Ask Stanford Med: Rafael Pelayo answers questions on sleep research and offers tips for ‘springing forward’ Changes to our sleep schedules like the upcoming change to daylight saving time can make it hard to fall or stay asleep. In an effort to help you spring forward and stay on track, Stanford’s Rafael Pelayo, MD, recently took questions on […]

New imaging technology may aid in early detection of breast cancer This kaleidoscopic image shows a live human mammary gland structure created by Purdue researchers working to develop a new imaging technology to determine a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer and advance research on methods for preventing the disease. Futurity reports: The new imaging technique, […]

New Stanford immune-system sensor may speed up, slash cost of detecting disease An inexpensive new medical sensor has the potential to simplify the diagnosis of diseases ranging from life-threatening immune deficiencies to the common cold, according to its inventors at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Their device, called an integrated microfluidics-waveguide sensor, sorts and counts […]

Kidney-transplant patients celebrate unprecedented freedom from immunosuppressant drugs In the year 2000, just as Daniel Bitner was starting dental school at the University of Louisville in Kentucky, he got a kick in the teeth. A routine physical turned up elevated blood pressure and creatinine levels, which taken together can mean kidney malfunction. He soon learned […]

Irradiation and stem cells used in new treatment to enable kidney recipients to forego immunosuppressant drugs With a novel approach that creates a more-accepting immune system, Stanford School of Medicine physicians have pioneered a technique that frees kidney-transplant recipients from a life on anti-rejection drugs. Unlike the standard care after such a transplant, the Stanford doctors irradiate […]

Study shows chronic stress in adolescence may impair memory As many of us have experienced, chronic stress can take a toll on your emotions and ability to think clearly. Now findings published in Neuronoffer new insights into how chronic stress may affect the brain during adolescence and adulthood. In the study (subscription required), University of Buffalo researchers analyzed […]

New NIH series offers consumer-friendly tips on complementary health practices Previous research has found that Americans’ use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is on the rise. In responding to the growing popularity of such treatments and therapies, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has launched a new series of monthly health tips to provide consumers with easy-to-read information […]

Egg-Producing Stem Cells Found in Women Researchers have isolated egg-producing stem cells from the ovaries of women and observed these cells giving rise to young egg cells, or oocytes. The finding may point the way toward improved treatments for female infertility.   Egg-producing stem cells isolated from an adult human ovary can generate an oocyte […]

Colonoscopies Prevent Colon Cancer Deaths Removing polyps during colonoscopy can not only prevent colorectal cancer, but also reduce deaths from the disease for years, according to a new study.   Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in both men and women nationwide. In 2012, more than 143,000 people in the United States […]

Bacteria’s Contracting Syringe Machine Some bacteria, such as those that cause cholera, use a special system to inject toxins into the cells of host organisms and other bacteria. A new study has revealed how this syringe-like injection system works at a molecular level. A bacterium delivers a lethal injection to another cell. Illustration by Everett Kane. […]