It is no secret that weight loss is a major driver in American culture. In 2013, the U.S. weight loss market recorded a total market value of $60.5 billion1. And while there is certainly an aesthetic push behind weight loss culture, achieving a healthy weight is also incredibly important in terms of personal health. Almost(...)
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
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
Legislative Bill Prompts Discussion of Cross-Talk in the Scientific Community
Posted by Arielle Medford | Perspectives in ResearchEarlier this month, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill directly impacting the biomedical research community. If approved by the Senate, the 21st Century Cures Act promises to increase the budget of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and provide it with an additional $8.75 billion over the next five years. The Food and(...)
Jul 31, 2015
The Genetic Reality of a Jurassic World
Posted by Xuan Pham | A Day in the Life, Perspectives in ResearchAs some of the most impressively gargantuan creatures to ever roam the earth, dinosaurs are a constant source of intrigue and inspiration. In the latest remake of the classic Jurassic novel, Jurassic World, dinosaurs again steal the spotlight by giving moviegoers’ imaginations an exquisite bite (pun intended) of life among these magnificent beasts. But as(...)
Jul 31, 2015
Research Reveals Tiny Hairs on Bat Wings are Crucial for Normal Flight
Posted by Kevin Monk | Perspectives in ResearchSummer in Baltimore means many things: outdoor movies on Federal Hill, different fairs and festivals throughout town, and daytrips to Ocean City are just a few of the diverting events available to residents. After you’ve wiled away the sun-filled hours with these numerous summer pastimes, you may be tempted to head in for the evening.(...)
Jul 28, 2015
Clinical trial to target cancer drugs to gene mutations for individualized therapy
Posted by Paul Sirajuddin | Perspectives in ResearchImagine a scenario where a patient comes into the clinic with a suspected cancer. The clinician not only confirms that the patient does indeed have cancer, but also identifies a specific gene abnormality that is driving the tumor. Without hesitating, the doctor prescribes a cancer drug that specifically targets the gene mutation responsible for the(...)
Jul 20, 2015