Horizons

Equine Therapy for Eating Disorders

Casa Palmera is the only facility of its type that has an in-house equine therapy program for recovery and eating-disorder support. Equine therapy focuses on dynamic group interaction as well as individual interaction between humans and animals. This mode of therapy allows a person to cultivate trust and optimism—an integral part of any successful eating-disorder support system. It can also be highly therapeutic for men and women who are caught up in the cycles of addictionor are seeking relief from other illnesses.

A horse’s sensitivity to human body language and other nonverbal cues allows people to discover and examine unconscious signals they may be communicating to others around them. For residents, the horse becomes a “cotherapist,” serving as a listener and also a mirror that reflects feelings, thoughts and emotions. This relationship is valuable for the healing process and provides positive support for the individual.

Permanent Wrinkle Filler Gets FDA Approval

In October of last year, the FDA gave its final approval for the use of Artefill, the first injectable, permanent wrinkle filler. Dr. Steven Cohen of FACESplus Aesthetic Facility was the lead investigator on the study, which followed a subset of approximately 150 patients for five and a half years after they were treated with Artefill. Though the safety profile of the product held up very well during the study, Cohen appreciates the time the government agency took in its approval process.

“The FDA had very high standards before approving a permanent filler,” says Cohen, “and rightly so.” Now that Artefill has the FDA’s stamp of approval, FACESplus not only offers it as a treatment but, as with any procedure, has also posted substantial educational information about it on its Web site. Cohen cautions that because Artefill is a permanent filler, it should be injected only by a skilled physician certified by Artes Medical, the company that developed the product, and only after thorough informed consent.

While Artefill is a big step forward in treating wrinkles, Cohen points out that biotechnology research is delving even further into the field of aesthetic and reconstructive surgery. One promising biological solution may be the application of stem cells derived from fat to be used as permanent fillers and soft-tissue replacement agents.

Unique Laser Treatment Helps in the Fight Against Amputation

Sharp Memorial Hospital is one of the first hospitals in the country to begin using a new excimer, or “cool” laser procedure called CLiRpath® (Cool Laser Revascularization for Peripheral Artery Therapy) to help clear total obstruction of leg arteries for those suffering from critical limb ischemia (CLI). This severe form of peripheral arterial disease is common in people with diabetes, and frequently the treatment is amputation.

CLI is the progressive accumulation of plaque and thrombus in the arteries of the leg, resulting in obstruction of blood flow. If untreated, CLI can lead to the development of foot ulcers and the onset of limb loss.

“CLiRpath increases the likelihood of wound healing and improves a patient’s quality of life,” says Gregg Alzate, M.D., who is performing the CLiRpath procedure at Sharp Memorial Hospital. “It is one of the most technologically advanced treatments we have for CLI patients suffering from total occlusions and will provide thousands of CLI sufferers with a new alternative in the fight against amputation.”