Vincent J. Tamuzza, MD's Blog

Recycled hearts and menstrual blood

Thousands of people die each year waiting for organ transplants. Scientists continue to research on how to improve traditional allogeneic transplants and reduce the risk of rejection. At the same time, other possiblities are also being explored, with research into xenogeneic transplants and semi-synthetic / mechanical organs. Recently, two experiments have garnered media attention. This article reports on stromal ste… Continue

Added by Vincent J. Tamuzza, MD on April 28, 2008 at 12:12am — No Comments

Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and alternative lifestyle healthcare

It doesn't matter if you identify as gay, bisexual, or a straight person who occasionally has sex with a member of the same gender, you're doctor needs to know about your sexual orientation and sexual practices. Doctors should take a comprehensive sexual history the first time they meet you (number of lifetime partners, history of STDs, sexual practices, sexual dysfunction), but sexual histories are often breezed over or skipped entirely. After an initial assessment, doctors should contin… Continue

Added by Vincent J. Tamuzza, MD on April 26, 2008 at 12:57pm — 1 Comment

Sex under the influence

"Beer goggles" and "coyote ugly" are terms that are used to make light of having sex under the influence of drugs or alcohol, but these statistics from the University of Michigan are quite sobering. Alcohol is associated with a staggering percentage of date rapes, unplanned pregnancies and STDs. Drugs and alcohol impair judgment and lower inhibitions, increasing the likelihood of risk-taking behaviors, like getting in a car… Continue

Added by Vincent J. Tamuzza, MD on April 14, 2008 at 8:13pm — No Comments

What makes a man, a man?

I've already posted about Thomas Beatie, a pregnant transgender man, here. Thomas was born physically female, but decided to transition to a male in his twenties. He underwent a double mastectomy and weekly testosterone injections, but decided to keep his uterus and ovaries so he could eventually have biological children. Although Thomas' pregnancy is an unusual situation, all comments that I have encounter… Continue

Added by Vincent J. Tamuzza, MD on April 14, 2008 at 11:00am — 2 Comments

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's superbug!

It seems like MRSA is everywhere lately, but how does a mild-mannered bacterium become an antibiotic-deflecting superbug? Where did it come from? Is there any kryptonite to defeat it? MRSA stands for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, but let's forget about the "Methicillin-Resistant" for now. Staphylococcus aureus, or Staph, is a Gram-positive spherical bacterium that appears in clusters.… Continue

Added by Vincent J. Tamuzza, MD on April 9, 2008 at 12:00am — 9 Comments

Serial killers: TVs, computers and video games

If you're a parent, maybe you've heard yourself utter the words, "It's a beautiful day, why don't you go outside and play?" If you haven't said those words, you should start saying them. This article reports on a recent study that found sedentary kids are more likely to develop a condition called metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is the term used to label overweight or obese patients with weight-related condi… Continue

Added by Vincent J. Tamuzza, MD on April 6, 2008 at 4:00pm — 1 Comment

Oprah interviews pregnant man

I came across this article last month in The Advocate, a gay and lesbian magazine. It's the story of Thomas Beatie, a transgender man who is pregnant. Thomas was born physically female but underwent hormone therapy and a double mastectomy. He decided to keep his uterus and ovaries. Thomas is legally married to a biological female, Nancy, who underwent a hysterectomy years ago due to severe endometriosis. They ultimately de… Continue

Added by Vincent J. Tamuzza, MD on April 2, 2008 at 6:30pm — 5 Comments

Happy STD Education and Awareness Month!

No, really. Someone actually designated April as National STD Education and Awareness Month, and it's probably not a bad thing, considering one in four teenage girls has an STD. This video explains more. Although only a small number of girls were included in the study, not all STDs were tested for, suggesting that the actual percentage of teenage girls with an STD might be higher. In addition, some girls were… Continue

Added by Vincent J. Tamuzza, MD on April 1, 2008 at 11:30am — 2 Comments

Drugs as good as angioplasty?

Angioplasty is a common procedure where a physician threads a thin wire into an artery and inflates a tiny "balloon." The expansion of the balloon compacts plaque against the vessel wall, which opens up the passageway (lumen), restoring bloodflow. A stent, or spring-like mesh, is sometimes inserted to prevent the artery from narrowing again. This tutorial can help you understand mor… Continue

Added by Vincent J. Tamuzza, MD on March 29, 2008 at 7:30pm — No Comments

Sex: everyone's favorite topic!

Welcome to WEGO Health! Over the next few months, we'll be chatting about a variety of topics pertaining to sexual health, including erectile dysfunction, female sexual dysfunction, STDs, gay/lesbian issues, gender identity and sexual issues across races and cultures. In my nine months as an expert researcher at WEGO Health, I've come across some great information out there. Check this blog often to learn more about projects I'm working on and current headlines regarding sex and sexual health.… Continue

Added by Vincent J. Tamuzza, MD on March 28, 2008 at 4:30pm — No Comments

Vincent J. Tamuzza, MD's Blog (10)