News & Media

November 2010
Director's Corner: "Eyes Blind With... Web"

“The Winter’s Tale”
Wm. Shakespeare

Recently, my ophthalmologist informed me that like millions of others, I was beginning to develop a cataract in my left eye lens. Very tiny, so small that I probably hadn’t even noticed it…yet.

Aye...There’s the rub! That miserable word “yet”…My father’s cataracts began benignly enough but slowly progressed to become rock-hard and opaque; when he finally had his 89 year-old lenses removed and replaced with plastic he rejoiced in his sudden ability to read again. “Why didn’t I have this done sooner?” he exclaimed over and over again, just a few hours post-op, as he pored over the New York Times. All the while my mother fussed over him and fed him a big bowl of her best green split pea soup.

The word “cataract” in the ophthalmological sense probably derives from two sources, according to the OED. The first is the whitish intra-lens “waterfall” that the opacity may initially resemble. Second, and more to the point I think, is that a cataract is also defined as a “portcullis,” or a web (hence the title of this piece) of thin iron bars that are placed in front of a window (a “gate” that can be seen through, but partially obscures what is behind it).

Claude Monet, the impressionist painter, was famous for his stunning use of colors: cobalt blue, vermillion, chrome green, cadmium yellow, laque de garance (or madder). But as he developed cataracts, his palette became altered so that yellows, oranges and reds predominated. This was because a cataract effectively filters out blue wavelengths from white light so that they do not enter the eye, and so the brain does not “see” them. A cataract does let through the yellows and reds, however. Of course that would affect what Monet would create on canvas (see for example the color differences between Monet’s output 1875-1922, just prior to his cataract surgery in 1923. Pre-surgery, art critics pounded his work, calling his early 20th century paintings coarsely executed, “monochromatic and bilious.”

Cataract surgery was miserable for Monet. He had to lay flat on his back, his head immobilized by sandbags, eyes bandaged, for 10 days. For a food-lover like Monet (see, for example, “Monet’s Table: The Cooking Journals of Claude Monet,” by Claire Joyes) it must have been torture to have to subsist only on sips of tea and bouillon for those ten days – I would rather be blind, he noted, as he attempted to rip the bandages from his eyes after 5 days of immobility, forcing his doctor to restrain him.

Post-surgery, Monet was dismayed to discover that he could not see well his precious greens, vermilion and cadmium yellow, but all blue pigments were vibrant and overwhelming, Very upset, he had his doctor make for him yellow/green tinted glasses, so that he could at least partially “recover” his “cataract palette” in his subsequent paintings!

And this explains why, as my mother offered my father a steaming bowl of split pea soup, he put down his newspaper, stared at the bowl, and remarked that although the soup tasted the same as always, it looked curiously “bluish…”

Please send any comments about the Director's Corner to David Colman

---

Recent News

Neuronavigation – a Leading Practice
Accreditation Canada’s 2010 assessment of The MUHC recognized five programs, including The Neuro’s Neuronavigation Unit, as Leading Practices, making this one of the best accreditation results in recent years. Accreditation is an important step in ensuring the quality and safety of services offered by healthcare providers. As part of the on-site survey process, Accreditation Canada surveyors identify Leading Practices, which they consider to be commendable examples of high quality service. These practices are published by Accreditation Canada each year as models for other healthcare organizations to follow as they strive to improve their own services.

Established about 10 years ago in the Department of Neurosurgery, the unit’s main objective is to make operations more precise, less invasive and help patients and their families understand surgical procedures. The team, comprised of technicians Manny Podaras and Richard Barecki and bio-medical engineer Kelvin Mok, collaborates with neurosurgeons in planning all cranial procedures. By reconstructing the head, brain, blood vessels and lesions in 3-dimensions and using a stereotactic pointer, all phases of the surgery can be reviewed by the surgical team before the start of and during the actual operation. The members of the neuronavigation unit also work closely with researchers in the McConnell Brain Imaging Centre to continuously improve image guided surgery. Congratulations to the team!

Intense focus on patient safety
The Neuro Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is intensifying its focus on patient safety by customizing protocols to prevent catheter-acquired infections. Adopting a process based on best practices identified by the US Centers for Disease Control, staff in the ICU are creating check lists for ‘bundles of care’ that cover the diverse responsibilities of the inter-professional team (physicians, nurses and other professionals) that cares for patients in the ICU. Joanne Charbonneau, the recently hired ICU Nurse Educator, is working with Siva Moonsamy, ICU Nurse Manager, and France Ellyson, ICU Assistant Nurse Manager, to define the tasks that comprise each bundle of care, to prepare infection prevention protocols and to train the staff. Joanne who has a Masters in Nursing Education and experience in neuroscience nursing, critical care and cardiac care, was recruited back to the Neuro from New York.

Ambulatory Services
Nathalie Fréchette has been named Supervisor of Ambulatory Services for the Neuroscience and Mental Health Missions. Mrs. Fréchette, who has been in this interim position for 2.5 years, has a Certificate of Health and Social Studies from l'Université Laval and is pursuing further studies in the management field. Mrs. Fréchette will be responsible for the daily activities of the administrative personnel and will work in close collaboration with Viola Grasso, newly named Manager of both Missions. Ms.Grasso's responsibilities will focus on the management, planning, and the development of programs, in addition to working with interdisciplinary teams for the Neurosciences and Mental Health Missions.

Building the Barbados connection

As part of the Neuro’s developing relationship with the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados, neurologist David Corbin visited the Neuro to learn about the clinical and research programs here. He met with Neuro experts in ALS, epilepsy, interventional neuroradiology, movement disorders, neurosurgery, stroke and other areas and will help to identify opportunities for future clinical interaction.

Art from science
We can all experience the beauty of science through the Nikon Small World competition that features outstanding microscopic images of the physical world. A remarkable image of a neuron growing on an artificial matrix was submitted to the contest by Tim Kennedy, Sébastien Ricoult, a student in his lab, and David Juncker, a colleague in the NeuroEngineering program. This view of a neuron can be seen online as image 4.

Etched in time at the Osler Library
Rolando Del Maestro, neurosurgeon and Leonardo da Vinci scholar, has prepared an exhibit for Osler Library on work by 17th century engraver Wenceslaus Hollar. Hollar’s etchings of works by da Vinci are now the only remaining record of some pieces that have been lost to history. The exhibit will be on display on weekdays in December and January at the Osler Library (link) in McGill’s McIntyre Medical Building.

Writing your life story

Freelance writer Maria Schamis Turner is offering workshops at the Neuro to introduce writing as a way to explore your life story. Turner whose work has been published in The Globe and Mail, Montreal Review of Books and other publications will focus on memoirs and personal essays and help participants bring their stories to life on the written page. For more information, visit Maria’s blog, The Brain Detectives.

IPN Retreat - highlights
Videohighlights of the Integrated Program in Neuroscience Retreat are now online.

---

Upcoming Events

Neuroscience Nursing Open House, November 18
The Neuro welcomes nurses and new graduates who are interested in a career in neuroscience nursing to the Neuroscience Nursing Open House from 5-7 pm on Thursday, November 18 in the Jeanne Timmins Amphitheatre. Guests will meet Neuro nurse managers, tour the Neuro to see how neuro-navigation is used in our operating rooms and hear Sharron Runions, Clinical Nurse Specialist in the Cerebrovascular Program, talk about her work on ischemic stroke from a patient perspective. Wine and cheese will be served.

TD Discovery Day at the Neuro and McGill, December 3
High school students will have a hands-on introduction to science at the Neuro and at McGill’s Faculty of Medicine when they gather for TD Discovery Day. This annual event held at universities across Canada is organized by the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame to teach, inspire and motivate students to consider science careers. The young scholars will be infected by the enthusiasm of graduate students and professors and get a feel for scientific and medical careers. Neurobiologist Tim Kennedy will deliver the keynote lecture to kick off this exciting day of science.

Reitman Lunch and Neuro Choir performance, December 9
The annual Reitman Lunch is now a treasured tradition in the Neuro community thanks to the continuing generosity of the Reitman family. By acknowledging the care Mrs. Sam Reitman received here so many years ago, the Reitman lunch with its joyful performance by the Neuro Choir is a reminder of what motivates our work here. In the spirit of generosity that marks this day, those attending the Reitman Lunch are asked to bring non-perishable food that will be donated to a community food bank.

Director’s Holiday Wine and Cheese Reception, December 16
Neuro Director David Colman will host a Holiday Wine and Cheese Reception on Thursday, December 16 from 3-5 pm in the Jeanne Timmins Foyer. All are welcome to share holiday cheer at this afternoon event.

Neuro Holiday Party, December 17
The Neuro Holiday Party will be Friday, December 17 at the Hotel Auberge Universel, 5000 Sherbrooke Street East. For $30 per person, the party starts with cocktails at 6:30pm and dinner at 7:30pm, with dancing and door prizes too. Posters up soon in the Neuro will explain where to get tickets so gather your friends and plan to join us for this fun, festive evening!

---

In the News

The work of scientists and clinicians at The Neuro is frequently in the news so you can stay up to date by following our media coverage. Those experts recently featured include:

David Colman, whose work on artificial synapses appeared on The Daily Planet and an article on advancing science and science education in Quebec was featured in a blog by Pierre Duhamel

Alain Dagher, whose work on addition was featured on Le Code Chastenay;

Brenda Milner, whose interviews on discovering different types of memory with famous amnesic patient HM appear in The Guardian and Esquire Magazine;

Alain Ptito and Dan Guitton, whose research on brain plasticity was featured in the documentary The Plastic Fantastic Brain which premiered on The Discovery Channel and aired recently on iChannel;

Alain Ptito whose interview about financial impulses was in Les Affaires;

Robert Zatorre, whose interview about music and creativity appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer and whose work on how the brain can register an object’s shape via sound alone was covered by Radio Canada, Hindustantimes.com (India), and Sciencesetavenir.fr (France).

---

Congratulations to ...

Lorraine Allard who received the McGill University Health Centre Director General’s Prize of Excellence for her outstanding work as an EEG technologist at the Neuro. Hired in 1983 and EEG Technical Coordinator since 2005, Lorraine was nominated by Francois Dubeau and Jean Gotman for her kind and caring approach to the patients seen in the EEG lab and for her enthusiasm in meeting the challenges of a dynamic research environment that she helped to create. Bravo for this well deserved honor, Lorraine!

Brain Awareness Week committee who received the Synapse Mentorship Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) – Group category. Montréal Brain Awareness Week was launched in 1998 as a way for Montréal‐based undergraduate, graduate and post‐doctoral students to promote, through a variety of programs, the progress and impact of brain research. Each year, the event is coordinated by a committee of over 150 graduate students in the field of Neurosciences at McGill University, Concordia University, Université de Montréal and Université du Québec à Montréal.

Eugene Bereza who received The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) 2010 Dr. William Marsden Award in Medical Ethics, recognizing a member who has demonstrated exemplary leadership, commitment and dedication to the cause of advancing and promoting excellence in the field of medical ethics in Canada. Dr. Bereza is Director of the Biomedical Ethics Unit, McGill Faculty of Medicine; the Neuroethics Program at Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital; the Medical Ethics Program, McGill Department of Family Medicine, and the Ethics Program at CSSS de la Montagne. He teaches seminars in bioethics to graduate students in medicine, law, philosophy, and religious studies.

---

Condolences to ...

Friends and family of Joy Shannon, former Director General of the Montreal Neurological Hospital, who passed away on October 18, 2010. In the 1970’s Mrs. Shannon served as Associate Director of the Hospital under William Feindel and as Director General of the Hospital from 1984-1996 under Directors Don Baxter and Richard Murphy. Joy was a founding member of The Friends of the Neuro and as co-president helped to establish the Neuro Café. Mrs. Shannon was married to James Shannon, deceased former chief of orthopedic surgery at the Montreal General Hospital. She is survived by son Dr. David Shannon and his wife Valerie, and daughter Patricia Shannon Bryan and her husband Robert, and several grandchildren.

---

Director - David R. Colman, PhD
Senior Management - Martine Alfonso; Mark Angle, MD; Phil Barker, PhD; Rob Dunn, PhD; Lucia Fabijan; Tom Gevas; Elizabeth Kofron, PhD; Catherine Rowe; Donatella Tampieri, MD
Neuro News: Elizabeth Kofron, PhD & Sandra McPherson, PhD

Please send any items for the Neuro News to Sandra McPherson or Beth Kofron.

---