Santiago, DR.- The Metropolitan Hospital of Santiago (HOMS) has set a new benchmark in medical innovation by performing the first fenestrated aortic endoprosthesis surgery in the Dominican Republic.

Led by vascular and endovascular surgeon Dr. Andrés Marín, with support from renowned Mexican vascular surgeon Dr. Gabriel Hernández, the procedure aims to correct an aortic aneurysm. It involves implanting a modified prosthesis that opens holes to connect with the visceral arteries, supplying blood to the main organs of the abdomen.

Dr. Marín highlighted the significant advantage of this surgery: patients can walk within hours and leave the hospital the day after the operation, unlike open surgeries that require lengthy stays in intensive care.

“This represents a great advance for the country and the hospital, which is innovating to benefit the health of Dominicans,” Dr. Marín stated.

Fenestrated aortic endoprosthesis surgery offers an alternative to conventional high-risk surgical methods, significantly reducing morbidity and mortality while enabling the treatment of complex cases.

Dr. Marín emphasized that this surgical technique had not been performed in the country before due to its complexity. However, this achievement showcases the advanced training of local surgeons, placing Dominican vascular medicine at the forefront alongside developed countries.

The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment said on Friday that its Epidemiology Unit has recorded 119 dengue fever cases so far in 2024 and that of those cases, 23 were in June and 82 last month.

“Based on the epidemiological data, the number of lab confirmed cases of dengue fever has exceeded the threshold of the number expected indicating that there is a dengue fever outbreak in St Vincent and the Grenadines,” the ministry said.

The ministry is urging the public to adhere to all the basic precautionary measures to prevent the spread of vector borne diseases during the summer vacation.

“As we approach the month of August, the public is reminded that we are still within the hurricane season and August is expected to be hotter than normal.

“These weather patterns can create ideal breeding sites for the aedes aegypti mosquito. This mosquito carries dengue fever, Zika and Chik V,” the ministry said in a press statement.

It said that to combat the further spread of the dengue virus, the government has implemented increased public awareness and health education interventions as well as increased surveillance including the use of GIS mapping for more targeted source reduction.

SOURCE: CMC

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Santo Domingo—The government informed that, through the Ministry of Public Health and the National Health Service (SNS), it provides treatments and vaccines against hepatitis B, especially to pregnant women and newborns, to prevent and eliminate this virus and have a healthier population.

A note expresses that the processes carried out to eliminate the disease and meet the 2030 objectives were presented at a day of awareness and update to obstetricians and gynecologists on compliance with protocols to detect and treat it in pregnant women and newborns, organized by the Ministry of Public Health.

It indicates that it coordinated with the Dominican Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the SNS, with support from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

The director of Immunoprevenibles by Vaccines of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Aida Lucia Vargas, highlighted that the Government invests around RD$1,000 million in the acquisition of vaccines, including hepatitis B, as it is one of the main actions to prevent and eradicate this and other viruses.

Meanwhile, the person in charge of Epidemiological Surveillance of Immunopreventable Diseases, Dr. Suhaill Romero, indicated that the Ministry of Health provides medical centers with the Anti-B Immunoglobulin, which must be applied to newborns of mothers with hepatitis B. In this sense, she recommended physicians carry out the application process before the delivery of pregnant women with this virus.

Romero presented to physicians the application process through the 40 Provincial Health Directorates and invited them to report pregnant women with hepatitis B in the (Sinave), for greater control and monitoring of cases.

Authorities insist on vigilance.

Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and American veteran Paul Whelan were among those released from Russia on Thursday in a large prisoner swap.

A third U.S. citizen, Russian-American journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, was also released.

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A plane carrying the freed Americans landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland late Thursday night, where they were greeted by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

The newly released prisoners were then flown to San Antonio, Texas, for evaluation and rehabilitation at Brooke Army Medical Center, a premier military medical facility, according to reports.

Although the prisoners are safely back on U.S. soil and have been reunited with their families, they may experience mental health challenges stemming from the trauma of detainment, said experts.

"Besides the obvious threats to one’s safety and the horrifying prospect of confinement, a situation like this is fraught with uncertainty," Dr. Norman Blumenthal, director of the Ohel Zachter Family National Trauma Center in New York, told Fox News Digital. 

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"Ambiguity in and of itself induces stress — and that, coupled with their very predicament, can create a marked escalation of trauma." (None of the experts cited here have treated the released Americans.)

Dr. Karen DeCocker, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner director at Stella Centers in Chicago, noted that being held captive can lead to several types of trauma. 

"This varies from person to person based on prior history and the experiences encountered during captivity," she told Fox News Digital.

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While each person reacts differently to trauma, Blumenthal predicted that the freed prisoners would likely experience an "initial thrill and exhilaration" from their liberation. 

"The celebrations and enthusiastic reunions with loved ones can temporarily overshadow the trauma," he noted. 

"As life returns to normal and routines set in, that is often when the frightening flashbacks and intrusive recollections can become disruptive and destabilizing."

Dr. Marc Siegel, senior medical analyst for Fox News and clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, said it is likely the prisoners experienced physical and mental abuse, sleep deprivation, dehydration, malnutrition and possibly infections.

Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist and author based in New York City, said that Gershkovich, Whelan and Kurmasheva, along with the other released prisoners, may suffer from both acute stress disorder (ASD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

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ASD is a short-term mental health condition that typically occurs within a month after a traumatic experience, according to Cleveland Clinic’s website.

"Acute stress disorder may include flashbacks, nightmares, intense fear and high anxiety," Alpert told Fox News Digital.  

It can also include feelings of numbness or detachment.

PTSD occurs when such symptoms persist for a month or longer, and the anxiety becomes chronic, according to Alpert.

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PTSD may include many of the same symptoms as ASD, and can impair the person’s ability to function in daily activities.

The freed prisoners may also experience depression, anger and difficulty trusting others, said Alpert.   

"I've also seen people have trouble focusing and making decisions in light of a trauma," he added.

It could also be challenging for the former prisoners to reintegrate into their normal environments and social groups, Alpert said.

Symptoms of trauma are "not universal," Siegel told Fox News Digital.

"There are differences, and not everyone experiences PTSD," he said. 

"Common symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, depersonalization and derealization, anxiety and depression."

DeCocker noted that symptoms can be both mental and physical — including the following five points.

"Individuals may experience dissociation, where they feel disconnected from their thoughts, feelings or sense of identity," DeCocker told Fox News Digital. 

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"This can manifest as feeling detached from oneself (depersonalization) or from the world around them (derealization)."

Some trauma survivors may feel a sense of guilt for having survived a traumatic experience when others did not, or for putting themselves or others in situations that led to captivity, DeCocker said. 

They may also feel guilty about the stress and anxiety that family members and loved ones experienced during their imprisonment. 

"Issues with trust, intimacy and personal relationships often occur with survivors and their families," DeCocker told Fox News Digital. 

"The impact of their captivity often comes from their inability to relate the experience to others."

Trauma survivors may experience feelings of shame, worthlessness or confusion about their identity, according to DeCocker. 

"In this case, where there was an exchange of prisoners, there may be added complexity," she said.

It's not uncommon for trauma survivors to have negative beliefs about themselves or the world, according to DeCocker. 

"Generalizations about the world being unsafe or out of their control can occur," she said. "Threats are often seen in everyday experiences."

Potential physical symptoms could include chronic pain, such as headaches or muscle pain, in addition to persistent fatigue and lack of energy, according to Nikki Bishop, a licensed clinical psychologist and clinical director at SunCloud Health in Chicago.

"A person may also experience gastrointestinal issues such as stomach pain, nausea and changes in appetite," she told Fox News Digital. 

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"Additionally, cardiovascular risks could occur, such as increased blood pressure, heart palpitations and increased risk of heart disease."

To cope with painful feelings, people can sometimes turn to substance use, process addictions, eating disorders and even food addiction as a means of trying to numb the pain, Bishop added.

Given the high-profile release, Gershkovich and Whelan will likely receive a large amount of media attention, Alpert noted — "but it’s important that they have the space and privacy they need to process this on their own timeline."

DeCocker agreed, stressing the importance of taking extensive time to heal and recover. 

"There is no rush to reintegrate," she told Fox News Digital. "Time is best devoted toward rest and restoring a sense of balance and normalcy."

Embracing daily routines and structure can help with that, DeCocker said.

The freed prisoners may also want to avoid spending too much time on social media and the news in the early days to avoid retriggering discussions and events, she advised.

One "tried-and-true method" of coping is to retell the events to supportive people who act as listeners, not solvers, according to Blumenthal. 

"Putting the experience into words can help with healing and adjusting to the more mundane aspects of life and routine," he said.

If symptoms are interfering with day-to-day functioning, Alpert recommends seeking professional help.

"In the case of a severe trauma, such as being held prisoner and wrongly convicted, symptoms may not surface right away," he pointed out. 

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"It can be helpful to get ahead of it and speak to a specialist." 

All forms of professional help are useful, DeCocker noted. Those include talk therapy, psychiatric support, interventional treatment modalities specific to treating trauma, and physical treatments and therapies to heal the body.

Other treatments may include cognitive behavioral therapy, relaxation techniques, and medications such as beta blockers, antidepressants and potentially psychedelics, according to Siegel.

Support from loving family members and friends is also key, the doctor added.

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews/health

Most people do have an "inherent resilience and capacity to hope," Blumental said.

"These and other freed hostages may, on their own, mobilize and harness strength and heroic reformulations of their recent incarceration to go on and resume normal functioning."

Scott McDonald of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.

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Fifteen dengue fever cases were reported in Week 29, and 23 cases in Week 30, none of which were severe enough to require hospitalisation

View the full post Steady rise in dengue fever cases on NOW Grenada.

A majority of voters believe that Vice President Kamala Harris knew about — and covered up — President Biden’s reported cognitive health issues.

That’s according to a YouGov/Times of London poll that surveyed 1,170 registered voters on July 22 and July 23.

Among those who believe Biden’s health issues were kept under wraps, 92% said they think the vice president was well aware of the situation.

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Overall, 68% of respondents believe Biden’s decline was on Harris’ radar.

"There's no way for me to know what went through Kamala's head or what her experience has been dealing with Joe Biden," Jonathan Alpert, a psychotherapist and author based in New York City, told Fox News Digital.

"Perhaps seeing him on a regular basis made it difficult for her to pick up on any changes," said Alpert, who has not treated Biden.

"Of course, this is just speculation, and we do not know of any formal diagnosis."

Judy Gaman, CEO of Executive Medicine of Texas, a luxury medical services provider in Southlake, previously spoke with Fox News Digital about the failure of those around Biden to seek help for the president.

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"Either they are in denial and have watched this take place over a period of time, so they are less sensitive to the contrast, or they are fully aware but can’t bear the thought of what happens to the family (on many levels) if Joe is no longer president," said Gaman, who also has never treated the current commander-in-chief. 

Although there's long been debate about potential signs of cognitive decline, the issue came to the forefront after the June 27 presidential debate, when Biden sparked concerns with his sometimes incoherent speech and unclear train of thought on national live television.

The president, who is 81, has also appeared to "freeze" on stage during public appearances on more than one occasion.

In mid-July, Biden tested positive for COVID-19, and was said to experience upper respiratory symptoms that included "rhinorhea (runny nose) and non-productive cough, with general malaise," according to a statement on the White House's website.

On July 23, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, the president’s personal physician, released a letter stating that Biden’s symptoms had resolved and that he would "continue to be monitored for any recurrence of illness."

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has stated that Biden has seen a neurologist multiple times as part of routine health exams, but that he is not being treated for any neurological disorders.

Outside the political arena, it is common for family members and loved ones to avoid facing signs of cognitive decline and potential dementia, experts say.

"Ask any family who has dealt with Alzheimer’s, dementia or Parkinson’s, and they will tell you that what we are seeing play out [here] is classic with most families who face this," said Gaman, whose own mother struggled with Alzheimer’s disease.

"His story just happens to be playing out on the big stage," Gaman added. "Remember, everyone rallying around Biden and covering up the truth has something personal to gain by him continuing to hold office."

In some cases, Alpert noted, signs may be genuinely missed.

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"Generally speaking, family members who see their loved one on a regular basis don't always pick up on the cognitive decline as perceptively as those who might just see someone on occasion," he said.  

"For example, someone seeing Grandma once a year during the holiday season is more likely to pick up on a decline than if they were seeing her monthly."

That’s because cognitive decline is usually gradual in the beginning, he noted.

"Early signs might be subtle and perhaps mistaken as normal aging or stress."

In other cases, the person experiencing the decline may find ways to adapt and develop strategies to compensate for the cognitive difficulties, according to Alpert, which can make the symptoms less obvious to close family and friends. 

Experts agree that a denial of someone’s cognitive decline doesn’t do the person any favors.

"If family members and close associates are in denial about a loved one's cognitive decline, it can delay diagnosis and treatment of the person," Alpert warned. 

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"Dismissing an obvious issue as ‘just a bad day’ or saying ‘everyone forgets from time to time’ doesn't help the person, and will only slow access to resources and proper management of the condition," he added.

Delaying treatment can also pose safety risks, experts agree.

"Although in the short term it might be easier to look the other way, ultimately denial leads to more stress for the loved one as the condition worsens," Alpert said.

"Sometimes, getting a proper medical diagnosis provides the clinical validation necessary for the patient to actually feel understood."

In Alpert’s practice, he said he sometimes has patients who experience a host of symptoms, but don’t know exactly what is going on.  

"Once I confirm the diagnosis, they feel a bit relieved to know that their symptoms are real and part of a medical or psychological disorder, and not just made up," he said.

In Biden’s case, denial of a possible cognitive disorder isn’t just dangerous for the president, but also for the country as a whole, experts say.

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If Biden is experiencing cognitive decline, failure to get him the medical attention he needs could be putting his health in danger, according to Gaman.

"From the standpoint of the country, we need to address this as a health crisis and not a political crisis," she said.

Gaman also noted that if Biden does have one of these conditions, he may not understand the need to ask for help.

"This is a prime opportunity to increase funding for research, raise awareness and encourage others dealing with this to come out of denial."

Gaman noted that she is not claiming to diagnose the president, but rather asking that the country open up the discussion on neurodegenerative disease, "especially since it’s on the rise."

Fox News Digital reached out to the Harris campaign requesting comment but did not receive a response. 

For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews/health

In response to earlier outreach from Fox News Digital, the White House press office said that "health was not a factor" in Biden's decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. 

"He looks forward to finishing his term and delivering more historic results for the American people," the White House said in its statement. 

Several foods that can be consumed regularly to help ease the effects of sinusitis and congestion include pineapples, garlic, peppers, spicy foods and turmeric and ginger

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Santo Domingo.-  In a commitment to enhance mental health services and improve quality of life, Minister of Health Víctor Atallah, in coordination with First Lady Raquel Arbaje, announced the extended operating hours of the “Cuida tu Salud Mental” Contact Center.

Starting September 1, the center will be open from 8 AM to midnight, including weekends, to provide greater support for those in need. To support this expansion, additional healthcare staff will be hired to ensure the availability of more professionals offering psychological counseling and support.

The center can be reached at 809-200-1400 for consultations with trained behavioral health specialists. This initiative aims to improve access to mental health services nationwide.

Minister Atallah reaffirmed his commitment to transforming mental health services during a visit to the Padre Billini Psychosocial Rehabilitation Center and meetings with the Society of Psychiatry and the Dominican College of Psychologists.

The Ministry of Health is also updating protocols for managing depressive disorders in adults, substance use in children and adolescents, and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in minors. Technical committees composed of various institutions and specialists are overseeing these updates.

Additionally, efforts are underway to update the National Mental Health Plan and Mental Health Law 12-06, with support from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and other institutions, ensuring policies align with international best practices and local needs.

Strategic guidelines for suicide prevention are being developed, reviewed by technical committees and specialized consultancies, and will be implemented through decentralized units, including provincial, municipal, and health area offices.

The Ministry is also preparing a mental health bulletin and a study to characterize homeless individuals, aiming to provide updated information for decision-making and the implementation of appropriate intervention strategies.