Sklar Research, Reports & Articles

World Cancer Day (WCD)¹ is on February 4. Sklar needs your help in spreading awareness, tips on prevention and the need for further research.

WCD began 17 years ago on February 4, 2000. It was established by the Paris Charter at the World Summit Against Cancer for the New Millennium in Paris. The Charter‘s main goal is to promote worldwide awareness, prevention, and further research of this illness to find a cure. By creating global networks and alliances made up of leading professional organizations around the world, the Charter aims to upgrade services provided to patients, sensitize common opinion and mobilize the global community against cancer. The last article of the Charter establishes February 4 as World Cancer Day.

West Chester, PA: Sklar Instruments is proud to announce a new collaboration with New Market Veterans, LLC, a Certified Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) incorporated in Virginia. 

A recent FDA ban on powdered medical gloves¹ has brought attention back to airway inflammation and allergic reactions. It serves as a reminder to be vigilant about related latex allergy.

Homeopathic remedies, excavated tools, sexual taboos, questionable medical ethics of testing on slaves, and handful of influential physicians have paved the way for the modern instrument of today.

Early Man

The history of dentistry dates back to the origins of man. Stone-age humans suffered tooth decay from excessive wearing of the teeth, owing to powerful jaw muscles and a harsh diet filled with sand and grit from their grinding bowls. The remains of prehistoric teeth show extensive wear and even bone loss, which is indicative of gingivitis.¹ Even though there is evidence showing that primitive humans suffered from toothaches and gum-related maladies, there is no documentation about dentistry being practiced in antiquity. The earliest historical record for treating dental woes dates from the year 7000 BC. The civilization of the Indus Valley was the first to show evidence of treating tooth decay. 

Sklar believes that education is the most important tool anyone can have, and educating healthcare professionals has always been a top priority for us. Many hours and collective effort have gone in the development of our free CE course, and it makes us proud to have you take advantage of it.

If you grew up in the 70’s, the 21^st century was seen as a time warp bubble or a farfetched dream. A place where technology was supposed to be so advanced that many of the things you were used to either evolved and transformed into something else, or inevitably disappeared. Among the things that did disappear: the 8-track, typewriters, rotary dial phones and mercury thermometers. Yet, there are still some inventions, trendy at that time, which are still cherished today, like: vinyl records, lava lamps, Star Wars action figures, platform shoes and stethoscopes. Yes, stethoscopes.

Forceps were originally designed to help deliver a baby in an era where many women died from childbirth. The origin of the word comes from Latin, “forca,” which means to grab or grip an object. Forceps illustrated in ancient documents would have served as destructive instruments rather than aiding ones. There was little or no concern for the baby, and many were stillborn before any form of intervention was considered. During the middle ages, mechanical assistance was provided when delivery was obstructed. Instruments used by the Barber Surgeon or ladles from the kitchen were used to help a woman give birth. At that time, midwives were in charge of managing a hard labor, however, there are few written accounts of the process. Midwifery was almost a taboo, and mainly controlled by the church. The practice was cloaked in superstition. There is an example from a “Dame Trot” who practiced in Salermo during the 11^th century: “When there is a difficult labour with a dead child, place the patient in a sheet held at the corners by four strong men, with her head somewhat elevated. Have them shake the sheet vigorously by pulling on the opposite corners, and with God’s will she will give birth.”¹ 

Surgical Knife or Scalpel? Where did it come from?

The knife was the first tool developed by humans, and it is still the most widely used tool today. Knives are used by seamstresses, gardeners, hair dressers, cooks, artists, and surgeons. It is an essential tool for many professions that range from mechanical to technological, and it is also handy at the dining table. So, who were the first ones to use it in medicine?

Patients should be aware of a medical practice that has become dangerously common during the last few years. Disposable medical instruments are being reused by hospitals even though manufacturers insist that these devices should be used once and then thrown away. So, why do some hospitals reprocess single-use instruments? Their answer is simple. They claim it saves them money. Why use a disposable pair of scissors to cut the umbilical cord on only one newborn child, when it’s better to reprocess them and use them on two newborns? The full price they paid for a single pair of scissors gets cut by 50% when utilizing this practice.