Category Health & Medical

How did Wilson Greatbatch invented the pacemaker?

Quite by accident, American engineer Wilson Greatbatch invented the implantable cardiac pacemaker in the year 1958. Read on to know how….

An artificial pacemaker is a small battery-operated electronic device that’s placed under the skin in the chest to help control the heartbeat. The first successful implantable pacemaker was invented in 1958 by an American electrical engineer, Wilson Greatbatch. He was making a heart rhythm recorder when, by mistake, he added a wrong electronic component. He was shocked when the device, instead of simply recording the sound of the heartbeat, produced electronic pulses quite similar to the sounds made by a healthy heart.

It struck him then that the device could make an unhealthy heart beat in rhythm by delivering electrical pulses to make the heart muscles contract and pump blood. For two years he worked on modifying the device. He miniaturised it, coated it with a kind of resin to prevent it from getting damaged by body fluids, and powered it with a mercury-zinc battery.

Greatbatch discussed his invention with surgeon William Chardack, whom he met in a chance encounter. In 1960, the Chardack-Greatbatch pacemaker was implanted in an elderly man with an irregular heartbeat. The patient’s life was extended by 18 months.

Pacemakers today are about the size of a bullet. They are encased in titanium and keep the heart ticking with regular beats through computer-guided electrical pulses. They are inserted through the leg up into the right ventricle. Their batteries can last from 5 to 15 years.

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Did our personalities change during the pandemic?

Population-wide stressful events can alter the trajectory of personality, especially in young adults.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected the entire world. Most of us now alive had never experienced anything like it before it happened, and probably might not experience anything like it ever again either. Every aspect of life as we knew it changed. And that might include a part of ourselves too, according to a recent study.

Even as most of the world continues to bounce back to some level of normalcy, this research, whose results were published in the open-access journal PLOS ONE in September, seems to suggest that the pandemic might have even changed our personalities. The study conducted by researchers at the Florida State University College of Medicine states that the pandemic may have altered the trajectory of personality, especially in young adults.

Impact of stressful events

There is a long-standing hypothesis that states that personality traits are impervious to environmental pressures. Previous studies have shown that there no associations between collective stressful events such as earthquakes and hurricanes, and personality change. The researchers of this study set out to find out how it was with the COVID-19 pandemic.

For this, they used longitudinal assessments of personality from over 7,000 people enrolled in the online Understanding America Study. While the age group of the participants ranged up to 109, nearly 60% of the participants were female.

Five traits compared

The researchers compared five-factor model personality traits between pre-pandemic measurements (May 2014- February 2020) and those taken early (March- December 2020) and later (2021-22) in the pandemic. The five traits included neuroticism (trait disposition to experience negative effects such as anger, anxiety, irritability, etc.), extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. Over 18,000 assessments were analysed. While there were relatively few changes between the pre-pandemic and early pandemic traits, there was a marked difference in the measurements. The researchers noticed declines in extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness that were statistically equivalent to a decade of personality change.

When the results were moderated by age, it was clear that the oldest group showed no statistically significant changes in traits, while the youngest were most affected. The researchers conclude that if these changes endure, then it implies that population-wide stressful events can alter the trajectory of personality, especially in young adults.
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What is the history of anesthesia?

Anaesthesia is given to a patient before a surgery so that he does not feel pain during the procedure. A look at the doctors who pioneered modern anaesthesia.

The word ‘anaesthesia’ means ‘without sensation. It comes from the Greek words an meaning without and aisthesis, meaning ‘sensation’. Anaesthesia is given to a patient before a surgery so that he does not feel pain.

Anaesthesia has been used in surgeries since ancient times. Around 600 BCE, Sushruta, known as the founding father of surgery’, used cannabis vapours to sedate patients for surgery. For a long time, physicians made use of hypnotherapy, opium, alcohol, etc., but they were not totally effective and had side effects.

On October 16, 1846 (observed today as Ether Day), William T.G. Morton, a dentist and John Collins Warren, a surgeon, made history with their first public demonstration of modern anaesthesia at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, United States. The patient, Glenn Abott, had a tumour on his neck. Morton made him inhale ether vapour until he was suitably sedated, and Warren removed the tumour.  Abott did not feel any pain. Morton called his creation Letheon after the Lethe River in Greek mythology, as its water is believed to erase ‘painful memories.

The anaesthesia used today is a mixture of various derivatives of ether and inhalable gases such as nitrous oxide (laughing gas). It is administered by skilled anaesthesiologists through machines that measure the specific amount necessary to keep the patient unconscious during the surgery.

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What is the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in India and various populations?

Are you aware that vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in epidemic proportions all over the Indian subcontinent, including India? Estimates suggest that over 70% of the general population, both in urban and rural settings, and across socio-economic and geographic strata, have this deficiency. This, despite the fact that most of our country receives bountiful sunlight throughout the year, and our bodies possess the capability to create vitamin D from direct sunlight on the skin when outdoors.

The reason, obviously, is the more sedate lifestyle that most of us are now used to. Vitamin D deficiency isn’t the only problem, as obesity too is getting bigger in India, with estimates suggesting that one out of every four people might now be overweight.

In a more connected world, we are more addicted to our devices than ever before. While these gadgets do make a lot of things easy and provide wholesome entertainment, they are also eating into all our leisure, making most of us couch potatoes. What’s more, plenty of services that are now available to us on our smartphones get almost everything delivered to us on the doorsteps, making even those minor social excursions to go out and buy something unnecessary.

It is important to incorporate some form of digital minimalism into your lifestyle. By having a philosophy with which you operate on the digital landscape, you will be surprised by the amount of time you can create and peace of mind that you are able to enjoy.

Once you create some time for yourself, it would be good spending it on some form of exercise. Even though most of us do not end up becoming elite athletes, it shouldn’t stop us from incorporating some of those best practices in our daily lives. Simple activities like walking, jogging, running, and cycling, too, come with a lot of benefits.

You can even bring in activities into your everyday commute. You can walk to your destinations if they are less than a couple of kilometres away. You can cycle around, always being mindful of vehicular traffic, even if you are going 5-10 km. You can even walk to the nearest bus stop and travel by public transport for longer distances. By doing these, you are not only leading a more active lifestyle, but you will also be reducing your carbon footprint, making for a greener planet.

The benefits of having a more active lifestyle are not limited to physical well-being. Research suggests that being physically active on a continuous basis also helps the emotional well-being of most individuals.

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Did you know the first antibiotic penicillin was discovered by accident?

Penicillin was discovered by chance by British scientist Alexander Fleming in 1929. Fleming was growing colonies of staphylococcus bacteria, the cause of a number of diseases from boils to pneumonia, in culture plates in his laboratory. One of the plates had not been covered and airborne spores settled in it and formed a mould. Fleming was about to throw away the contents when he noticed that the mould had destroyed the bacteria in the area around it.

He realised that the mould was producing a substance that was lethal to the bacteria. He also realised that the substance could be used to cure diseases caused by the bacteria. As the mould was called Penicillium notatum, he named the unknown substance ‘penicillin’. Ten years later in 1940, Howard Florey and E. B. Chaim managed to isolate penicillin in the laboratory and showed that it could be safely administered by mouth, by injection or applied directly to wounds.

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Is diabetes on the rise in children? What are the types of diabetes, risk factors for the disease, prevention and diet.

With the incidence of diabetes in children on the rise, let’s take a look at the types of diabetes, risk factors for the disease, prevention and diet.

India is already known as the world’s capital of diabetes with its vast adult population having diabetes. And it’s not a disease that just affects adult population. The incidence of diabetes in children is steeply on the rise with an increase of 3-5% per year.

Types of diabetes in children

“Type 1 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes and can affect children as young as 1 year of age. Childhood diabetes is on the rise with a worldwide estimate of 1 lakh children under 15 years likely to develop type 1diabetes. It develops due to a process called autoimmunity leading to permanent destruction of beta cells of the pancreas resulting in little or no insulin production. This gives rise to high blood sugar levels resulting in multiple short- and long-term damage to organs if untreated,” says Dr. Namratha Upadhya, Pediatrician, Pediatric Endocrinologist, Aster RV Hospital, Bangalore.

Type 2 diabetes which was once regarded as a disease of adults is increasingly seen in children now, and result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Children born with low birth weight and who grow rapidly during childhood can be at increased risk. Lifestyle factors such as excessive consumption of high-fat and calorie-rich foods, pre-packaged, refined and processed foods, coupled with minimal physical activity, and increased amount of screen time lead to children becoming overweight and obese. This puts them at a higher risk of developing type 2diabetes over time. Studies have shown that early onset of type 2 diabetes in children tends to be severe and progress faster than in adults, she says. There are other rare forms of diabetes which may occur due to genetic defects in insulin production or action, and diabetes occurring in children with certain chronic diseases and taking medications for some other illness.

Drinking water

Symptoms of diabetes in children “The presence of high blood sugar indicates diabetes. More common symptoms include excessive urination, excessive thirst, and getting up multiple times to urinate in the night. Children who have been toilet trained may suddenly start bed wetting. Parents may note excessive tiredness, weakness and unintentional weight loss in their children,” says Dr (Mrs.) Sumeet Arora, Consultant Pediatric and Adolescent Endocrinologist, Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon. Early identification of these symptoms helps with timely diagnosis of diabetes preventing severe complications, sickness and the need for an intensive care unit admission.

What parents can do

“It is necessary to get your child’s blood sugars checked if you feel your child might have any of the symptoms of diabetes. Children with type 1 diabetes, once started on treatment, might temporarily go into a phase of low insulin requirement which is referred to as ‘honeymoon’ phase and some might mistake this phase to be a cure for diabetes. Omitting insulin without supervision by your doctor might lead to a serious consequence in the child,” says Dr. Namratha. Hence it is necessary to get your child evaluated by a professional who can guide appropriately. “Parents need to inform school authorities by giving contact numbers of children’s doctor and guardian,” says Dr. Sobhana. Children with diabetes can lead a normal life with professional and family support. As parents, the best gift they can give to their child is by being role models themselves and lead by example, especially in adopting healthy eating practices, keeping oneself physically active and get your child checked if you feel your child is having symptoms of diabetes and also get your child screened for obesity.

Prevention/risk factors

 “There is no known prevention for type 1diabetes. It is an auto immune condition in which our immune system gets hyper activated for unknown reasons and destroy the insulin-producing cells. At present there are no established ways to prevent type 1 diabetes that can be used for children. However, research studies are ongoing towards finding medications to help prevent or delay onset of type 1 diabetes,” says Dr Sumeet Arora Having a parent or sibling with type 1 diabetes puts an individual at a higher risk for developing type 1 diabetes.

 

Type 2 diabetes is a lifestyle-related disorder, where the body’s insulin is unable to work properly causing a state of insulin resistance. Being overweight poor lifestyle and having family members with type 2 diabetes, put an individual at risk for this condition. A healthy lifestyle is essential to prevent type 2 diabetes,” says Dr. R. Sobhana, Consultant Diabetologist Women Center by Motherhood Hospital. Coimbatore. With this condition on the rise in children, it becomes increasingly important to identify those at risk at an early stage, she adds. There are body mass index charts that can be used by paediatricians to determine if the children are at an overweight or obese stage. Strategies to target a normal BMI include dietary modifications and moderate to vigorous physical activity every day.

Diet

Keeping the intake of high calorie/ high sugar and processed food and sugary drinks to a minimum, adopting healthy eating practices, eating a rainbow every day (meaning consuming at least 5 different types of whole fruits and vegetables of different colours a day), consuming whole over refined foods, avoiding screen time during meals and engaging in any form of physical exercise for at least 30 minutes a day will help prevent diabetes in children..

Treatment

“Type 1 diabetes requires basal bolus insulin therapy via multiple daily dose injections or continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion via insulin pumps,” says Dr. Sobhana. There has been significant advancement in insulin pumps that along with continuous glucose monitoring sensor are able to maintain near normal blood sugars with little intervention from the user. “Type 2 Diabetes can be effectively managed with dietary and lifestyle modifications along with metformin, GLPI receptor analogues and newer pharmacotherapeutic agents,” says Dr. Sumeet Arora.

QUICK FACTS

  • Childhood diabetes is on the rise with a worldwide estimate of 1 lakh children under 15 years of age likely to develop type 1diabetes.
  • Early identification of symptoms helps with timely diagnosis, preventing severe complications, sickness and the need for a hospital admission.
  • There is no known prevention for type 1 diabetes, which is an auto immune condition.
  • A healthy lifestyle is essential to prevent type 2 diabetes.

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