Past studies suggest that exercise can boost immunity and decrease risk of illness. But it may also strengthen the potency of the influenza vaccine, according …
Month: January 2013
Bone marrow transplantation field mourns passing of pioneer Karl Blume
My colleague writes today of the passing of Karl Blume, MD, a major figure in bone marrow transplantation at Stanford. Referred to by colleagues as a …
A call for mega-trials for blockbuster drugs
Drug therapies with sales exceeding $1 billion should be subject to a mega-trial, a randomized clinical trial with at least 10,000 patients. That's what John …
'Snorkel' stents create lifeline to organs in method of treating complex abdominal aortic aneurysms
It's been called the chimney technique, and it's been called the double-barrel technique. But Jason Lee, MD, prefers to call it the snorkel technique. In …
Report shows 35 percent of U.S. adults turn to the Internet to diagnose a medical condition
A new report from the Pew Internet & American Life Project shows that 59 percent of American adults have looked online for health information in …
Looking for comfort during a less-than-comfortable diagnosis
We've partnered with Inspire, a company that builds and manages online support communities for patients and caregivers, to launch a patient-focused series here on Scope. …
Developing a smartphone app to monitor lung health
Here's an interesting mobile health app in development. Researchers at the University of Washington are collaborating with Seattle Children's Hospital to devise a smartphone app …
Study shows complementary medicine use high among children with chronic health conditions
Research published today in Pediatrics finds that the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is common among children, especially those who have been diagnosed …
Funding basic science leads to clinical discoveries, eventually
Updated 6.15.13: A Stanford Medicine article further describes the vismodegib research. *** When I first interviewed Brian Kobilka, MD, winner of the 2012 Nobel Prize …
Pill-sized device could allow broader screening for esophageal cancer, other conditions
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have developed a tethered, pill-sized endoscope that creates detailed images of the esophageal wall. The imaging system, which is enclosed …
Image of the Week: Brian Kobilka’s Nobel diploma
Last month, Brian Kobilka, MD, chair of molecular and cellular physiology at Stanford, was honored at a ceremony in Stockholm for receiving the 2012 Nobel Prize …
Grand Roundup: Top posts for the week of Jan. 6
The five most-read stories on Scope this week were: For a truly happy New Year, cultivate sustainable happiness: A Q&A with clinical psychologist Laura Delizonna, PhD, …
Repairing cartilage with light-activated hydrogel
A new approach using a soft and squishy material called hydrogel may help rebuild healthy cartilage, according to findings reported this week in Science Translational …
Researchers draw inspiration from mussels to create new bioadhesive for surgery
More and more often researchers are turning to nature to develop new medical tools. Around the globe teams are studying porcupine quills to design adhesives …
What really happens in the lab, via Twitter
Back when I was in graduate school, I was - how to put it? - not exactly a natural at lab work. For instance, I …
Former School of Medicine dean named to expert panel to reform end-of-life care in America
Phillip Pizzo, MD, former dean of the School of Medicine, and has been selected for an Institute of Medicine committee tasked with recommending ways to …