I know I’ll get bashed for this, but before beginning the next block (head and neck), I’d like to take a moment to write about why I think the brain is the singlemost important organ in the body. First of all, let’s define “death.” It varies from state to state,…
Very few people will argue against the notion that our healthcare system is in shambles; however, even fewer people have a legitimate plan for resolving the problem. Yesterday afternoon, two Baylor Med MD/MBA students presented for the last health policy elective session. They provided their insight as to how focusing…
A few months ago, Human Genome Services Inc. (NASDAQ: HGSI) and co-development partner GlaxoSmithKline revealed data from a phase III trial of Benlysta™, a promising new drug for treating systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), otherwise known as lupus. Their stock had literally tripled within a matter of two open trading sessions…
As a biochemistry major, the nature of protein synthesis has always appealed to me. With regard to medicine, I was quick to attribute common pathologies with abnormalities at the genetic level; however, as a medical student, I’ve become interested in another, equally important factor in creating disease – protein folding.
I thought HIV’s genome was mapped ages ago. Much to my surprise, one of the top medical headlines this past week was just this. I guess it’s better late than never.
There are approximately 220 different types of cells in the human body, some of which are bound to a “G0” phase in which cellular division no longer occurs (most neurons, adult cardiomyocytes, etc.) Consequently, these cell lines are difficult to treat in the event of damage (strokes, MI’s, etc.). However,…
A recent Institute of Cancer Research study published in the New England Journal of Medicine describes a novel way of treating BRCA-gene based cancers. Mutations in the BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 genes are routinely linked with higher incidence of breast and ovarian cancers in women; however, in healthy cells, the aforementioned…
I recently had the chance to ask a soon-to-be dermatology resident what a laid-back student like myself should expect from medical school, and how I can prepare myself to handle the upcoming rigors. I also expressed my desire to match at a Baylor Med residency program and wondered how influential…
We’re all aware of the emphasis on healthcare spreading through Capitol Hill. This morning, I read an interesting article by Steven Pearlstein, a business columnist with the Washington Post, dealing with what he feels is a major source of the problem – doctors. He writes that: If we really want…
This past Friday, I had a brief chat with a friend who’ll be starting dental school in Houston and just found a place to live near the Texas medical center. During the last year of undergrad, he moved to a new apartment and found it incredibly difficult to study due…