Geese and Health; E-Tattoos; Vaccinations
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A Good Day To Advocate for Better Healthcare
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Young Scientists to the Rescue
A group of young students became bonafide biomedical scientists before they even started high school. Through a partnership with the University of Illinois Chicago (alma mater), the middle schoolers collected and analyzed environmental samples to find new antibiotic candidates. One unique sample, goose poop, collected at a local park, had a bacterium that showed antibiotic activity and contained a novel compound that slowed the growth of human melanoma and ovarian cancer cells in lab tests. (American Chemical Society)
3D Printing Soft Tissue “Muscles”
An Oregon State University researcher has helped create a new 3D printing approach for shape-changing materials that are likened to muscles, opening the door for improved applications in robotics as well as biomedical and energy devices.
Here is a video of their research (extra cool).
The liquid crystalline elastomer structures printed by Devin Roach of the OSU College of Engineering and collaborators can crawl, fold and snap directly after printing.
“LCEs are basically soft motors,” said Roach, assistant professor of mechanical engineering. “Since they’re soft, unlike regular motors, they work great with our inherently soft bodies. So they can be used as implantable medical devices, for example, to deliver drugs at targeted locations, as stents for procedures in target areas, or as urethral implants that help with incontinence.” (Oregon State)
e-Tattoos - Temporary Scalp Sensors
Electroencephalography (EEG) is crucial for diagnosing neurological disorders and facilitating brain-computer interfaces. Traditional EEG setups with wet gels and cumbersome cables are labor intensive, uncomfortable, and degrade over time. Dry, skin-conformable e-tattoos offer a comfortable and user-friendly alternative but struggle with hairy scalps.
To tackle this problem, a development team used non-contact digital printing of e-tattoos directly on the hairy scalp. Biocompatible inks were crafted for low-impedance electrodes and high-conductivity interconnects. The fabrication system includes a custom sensor layout design algorithm based on individual head scans and a 5-axis robot controlling a microjet printhead for safe and precise on-scalp ink delivery.
After printing, these inks rapidly self-dry into conductive films perfectly conformed to scalp skin, with enhanced wearability, longevity, and skin adhesion compared with gel electrodes and transferred e-tattoos. Motion imagery and error-related potentials are effectively measured by these printed e-tattoos. This innovation heralds a new era in on-body manufacturing of personalized e-tattoos. (Cell.com)
Vaccines Alert
Flu
I was shocked to see that only 50% of older adults get the flu vaccine. If you never had flu then you don’t know how horrible it can be. The vaccine lessens the effect - it can keep you from getting such a severe case that hospitalization is required. Let me also point out that flu can be deadly. Get the shot. - Almost any pharmacy can help you.
RSV
We went for RSV vaccines yesterday and were pleased to see that our generic Medicare Part D plan picked up the cost. RSV can be deadly to older adults and only 24% of seniors get vaccinated. It seems that it is a one and done. Again, almost any pharmacy can help you.
Childhood Vaccines
Before we go too far - here is the CDC guidance for childhood vaccines. If there is a child in your sphere - do what you can to make sure they are up to date on their shots. Child means up to 18 btw.
My daughter likes to remind people that correlation is not causation. It’s good to remember that. As humans we are wired to take care of a problem as quickly as possible and move on to the next problem. That is a survival technique. But just because B follows A it does not mean that A caused B. My favorite such fallacy is that every mass murderer grew up drinking milk so we should ban milk.
Anti vaccination campaigns fall in that ball park. Part of the problem is there is a time correlation between when MMR vaccines are given and the onset of autism. Since B followed A, A caused B.
Quick answers to complicated problems are the real problem. Some misguided public figure says that the Measles Mumps Rubella vaccine causes autism. A quick way to protect my child is to not vaccinate. Sadly, of course it is in error. A contributing factor to this errant behavior is that vaccines have been so effective that most people have not seen measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria or polio. They are unaware of the potential for lifelong crippling or even death that can be the result of infection. Not to mention the public health hazard of spreading these diseases to others.
Here is a really good article published by the National Institutes of Health. It covers the history of the anti vaccine movement starting in the mid 1900s to today. I like that it includes not just the falsified work of ex doctor Andrew Wakefield, who claimed MMR caused autism, but also the the secondary fallacy that RFK Jr. put forward that the antiseptic thimerosol (used to clean vials of vaccine) had ethyl mercury and so must be the cause of autism because mercury is a neutral poison. No scientific evidence for causation - just grasping at falsehoods. Moreover, when that antiseptic was swapped out for one without ethyl mercury autism rates rose.
If fact, in the face of declining MMR vaccinations autism is increasing. But for so many unwilling to dig into the data - a quick answer, B follows A so A caused B is easier.
Part of the complicated root causes of autism can be found this research paper from UCLA.
“Autism is highly heritable: It is estimated at least 50% of genetic risk is predicted by common genetic variation and another 15-20% is due to spontaneous mutations or predictable inheritance patterns. The remaining genetic risk is yet to be determined.
UCLA Health researchers have published the largest-ever study of families with at least two children with autism, uncovering new risk genes and providing new insights into how genetics influence whether someone develops autism spectrum disorder.
The new study, published July 28 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, also provides genetic evidence that language delay and dysfunction should be reconsidered as a core component of autism.” (UCLA)
ACTION
Here is the CDC guidance for childhood vaccines - by age.
If there are children in your sphere - do what you can to protect them and get them immunized!!!
ACTION
RFK Jr and any other anti vaxxer should not be anywhere near the Department of Health and Human Services or any other agency having to do with healthcare.
Let’s tell our senators to NOT CONFIRM RFK Jr. or any other anti vaccine/anti science demagogue to any position at HHS, the FDA or anywhere else in the government. If you want to call/email here is a link, https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials. Or on your cell phone send a text message SIGN PCQNAC to 50409 to send this message.
“I am your constituent and I care about children growing up healthy. It is anti-health to allow anyone who disbelieves in the safety and efficacy of vaccines to be anywhere near the Department of Health and Human Services or the FDA. DO NOT CONFIRM RFK Jr. or any other anti-vaxxer to any position of authority in those agencies. We sent you there to protect us. SO PROTECT US.”
PUBLISH THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT
If you sent this Resistbot message before you can call or email your representatives at this link, https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials. The message below is a good template.
Women are not full citizens in the United States. The Equal Rights Amendment is not signed even though 38 states have ratified it. Let’s urge our members of Congress and Senators to tell President Biden to publish the Equal Rights Amendment. You can reach your representatives here, https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials OR
On your cellphone Text SIGN PYFIAA to Resistbot at 50409. Here is the message you’ll send:
“I’m your constituent and I am writing to ask that you urge President Biden to publish the Equal Rights Amendment before leaving office. The ERA would enshrine gender equality in our Constitution and has met the ratification requirements to become the 28th Amendment. It needs to be published now.”
RESOURCES
Find My Elected Officials
Contact State and Federal Representatives - phone and email
Healthcare Advocacy (Us) Website
Our Newsletter resources including reproductive healthcare - Healthcare Advocacy Reading List
Important Healthcare Resources
League of Women Voters Healthcare Reform Toolkit
Organizations to Contact
National Nurses United Medicare4All, Physicians for a National Health Program, One Payer States, Healthcare Now
Reproductive Health
NARAL - Pro Choice America
Charley. chatbot abortion resource - make sure to use a secure incognito browser if you live in a state that has banned abortion
Planned Parenthood
Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline has references about where to procure abortion medications. They also assist women in the process of self managed abortion or miscarriage by phone or text and will respond in an hour. Details and hours of operation at their website.
United State of Women Reproductive health page (bottom of the page) has important resources such as medical support, access to Telehealth, prescriptions by mail, and legal support references.
Practice careful communications - The Digital Defense Fund has a number of tips to keep texts, calls, and internet use private. Here is their site.
If you need financial help with an abortion try abortionfunds.org
Claims Denials and Appeals & What to Do
Appeal a Healthcare Decision, Appeal/Negotiate a Hospital Bill
Disinformation Management
Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency
Library of Advice, Specific Advice
Save Democracy
Chop Wood, Carry Water by Jessica Cravens
RESISTBOT
Link to the RESISTBOT site to learn more
Link to Chop Wood, Carry Water RESISTBOT write up
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