If you're planning to have an operation any time soon, you might want to check out your surgeon's video-game skills.
A new study shows that doctors who play video games are better at performing an increasingly common, minimally invasive medical procedure called laparoscopic surgery.
Also known as keyhole surgery, the procedure employs a microscopic camera and ultra-slim instruments that are inserted into the patient through tiny incisions rather than a big cut associated with traditional operations. The surgeon then guides the instruments by watching his actions on a TV monitor.
"Laparoscopic surgery and video games have a lot in common," said lead researcher James Rosser of Beth Israel Medical Center in New York. "They both require the participant to execute tasks utilizing visual cues that are presented on a video monitor or screen."
The study looked at 33 doctors who were taking a course on laparoscopic surgery. The results revealed that the doctors who had played video games in the past for more than three hours a week made 37 per cent fewer errors in the course, were 27 per cent faster and scored 42 per cent better than surgeons who never played video games.
Dr. Rosser, whose study was published in Archives of Surgery, believes video games could be used to help doctors hone their skills. "Practise makes perfect," he said. And, he noted, it's a lot less risky to practise on a game than a live patient.
The prominent Manhattan surgeon admits his proposal has a big hurdle to overcome. "Most people -- especially scientists -- think video games are frivolous and worthless."
Contrary to what many parents think, he believes some video games can be good for children. The games can help develop hand-eye co-ordination at an early age; kids might even grow up to be great surgeons or other skilled professionals, he said.
Wrinkles be gone
For once, a scientific study has shown that a popular anti-wrinkle treatment actually works. In fact, Restylane's ability to restore aged and damaged skin seems to exceed medical expectations.
Restylane, a so-called dermal filler, is injected into wrinkles around the face and areas of pockmarked skin such as acne scars. The product contains a modified form of hyaluronic acid, a natural compound that binds with water and helps hydrate the skin.
Dermatologists have long assumed that Restylane works by temporarily "plumping up" the surrounding tissues and filling in wrinkles.
But the new study suggests it might also stimulate the production of collagen, said Frank Wang, who was part of the research team at the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor.
Collagen is a key structural protein in the skin. "When you are young, you have a lot of collagen -- it basically makes your skin look smooth," Dr. Wang explained. "But as you age, collagen breaks down and wrinkles appear."
For their study, the researchers did skin biopsies on eleven volunteers who got the treatment. The results, published in Archives of Dermatology, revealed a "robust" production of new collagen around the injections.
Dr. Wang speculated that injections might stimulate collagen production by "stretching out" collapsed fibroblasts, the cells that secrete the protein.
What's more, the treatment seems to prevent the breakdown of collagen. "You would expect the collagen to accumulate over time . . . and you might need fewer treatments down the road to get the same clinical results."
There are numerous dermal fillers on the market, and some of them also contain hyaluronic acid. But it is impossible to say whether they produce the same results as Restylane until more studies are done, Dr. Wang said. "The manufacturers all do something a little bit different when they chemically alter the hyaluronic acid to make it more stable."
Dying to build
Construction workers have double the risk of the general population of developing head, neck and esophageal cancers, according to a landmark study by Canadian researchers.
"They work in dusty environments and are exposed to all kinds of hazardous substances," said lead researcher James Brophy, executive director of the Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers.
"We actually know from other studies that workers -- particularly construction workers -- are bearing an elevated risk for a whole range of cancers."
The new study, based on data gathered through the Windsor Regional Cancer Centre, is one of the first to focus on head, neck and esophageal cancers. It is being published todayin the International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health.
Head and neck cancers primarily involve the upper respiratory passages, such as the nose, mouth and throat. The esophagus is the hollow, muscular tube that carries food and liquids from the throat to the stomach.
Among other potentially harmful chemicals, those in the construction trades can come into contact with asbestos and silica -- two well-known carcinogens -- when working in older buildings.
Dr. Brophy, who holds an academic post at the University of Windsor, said very little research is now being done to measure the link between different jobs and cancer risks. That means "there is no way to identify potential populations at risk and to do something to try to prevent these exposures."
