Facebook for Blood Donors?

I came across this article and I thought it was really neat!

Socioblood.org is a website that is basically a facebook for blood types, donees and donors. Started in India, it's a facebook app with 8 groups (for blood types) that personalizes blood donations. Such an interesting idea! I think it would increase the amount of people who donate blood because it will put a face to the person you are helping.

Here is the article link:
http://allthingsd.com/20111114/socialblood-taps-facebook-to-match-blood-donors-and-recipients/?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews

Five Ways Hospitals are using the iPad

This is a really interesting article discussing several ways that hospitals can utilize iPads from apps that provide patient surveys to first aid advice and waiting room wait times. Empowering patients is such a great idea and allows the patient to have more control over their own health.  Everyone seems to have smart phones and iPads so why not use them for our health?




Here is a link to the article: http://www.medcitynews.com/2011/11/5-ways-hospitals-are-using-the-ipad/?edition=ohiotals-are-using-the-ipad/?edition=ohio

A wristband that monitors your health!

I saw this article and I was really interested in this product. I love products or ideas that promote primary disease prevention through healthier lifestyles. This product in particular is a small wristband that is worn all day, everyday that helps you keep track of your physical activity, sleep and diet. The wristband also is compatible with an app for the iphone as well. It uses motionX technology to monitor your activity and exercise. Really cool idea, its like a pedometer from the future!!

Here is the article about the product "UP" by the company Jawbone: http://www.health2news.com/2011/11/04/jawbone-gets-into-health-offering-a-small-companion/

And here is the Jawbone website for more information about the company: http://jawbone.com/

Health Apps on iTunes

I read this article and thought it was really interesting. First off, it reported that there are about 9,000 health related apps on iTunes currently. This number really surprised me, I didn't realize there were that many health apps out there! I currently use apps on my droid that measure exercise distance, calories burned and my favorite app that is a reference for calories in foods at popular restaurants. Who knew Olive Garden salad was so unhealthy?
Using apps on phones to improve and aid in health really is a brilliant idea. We take our phones everywhere with us and by having access to a constant source of information on them is really priceless.
Here's a link to the full article:
http://www.health2news.com/2011/10/24/are-health-apps-the-cure-for-anything-that-ails-you/

Cialis approved for the treatment of BPH!

We learned this other day in class, here is the fda press announcement!

http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm274642.htm?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

FDA approves new drug to treat type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol in one tablet today!

The new drug is called: Juvisync (sitagliptin and simvastatin) and is the first of its kind to treat both high cholesterol and Type II Diabetes in one tablet. 
Read today's FDA press announcement here: 


http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm274748.htm

Man's best friend

As a dog owner I am biased. As a poor student I'm also biased, why are we looking for expensive screening and diagnostic mechanisms, it seems as though the answers to a lot of health questions are right in front of us. Albeit not a complete answer, but a place to start that seems logical. I stand by a firm belief that the answer to all of our health problems lies on this Earth, not created or synthesized in a lab. We just need to look. For the diseases that some may think will never be cured, why not start looking at a more basic level? Although to some this may seem like hocus pocus medicine, it makes sense to me. If animals can sense cancer, glucose levels etc through scent, why not put more research into finding out what these scents/markers are? Take this knowledge and create tools and screening methods that utilize them.

http://www.npr.org/2011/02/04/133498144/can-dogs-smell-cancer

Diabetes moving beyond finger sticks

Personally I think that finding an alternate way to test blood glucose in place of finger pricking is a huge opportunity currently and even more so in the future. I was reading this article recently regarding breath testing for blood glucose.  I think that breath testing for blood glucose is such a great non-invasive idea, however a very difficult thing to develop. There are many details to work out before something like this comes into common therapy practice, but I do think it is something we will be seeing in the future.

Here's a link to the full article:

http://forecast.diabetes.org/magazine/your-ada/breath-test-blood-glucose

RIP Steve Jobs

As many of you know Steve Jobs passed away on October 5th, I just wanted to share this speech he made at the 2005 Stanford Commencement. Steve Jobs: How to live before you die | Video on TED.com  As one of our time's greatest innovators, its unfortunate and sad that his life ended so prematurely.

Furthermore, what many of you may not have known or realized is that Steve Jobs left quite a mark in healthcare before his untimely passing : http://www.ihealthbeat.org/articles/2011/10/6/industry-leaders-reflect-on-how-steve-jobs-has-influenced-health-care.aspx

I never really thought about how much apps and smartphones have changed healthcare or even pharmacy practice so drastically just in the last 5 years even. I can't imagine my life without a smartphone now. I may not be lucky enough to have an iPhone, but my Droid offers an array of apps and information access which aids my pharmacy student life. Even more exciting, which is mentioned in the this article is the growing number of physicians using iPads in their practice for electronic health records.

Mayo Clinic's free online health community

Article Link: http://www.medcitynews.com/2011/07/first-google-now-mayo-clinic-connect-tries-to-be-a-niche-healthcare-facebook/

In just a dozen or so weeks the Mayo Clinic has managed to attract over 7000 members to its newly implemented "facebook-like" healthcare connection site connect.mayoclinic.org.  This interactive site is free and enables people to connect to other people with similar diseases, engage in discussion, read new articles, watch videos....the possibilities are endless. This is such a great idea, it connects people, its online and it's a reputable source of information. Check it out!!!


Here is the link to Mayo Clinic's free online health community: http://connect.mayoclinic.org/

best excuse to play video games!

I saw this in the news today and thought it was really interesting! Scientists are using gamers to solve the mysteries of DNA folding. I actually downloaded this game and tried playing, I really didn't understand what I was doing, I think I needed a someone to teach me. Either way, I thought the article was worth sharing, and who says playing video games gets you no where in life? Enjoy! Here is the link to the article:

http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/09/18/7802623-gamers-solve-molecular-puzzle-that-baffled-scientists?GT1=43001