The human innate immune system is one of our body’s broadest defense mechanisms against infection. One familiar innate immune response we’ve all experienced is inflammation, which is a complex biological process that relies on signaling between cells stimulated by invading pathogens. A detailed mechanism of the inflammatory response has been missing until recently, when a […]
Perspectives in Research
The Benefits of Delayed Cord Clamping May Benefit Full-Term Infants, Study Shows
Posted by Diana Cholakian | Perspectives in ResearchAs humans, we are inclined to make everything we do faster. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the delivery of medical treatments. But recent research may support delaying a medical intervention in order to benefit the patient. The medical intervention in question is a process known as cord clamping. “Cutting the cord” typically refers […]
Sep 30, 2015
Consistent Spicy Food Consumption May Lower Risk of Death
Posted by michellekim | Perspectives in ResearchEggs are a great source of nutrients. Eggs are too high in cholesterol. Meat will make you strong. Meat will lead to heart disease. The cultural and medical messages regarding our diet are multitudinous and often contradictory. This is not surprising, given that moderation, especially when dealing with diet, is an ever-elusive virtue for many […]
Sep 23, 2015
Secret of weight loss may be primary care physician encouragement
Posted by Paul Sirajuddin | Perspectives in ResearchIt seems people are always struggling to lose weight, probably a result of the multitude of factors that can derail even the strongest of individuals’ willpower. And while there are multitudes of late-night infomercials claiming to hold the next breakthrough in weight loss supplements or aerobic machines, the most influential factor may not be found […]
Sep 17, 2015
End-of-Life Discussion: An Integral Component of Patient Care
Posted by Arielle Medford | Perspectives in ResearchNext year, Medicare plans to begin reimbursing doctors for end-of-life discussions. This development highlights the vital role doctors play in these discussions and the importance of determining patients’ wishes before illness prevents them from speaking for themselves. This change in billing is important not because of the money itself, but because it puts end-of-life discussions […]
Sep 14, 2015
Johns Hopkins Scientists Discover a Promising Treatment for Acute Kidney Injury
Posted by Soroosh Solhjoo | Perspectives in ResearchAcute kidney injury, or AKI, is a major global health care problem. Each year, AKI causes 1.7 million deaths worldwide. The International Society of Nephrology has launched the 0by25 initiative to eliminate the preventable death from AKI by the year 2025. Now, in a recent study published ahead of print in the Journal of the […]
Sep 8, 2015
Clinical Trial Shines Light on Sleep Disorders in Blind Patients
Posted by Arielle Medford | Perspectives in ResearchLast month, The Lancet published an article describing a recent phase III clinical trial in totally blind patients. The study evaluated the efficacy of a new medical intervention called tasimelteon for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorders.1 The science behind these conditions is simple. Circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders result from discordance between an individual’s environment and the sleep-wake […]
Sep 3, 2015
Recent CRISPR/Cas9 Research Ignites Ethical Concerns
Posted by Xuan Pham | Perspectives in ResearchThe CRISPR/Cas9 wave that’s recently swept through the scientific community is now churning up a storm of controversy in its wake. Due to its relatively low cost and high efficiency, CRISPR/Cas9 has facilitated many breakthroughs in the areas of genome engineering, many of which are oriented at improving human health. Proof of this technology’s power […]
Aug 27, 2015
Cracking the Code: How to Create Intuitive Tools for Visualizing Data
Posted by Bree Yanagisawa | Perspectives in ResearchThese days, science is ripe with “big data” challenges. From next-generation sequencing to complex structural analysis, experiments that were once considered niche are becoming more commonplace in many laboratory environments. A single sequencing run alone can produce up to terabytes of data, and with this massive increase in information comes an inherent need to also […]
Aug 25, 2015
Johns Hopkins Scientists Examine the Neural Mechanisms of Timing
Posted by Kevin Monk | Perspectives in ResearchIt is truly awe-inspiring to go to Orioles Park at Camden Yards and watch the O’s play. What is most thrilling to watch is when a player hits a home run. There is nothing as exhilarating as watching an athlete fulfill his or her potential, especially because of the immense amount of precision required in […]
Aug 20, 2015