MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'basic science'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:16:56 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4847956&cid=t_96905_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Finsect-killing-fungus-may-provide-basis-for-new-multiple-sclerosis-treatment%2F2011.05.20 A very well-written review of an orally-active drug for multiple sclerosis has just appeared in the April 25th issue of the Journal of Natural Products, a joint publication of the American Chemical Society and the American Society of Pharmacognosy. The review, Fingolimod (FTY720): A Recently Approved Multiple Sclerosis Drug Based on a Fungal Secondary Metabolite, is co-authored by Cherilyn R. Strader, Cedric J. Pearce, and Nicholas H. Oberlies. In the interest of full disclosure, the latter two gentlemen are research collaborators of mine from Mycosynthetix, Inc. (Hillsborough, NC) and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. My esteemed colleague and senior author, Dr. Oberlies, modestly deflected my request to blog about the publication of this review. So, I am instead writing thi... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4847956 Fri, 20 May 2011 18:00:24 +0100 4847956 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4696637&cid=t_96905_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifeinthefastlane%2FWZHV%2F%7E3%2FiE7n_E9lXCg%2F The amazing animated version of Tim Minchin's amazing 9 minute beat poem, Storm, can now be seen on the web. Right here even! (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4696637 Sat, 09 Apr 2011 10:24:59 +0100 4696637 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4676800&cid=t_96905_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifeinthefastlane%2FWZHV%2F%7E3%2FkM7DGCYSedg%2F Is it possible to summarise all of human pathology into 140 characters or less? Michelle Johnston (aka @Eleytherius) thinks so... (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4676800 Tue, 05 Apr 2011 00:00:08 +0100 4676800 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4022916&cid=t_96905_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifeinthefastlane%2FWZHV%2F%7E3%2FenMWGrocPFY%2F Working on some anatomy teaching sessions today, and I stumbled across the online version of Instant Anatomy - a fantastic website with great illustrations to aid the learning of Human Anatomy with diagrams, podcasts and revision questions. (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4022916 Fri, 01 Oct 2010 06:42:24 +0100 4022916 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3816448&cid=t_96905_107_f&fid=35026&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheTreeOfLife%2F%7E3%2FLpfJM5_CjjE%2Fhuman-genome-project-oversold-sure-but.html Well, the piling on the human genome project continues, it seems at an accelerating pace.  I think most of this comes from the fact that we are in the range of the 10 year anniversary right now.   Here are some examples of recent stories suggesting the human genome project (or projects, if you count the public effort and Craig Venter's effort as separate) have had little benefit: 7/31/10: The Human Genome Project: 10 Years Later, Progress but Still a Puzzle - WNYC. Interesting piece by Sarah Kate Kramer discussing the limited clinical value of the HGP.  Includes some criticisms of personalized genomic medicine.  7/29/10: Spiegel interview with Craig Venter with the headline "We have learned nothing from the genome".  Has lots of interesting tidbits. &nbsp... The Tree of Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3816448 Tue, 03 Aug 2010 16:18:29 +0100 3816448 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3726797&cid=t_96905_155_f&fid=39206&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FStempath%2F%7E3%2F8l9YGkMPoUk%2Ffollow-up-on-obamas-ethics-tough-on.html The NIH has rejected 47 stem cell lines carrying a variety of disease causing mutations reports the Chicago Sun-Times.  The lines developed from preimplantation genetic diagnosis at the Reproductive Genetics Institute failed to receive the "OK" for federal funding because of a problem in the patient consent form.  I reported on the initial controversey in a post a few weeks ago. The lines are potentially a gold mine for researchers studying the relationship between the mutated gene and the development of diseases such as muscular dystrophy and huntington's disease.  The stem cell lines will not be available for federally funded research and studies utilizing these lines must now be funded soley through private resources. (Source: StemPath) StemPath blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3726797 Mon, 05 Jul 2010 15:44:00 +0100 3726797 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3666243&cid=t_96905_155_f&fid=39206&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FStempath%2F%7E3%2Fpp3clO48yN0%2Flink-between-liver-development.html This study generated beautiful images that depict the ductular reactions becoming bipolarized into hepatocytic and cholangiocytic lineages. An investigation into the transcription factors that are expressed in these ductular reactions confirmed that developmental genes are reactivated and similarly showed differences in expression profiles between injury groups. I have previously posted on the role of stem cells in tumorigenesis, and hepatic stem cells are a prime suspect for the originating cell of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Last year, Yamashita et al, found an aggressive subset of HCC that contains EpCAM+ cells with the molecular signature of hHpSC. The authors of this study further demonstrated that the EpCAM+ cells are a tumor initiating population and that molecular knockdown of... StemPath blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3666243 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 13:46:00 +0100 3666243 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3636046&cid=t_96905_155_f&fid=39206&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FStempath%2F%7E3%2Fz7e1o_mJCns%2Fprimer-on-stem-cell-biology.html Questions such as "So what makes this a stem cell?" and "what's the difference between progenitors and stem cells anyway?" have been asked to me before by both attending physicians and residents or fellows.   Stem cell biology and regenerative medicine is truly a multidisciplinary field and one of the greatest advances in science and technology.  This post is a primer on stem cell biology focuses mostly on adult tissue stem cells and is intended for physicians interested in becoming involved in regenerative medicine.  The following terms are a necessary starting point for discussing the facets that underlie this field and over time I intend to expand upon the concepts presented here. Stem cells are inherently different from terminally diff... StemPath blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3636046 Wed, 02 Jun 2010 08:10:00 +0100 3636046 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3016939&cid=t_96905_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2F0MFyMM52X9E%2F The new director of the National Institutes of Health, Francis Collins, has been scrutinized for his Evangelical Christian beliefs, which some think might influence his science policy. But there may be an even more serious problem with his leadership of the biggest supporter of scientific research in the United States. A recent New York Times article focused on Collins’ religious beliefs. The following statement, which was buried in the article, worries me much more: While acknowledging the importance of basic sciences like biochemistry and genetics, he said he wanted scientists to consider clinical or therapeutic implications in their work. “We’re not the National Institutes of Basic Sciences,” he said. “We’re the National Institutes of Health.” Since its inception, the... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3016939 Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:00:49 +0100 3016939 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1451754&cid=t_96905_93_f&fid=34826&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffrommedskool.com%2F2008%2F05%2F18%2Fall-you-need-to-know-of-human-anatomy%2F Seriously, This Would’ve Saved A Lot Of Time In Med School Via Reddit (Source: From Medskool) From Medskool blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1451754 Mon, 19 May 2008 04:37:16 +0100 1451754 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1439503&cid=t_96905_93_f&fid=34826&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffrommedskool.com%2F2008%2F05%2F12%2Fthe-perfect-medical-school-basic-science%2F Every Medical Student Needs To Know All Of This Simplified In a perfect medical school the basic science education would be cut down. What I mean is that the focus on minute ‘physiologic’ biological processes would be limited. The basic sciences, especially in the first year, have become too complex and unnecessary. Too often what students are [...] (Source: From Medskool) From Medskool blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1439503 Tue, 13 May 2008 03:38:53 +0100 1439503 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1386024&cid=t_96905_93_f&fid=34826&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffrommedskool.com%2F2008%2F04%2F20%2Fthe-perfect-medical-school-admissions%2F Our Dean of Admissions Welcomes You Pre-Requisites Pre-requisites for medical school admission should be extremely limited. Indeed, I think in the perfect school, they would not exist at all. Completion of say an undergraduate biochemistry has absolutely no independent predictive value of medical school success. A reliance on standardized tests to assess the pre-medical school basic science [...] (Source: From Medskool) From Medskool blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1386024 Sun, 20 Apr 2008 17:12:58 +0100 1386024 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1385393&cid=t_96905_93_f&fid=34826&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffrommedskool.com%2F2008%2F04%2F19%2Fthe-perfect-medical-school%2F window.document.getElementById('post-1798').parentNode.className += ' adhesive_post'; Prestige, Baby, Prestige If I was creating a medical school from scratch there are some specific things I would incorporate. This series was inspired by a lengthy conversation I participated in (admittedly over drinks) concerning the perfect medical school. It was a group discussion amongst second and third year medical students from schools all [...] (Source: From Medskool) From Medskool blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1385393 Sat, 19 Apr 2008 14:38:47 +0100 1385393 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1364895&cid=t_96905_93_f&fid=34826&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffrommedskool.com%2F2008%2F04%2F10%2Fobstetrics-lecture%2F Help I’m Trapped Inside A Science Beaker! This is a drawing from a lecture today. Actually a very good lecture and not just because we got a kick out of the drawing. Any guesses as to what condition is being…crudely…illustrated? (Source: From Medskool) From Medskool blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1364895 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:48:39 +0100 1364895 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1337008&cid=t_96905_93_f&fid=34826&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffrommedskool.com%2F2008%2F03%2F30%2Finternational-experiences-in-the-basic-science-years%2F This Fundraiser Had A Very Cool African Drumming Group I was at a fundraiser recently for a program to send several first years over to Ethiopia for 4-6 weeks. They had this interactive drumming group come in who are actually a lot of fun. And while I’ve been on some international mission trips, hearing the kids [...] (Source: From Medskool) From Medskool blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1337008 Sun, 30 Mar 2008 16:09:32 +0100 1337008 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1320517&cid=t_96905_93_f&fid=34826&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffrommedskool.com%2F2008%2F03%2F21%2Fstewart-university-deserves-mockery%2F This Is An Apparent Stewart University New Scotland School of Medicine Lecture There’s a weird for profit “allopathic” medical school which has apparently opened up in California. The New Scotland International School of Medicine. 2 years and ten months total program length 3 starting classes per year: January, May, September No MCAT - NOT required for MD licensure No [...] (Source: From Medskool) From Medskool blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1320517 Sat, 22 Mar 2008 02:34:48 +0100 1320517 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1058264&cid=t_96905_93_f&fid=34826&url=http%3A%2F%2Focw.mit.edu%2Fans7870%2F7%2F7.012%2Ff04%2Faudio%2Focw-7.012-lec-mit-10250-10sep2004-1000.mp3 Go Learn About Biology How cool is MIT for putting 1800 course syllabi, written notes, even a helluva lotta video and audio lectures all online for free. A Very Introductory Lecture On Biochem Go visit MIT’s OpenCourseWare page and learn something today. (Source: From Medskool) From Medskool blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1058264 Thu, 29 Nov 2007 02:39:17 +0100 1058264 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=674692&cid=t_96905_93_f&fid=34826&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffrommedskool.com%2F2007%2F06%2F14%2Fstep-1-is-done%2F I’m done with USMLE Step 1! Maybe I should leave off the exclamation point. The entire ordeal has been kind’ve anticlimactic. What?! No Fireworks? It’s a giant relief to have that behind me and yet, disappointing that it is over. Mostly because the only things I can remember are the questions I had trouble with…so I [...] (Source: From Medskool) From Medskool blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=674692 Fri, 15 Jun 2007 01:55:19 +0100 674692 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=637794&cid=t_96905_87_f&fid=34591&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.badscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D418 Ben Goldacre Saturday May 26, 2007 The Guardian Won’t somebody, please, think of the children? Three weeks ago I received my favourite email of all time, from a science teacher. “I’ve just had to ask a BBC Panorama film crew not to film in my school or in my class because of the bad science they were [...] (Source: badscience) badscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=637794 Sat, 26 May 2007 01:43:45 +0100 637794 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=513667&cid=t_96905_93_f&fid=34826&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffrommedskool.com%2F2007%2F03%2F31%2Fthe-patient-who-wont-talk-the-patient-who-wont-be-quiet%2F The directive interview is beaten into your head when you’re first learning to do a patient history. You ask pointed, direct questions in a pretty standard order. That is lovely until you get to the patient who doesn’t feel like elaborating. Yeah, I’ve Seen A Lot of Patients Who Apply Lipstick While In The Hospital [...] (Source: From Medskool) From Medskool blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=513667 Sat, 31 Mar 2007 06:53:47 +0100 513667 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=505467&cid=t_96905_93_f&fid=34826&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffrommedskool.com%2F2007%2F03%2F27%2Fso-close-to-third-year%2F Third year is so close you can feel it. Not that I’m looking past the Step 1, but it can’t hurt to keep the exciting milestone of starting your first rotation in sight. With that said, it does provide a little stress on the nerves. I wish I had seen more on the clinical side. I’m [...] (Source: From Medskool) From Medskool blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=505467 Tue, 27 Mar 2007 23:34:47 +0100 505467 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=492151&cid=t_96905_87_f&fid=34591&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.badscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D387 Just a brief note to say, if you want to read the original Nature news story and commentary that is driving today’s news story then Prof Colquhoun (the commentary author) is hosting a PDF copy of it here on his own entirely excellent blog: www.ucl.ac.uk/Pharmacology/dc-bits/quack.html#nature1 He’s also got a cracking round up of the newspaper and radio [...] (Source: badscience) badscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=492151 Thu, 22 Mar 2007 17:41:36 +0100 492151 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=471130&cid=t_96905_93_f&fid=34826&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffrommedskool.com%2F2007%2F03%2F13%2Fcaffeine-poisoning%2F The caffeine Molecule Hot off the heels of my rant comes this from Clinical Management of Poisoning & Drug Overdose (via Caffeine Web): Caffeine-induced psychosis, whether it be delirium, manic depression, schizophrenia, or merely an anxiety syndrome, in most cases will be hard to differentiate from organic or non-organic psychoses. […] The treatment for caffeine-induced psychosis is to withhold [...] (Source: From Medskool) From Medskool blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=471130 Wed, 14 Mar 2007 01:11:20 +0100 471130 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=459344&cid=t_96905_87_f&fid=34591&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.badscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D347 Ben Goldacre Saturday January 13, 2007 The Guardian “Science told: hands off gay sheep.” It’s hard to think of a headline more joyous than this classic from the Sunday Times. Apparently a scientist called Professor Charles Roselli is conducting cruel and gruesome experiments on sheep in the name of eradicating homosexuality. Unfortunately this “news” story, co-written by [...] (Source: badscience) badscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=459344 Mon, 29 Jan 2007 00:39:29 +0100 459344