10.16.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 1:01 am by Pit
CosmeticSurgeryGuru Interprets Some Disturbing Findings from the Annual Meeting of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons
Over 25% of surgeons have noted customers of plastic surgery holidays experiencing problems. One BAAPS surgeon reported one problem case per month over 18 month period. 97% of public polled would consider plastic surgery abroad 90% of plastic surgery websites surveyed make no mention of possible risks involved. Calls for NHS to ignore those suffering problems following plastic surgery holidays.
Manchester, UK (PRWEB) October 12, 2009 -- Net thrown wide with three extensive surveys.
CosmeticSurgeryGuru's (http://www.cosmeticsurgeryguru.com) analysis of the BAAPS (http://www.baaps.org.uk) EASAPS (http://www.easaps.org/) findings deemed them sound, with three surveys having been undertaken.
Startling rise in problems relating to plastic surgery holidays.
The first survey requested BAAPS members and practicing surgeons to monitor their patients over a period of 18 months. CosmeticSurgeryGuru found the results staggering.
More than a quarter (26%) of surgeons noted an increase in the amount of patients that have experienced problems on return from so-called plastic surgery 'holidays'.
One BAAPS member saw 16 problem cases resulting from cosmetic surgery tourism in an 18 month period.
Public survey serves up equally unsettling stats.
CosmeticSurgeryGuru found yet more to bemoan in a public survey undertaken by BAAPS in a city centre of 179 randomly selected pedestrians.
Nearly half of those polled (46%) had considered undergoing plastic surgery, 97% of whom said they would consider having the treatment abroad
Of the 10 subjects who had already undergone procedures outside the UK, seven had experienced problems.
Economic downturn driving patients abroad
CosmeticSurgeryGuru points to comments made by Nigel Mercer consultant plastic surgeon and President of the BAAPS and of EASAPS, who lamented the decision by ill informed UK patients to seek surgery abroad.
"It is a serious concern that despite the economic downturn...the public is swayed by the promise of cheap surgery. I find it appalling that most of these companies do not even mention risks, nor do they appear to have in place any mechanism if complications do arise," he said.
This is in stark contrast to the policy of popular UK plastic surgery firm Transform (http://www.transforminglives.co.uk), which provides and after care service free of charge up to three years after surgery and lists all possible risks of surgery on its website, www.transforminglives.co.uk.
NHS seen as a safety net, but coverage is not guaranteed
CosmeticSurgeryGuru reports that 78% of those polled said they would use the NHS in the event of complications, citing better quality of care, the fact that the NHS is free, and their entitlement as taxpayers.
Yet moves are afoot to have patients of plastic surgery holidays who experience problems denied NHS services.
There are calls for the NHS not to pick up the tab when problems result from cosmetic surgery 'holidays' so it's essential that the public be educated about the options and risks," said Mercer.
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Stemedica Completes Meeting with the FDA
Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc. announced that it completed its pre-IND meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding a proposed IND (Investigative New Drug) to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Stemedica's high potency proprietary allogeneic mesenchymal bone marrow-derived stem cells (adult human) as a treatment for ischemic stroke. Based on a meeting October 13, 2009 with the FDA, Stemedica is planning to file an IND application in the first quarter of 2010.
San Diego, CA (PRWEB) October 15, 2009 -- Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc. (Stemedica (http://www.Stemedica.com)), a world leader in stem cell research and manufacturing, announced that it completed its pre-IND meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding a proposed IND (Investigative New Drug) to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Stemedica's high potency proprietary allogeneic mesenchymal bone marrow-derived stem cells (adult human) as a treatment for ischemic stroke. Based on a meeting October 13, 2009 with the FDA, Stemedica is planning to file an IND application in the first quarter of 2010.
The proposed clinical trial will be a Phase I/II dose escalation and safety clinical trial using allogeneic mesenchymal bone marrow cells administered intravenously to patients with ischemic stroke. The patient population will include individuals with a clinical diagnosis of chronic neurological or age-related neurodegenerative disease with significant functional or neurologic impairment that confines the subject to a wheelchair or requires the subject to have home nursing care or assistance with the general activities of daily living. The proposed trial will take place at medical centers within the United States.
"This is an important milestone for Stemedica," said Nikolai Tankovich, MD, PhD, Stemedica's President and Chief Medical Officer. "In addition to the official licensing of our manufacturing facility in San Diego, California, we can now establish our own clinical trial pathways for our various products. Stemedica's goal is to receive regulatory approvals for the clinical application of all of its products."
"With constructive feedback from the FDA we can work on fine-tuning the proposed treatment protocol and advance our proposed clinical trial to targeted medical facilities for full consideration," said Michael Levy, MD, PhD. Dr. Levy is the Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Rady Children's Hospital of San Diego, Professor of Surgery, UCSD School of Medicine and the Principal Investigator for the proposed clinical trial.
Stemedica was granted its license by the State of California's Department of Public Health, Food and Drug Branch to manufacture stem cells for clinical trials in July, 2009. The Drug Manufacturing License grants Stemedica the right to manufacture clinical-grade (for human use) drug or biologic products and recognizes Stemedica as being compliant with California law and the applicable provisions of the Code of Federal Regulations.
About Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc.
Stemedica Cell Technologies Inc. (www.stemedica.com (http://www.Stemedica.com)) is a specialty biopharmaceutical company that is committed to the development and manufacturing of best-in-class adult stem cells and stem cell factors for use by approved research institutions and hospitals for pre-clinical and human clinical trials. The company is currently developing regulatory pathways for stroke and wound repair. Stemedica is headquartered in San Diego, California.
For more information regarding Stemedica Cell Technologies, Inc. contact Dave McGuigan at dmcguigan at stemedica.com.
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New NeoGraft Hair Restoration Now Available in Orange County, California
OC NeoGraft is Orange County's first dedicated Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) hair restoration office using NeoGraft™. Automated FUE hair restoration is the newest state of the art surgical procedure that does not require scalpels, sutures, staples, and leaves no scars on the back of the scalp like the current popular Strip technique. OC NeoGraft brings to Orange County and Southern California, a fully equipped and trained medical staff and surgical office dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of hair loss in men and women.
Orange County, CA (PRWEB) October 15, 2009 - Hair restoration (http://orangecountyneograft.org/) specialists, OC NeoGraft©, http://www.ocneograft.org, announces it is the first office in Orange County, California, dedicated to the new Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) hair restoration technique using NeoGraft™. The state-of-the-art technique is much less invasive than the popular Strip procedure, does not require scalpels, sutures, or staples, and has a much quicker recovery time. Most importantly, the result produces a natural hairline that lasts a lifetime.
"There are centers that still perform the unnatural-looking plug procedures that have stigmatized hair restoration surgery," says Dr. Ken Williams of OC NeoGraft© Hair Restoration and Microsurgical Center. "As hair restoration technologies adapt to changing science and technologies, OC NeoGraft's automated FUE hair restoration technique leads the industry by refining the art of hair restoration."
Among the benefits of the FUE hair restoration technique using NeoGraft:
• Decreased operating table time vs. manual FUE procedures
• Shorter post operative time and recovery than the Strip method
• No scalpel, suture, or staples
• No surgical removal of a strip of scalp
• Least invasive procedure for hair restoration
• Much less painful procedure than Strip method
• No elongated scars so hair can be worn short
• Fewer complications than Strip method
• Optimal procedure for tight scalps
• Minimal risk of pain from damaged nerves
• Minimal risk of bleeding
• Minimal risk of damage to occipital or temporal blood vessels
• Increase hair grafts transplanted compared to manual FUE
• Best procedure to have performed when short hair style is desired
• Best procedure when donor site is limited for single procedure
OC NeoGraft Hair Restoration and Microsurgical Center (http://orangecountyneograft.org/) is distinguished from other offices because it is a patient centered, solo practitioner hair restoration center and not a national hair restoration chain. Its surgeon, Dr. Ken Williams, practices medicine and surgery full time at the facility. He does not travel to other offices or states to perform surgery. So when patients need their physician, he is available to take care of their needs 24/7.
OC NeoGraft Hair Restoration Center limits the number of surgical cases per day to a single procedure. According to Dr. Williams, unlike large volume hair surgical centers where multiple procedures are performed in a day by technicians, OC NeoGraft performs only single surgical procedures because "automated FUE with NeoGraft is a technically intensive procedure that requires a surgeon's entire focus."
"We pride ourselves on relationships and therefore we spend more time with all patients," says Dr. Williams. "There are no sales people or marketers at our offices. Patient safety and education is of primary concern to our staff. OC NeoGraft will never be a hair transplant mill. Our office practices to the highest standards of medical care and we counsel our patients on what is in their best interests."
Automated FUE with NeoGraft is performed under local anesthesia in OC NeoGraft's modern surgical office environment. Patients are awake and conscious for the entire procedure unless oral medications and light sedation is requested to lessen the anxiety of this office based procedure. OC NeoGraft's surgical staff routinely transplants 2000 FUE grafts per session.
About Dr. Ken Williams' surgical team and philosophy
The surgical team at OC NeoGraft has a combined total of 16 years experience in the hair restoration specialty. Ken L. Williams, Jr., D.O. is a board certified primary care physician and surgeon practicing medicine and surgery in Orange County since 1986. He is a member of the International Society of Hair Restoration and the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery.
Numerous individuals are involved in the hair transplantation surgery. Outside of the surgeon's skill and expertise, the surgical technicians play an instrumental role in the final outcome of hair restoration surgery. "At OC NeoGraft we are proud of our surgical team and the high degree of surgical care and expertise we provide," says Dr. Williams. "Our surgical team has performed approximately 100,000 FUE grafts with NeoGraft."
Travel to OC NeoGraft's office is easily accessible by the John Wayne, Long Beach, or Los Angeles International airports. The office is conveniently located near Disneyland and the Newport Coast.
For more information about automated FUE with NeoGraft, visit Dr. Williams at http://www.ocneograft.org.
Contact:
Dr. Ken Williams
OC NeoGraft Hair Restoration Center
714-972-8001
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Ground-Breaking Infant Heart Transplant Performed at Loma Linda University Medical Center Marks 25-Year Milestone
Monday, October 26, marks the 25-year anniversary of the first neonatal cross-species heart transplant in history. Dr. Leonard Bailey and a team of doctors at Loma Linda University Medical Center transplanted the heart of a baboon into an infant, born with uniformly lethal heart disease and known to the world as “Baby Fae”, on October 26, 1984.
Loma Linda, CA. (Vocus) – Monday, October 26, marks the 25-year anniversary of the first neonatal cross-species heart transplant in history. Dr. Leonard Bailey and a team of doctors at Loma Linda University Medical Center transplanted the heart of a baboon into an infant, born with uniformly lethal heart disease and known to the world as “Baby Fae”, on October 26, 1984. Though she only lived 20 days following the operation, her legacy has extended the life of thousands of babies worldwide who would otherwise have died for lack of a functional heart.
“Much of what we learned from ‘Baby Fae’s’ operation we were able to apply to the first successful infant-to-infant heart transplant just over a year later in November 1985,” says Dr. Bailey, surgeon-in-chief at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital (LLUCH). “’Baby Moses’ is now nearly 24-years-old and doing quite well.”
Since “Baby Fae’s” transplant in 1984, surgeons at LLUCH have performed heart transplants on 312 infants, meaning those 1-year-old and younger. LLUCH’s 500th pediatric heart transplant was performed just this year on July 8.
“The ground-breaking work performed by Dr. Bailey and his team paved the way for the valuable knowledge we now have about infant heart transplantation,” says Zareh Sarrafian, the administrator of LLUCH. “’Baby Fae’s’ legacy lives on today in the thousands of children who enjoy productive lives throughout the world.”
As for what the next 25 years hold in infant heart transplantation, Dr. Bailey says there will be more artificial heart devices and, hopefully, more donors. “Three states have tried, but thus far failed to establish a law that will allow babies who are born without a brain to become donors. There is still potential for cross species transplantation again.”
Click here (http://lomalindahealth.org/medical-center/about-us/news-and-events/news/infant-heart.html) for pictures of “Baby Fae” and her surgery. Additionally, various events will be held throughout the year to mark the 25th anniversary, including the first public appearance from the mother of “Baby Fae” on October 31 as part of the centennial celebration of LLU School of Medicine. The Children’s Hospital Foundation Annual Gala, “Got Heart”, will feature some of the heart transplant patients on February 27, 2010. Also, tune into NBC Nightly News tonight for a look back on this historic surgery.
About Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital (http://lomalindahealth.org/childrens-hospital/) - LLUCH
The Children’s Hospital is the only dedicated children’s hospital in the vast geographic region of the San Bernardino, Riverside, Inyo and Mono counties. With 277 beds dedicated just for kids, one of the largest Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) in the country, and more than 100,000 children that come each year, LLUCH is a major pediatric teaching facility for Loma Linda University and is part of the Loma Linda University health care system. Known worldwide as the pioneer of neonatal heart transplantation, LLUCH has performed more infant heart transplants than any other center of its kind.
CONTACT:
Katie Ellis
Media Relations Specialist
Phone: 909-558-3747
E-mail: kaellis at llu dot edu
Herbert Atienza
Media Relations Specialist
Phone: 909-558-3457
E-mail: hatienza at llu dot edu
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Healthcare Reform Activist Dr. Lee Vliet Speaks Out on Healthcare Reform
Dr. Lee Vliet Speaks Out on Healthcare Reform to Millions at Tea Parties, Rallies, on TV, Radio and in Print
(Vocus) October 15, 2009 -- Elizabeth Lee Vliet, M.D. (www.herplace.com), a women's health specialist and healthcare reform activist, believes that the healthcare proposals have become a massive power grab to control the citizen's money, health options, businesses, liberty, and ultimately, citizen's lives. "It is not about insuring the poor," Dr. Vliet says. "Medicaid already covers the poor. What the Democratic majority is doing to healthcare in this country is a crime. Punishment won't fall on Congress and the President, who are excluded from the healthcare proposals. Punishment falls on the American people, especially the elderly."
Dr Vliet continues, "For Senator Majority Leader Reid, the plan appears to be to merge the two Senate bills that have passed out of committee, and attach them as an amendment to a House TARP bill, already passed by the House but curiously gathering dust in the Senate. Once the Senate votes on this 'TARP' bill with the healthcare amendment tucked neatly inside, the healthcare punishment is a "done deal" without further debate. Such an abuse of power and due process would be an unforgivable crime against the American people, perpetrated by the very people elected to represent us."
Elizabeth Lee Vliet, M.D. is a women's health specialist who received her M.D. degree and internship in Internal Medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School, then completed specialty training at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She received B.S. and M.Ed. degrees from The College of William and Mary in Virginia. Dr. Vliet is the 2007 recipient of The Voice of Women award from the Arizona Foundation for Women in recognition of her pioneering advocacy for the overlooked hormone connections in women's health. Dr. Vliet's books include: It's My Ovaries, Stupid!; Screaming To Be Heard: Hormonal Connections Women Suspect-- And Doctors STILL Ignore; Women, Weight and Hormones; The Savvy Woman's Guide to PCOS. Dr. Vliet is a seasoned expert commentator and a passionate fighter against government takeover of health care in the proposed Health Care "Reform" that seeks to eliminate or penalize private options. Dr. Vliet's educational medical website is www.herplace.com. Doctor Vliet has been speaking to the healthcare reform issue on many National TV and Cable Networks, including shows such as Stuart Varney, Neil Cavuto, Fox & Friends, as well as, many major syndicated radio shows. For more information on healthcare reform, Dr. Vliet suggests two patient advocate Web sites on healthcare: www.JoinPatientsFirst.com, www.PatientsUnitedNow.com, or the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons at www.aapsonline.org.
Contact:
Rose Henning
520-797-9131 (MST)
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