult the owner’s manual for operation instructions and how…
Learn about the meaning of constants and control groups in an experiment if you wish to perform a valid scientific experiment to investigate a phenomenon. Scientific experiments focus on the changing of one specific variable, the independent variable, to see how it affects the outcome, or the dependent variable. The use of control groups helps to establish what effect the experimentation alone will have on the outcome. Constants within experiments are variables which are controlled.
You can't underestimate the emotional turmoil associated with losing a father. Grieving the loss is a necessary component of accepting it so you can move on in your life. There are no guaranteed methods of getting you through the period after his passing, but it is important to allow yourself to feel all the emotions associated with it. Healing after your dad dies requires time and the assistance of family and friends.
A burnisher is a tool that places a shine or gild on a metal object. It is also used to turn the bezel or jewelry prong toward the setting to hold it into place firmly. It is most commonly used during the jewelry making process but any flat metal surface is a candidate for burnishing. A burnisher has a head, ferrule and handle. Make a simple homemade burnisher from a heavy handled spoon in less than 30 minutes.
The Canon SX130 IS has a fish-eye lens effect for distorting wide-angle photographs. The fish-eye lens effect curves the edges of the subject, giving the photograph a rounded appearance. You can adjust the level of the fish-eye effect prior to taking your photographs. The fish-eye effect is one of several special scene modes available on the Canon SX130 IS, all of which enhance your photographs in different ways.
Copper test kits are used to see if the mineral copper is in a public or private swimming pool and can be used to test a consumer's water supply. Copper will discolor the interior of the pool and will damage people's nails and hair through discoloration. High amounts of copper are also unhealthy to the human body if it is constantly consumed through the water supply. Using these test kits helps a pool cleaner or homeowner see if copper is the central problem with his water.
Photoshop CS5 lets you modify your digital photos and other images with a variety of filters and effects. The fish-eye effect is a transformation that simulates the effect of a fish-eye lens on a camera. You can adjust the effect to increase or decrease the amount of "bend," or distortion, in the image. You can apply the fish-eye effect to the full image or a portion of the image.
A fine-needle aspiration is performed by a doctor. In most cases, it's a minor operation used to extract fluid or tissue from a nodule somewhere in the body; the nodule may be caused by infection or cancer. The doctor can have the fluid examined by a laboratory to learn what's caused the nodule to form. Many times the nodule is discovered because it's near the surface of the skin; this makes performing the fine-needle aspiration a simple process because the doctor can feel the nodule and doesn't need any type of special equipment to guide the needle in.
A central venous port is an implanted device that allows for medications to be administered directly into the bloodstream on a regular basis. Different kinds of medications or treatments will require a patient to have one of these implanted, blood can also be drawn from this location. The access port is a small container where the medication or fluid is injected. The port itself, is connected to a catheter that is directly connected to a large vein.
A tracheostomy is a surgical procedure in which a cut or opening is created in the windpipe to allow the insertion of a tracheostomy tube. A tracheostomy tube, when connected to a mechanical ventilator, assists patients in breathing. When the tracheostomy tube is no longer needed, it is removed and the hole, or stoma, is left to heal on its own. Caring for the stoma hole involves keeping it clean on a daily basis until the hole heals and closes up on its own. Proper cleaning of the stoma and the surrounding skill also prevents skin irritation and ensures that…
In today's present future, holograms are increasingly becoming linked with your sources of entertainment, whether it be video games, movies or even television. But what effect does this new form of entertainment have on human health, especially on one's vision? Whatever appears on a screen "pops" out in what appears to be three dimensions, tricking our mind and eyes into seeing something that isn't actually there. Especially in a society where moviegoers are more likely to pick a 3-D movie over a 2-D movie for the holographic experience, we should know what the aftereffects are of these forms of entertainment.
A PICC line -- peripherally inserted central catheter -- is inserted into a vein in the arm and threaded through the chest until it reaches a large vein near the heart. A PICC line is used to deliver intravenous drugs such as antibiotics and chemotherapy over a period of weeks or months. It eliminates the need for multiple needlesticks and allows drug therapy to continue at home. Follow several steps to measure the length of the external portion of the PICC line with each dressing change to monitor for migration. Increased length can indicate that the PICC line is coming…
Insurance for health, home and cars is essential to make sure you are protected; however, having your health insurance cover all of your medical needs is often a struggle. When diving into the world of what is seen as cosmetic or elective surgeries, it becomes even more of a struggle to have the procedures covered. Tubal reversals are usually seen as an elective procedure, and will result in most insurance companies denying coverage.
The after-effects of wearing distorted lenses is usually insignificant, but you should keep several things in mind if you wear the incorrect prescription lenses. If you look through distorted lenses for too long, your eyes may become tired or you may develop other problems. The after effects of eye strain from lens distortion mimic other eye problems, so check with your eye doctor if you have concerns or problems.
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Psychologists use many different methods to diagnose behavior and mental processes, and then prescribe therapies to control adverse mental conditions. Principles of psychological testing are intended to have a standard way to gather information about patients and use known methods to provide treatment.
Excimer lasers use electric discharge to project combination light beams of a noble gas, a halogen and a buffer gas like neon or helium in the ultraviolet light spectrum. Because ultraviolet light is delivered in short wavelengths, the excimer laser has many uses. The Encyclopedia of Laser Physics and Technology cites some of these as detailed laser markings, psoriasis treatment and eye surgery.
Radiesse is a dermal filler used in the facial area to reverse the effects of facial lipoatrophy, or facial wasting. Sunken cheeks and a hollow looking face describe the typical results of facial lipoatrophy. It is a side effect of drugs taken for HIV in many patients. Plastic surgeons use Radiesse for cosmetic purposes and employ several techniques in its use.
Stomata (the plural of "stoma") are permanent holes in the body a surgeon creates for a biological function. They are also known as ostomies, and surgeons can make them in many parts of the body. As the stomata are open to the environment, a patient may choose to shield the opening for health reasons or to minimize the cosmetic appearance of the hole. A stoma shield consists of a piece of cloth made from layers of breathable material, which cover the opening.
A PICC line -- peripherally inserted central catheter -- is a thin tube that is threaded through a vein in the arm and travels to the heart. A PICC line is used to deliver medication and prevents the need for multiple needle sticks. It must be properly cared for to prevent bacteria from entering the body and causing infection while it is in in your arm and until the site heals after the line is removed.
Split-brain experiments were first carried out in the 1960s. At the time, epilepsy was commonly cured by separating the hemispheres of the brain, short-circuiting the neural storms that cause epileptic seizures. While this treatment was generally successful, and is still occasionally used to cure severe cases of epilepsy today, cutting the connection between the brain's hemispheres has some significant side effects. By studying patients who had undergone this procedure, a team of scientists led by Robert Sperry were able to make groundbreaking discoveries about how the hemispheres of the brain work together.
Platelets are one of the various components that make up your blood. Other components include red blood cells, white blood cells and plasma. Platelets are approximately one quarter the size of red blood cells. Proper platelet function causes blood to form clots. Transfusions of platelets via an intravenous line can be administered in order to prevent or control blood loss in people with a decrease in properly functioning platelets.
Problems with inconsistency are regular and perhaps not very distressing problems for many people. Their peers, on the other hand, may be fed up with a friend or family member who exhibits inconsistent and possibly inconsiderate behavior. While it may appear from the outside that an inconsistent individual is simply selfish, he may not even be aware he has a problem. The most basic solution should involve a regimen of self reflection and planning.
Platelets are the element in blood that causes clotting. A normal platelet count is between 150,000 and 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood. This number can be effected by several conditions. A platelet count is used to gather information about the general wellness of a patient's blood. A number of conditions can cause lower platelet counts, and doctors must compare the results of a platelet count with the patient's other symptoms.
Ethics involve society's accepted standards of right and wrong. In the practice of gender reassignment surgery, doctors must make ethical choices regarding which gender to assign babies with ambiguous or deformed genitals. Determining ethical practices in this arena has evolved since the first sexual reassignment surgery was performed in 1922. There is still not a consensus among doctors as to what makes a person male or female.
A stoma is a surgical opening created as an alternative access route for the body to drain excess fluids and waste. These openings are created in the windpipe, a tracheostomy, the voice box, a laryngostoma, near the stomach and the small intestine, an ileostomy, and the large intestine, a colostomy. The stoma and surrounding tissue require special care to prevent infection.
The contemporary adhesive bandage was invented in 1920 by Earl Dickson of Johnson & Johnson, creating what came to be commonly known as the Band-Aid. Adhesive bandages are also known as sticking plasters or Elastoplasts. These bandages are still widely used today to protect small wounds from friction, germs, damage or dirt.
Copper is found throughout the body as it is an essential part of the chemical make-up of every tissue. Copper works within the body to help produce hemoglobin, collagen, melanin and it also acts as an antioxidant and pro-oxidant.
Flomax is a prescription medication used to treat enlarged prostate by relaxing the muscles of the prostate and neck of the bladder to help urination. As with most prescription medications, certain restrictions apply to the eligibility and use of Flomax, and unpleasant or even dangerous side effects may occur. For this reason, alternatives are available to control and counter the symptoms of an enlarged prostate, ranging from lifestyle changes to surgery.
Platelets, also known as thrombocytes, are a type of white blood cell manufactured by bone marrow. They are crucial to the process of blood clotting and wound healing. Platelet disorders may be acquired or congenital. Acquired platelet defects include chronic mylogenous leukemia, multiple myeloma and kidney disease. Congenital platelet disorders include little-known diseases from birth such as Bernard-Soulier syndrome, Glanzmann's thrombasthenia and platelet storage pool disorder.
While the Centers for Disease Control recommends using a new pair of gloves in the medical field for every use, some situations such as a shortage of gloves or an emergency may require multiple uses of gloves. In this case, it is imperative that gloves are appropriately disinfected using a specific procedure to avoid passing along germs, pathogens, infections or even diseases.
Vitamin E has been touted as a wonder ingredient in oil-based cosmetics. Vitamin E is fat soluble, and mixes easily with oils. Marketers claim that Vitamin E creams and oils can reduce the visibility of your scars, diminish your wrinkles, moisturize your skin and give your skin a radiant glow. Research on vitamin E cosmetics, however, is not nearly so optimistic. In some cases, research on vitamin E cosmetics reiterates the caution "buyer, beware."
Adhesive bandages are the most basic component of any first-aid kit. They have a variety of uses and are particularly important in dressing minor cuts and scrapes to children. They come packaged with a non-stick backing that peels off to expose a sticky grip that holds them securely around the wound.
An anterior discectomy is performed through the front of the throat to the cervical area of the spine. During surgery, the neck is slightly tilted back to push the vertebrae forward. A small incision is made, and the spongy material called the disc located between two vertebrae is removed. Often, a bone graft is placed between two vertebrae to promote a fusion of the bones. Patients requiring surgery have not found relief in other methods of treatment such as exercise and medication to relieve pain or prevent a loss of nerve function.
A stoma is a surgery-created opening to the body. It is most often used after laryngectomies and gastrointestinal surgeries where something needs to come in or out of the body regularly (like air or feces). Many patients have a great anxiety about having a stoma because they can become infected. Their appearance can also cause great self-consciousness. In reality, stomas are a routine part of medicine and are quite manageable.
The Centers for Disease Control divides medical equipment into three groups according to the degree of infection risk associated with each: Critical, semicritical and noncritical, with each group having its own sanitation guidelines. Critical items confer a high risk for infection if contaminated and include objects that enter sterile tissue or the vascular system, such as surgical instruments. These items must be sterilized. Semicritical items contact mucous membranes or nonintact skin and require high-level disinfection. Noncritical items come into contact with intact skin but not mucous membranes and include blood pressure cuffs. These items require only low-level disinfection.
LASIK eye surgery corrects vision for patients suffering from nearsightedness, astigmatism or farsightedness. The procedure alters the way light is reflected into the cornea to improve vision. An article published by ABC News estimates that each year in the U.S., 700,000 individuals undergo LASIK eye surgery to correct their vision.
Medical professionals who work in surgical technology sterilize medical instruments used during an operation. Because surgical technologists work in the operating room and are responsible for passing instruments and assisting surgeons, they must recognize and become familiar with these tools. Educational and training programs in surgical technology prepare students for careers in this field.
An endoscope is a flexible tube equipped with a light and a camera that is passed through the gastrointestinal tract by a physician. Most often used for colonoscopies, it also allows the physician to take tissue samples, stop bleeding and remove polyps non-surgically. Endoscopes are sophisticated, durable instruments that are re-used. The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy has established strict reprocessing and infection control guidelines, which has reduced the risk of infection transmission to 1 in 10 million. Statistics have shown that infection is typically due to breach of these established protocols.
Preparing yourself for a planned Caesarean section can make the difference between stressful birth experience and an enjoyable one. More than one-third of all births in the United States result in a Caesarean section, according to the Centers for Disease and Prevention. Planning ahead will prepare you both mentally and physically for the surgery, your hospital stay and the weeks ahead.
Flash sterilization -- also called steam sterilization -- is the process of sterilizing items at high temperatures for immediate use in the operating room. It is designed for special circumstances, such as when a one-of-a-kind instrument becomes contaminated and must be resterilized to use. The process has come under scrutiny for being overused, misused and possibly responsible for an increase in infection. However, it remains a fundamental element of operating room procedures.
The Evotech endoscope cleaner and reprocessor (ECR) is an automated medical device for cleaning and disinfecting clinical endoscopes. According to research conducted by Michelle Alfa and colleagues in the "BMC Infectious Diseases" journal in 2010, using the Evotech ECR was found superior to cleaning an endoscope manually. Based upon these findings, using the ECR reduces labor and time costs associated with manual cleaning. The Evotech ECR additionally reduces the chance of bacterial infections introduced to a patient by a manually cleaned endoscope.
Surgical staples are constructed from plastic or stainless steel, and are used to close wounds after injury or surgery. The staples are generally removed 10 days to two weeks after they are put in place, and must be removed by a professional. Many patients that have surgical staples complain of itching, which is completely normal. It is possible to gently stop the itching associated with surgical staples, in order to provide the patient some much needed relief.
Surgical robotics is the use of machines and robots to assist and perform surgical procedures using minimally invasive surgery, or MIS. There are several ways that robotic instruments are used in today's medical field. Some help in teleoperation, surgical assessment, biomechanics and even surgical simulation. The first surgical robotic instrument was introduced in 1983 and was used in Canada. Today, there are several robotic instruments that make surgery a safer and more precise science.
Medical problems are never convenient. People plan their busy lives never realizing that a medical condition might arise causing them to undergo surgery. Although you should always attempt to stay put and rest after any surgery, there may be situations which force you to travel--particularly if you underwent emergency surgery while away from home. Flying after surgery requires tremendous care, forethought and collaboration with your physician.
A nuclear stress test, otherwise known as myocardial perfusion imaging, is used to image the amount of blood flow that enters the heart muscle. Much like a common stress test, the patient starts at a resting heart rate and then is subjected to stress by running on a treadmill or by medication that simulates exercise. During the exercise, a radioactive substance called "tracer" is injected into the patient's bloodstream through a vein, allowing physicians to see blood flow deep into the heart muscle. Side effects are rare but do happen.
Before the 19th century, 25 percent of all pregnant women died after childbirth from a disease commonly called "child-bed fever." Now identified as a strep infection, the disease was spread from woman to woman because, at the time, doctors didn't wash their hands between patients. Today it's hard to imagine any doctor not scrubbing before attending a patient.
