Hannah Valantine, MD, told her colleagues at London University's Medical School more than 30 years ago that she was interested in cardiology. In return, she …
Month: February 2012
Using placenta-derived stem cells for novel medical therapies
Past research has suggested that human placentas are a rich source of stem cells that may prove useful in treating leukemia, heart disease and multiple …
NIH launches online tool providing information about the availability and scientific basis of genetic tests
To make it easier to navigate the rapidly changing landscape of genetic tests, the National Institutes of Health introduced the Genetic Testing Registry (GTR) today. …
An encephalitis journey: A dozen doctors and 2.5 years
We're partnering with Inspire, a company that builds and manages online support communities for patients and caregivers, to launch a new series here on Scope. Once a …
Raising awareness about rare diseases
Today is Rare Disease Day, an international event intended to raise awareness of diseases that affect fewer than 1 in 2,000 people. Treatment options for …
To squeeze or not to squeeze: Using packaged foods to increase a child’s fruit and veggie intake
I feel guilty. That's what I told a good girlfriend as we strolled through the San Francisco streets for our weekly walk last night. My mom-guilt didn't …
Life-threatening diagnosis leads to powerful friendship for two California teens
Diagnosed early in childhood with cystic fibrosis, Emma Greene and Tiffany Senter were for several years able to lead relatively normal lives by managing their …
Recognizing mental health problems through Facebook
If you were the sole witness to a troubled person peering over the edge of the Golden Gate Bridge, would you lunge to hold him …
Iceman's origins discovered at Stanford
Several science news outlets are reporting today that the whole genome of the Iceman mummy (discovered in 1991 in the Italian Alps) has been sequenced, …
Study suggests teens are more vulnerable to effects of sport-related concussions
Teenage athletes who suffer a concussion may be more sensitive to the effects of the head trauma than either adults or children, according to research …
A look at the federal mandate to cover contraceptives
A Kaiser Health News Q&A published yesterday takes a closer look at the much-discussed rule in the Affordable Care Act requiring insurance companies to provide contraceptives …
Hospital mock-ups help refine plans before construction begins
Even though the actual rooms haven't been built yet in the future Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital expansion, physicians, nurses and …
Questioning the use of video games to get kids more active
The next time I babysit my video game-loving nephews, I may not be so quick to insist that they break from their hand-controlled strategy games …
A 60-year-old missionary recounts a mastectomy in 1855
Today Letters of Note is featuring a fascinating letter from Lucy Thurston, a 60-year-old missionary living in 1855 Hawaii, in which she recounts undergoing a …
Surviving is just half the battle: More on Stanford's new survivorship clinic
For many cancer patients who have beaten their disease, graduating from their oncologists can be a daunting process, as becoming a “survivor” comes with its own set …
Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital partners with high schools on student mental health programs
Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital has taken an active role at two Palo Alto, Calif., high schools on initiatives aimed at encouraging students to seek help, improve …