The countdown has begun.
For this past week, I was able to start the collection of data on image resolution of the various images generated on the ongoing MRI study I was assigned to on week three of the program. The program, which can analyze various images simultaneously, offers the results in both visual and written formats. After analyzing the images, I concluded that trabecular depth was not necessarily tied to the level of intensity shown by the images, which rendered any attempt to discern this characteristic inaccurate. With three types of acquistion protocols and four kinds of filters, multiple data sets will be generated over the course of next week before finishing the immersion program. As of right now, I do not foresee a major collaboration continuing into the future but I will certainly hope that my dedication to the project will establish a working relationship between the Cosgrove laboratory and Dr. Potter.
Outside of analyzing image resolution, the week also saw quite a few surgeries of interest at both HSS and Weill Cornell. On Monday I had the opportunity to shadow Dr. Bostrom once again, a day that was mostly devoted to total knee replacements and one instance of revision. The surgeries themselves were brief but rather new to me given that my previous day of shadowing focused exclusively on total hip replacements. At the OR I was accompanied by Amanda and Jacob, not to mention quite a few of Dr. Bostrom's interns. Perhaps the most important aspect that I obtained out of this day was the level of precision in removing bone and carefully choosing which materials to use during the total replacement such as type of implant material (Co-Cr vs. Oxinium) and the use of bone cement.
Wednesday was another surgery day, only this time I had the chance to visit a Weill Cornell physician, courtesy of Dr. Robert Min. The physician, Dr. Jeffrey Greenfield, is a neurosurgeon that oversees anything from trauma-related brain injuries to cranial alterations for a variety of reasons. On the particular day I was shadowing, we saw two cases (the third one being cancelled): the first dealt with edema on the brain of a young child who had sustained traumatic injuries; the surgery inserted a sort of siphon into the top of the cranium. The second case was that of an adult with ongoing medical problems as a result of tissue malformation at the base of the neck; the surgery, called a brain decompression or chiari, had to effectively chip away at the bone laying on top of the cerebellum and remove the first two layers of the meninges before inserting a fill-in soft material and securing the area using a metallic graft. Both surgeries lasted about 2-3 hours although the preparation time was also rather long for a surgery (up to 1 full hour). As a big enthusiast for all aspects of neuronal tissue function, the surgeries enabled me to see how knowledge can help establish an appropriate protocol for the treatment of complicated and delicate conditions in a variety of patients.
Next week will be my last week which means I will try to spend extra hours in lab for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in order to have an easier time on Friday to enjoy NYC for one last day before the end of the program. This past weekend saw more shopping in the trendy Madison Avenue along with a visit to a Spanish restaurant in the Upper West Side for brunch and flamenco show. The final event was a return to Cocotte for a quick light dinner in Soho. So far this weekend has seen a visit to a couple of places in both Chelsea and Greenwich Village (speakeasy throwback!) on Friday night and a Saturday morning visit to Smorgasbourg. With an impromptu trip to Montauk taking place tomorrow, this weekend (and the program) is wrapping up nicely.
Restaurant of the Week: Andanada
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