Exercise may alleviate symptoms of arthritis regardless of weight loss Approximately 50 million adults in the United States have been diagnosed with arthritis and the cost of treating it and other rheumatic conditions is an estimated $128 billion  a year. Often pain, stiffness and swelling of the joints associated with arthritis can prevent patients from […]

How should pediatricians talk about obesity? Pediatricians are often the first source of help for children struggling with their weight. Yet kids’ doctors can unintentionally harm weight-control efforts if they use terminology to describe the weight problem that makes children or their parents feel stigmatized or blamed.   That’s why a new study in Pediatrics […]

Urologist finds childless men more at risk of death from cardiovascular disease  Michael Eisenberg led a study that found men who don’t have children have a higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. ( Photo Credit Steve Fisch ) Michael Eisenberg led a study that found men who don’t have children have a higher risk […]

Zidane and Ronaldo target hunger in annual all-star UN charity soccer match 26 September 2011 The soccer stars and United Nations Goodwill Ambassadors Ronaldo and Zinédine Zidane announced today that proceeds from the next UN all-star charity game will go to the world body’s continuing efforts to fight the food crisis in the Horn of […]

Genes that Influence Blood Pressure In one of the largest genomic studies ever, an international research consortium identified 29 genetic variations that influence blood pressure. More than half of these variants were previously unknown. The findings provide insights into the biology of blood pressure and may lead to new therapeutic strategies. High blood pressure, or […]

Packard Children’s surgeon helps teen recover from brain injury Racing his motocross bike July 7 at the Tuolumne County Fair, 15-year-old Spencer Morse came up on two jumps in quick succession. Going over the first jump, he lost control. At the second jump he flew over the handlebars and his helmet was ripped off. He […]

Gene Linked to Optimism and Self-Esteem Why can some people make it through difficult times with little trouble while others crumble under the same circumstances? A new study suggests that the answer lies—at least in part—in your genes. Scientists have long known that people with certain psychological traits, or resources, can fare better in challenging […]

New website eases clinical research trials — and tribulations The medical school has launched a new website that guides and supports biomedical researchers through the complex process of managing translational and human-subject research studies.  Developed by Spectrum, the Stanford Center for Clinical and Translational Education and Research, this online portal is part of an ongoing […]

Designing New Diabetes Drugs Building on recent insights into how diabetes medications work, researchers have designed experimental drugs that are as effective in mice as current medications, but cause fewer side effects. The finding may lead to new drugs to combat diabetes. Almost 26 million Americans have diabetes, a disease in which the body has […]

Men with kids are at lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease than their childless counterparts  Married or formerly married men who have had no children are at a higher risk of cardiovascular-related death than those who have become fathers. Why this is true, it’s too early to say. But Stanford urologist Michael Eisenberg, MD, […]