The five most-read posts on Scope this week were:
New technique prevents immune-system rejection of embryonic stem cells: Stanford researchers announced this week they have used a new method to ensure human embryonic stem cells survive - and are accepted by the immune system - in animal models.
Big advance against a vicious pediatric brain tumor: New Stanford research is providing the first advance in 35 years toward treatment of a vicious pediatric brain tumor. A study appearing this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences describes development of the first ever in vitro and animal models of the tumor, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma.
"Natural" or not, chicken nuggets are high in fat, sodium: A discussion on the nutritional value of chicken nuggets, which a Consumer Reports Health investigation found to be high in fat and sodium.
CDC report highlights the dangers of sleep deprivation: Findings published today in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report show that an estimated 50-70 million adults in the United States suffer from chronic sleep disorders. The report also highlights some alarming statistics about the prevalence of people accidentally falling asleep during the day, including while behind the wheel of a vehicle.
Stanford's Sean Mackey discusses recent advances in pain research and treatment: Chronic pain, which affects more than 70 million Americans, not only compromises patients and their families' quality of life but also has important societal and economic impacts. In this entry about a 1:2:1 podcast, Sean Mackey, MD, PhD, talks about how pain fundamentally alters the nervous system and about the latest advances in pain research and treatment.
