For those interested we are starting a Kickstarter fund raiser. We have developed a seat for a standard walker that will enable disabled veterans and the elderly to sit when in a long transit. Please help us. See link below. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/361623781/48348145?token=d7669104

Surgeons reconstruct baby’s skull with 3D printing technology By Loren Grush

Surgeons reconstruct baby’s skull with 3D printing technology By Loren Grush Published February 21, 2014 FoxNews.com When baby Gabriel was born in August, his dad, Manuel Dela Cruz, said everything initially seemed fine with his new son. It wasn’t until a week after his birth that Gabriel’s parents thought their son’s forehead looked abnormal. “We noticed something was wrong with him,” Dela Cruz, of East Quogue, N.Y., told FoxNews.com. “His eye wasn’t the same, and his right forehead was more protruded than the other one.” Worried for their son’s health, the new parents took Gabriel to a pediatrician, who diagnosed the newborn with unilateral coronal synostosis – also known as anterior plagiocephaly. For babies with this condition, a growth plate fuses prematurely on one side of the skull, causing the forehead to become more and more distorted and form asymmetrically. Although the side effects of plagiocephaly are mostly cosmetic, the deformity can grow significantly worse if left untreated – leading many parents to opt for reconstructive surgery. Knowing what needed to be done, Dela Cruz said it was frightening to have their son undergo an operation at such a young age. “You obviously fear the worse, especially because it was in the head,” Dela Cruz said. “Knowing he was going to be opened up…it was very scary on the part of the parent.” In order to treat Gabriel, physicians at Stony Brook University decided to try a completely new kind of operation – one that would cut down on the time the infant spent in the operating room. Through a collaboration with Medical Modeling Inc. in Golden, Colo., Dr. Michael Egnor and Dr. Elliot Duboys were able to virtually plan the entire surgery beforehand. Additionally, the company created 3D printed before-and-after models of Gabriel’s skull for the surgeons, so they could accurately predict how the operation’s results would look. “The first thing we do, after we make a diagnosis, is a CT scan of the baby’s head… and we sent the CT image to [Medical Modeling],” Egnor, director of pediatric neurosurgery at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, told FoxNews.com. “Using a computer program, they simulated the baby’s skull with the symmetry and dimensions it should have. Then the company manufactured these templates and sent them to us, so we had the exact measurements.” Knowing exactly how the skull should look after the procedure, 6-month-old Gabriel was brought in for surgery and placed him under anesthesia. In order to get to the deformed bone, the surgeons made an incision across the top of Gabriel’s forehead, exposing the entire front of the skull and eye sockets. Through the use of a special saw, the surgeons removed four pieces of deformed bone and made special cuts in the skull to help reshape and restructure the baby’s head. In an attempt to make the remodeling more precise, Egnor and Duboys utilized the 3D printed templates provided by Medical Modeling, which helped to highlight where the surgeons needed to make their incisions. “They sent us cutting templates, which were pieces of 3D modeling that we were able to place on the child’s skull during surgery,” Duboys, associate professor of surgery at Stony Brook Medicine, told FoxNews.com. “And then we just traced where the cuts should be on the skull, almost like a stencil… And then we know where to cut.” Both Egnor and Duboys said the 3D modeling technology helped to cut down on the length of the procedure, which meant Gabriel spent far less time under anesthesia than during traditional surgery. They hope more surgeons will utilize this 3D imaging and modeling to perform reconstructive surgeries in the future. “I think it’s going to become, over time, acknowledged as the best way to do procedures of this nature,” Egnor said. “I was hopeful that this would work nicely, and it made a believer out of me.” As for Gabriel, Dela Cruz said his son will still need to wear a helmet to reshape his forehead. But overall, he responded extremely well to the surgery and his forehead is not as protruded as it once was. “There are no side effects, and he’s a normal baby,” Dela Cruz said. “…Gabriel responded very good to the procedure, and three or four days after, he was joking and playing. It was great seeing him that way.”

Common Home Contaminants

There are many common products found in homes that have HUGE environmental footprints. While you probably avoid toxins in your cleaning supplies or have ditched plastic water bottles, there are still hundreds of things in your home that could be harming the environment. According to the Silent Spring Institute, levels of toxic chemicals are between 200 and 500 higher indoors than out. Yikes! So who invited all of these harmful pollutants into your house? Chances are they steaked in on any number of common household items. In an effort to make our homes healthy for our families and for the environment, there are a few items you should look out for when decorating your home. While you see the effects of poor indoor air quality through more colds and stuffy noses, there are other hidden environmental impacts associated with household products. Check out this list for a few products you should look out for when shopping for your own home (or redecorating your current one). A smart house starts with a smart homeowner! 1. Flooring The problem In October 2013, a report from the Environmental Investigation Agency found that the U.S. flooring giant, Lumber Liquidators, had purchased illegally logged wood. The high demand for flooring products across the world has long fueled corrupt logging practices that contribute to mass deforestation. In the Russian Far East, illegal logging has caused large-scale deforestation, associated with increased carbon emissions and the destruction of critically endangered tiger habitats. According to the Environmental Investigation Agency’s report, Lumber Liquidators is one among many companies across the U.S, the European Union, Japan, and China that supports illegal timber exports. Nearly 80 percent of all timber exported our of the Russian Far East is done so illegally. Fortunately, there are strict legal guidelines in the U.S. to prevent the trade and sale of illegally sourced wood. In the U.S, for example, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative works to promote legal and sustainable forest management across the world. The World Wildlife Fund has also created the Global Forest and Trade Network (GFTN) which links companies with environmentally responsible forest products. GFTN works to responsibly manage forests used for wood and paper products What you can do Buy flooring that is certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. You can find a list of certified companies on the SFI website. Avoid tropical woods like”Brazilian Walnut” or ”African Teak” when shopping for flooring. Look for reclaimed wood, bamboo, or cork flooring. 2. Furniture The problem Ever noticed the chemical/plastic smell new couches and chairs have? That distinct smell is actually the off gassing of thousands of chemicals that were used to product that piece of furniture. Among the chemicals being released into your indoor air are VOCs, formaldehyde and other carcinogens. These pollutants can seep into your air for weeks and remain in indoor air for longer depending on how effective your ventilation system is. Paints, wood stains, and furniture glues have been known to contain off gassing carcinogens that can cause respiratory irritation, headaches, and even cancer. These chemicals are especially dangerous to children and pets who have a lower tolerance. When VOCs off gas into the atmosphere they contribute to smog production. Like flooring, some furniture is made with illegally logged wood. This not only contributes to deforestation, but also increased carbon emissions as illegally harvested lumber is shipped long distances to reach U.S. markets. What you can do Look for furniture made from recycled metal or plastic instead of wood. These materials require less processing to convert into new pieces and help save old furniture from the landfill. Go for reclaimed wood furniture that is finished with non-toxic wood stains and varnishes. Shop for furniture in vintage stores or flea markets instead of buying new. Always consider the future of the furniture you buy: can these materials be recycled? Check out HermanMiller.com for inspiration — all their chairs are made with a full-life cycle evaluation minimizing their environmental impact. 3. Electronics The problem Cell phones and computers can have very large environmental footprints. According to the EPA in 2007, up to 1.8 billion tons of electronics were disposed in landfills, only 18 percent were recycled. This is really hard to hear if you are like me and spend 90 percent of your time staring at a screen of some sort. This is not to say you should go off the grid but you might want to reconsider upgrading to the latest phone/laptop/tablet just for the sake of having the newest gadget. Electronics are made from many non-renewable resources like the oils used to make plastic and heavy metals for wiring and circuitry. There are finite supplies of the metals used to make computers and other electronics and global demands contribute to material scarcity. The environmental impact of mining these metals also create social issues. According to RISI, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the profits from mining coltan (a metal used in computers) have been used to finance civil war. Screens, hard drives, and plastic casings are usually made by different companies, meaning various components need to be shipped across the world to assemble a single device. RISI estimates that amount of fossil fuels used to produce a computer screen is about 10 times its weight. What you can do First you should try and hold on to your old devices for as long as possible! Opt to replace broken parts rather than getting a whole new device. Or buy refurbished electronics. But if you must upgrade…recycle, recycle, recycle! Chemicals such as mercury, lead and nickel can leak out of electronics sitting in landfills causing more environmental damage. By recycling one million laptops, the U.S. could save the same amount of electricity used to power over 3,657 homes a year. Check out the EPA’s website for instructions on how-to “eCycle” your old computers, TVs, and cell phones. 4. Carpet, Curtains, and Upholstery The problem Carpet, curtains and other decorative upholstery are all hiding places for indoor air pollutants and toxins. These household decorations are commonly made from petroleum byproducts and synthetics like nylon, polypropylene and acrylic. While these fabrics are used for their durability, they are filled with VOCs and toxins that can be harmful to your family and pets. The same qualities that make these items last for long periods of time in your home make for even longer lives in landfills. Synthetics do not biodegrade overtime but will continue to leach toxins into the environment for decades. (Not to mention the use of petroleum products for household furnishings adds to our nations dependency on oil.) Upholstery fabrics used on furniture and curtains are often treated with flame retardants that are hazard to human health. According to the NRDC, exposure to flame retardants has been linked to attention problems in young children, male birth defects, infertility and cancer. What you can do Always look for non-toxic carpet. Low and Zero VOC carpets still contain toxic chemicals. All-natural wool carpets and upholstery fabrics are the best option. Check out Earth Weave for carpets. Check out this list of the best Green Upholstered Furniture companies. This is awesome guide to all natural upholstery materials you can use on furniture and drapes.

Formaldehyde in Mattresses from China?

Mattress makers get wake-up call Updated: 2013-04-15 07:17By Chen Xin (China Daily) Print Mail Large Medium Small 0 Half of the mattresses sold in Beijing are substandard, the city's consumer watchdog said on Sunday. Of the 50 products tested at the National Center for Quality Supervision and Inspection of Furniture and Indoor Environment, 25 failed for such things as color fading, fabric use, toxic substances and durability. Samples were taken from 50 manufacturers in Beijing and Tianjin, as well as Hebei, Shandong, Guangdong, Guizhou and Zhejiang provinces. Thirteen were palm fiber mattresses and the others were spring mattresses. Seven products faded too easily, three used thin fabric, eight had excessive formaldehyde content and 17 were beneath national durability standards of durability, according to the Beijing Consumer Association, which organized the study. Straw was also used in some products instead of palm fiber. The color of the exterior fabric will run onto sheets or clothes if the mattress's fading resistance does not meet national standards and the fabric will easily fray if it's durability is substandard, Sun Shudong, a division chief overseeing furniture inspection at the National Center for Quality Supervision and Inspection of Furniture and Indoor Environment, was quoted as saying by China Central Television. The formaldehyde content in some products was 30 times acceptable levels, according to Liu Hailing, a division chief overseeing indoor environmental inspection at the center. Under the national standard, formaldehyde emissions from a mattress may not exceed 0.05 milligrams per square meter per hour. "Inhaling formaldehyde could cause constriction in the chest and coughing, and other respiratory diseases. It could also lead to cancers and leukemia in children if the exposure to the formaldehyde is lengthy," said Zhao Ping, vice-president of the Cancer Foundation of China. The consumer association said it informed the manufacturers of the substandard mattresses and commerce authorities are investigating. Qu Shengping, general manager of Beijing Hongdameidi, whose products showed excessive formaldehyde and weak durability in testing, admitted they used cheap glue and fabric to produce mattresses. Qu said the sample the Beijing Consumer Association tested was from the inventory. "We received the test results from the association in February, and, actually, we did not put that batch of products on the market," he said. The test results showed that a product of Beijing Yasili, another furniture producer, was substandard in color fading resistance, fabric used, formaldehyde content and durability. Chen, general manager of Yasili, said the association had the product tested early this year but it took the sample from the company in June last year. "In fact, some customers had called us and complained that the mattresses gave off bad odors and we refunded their purchases," he said. Chen said they recalled those mattresses from dealers at the end of November. "The mattress makers involved should compensate customers, and commerce authorities should fine them," said Ge Youshan, a lawyer who specializes in consumer rights. "More serious penalties, such as suspending or revoking their business licenses, could be used if producers continue to make substandard goods." Related readings:

Car Hazardous Pollutants

If you’re like most people, your car is more than just a means of transportation — much, much more. It represents freedom. Your independence to go places, choose your own path and for the adventurous types, discovering the previously unexplored. For nearly a century the hyper-mobile society we live in has meant we have developed a deep love affair with our automobiles. The social interdependence between human and machine is undeniable, but it goes farther than that. There’s a psychological dependence too. Modern humans have developed a nearly innate ability to see our vehicles as an extension of ourselves. Given the sanctity of that relationship, what I’m about to tell you won’t come easy, but you need to know. Our cars are making us — and perhaps worse, our children — sick. That’s right. Scientific experts have reams of data to show that the nation faces an epidemic of illnesses that are exacerbated by vehicle exhaust. These illnesses include cardiovascular disease, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer and diabetes. The latest study, presented on April 8, 2013 at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 2013 Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., showed a possible link between exposure to traffic-related air pollution and several childhood cancers. Julia Heck, an epidemiologist at UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health and member of Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center found that increased exposure to traffic-related air pollution during pregnancy was associated with a higher incidence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (a white blood cell cancer) and two other rare childhood cancers. Specifically, Heck found a link to germ cell tumors — cancers of the testicles, ovaries, and other organs — and eye cancer, called retinoblastoma, particularly the type that affects both eyes. Previous international studies have linked childhood leukemia, lymphomas and brain tumors to vehicle exhaust. The UCLA study is the first to look at vehicle air pollution and rare childhood cancers. The highest increases were found for retinoblastoma and germ cell tumors. Motor vehicles emit millions of pounds of hazardous pollutants into the air each year in the United States that include compounds such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates (fine dust and soot), and toxic air pollutants such as benzene. These chemical particulates have been linked to lung cancer and breast cancer in adults as well as a host of other respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. This was reported in a 65-page policy study by the Connecticut nonprofit, Environment and Human Health, Inc. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that vehicle emissions account for as many as half of all cancers attributed to outdoor air pollution, and account for 1.3 million deaths worldwide each year. “The main reason for undertaking this study was that we know much more about the causes of adult cancers than we do of the causes of childhood cancers,” said Heck. “We studied pregnancy exposures because the fetus is likely to be more vulnerable to environmental factors during that time, and we also know that certain childhood cancers originate in utero.” For the study, Heck and her colleagues identified 3,590 children from the California Cancer Registry born between 1998 and 2007 who could be linked to a California birth certificate and who were five years of age or younger at the time of diagnosis. Those kids were then compared to 80,224 randomly selected California children in the control group. UCLA researchers used sophisticated modeling to estimate each child’s exposure to gas and diesel vehicle pollution at home, during each trimester of their mother’s pregnancy with the child and their first year of life. Cancer risk was estimated using a statistical analysis called unconditional logistic regression. Increases in exposure to traffic-related air pollution positively correlated with increases in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia, germ cell tumors and retinoblastoma, according to the study results. The pollution exposure estimates were highly correlated across pregnancy trimesters and the first year of life, meaning that no particular period stood out as a higher exposure time. This made it difficult for the scientists to determine if one period of exposure was more dangerous than any other, the UCLA study points out. Because this is the first study of this type, and these are rare diseases, Heck cautioned that the findings still need to be replicated in further studies. Nevertheless, the results provide new leads to potential causes of serious childhood cancers. Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/04/10/car-exhaust-linked-to-childhood-cancers-study-finds/#ixzz2Q4VqbYpT

Sublingual Immunotherapy

Sublingual Immunotherapy Allergy Drops By Daniel More, MD, About.com Guide Updated January 31, 2009 About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board .Ads:Allergy DropsAllergy ClinicAllergy or AllergiesAllergies ClinicAllergy ShotsAds Treat Eye Allergies www.Relieve-Allergies.com Get 24 Hour Relief from Red, Itchy, Watery Eyes. Learn More Today! Nightly Nasal Congestion? www.breatheright.com Wake Up Ready To Face A New Day! It's Your RIGHT To Breathe Right® Asthma Symptoms? www.Asthma-Control-Treatment.com Learn About A Treatment That May Help Control Your Symptoms Here. Ads Erectile Dysfunction Help ErectileDysfunction.MedicStop.com Combat Erectile Dysfunction. Firm Advice On Erectile Dysfunction 5 Signs You'll Get Cancer www.newsmax.com These 5 Signs Warn You That Cancer Is Starting Inside Your Body. Updated January 31, 2009 What is Sublingual Immunotherapy? Sublingual immunotherapy, or SLIT, is a form of immunotherapy that involves putting drops of allergen extracts under the tongue. Many people refer to this process as “allergy drops,” and it is an alternative treatment for allergy shots. This form of immunotherapy has been used for years in Europe, and recently has had increased interest in the United States. However, it is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States. SLIT is usually delivered one of two ways: drops (or tablets) of allergen extract are placed under the tongue, then either swallowed or spat out. Most studies have looked at swallowing the extract, which seems to work better. Immunotherapy by the oral route (swallowed and not kept under the tongue for any period of time), causes too many gastrointestinal side effects (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), and therefore is not used. Generally, SLIT is administered daily, or multiple times per week, over a period of years. Most patients are able to self-administer SLIT at home. Studies have looked at giving SLIT before a pollen season, during a pollen season, both, or year-round. It is not yet known what the best dosing regimen is for SLIT. How Does SLIT Work? The immune system of the gastrointestinal tract tends to "tolerate" foreign substances, meaning that it does not respond in an over-active way to swallowed material. This makes sense; otherwise the body would over-react to anything swallowed, including food. When SLIT is administered into the gastrointestinal tract, the immune system tolerates the allergen, instead of the over-reactivity of the immune system, as with allergic disease. This results in less allergy symptoms when the body is exposed to the allergy source, such as airborne pollen or pet dander. How Well Does SLIT Work? SLIT appears to be effective in the treatment of allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis and, to a lesser degree, allergic asthma. While most studies on SLIT do show benefit in the treatment of allergic disease, the results are somewhat inconsistent, with up to one-third of studies showing no benefit over placebo treatment. What is the Safety of SLIT? Over the past 10 years, the safety of SLIT has been well documented. Serious and fatal reactions to SLIT have not been reported to date. Mild side effects, such as an itchy mouth, occur in the majority of people, and moderate side effects have been documented (1 in about every 12,000 doses), including: •lip, mouth and tongue irritation •eye itching, redness and swelling •nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping and diarrhea •sneezing, nasal itching and congestion •asthma symptoms •urticaria and angioedema Because of the safety of SLIT, people generally treat themselves at home, and are followed in the clinic at close intervals to monitor response to treatment. Who Could (or Should) Receive SLIT? People with documented allergic disease (allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis and/or allergic asthma) by allergy testing may be considered for SLIT. Young children have been shown to tolerate and benefit from SLIT, as have older adults. Pregnant women, as is considered the general rule of thumb for allergy shots, can continue SLIT during pregnancy, but should not start the therapy while pregnant. People with severe asthma may need to be monitored more closely on SLIT, since asthma symptoms can worsen with SLIT. Most studies on SLIT have focused on people with one type of allergy, such as grass or dust mite allergy. People with multiple allergies, such as to molds, pollens, pet dander and dust mite may not be good candidates for SLIT, given the large volume of different allergen extracts that would need to be taken.

Radon

State lawmakers are considering a measure requiring schools to test for radon. But some districts fear that, while it's a good idea, it could be expensive. Radon is found naturally in Iowa soil, and creeps its way into buildings. At high levels, and with repeated exposure, radon can cause cancer. That's why state lawmakers may require schools be tested for radon gas. Whether it's radon testing or other measures, schools everywhere -- including Waverly -- want to keep students safe. But the big question is: What will it cost? Jere Vyverberg is on his way out, soon retiring as superintendent of the Waverly-Shell Rock School District. But he's still very concerned about the financial picture at the district next year, since legislators still haven't set school funding. "That's what we're waiting for," Vyverberg said. "Just how much allowable growth can we expect or can we hope for? ... One is for 2 percent and one is 4 percent -- but that 1 percent can make a whole whale of a difference, especially coming off the hard times and zero allowable growth we've been going through. So we really need to have a good handle on that." But before those budget decisions are made, the state legislature is voting on other school issues, including education reform and a bill that would require districts to test their buildings for radon. Vyverberg thinks radon testing could be a good thing. After all, radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer. "I can't argue with the validity of doing the testing," Vyverberg said. "Obviously it's something important if it has to do with safety." But in cash-strapped schools, the question is how to pay for testing -- and, if high radon levels are found, how to fund the pricey systems used to fix the problem. "I think anything we do for kids is excellent," Vyverberg said. The problem is that when we're coming into hard budget times, like we have right now -- especially with the uncertainty -- we don't know what we can spend money on." The school testing bill has been approved by the Iowa Senate. It now moves to the House for consideration, and will require the governor's signature before any schools are required to start testing for radon. U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley is also lobbying for a federal law requiring schools to test for radon. That bill would provide grants to help schools with high radon levels to install mitigation systems, which is a provision the state law does not currently include.