Good reads, and an Amazing Video

Hopefully you're aware of the great spinal cord research breakthrough (I linked to it last month) of the quadriplegic who can stand independently and wiggle his toes, after having epidural stimulation implants inserted into his lower spine. The stimulation serves to rewire his circuits, so to speak, and is an exciting development in a fast paced and crucial area of research. Here is another link that can potentially answer all of your questions on the procedure, what it really does, and its potential in the future. A sample Q&A:

This technology will really only help the 10 to 15 percent of people with spinal cord injury who are basically about to regain the ability to walk a short distance using walkers or braces.


This comment understates the potential population that could benefit from epidural stim. It came from a prominent M.D., Ph.D. in the SCI field who makes reference to the cohort of very incompletely injured ASIA C and D folks who are already close to walking, assuming that they would benefit -- right now -- from epidural stim implants. While it may be the case that a stim unit could hasten their walking, the potential benefits extend well beyond the small number of almost-walking folks.

Good News!

I found this to be an interesting editorial, and highly relevant as well as it relates to both the healthcare reform and budgetary debates currently raging across the country. Medical researchers are constantly on the hunt for that next miracle drug, but the pace at which discoveries are made is often plodding and usually results in tremendous costs incurred in the R&D phase, which are then passed on to end users in the form of 5-figure price tags on medicines. And far too often, these drugs take an immense physical toll on an already weakened patient, and result in but a few months of added life. Therein lies the question: is a $90,000 per cycle drug worth taking if it gives you 3 months at best of added agony? Obviously it is no one's decision to make but the patient's own (lest Sarah Palin crow about 'death panels'), but if Medicare, the $700 billion gorilla caught in the middle of the current budget quagmire, is truly to be reformed and see serious cost reductions, ultra-expensive drugs that carry little to no benefit should be on the chopping block. Everyone should have the option of pursuing whatever course of treatment they and their doctor agree upon, but 100% on the taxpayer's dime? I don't think so.



Amazing whale rescue....best part starts around the 7 minute mark.


Clark Retirement Community LipDub from Clark LipDub on Vimeo.

Another GR Lipdub that went viral. This apparently took 8 takes to get perfect. See, old people can be cool too!