Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Grand Rounds, Vol. 2 No. 52


Welcome to Grand Rounds, the medical blogosphere’s weekly carnival of the best writing and thinking on topics related to health and healthcare. This week’s edition comes to you from the beautiful state of Alaska.


Those who have visited this site before are aware that Tundra Medicine Dreams is about my life and medical practice on the tundra in the southwest portion of the state. For those who are new visitors, I hope you will return to read more about this unique and fascinating place. I love sharing the subtle beauty of this area with people, and have posted many photos on the blog; for this Grand Rounds post I will offer you images of the more dramatic beauty of Alaska found in the central and eastern regions of the state. If you have never visited the 49th state, you should. At least once in your life. Alaska is an American treasure that no one should miss.

Many thanks to Dr. Nick Genes of Blogborygmi for organizing and coordinating Grand Rounds, and for producing such consistently excellent pre-Rounds interviews with each weekly host. You can view mine here (free registration required).

So, without further ado,



GRAND ROUNDS

Volume 2, Number 52


Editor’s Picks

Of the 47 submissions to this week’s edition, these five were my favorites.

At DR. HEBERT’S MEDICAL GUMBO, we learn about an overweight patient who wants to lose weight. At THE RUMORS WERE TRUE, M. Dyspnea wishes for more effective techniques to teach teenagers about the effects of alcohol on the brain. From my very own hospital here in Bethel, visiting resident Rob at ALASKA BOY…RIDES AGAIN describes a medevac story from one of our villages. Kim over at EMERGIBLOG gives us her dream design for a new ER. And the ever-endearing GRUNT DOC describes a chief complaint of “?” when the patient is both schizophrenic and deaf.


Perspectives

Blogger William Rubin at BILLY RUBIN tells us that medicine is a life of endless learning (so true!). Tony Chen at HOSPITAL IMPACT describes the privilege of being a health care worker. At ANXIETY, ADDICTION AND DEPRESSION TREATMENTS, Dr. Mada questions where the line is that separates healthy training in athletes from disordered eating. Louise at COLORADO HEALTH INSURANCE INSIDER wonders whether we are using too much ultrasound in pregnancy?

Henry Stern at INSUREBLOG asks “can marijuana be classified as a medicine?” MY LIFE, MY PACE suggests that too often medical students are whiners. Hsien-Hsien Lei at A HEARTY LIFE gives a report of a British television show called Cardiac Arrest. The eponymous blogger of VITUM MEDICINUS tells us his ten favorite things about the first term of medical school.


Patient Perspectives

At A CHRONIC DOSE, Laurie describes making choices about which symptoms we attend to. Susan Palwick at RICKETY CONTRIVANCES OF DOING GOOD discusses sleep apnea and the importance of CPAP. Elisa Camahort of HEALTHY CONCERNS is bummed about the Cheerful Oncologist’s recommendations on how to get your doctor to listen to you. K. Weaver of LIVING WITH DIABETES offers a patient story. And Mona at THE TANGLED NEURON discusses depression and Alzheimer’s.




Clinical Practice

Rob Lamberts at MUSINGS OF A DISTRACTIBLE MIND warns about bringing work stress home. At SUNLIGHT FOLLOWS ME, blogger TSCD tells an amusing story of a patient with abdominal pain in a bathing suit. South African blogger Karen Little of MILF’S ANATOMY has a difficult day.

New blogger Scalpel of SCALPEL OR SWORD? has a painful dental experience when the doctor becomes the patient. At SCANMAN’S NOTES, Dr. Vijay Sadasivam brings us the oldest published description of holoprosencephaly. The #1 Dinosaur at MUSINGS OF A DINOSAUR tells us how s/he (making no assumptions here) puts a new patient at ease.

At UROSTREAM, Kea Girl reveals herself as the surgeon who truly hates the poke of a needle. Alice at HOME SCHOOLED MED STUDENT gives us a description of two surgical patients. Wilderness medicine specialist Dr. Paul Auerbach of HEALTHLINE describes the diagnostic dilemma of a possible spider bite. At UNBOUNDED MEDICINE, Jon Mikel, M.D. uses a Wood’s lamp to diagnose vitiligo. And Dex at A BUDDING EMERGENCIST tells a story of the importance of details.

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Original Articles

From BORNEO BREEZES, Traveling Doc gives a description of public health efforts in Pakistan. Tara Smith of AETIOLOGY discusses the recent E. coli outbreak from packaged spinach. At INSIDE SURGERY, Dr. Lisa Marcucci educates us about nesiritide, a brain naturietic peptide.


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Review Articles

Always Learning, the blogger of WANDERING VISITOR, reviews a recent study on the association between diet and Alzheimer’s—one more reason I’m glad we have no McDonald’s in Bethel! Amy Tenderich of DIABETES MINE comments on a study to fight obesity by having no chairs in elementary school classrooms. At THE EXAMINING ROOM OF DR. CHARLES, Aiden Charles discusses a study finding that Asian women have the longest life expectancy of any Americans.

From the Philippines, Dr. Emer of PARALLEL UNIVERSES bemoans the improper use of statistics by the Department of Health. At HEALTHLINE, Dr. Enoch Choi reviews recent FDA information about the proper way to take your daily aspirin. Orac of RESPECTFUL INSOLENCE is happy about a recent study which finds that the age of your surgeon doesn’t matter until the surgeon is really old.

At INTERESTED-PARTICIPANT, blogger mj pechar discusses a statement from the British Medical Journal that the “morning after” pill has not reduced the abortion rate. At STRAIGHT FROM THE DOC, Gloria Gamat reviews a study suggesting that green tea and its extracts may slow the progression of Huntingtons disease. She reviews another study at CANCER COMMENTARY regarding a combination drug which inhibits the growth of aggressive tumors in prostate cancer. Dr. Joel Fuhrmann of DISEASE PROOF gives a review of the questionable benefits of alcohol consumption.

ALERT! Late addition--somehow one fell between the cracks! Sincere apologies to CLINICAL CASES AND IMAGES BLOG who reviews the new once-a-year drug to treat osteoporosis.

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Health Biz

Dr. David E. Williams of HEALTH BUSINESS BLOG comments on the real reasons behind a company’s opposition to electronic medical records. And Bob Coffield of HEALTH CARE LAW BLOG reviews an article on non-profit hospitals.

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Summary

So there you have it. I hope you enjoy this week’s compilation of the best of the medical blogosphere.

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Next week’s Second Anniversary edition of Grand Rounds will be hosted by Dr. Enoch Choi at HEALTHLINE. You may email your submissions to him at enochchoimd-thoughts at yahoo dot com.

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And if you haven’t yet participated in the Healthcare Blogging Survey sponsored by Envision Solutions and The Medical Blog Network, please do! Click here. The survey ends on September 29th.



Photo credits:

1. Mt. McKinley, known to Alaskans simply as "Denali"; North America's tallest peak. From a post card, photographer unknown.

2. Bethel from the river at sunset, by The Tundra PA.

3. Float plane on Naknek Lake, from Beautiful America's Alaska by George Wuerthner. www.wuerthnerphotography.com

4. Arrigetch Peaks, Brooks Range, ibid, by George Wuerthner.

5. Grizzly bear, ibid, by George Wuerthner.

6. Musher and sled dog team competing in the Yukon Quest, from Mushing Alaska 2003 Calendar, photo by Jeff Schultz.

7. Bald eagle. From a postcard, photographer unknown.

8. King salmon. From www.lamedialodge.com, photographer unknown.

9. Caribou bull, from America's Beautiful Alaska by George Wuerthner.

10. Alaska mountains, by Dutch (Mr. Tundra PA).

11. Polar bear kiss, by Thomas D. Mangelsen, www.mangelsen.com.

Labels:

30 Comments:

Blogger Dr. A said...

Good luck! Maybe I'll get off my duff and write something to send to you. Remember, drink lots of coffee next Monday night. If I submit something, I'll make sure it's early!

Monday, September 11, 2006 8:49:00 AM  
Blogger The Tundra PA said...

Thanks, Dr. A! I'm only a *little* nervous! After all, how hard can *gulp* 50 links be? I may have to hammer the caffeine to get it done; and then find something a little harder to celebrate. Good thing I'm off next week! Wheee huuu...

Monday, September 11, 2006 6:35:00 PM  
Blogger Kay Wotton said...

Great Pre-rounds interview. Your responses are very thoughtful and weighty. He has some insightful comments too I thought.

Friday, September 15, 2006 11:34:00 PM  
Blogger The Tundra PA said...

Thanks, BB. He certainly did his homework; I think he must have read my entire archive.

Saturday, September 16, 2006 11:18:00 AM  
Blogger Barbados Butterfly said...

A truly beautiful edition of Grand Rounds - great work!

Tuesday, September 19, 2006 3:51:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You did a great job with GR! I have been reading them since they started but this is one of the best.

Thanks for sharing all the pictures, they are beautiful!

Tuesday, September 19, 2006 4:04:00 AM  
Blogger M. Dyspnea said...

Thanks for the straight-forward format this week; I find I read more and more posts if I know what I'm clicking beforehand. Alaska looks beautiful.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006 4:16:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Nice job pulling all these posts together! The pictures are astounding - you've persuaded me I need another visit to Alaska!

Tuesday, September 19, 2006 5:13:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

great edition, i have to see alaska before i die. thanks for compiling, arranging, and presenting!

Tuesday, September 19, 2006 5:37:00 AM  
Blogger Jay said...

That's the most beautiful blog post I've ever seen!

Tuesday, September 19, 2006 7:25:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

 
What a great job! Well organized and laid out, and the pictures really make it a beautiful.

Thank you for hosting this week!
 

Tuesday, September 19, 2006 8:12:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wonderful job!!! :o)

I'm not at all surprised that you did so well. And the photos - as usual - are excellent. My favorite was the dog with the bear ... snoot to snoot!

Thanks for hosting Grand Rounds!

Tuesday, September 19, 2006 8:34:00 AM  
Blogger Sumer Sethi said...

great work and i must confess Alaska is beautiful!!

Tuesday, September 19, 2006 8:37:00 AM  
Blogger Dr. Emer said...

Great presentation. Your 'postcards' are truly marvelous. Thanks for hosting.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006 9:00:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for including Emergiblog at the last minute and for the "Editor's Pick"! Wow!

The link is up at Emergiblog, although you may find the segue interesing, to say the least.

Beautiful job - a case of the "prolifics" definitely hit the medical blogosphere this week! Fifty posts?
Holy cow!

And I have no exuse not to visit Alaska, as the cruise ships leave San Franciso on a regular basis!

Tuesday, September 19, 2006 9:09:00 AM  
Blogger ipanema said...

Great job...great photos!

Tuesday, September 19, 2006 9:19:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well done! I agree -it's a beautiful edition. Thanks for including my post.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006 9:23:00 AM  
Blogger Margaret Polaneczky, MD (aka TBTAM) said...

Beautiful images and a great job! Also a very intersting interview.

Wish I'd gotten my act together to submit something...

Tuesday, September 19, 2006 10:02:00 AM  
Blogger Angel Feathers Tickle Me said...

Love to all....

Tuesday, September 19, 2006 11:32:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great Job.

By the way, I TAG You.

The Dread Pirate Rob

Tuesday, September 19, 2006 1:51:00 PM  
Blogger Kay Wotton said...

There is anice sequence to the posts and the postcards are great. Well done.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006 3:36:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great job and wonderful pics as always!!!!

Tuesday, September 19, 2006 4:47:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

nicely done!
sorry for those who visited hospital impact today - we got hacked! thankfully, everything is restored now...

Tuesday, September 19, 2006 8:41:00 PM  
Blogger tscd said...

Awesome pictures! Thanks for doing the Grand Rounds this week.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006 9:53:00 PM  
Blogger The Tundra PA said...

Thanks, everyone! It was a great learning experience, and one that I enjoyed. I'll blog about it in the next few days. I appreciate your warm support...

Wednesday, September 20, 2006 11:37:00 AM  
Blogger Fat Doctor said...

Excellent! I'm so impressed with your organizational skills, and the photos are gorgeous! I totally blanked on the submission deadline but am happy to see so many new names in your list of the best of medical blogging!

Wednesday, September 20, 2006 5:45:00 PM  
Blogger Kay Wotton said...

Now I think it is time for something mindless. You have been tagged. Check here for info: http://borneo-breezes.blogspot.com/2006/09/bagged-tagged-flagged.html

Thursday, September 21, 2006 5:58:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great GR! :) :)

Friday, September 22, 2006 11:11:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wonderful Grand Rounds.

Friday, September 22, 2006 12:06:00 PM  
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Sunday, March 25, 2007 9:04:00 PM  

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