Kinesiology: The Myotomes

Image by Tamityville via Flickr

Today I will introduce a series of posts entitled "Kinesiology:" which will deal with the interesting facts and information that I've learned throughout my years in university. If you could, give me your opinions whether you liked this post, and whether you would like similar in the near future in the comments section.

   I have finished a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Health Science program, and know a reasonable amount of background information on the subjects pertaining to health and physical activity. Today I will start  off with a brief introduction to Myotomes and their testing.

   Myotomes are defines as a groups of muscles supplied by a single nerve root. It also has to be noted that spinal nerves come in pairs, one from the left side and the other from the right side. So an injury to a single nerve root (either right or left) is associated with muscle weakness (a.k.a. incomplete paralysis) of the myotome (left side or right side muscles) supplied by that nerve root. When testing a myotome, key muscles are tested for weakness, not pain.

Image by EUSKALANATO via Flickr

Cannabis - what it actually does to your brain

   Scientists have known for a while that the active ingredient in cannabis was a chemical called delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC for short. Ingesting or smoking THC has a wide range of effects, from the psychoactive "getting high" to the physiological relief of pain and swelling. It also acts as both a stimulant and depressant. How could one substance do all that?

Tips for getting a better night's sleep

I've been having some trouble sleeping for a couple of days, and so I've have searched for some sleeping tips. Here is what I've found form the National Sleep Foundation. Hope this helps other sleep-deprived souls out there as well

• Maintain a regular bed and wake time schedule, including weekends. Our sleep-wake cycle is regulated by a "circadian clock" in our brain and the body's need to balance both sleep time and wake time. A regular waking time in the morning strengthens the circadian function and can help with sleep onset at night. That is also why it is important to keep a regular bedtime and wake time, even on the weekends when there is the temptation to sleep in.

Ten Most Thanked for Scientific Discoveries

Here is a list of ten most important scientific discoveries of the past century. Most of these are vital in our daily lives and are used to further advance our abilities and understand the universe. These discoveries range from medicine & physics to anthropology & archeology.

Bring the billboard to Life

A smart ad campaign to interest people in pursuing a career in public health. The interactive component of this billboard is that the viewer gets to "save a life" of a patient with a touch of hands (i.e. CPR). Just imagine walking into a bus shelter to wait for your daily commute and suddenly you hear series of long rapid beeps (that are usually indicative of a cardiac arrest), you turn around and press your hands against the wall as directed and in turn "save a patient's life". I'd consider that to be a pretty nice start of the day - saving someone's life at a bus-stop :D  Enjoy the video demonstration below.

via: YouTube

The Science, Myths and Truths behind Hangovers

   Let's face it, we all had our big nights out and huge headaches caused by hangovers afterwards. In this post I will try to explain the main concept of a hangover and debunk some myths behind it.
   Hangover is the sum of unpleasant physiological effects following heavy consumption of alcoholic beverages. The most commonly reported characteristics of a hangover include headache, nausea, sensitivity to light and noise, lethargy, depressed mood, diarrhea and thirst, typically after the intoxicating effect of the alcohol begins to wear off. Alcohol, i.e. Ethanol, has a diuretic effect on our bodies causing increased urine production, which in turn may cause headaches, dry mouth, and lethargy.
   While a hangover can be experienced at any time, generally it is experienced in the morning after a night of heavy drinking. In addition to the physical symptoms, a hangover may also produce psychological signs including heightened feelings of depression, anxiety and other mood swings. Many people will also be repulsed by the thought, taste or smell of alcohol during a hangover. The symptoms vary from person to person, and occasion to occasion, usually beginning several hours after drinking. It is not clear whether hangovers directly affect cognitive abilities.

Check out some of the Myths and Facts about hangover, after the break,

Dentists ordered not to have sex with their spouse patients

   Today I came across a very strange law whereby in Ontario, Canada, dentists and other health professionals (chiropractors, physiotherapists et al.) cannot have sex with their spouses if they treat them as patients. This means that the health practitioner can be found guilty of sexual abuse and have their license revoked for a period of time as a disciplinary measure. One of the accused dentists had this to say about this contentious rule: "If I treat my wife, it means I am sexually abusing her. It means I would be an outlaw."
   According to Ontario's Regulated Health Professions Act, health professionals can not have sex with their patients. There have been numerous cases whereby said practitioners were found guilty of professional misconduct for sexual abuse and lost their licenses.
   In my opinion this is just a law loophole that does not account for the spouse-patient relationship (to have sex with your spouse/patient) and so is automatically treated as a criminal act.

via: MetroNews

Multitouch Microscope

Researchers at Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland in collaboration with FinnishMultitouch Ltd. combined the capabilities of a touch screen with a networked digital microscopy system. Pathologists and research scientists should be able to use the technology essentially like a giant, intuitive microscope, without having to squint through the eyepiece.

Below is a quick demo of the device:

via: Youtube

The Placebo Effect

Interesting video about the effects of a simple sugar pill. Some people that are told that it is medication, will actually have a perceived or actual improvement in their condition; this phenomenon is commonly called the "placebo effect". This word come from Latin word "placebo" meaning "I will please".

via: YouTube

Microsoft Kinect soon to be used in the OR

So I came across this interesting article about the use of Microsoft Kinect as an interface to control radiologic imaging in the Operating Rooms without compromising sterility of doctor's hands and wasting a lot of time.The pilot study is currently being held at one of my city's hospitals, and it really looks promising.via: The Globe & Mail