Daily Archives: January 14, 2016
Using tumor DNA to refine lung cancer staging and treatment
The treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is guided by disease stage as assessed by clinical and pathologic criteria. Clinical tumor stage is determined by imaging including computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron
Time for a new understanding of chest pain
Most people who present to hospitals with pain in the chest have nothing wrong with their hearts. A small proportion have another physical problem such as acid reflux from the stomach but most have health anxiety or
How to spot a sick cell?
Mass spectrometry (MS) is a technique used to measure the mass of molecules. Chemists extensively use this method to confirm that they have made the right molecule by comparing the mass of the actual product with the
More reasons to appreciate the Golden Spice “saffron”
Cancer remains a leading cause of morbidity and death worldwide. What is even worse is that the number of new cancer cases is projected to massive increase which would probably make it the first cause of death
High prevalence of undertreated cardiovascular disease in patients diagnosed with cancer
Heart disease and cancer are the most common causes of death in the United States. They often have the same risk factors (for example, smoking, advancing age, obesity). Heart disease can worsen outcomes after cancer therapy and
A famous astronomer, a full bladder, and the heavens revealed
Our modern conception of the universe largely resulted from a famous astronomer’s inability to urinate. On Saturday, October 13, 1601, the celebrated Danish scientist Tycho Brahe went to a dinner party, drank too much, and returned home
The effect of different educational methods on nurses’ hand hygiene
Nosocomial infections are among the most important causes of morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients. Nosocomial infections have profound effects on patients, families, and healthcare systems. These infections increase length of hospital stay as well as mortality
Perceptual Inference
The common saying goes: seeing is believing. We are accustomed to think that everything in our visual scene is instantly perceived by the brain and recorded like a photograph on paper. In the 19th century a German
Risk factors for psychotic major depression
Risk factors are attributes, characteristics, or experience that increase the likelihood of developing an illness or disorder. An understanding of the risk factors involved in mental disorders may inform the development of more effective treatments or even
Antidepressants associated with falls in Parkinson’s patients
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects mobility and is commonly characterized, in advanced stages of the disease, by instability and falls. Falls are a major reason for hospitalization in Parkinson’s patients and may lead
Exciting new research development in the treatment of obesity
Obesity is a major problem in the United States. In fact, it is a worldwide epidemic. One third of the US population is overweight. Another third is Obese. The definition of obesity is a Body Mass Index
A natural compound called rutin may shade light on diabetes therapy
Diabetes and its major risk factor, obesity, have become a world-wide epidemic and cause of suffering for millions of people. There is still no drug of cure for diabetes and the currently available drugs suffer from a
Climate scepticism in Australia
Much has been written about ‘climate scepticism’, especially in the United States. Far less attention has been paid to Australia, despite the fact that climate change has emerged as a central issue for Australian politics and science.
Doc, I think I just bruised my elbow. Do I really need to wait for x-rays?
You’re late for work. You grab your bag and rush out the door. After catching the tip of your shoe on the step, you crash to the ground. Your right elbow — and your mug of coffee
Sir Richard Owen and the sanitary reform in Victorian Lancaster
The Royal Society of Biology recently unveiled ten blue plaques across the United Kingdom to commemorate the renowned and sometimes uncelebrated champions of biology. This included a ceremony in honour of Sir Richard Owen (1804-1892) on the
The origin and evolution of fertility-linked signals in bees
Bees, ants and wasps comprise a biological group named Hymenoptera. In the species of this group, various levels of social organization can be found – from solitary individuals to highly complex social societies. An important characteristic of
