OUTTHERE www.mddus.com


VINTAGE SURGERY Nose jobs in the 19th century were brutal, according to a new book by surgeon John Stevenson. Scissors, quills, pins and needles were used to correct misshapen noses - and there’s no mention of anaesthesia. Patients seeking cosmetic help include a baron who lost the tip of his nose in a duelling accident. Source: The Guardian


UNDER YOUR SKINA hand-held gadget designed to help patients understand the healing process projects X-ray images of bone structure, muscle tissue, tendons and nerves onto their skin. The AnatOnMe consists of a projector, camera and laser pointer and can display stock images of six injury types. Source: Daily Mail


OH HAPPY DAY The Royal Wedding brought about a 7 per cent mood lift in women, according to online tool Moodscope. Men, however, enjoyed a peak in good mood on Good Friday, 3 per cent higher than on the wedding day. Source: BMJ


HANDY HINTSThe key to spotting future top doctors lies in the length of their second and fourth fingers. Italian researchers found med students with a lower finger length ratio (known as 2D:4D) in their right hands were more likely to be successful. Source: The Guardian


WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT? Stumped? The answer is at the bottom of the page Pick: DVD - Gattaca


Directed by Andrew Niccol, starring Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, Jude Law; 1997


IT is the not-too-distant future and a time when children are selected through preimplantation genetic diagnosis in a bid to create a race of superior human specimens. People are classified as either genetically preferred “valids” or less desirable, naturally conceived “in- valids” – a label that dictates their future role in society.


Genetic screening is commonplace, meaning professional roles are reserved for hand-picked valids while in-valids – who are more prone to health problems – are relegated to menial jobs. Ethan Hawke


plays in-valid Vincent who struggles against society’s prejudices in the hope of proving he can achieve more than his genetic profile suggests.


He assumes the identity of valid Jerome (Jude Law) to hide his genetic weaknesses and pursue his dream of becoming an astronaut for Gattaca Corp, but Vincent’s deceit means he must stay one step ahead of the constant genetic tests if he is to make it into space.


Gattaca is a smart, thought-provoking sci-fi thriller that raises serious questions about the practice of eugenics and the potential consequences of employing sophisticated reproductive technologies.


FYi Back For More


15 •


Product Review: MIMS app


SIGN Guidelines app MIMS; £5.99 SIGN; Free


Review by Jim Killgore, contributing editor


that have been attracting attention. For over 50 years MIMS (Monthly Index of Medical Specialties) has been providing healthcare professionals with information on medicines licensed in the UK, including drug dosages, warnings, contraindications and adverse events. The resource is updated in monthly editions and in recent years has been available online. It is said to be accessed over 450,000 times every month by UK general practitioners. Doctors can now download a MIMS app


Many medical smartphone applications suffer from being either totally over the top and inappropriate for the format or less than useless. I mean do you really need an app to check a patient’s BMI? But there are some notable exceptions including two new apps


from Android Market or iTunes, providing handy pocket-access to the resource with a predictive search to quickly find concise information on over 2,000 products. You can also search or browse by brand or generic name, or find products by manufacturer or therapeutic area. The one-off download also allows you to access free updates instantly. Another useful app was launched in April


of this year by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network or SIGN for iPhone, iPad and Android phones and tablets. It features Quick Reference Guides (QRGs) on a selection


of SIGN guidelines, including those for the management of atopic eczema, rheumatoid arthritis, venous thromboembolism, psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in adults, chronic venous leg ulcers, stroke, sore throat and indications for tonsillectomy, diabetes, obesity, depression, Parkinson’s disease and asthma. The QRG content is enhanced with material from the main guideline and online resources, linked to the SIGN website. Each new SIGN QRG will be added as an


update as it is published, building into a completelibrary. The app also features keyword search, bookmarking and in-app access to the SIGN website.Best of all, the app is free and has already proven surprisingly popularbeing downloaded over 8,000 times since being launched in April. The application has earned 24 four-star ratings on iTunes with the main suggestion among users being that it should be updated with the inclusion of all the guidelines available on the SIGN website. So delete that disgusting iBoak app and download something useful for a change.


WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT? Rods and cones in the retina


PHOTO: THE KOBAL COLLECTION


PHOTO: SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16