Cavaliers Forward LeBron James Underwent Parotidectomy

Reuters on June 3, 2009 reported that LeBron James underwent a 5 hour surgery to remove a benign cyst from his parotid gland. People may ask why it would take so long to remove a cyst. It's because the nerve that makes the face move goes through the parotid gland and if the nerve is not identified first prior to cyst removal, the patient may end up with a permanent facial paralysis.

Read the story here.

I would bet that it took 4 1/2 hours to identify and trace out all the facial nerve branches (can be as thin as a hair) and 30 minutes to remove the cyst and close the wound.

Read more about this type of surgery here.

Brains of People with OSA Similar to People Dying or Severe Stroke

Sufferers of obstructive sleep apnea experience similar changes in brain biochemistry as people who have had a severe stroke or who are dying, new research showed published in the May 2009 edition of Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism. Apparently, when oxygen desaturation >10% occurs, a significant and severe disorder occurs to the brain bioenergetics, even if transient.

This research (determined by using MRI) does suggest that OSA does impair brain function much more severely than once thought.

For those who have untreated OSA, please see your physician and get this treated!!!

Read more about this here.

Online Fan Overview: The Good and The Bad

Every once in awhile, I take a look and see how the online presence of our practice is doing... As of today, our numbers our astounding in some areas!

YouTube:
382 subscribers

Stroboscopy Video on YouTube:
7,030,395 views with over 1900 ratings (WOW!!!)

Other YouTube Videos:
Many of our other videos have over 50,000 views

Practice Website:
Average about 4000 hits/day

However, there is room for improvement in other areas:

Twitter:
9 followers (though we just started this up a few weeks ago)

Practice Feed:
10-15 subscribers

Facebook:
17 fans (just started last month)


Regardless of our numbers, I just wanted to take this time and thank our supporters! Without your support, our online presence would still be mainly limited to the Yellow Pages...

ENT Problems Due to Toxic Drywalls in Homes Built/Remodeled After 2000

There have been a number of news reports in the past year reporting on the use of toxic drywall made in China in new or re-modelled homes built after 2000 that have caused a number of ear, nose, throat symptoms in families living in these affected dwellings.

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Such symptoms include: nosebleeds, headaches, coughs, upper respiratory or sinus issues, rashes. The Homeowners Consumer Center believes that exposure to toxic Chinese drywall, and some of these medical symptoms are related, because homeowners in new homes in different parts of the country, different states, all share two things in common: 1) the fact that Chinese drywall is in their house, and 2) they have these medical conditions. In many cases not everyone in the family will share the same symptoms.

These symptoms appear only when living in the home and disappear after a period of time when on vacation or at work. Unfortunately, the symptoms return shortly after coming back home.

If you live in a home and suspect toxic Chinese drywall is present, you can call the Homeowners Consumer Center anytime at 866-714-6466 or contact the group via their web site at www.HomeownersConsumerCenter.com.

Foul Smelling Earwax (and/or Armpits) Suggest Increased Potential Risk of Breast Cancer

Researchers in Japan recently published a research article in the June 2009 edition of The FASEB Journal that explains why females with foul smelling earwax as well as armpits may be at risk for breast cancer. Apparently, the secreting glands of the breast tissue are similar to the cerumen-producing glands of the ear canal and sweat-producing glands of the armpits. Apparently, one of the genes, ABCC11 WT variant, is responsible for causing breast cancer. This genetic variant is also responsible for foul smelling armpits (osmidrosis) as well as smelly and wet earwax.

As such, it is felt that if a woman suffers from malodorous armpits and earwax, she may be at higher risk for breast cancer.

Read more about it here.

This factoid was also mentioned in Nancy Snyderman's book, "Medical Myths That Can Kill You: And the 101 Truths That Will Save, Extend, and Improve Your Life."