My friend found a spider the size of a grapefruit on her hand towel while we were visiting Thailand. We had been warned that "wildlife" …
Month: August 2016
Scientists suggest books to savor
Although most schools are in session, days are growing shorter and the hint of autumn is in the air (in California, that means dry, brown …
Video provides behind-the-scenes look at unusual transport protein
For science geeks out there, this video offers a glimpse of a key protein tasked with transporting vitamin A into cells, and provides a unique …
Stanford otolaryngologist champions ultrasound imaging
Patients with thyroid nodules — extremely common lumps on the thyroid that are usually benign, but can be malignant — are typically sent for ultrasound imaging to …
Vitamin A byproduct helps combat colorectal cancer in mice and humans
When foreign invaders like bacteria end up in the intestines, the immune system gears up to squelch them. Oftentimes, inflammation — the release of chemicals …
Study finds Egyptian doctors are not discouraging female genital cutting
Some women in Egypt are feeling conflicted about whether they should have their daughters undergo female genital cutting and are seeking out the opinions of …
Plumbing the well of wellness
Almost everyone can think of a moment when they felt well. Maybe it was midway through a week lying on a beach in Hawaii with …
Chemical spray paint identifies new proteins in synapse
I recently went to meet Alice Ting, PhD, in her new Clark Center lab, not long after her arrival from MIT. Ting came to Stanford …
Stanford Medicine’s white coat and stethoscope ceremony, in pictures
On Friday afternoon, under a bright blue summer sky, 93 students were officially welcomed to Stanford Medicine as part of our traditional white coat and stethoscope …
Preventing sexual assault in Kenyan girls — Stanford researchers make inroads
Many Kenyan girls never learn that it's OK to defend themselves against sexual assault. They are expected to be acquiescent and "nice" to everyone, and …
The Good Gut: Discussing the stomach’s world of disease-fighting microbes
Is your gut a doorway into good health? Microbiologist Justin Sonnenburg, PhD, and his wife and fellow researcher, Erica Sonnenburg, PhD, believe so. They've written …
A big welcome to Stanford’s newest medical students
It's a big day for the newest batch of Stanford medical students: Our 93 doctors-to-be will begin their medical journey by receiving their white coat and stethoscope …
Extra chemo drugs don’t improve treatment of rare bone cancer
A large clinical trial, published today in The Lancet Oncology, should spare young people with a rare bone cancer from the side effects of too …
Video about surgeon-author Paul Kalanithi earns Emmy nod
The first time I saw a rough cut of “A strange relativity: Altered time for surgeon-turned-patient," a video about neurosurgeon-author Paul Kalanithi’s reflections on life while facing …
A discussion on new guidelines aimed at preventing eating disorders and obesity in teens
In my latest 1:2:1 podcast, I spoke with Stanford pediatrician Neville Golden, MD, about new guidelines to help pediatricians and parents talk with adolescents …
Stanford biodesign: A focus on saving lives without increasing costs
Here’s a conundrum: Medical technology saves lives every day, but it has also been one of the key drivers of health-care cost increases. How do …