Health
Dr. Morton Mower, Inventor of Lifesaving Heart Device, Dies at 89
Morton Mower, an entrepreneurial heart specialist who helped invent an implantable defibrillator that has saved many lives by returning probably deadly irregular coronary heart rhythms to regular with {an electrical} jolt, died on April 25 in Denver. He was 89.
His son, Mark, mentioned the trigger was most cancers.
Dr. Mower and Dr. Michel Mirowski, a colleague at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, started work in 1969 on a tool that might be sufficiently small that it might be implanted beneath the pores and skin of the stomach and rapidly right a coronary heart’s rhythms once they go dangerously awry.
Dr. Mirowski had the thought to miniaturize a defibrillator; Dr. Mower, who had taught himself electrical engineering in his basement workshop, believed it might be finished.
“We had been the loopy guys who needed to place a time bomb in folks’s chests,” Dr. Mower mentioned in 2015 in an interview with the medical journal The Lancet, which famous on the time that two million folks around the globe had obtained the implantable machine.
The docs rapidly developed a prototype and shaped a partnership in 1972 with Medrad, a medical tools maker. However the improvement of an implantable defibrillator had its critics.
Writing in Circulation, an American Coronary heart Affiliation journal, Dr. Bernard Lown, who invented the primary efficient exterior defibrillator, and Dr. Paul Axelrod mentioned that sufferers with ventricular fibrillation had been higher served by surgical procedure or an anti-arrhythmia program.
“Actually,” they mentioned, “the implanted defibrillator system represents an imperfect resolution searching for a believable and sensible utility.”
The work continued. After being examined on animals, the battery-operated machine, roughly the scale of a deck of playing cards, was first implanted in people at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1980. 5 years later, it was permitted by the Meals and Drug Administration.
On the time, the F.D.A. mentioned the implantable defibrillator may save 10,000 to twenty,000 lives a 12 months by letting folks have their arrhythmia corrected rapidly moderately than ready to succeed in hospital emergency rooms, the place exterior defibrillators, with their paddles, are used.
Dr. Donald M. Lloyd-Jones, president of the American Coronary heart Affiliation, mentioned in a telephone interview that 300,000 units, now as small as a silver greenback, are implanted yearly.
“Letting folks stroll round with a defibrillator, moderately than being in a hospital beneath fixed care, was actually revolutionary in saving the lives of individuals susceptible to deadly coronary heart assaults,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones mentioned.
He added that one other benefit of the machine — formally often called the automated implantable cardioverter defibrillator — was that its electrical shock is delivered on to the guts. The exterior defibrillator’s jolt should journey from its paddles by pores and skin and tissue earlier than reaching the guts.
Dr. Mower and Dr. Mirowski had been inducted into the Inventors Corridor of Fame in 2002, together with Alois Langer, a venture engineer at Medrad, and M. Stephen Heilman, the corporate’s founder.
Morton Maimon Mower was born on Jan. 31, 1933, in Baltimore and grew up in Frederick, about 50 miles west. His father, Robert, was a cobbler, and his mom, Pauline (Maimon) Mower, was a homemaker.
As a teen, Morton labored through the summers for his Uncle Sam, who owned bathhouses and a toy retailer in Atlantic Metropolis. When his uncle acquired sick, Morton was impressed by how the household handled the physician throughout his home calls.
“They made him sit down; they made him have a cup of tea,” Dr. Mower instructed the alumni journal of the College of Maryland College of Drugs, from which he graduated in 1959, in an interview. “I assumed, Gee, that’s not unhealthy. That’s what I want to do.”
After incomes a bachelor’s diploma from Johns Hopkins College in 1955, the place he was within the pre-med program, and graduating from medical college, Dr. Mower accomplished an internship on the College of Maryland Medical Heart.
He grew to become chief resident at Sinai Hospital in 1962 after which served from 1963 to 1965 within the Military Medical Corps in Bremerhaven, Germany, the place he was chief of drugs.
In 1966, he began a six-year stint as an investigator in Sinai’s coronary drug venture. He ultimately grew to become an attending doctor and chief of cardiology on the hospital. A constructing was named for him on its campus in 2005.
Dr. Mower grew to become rich from licensing the defibrillator know-how and used his cash to construct a big artwork assortment that included works by Rembrandt, Picasso and Impressionist masters.
After leaving Sinai in 1989, he labored for 2 defibrillator makers: Cardiac Pacemakers, a subsidiary of Eli Lilly, as a vp, and Guidant, as a marketing consultant. He later taught medication at Johns Hopkins and most just lately, the College of Colorado college of drugs in Aurora.
Dr. Mower just lately created an organization, Rocky Mountain Biphasic, to search out business makes use of for his many patents in areas together with cardiology, wound therapeutic, diabetes and Covid-19.
Along with his son, he’s survived by his spouse, Toby (Kurland) Mower, a registered nurse; a daughter, Robin Mower; three grandsons; a brother, Bernard; and a sister, Susan Burke. He lived in Denver.
Dr. Mower’s work in resetting the guts’s rhythms didn’t finish with the implantable defibrillator.
“I noticed this was an incomplete remedy,” he instructed The Lancet, referring to the defibrillator. “It prevented proper ventricular afibrillation, but it surely did nothing to assist left ventricular operate. Folks had been stull dying of congestive coronary heart failure.”
He and Dr. Mirowski went on to invent cardiac resynchronization remedy, or C.R.T., which makes use of an implantable machine very similar to a pacemaker to ship electrical impulses to the best and left ventricles of the guts with a view to pressure them to contract in a extra environment friendly, organized sample.
“C.R.T. was each bit as large an advance as implantable defibrillators,” Dr. Mower mentioned, including that when he began testing the remedy on sufferers within the Netherlands, “It was nearly unbelievable how the sufferers would come out of coronary heart failure.”
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As Los Angeles battles the worst wildfires in the city’s history, thousands of people have been displaced or have seen their homes burn to the ground.
Around 130,000 people were ordered to evacuate and some 10,000 structures were destroyed, according to the Associated Press. At least 10 people have died as a result of the blazes.
The devastation of the fires has undoubtedly taken a grave toll on the psyches of those affected, experts agree.
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Fox News Digital spoke with celebrities and mental health experts, who offered the following guidance for the people impacted.
Recognize your feelings
For those who have experienced a loss from the fires, common reactions include shock, disbelief and confusion, according to David Kessler, a grief counselor in Los Angeles and founder of Grief.com.
“I call it grief brain,” he told Fox News Digital.
Luke Dexter reacts as he sifts through the remains of his father’s fire-ravaged beachfront property in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire on Jan. 10, 2025 in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher) (AP Newsroom)
“Your mind is trying to comprehend what happened, and it’s a hard thing for it to do, because this is unimaginable that your house, your safety, is suddenly gone.”
Not all grief is related to death, Kessler noted, as there are many different types of losses.
“I always say grief is a change you didn’t want — and certainly a fire is a change we didn’t want,” he added.
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It’s important to “self-validate” the reality of the loss, he said.
“People might give you toxic positivity of, ‘well, at least no one died,’” he said. “And while that’s true, the reality is you still have lost your home. Don’t let anyone minimize that.”
“The loss of a home is devastating and it can take years to recover.”
“I think we’re going to deal with a lot of depression after this, a lot of sadness.”
Actor Steve Guttenberg, who lives in Pacific Palisades, California, where fires erupted on Tuesday, shared how the disaster has impacted his own mental health.
“I’ve seen so much tragedy the last three or four days that I’ve got to be careful to … keep a hold of my mind,” he said in an interview with Fox News Digital.
“And I think that we’re going to deal with a lot of depression after this, a lot of sadness. And it’s going to be really tough because this is like nothing you’ve ever seen.”
Actor Steve Guttenberg, who lives in Pacific Palisades, California, where fires erupted on Tuesday, shared how the disaster has impacted his own mental health. (AGUSTIN PAULLIER/AFP via Getty Images; Fox News)
Gutenberg noted that while it’s “very normal” to be down, he is trying not to let himself “go down that hole.”
“But I’m pretty sad about this,” he added.
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Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist in Manhattan and Washington, D.C., noted that the grief following the Los Angeles fires is “profound.”
“It’s not just about the physical loss of homes or belongings — it’s also about the sense of safety and normalcy that has been lost,” he told Fox News Digital.
“It’s important for people to feel emotions and not ignore them. This is a normal reaction to such overwhelming loss and tragedy.”
Reach out for support
Guttenberg emphasized the importance of maintaining connections with others and drawing support from the community during a disaster of this magnitude.
“We’re social animals — we need people,” he said. “So I’m reaching out to my friends. There’s no way to meet right now because it’s so dangerous — so the best thing you cn do … is call and reach out and maybe you can drive somewhere.”
Experts agreed that it’s essential to avoid isolating yourself after a loss. “We need to be taken care of. We need other people around us.” (AP Newsroom)
Most of the people in town have evacuated, he pointed out. “There’s probably 10% of the population left here. Or less.”
Kessler reiterated that connection is critical after this type of trauma. “We need to be taken care of. We need other people around us. People equal safety,” he said.
“We need other people around us. People equal safety.”
Pastor Jesse Bradley of Grace Community Church outside Seattle, Washington, agreed that it’s essential to avoid isolating yourself after a loss.
“We need God and we need each other. Community is vital,” he told Fox News Digital.
“Family, friends and neighbors care about you. God sends His love through these people. Reject isolation. Don’t shut down and don’t shut people out.”
Take action
“In times of crisis such as this, regaining even small amounts of control can be grounding,” Alpert said.
He recommends creating a plan for what’s next, whether it’s finding temporary housing, accessing local resources or starting the process of rebuilding.
“Taking action — no matter how small — can help you move forward.”
Ben Treger hugs his wife Sarah Treger after finding his grandfather’s watches at the remains of their Pacific Palisades home on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. “If you do have survivor’s guilt, I always say the best thing is to take action,” one expert advised. (Juan Carlo/Imagn)
Kessler agreed, noting that people who are in the area but did not experience loss may feel a sense of relief mixed with guilt.
“If you do have survivor’s guilt, I always say the best thing is to take action,” he advised.
In the longer term, advocacy efforts can be a powerful tool in dealing with trauma, Alpert noted.
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“Working to improve fire prevention policies, supporting relief efforts or helping neighbors rebuild can provide a sense of purpose and empowerment during this difficult time,” he said.
Some people may be angry about the systems that failed to prevent the fires in the first place, Alpert acknowledged, and this anger can be a “powerful motivator.”
“Taking action — no matter how small — can help you move forward.”
“Use that energy to demand better, but don’t get stuck on the anger,” he advised.
“By holding leaders accountable for the policies — or lack thereof — that contributed to this devastation, and by asking the right questions and demanding answers, you might start to feel better.”
Seek professional help as needed
“The L.A. fires no doubt will not just leave physical scars, but deep emotional ones, too,” Alpert said.
“For many people, the fear, panic and helplessness experienced during the fires don’t just disappear — they linger, creating flashbacks, anxiety and difficulty functioning.”
“For many people, the fear, panic and helplessness experienced during the fires don’t just disappear — they linger, creating flashbacks, anxiety and difficulty functioning.” (iStock)
In many cases, this can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Symptoms of this condition can include vivid memories of the fires, nightmares, hypervigilance or avoidance of anything that reminds someone of the event, Alpert said.
“It’s important to see this not as weakness, but rather, the mind’s and body’s way of trying to cope with extreme stress.”
“While the fires were devastating, they don’t diminish your strength or character.”
As you seek help, it’s also important to understand that PTSD doesn’t define you, he added.
“It’s a part of your experience, not your identity. While the fires were devastating, they didn’t diminish your strength or character.”
Lean on your faith
For those who have experienced traumatic grief, Kessler emphasized the importance of faith and spirituality.
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“They help ground us in a world full of fear,” he said. “And when we’ve lost everything, it can feel like our faith is the one thing we have to hold onto.”
During a time of crisis, Guttenberg said it’s important to “rely on anything that you believe in.”
Cesar Plaza becomes emotional while looking at his home destroyed by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, on Jan. 9, 2025. “It’s easy to be consumed with what you no longer have,” a pastor told Fox News Digital. (AP Photo/Nic Coury) (AP Newsroom)
“If you believe in your mom and dad, you rely on them, your brothers and sisters, your friends, your family. God, the universe.”
Above all, he added, “Just remember, you’re not alone. God is always with you. Jesus is always with you. You’ve got to hang on to that.”
Find ways to exercise gratitude
During times of hardship, it’s important to recognize the good things that are still in your life, Pastor Bradley said.
“It’s easy to be consumed with what you no longer have,” he told Fox News Digital.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health
“You need to be intentional to take inventory of the blessings in your life. For example, you might lose a home or business, but you still have family.”
This mindset will help you keep a healthy perspective and protect gratitude, Bradley added.
Health
Scientists May Be Able to Make Grapefruits Compatible With Medications They Currently Interfere With
You may be among the millions of people who have seen a surprisingly specific warning like this on the labels of drugs you take:
Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while using this medication.
Such warnings are issued for dozens of substances, including docetaxel, a cancer drug; erythromycin, an antibiotic; and some statins, the cholesterol-lowering drugs prescribed to more than a third of American adults over 40.
The problem is a set of molecules, furanocoumarins. High levels of furanocoumarins interfere with human liver enzymes, among other processes. In their presence, medications can build up to unhealthy levels in the body. And grapefruits and some related citrus fruits are full of them.
But there is no such warning for other kinds of citrus, such as mandarins and other oranges. Citrus researchers at the Volcani Center in Israel reported Wednesday in the journal The New Phytologist that, by crossing mandarins and grapefruit, they’ve uncovered genes that produce furanocoumarins in some citrus fruits. It’s a finding that opens the possibility of creating grapefruit that doesn’t require a warning label.
Scientists had worked out the compounds’ structures and pieced together a basic flowchart of how they are made years ago, said Yoram Eyal, a professor at the Volcani Center. But the precise identities of enzymes catalyzing the process — the proteins that snip off a branch here, or add a piece there — remained mysterious. He and his colleagues knew that one way to identify them was to breed citrus high in furanocoumarins with those without. If the offspring of such a cross had varying levels of the substances, it should be possible, by digging into their genetics, to pinpoint the genes for the proteins.
“We were afraid to approach it, because it’s very time-consuming and it takes many years,” he said, noting how involved it can be to grow new trees from seeds and assess their genetics. “But finally, we decided we have to dive in.”
When they examined the offspring of a mandarin and a grapefruit, the researchers saw something remarkable. Fifty percent of the young plants had high levels of furanocourmains, and 50 percent had none. That particular signature meant something very specific, in terms of how the ability to make these substances is inherited.
“We saw there was only one gene that could have controlled it,” said Livnat Goldenberg, a Volcani Center researcher who is the lead author of the new study.
The researchers soon identified the gene controlling the production of furanocoumarins in leaves and fruit, which produces an enzyme called 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase, or 2OGD for short. Mandarins, it turns out, have a mutated form of this gene that keeps the enzyme from functioning properly. This version cropped up in all the mandarin and orange varieties the researchers checked, explaining why they do not cause the same problems as grapefruit in people taking prescription medications. In these plants, furanocoumarin production is paused.
With gene editing technology, it should be possible to alter the gene in grapefruit as well, Dr. Eyal suggests. The team at the Volcani Center is now exploring that project.
Looking at how widespread this mutated version is in mandarins and some other citrus, the scientists speculate that some gene nearby on the genome must play an important role in a highly prized trait. A long-ago citrus breeder, selecting for some unknown quality, must have unwittingly spread this furanocoumarin-busting version of the gene to an ancestor of modern varieties of mandarins and oranges.
All these years later, that person’s work is coming to light, under the gaze of geneticists, who may, someday, put grapefruit back on the menu.
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