Pheromones are chemicals secreted by animals that influence the behavior of recipient animals of the same species, often to attract mates. That some form of chemical communication occurs between animals was first recognized as far back as ancient Greece, when the Greeks noted that male dogs were attracted to secretions from female dogs in heat.(...)
Perspectives in Research
Competition in an Age of Collaboration
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchThe competitive drive is a double-edged sword: Fighting for success or superiority sharpens our mental acuity and increases motivation, while concurrently inducing anxiety and decreasing inhibitions. Success in fast-paced. Intensive careers such as business, law, science and medicine require using this competitive spirit to drive higher performance and production. Yet this drive to succeed can(...)
Hopkins Mood Disorders Symposium: Gaining Perspectives and Generating Conversations
Posted by | Events and Happenings, Perspectives in ResearchA sizeable crowd of over two hundred attendees gathered in Turner Auditorium on April 18, 2017, to hear discussions on mood disorders at the 31st Annual Mood Disorders Research/Education Symposium, sponsored by the Johns Hopkins Mood Disorders Center. Mood disorders, which encompass major depression, anxiety disorder and bipolar disorder, as well as a spectrum of(...)
Mobile Phones Can Make the Difference for Infectious Disease Management
Posted by | Perspectives in Research, Recently PublishedImagine going to the doctor to be tested for HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. You will likely have to travel a long distance to get to a clinic, and, once you arrive, your blood will be drawn and sent to a central testing laboratory for analysis. You will then have to wait for the results to(...)
Monkey See, Monkey Do: Tracing the Origin of Contagious Behaviors
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchThe contagious yawn is a well-known component of the communal human experience that transcends languages and cultures. We joke about it in offices and dedicate Mythbusters episodes to understanding its frequency, and researchers have even shown its ability to pass between species (try yawning in front of your dog or cat and see how long(...)
Engaging Medical Students in Outpatient Clinics
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchAs a fourth-year medical student at Johns Hopkins, I have had the privilege of working with attending physicians in a number of outpatient clinics. My roles in the clinic have varied. In most clinics, I see the patient independently, take a history, and perform a physical exam. I then describe the course of the illness,(...)
The Butterfly Effect: Wing Research Method Shows Promise
Posted by | Perspectives in Research, Recently PublishedFrom the flower on your front porch to your cousin’s lower back tattoo, butterflies are one of the most immediately recognizable insects due to their magnificent wings. Though I am no butterfly expert myself, I can distinguish a few species native to my area by their color patterns. Interestingly, wing patterns and coloration may be(...)
In Search of a Cure for Tissue Injury: The Rise of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Regenerative Medicine
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchRegenerative medicine has been dubbed the vanguard of 21st-century health care. This emerging field places an emphasis on curing rather than treating injured or impaired tissues, and seeks to repair damaged tissues in vivo (in the living body) using techniques that trigger cells’ intrinsic healing ability. In the event that the body is unable to(...)
Double Duty: Repurposing Drugs for Novel Cancer Treatment
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchWhat do an anti-parasitic drug used to treat pinworms and a frequently used anti-malarial drug have in common? According to recent studies from the labs of Johns Hopkins and University of Kentucky investigators, both mebendazole and chloroquine could be promising medicines to combat cancer. Mebendazole has been in use as an anti-helminthic drug since 1971.(...)
From ‘Devil’s Lettuce’ to Prescription Drug: The Acceptance of Medical Marijuana
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchMedical marijuana, for years a controversial pipe dream throughout the United States, is embroiled in an entirely new debate in 2017. For decades, the discussion over legalized marijuana usage has centered on ethics and morality, conflicting desires between freedom and protection. These arguments are still robust today, but the terms have shifted — from medical(...)