The University of Kansas Health System is treating a total of 53 COVID patients today, 61 Friday. Other significant numbers:
- 34 with the active virus today, 43 Friday
- 8 in ICU, 11 Friday
- 3 on a ventilator, 2 Friday
Key points from today’s guests:
Morning Rounds – Reactions to the Latest Health News on Celine Dion
Dr. Murtaza Khan, neurologist, The University of Kansas Health System
- Celine Dion has recently announced she has stiff person syndrome, which is a very rare disease
- Symptoms include difficulty walking and muscle spasms. A very progressive form could lead to seizures and uncontrolled epilepsy.
- As with other autoimmune diseases, we think it has a genetic component as well as a probable environmental component, however, we’ve not found any specific triggers.
- It can be treated with physical therapy as well as medication.
- Depending on her response to treatment, she could be able to return to the stage.
Feature Topic – Gall Bladder
Dr. Benjamin Stone, surgeon, The University of Kansas Health System
- The gall bladder is part of the digestive system that helps us process fats. It works in conjunction with the liver so that when you eat fatty foods, which we're all getting ready to eat a lot of this holiday season, the gallbladder helps you digest that that fatty meal.
- Gall bladders sometimes get gall stones or need to be removed. Surgical removal is typically an outpatient procedure.
- People can live without their gall bladder, but it means the liver needs to work harder.
- The top factors that affect gall bladder issues are: female, 40s, and excess weight.
- There are foods that can counterbalance gall bladder issues, including less fat in the diet and more fiber. This can be difficult during the holidays with so many fatty foods available.
- Diagnose gall bladder issues is a challenge because it is located near the heart and stomach and some symptoms can mimic symptoms of issues from them.
- Classic symptoms of a gallbladder attack are right upper quadrant pain -- right underneath the rib. It's usually associated with eating a meal.
- There are there are about 700,000 to a million gallbladders removed in the United States, so it's a very common issue.
COVID/Disease Updates
Dr. Dana Hawkinson, director of infection control and prevention, The University of Kansas Health System
- With monkeypox, now called “mpox”, we've seen around the world cases have gone down.
- This is because of better infrastructure and surveillance around the world, although there is more work to do.
- It is vitally important to set up global and local surveillance facilities and institutions so that we can be on the lookout for those emerging health issues.
- The CDC is set to expand wastewater testing for polio in several states. We just covered wastewater testing for COVID in a previous show and we know that it can be effective to determine important trends with diseases.
Tuesday, December 13 at 8:00 a.m. is the next Morning Medical Update. We'll share how a father-daughter duo is waking the path of Alzheimer's with grace and dignity. Plus, we are joined by the Stower's Institute and our top Alzheimer’s researcher to discuss the latest advancements and approved medication to treat this disease.
ATTENTION MEDIA: Please note access is with Microsoft Teams:
Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting
Meeting ID: 235 659 792 451
Passcode: 6CSfGE
Download Teams | Join on the web
Or call in (audio only)
+1 913-318-8863,566341546# United States, Kansas City
TVU Grid link: UoK_Health_SDI
Restream links: Facebook.com/kuhospital
YouTube.com/kuhospital
Send advance questions to medicalnewsnetwork@kumc.edu.