After my aunt died from colorectal cancer several years ago, my father was primed when his doctor suggested he get screened for colon cancer himself, …
Month: January 2015
Gene regulation controls identity – and health
Welcome to the first Biomed Bites of 2015. We’ll be continuing this series this year — check each Thursday to meet more of Stanford’s most …
Diversity is initial focus of new Stanford lecture series
How often does a psychiatrist stop to chat with a bioengineer? Or a first-year medical student with an established postdoc? At Stanford, more often than …
Exploring the value of longevity with bioethicist Ezekiel Emanuel
In a popular article in the Atlantic published this past fall, Ezekiel Emanuel, MD, bioethicist and prominent federal policy adviser, made a controversial case against …
Forces at work in concussions more complicated than previously thought, new Stanford study reveals
The college bowls of New Year’s Day are behind us, and many football fans are already looking forward to next month’s Super Bowl. But they’re …
“Nudges” in health: Lessons from a fitness tracker on how to motivate patients
SMS (“Stanford Medical School”) Unplugged was recently launched as a forum for students to chronicle their experiences in medical school. The student-penned entries appear on …
Examining the potential of big data to transform health care
Updated 1-6-15: The piece also aired this week on NPR's All Things Considered. *** 9-29-14: Back in 2011, rheumatologist Jennifer Frankovich, MD, and colleagues at …
Watching your spouse die on a TV reality show: De-identification as a myth, in death and life
Much biomedical research relies on the idea of “de-identification.” The Common Rule, the federal regulation on human subjects research, applies, as a general matter, if …
Exercising during pregnancy may reduce children’s risk of hypertension
Regular physical activity during pregnancy has been shown to benefit both mom and baby: Past studies found that exercise can help expectant mothers manage weight …
Registration for Big Data in Biomedicine conference now open
Last spring, in a blog post on a study from Stanford systems-medicine chief Atul Butte, MD, PhD, National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins, MD, PhD, noted that …
A detailed look at latest advancements in treating brain tumors
Advancements in radiology and imaging combined with the increasing use of robotics and computers in neurosurgery have dramatically changed the way physicians treat brain tumors. …
The genomics revolution and the rise of the “molecular stethoscope”
Back in 2012, Stanford bioengineer Stephan Quake, PhD, and colleagues sequenced the genome of a fetus using only a maternal blood sample for the first time. …
New version of popular antibiotic eliminates side effect of deafness
About five years before he died, my father was prescribed gentamycin, one of the most commonly used class of antibiotics called aminoglycosides, for a heart …
How to keep New Year’s resolutions to eat healthy
New Year's Day always offers the opportunity to hit pause, reflect on our lives and set goals to improve our health and well-being. For many …
Happy New Year from Scope
We’re signing off for the holiday until Monday, January 5, when we'll resume our regular publishing schedule. Happy New Year! Photo by Mr. Nixter
The role of nutrition in diabetes prevention and management
Can certain diets help patients prevent or manage their diabetes? Which foods are best for diabetics and which ones should they avoid? If you increase …