DrCraigKasper.com

Use mp3 player, get $100 ticket?

If one New York politician gets his way, you might pay a fine if you're caught using your portable media device (mp3, BlackBerry, cellphone) when you cross a New York City street. New York State Senator Carl Kruger from Brooklyn will be introducing a bill in Albany today proposing just that.

The creation of the bill stems from State Senator Kruger's concerns that people using these devices have a tendency to function in a bubble. According to Mr. Kruger, this poses a significant threat considering pedestrians need to be aware of their surroundings in the City as not to walk aimlessly into traffic or each other.

This raises the concept of sound-isolating earphones for mp3 players. Current studies have demonstrated that the use of an isolating earphone allows for safer listening levels due to the fact the listener does not need to compete with background noise. Sound-isolating phones, by design, do make it more difficult to hear sounds in the environment. Yes, we have the ability to save our hearing but it is very important that these devices are used with caution. Especially when warning signs demand the attention of our ears.

The pressing, bottom-line question is: Do we really need a law prohibiting the use of technologies that have made life more enjoyable and have simplified communication? Perhaps we sould all just exercise some common sense instead of being mandated to do so. 

Taking The "Bite" Out Of Frostbite

With temperatures across the country plummeting below the freezing mark, the risk for cold-weather related health issues increases. The American Academy of Dermatology defines frostbite as, "frozen tissue, usually skin but sometimes deeper, due to prolonged exposure to temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit". The most common parts of the body affected? The feet, hands, ears and nose are often left feeling the pins and needles and discoloration commonly associated with frostbite. Although anyone who is exposed for an extended period of time to subzero temperatures is at risk, experts warn that people with peripheral vascular disease, diabetes and those taking beta-blockers (which have a tendency to decrease the blood flow to the skin) are more susceptible. The best way to avoid frostbite is to wear appropriate clothing on the harshest of days. Simply dust off the hat, scarf and gloves and bundle up. If you believe you might have frostbite, healthcare professionals suggest moving to a sheltered environment, using warm (not hot) cloths on the area(s) of concern and see your physician as soon as possible. When the mercury drops during the winter, being mindful and covering up exposed skin will help take the bite out of those frosty days.

Clinical Trials Underway for Device to Restore Vision

Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is a genetic eye disease that affects cells in the retina responsible for capturing and converting light into electrical impulses so we can see. The disorder begins with loss of night vision and then peripheral vision gradually declines. According to the Maryland-based non-profit organization Foundation Fighting Blindness, the majority of patients genetically programmed with this progressive disorder are legally blind by the age of forty.

As for treatment options, high doses of vitamin A have been used to slow the progression and researchers are also experimenting with retinal cell transplantation, gene therapy, nutritional therapy and pharmaceutical products. Announced last week, medical device company Second Sight Medical Products, Inc. recently gained FDA approval to pursue a clinical trial to test the newest generation of their electronic retinal implant for those with RP.

The Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System consists of an array of sixty electrodes that are surgically attached to the retina. The previous generation device housed sixteen electrodes and allowed implanted patients to detect lights, motion of objects and locate and differentiate basic objects in an environment. The company believes patients will gain higher resolution with the sixty electrodes found in the Argus II.

Here’s how the device works: A small camera sends a visual image to a processor for conversion and then the signal is passed along to a transmitter. This all takes place in sunglasses worn by the patient. That transmitter then sends the information wirelessly to an implantable receiver that passes those signals through the implanted electrodes. Tiny pulses of electricity then induce responses in the retina. The information is sent to the brain where it is perceived as a pattern. Through time and experience, patients learn to interpret the visual patterns produced by the device into meaningful images.

The company is currently recruiting study participants and plans to launch the clinical trial of the Argus II at centers of excellence the first half of this year.

iPersonalTrainer?

Immediately after the start of a new year, it’s no surprise that most gyms are teeming with new members hoping to make good on their resolutions. The motivation to make this year a healthier one burns strong during the first few weeks in January, but for many that energy slowly fades. Our fitness regimen starts to fall prey to our over-scheduled lives and responsibilities. If only we had someone at our disposal to re-ignite that flame?

Enter the new world of motivational & personal training, all played out on your best friends the iPod and other mp3 players. Companies such as Podfitness are hoping to change the way we workout (or don’t). Members have the ability to sign on to the Company’s website and design custom workouts based on their needs. Once registered, you can pick and choose from a who’s who list of personal trainers and mix in the music that gets your heart pumping. For a fee of approximately $20 each month, members can switch up workouts and trainers to download on their portable mp3 player as often as they like.

Another company that offers downloadable audio and video programs “to enrich your life” is iAmplify. The Company’s website provides registered users with various fitness workouts from indoor cycling and pilates to core strength training and yoga. Some workouts start at around $2 per download but users can subscribe for a few dollars more each month. While you’re there you might wish to check out the meditation selections to work on calming the mind after the body has been through a tough workout.

It is an understatement to say that the iPod and other portable mp3 players have changed the landscape of personal entertainment. Who would have thought these devices would also have the potential to guide us to healthier and more energized lives?

Chromium Picolinate/ Biotin Supplementation Shows Benefits For Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a progressive disorder that affects approximately 20.8 million Americans. It is usually associated with obesity and older age, but an increasing percentage of our younger generations are now demonstrating signs of the disorder. The type 2 diabetes process begins with the body’s resistance to insulin and is then followed by a reduction in the production of the hormone. The result of both resistance and reduced production of insulin is excess blood sugar levels in the body that may, over time, lead to visual, neurological, cardiovascular and kidney problems. In addition to exercise and diet modification, numerous hyperglycemic medications (oral, injectable and inhaled) are prescribed to manage the disorder.

Research recently published in the journal Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics now provides evidence that supplementing dietary intake with chromium picolinate and the vitamin biotin may be beneficial for those managing type 2 diabetes. A small sample of patients participated in a month-long study conducted by scientists from Yale University’s School of Medicine. Subjects were split into two groups, a treatment group and a group that received a placebo treatment. Both groups were instructed to take one capsule per day (placebo capsules were identical in appearance to actual supplement capsules). They were also asked to maintain normal daily activities and their current medicine regimen.

Measures completed at the onset of the study were then compared to those collected at the conclusion of the thirty days. As the research team had hoped, the results of the experiment proved beneficial for those taking the treatment of chromium picolinate/ biotin supplementation. A significant reduction for all measures was expressed for the “treated” group in comparison to the group receiving the sham capsules.

It is important to emphasize that this study was completed on a very small population of subjects (36 completed the study) and that a larger 400 patient, 90-day trial is underway. According to Gregory Singer, MD, the lead author on the paper, “Results from this pilot study promote the potential benefits of supplementing chromium picolinate and biotin with one’s daily diabetes care regimen.” Most healthcare providers will no doubt agree with Dr. Singer, although there is now more evidence to its effectiveness, dietary supplementation still only represents an “adjunctive strategy to conventional oral diabetes therapy for impaired blood sugar control”.