This breaking news story from the Reuters News Agency *****Scientists have found that a gene linked to diabetes and cholesterol is a “master switch” that controls other genes found in fat in the body, and say it should help in the search for treatments for obesity-related diseases.In a study published in the journal Nature Genetics, the […]
When the FDA approved silicone gel breast implants for general use in breast augmentation a few years ago, one of their recommendations was to have the patients get follow-up MRI’s of the breast….”just in case” of an asymptomatic implant leak. While there is not very much good science to support this decision, especially in the first 5-7 […]
According to Reuters news service, an FDA advisory panel today recommended that the popular wrinkle-filler Restylane can be officially used to plump up and shape thin lips. The injectable gel has been approved for years- but only for facial wrinkles and laugh lines. It is, as we know, widely used “off-label” to fill out lips and give them more […]
Healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson and orthopedic specialty device maker Syntheshave agreed to a merger deal, worth $21.3 billion (USD) Synthes, Inc., founded in Switzerland, has long been a leader in the fields of orthopedic trauma and craniofacial surgery. They manufacture specialized bone-holding plates, screws and OR equipment, and have always been very active in clinical education efforts. […]
It’s nearly time for the annual Aesthetic Society meeting! This year, it’s being held in Boston, which is familiar ground to me! Plastic Surgeons from around the world will be there, discussing all the latest trends, hot topics, and new innovative devices and procedures. It’s the biggest meeting of the year for aesthetic plastic surgeons. […]
Linda Lu, a 21-year-old Valencia College student, received the Southeast’s first hand transplant March 12th at Emory University, in Atlanta. The operation was detailed in a press conference earlier this week. She lost her left hand at age 1 due to Kawasaki disease, a vascular condition that can restrict blood flow to extremities, resulting in […]
On friday, the FDA approved a new drug, called Yervoy, that should help some people with very advanced cases of melanoma. The drug works in an interesting way – by revving up the body’s own immune system to fight the melanoma tumors. When melanomas are detected early – as a mole “gone bad” – they can […]
As reported in detail on CNN.com, the first whole face transplant in the U.S. was successfully performed at Boston’s Brigham & Women’s Hospital last week. The transplant recipient, a 28 year-old Texan named Dallas Wiens, had suffered devastating full facial burns following a high-voltage electrical accident in 2008. This left him blind and with a badly […]
Sometimes, fantastic discoveries happen by chance. Take, for example, the discover of penicillin by Alexander Fleming. He left some dirty petri dishes by an open window when he left the lab for the weekend… but was observant enough to notice some surprising changes when he got back to work, which led to the discovery of […]
According to an article on the BBC news page, scientists at the UK’s Institute of Cancer Research have made a significant breakthrough: they have prevented breast cancer from spreading to other organs in mice by blocking a particular enzyme, called LOXL2. The enzyme, also known as lysyl oxidase, seems to be important in the early stages of cancer spread. It helps […]
