Community Data in Genetics June 30, 2010
Posted by Dr. Bertalan Meskó in Genetic testing, genetics, Genome, Health 2.0, Web 2.0.add a comment
23andMe is a direct-to-consumer genetic company that also launched the 23andWe project in which they tried to use the data they obtain from patients in studies. Now the results are published in PLoS Genetics.
Despite the recent rapid growth in genome-wide data, much of human variation remains entirely unexplained. A significant challenge in the pursuit of the genetic basis for variation in common human traits is the efficient, coordinated collection of genotype and phenotype data. We have developed a novel research framework that facilitates the parallel study of a wide assortment of traits within a single cohort.
The approach takes advantage of the interactivity of the Web both to gather data and to present genetic information to research participants, while taking care to correct for the population structure inherent to this study design.
Here we report initial results from a participant-driven study of 22 traits. Replications of associations (in the genes OCA2, HERC2, SLC45A2, SLC24A4, IRF4, TYR, TYRP1, ASIP, and MC1R) for hair color, eye color, and freckling validate the Web-based, self-reporting paradigm. The identification of novel associations for hair morphology (rs17646946, near TCHH; rs7349332, near WNT10A; and rs1556547, near OFCC1), freckling (rs2153271, in BNC2), the ability to smell the methanethiol produced after eating asparagus (rs4481887, near OR2M7), and photic sneeze reflex (rs10427255, near ZEB2, and rs11856995, near NR2F2) illustrates the power of the approach.
Although it’s a great example for how the online data can be used for scientific purposes, it does raise some questions about patient privacy.
Health 2.0 News: JMIR, Wi-Fi and IF June 30, 2010
Posted by Dr. Bertalan Meskó in eHealth, Google, Health, Health 2.0, Medical journalism, Medical Search, Medicine, Medicine 2.0, Second Life, Web 2.0, What's on the web?.2 comments
Specifically, the publication with second highest impact factor in the “science” category is Acta Crystallographica – Section A, knocking none other than the New England Journal of Medicine from the runner’s up position. This title’s impact factor rocketed up to 49.926 this year, more than 20-fold higher than last year.
On Tuesday, June 15, FDA launched a web page where you can find summaries of safety information about recently approved drugs and a brief discussion of any steps FDA may be taking to address any identified safety issues. New drugs approved after September 27, 2007 will receive a safety summary within roughly two years of approval. The summaries address safety risks that were not identified during a drug’s development or prior to FDA approval. FDA plans to publish summaries on a quarterly basis.
- Medical Free/Libre and Open Source Software: Medfloss.org provides a comprehensive and structured overview of Free/Libre and Open Source Software (FLOSS) projects for the health care domain. Moreover it offers an open content platform to foster the exchange of ideas, knowledge and experiences about these projects.
- 23andme – yes, me – part 3: A detailed review of what the genetic report of 23andme looks like.
- Did you know that there is an Open (Participatory) Peer-Review at the Journal of Medical Internet Research? You can sign up as peer-reviewer.
Eye Test on Mobile June 30, 2010
Posted by Dr. Bertalan Meskó in Health, Health 2.0, Medicine, Medicine 2.0, Mobile, Video.2 comments
I’m a big fan of health-related mobile applications, so I was glad to read the recent Medgadget entry about a cheap eye test. If you click on this link, you will find dozens of similar apps but in dermatology or neurology.
Researchers at MIT have developed a method of using a basic cell phone coupled with a cheap and simple plastic device clipped onto the screen to estimate refractive errors and focal range of eyes. Because of its simplicity and the fact that soon just about everyone will have access to a mobile phone, eye exams may become available to the whole world at little to no cost.
Medical Education in the Virtual World: Please Donate! June 29, 2010
Posted by Dr. Bertalan Meskó in Ann Myers Medical Center, Health 2.0, Medical education, Medicine 2.0, Second Life, Virtuality, Web 2.0.2 comments
We’ve been organizing medical case presentations and events, conferences at the Ann Myers Medical Center in Second Life for years. The problem is it costs us time, energy and money to organize these events and any kind of donations would be really welcome! If you are willing to help us, please let us know. Thank you in advance!
The Ann Myers Medical Center (teleport link) aims to educate medical students and nurses in the virtual environment of Second Life. In monthly meetings, students can learn from educators through interactive and clearly visualized case presentations. Regularly there are speeches on several topics. Click here for more details and pictures.
Colonoscopy through iPhone June 29, 2010
Posted by Dr. Bertalan Meskó in Medical Imaging, Medicine, Medicine 2.0, Mobile, Video, Web 2.0.1 comment so far
Medgadget has recently featured a great application, Gyromaniac, that helps students and gastroenterologists about performing colonoscopies and what they exactly see on the monitor.
An excerpt from iMedicalApps:
A gastroenterologist fellow once jokingly told me how thankful he was for playing too many video games as a child, because it helped him learn how to perform procedures faster. I wouldn’t be surprised if there is actual truth to the statement. An app called Gyromaniac is an example of how the iPhone 4′s new gyroscope feature could actually help physicians practice spatial orientation.
Here is how Steve Jobs described this technique:
(Via Techcrunch)
AIDS/HIV in Social Media June 28, 2010
Posted by Dr. Bertalan Meskó in e-patient, Health, Health 2.0, Medicine, Medicine 2.0, PeRSSonalized Medicine, Web 2.0, Webicina.5 comments
AIDS/HIV affects millions of people worldwide and the number of related social media resources is also growing, though the quality is often questionable. The new selection on Webicina.com, AIDS/HIV in Social Media, helps you find the most relevant blogs, podcasts, community sites, mobile apps and other useful resources.
If you also want to follow easily these selected blogs, news, journals and Twitter users in a personalized way, here is PeRSSonalized AIDS/HIV.
iPads in Healthcare June 28, 2010
Posted by Dr. Bertalan Meskó in Health, Health 2.0, Innovation, Medicine, Medicine 2.0, Mobile, Video, Web 2.0.5 comments
When the iPad was launched and I wrote about the pros and cons regarding its use in healthcare, I was sure only about one thing: there would soon be many potential applications. Well, PadGadget collected some fo them. For example, in Florida Hospital Oceanside, they use iPad to help stroke victims with speech therapy:
Here are other relevant stories:
- Virginia Campbell, a 99-year-old woman suffering from glaucoma
- iPads to help sick kids
- Also doctors performing surgery
- And a young boy with autism.
Let us know if you know more examples.
Who is paying for the new US Healthcare Bill? June 28, 2010
Posted by Dr. Bertalan Meskó in Healthcare, Infographics.add a comment
Have you ever wondered who is paying for the US healthcare bill? My new favourite blog just published an infographics describing this issue in details. Click on the image for the bigger original version.
Health 2.0 News: Youtube, Patient Data and Google Wave June 24, 2010
Posted by Dr. Bertalan Meskó in Google, Health, Health 2.0, Medicine, Medicine 2.0, Mobile, Pharma, Web 2.0, What's on the web?, Youtube channel.3 comments
Google wave is a great tool for collaboration , sharing , working and team tracking as well as a project management , its an interactive dynamic collaborating tool for teams. As Google wave built to be extend-able with new features powered by community of developers who also are users , they improve many features as well as adding many new other features to Wave , through flexible API developers manage to create extensions as well as make an automated buddies which more features.
- Checking in on Pharma and YouTube (Eye on FDA): A detailed review of pharma companies using Youtube.
- Test driving the iPad in the hospital Operating Room (iMedicalApps)
- Brave New World of Social Media (American Medical Student Association)
1. Privacy is critical.
2. Check your school’s policy.
3. Think before you write.
4. Clean up your Facebook page.
5. Not so funny.
6. Pick your friends carefully.
