The 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(...)
Perspectives in Research
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(...)
Bugs Resistant to Drugs: What Can We Do?
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchIn September 2016, a Nevada woman died of a bacterial infection. The woman, in her 70s, had been hospitalized previously in India due to a fracture of her right leg, which led to bone infections and more subsequent hospitalizations. During these infections, she almost certainly received antibiotics to help her recover, especially given that in(...)
Uncovering How a Diabetes Drug Slows Cancer Growth
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchWhat do a relatively unknown gene, a well-known signaling pathway and nuclear transport have in common? They’re all part of how diabetes and cancer drug metformin works. Metformin is a widely used type 2 diabetes drug that lowers glucose levels and sensitizes cells to insulin. Metformin’s mechanism has been long sought after, and studies into(...)
Breaking Down Where the Money Goes: Personal and Public Health Care Spending in the United States
Posted by | Perspectives in Research, Recently PublishedThe United States spends more money on health care than any other country — $2.9 trillion in 2014, or about $9,110 per person. Spending continues to increase. With the arrival of the new Trump administration, the debate on health care costs is heightening. In preparation, let’s take a closer look at U.S. health care costs(...)
New Frontiers in Major Depressive Disorder Treatment
Posted by | Perspectives in ResearchMajor depressive disorder (MDD) afflicts more than 250 million people worldwide and is the most common source of disability for Americans. In addition to counseling and talk therapy, there is a veritable alphabet soup of medications, from amitriptyline to venlafaxine, currently prescribed to treat MDD. Each class of antidepressant acts on an individual or combination(...)