The five most-read stories on Scope this week were:
Looking for comfort during a less-than-comfortable diagnosis: Inspire contributor and patient advocate Stan Hardin shares his story of being diagnosed with Peyronie’s disease and urges physicians to be aware of, and sensitive to, a patient’s uneasiness about being examined and diagnosed with this type of disease.
For a truly happy New Year, cultivate sustainable happiness: Clinical psychologist Laura Delizonna, PhD, who is currently teaching a four-course series on sustainable happiness for the Stanford Continuing Studies program, discusses science-based methods to enhance happiness.
Image of the Week: Brian Kobilka’s Nobel diploma: An image of the stunning diploma presented to Brian Kobilka, MD, chair of molecular and cellular physiology at Stanford, who was awarded the 2012 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Kobilka and the rest of the Nobel laureates received their diplomas during a ceremony in Stockholm last month.
Funding basic science leads to clinical discoveries, eventually: An article in the latest issue of Inside Stanford Medicine discusses the 30-year history of scientific breakthroughs that led to the approval of a newly approved drug called vismodegib, which is used to treat inoperable basal cell carcinomas, and how the drug helped save the eyesight of 101-year-old Winnie Bazurto.
Does exercise amplify the flu shot’s effect?: Iowa State University researchers conducted two experiments to determine if hitting the gym after getting a flu shot would prove beneficial. As reported this week in the New York Times, study results suggest that working out for 90 minutes or less can increase a person's resistance to the flu. Researchers speculate that the benefits are a result of exercise increasing circulation and invigorating the immune system.
