| Show Number |
Air Week |
Title |
Program Description |
| SHOW #104 |
June 22, 1997 |
Parkinson's |
A pacemaker-like device is now being tested for use in helping
Parkinson's Disease patients control their symptoms. We profile a former Minnesota State
Trooper who is one of the first people to receive the implantd device, with excellent
results so far. This so-called "pallidal stimulation" is seen as a potential
adjunct to other forms of therapy, both existing and emerging. CONTACT: Parkinson's
Treatment Center, University of Minnesota, 612-626-4706, or Office of Public Relations,
University of Minnesota, Teri Charest, 612-624-4604 |
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Questionable Medical Devices |
A brief piece in which we pay a visit to the Museum of Questionable
Medical Devices in Minneapolis, curated by collector and enthusiast Bob McCoy. We will
occasionally feature McCoy showing us some of the more unusual and interesting pieces in
his renowned collection. |
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Ethnobotanical Drugs |
A California drug company is actively searching the world's rain forests
for new medicines. They work closely with traditional healers to identify the plants that
they have used effectively to treat illnesses. When a promising compound is identified,
the company then isolates the active ingredient, and subjects it to the full scope of
sophisticated testing in use in laboratories today. The company is also quite conscious of
working in harmony with native cultures, and has a mechanism in place to share profits
with inhabitants. CONTACT: Shaman Pharmaceuticals, Jacqueline Cossman, VP of Corporate
Communications, 415-952-7070, ext. 465 |
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BREAKTHROUGHS IN HISTORY: Digitalis |
A brief look back at the development of one of the most important
plant-derived medicines, digitalis, which is still in common use to treat heart
conditions. |
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Stuttering |
Scientists have used brain imaging technology to study people who
stutter, and think they may have found a neurological basis for the disorder, shattering
the myth that stuttering is a psychological condition. The same team of researchers is
also planning to attempt a new surgical procedure that they hope will actually cure
stuttering. CONTACT: Myong Covert, Public Affairs, University of Texas Health Science
Center at San Antonio, 210-567-2570 |
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| SHOW #105 |
June 29, 1997 |
Human Performance |
The Human Performance Laboratory at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis
is a high-tech facility designed to analyze human motion. The data generated is passed to
clinicians to help maximize patients' ability to walk, to evaluate the potential benefit
of surgery, and for many other purposes. The combination of electrodes, video cameras, and
computers allows researchers to precisely analyze movement in people with cerebral palsy,
spina bifida, and other diseases that affect muscular function. The lab is also used to
study the flexibility and movement of athletes and dancers. CONTACT: Washington University
School of Medicine, Joni Westerhous, Office of Medical Public Affairs, 314-286-0100 |
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BREAKTHROUGH PROFILES: Dr. Camran Nezhat |
In the 1970's, Dr. Nezhat, of the Stanford Endoscopy Clinic, was the
first to combine the laparoscope (an optical device introduced into the body through a
small incision) with the video camera. it was a major step forward in the concept of
minimally invasive surgery, and is today in common and increasing usage. CONTACT: Stanford
University Medical Center, 415-725-5371 |
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|
Blood Test Microchip |
Researchers are working on putting the capabilities of a sophisticated
blood testing laboratory into an electronic device the size of a TV remote control. This
could lead to faster, easier, and cheaper blood tests in the future, both in the doctor's
office and at home. CONTACT: Teri Charest, Office of Public Relations, University of
Minnesota, 612-624-4604 |
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EVERYDAY BREAKTHROUGHS: Home Testing |
The increasing use of home diagnostic tests has, for the most part,
proven to be a good thing for patients and doctors alike, and new more advanced home tests
are on the horizon. But no home test should be considered without a doctor's involvement,
in case of false positive or negative results. |
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Awake Brain Surgery |
Brain surgery in which the patient is awakened during the procedure has
actually been in use for quite some time, but now advanced computer brain imaging
technology has made it more precise than ever. The intent is for the awakened patient to
respond verbally to the surgeon, so that delicate areas of the brain are not damaged
during the operation. The imaging is an additional ally in the effort to ensure that
critical neural functions are not compromised within the surgical procedure. CONTACT: John
Howser, Media Director, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 615-322-4747 |
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| SHOW #106 |
July 6, 1997 |
Complementary Care |
The medical school at the University of Minnesota has recently
incorporated so-called complementary care, which evaluates and teaches medical students
about alternative therapies, into its curriculum. In fact, the school has established a
Center for the study of complementary care, in hopes of providing other medical schools,
and the traditional medical community at large, a model of how to successfully incorporate
alternative care in instruction and in practice. The methods are viewed as an adjunct to
mainstream medicine, with the intent being a more holistic approach to healing which
attends to the patient's spiritual as well as purely physical needs. CONTACT: Mary Jo
Kreitzer, Director, Center for Complementary Care, University of Minnesota, 612-625-3977
or 612-626-2356 |
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EVERYDAY BREAKTHROUGHS: Reid Sleeve |
The Reid Sleeve is a simple solution to a difficult problem. Invented by
Dr. Tony Reid of the Stanford Lymphedema Center, it's a device made from foam padding,
velcro fasteners, and a pressure guage. It's designed to help patients suffering from
lymphedema, a common but not well-known condition in which lymphatics, tiny hair-like
blood vessels, become blocked. This causes fluid to build up, and leads to swelling, pain,
and other complications. CONTACT: Stanford University Medical Center, 415-725-5376 |
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Patient Simulator |
This is the story of SAM, the Simulated Anesthesia Mannequin, who works
tirelessly at the Simulation Center at the Washington University School of Medicine in St.
Louis. SAM is used to simulate critical medical situations, so that medical students,
nurses, paramedics, and other health professionals can hone their decision-making skills
in a wide variety of demanding, split-second scenarios. CONTACT: Joni Westerhouse, Office
of Medical Public Affairs, Washington University School of Medicine, 314-286-0100 |
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BREAKTHROUGHS IN HISTORY: Pacemaker |
Development of the pacemaker began in the 1950's. With the advent of
transistor technology, the first wearable pacemaker was fashioned by a young engineer
working in his garage. Later, the company he co-founded produced some of the earliest
implantable pacemakers. Today, of course, millions of people worldwide rely on these
devices to regulate the rhythms of their hearts. CONTACT: Medtronics (manufacturer)
612-574-3052 or Montefiore Hospital 718-405-4401 |
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Vocare |
For people with spinal cord injuries, one of the most vexing problems is
dealing with the loss of bladder and bowel control. But although the nerves and muscles
controlling those functions have been cut off from the brain, they remain in place and
potentially functional. Now, the Vocare Bladder System, originally developed in Europe, is
restoring bladder function, and in some cases, bowel control and penile erection in men.
It does so through the use of a surgically implanted electronic device which can be
controlled by the user with an external transmitter. The electrical signal prompts the
bladder and bowels to empty their contents. CONTACT: NeuroControl, Susan Krebs, Media
Relations, 216-231-68121 |
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