Medical Innovations

FeatherSound Smiles

By Brittany

The American Medicine Today crew visits with the team at FeatherSound Smiles in Clearwater, Florida.

At FeatherSound Smiles, Dr. Amir Daoud, DDS is passionate about utilizing the latest technology for better quality care of his patients, as well as a more enjoyable overall experience. Dr. Daoud treats common dental issues, like cavities, teeth whitening, implants, and impressions with the newest lasers and digital imagery techniques.

Dr. Daoud says, “I have a rule called the ‘Mother Rule’: What would I do if the patient were my mother? It’s very simple and makes me sleep well at night. I never recommend treatment that I wouldn’t recommend to my mother. It makes perfect sense.”

Learn more about FeatherSound Smiles here: https://feathersoundsmiles.com/

Virtual Reality for vocational rehabilitation

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American Medicine Today spent the day at the University of South Florida’s VR4VR facility.

Using Virtual Reality and Robotics Technologies for Vocational Evaluation, Training and Placement (VR4VR) is a project that incorporates Virtual Reality into job training to increase job opportunities for people who have physical or mental disabilities. The investigators are using Virtual Reality and robotics for job evaluation, training and placement of people with disabilities. The investigators’ goal is to assess and train people in a safe, adaptable, and fun virtual environment similar to a video game.

This is an interventional study with three target populations: autism spectrum disorder, traumatic brain injury, and severe mobility and manipulation impairments. The prototype system allows for a wide range of environments with the vocational evaluator easily controlling the virtual experience, while the job seekers interact realistically.

Learn more about VR4VR, and how to become a part of its clinical trials, at this link: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02498262

CARRT: Center for Assistive, Rehabilitation and Robotics Technologies

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The Center for Assistive, Rehabilitation and Robotics Technologies at USF is a multidisciplinary center that integrates research, education and service for the advancement of assistive & rehabilitation robotics technologies. Researchers from various departments & colleges at USF including the College of Engineering, the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, the College of the Arts, and the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences collaborate on various projects.

CARRT’s mission is to improve the quality of life, and increase independence and community reintegration of individuals with reduced functional capabilities due to aging, disability or traumatic injury, as in the case of our wounded warriors, through integrated research, education and service in assistive and rehabilitation, and robotics technologies in collaboration with consumers, clinicians, government and industry partners.

Scientists grow miniature human hearts to cure disease

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Scientists in Scotland are growing miniature human hearts, made from stem cells, in an effort to cure heart hypertrophy, a disease that can lead to sudden death.

The tiny hearts are just 1mm in diameter, and contract at around 30 beats/minute. The scientists are using chemicals to simulate the physiological conditions that will make them become hypertrophic – enlarged due to abnormal growth of the cells that make up the heart. Once diseased, the hearts are then treated with newly developed medications to see if they can prevent the damage from occurring.

American Medicine Today Radio spoke with Professor Nikolai Zhelev, who is leading the research at Abertay University. He explains how the hearts were developed, how they’re being used in this research, and what the implications are of the research for other medical discoveries.

Interview with “Ghost Boy” Martin Pistorius

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In January 1988, Martin Pistorius, 12, fell inexplicably sick. First he lost his voice and stopped eating. Then he slept constantly and shunned human contact. Doctors were mystified. Within 18 months he was mute and wheelchair-bound. Martin’s parents were told an unknown degenerative disease left him with the mind of a baby and less than two years to live.

Martin was moved to care centers for severely disabled children. The stress and heartache shook his parents’ marriage and their family to the core. Their boy was gone. Or so they thought.

“Ghost Boy,” is Martin’s story, chronicling his return to life through the power of love and faith. Readers see a parent’s resilience, the consequences of misdiagnosis, abuse at the hands of cruel caretakers, and the unthinkable duration of Martin’s mental alertness betrayed by his lifeless body.

Learn more about Martin via his website, http://www.martinpistorius.com/tmpsite/#home

Laser Treatment for Under-Eye Bags

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Dr. Adam Scheiner, who practices in Tampa, FL, is one of the only physicians in the world able to successfully treat bags under the eyes and Festoons, (puffy skin that forms on cheekbones).

Festoons or malar mounds are a very difficult cosmetic problem to solve. In rare cases, festoons can be large enough to block an individual’s lower visual field. The most common options to treat festoons include:
Extensive incisional procedures
Direct excision of the festoons with unacceptable scars
Medical therapy with marginal results

Dr. Scheiner’s method takes advantage of the latest advances in laser application and wound healing.

Learn more about this procedure at: www.adamscheinermd.com

Dr. Judy Melinek, Author of “Working Stiff”

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Click the book cover image above to watch our radio interview with Dr. Judy Melinek!

Photo Credit: Dr. Judy Melinek Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/DrJudyMelinekMD/

Dr. Judy Melinek is the author of “Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, And The Making Of A Medical Examiner.” The book about forensic pathology explores homicides, suicides and the many other ways the human life can end. Melinek says that approximately 10% of what forensic pathologists work on are homicides or suspicious deaths. The remaining are accidents, suicides, and unexpected natural deaths. She also discusses her time studying at the NYC Medical Examiner’s Office during 9-11.
About her career path, Melinek says “helping people understand death, helps them appreciate life so much better.”
Learn more about Dr. Melinek and her book at this link: http://www.pathologyexpert.com/drjudy…

Limbitless Solutions Provides 3D-Printed Arms For Kids

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American Medicine Today went behind the scenes of Limbitless Solutions, a non-profit organization that uses additive manufacturing to advance personalized bionics and solutions for disabilities. A team of approximately 50 student volunteers from the University of Central Florida work at Limbitless Solutions, which gained notoriety for creating and donating 3-D printed bionic arms for children. The arms, explains Executive Director Albert Manero, cost approximately $350-500 in materials, and are a combination of engineering and art.

Learn more about Limbitless Solutions: http://limbitless-solutions.org/index.php/en/

Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment

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The National Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Center, located in Palm Harbor, FL, uses pressurized, concentrated oxygen to treat children with autism, as well as people with severe brain injuries.

Dr. Allan Spiegel says hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases the amount of oxygen that saturates every part of the body, 8-10 times more than is currently present. That turns oxygen into a drug, which can do several things:
Causes new blood vessels to grow
Increases white cell function
Enhances immune system

Johnathan Pineda was diagnosed with autism at age two, and has been non-verbal or limited in speaking most of his life. He began hyperbaric therapy as a teenager, and after 20 treatments, his mother notices amazing results. Johnathan admits he is more social, and says he feels more comfortable talking with people.

Alexandra Thomas went in to cardiac arrest and wasn’t expected to survive. However, she pulled through but is undergoing intense physical and speech therapy. Hyperbaric treatment has been added as a part of her treatment plan. Her mother says that four treatments, Alex is able to carry on longer conversations than she has since she became sick.

Learn more about The National Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Center: http://www.florida-oxygen.com/

Biolucid Technologies

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BioLucid, located in Sarasota, FL, is a technology company specializing in digital health. BioLucid’s advanced visual platform is designed to personalize and improve the overall health experience for both healthcare providers and consumers. Learn more about the creators, and designers, behind BioLucid in this one-on-one interview.

Learn more about BioLucid: http://www.biolucid.com/about-us/