Day 1: Cushing’s Awareness Challenge

Posted on April 1, 2024 by MaryO

April is always Cushing’s Awareness Challenge month because Dr. Harvey Cushing was born on April 8th, 1869.

30-posts

Thanks to Robin for this wonderful past logo!  I’ve participated in these 30 days for Cushing’s Awareness several times so I’m not quite sure what is left to say this year but I always want to get the word out when I can.

As I see it, there have been some strides the diagnosis or treatment of Cushing’s since last year.  More drug companies are getting involved, more doctors seem to be willing to test, a bit more awareness, maybe.

April Fool's Day

How fitting that this challenge should begin on April Fool’s Day.  So much of Cushing’s  Syndrome/Disease makes us Cushies seem like we’re the April Fool.  Maybe, just maybe, it’s the doctors who are the April Fools…

Doctors tell us Cushing’s is too rare – you couldn’t possibly have it.  April Fools!

All you have to do is exercise and diet.  You’ll feel better.  April Fools!

Those bruises on your legs?  You’re just clumsy. April Fools!

Sorry you’re growing all that hair on your chin.  That happens as you age, you know.  April Fools!

Did you say you sleep all day?  You’re just lazy.  If you exercised more, you’d have more energy. April Fools!

You don’t have stretch marks.  April Fools!

You have stretch marks but they are the wrong [color/length/direction] April Fools!

The hump on the back of your neck is from your poor posture. April Fools!

Your MRI didn’t show a tumor.  You couldn’t have Cushing’s. April Fools!

This is all in your mind.  Take this prescription for antidepressants and go home.  April Fools!

If you have this one surgery, your life will get back to normal within a few months. April Fools!

What?  You had transsphenoidal surgery for Cushing’s?  You wasted your time and money. April Fools!

I am the doctor.  I know everything.  Do not try to find out any information online. You could not have Cushing’s.  It’s too rare…  April FOOL!

All this reminds me of a wonderful video a message board member posted a while ago:

So now – who is the April Fool?  It wasn’t me.  Don’t let it be you, either!

Filed under: Cushing's, Diagnostic Testing, Rare Diseases, symptoms, Treatments | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

How AI Could Help Make Brain Surgery Safer

Posted on October 23, 2023 by MaryO

I’m not sure I like this!

STORY: Could artificial intelligence be used to make brain surgery safer?

At this university in London, trainee surgeon Danyal Khan is taking part in a mock operation during which he’s assisted by a real-time video feed, as is typical in brain surgery.

But what’s new here is that the footage is being analyzed by AI to help Khan better understand what he’s seeing.

The AI system, which is under development at University College London (UCL), highlights sensitive or critical structures in the brain.

Neurosurgeon Hani Marcus believes it has the potential to make brain surgery safer and more effective:

“So I’m very bullish that in the medium to long term, the A.I. will be helping lots of surgeons do lots of operations better than they otherwise can.”

Marcus says the AI system analyzed video of more than 200 pituitary gland tumor operations, and gained around 10 years-worth of experience in a fraction of the time.

That knowledge means the AI can now not only help navigate to the correct area of the brain, but also know what should be happening at any stage of the procedure, making it a valuable training aid.

“So, what we’re really trying to do is apply AI or artificial intelligence to support surgeons doing brain tumor surgery at the base of the brain. And what this practically entails is us training the AI with hundreds of videos, telling it, if you like, what structures are what and then at some point over that period, the AI becomes really good itself at recognising things, and able to support other surgeons who’re perhaps less experienced in advising them what to do next.”

Assistant Professor of Robotics and A.I. Sophia Bano explains how that might look in a real operation:

“There can be scenarios where clinicians, unintentionally, are very close to a very critical structure such as the optic nerve. This can have, any damage or a slight more pressure on the optic nerve, can have long term complications on the patient side. So, this whole tool will alert the surgeon during the procedure if there is any risk of potential complication so they can recalibrate themselves during the procedure.”

Khan, who was also involved in developing the software that is now helping him learn, says the A.I. system has been a valuable tool in his training.

It could also provide him with step-by-step guidance during a procedure, similar to having a senior surgeon standing over your shoulder.

“I think as I progress as a surgeon, there might be stages where I wonder, you know, have I done enough of a particular part of the procedure and should I move on? And actually having that sort of assistant in the background as a reassurance to look at and say, ‘well, yeah, actually, at this stage, out of the hundreds of videos of experts that this algorithm has watched, the experts would probably start moving on to the next phase’. It’s a useful double check.”

According to UCL, the system could be ready to be used in operating theaters within two years.

From https://news.yahoo.com/ai-could-help-brain-surgery-080156167.html

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Filed under: Cushing's, pituitary, Treatments, Video | Tagged: , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Suspecting Pituitary Disorders: “What’s Next?”

Posted on March 22, 2017 by MaryO

In this “3 in 3” video, Ji Hyun (CJ) Chun, PA-C, BC-ADM, covers 3 types of pituitary disorders and describes useful workups for use by primary care clinicians.

Clinician Reviews’ “3 in 3” video series delivers 3 take-home points in 3 minutes—or less.

View the video here

Filed under: pituitary, Video | Tagged: , | Leave a comment »

Rare Disease Day 2017

Posted on February 28, 2017 by MaryO

Today is #RareDiseaseDay 2017! Today, with events taking place in over 90 countries all around the world, we hope to raise more awareness than ever for rare diseases!

With the theme of research, and the slogan, ‘With research, the possibilities are limitless’, #RareDiseaseDay 2017 is an opportunity to call on all researchers, universities, students, companies, policymakers and clinicians to do more research and to make them aware of the importance of research for the rare disease community.

This year’s Rare Disease Day video, which has been viewed over a hundred thousand times and translated into over 30 languages,  draws a parallel with a routine that many of us go through multiple times a day – searching for an answer on the internet. The video highlights how isolating it is when you search on the internet but receive the response ‘your search had no results’. It also highlights the hope and promise that comes with additional research into rare diseases, something that must be continuously strived for.

You are still able to participate in raising awareness of the day and be part of the change, by sharing the video, the poster, or any Rare Disease Day material on your Facebook, Twitter or other social media platforms.

This year, on the tenth edition of the day, Rare Disease Day events will be held for the first time in four African nations, Botswana, Nigeria, Senegal and Sudan. Events will also be held for the first time in Saint Pierre and Miquelon.

Learn more at http://www.rarediseaseday.org/page/news/today-is-rare-disease-day-2017

Filed under: Cushing's, Rare Diseases | Tagged: , , | 1 Comment »

An Amusing Look At Hormones And The Pituitary Gland

Posted on February 15, 2017 by MaryO

A moment in the scheming mind of Professor Pituitary and his sidekick, Dr. Hypothalamus!! And… their minions, the Hormonal Kitties!

Filed under: Humor, pituitary, Video | Tagged: , , | Leave a comment »

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