Kenneth Mann named 'Distinguished Scientist'

A professor from the College of Medicine has recently been recognized by one of the top cardiovascular organizations in the world.

Professor of Biochemistry and Medicine Kenneth Mann, Ph.D was named a Distinguished Scientist by the American Heart Association (AHA), an honor reserved for those whose work has advanced understanding of cardiovascular disease, a University Communications article stated.

The award, created in 2003, progresses the AHA's goal of "building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and strokes," the article stated.

The research that propelled Mann to Distinguished Scientist status focused on blood coagulation. The National Institutes of Heath, the AHA and other areas in the pharmaceutical industry supported his publication, the article stated.

Mann's early career focused on the production of the protein thrombin and pharmaceuticals' influence on it, University Communications stated.

Mann and his research team have focused on computer simulation and clinical trials to determine the effects of various pharmaceuticals on blood clotting and thrombin production, Mann said.

"Because our work flows in through all areas, we cover everything from cardiology to vascular surgery and trauma," he said. "We've even written a lot of current textbooks on blood clotting and hematology."

Mann's contributions have been recognized by various medical associations and have received awards such as the E. Donnall Thomas prize and the Stratton Medal of the American Society of Hematology, according to University Communications.

"I got involved in blood clotting for a lot of reasons, and was mentored and tutored by very nice people over my career," Mann said.

His research career and training of graduate and medical students has produced scientists in the blood coagulation field. Mann attributes his success to his students, collaborators and his wife, Jeanette, the article stated. 

Z-Medica Donates $1.5 Million in QuikClot

WALLINGFORD, Conn., Dec 08, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Z-Medica Corporation, a medical device company which develops and distributes innovative hemostatic agents, announced that it has donated $1.5 million in QuikClot(R) the company's life-saving hemostatic agents, to AmeriCares, a nonprofit global health and disaster relief organization. The QuikClot products will be used by AmeriCares for disaster relief efforts as well as its ongoing health programs around the globe, helping to prevent loss of life and limb. Z-Medica had previously donated $150,000 of its QuikClot products to AmeriCares for use in Haiti following the earthquake there in 2010.

"We had great success providing QuikClot for use in Haiti following the earthquake and for other relief efforts and we are grateful that Z-Medica has responded to our request for an additional donation of this life-saving tool," said Dr. Frank J. Bia, AmeriCares Medical Director. "QuikClot is now a standard part of our response efforts and we make sure it is part of our aid deliveries for disasters and our ongoing partnerships."

QuikClot is an ideal product for use in the field, including disaster relief areas or by first responders, due to its ease-of-use and ability to achieve hemostasis in as little as three minutes. The United States Department of Defense currently uses QuickClot Combat Gauze(TM) as the official first-line hemostatic treatment for traumatic bleeding in all branches of the United States military. QuikClot is also regularly used by first-responders and medical professionals in the field and in hospital clinical environments such as the cardiac catheterization laboratory, interventional radiology, the emergency room and virtually anywhere else where bleeding needs to be controlled.

"AmeriCares is an extremely professional and efficient organization and we have the highest confidence that they will save many lives with this donation," said Brian Herrman, Chief Executive Officer, Z-Medica. "Every US soldier, marine, and airman carries QuikClot at all times, which has saved many lives. Our mission at Z-Medica, therefore, is to ensure that all medical professionals and first responders everywhere have access to QuikClot, in both disaster areas, as well as in day-to-day situations such as hospital trauma units, emergency rooms and the cardiac catheterization labs."

Woman's face catches on fire during surgery

A woman's face caught on fire during routine surgery in the US.
Kim Grice, 29, was undergoing surgery to have cysts removed from her brain when her face erupted in flames.
Grice was airlifted to a Burn Unit with burns to her face and neck.
Grice's father, Ted Grice, told a local newspaper his daughter's face had "caught on fire" during surgery.
"The doctors and the hospital are not telling us what happened," he said. "They said they had never seen anything like it before and they are terribly sorry that it happened."
Grice's mother said she was in shock.
"This is not what happens with a routine outpatient surgery."
According to ABC News, however, "flash fires"are not uncommon.
Between 550 and 650 surgical fires occur each year in the US alone. More than half of surgical fires happen inside a patient's airway or on the patient's upper body, while a quarter of surgical fires happen on other parts of the body.
About 70 per cent of "flash fires" are ignited by electrosurgical tools commonly known as Bovies, devices that use a high-frequency electric current to cut tissue or stop bleeding, reported MSNBC.
Twenty per cent of fires are sparked by hot wires, light sources, burrs or defibrillators while about 10 per cent are sparked by lasers.