When I recently learned that my cholesterol was a bit high, I was told that a regular exercise routine and a couple of oatmeal breakfasts …
Month: April 2013
Reflections on being a med-student mom
Getting through medical school and raising a child are two activities that on their own can each be challenging - not to mention exhausting. But …
Brain's gain: Stanford neuroscientist discusses two major new initiatives
The brain has gotten a lot of attention lately. Last month, President Obama announced a $100 million decades-long research initiative to "unlock", as he called …
Revealed: The likely role of Parkinson’s protein in the healthy brain
So-called Lewy bodies - gumball-like clumps rich in a mystery molecule called alpha-synuclein - abound in Parkinson patients’ brains and are considered the hallmark of …
The importance of thoughtful touches in health care
Blogger-physician Aaron Neinstein, MD, offers today a nice, brief reminder of how small things in health care can make such a big difference. Noting that …
Task force recommends HIV screening for all people aged 15 to 65
When we think of the AIDS epidemic, many of us turn to the developing world, overlooking the fact that HIV is very much a problem …
Peering into the brain to predict kids' responses to math tutoring
Third grade is a critical year for learning arithmetic facts, but while math comes easily to some children, others struggle to master the basics. Now, …
Atul Butte discusses why big data is a big deal in biomedicine
Society is increasingly becoming more data-driven. Noting the power of vast reservoirs of public information, the federal government launched the Big Data Research and Development Initiative …
Image of the Week: Prelimbic cortex illuminated with optogenetic stimulation
Researchers at the National Institutes of Health and University of California-San Francisco have found that stimulating a key part of the brain reduces compulsive cocaine-seeking …
Grand Roundup: Top posts for the week of April 21
The five most-read stories on Scope this week were: The secret life of hair follicles, revealed by Stanford researchers: Stanford researchers delve into the cells …
Comparing the cost-effectiveness of helicopter transport and ambulances for trauma victims
Emergency helicopter transport can be pricey and, as recent reports of aircraft crashes show, potentially dangerous. Such downsides have sparked some concerns that transporting trauma …
Stanford nurse's whiteboard artistry brings cheer to patients, co-workers
For Stanford nurse Alicia Moreci, RN, the whiteboard has become more than just a place to write information about her patients. It's also a blank …
Using the Coca-Cola supplier network to distribute medicines in Africa
Although Coca-Cola products are readily available for sale in remote African villages, many of the life saving medicines needed for easily treatable diseases can only …
Following Boston bombings, "there's nothing else in the world I would rather do now" than go into medicine
The CommonHealth blog drew my attention today to the story of a group of students who jumped into action after the Boston Marathon bombings. As one …
Examining the helpful and harmful effects of stress
The research on how stress affects our body can be confusing. Previous studies have linked chronic stress to a variety of health conditions ranging from …
When do you tell a potential partner about your rare illness?
My now-husband and I were together when I learned I had a chronic illness - a rare blood disorder - 13 years ago. (I'll never forget …