Foot Blog News this Week- Issue 1
Sneakers track your every move
Miami Herald, January 2, 2007: Isaac Daniel has developed shoes embedded with GPS technology that can locate the wearer anywhere in the world. His design allows wearers to press a button hidden near the shoe’s lace to send a distress signal.The shoes are called Quantum Satellite Technology by his company, Isaac Daniel, and are planned to hit stores in March at a price of $325 to $350. Daniel said he is in talks with a large department store chain, but he would not reveal details until the deal is finalized. A limited number of shoes are available at isaacdaniel.com and will be delivered in February.
$3.7-million pilot project to create a wait-times guarantee for aboriginals on some Manitoba reserves who face diabetes-related foot ulcers and possible amputations
Canadian Press, January 6, 2007: WINNIPEG — The federal government has launched a $3.7-million pilot project to create a wait-times guarantee for aboriginals on some Manitoba reserves who face diabetes-related foot ulcers and possible amputations.Health Minister Tony Clement said Friday that if the 18-month program is successful, it will be expanded nationally. The first phase of the program will be figuring out how long patients are waiting to get their wounds treated, since the benchmarks in place for other illnesses, such as cardiac or cancer care, aren’t as well understood for diabetes.
Fashion conscious must weigh high-heeled hazards
MRI Helps in Ankle Diagnosis
Cambridge, England, Jan. 8 (UPI) — Magnetic resonance imaging can make a dramatic difference in the management of patients with ankle pain, a British study found.The study, of 91 patients, found that MR images changed the management plans of 35 percent of patients, said Dr. Philip W.P. Bearcroft of Cambridge University Hospitals in England.
FDA Recalls the RE-Flex VSP Prosthetic Foot
Read FDA Recall Announcement . . .
Positive Results with Rotigotine In Restless Legs Syndrome In Second Phase III Trial-First Results From The Second Phase III Trial with Rotigotine
Medscape NewsArticle Date: 13 Jan 2007 – 15:00 PST: SCHWARZ PHARMA announced today that a second phase III trial with rotigotine transdermal patch for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of moderate to severe Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) has shown a clinically relevant and statistically significant reduction of RLS symptoms versus placebo in both primary variables. Rotigotine was also well tolerated in this trial. In October 2006, SCHWARZ PHARMA had previously reported positive results for the first phase III trial with rotigotine in RLS.
How ‘DNA Parasites” Can Increase Spread of Antibiotic Resistence
Medscape News Article Date: 13 Jan 2007 – 3:00 PST: The research teams, led by Professor Charles J. Dorman at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, and Dr John Wain at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Cambridge, UK, have discovered that an important class of plasmids use a stealth gene (called sfh) to allow entry into a new bacterium with minimal reduction in fitness. Bacteria can acquire and transfer resistance genes through a variety of methods, but this new study shows how a single gene has the potential to increase dramatically the chance of successful – and health-threatening – transfer and survival of a battery of antibiotic-resistance genes.
Poor Wound Care is Harming Patients, UK
Medscape News Article Date: 13 Jan 2007 – 9:00 PST: Poor ward care is harming patients, warns a senior doctor in this week’s BMJ. Recent figures show that three of the four commonest causes of delayed discharge are associated with inadequate care on the ward: pressure sores, healthcare acquired infections, and medication errors.
Cartilage Discovery Offers Arthritis Hope
Medscape News Article Date: 15 Jan 2007 – 3:00 PST: Scientists have revealed the intricate structure of cartilage in what they hope will provide clues to how the crippling joint disease osteoarthritis might one day be treated.
Orthotics Not Effective for Plantar Fasciitis
American Family Physician December, 2006: In the December issue of the POEMS section, a report on the effectiveness of orthotics for the treatment of plantar fasciitis is discussed.
UK Hospital Abandons Option for Cash Pay Outpatient Surgical Services
BBC News Northampton, England: January 16, 2007: Chief executive of Northampton General Hospital, Andrew Riley, has withdrawn a letter sent on January 8th which outlined new plans for minor surgery. People were offered an option of paying certain amounts for their treatment but the move was completely unacceptable to the Department of Health. The initial letter was written in an effort to allow people more rapid access to health care and avoid a waiting list for surgical procedures. So you thought managed care was bad? However, the people have spoken . . .
Foot Swelling during air travel: A concern?
Mayo Clinic News What causes foot swelling during air travel? Mayo Clinic hypertension specialist Sheldon Sheps, M.D., and colleagues answer select questions from readers.
New Technique Announced for Bone Grafting
Medscape News: Article Date: 17 Jan 2007 – 0:00 PST- A new technique using the pubic bone as a source of bone for grafting may avoid the complications of harvesting bone from the iliac crest, or “hip bone,” according to a report in the November/December issue of The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery. With further study, the pubic bone could become the new standard for harvesting bone grafts for certain types of reconstructive surgery, write Dr. John W. Polley and colleagues of Rush University Medical Center, Chicago.
New Antibacterials being developed to tackle MRSA superbugs
Medscape News: Article Date: 17 Jan 2007 – 13:00 PST- A novel antibacterial medicine that kills the superbug MRSA is being developed under a new scheme launched by the Wellcome Trust. The Seeding Drug Discovery initiative is aimed at catalysing the development of new drugs in areas of unmet need.
Dr. Stephen Barret Unleashes a host of Responses in Podiatry Today Letters
The Foot Blog: Jan 18th, 2007 - In the recent issue of Podiatry Today, January 2007, in letters to the editor, Dr’s. David Secord, Stephen H. Goldstein and Mr. Martin Woodhouse respond to assertions made by Dr. Barrett in the November issue of Podiatry Today: Should You Change Your Approach to Plantar Fasciosis? Dr. Barrett’s article was controversial in its assertions that plantar fasciitis is a misnomer and that some treatments such as cryotherapy is ‘ridiculous’ and ‘dangerous’.
