FESS and septoplasty

50 yo man comes in with recurrent inflammation in his nose alleviated with taking contac (major ingredient acetominophan [paracetamon] - mechanism of action not completely understood but proposed to inhibit COX and PSE [pseudoephedrine hydrochloride] - sympathomimetic drug of the amphetamine chemical classes used for nasal/sinus decongestant] and persistent headache that recently developed. Upon examination, he was found to have crooked nasal septum needed for correction and sinusitis. Later it was told that his infection was developed after use of nasal irrigation (repetitive use of expired decongestant nasal sprays)



FESS [functional endoscopic sinus surgery] with septoplasty was suggested

crooked nasal septum

FESS

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery  is the mainstay in the surgical treatment of sinusitis and nasal polyps, including bacterial, fungal, recurrent acute, and chronic sinus problems. Ample research supports its record of safety and success.

FESS is a relatively recent surgical procedure that uses nasal endoscopes (using Hopkins rod lens technology) through the nostrils to avoid cutting the skin. These endoscopes have diameters of 4mm (adult use) and 2.7mm (pediatric use) and come in varying angles of view from 0 degrees to 30, 45, 70, 90, and 120 degrees. They provide good illumination of the inside of the nasal cavity and sinuses.

FESS came into existence because of pioneering work of Messerklinger and Stamberger (Graz, Austria.) Other surgeons have made additional contributions (first published in USA by Kennedy in 1985).^[1]

Septoplasty
Under general or local anesthesia, the surgeon works through the nostrils, making an incision in the lining of the septum to reach the cartilage targeted in the operation. Sufficient cartilage is preserved for structural support. After the septum is straightened, it may then be stabilized temporarily with small plastic tubes, splints, or sutures internally.

Septoplasty

Post-operation video: septoplasty

From: Globeandmail.com

I read the Globe almost religiously.
Even though their news is a) biased (compared to other newspaper agency) b)pictures tend to say 1000 words but they don't display them at all when they can and lastly c) they don't cover much international news.

The reason why? I suppose its my habit, a daily routine and I like to check the headlines and also the currency exchange rate (right on their homepage!) and this! comic illustration that I always applaud for.

Well done again!


On the other note...

From: Western meme

 

So this past weekend was St.Patty's day and it was a wild night in London,ON

Yes, there was an actual RIOT!

where?

 

Sigh... this will hurt the school no doubt.

 I wonder what the admin do in order to reconciliate this image after St.Patty's

Structuralism

Saussure
Structuralism is all about unerstanding concepts through their relations to other concepts, rather than concepts having a kind of intrinsic meaning, in isolation from each other
Thus for structuralists, meaning is produced through difference

Concept                           signified
----------                --->    -----------
sound-image                    signifier

where siginifier and signified is arbitrary
In Language, there are only differences. Even more important, a difference genreally implies positive terms between whcih difference is set up but in language, there are only differences without positive terms

Structuralism is liked by Lacan
Structuralism is attacked by Foucault (taught Derrida; talk about postmodernism...about Parody and Pestiche) and Derrida

Derrida
Deconstruction: there is no outside texts and texts often mean the opposite of what they claim. But it cannot be equally applied from text to text.
Difference!!! Supplement!!!!

Kant - German philosopher with big bags full of tools!

Kant is a guy full of paradox.

His political philosophy - his outlook on law dos not agree with his moral philosophy.

To get your head around his giant architecture work of philosophy I suppose you need to significantly invest your time.

***



Main concepts that stands out (in my head without referring to my note..) are: Fundamental principle of morality  - Categorical imperative (CI) = autonomous will of a rational being; Good will; Hypothetical impertatives (HI); Duties (Perfect and negative, imperfect and positive)

Basic aim of moral philosophy is to "seek" out the 'foundational principle of a metaphysics of morals.' --> which is to say a priori-esque logic that is beyond empiricism - it cannot be analytical.
To say plainly, any action that is based on duty and no other reasons that driven those action (such as love) have moral worth.




Kant's moral philosophy
Good will is intrinsically good as with 4 other goods such as 1. gifts of nature, 2. fortune, 3. happiness/well-being, and 4. virtues prized by ancients. However, Good will is the only thing that is an unqualified good which can not be add/subtracted with anything including (positive/negative effect)

What is the relationship between duty and Good will?

Is it necessary that duty needs to be founded upon good will? It seems so, because duty as a rational being must be based on something intrinsically good.
And I think this is where categorical imperative and hypothetical imperative, sort of a ruler, --idea of moral law -- comes in.

But before then, let me add proposition of good will
1. Only actions done/motivated by/from duty possess moral worth/merit - as mentioned before
2. when action has moral worth, its mortal worth is contributed by the principle of volition/maxim in accord with which its action is done
3. duty is necessity of an action done out of respect for the moral laws

...so this actually defines duty pretty well:

Duty = action done for respect for the moral laws and nothing else = proposition of the good will which is the unqualified good


Going back...?
However stopping here briefly: What is metaphysics? I have scratched very basis that stood out for me the most. In order to talk about metaphysics you need to consider the Logic, physics and ethics.
And how is this related? in knowing differences between a priori (logic) and a posteri (physics and ethics)...from my note: morality is absolute --> need metaphysics to get to its nature (???)

From logic, which is a priori, we have metaphysicis. I have rather hard time wrapping my thoughts around this concept: Well... according to this website: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/kant-moral/ I quote:

"A ‘metaphysics of morals’would be, more or less, an account of the nature and structure of moral reality — in effect, a categorization of duties and values. Such project would address such questions as, What is a duty? What kinds of duties are there? What is the good? What kinds of goods are there?" (scroll up)

....aaahh my head hurt

putting that aside still need to understand :
Structure of moral law  --> Categorical imperative
wait, that's not all, there are in fact 2 imperatives!

1. Hypothetical imperatives: declares possible actions as practically necessary as means of attainment of something someone desires/wants
--> 2 kinds!   1. Problematic hypothetical imperative: possible desires involving Rule of skill
                      2. Assotoric hypothetical imperative: actual desires involving counsels of prudence
--> analytic: concept of the means is contained in the concept of willing an end


2. categorical imperatives: declares on action to be objectively necessary regardless of what one wnats/desires imperative of morality
-->synthetic: a priori
--> 4 duties derived from CI!
Negative/perfect: 1. Duty not to commit suicide out of self-love
                             2. Duty not to make false promise/lie
Positive/imperfect 3. Duty to perfect one's talents
                              4. Duty to assist others when they are in need