The five most-read posts on Scope this week were:
Stanford bioterrorism expert comments on new review of anthrax case: In a report released this week, a committee of the National Academy of Sciences charged with reviewing the scientific approaches used in the 2001 anthrax investigation raised questions about the government's work. David Relman, MD, vice chairman of the oversight committee, talks about the findings.
Better sleep might benefit rheumatoid arthritis patients: More evidence surfaced this week on the benefits of sleep. A study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine shows that sleep problems among patients with rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that affects about 1.5 million Americans, are linked to numerous other problems.
Hybrid procedure helps treat difficult cases of atrial fibrillation: Cardiologists and heart surgeons at Stanford Hospital are using a hybrid technique to address some of the most challenging cases of atrial fibrillation. Stanford is one of a handful of institutions worldwide doing this combination of surgical and catheter ablation at the same time.
Smaller plates may be a tool to curtail childhood obesity: An ongoing study lead by Thomas Robinson, MD, shows that using smaller dishware and making other environmental changes in homes, like avoiding meals in front of the TV, can lead to weight loss for obese children.
Sex without babies, and vice versa: Stanford panel explores issues surrounding reproductive technologies: A review of a new play penned by Carl Djerassi, PhD, inventor of the birth control pill and a professor emeritus of chemistry at Stanford, and a discussion of the societal implications of technologically assisted reproduction.
