1. AIDS Drugs Lower the Risk of HIV Infection – Antiretroviral drugs have turned the AIDS epidemic around, by thwarting the virus in HIV-positive patients. But new research suggests that this powerful treatment may have another benefit — as a weapon against infection in healthy individuals. Trials have the risk of contracting HIV lowered by up to 73%.
2. Synthetic Cell – Dr. J. Craig Venter, co-mapper of the human genome, who this year took another step toward creating life in the lab. Generated from a painstaking process of stitching together the chemicals that compose DNA, Venter synthesized the entire genome of a bacterium, which was inserted into a cell and was able to replicate.
3. Blood Test for Alzheimer’s – A promising new blood test may help confirm a diagnosis early in the disease’s progression, which opens the possibility for prevention of dementia and mental decline even before the earliest onset of symptoms. The new test analyzes more than two dozen proteins in the blood, and is 80% accurate in identifying patients with the disease. It is only the latest in a series of new methods, including tests of spinal fluid, aimed at detecting and confirming Alzheimer’s earlier in patients’ lives. Quicker diagnoses could help patients take advantage of behavioral interventions — such as keeping the mind active by maintaining social contacts and learning new things — that may slow the mental deterioration of Alzheimer’s.
4. FDA Approves Botox for Migraines – Some patients who received Botox injections to prevent wrinkles in their forehead reported that their migraines also seemed to diminish, scientists — especially those at Allergan, the manufacturer of Botox — decided to investigate. Based on data from two large trials involving more than 1,000 patients, the company successfully convinced the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that patients receiving Botox in the facial area experienced fewer days of migraine pain each month than those who did not get the muscle paralyzing injections.
5. Taking the Resuscitation out of CPR – In recent years, several studies have found that untrained bystanders are more comfortable performing chest compressions, without mouth-to-mouth — even with the help of a trained 911 operator — and that victims who receive only compressions are as likely to survive as those who receive full CPR. These results, coupled with the fact that only 30% of those in need of CPR actually get it — in large part because of untrained bystanders’ reluctance to perform what they view as a complex procedure — forced the AHA to revise its CPR guidelines. (via)
6. The FDA Restricts Avandia
7. Blood Test for Heart Attack – researchers have now identified a preliminary panel of 23 genes that code for blood proteins, which was 83% accurate in detecting blood-vessel obstructions typical of heart disease.
8. Predicting IVF Success
9. Artificial Ovary
10. Creating iPS Cells Safer and Faster

View full list of the top 10 of everything for 2010

Related Posts

• December 17, 2009 -- Time’s Top 10 Medical Breakthroughs of 2009
• August 25, 2008 -- Top 10 First Aid Mistakes
• June 6, 2008 -- Top 10 Global Epidemics of the Last 10 Years
• January 17, 2012 -- A List of iPad Apps for Doctors, Patients and Med Students
• February 2, 2011 -- 2010 CPR Guideline Training Videos Now Available Here

1. New Mammography Guidelines – Based on new calculations weighing the risks and benefits of routine screening, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s new recommendations advised women to begin routine mammograms at age 50 instead of 40 and to switch from yearly to biennial screenings; it also advised women to eliminate breast self-exams altogether. Doctors, patients, cancer advocacy groups and politicians vehemently opposed the rolled-back recommendations, fearing they were a harbinger of health care rationing or that insurance companies would be tempted to stop covering screening in younger women. That concern was put to rest in December, however, when the Senate cast its first votes on health care reform, approving an amendment to guarantee coverage of mammograms and preventive screening tests.
2. AIDS Vaccine – In September, a $105 million trial of a novel combination of two older vaccines was the first to show protection against HIV infection. The results of the trial, which involved more than 16,000 volunteers, suggested that the vaccine was 31% effective at preventing infection among those who were inoculated.
3. Funding Ban Lifted on Stem-Cell Research – Meh. This one is more significant: Stem Cell Contact Lenses Cure Blindness within a Month, as is this one: New Organs can be created from your own Stem Cells
4. H1N1 Vaccine
5. Stem-Cell-Created Mice
6. Prostate-Cancer Screening
7. New Research on Autism
8. New Drug for Osteoporosis
9. New Alzheimer’s Genes
10. Brown Fat in Adults

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0%2C29569%2C1945379%2C00.html#ixzz0Zxk6hF8Q

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• May 17, 2011 -- Time’s Top 10 Medical Breakthroughs of 2010
• August 25, 2008 -- Top 10 First Aid Mistakes
• June 6, 2008 -- Top 10 Global Epidemics of the Last 10 Years
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• February 5, 2009 -- Air Medical Safety Measures

1. Drive Safely - When you’re out driving, be more aware of your surroundings than ever before.  Be aware of the school buses, the children on the sidewalks and the speed that you’re driving.  As an added precaution, try driving a bit extra below the speed limits when going through neighborhoods.  Expect kids to dart out in front of your car.  Two-thirds of driving fatalities on Halloween are alcohol related.  Don’t drink and drive.

2. Trick or Treat with the kids – Don’t send the kids out alone.  Go with them.  You’ll find that you will start having fun, you can keep your eye on them, and keep them out of harms way.  You, also, are make a bigger target, so when cars are around, it’ll be easier to notice the kids with an adult around.

3. Make the kids MORE visible – Regardless of costume, get something like reflective tape, glow sticks, glowing bracelets or necklaces, and flashlights.  This will aid drivers in seeing your kids at dusk and beyond, when it becomes more difficult to see them.

4. Make sure the kids know how to cross the street – Looking both ways, and then looking again is a vital thing to do.  If a car is coming, wait until it passes.  Simple advice that could save a life.

5. Buckle Up – Even if you’re making short trips from house to house, buckling up every time could save lives should anything unexpected happen.

6. Flame-resistant Costumes if at all possible – There are a lot of candles in use on Halloween night, and though they are usually inside of pumpkins, they could be found in the open as well.  Keep away from the candles to avoid the dangers of burns, or get flame-resistant costumes.  That way, if flame and costume do meet, very little will happen.

7. Walk, don’t run – Remind the kids to walk from house to house.  Do not run.  You’ll get to the same number of houses, and you’ll be safe.  Remember, safety first.

8. Be sure that costumes and shoes fit properly – That way, the kids have less of a chance to trip over their costumes and they can avoid falls.  If the child is wearing a mask, make sure the eye holes are big enough that the child’s vision isn’t too obscured.

9. Look before walking in front of a driveway – Be sure that there isn’t a car backing out before walking in front of a driveway.  It’s hard for a driver to see you when backing up, so it’s better to be safer that way, kind of like crossing the street.

10. Avoid entering any homes for treats – Unless you know the family, and are accompanied by a trusted adult.

It is very important that you follow your best judgement in all cases, including when eating the treats that you get.  Be certain to check all treats for tampering, and if someone hands out baked goods, be sure you know the chef very well.  All of these steps should help to keep Halloween a safe and fun experience for you and your family.

More Great Tips

Also read: 12 Tips to Prevent Your Kids from Eating Too Much Halloween Candy

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Here, I’ve picked out seven of the tips that I felt were probably the most relevant to readers of this blog, and written up my own summaries for most of them.

When all eyes are on you at a critical moment

When you’ve established a routine, then the critical moment should become part of the routine.  You don’t need to change anything about how you work.  The trick is to treat the moment like you’d treat it when it wasn’t as critical.  Like shooting the last shot of a big game.  If you treat it differently than a shot in the first quarter of the game, then you risk over doing it and over thinking it.  Same thing in surgery: keep the same intense focus, and don’t panic.  Never forget to breath.

When your boss is hassling you

Get yourself out of the situation for a breather, and go wash your hands or use the restroom. Give yourself some time for the anger, and let it play out. Then, re-approach your boss with a simple question, like “what can I do to help work this out?”  This way, you can get things settled and become a team-player.  Let go of your anger, and be collaborative.

When you’ve lost a loved one

For this one, I think the solution they give is more than adequate:

For two days every week, schedule 10 minutes to grieve. Unless you plan, it’s too easy to dodge the sadness — especially in the first couple of months after the funeral. And taking control of the process prevents unresolved issues from lingering. Shoot for early evening, when anything kicked up won’t affect your sleep. Take a 5-minute walk to unwind, then pull out photos to bring the departed front and center. Now ask two questions: What have you lost? What’s the effect? You see what’s missing from your life, so you can shift to problem solving, says Michael McKee, Ph.D., a psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic. Now hit the gym. It’ll end the grieving session, and the endorphins will lift your mood. Overall, doing the two activities will model what you’re striving for — the knowledge that sad and happy can coexist.

When your to-do list seems insurmountable

Add some more entries.  10 more.  Add ten things to the list that you are grateful for.  It will help you to put things into perspective, and whenever you look at the list, you will be reminded of those things are you are getting the tough things done.

When your kid is stressed by won’t say why

Go for a long car ride with your kid.  It is private and there’s nothing else to do but to talk.  Start casually, and slowly start to talk about things that stressed you out.  Perhaps with a story from your own childhood.  They’ll respond in one of two ways: identifying with the problem, or by saying that it’s completely different than when you were their age.  The problem is most likely with school, friends or family, and you’ll be able to gather more information on where the problem is.  You might not be able to solve it, but it’ll do some good, because they’ll be opening up about it, and that’s the most important thing.  Just don’t push too hard or get too angry with them, if at all.  They might close themselves up completely.

When you need to handle every detail of a complex operation

Here’s another where I’m going to quote directly.

In the moment before you begin, take a mental inventory of the critical steps to success. Here’s how Ali Rezai, M.D., a neurosurgeon at the Cleveland Clinic, preps for the first cut. “While I’m scrubbing my hands, I’m reviewing all the aspects of the case. That puts me into a highly focused state and cleans my mind of distractions. During surgery, I’m constantly reviewing the steps with the operating-room staff. It takes everyone onto the next page and into a rhythm. When I’m faced with an emergency, the calmer I am, the calmer everyone else becomes.”

When you need to close the deal

Don’t over think it, don’t try to be perfect.  Play your role to the best of your ability, and rely on others that are focused on the same goal.  Remember, you’re looking for the same solution as the rest of the team, and you’ve got the ear of the potential buyer.  That makes ounce of an opening shows that they are looking for a solution of some kind, and are willing to give you a chance.  You don’t have to be perfect, but relax and you’ll make a better sales pitch.

-via msnbc

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Please take a moment to select your favorites.

If you have a favorite that isn’t on the list, please comment on this entry.

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1. Cut finger. It’s surprisingly easy for a person to amputate part of a finger – for instance, while chopping vegetables or using an electric saw.
Don’t try to preserve the loose part by placing it directly on ice.
Do wrap the severed part in damp gauze (saline would be ideal for wetting the cloth), place it in a watertight bag and place the bag on ice. Then be sure to bring the bag and ice to the emergency room. The patient will be going into surgery, so he’s best off with an empty stomach. As for the wound on the hand or body, apply ice to reduce swelling and cover it with a clean, dry cloth.

-via Newsweek

#2-10 are available here at Newsweek.com

Related Posts

• May 17, 2011 -- Time’s Top 10 Medical Breakthroughs of 2010
• December 17, 2009 -- Time’s Top 10 Medical Breakthroughs of 2009
• September 24, 2008 -- Paramedic Seeks to Save Lives with Free Training
• August 27, 2008 -- On the Benefits of First Aid Safety Training
• June 6, 2008 -- Top 10 Global Epidemics of the Last 10 Years

This list is by no means meant to be an insult to any victims of these diseases, viruses or other medical related situations. It’s meant more as a reminder of things that the public has feared or been led to believe (as will be seen in the #1 fad). This list is also my opinion, and does not reflect he opinions of ProCPR, and should not be viewed as such.

#10: Blaster – Not necessarily a human affecting virus, this is a computer worm that affected Windows computers. It caused a few side effects, and the guy that wrote it received a prison sentence. (Wikipedia)

#9: Melissa – This is another computer virus. Not written with the intent of causing harm, it overflowed servers and caused Microsoft, Intel and more to shut down their E-mail gateways. Melissa spread itself via e-mail generated by scanning your address books and compiling e-mails to send from those lists. (Wikipedia)

#8: ILOVEYOU – This virus was released in the Philippines on May 4, 2001, and over the course of the next twenty-four hours spread around the world and infected ten percent of the computers connected to the internet. This worm would duplicate itself over important files, and then spread itself through your contact list. (Wikipedia)

#7: Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy – More commonly known as Mad Cow Disease, this is known to cause death amongt the cow populations, and has been pretty well spoofed time and again since it hit the news. Scientists, however, do not believe that there is much harm that it can actually do to humans, as the percentage of people being infected is very small, statistically. Order Mad Cow (Wikipedia)

#6: Avian Flu (H5N1) – Commonly called Bird Flu, this one is still a major threat to the world’s populations. As it spreads and mutates, it has become more potent, with a potential to wipe out populations. Vaccinations have been developed, and work is being done continuously to fight this pandemic. Some vaccinations are not currently available to the general public, at the time of this writing. (Wikipedia)

#5: West Nile Virus – This one is particularly frightening, as it can be transferred by something as small as a mosquito. There is currently no vaccine available, and it has spread throughout most of the continental United States. (Wikipedia)

#4: SARS – Severe acute respiratory syndrome is a respiratory disease that has killed nearly 10% of all those who have contracted the virus. It’s not known how quickly SARS is still spreading. Boston University is about to open up a new research facility that will contain Ebola, SARS and plague, angering neighbors to the facility. (Bloomberg) (Wikipedia)

#3: Global Warming – This is a trend that is causing people to go green. Our company is definitely a green company, saving you the trip to a training center for something you can now do from the comfort of your own home. Anyway, writer Michael Crichton’s book State of Fear has this to say:

… global warming is the theory that increased levels of carbon dioxide and certain other gases are causing an increase in the average temperature of the earth’s atmosphere because of the so-called – greenhouse effect.” (p. 81, italics in the original)

One article that I found about it, had this to say as well:

The second definition is correct. “Global warming” really is only a theory, not a fact, and the words Crichton chose to italicize are all key terms in the scientific debate over whether the theory is correct or not.

That’s not to say that going green is a bad thing, and that the WWF is incorrect. Everything that we’re finally doing as a country is wonderful. And there’s more that must be done, like electric cars and regulation of polution world-wide. However, it is something that should be worked on, not because it could be the cause of “Global warming,” rather because it is the right thing to do. (Michael Crichton is Right!)

#2: Human papillomavirus – This is one fad that has me fed up. The simple fact that people didn’t generally know about HPV until a vaccination was slightly ready is cause for more concern. Just a few years ago, if you asked someone, anyone, what the number one STD in the world is, you’d get a multitude of answers. The one you were least likely to hear, though, is HPV. A few years ago, statistics told us that 65% of sexually active people had some form of HPV. That statistic has not gone down since then. It’s gone up. And it is not possible to stop it with a condom, regardless of what some “experts” claim. They even said this, regarding the inability of condoms to do what the labels claimed they could:

[...] we don’t want to “create an epidemic of panic, fear, and anxiety in adolescents and young adults who are embarking on their sexual careers.”[1] One leader in the sex ed movement tried to put an optimistic spin on the issue by saying, “I don’t think we, in any way, want to do anything that will frighten people from using condoms. . . . The bottom-line message always needs to be that most STDs are treatable.”[2]

And all of this is not to mention the death resulting from the treatment of Gardasil. (Gardasil HPV Vaccine kills at least 8 women) (What is HPV?)

#1: Y2K – Also known as the Millennium Bug, and a multitude of other names. This is the problem that faced computers, because those working on them had expected us to change what they didn’t want to prepare for in the 1960s. What might have cost them only some time to program the computers for more than the two digits at the end of the year part of a date, wound up costing a grand total of about 300,000,000 US dollars. That’s not to mention the fears that went along with this bug. Prisoners would be let out early (sure, because the police officers wouldn’t notice something was wrong), Hospitals would discharge patients early (again, because doctors and nurses can’t read computer screens correctly, right?), and many more problems would occur, all because the computer “thinks it’s 100 years ago.” Everything was supposedly going back to 1900. Well, some things did happen, but nothing as large a scale as was feared. The lights stayed on, the prisons were secure and the hospitals didn’t force patients to leave.

Honorable Mention: Morgellons – This is a disease that was named in 2002. It may or may not be real. One sociologist believes that this disease has been spread via the internet, as people have discovered others with common symptoms. However, research has not been conclusive, as of this time, on this disease. However, according to the research foundation’s website:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in conjunction with Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California Division of Research held a national media telebriefing on January 16, 2008 announcing government efforts to investigate the cause of this illness.

This disease was, unfortunately, a late addition to this blog post, and that is why I was originally not very detailed. If you would like more information about Morgellons, you can find it at the Morgellons Research Foundation website. Below is what that one sociologist said about Morgellons:

Robert Bartholomew, a sociologist who has studied the Morgellons phenomenon, states that the “World Wide Web has become the incubator for mass delusion and it (Morgellons) seems to be a socially transmitted disease over the Internet.” According to this hypothesis, patients with delusions of parasitosis and other psychological disorders become convinced they have “Morgellons” after reading internet accounts of others with similar symptoms. (Wikipedia)

Well, there you have it. The top 10 global epidemics of the last 10 years. We’re going to have more soon, with at least one every week or so. Any ideas for future top 10 lists? Feel free to comment below!

[1]. Audio Transcript, “Scientific Evidence on Condom Effectiveness and STD Prevention,” National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (12-13 June 2000).
[2]. Tamara Kerinin, as quoted by Cheryl Wetzstein, “Agencies Rapped for Shirking HPV Law,” The Washington Times (23 December 2003).

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• May 17, 2011 -- Time’s Top 10 Medical Breakthroughs of 2010
• December 17, 2009 -- Time’s Top 10 Medical Breakthroughs of 2009
• August 25, 2008 -- Top 10 First Aid Mistakes
• August 21, 2008 -- Researchers Question If HPV Vaccine Is Worth the Risk
• March 27, 2009 -- Scientist nearly injects Ebola into finger