ADVANCE Outlook: Lab Professionals : General Health

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Michael Jones — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:22:00 GMT

There’s a scene in the 60s-era AMC series “Mad Men” that involves a pregnant woman smoking and drinking while her friend’s child runs around with a dry cleaning bag over her head. All of this happens in the space of about a minute, and there are so many...(read more)

Knowing

Michael Jones — Wed, 08 May 2013 15:51:00 GMT

ADVANCE Discourse: Lab Knowing Let’s forget about money for a second. I know that can be difficult – what, with all of those pesky adult responsibilities and everything, but bare with me. If money wasn’t an object, and your physician wanted to order a...(read more)

Feelings and Brain Scans

Michael Jones — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:41:00 GMT

During a hospital visit, a doctor will often ask about pain, but how can it be better calculated beyond just words? A story from NPR followed researchers led by Tor Wager, PhD, associate professor of psychology and neuroscience from the University of...(read more)

Stem Cells and ALS

Michael Jones — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 22:31:00 GMT

Most of us know amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by its other name, Lou Gehrig’s disease. After a recent preliminary trial at Emory University yielded positive results, a phase II trial has been approved by the FDA. An article from Newswise described...(read more)

Of Mice and Rats

Michael Jones — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 20:16:00 GMT

I’ve discussed the introduction of human genes into test mice before , but apparently rats are showing much more promise in Alzheimer’s research. A recent article from NPR discussed the need for a better model for humans in the study and, potentially,...(read more)

Univercell Builder

Michael Jones — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 20:46:00 GMT

The introduction of new drugs that combat disease and infection at the genetic level has been a landmark breakthrough, both for laboratory science as well as for patient treatment plans. Cell-based therapeutics, on the other hand, stand to become influential...(read more)

"Bedless Hospitals"

Michael Jones — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 17:10:00 GMT

The introduction of two new hospital facilities in the US marks the beginning of a shift in the healthcare industry. According to a recent news release from Dark Daily, a nationwide change from inpatient- to outpatient-based treatment approaches has resulted...(read more)

In the Genes

Michael Jones — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 20:41:00 GMT

The ethical implications of genetic sequencing are really only just beginning to be fully realized, and these questions continue to contribute to the growing debate over information provided by the human genome. A recent story from NPR chronicled Henrietta...(read more)

The Fine Print

Michael Jones — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 20:43:00 GMT

I remember when the Body Worlds Exhibit came to my local museum. I couldn’t believe it -- those were real people. My dad laughed when I told him about it and said, “That’s why you really have to read the fine print when you sign up to be an organ donor.”...(read more)

T-cells, Bee Cells

Michael Jones — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 20:17:00 GMT

It seems like bees have been all over the news lately. Even if a story isn’t directly about them, it somehow seems to find a way to relate. A recent story from Newswise cited the similarities between honey bees and human T-cells, which have apparently...(read more)

Barefoot Blues

Michael Jones — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 22:05:00 GMT

Whether working at the bench or on the floor, clinical laboratorians tend to be on their feet a lot. Recently, there’s been a fad going around supporting minimalist sneakers -- you’ve probably seen a pair. They’re the ones that have places for your toes...(read more)

Steady Hands

Michael Jones — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 21:03:00 GMT

In what has to have been one of the most fun research studies in the history of academia, 21 surgical residents had to play video games on the Nintendo Wii “for an hour a day, five days a week, for four weeks” during their residency. In an article on...(read more)

Bionic Hand Can Feel

Michael Jones — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 21:35:00 GMT

Oh, yes. You read that correctly. It seems a Swiss researcher’s recent development in prosthetics has brought us just a little bit closer to a Star Wars level of innovation. According to an article from NBC News, the prosthetic limb is a usable appendage...(read more)

Here’s Something to Brighten Your Day

Michael Jones — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 19:42:00 GMT

A few months ago, I read about a children’s hospital in London where the window washers are contractually obligated to dress up like superheroes as they clean the building. The hospital is Evelina Children’s Hospital, and the idea behind its design was...(read more)

M&Ms and Evolution

Michael Jones — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 20:53:00 GMT

For most of history, our ancestors have resorted to gluttony as a means of survival if they sensed hard times ahead. As a result, our modern day instincts are still hardwired to tell us to consume more calories in preparation for times of scarcity, even...(read more)