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 'improve'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:56:15 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5125987&cid=t_127878_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FkV8wUh8Hcmk%2F You’ve met them.  You probably even have a few in your family that you see at barbecues every summer.  It’s the 65 year old uncle that has the memory of an elephant and can recall small details from events in the 1950’s.  Perhaps you have a relative that can quote specific dates from their childhood, or even experiences they had overseas in another “life.”  If you are like me, you wish that you had a magic formula to improve your memory power to have the same abilities as these impressive individuals.  Well, I’m here to tell you that with the tips I’m going to give you in this article, you’ll have the information to improve your memory, and you can get started right away! Tip #1:  Reduce Stress Stress is one of the greatest enemies of the mind, and increasingly more c... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5125987 Fri, 12 Aug 2011 06:14:01 +0100 5125987 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069853&cid=t_127878_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FsNzlZCgcB2I%2F Do you often walk away from people thinking, “Did I say the right thing”; did I offend someone”; “should I have said or asked …”? Do you frequently hear that “little voice” in your head saying: “What will they think?”? Do you often feel you need to be a certain way to be accepted by others and you can’t just be yourself? Most people are concerned about what others think about them and many say and do things just to get the approval of others.  These thoughts and behaviors seem to be so much a part of who we are and are so common in others that we assume that they are just part of being human. In fact, however, you can eradicate these thoughts and behaviors forever. How?  By eliminating the beliefs that cause them.  Although this problem can be caused by different ... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069853 Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:02:38 +0100 5069853 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008449&cid=t_127878_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Fq6v6sBUFKL4%2F Thinking globally to improve mental health: NIH announces international research initiative (press release): - “The Grand Challenges in Global Mental Health Initiative, led by the National Institutes of Health and the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases, has identified the top 40 barriers to better mental health around the world. Similar to past grand challenges, which focused on infectious diseases and chronic, noncommunicable diseases, this initiative seeks to build a community of funders dedicated to supporting research that will significantly improve the lives of people living with MNS disorders within the next 10 years.“ – “Participating in global mental health research is an enormous opportunity, a means to accelerate advances in mental health care for the diverse U.S. popul... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008449 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 17:53:39 +0100 5008449 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4953223&cid=t_127878_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2Fz-5FkLZaYGE%2F If you’ve ever lived with a man, chances are you’ve gone to bed in a huff more than once. But regardless of who was right (you, of course) and who was wrong (him, of course), it may be worthwhile to kiss and make up before drifting off to sleep. According to new research, unresolved conflict can cause you to lose sleep and put you in a bad mood the following day. We all know how precious our shut-eye is. Lack of sleep not only leads to dark circles, lackluster skin and no energy; it can quickly catapult even the nicest girl to her alter ego dark side. The study, published in the journal Personal Relationships, measured the short-term physical and emotional changes in couples who had arguments or disagreements. After following 39 participants who lived with their significant other, rese... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4953223 Tue, 21 Jun 2011 17:19:09 +0100 4953223 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893754&cid=t_127878_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FPLCxdqPypHY%2F Seven in 10 California prisoners end up back in prison within three years of their release, according to the video below from TIME. And while some inmates might seem beyond hope — “you name it, like I said, I’ve done a lot of different things,” admitted one inmate who’s in prison for his fourth time — the state is taking a slightly unorthodox route to getting them back on track: yoga. Several programs, like vocational training, have been tested to get prisoners prepared to reintegrate into society after their sentences, but James Fox, who works with the Insight Prison Project, believes that yoga will help them deal with the problems that are most likely to keep them behind bars, like anger and addiction. So the next time you’re about to let a shitty day ru... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893754 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 19:19:44 +0100 4893754 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4709482&cid=t_127878_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2F3djtnPI39a0%2F Conclusion In truth we might all be here to help each other, we might all be a part of a machine that fosters cooperation, or were not. We might just be here to make the best of the situation for ourselves. In any case, helping others brings happiness and prosperity into your own life, so for whatever reason you chose to help others, it will always help you in return. I hope you liked this article and found it useful. If you would like to read more from Daniel M. Wood you can find more at his blog Looking to Business.com. He writes mainly about Motivation and the Principals of Success. Sign up for the PTB newsletter! : Reclaim Your Dream, It’s Time to Come Alive Why You Should Read Personal Development Books (Source: PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement) PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4709482 Thu, 14 Apr 2011 06:51:51 +0100 4709482 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4693527&cid=t_127878_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FMR3XNzWHz5I%2F Have you ever thought about quitting your job to work for yourself? Maybe you have – but it seems like an impossible dream, and you know you can’t just walk out of your current job and hope for the best. Or maybe you can’t imagine quitting – you enjoy your work, you like your colleagues, and you want a steady income. Either way, think about starting a side business: it could have huge benefits for you. Here’s how. #1: Boost Your Bank Balance Few of us want less money. Chances are, you’re either trying to pay off debt, or trying to increase your savings. A side business lets you make extra money without chasing a promotion or asking for a raise at work. You don’t necessarily have to spend every evening and weekend on your business, either. Just a couple of ... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4693527 Fri, 08 Apr 2011 06:48:51 +0100 4693527 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4643028&cid=t_127878_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FNfUGcMK6SS8%2F For those of you looking to up your creativity and productivity as you make yourself smarter, then this list of brain-improving activities and ideas is for you. In fact, some of you might have already tried one or two of these activities, but hopefully some others will surprise you. And, of course, I’d love it if you could leave your own ideas after the article, in case I missed any other good ones. Learn a Foreign Language Language acquisition is a very complex process, one that we most often go through as babies and young children when our brains are still developing. A way to again create a similar development in our brains is to try to learn a new language when we are adults. Doing so will give us a complicated task that will train our minds in new ways, while also reinforcing ou... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4643028 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 06:04:53 +0100 4643028 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4643026&cid=t_127878_180_f&fid=38607&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fsuccessbeginstoday%2FBHWQ%2F%7E3%2FN6a-kSZi01I%2F This is Big! The new iPad has been my constant companion for the last few weeks. It is a great machine for blogging, taking notes, and wonderful as a media consumption device. But with the addition of cameras, the iPad 2 is also a personal productivity bonanza. With the free download of the productivity software Evernote, this little powerhouse can now be a capture device. Evernote allows you to take notes and store them in the “cloud” and also store pictures. This is where the productivity increase comes from. I can now take pictures of meeting agendas, business cards, and a whole collection of sticky notes and save them online. Since Evernote can be installed on my regular PC, I can quickly access my saved notes and photos right on my desk. This not only improves productivit... Success Begins Today blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4643026 Sun, 27 Mar 2011 14:14:36 +0100 4643026 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4549950&cid=t_127878_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FlHqbS9fRWNQ%2F Love is in the air . . . or is it? How strong is your marriage or relationship with your significant other? You may think you know, but are you sure? What would your spouse say? The strength of your relationships is more important than any investment you’ll ever own. If you’ll obsess over the stock market and how well your portfolio is doing, doesn’t it make sense to invest a few of the other 8 hours into a marriage check up? After juggling careers, kids, and life, there can be very little time left over for your spouse. When there is too much to do and not enough time, our relationships are typically the first victims, followed closely by sleep. Fortunately, we have Valentine’s Day to save us! But when it comes to love and relationships, this once-a-year-thing isn&... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4549950 Sat, 05 Mar 2011 07:03:21 +0100 4549950 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4517366&cid=t_127878_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FRbhm3W23uvM%2F Why do we have to work so hard to learn Time Management, to master it? Shouldn’t we be born with the ability to work efficiently? The problem is that we have the tendency to want to take the easy way, the short way, and as many have said before me, “A shortcut can often lead to long delays”. Even though multitasking, relaxing and other shortcuts might feel as though they save time, working focused on one task at a time and obeying the rules of Time Management, is the real time saver. How I learned this the hard way I used to multitask all the time. I felt that if I could do 4 things at half speed I would get twice as much done. I planned my days, worked hard, but my results started getting worse and worse, I wasn’t working faster, it took about as long time as it used t... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4517366 Thu, 24 Feb 2011 07:29:08 +0100 4517366 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4507609&cid=t_127878_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2Fy70hiMTicj0%2F There’s an idea ingrained in many cultures that hard work is a good thing in itself. You’ll have seen this in action. People brag (even in the guise of moaning) about their long hours, or they tell that getting to the top means years and years of hard work. You might buy into the myth that the harder you work, the more successful you’ll be. So you put in more hours. You work at the weekends. You focus on the easier tasks, so that you can build up a huge long list of accomplishments. Except … it feels like you’re running hard and getting nowhere. In fact, you’re ending up feeling exhausted and burnt out. Hard Work Isn’t Enough Of course, most worthwhile goals require some work. Sometimes they take days, weeks, even years of consistent effort: the bo... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4507609 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 07:13:29 +0100 4507609 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4446051&cid=t_127878_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FnSDmuJSNYkA%2F The plea to “be more open-minded” often falls on deaf ears. But why is that? Is it because it’s too difficult to be open-minded? Or are people simply not interested in being open-minded? To answer these questions it’s important to understand what open-mindedness means and to consider the factors that can impede open-mindedness. So What IS Open-Mindedness? Before we get to what open-mindedness is, let’s look at what it isn’t. Being open-minded doesn’t mean you accept all opinions as being true or equally valid. You can be open-minded and disagree with others. That’s right, you can be open-minded and think that others are wrong. Open-mindedness isn’t simply about being open to new ideas, but also about being mindful of the ideas that you ... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4446051 Mon, 07 Feb 2011 07:42:40 +0100 4446051 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4436845&cid=t_127878_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FhhTb65BWQDQ%2F In conclusion our research has shown that cryptic crosswords can help improve cognitive functioning in later life, which might not be the case for general knowledge crosswords. Overall the take-home message is continue doing the cryptic crosswords, even if they are a struggle! —  Nicholas Almond has been based at the University of Leeds, UK, for almost twelve years. Nick has just completed his PhD in cognitive neuropsychology, which investigated the relationship between cognitive activity and cognitive decline in healthy aging. . References 1. Hambrick, D. Z., Salthouse, T. A. & Meinz, E. J. (1999). Predictors of Crossword Puzzle Proficiency and Moderators of Age-Cognition Relations. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 12(2), 131–164. 2. Dunlosky, J., Kubat-Silman, A. K. & Her... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4436845 Fri, 04 Feb 2011 15:13:30 +0100 4436845 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4389382&cid=t_127878_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FGymXu3V7Rxw%2F It’s probably the greatest gift parents can give their children; it’s an asset that multiplies in value as the years go by; and it stands you in good stead when life throws the unexpected at you. The worth of a good education can never be estimated, simply because it means different things to different people. However, the common denominator is that it gives your self confidence a hefty boost, one that makes it possible for you to go out and do your own thing without being afraid of failure or ridicule. Education is not just about going to school and college and piling up the degrees behind your name; it’s the learning process which augments our knowledge and provides us with enhanced skills, acumen and wisdom. So if you’re looking for a confidence boost, here are the top ways in w... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4389382 Mon, 24 Jan 2011 07:06:42 +0100 4389382 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4338110&cid=t_127878_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Flt_1SrI1T_Y%2F This study shows that this may be true only for specific, high-level functions.  Indeed, here training probabilistic inference benefited several perceptual and sensory tasks. So, it may be that the more basic the function trained, the more tasks the function will be involved in and thus the more tasks will benefit from the training. Something to keep in mind when choosing which mental activity may be the right one for you. Who may benefit from the sensory improvement provided by playing action video games? Many people for whom it is important to make quick decisions based on visual or auditory information (if you are a surgeon or in the middle of a battle field). Focusing on vision, Daphne Bave­lier, one of the authors of the study, suggested that “inter­ven­tions that include action... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4338110 Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:30:27 +0100 4338110 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4294827&cid=t_127878_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F-uEjqrPKAcM%2F This study shows once again how physical fitness is directly related to mental fitness. At all age, exercising the body benefits the brain. Interestingly, aerobic training is usually related to better cognitive performance. This new study shows that resistance training can be added to our list of exercise to do. Related posts: Physical exercise: why aerobic exercise enhances neurogenesis and neuroplasticity Walking increases brain volume and reduces risks of decline (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4294827 Tue, 28 Dec 2010 16:13:34 +0100 4294827 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4288671&cid=t_127878_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2F48Bg9jO_0Rk%2F What do people say about you when you’re not around? A couple of years ago, when I first started blogging, I met this guy, David Fowler. He had started a parenting blog shortly after I did and we struck up a friendship. He’s a talented writer with a razor-sharp wit. Sure we teased each other back and forth, as guys tend to do, but I’ll say this about Dave, he’s one of the most honest, and genuine people I know. And the funny thing is, that’s pretty much the opinion of anyone I run into who has “met” him (online). Why is that? Well, for one, Dave’s the kind of guy who offers to help you without being asked. He promotes your stuff when there’s nothing in it for him, and who is always there when you need someone to talk to. And he’s funny an... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4288671 Sat, 25 Dec 2010 16:44:20 +0100 4288671 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4285367&cid=t_127878_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2F8ofFaVVeeH8%2F How much are you worth? Who gets incredible value from being a part of your life? How much does it cost for you to keep them in yours? These might sound like harsh questions, but why treat a business plan better than you treat your life? If you were standing in a group with your closest friends and family, what is the one thing you could stand up and say you do better than anyone, creating a wave of nodding heads to say “yep – that’s what makes you and why we love you”? I pride myself on my generosity and loyalty but I carry it around quietly. No more would I have to state, “I have blonde hair” than I would have to tell a friend, “I am generous and loyal”- it’s who I am….always. I am also impatient, not present and say yes to more things than I can possibly do -dragging... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4285367 Thu, 23 Dec 2010 16:29:18 +0100 4285367 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4281564&cid=t_127878_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FJQQjNcpJzfw%2F How hard can it be to ask a simple question? Believe it or not, the ability to ask clear, incisive questions is a learned skill and one that most people haven’t mastered. Don’t believe me? Think about what you’d ask the President if you got the chance to interview him. If you can’t get much farther than “What’s your favorite color,” you’ll appreciate how much skill goes into crafting quality questions.The good news is, everyone can learn to ask better questions. It only takes practice and a slight change in perspective. Asking clear questions can help you become the confident person you’ve always wanted to be. Here are six mistakes people often make when asking questions (and how you can easily correct them). 1. Being indirect or talking around the question. While there i... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4281564 Wed, 22 Dec 2010 16:21:59 +0100 4281564 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4245629&cid=t_127878_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2F2pIxrAgQjkE%2F Too tired for sex? Make it a date night and see what happens. Spending quality alone time with your spouse will give your relationship the nutrients it needs to thrive. Unfortunately, intimacy is often the first thing to get cast aside and set on the back burner. When managing work, household chores, and parenting, one-on-one time is all too easy to ignore. Yet making alone time for your partner each day can help to make life glisten for both you and your partner. Here are 8 simple ways to make every day a date night. 1.  Making Out With A Movie Night. Choose a movie and cuddle on the couch (distraction free). Leave your laptop on the desk and your phone on the charger. Pop some popcorn and curl up under your favorite blanket for a relaxing night of bonding with the stars. (Don’t forget... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4245629 Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:55:40 +0100 4245629 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4241836&cid=t_127878_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FCbgT4ZmtPK0%2F Did you read The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science, the great book on neuroplasticity by Norman Doidge? If  so, you will have heard about the Arrowsmith School/ Program, which was also one of the Top Ten Finalists in 2010 Brain Fitness Innovation Awards.  The following is an excerpt from Brain School: Stories of children with learning disabilities and attention disorders who changed their lives by improving their cognitive functioning (November 2010; $22), a new book from Eaton Arrowsmith School’s (EAS) founder and director, Howard Eaton. It tells the story of how children with learning disabilities (dyslexia, ADHD, etc.) can overcome educational obstacles by reorganizing their brains. An inspiring book about how cognitive progra... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4241836 Wed, 08 Dec 2010 12:17:20 +0100 4241836 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4225717&cid=t_127878_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FsK9Dcy9u-KY%2F While most of us might not threaten the top 2% of the population that can meet the admission requirements of Mensa, there are a few things you can do today that will lead to a smarter YOU tomorrow. A more buoyant brain will lead to a more capable, confident you. Here are 8 things you can do to strengthen your mind and keep your confidence in tip-top shape. Play With Puzzles: Studies clearly show, people who consistently work on puzzles, word challenges and other mind games, are actually raising their IQ. Not only can you make yourself smarter with daily crosswords or other mind challenging puzzles, you can also help to stave off Alzheimer’s and other mind-debilitating diseases. Talk to People: Yes, simple discussion can boost your brain power. But you must learn to steer clear of sm... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4225717 Thu, 02 Dec 2010 16:44:19 +0100 4225717 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4214004&cid=t_127878_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F11%2Fplastic-surgeon-develops-product-fade-scars%2F San Antonio plastic surgeon Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo has developed a new skin cream formula that he claims will improve the appearance of scars, even unsightly scars left from childhood and adolescent acne. The formula is marketed by the company Invincible Scars, Inc. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4214004 Tue, 30 Nov 2010 01:58:55 +0100 4214004 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4172352&cid=t_127878_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2Fcm6FuvGF0X0%2F In ages past, a friendship was supposed to be a sacred bond between two people.  Despite the interconnectedness of our age, many people lack friendships that have depth and true understanding.  Many people experience the pangs of loneliness without anyone to turn to.  Yet a friendship that is true and strong is not a bygone myth.  It is possible to have a deep and lasting friendship if there are certain pillars to support it.  Read on to find out what these pillars are. Acceptance Before you can be true friends with someone, you have to accept them.  If you cannot do so, you will always find fault with your friend’s actions or behaviour.  This makes it very difficult for your friends to relax or be themselves with you.  They will always feel judged by your standards.  If you fin... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4172352 Tue, 16 Nov 2010 07:21:56 +0100 4172352 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4053498&cid=t_127878_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FeRM0vNYTvPs%2F In today’s economy, everyone is looking for ways to stretch their dollar. There are a lot of minimalism strategies out there such as giving up that morning latte, brown bagging it a couple times a week, and even trading in your car for a bike.  Here are three ways that you might not have even thought about, that could put a lot more in your pocket than skipping your coffee break! Home Refinance Interest rates are lower today than they have been in a long time.  It might be time to take a look at your mortgage and see if a refinance would make sense.  Even if your rate is already low, in the 5% or 6% range, with rates now in the low fours, you could shave a significant amount off of your monthly payment.  What if your payment is OK where it is?  Why not take a look at dropping y... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4053498 Sat, 09 Oct 2010 18:26:29 +0100 4053498 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3954509&cid=t_127878_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FD2mSIQVqFV0%2F It is true that a lot of people want to lose weight for health reasons, but it is also true that one of the primary reasons that makes people think of their weight is because they want to look good. This is certainly acceptable because what we look outside greatly affects how we feel about ourselves inside. People who are leaner receive compliments from family and friends and this improves their self-esteem in one way or another. Fat (overweight) people on the other hand are even criticized for being fat and this has a negative impact on their self-esteem and sometimes it may even cause depression. An overweight or obese person could even hear hurtful words like “you are ugly”, “we don’t have your size”, and “you’ll die young” which could pull their self-esteem to the groun... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3954509 Fri, 10 Sep 2010 04:38:37 +0100 3954509 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3933115&cid=t_127878_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F09%2F03%2F8-tips-for-improving-your-memory%2F Improving your memory is easier than it sounds. Most of think of our memory as something static and unchanging. But it’s not — you can improve your memory just as you can improve your math or foreign language skills, simply by practicing a few tried and true memory building exercises. There are two kinds of memory — short-term and long-term. Short-term memory is the kind of memory our brain uses to store small pieces of information needed right away, like someone’s name when you meet for the first time. Research has demonstrated that short-term memory’s capacity is about seven pieces of information. After that, something has to go. Long-term memory is for things you don’t need to remember this instant. When you study for a test or exam, that’s long... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3933115 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:18:39 +0100 3933115 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3767349&cid=t_127878_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FqzU0502SDO4%2F Photo Credit: Hawaiipictures.com You don’t need to resort to steroids to get a leg up on the competition. There really are no substitutes for hard work, discipline, and talent. Nevertheless, there are many natural things that can be done to give athletes a competitive edge. 1. Raw foods Exercise is essentially an intense stress on the body that requires tremendous nutrition to rebuild break downs in muscles, tendons, ligaments, etc. It is no wonder that athletes that fuel up with nutrient-rich raw foods can increase their athleticism and improve their performance and recovery time. More info: 1, 2, 3 2. Baking soda Baking soda has been studied to improve athletic performance. It is believed that baking soda prevents build up of excess lactic acid, which interferes with muscle contra... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3767349 Tue, 20 Jul 2010 05:10:19 +0100 3767349 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3573652&cid=t_127878_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fget-lucky-5-ways-to-improve-your-fortune%2F If you ever feel like you’re getting the short end of the stick, while everyone else’s life is coming up roses, time to think again. According to an article in Psychology Today, you can actually make your own luck with a few simple changes to your attitude and activities. Here’s a quick look at what they say will help you become friends with Lady Luck: 1. “See Serendipity Everywhere” – If you aren’t looking for opportunities, you won’t see them, so keep your eyes peeled for all the lucky pennies you might be walking over. 2. “Prime Yourself for Chance” – Though some people think that planning is the key to reaching goals and achieving happiness, some research suggests that a more open approach to life may lead to greater opportuniti... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3573652 Tue, 18 May 2010 12:06:53 +0100 3573652 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3467839&cid=t_127878_111_f&fid=39123&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fnursingcomments%2Ftdtc%2F%7E3%2FcvHo0cow9go%2F GUEST POST BY ANDREW WOLFE, LMP, MMs “Medical Massage Therapy and Insurance Coverage.”  By Andrew Wolfe, LMP, MMs. Medical massage therapy is recognized as a health care provision under rehabilitation outpatient coverage under most major medical plans.  Specific plan coverage’s vary according to the benefit package your plan and/or employer offer.  Medical massage therapy definition is the ability to heal, restore and improve function which was otherwise compromised due to illness, injury, disease or surgery.  It must be a part of a treatment plan your primary care provider recommends as medically necessary to restore lost function. Provisions are also given towards motor vehicle accident (PIP) and worker’s compensation-labor and industry (L&I), job injury reco... Nursing Comments blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3467839 Wed, 14 Apr 2010 13:28:37 +0100 3467839 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3291003&cid=t_127878_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FxTJpC4ULFKg%2F Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Sexercises: Workouts to Work You Up You know all of the good-for-you arguments for becoming more physically active, but here’s an especially attractive reward: exercise can improve your sex life. This is especially so for women in recovery from alcoholism, addiction, adult children of alcoholism, co-dependency, compulsive gambling or depression. Being physically active helps you feel more interested in sex, gives you the energy and strength you need for enjoying your partner or yourself more, reduces the stress that can block sexual interest and builds the muscles used in sexual intimacy. Research shows that exercise boosts women’s sexual arousal—even if they were experiencing low sexual desire before starting physical activity. That ef... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3291003 Thu, 18 Feb 2010 23:37:22 +0100 3291003 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3248553&cid=t_127878_105_f&fid=38964&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrwes.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F02%2Fhow-technology-is-straining-doctor.html Technology is an incredible thing.Technology is expensive.Technology saves lives.Technology can bankrupt.When there's no technology, are you a "bad" doctor for not following guidelines?When technology's used, are you a "bad" doctor because the patient has multiple comorbidities and the benefit for the implanted technology is questionable? It's become the yin and yang of medicine. An inconvenient truth.Medicine's technology is incredibly expensive, but incredibly valuable.But if the struggle isn't enough, along comes the press to skew the debate by "raising awareness" with our patients.Doctor, you need to "Get with the Guidelines." The subtitle with such an industry-sponsored trial and press report should be, "Oh, and business is off."The journal article at the heart of the Chicago Tribune ... Dr. Wes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3248553 Sun, 07 Feb 2010 11:39:00 +0100 3248553 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3200664&cid=t_127878_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2FPkQG6ItLcls%2F Romantic sex is the healthiest Lose weight. Reduce stress. Lower your cholesterol level. Improve your circulation. Live longer. Stay younger. Sounds like an ad for a new wonder drug right? In fact it’s a partial list of the benefits of humanity’s oldest and most pleasurable pastime – sex. Most of us are aware of the feel-good benefits of sex while we’re engaged in it, but do you also know that there are benefits which carry on after the sweaty bodies have dried and the sweet talk has reverted to sports? For instance: Maintaining Ideal Body Weight Sexual intercourse burns approximately 150 calories per half hour. Here’s how that stacks up against some other activities that may be part of your fitness regime: yoga 114 calories per half hour, dancing – 129,... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3200664 Sat, 23 Jan 2010 07:47:46 +0100 3200664 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3159977&cid=t_127878_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FONs8D1Sbaiw%2F The drugmaker says that completion of the much-anticipated IMPROVE-IT study will now take place in mid-2013 instead of mid-2012 due to the pace of enrollment, the “accumulation of clinical endpoints to date” and 30 months of follow-up needed, according to a statement. Merck hopes the study, which began in 2005 and has so far enrolled about 16,000 patients, will show that its Vytorin cholesterol pill can outperform Zocor in preventing deaths, heart attacks and strokes. Vytorin combines Zocor with Zetia. Improve-It is supposed to resolve questions raised by the Enhance trial, which found Vytorin failed to show a benefit over the much cheaper Zocor in reducing plaque in the carotid artery, and showed a statistically insignificant buildup. Vytorin did a better job of lowering LDL, ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3159977 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 12:44:50 +0100 3159977 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3115286&cid=t_127878_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F0UCvqpeLZ3A%2F A link, however, can’t be ruled out. Although this leaves something of a question mark hovering over the controversial cholesterol drug, the agency says it reviewed data on Vytorin and Zetia from the SEAS trial, along with interim findings from two large, ongoing studies - SHARP and IMPROVE-IT. “Based on the currently available information, FDA believes it is unlikely that Vytorin or Zetia increase the risk of cancer or cancer-related death, but at this time an association cannot be definitively ruled out,” the agency said. The ongoing studies will provide more data to assess cancer risk when they are completed, but results won’t be known for awhile: the SHARP trial is expected to conclude in 2010 and IMPROVE-IT in 2012. You may recall that the results of the SEAS ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3115286 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:54:36 +0100 3115286 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2876251&cid=t_127878_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FwUSQad178nc%2F This may sound like a sales pitch, but it’s not. If you’re having problems with your memory, or you want to improve it, then you might want to closely follow the research from this German team  of scientists. Published in the journal for experimental biology (FASEB Journal), German scientists discovered that administering a nasal spay containing interleukin-6 improved the memory of it subjects! According to the paper, Interleukin-6 exerts “neuromodulating influences on the brain, with promoting influences on sleep”. The researchers hypothesized that IL-6 could help consolidate our memories better during sleep, so they administered a nasal spray of IL-6 to test subjects after they read several short stories before bed. The control and test subjects slept and, the next morning... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2876251 Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:31:00 +0100 2876251 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2890836&cid=t_127878_129_f&fid=39065&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fgluten-freesimplicity%2FGNKb%2F%7E3%2FsMMdS0xfNc8%2F Upcoming Conference: "How to Improve the Patient Experience in Healthcare" (Source: Gluten-Free Simplicity) Gluten-Free Simplicity blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2890836 Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:02:10 +0100 2890836 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2828348&cid=t_127878_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FCjhNwYEwB7Q%2F Excellent Scientific American cover story: Turbocharging the Brain--Pills to Make You Smarter? "Will a pill at breakfast improve concentration and memory—and will it do so without long-term detriment to your health?" Their answer, in short: not really, not anytime soon. I couldn't agree more. Let's pay real attention to non-invasive options to augment cognition, from exercise to cognitive training and meditation. For more context, you may enjoy my recent article Preparing Society for the Cognitive Age, published in Frontiers in Neuroscience. augment cognition, cognitive, cognitive enhancement, Cognitive Training, exercise, improve concentration, improve memory, invasive, meditation., pills (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2828348 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:35:43 +0100 2828348 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2734247&cid=t_127878_145_f&fid=35715&url=http%3A%2F%2Fusmlesteps.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F08%2Fhow-to-improve-your-memory.html 1. Convince yourself that you do have a good memory that will improve. Too many people get stuck here and convince themselves that their memory is bad, that they are just not good with names, that numbers just slip out of their minds for some reason. Erase those thoughts and vow to improve your memory. Commit yourself to the task and bask in your achievements -- it's hard to keep motivated if you beat yourself down every time you make a little bit of progress. 2. Exercise your brain. Regularly “exercising" the brain keeps it growing and spurs the development of new nerve connections that can help improve memory. By developing new mental skills—especially complex ones such as learning a new language or learning to play a new musical instrument—and challenging your brain with puzzles ... USMLE blog for smart people blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2734247 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:38:00 +0100 2734247 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2734248&cid=t_127878_145_f&fid=35715&url=http%3A%2F%2Fusmlesteps.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F08%2Fhow-to-improve-your-memory-trying-by.html All of us apply this method knowingly or unknowingly. Sometimes when you try to recall you may not be able to recall it at that time even if you are sure that you know it very well. You experience a blocking that prevents you from recalling it. Normally you tend to try again and again but in vain. To handle this situation you just keep away from trying to recollect it and do something else; to your pleasant surprise that information automatically pops up into your mind after some time. This is because even if you stopped trying, the mind is searching for that information and brings it to awareness when it is found. Sometimes the information was blocked when you wanted, and mind brings it forward when the blocking is removed. This is where stress plays its role in hindering recall.If you ar... USMLE blog for smart people blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2734248 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:37:00 +0100 2734248 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2734250&cid=t_127878_145_f&fid=35715&url=http%3A%2F%2Fusmlesteps.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F08%2Fhow-to-improve-your-memory-bridging.html BridgingIn this method, a bridge is built in between the items given to be memorized. This technique is best suited for learning material involving word pairs or material that can be reduced to word pairs. An example often cited by memory experts is the learning of the capital of Poland. The capital of Poland is Warsaw. World War II started with Germany's attack on Poland. Thus it may be arranged as Poland SAW War first.Here, the word pair to be connected together is Poland and Warsaw. The additional information of the World War II is used as a bridge or mediator in bringing these two words together. Again, like other techniques, the mediation technique calls for the learner's active participation in the learning process. This is because one is to bring in the mediator or the bridge from r... USMLE blog for smart people blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2734250 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:36:00 +0100 2734250 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2734249&cid=t_127878_145_f&fid=35715&url=http%3A%2F%2Fusmlesteps.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F08%2Fhow-to-improve-your-memory-bed-time.html In this technique, you do your recital or rote learning just before going to bed. The mind in the process of sleeping would then arrange the information in a systematic and effective way when you are sleeping. Psychologists have also found that if you sleep after thinking about your problems there is a better chance that you arrive at a solution the next day.Steps for Memory Improvement 1. Be in a relaxed mood 2. Write down the things that you are supposed to remember in a piece of paper. 3. Read it aloud (if possible) once or twice and recite it two to three times. 4. Now go to sleep without worrying or thinking about anything.You will surely retain the item longer and find it more easy to recall it when in need.powered by www.usmlestep.com (Source: USMLE blog for smart people) USMLE blog for smart people blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2734249 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:36:00 +0100 2734249 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2734251&cid=t_127878_145_f&fid=35715&url=http%3A%2F%2Fusmlesteps.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F08%2Fhow-to-improve-your-memory-rhyming.html RhymingThis is also one of the popular and oldest methods in memorization. This technique makes use of the fact that we have a natural tendency to remember rhymes and rhythms. The following is a very popular example of application of this technique which almost all school students are familiar with."Thirty days haveth SeptemberApril, June and NovemberAll the rest have thirty-oneFebruary has twenty-eight aloneExcept in leap year, then the timeWhen Febs days are twenty-nine."If possible create rhymes like this and it will not only aid in improving your memory but in improving your creativity as well.powered by www.usmlestep.com (Source: USMLE blog for smart people) USMLE blog for smart people blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2734251 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:35:00 +0100 2734251 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2734252&cid=t_127878_145_f&fid=35715&url=http%3A%2F%2Fusmlesteps.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F08%2Fhow-to-improve-your-memory-chunking.html ChunkingPerhaps Chunking is the oldest method used in memorization. In this method, the items to be memorized are divided into small and easily memorizable chunks or groups. This method works best when the order of the items is not important.This method is found to be particularly well suited for memorizing multi-digit numbers (eg., ID nos., telephone nos., etc.) and for committing complicated spellings to memory.Example: 1. The number 472627607 may be memorized easily if it is grouped as 472, 627,607 or as 47, 26, 27,607. These chunks may then be learned by rote. Learning and retention are much facilitated if you further explore the nos. by finding some relationship among these different chunks. Finding the digital root will also be helpful. The more explorations or relations you do, t... USMLE blog for smart people blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2734252 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:34:00 +0100 2734252 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2442122&cid=t_127878_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FHMdav34z_sI%2F Arts education influences learning and other areas of cognition and may deserve a more prominent place in schools, according to a wave of recent neuroscience research.One recent study found that children who receive music instruction for just 15 months show strengthened connections in musically relevant brain areas and perform better on associated tasks, compared with students who do not learn an instrument. A separate study found that children who receive training to improve their focus and attention perform better not only on attention tasks but also on intelligence tests. Some researchers suggest that arts training might similarly affect a wide range of cognitive domains. Educators and neuroscientists gathered recently in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., to discuss the increasingly detai... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2442122 Sun, 24 May 2009 19:15:40 +0100 2442122 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2376434&cid=t_127878_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FEavTuUVhM1A%2F Several recent articles and news: Brain Gain: the underground world of “neuroenhancing” drugs‎ (The New Yorker) - "Alex remains enthusiastic about Adderall, but he also has a slightly jaundiced critique of it. “It only works as a cognitive enhancer insofar as you are dedicated to accomplishing the task at hand,” he said. “The number of times I’ve taken Adderall late at night and decided that, rather than starting my paper, hey, I’ll organize my entire music library! I’ve seen people obsessively cleaning their rooms on it.” Alex thought that generally the drug helped him to bear down on his work, but it also tended to produce writing with a characteristic flaw. “Often, I’ve looked back at papers I’ve written on Adderall, and they’re verbose. They’re belabo... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2376434 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:59:05 +0100 2376434 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2190554&cid=t_127878_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F02%2F16%2Fcan-blogging-make-you-happier%2F According to researchers in Taiwan, the answer is “Yes.” The researchers (Ko & Kuo, 2009) administered a 43-item self-report survey to 596 college students who were mostly between ages 16 and 22 and female (71 percent). The college students were young adults who had blogging experience, and specifically with blogging for the purpose of keeping a personal journal. The researchers found support for deeper self-disclosure from bloggers resulting in a range of better social connections. These included things such as a sense of greater social integration, which is how connected we feel to society and our own community of friends and others; an increase in social bonding (our tightly knit, intimate relationships); and social bridging — increasing our connectedness with peo... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2190554 Mon, 16 Feb 2009 15:41:19 +0100 2190554 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2173829&cid=t_127878_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F536195658%2F Welcome to the 8th edition of Hourglass, the blog carnival devoted to biogerontology. Enjoy! --- Use It or Lose It Existence is Wonderful, by Anne C. Neither A Transhumanist Nor a "Pessimist", And That's Okay "I can't survive cognitively in environments that force everything into false dichotomies, and nobody should feel hurt, slighted, or bitter because of my doing what I need to do for the sake of being able to actually use my brain." "Just because I think superlativity tends to distort dialogue and make it difficult to focus on what can actually be done in the real world does not mean I disparage the power of human imagination or our capacity to change things for the better." --- Cognitive Enhancement, Health and Assessments Ouroboros, by Chris Pa... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2173829 Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:00:32 +0100 2173829 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2149611&cid=t_127878_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthbolt.net%2F2009%2F01%2F31%2Fsexbolt-saturday-gardening-as-a-natural-viagra%2F Did you know that one man in 10 will suffer from impotence, also known as erectile dysfunction, at some stage in their life? But according to a new study, all guys need to do to reduce the risk of them suffering from this infliction is to get out of the house and into the garden. Sounds pretty simple. According to the researchers at the Medical University of Vienna, who studied 674 guys aged 45 to 60, half an hour of gardening five days of week can make all the difference, reducing the risk of impotence by around 38%. Put a bit more sweat into it, burn even more calories, and the risk reduction will be even greater. Granted, it doesn’t have to be just gardening. Other forms of moderate exercise - dancing, cycling, and jogging - can also have the same effect. But what a great argume... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2149611 Sat, 31 Jan 2009 22:16:40 +0100 2149611 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2160941&cid=t_127878_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F531109481%2F This article was written by Pascale Michelon, Ph. D., for SharpBrains. Dr. Michelon has a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology and has worked as a Research Scientist at Washington University in Saint Louis, in the Psychology Department. She conducted several research projects to understand how the brain makes use of visual information and memorizes facts. She is now an Adjunct Faculty at Washington University, and teaches Memory Workshops in numerous retirement communities in the St Louis area. Brain games, brain teaser puzzles, France, frontal lobes, Greece, improve memory, logic puzzle, logical skills, memory, mind teasers, proverbs, South Africa, temporal lobes, usa (Source: SharpBrains) SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2160941 Fri, 23 Jan 2009 19:08:18 +0100 2160941 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2006970&cid=t_127878_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F473213588%2F Today's news: McDonnell Foundation grant harnesses cognitive science to improve student learning (press release) - "Using what cognitive psychologists are discovering in the laboratory to improve learning in the classroom is the goal of a $6.47 million collaborative activity grant to Washington University from the James S. McDonnell Foundation (JSMF)." - "The aim of the grant is to take the knowledge that cognitive psychologists have gained about learning and memory from laboratory experimentation and to develop techniques to improve learning in the classrooms," said Henry L. "Roddy" Roediger III, Ph.D., principal investigator on the grant and the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor in Arts & Sciences. Comment: this is great news, but it... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2006970 Wed, 03 Dec 2008 04:30:59 +0100 2006970 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1918437&cid=t_127878_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F436389196%2F In this study, 72% of the students had a My Space account, 76% had a cell phone, and 68% had an IM address. Those who had a MySpace account had significantly lower grades than those without an account. The same was true for those that used IM, compared with those who did not. Cell phone use was also associated with lower grades and the effect was magnified if text messaging was used on cell phones. Not surprisingly, if these devices were used during homework, the grades were even lower than for students who used these technologies outside of homework. Almost half reported text messaging during class time, and their grades were lower than the students who only used IM outside of class. These are correlational data and do not prove that using these devices causes lower grades. But it is a go... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1918437 Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:33:50 +0100 1918437 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1837915&cid=t_127878_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F405734124%2F A round-up of interested news during the month: 1) Training Young Brains to Behave (New York Times) 2) Head Games (OpEd in New York Times) 3) Will Gerontology recognize the Brain? (American Society on Aging event) 4) Brain function gets a boost from walking (Los Angeles Times) 5) An idea whose time has (finally) come (McKnight's Long Term Care News) 6) Train your brain (Financial Times Germany) 7) Toman auge ejercicios que adiestran la mente (Milenio, Mexico) 8) Trois nouvelles études IDATE : Serious Games (Publi-News, France) Links and commentary below.  --- 1) Training Young Brains to Behave (New York Times) - "But just as biology shapes behavior, so behavior can accelerate biology. And a small group of educational and cognitive scientists now say that mental exercises of a certai... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1837915 Sun, 28 Sep 2008 23:21:41 +0100 1837915 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1833697&cid=t_127878_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F403024865%2F Computer game boosts maths scores (BBC): - "It also found improvements in pupils' concentration and behaviour." - "The study involved more than 600 pupils in 32 schools across Scotland using the Brain Training from Dr Kawashima game on the Nintendo DS every day." - "Researchers found that while all groups had improved their scores, the group using the game had improved by a further 50%." - "Less able children were found to be more likely to improve than the highest attainers and almost all pupils had an increased perception of their own ability." Comment:  fascinating results supporting the potential role for "Serious Games" in education. Now, please take the results with a grain of salt, since the study doesn't seem to have been published... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1833697 Thu, 25 Sep 2008 18:20:46 +0100 1833697 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1770842&cid=t_127878_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F385446143%2F A couple of recent studies have reinforced the lifelong potential for brain plasticity (the ability of the brain to rewire itself through experience) and the importance of physical exercise for cognitive vitality. One study focused on 1) adults over 50 with mild cognitive impairment, the other one on 2) stroke survivors. 1)  Memory problems: Adults 50-years-old and over with mild cognitive impairment (an advanced form of memory problems, but pre-dementia) were asked to exercise for three 50-minute sessions per week for 24 weeks (a total of 60 hours). Results: there were small, but measurable, cognitive benefits even 18 months after the start of the program (around a year after the supervised exercise activities ended). Study: Nicola T. Lautenschlager et al. Effect of Physical Activity on ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1770842 Sun, 07 Sep 2008 02:08:45 +0100 1770842 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1754769&cid=t_127878_105_f&fid=35048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FMedicineAndMan%2F%7E3%2F381836034%2F In a new article released online (ahead of print) in the New England Journal of Medicine (SEAS Trial), Schering-Plough’s “would be” blockbuster drug ezitimibe (Zetia) has again not only fallen short of it’s expectations, but now may also be linked with increased cancer risk. In patients taking Vytorin (simvastatin + ezitimibe) there was an increased number of cancers (no particular type) when it was given to try to prevent aortic stenosis (thickening of a valve located in the blood outflow tract in the heart). Aortic stenosis in elderly is related to atherosclerosis and has many of the same risk factors as for heart attacks. This trial was therefore designed to see if Vytorin could prevent/delay development of aortic stenosis. Unfortunately, Vytorin fell short in th... Medicine and Man blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1754769 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 02:04:02 +0100 1754769 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1730855&cid=t_127878_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F372866231%2F I apologize for the long delay in getting back to this column but I have a good excuse. We just recently had a baby, and boy, that takes care right there of the physical exercise need. Between carrying the baby upstairs and downstairs, running to get the baby, getting out of the bed and picking the baby up and putting the baby down a couple of times a night no you need not worry about getting your daily exercise dose in…Now, the majority of the answers to my post on the brain virtues of physical exercise suggests that most people think that the brain benefits of physical exercise are mostly to be understood as complementary effects of a healthy life style. Is this correct? In my post today I will attempt to answer this question. First, while generally healthier people seem to have health... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1730855 Sat, 23 Aug 2008 18:09:27 +0100 1730855 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1729766&cid=t_127878_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F372105454%2F The Secret to Success New research says social-emotional learning helps students in every way. -- by Daniel Goleman Schools are beginning to offer an increasing number of courses in social and emotional intelligence, teaching students how to better understand their own emotions and the emotions of others. It sounds warm and fuzzy, but it's a trend backed up by hard data. Today, new studies reveal that teaching kids to be emotionally and socially competent boosts their academic achievement. More precisely, when schools offer students programs in social and emotional learning, their achievement scores gain around 11 percentage points. That's what I heard at a forum held last December by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL). (Disclosure: I'm a co-founder of C... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1729766 Fri, 22 Aug 2008 22:48:47 +0100 1729766 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1723968&cid=t_127878_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F370395137%2F In this study (Gazzaley, A.  et al.  2005) the investigators went beyond behavioral assessment of the responses, because that kind of thing had been done before.  What they wanted to know was what was happening in the brain during this suppression of irrelevant task. They used functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) imaging over a region of brain that was responsive to the visual images.  What was being measured was the amount of brain activity under conditions when the instructions were to remember a type of image or ignore it.  What they found was that brain activity in all of the young subjects increased when they were viewing scenes they were asked to remember and decreased when presented with an image that they were supposed to have ignored. That is, the brain suppressed its respons... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1723968 Thu, 21 Aug 2008 03:35:42 +0100 1723968 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1606787&cid=t_127878_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F331380368%2F This study also showed that the subjects could not predict how well they would remember, which is consistent with my 45 years experience as a professor. Students are frequently surprised to discover after an examination that they did not know the material as well as they thought they did. Tests not only reveal what they know and don't know, but serve to increase how much they eventually learn. If I were still teaching, I would give more tests. And I would encourage students to use self-testing as a routine learning strategy, something that one study revealed to be a seldom-used strategy. The repeated self-tests should include all the study material and not drop out the material that the student thinks is already mastered. Source: Karpicke, Jeffrey D., and Roedinger, Henry L. III. 2008. The... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1606787 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 03:55:29 +0100 1606787 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1553306&cid=t_127878_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F322096605%2F Try eating food with one chop stick.  It is possible, for certain types of food. But probably not the best approach. Let's now talk brain health. Dr. Larry McCleary is a former acting Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Denver Children's Hospital, and author of the The Brain Trust Program (Perigee Trade, 2007). He agreed to help us answer an important, yet often neglected, question: Given That We Are Our Brains, How do We Nourish Them? Alvaro: Dr. McCleary, Why did a former neurosurgeon such as yourself develop an interest in brain health public education? Dr. McCleary: For two reasons ... I am a Boomer and am trying to maximize my own brain health. Also, there is much exciting research documenting how we can be proactive in this regard. This information needs to be disseminated and I woul... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1553306 Sat, 28 Jun 2008 16:20:06 +0100 1553306 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1395098&cid=t_127878_132_f&fid=35024&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBlindscientist%2F%7E3%2F276532490%2F Do you know the answer to the above question? No? Me neither, but I can offer some suggestions. On a daily basis, a bioinformatician is exposed to hundreds of applications, computer languages, websites, you name it. Some of them are commercial, some of them free and open source. Some of the academia-developed software are open-source, some of them are not. A good portion of the academia-developed software are published in scientific journals, as an 2-page application note in Bioinformatics , or on a longer paper on BMC Bioinformatics, just to name two of the journals of the field. I cannot complain of non-published applications. Usually they are free, open, and were developed during someone’s spare time. I have the option of not using them, or modify them or helping the developer t... Blind.Scientist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1395098 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:45:15 +0100 1395098 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1334568&cid=t_127878_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F259910640%2F No, this isn’t the trial to be revealed and dissected at the American College of Cardiology conference in Chicago this weekend. That study, called Enhance, was already completed - and caused a huge ruckus (back story). But Schering-Plough and Merck, which jointly market Vytorin, hope to prove that a larger study dubbed Improve-It will show their cholesterol pill can outperform Zocor in preventing deaths, heart attacks and strokes. Initially, the trial - which enrolled its first patient in 2005 - was to have examined approximately 10,000 patients, but is being expanded to include about 18,000 patients in order to have a large enough sample size to measure risk, according to a statement by Eugene Braunwald of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, who is chairing the trial. As a result, t... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1334568 Fri, 28 Mar 2008 22:54:36 +0100 1334568 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1311009&cid=t_127878_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F03%2F18%2Fexercise-may-not-help-depending-upon-your-genes%2F Conclusions: The efficacy of exercise in patients seems generally comparable with patients receiving antidepressant medication and both tend to be better than the placebo in patients with MDD. Placebo response rates were high, suggesting that a considerable portion of the therapeutic response is determined by patient expectations, ongoing symptom monitoring, attention, and other nonspecific factors. The fact that genes may interact with our ability to effectively treat depression should not be new news to anyone. The key here is to understand that if one treatment for depression doesn’t work for a particular person, they should try another. And despite this most recent study’s findings, exercise remains a useful tool to employ against depression (and it’s free, too!). ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1311009 Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:02:50 +0100 1311009 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1288561&cid=t_127878_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F247902935%2Fhand_out_exit_slips_expect_mor.html While some leaders seem mystified that people dislike their meetings … and question why staff disappear faster than the flick of a light switch … take heart. Cognitive scientists are uncovering facts that show how meetings work for or against the human brain. It depends on what you do as leader and what participants do too. Wonder why people only retain only a small fraction of what they hear in meetings? Or why participants who have ownership in meetings benefit more from them? Neuroscience has found that the brain builds better connections when folks are not told what to do - but are involved fully in the process. Why so?People experience adrenaline-like bursts of insight as they go through the process of making their own connections, says David Rock, CEO at Results Coachin... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1288561 Sat, 08 Mar 2008 13:21:49 +0100 1288561 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1084654&cid=t_127878_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F198090188%2F The holidays are approaching and you can expect many software and game developers to advertise their products aggressively, trying to get you buy their "brain training" products for you or as a gift for a loved one. The good news is that there are more and more tools we can use to keep mentally stimulated and even train and improve specific cognitive abilities (like processing speed, short-term memory...). You may be reading about Nintendo Brain Age, Posit Science, MindFit, Lumosity, Happy Neuron, MyBrainTrainer, emWave, StressEraser and more. And, of course, there are also non-technology based interventions. The bad news is that it is difficult to separate marketing from scientific claims, and to understand which one, if any, may be a good complement to other healthy lifestyle... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1084654 Mon, 10 Dec 2007 20:06:52 +0100 1084654 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=970475&cid=t_127878_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F173422392%2F A reader (thanks Mike!) sends us this fun article, titled A matter of training, on how to train our memory. Some quotes: “It’s a skill, not a talent. It’s something anyone could have picked up ... I’m not born with this. It’s about training and technique,” he says, explaining his unusual ability. Anant holds the Limca Record – the Indian equivalent of the Guinness Record – for memorising 75 telephone numbers, along with the names of their owners, in less than an hour. He is recognised as “the man with the most phenomenal memory in India.”   “Unfortunately, most people think that memorising is very difficult. The moment they see someone demonstrate something like this, they think it’s out of this world.” If you want to remember something, you have to link it to ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=970475 Tue, 23 Oct 2007 00:31:12 +0100 970475 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=966545&cid=t_127878_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F170226344%2F Very good article in the LA Times today. Like a StairMaster for the brain: Can mental workouts improve the mind's agility? Baby boomer concerns stimulate an industry expansion. The reporter, Melissa Healy, reviews the healthy aging segment in the Brain Fitness field. A few selected quotes: - "There is plausibility, both biological and behavioral, to the claim that these may work," says Molly Wagster, chief of the National Institute on Aging's neuropsychology branch. "But it is still a situation of 'buyer beware.' " - "I see this as a new frontier of fitness overall," says Alvaro Fernandez, founder and chief executive of the website SharpBrains .com, which tracks the business and science of brain-training. Americans already understand the value of physical fi... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=966545 Mon, 15 Oct 2007 20:49:37 +0100 966545 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=966551&cid=t_127878_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F166243865%2F Great article on the growing brain fitness field. Rethinking the Brain Business: Why a mental-fitness program may be the start of something big. Some quotes: - "But Merzenich has loftier ambitions. He envisions his company as part of a new industry that will become a "mirror" of the drug industry. He wants to go far beyond simply sharpening memory and cognitive ability to tackle diseases as well. Instead of medications, he sees a business rooted in neuroscience that will use noninvasive computer exercises to rewire the brain, gradually training it back to mental health." - For now, Merzenich believes the emerging field of "brain health" is cluttered with bad science. He singled out Nintendo's brain games as an example of a product that has no science to back u... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=966551 Sat, 06 Oct 2007 18:37:03 +0100 966551 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=853878&cid=t_127878_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F154306088%2F3_brain_questions_for_business.html When business needs a boost ... it's worth a pause to question....If you think in new and different ways …1. Could you alter the future for business where we work? Brain research suggests that when people focus their thoughts on improved targets … they are far more likely to act on improved steps and thereby attain these targets. 2. Could you improve… even when work and others let you down? Research and observation show how those who practice doing the extraordinary are less likely to fall under pressures at work against them. Check out today’s video and story of an Iranian-American scholar who shifted her brain into improvement gears during 105 days locked up in Iran’s notorious Evin prison.3.  Could you relieve stress that leaves m... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=853878 Sun, 09 Sep 2007 21:13:08 +0100 853878 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=847514&cid=t_127878_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F153052019%2Fbrain_changes_shaped_by_you_an.html Remarkably, the human brain learns to redirect sight signals or to rewire itself, so that people see objects differently as a result of neuron reorganization.It’s called plasticity and it changes the human brain by creating new signaling routes. So what? Now that we see how adult brains reshape by what people do, it seems worthwhile to gear up for more benefit at work. Check out results from a new case study of a stroke patient whose brain created neural pathways, reported in the Sept. 5 online edition of The Journal of Neuroscience.  Here the visual center of a man’s brain reorganized itself to compensate for damage caused by a stroke.Daniel Dilks and his team, at McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT researched brain based changes after damage had cut off communic... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=847514 Thu, 06 Sep 2007 18:14:05 +0100 847514 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=809590&cid=t_127878_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F08%2F20%2Fback-to-school-back-to-physical-education%2F Filed under: ExerciseToday, my oldest child begins first grade. I can't tell you how sad and happy this makes me. I'm sad because I realize my first baby boy is truly on his way to growing up. School has him now; I don't. I can't help but predict he will need me less and less as he takes on the world in his own independent way. This makes me happy too. I am eager to see how he fares on his own, how he develops, grows, and soars. And I must admit, I am pretty thrilled about having five mornings per week all to myself -- my youngest little boy begins school today too.On Friday, we went to six-year-old Joey's elementary school for a meet-the-teacher event. Joey was right at home. He sat at his assigned desk, did a little drawing, and snuggled up in a pile of pillows in the reading corner. I f... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=809590 Mon, 20 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100 809590 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=786014&cid=t_127878_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F141745825%2Fgrow_what_you_do_well.html It struck me as I read Liz Strauss' post how currency comes from anything we do well.... At least anything that people want or need. Do you remember how journalist Shirley Povich won great popularity at the Washington Post? I’ve often been intrigued by Povich’s personal philosophy … “No story has been written that couldn’t be written better.”  Would that describe something you do  you'll do at work today ... or this week? Some people tell you they get so lost in the fast flying technologies that they forget to take time out to develop what they already do well. Yet the art of growth starts with what we do. Opportunities for new development of your best ideas will be there as long as humans a... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=786014 Tue, 07 Aug 2007 22:02:28 +0100 786014 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=699269&cid=t_127878_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F06%2F27%2Ffamily-based-weight-management-program-promising-but-costly%2F Filed under: Type 2, Childhood, Diet, Lifestyle, Research, Exercise, Support Near the end of the school year, my son's preschool teacher shared a disturbing statistic. My son's generation is expected to have a shorter lifespan than their parents. The main reason? Childhood obesity. 17 percent of children and adolescents in 2004 were overweight, and it's even more dismal for African American and Hispanic youth -- 18-26 percent. The phrase 'childhood obesity epidemic' is not being tossed around lightly, we are in a state of emergency when it comes to the health of our youth. Results were just released from a one-year randomized trial conducted May 2002-September 2005 on a weight management program called Bright Bodies. Researchers randomly assigned 209 overweight children to the Bright Bod... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=699269 Wed, 27 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 699269 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1097853&cid=t_127878_145_f&fid=36688&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.egmedicine.com%2F%7Er%2Fegmedicine%2Fusmle%2F%7E3%2F199107440%2F Whether you are a medical student doing rotations and electives, or an international medical graduate doing a clinical observership, you will be evaluated by attending physicians and chief residents. This is a common source of concern as these individuals are potential sources of letters of recommendation [...] (Source: USMLE) USMLE blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1097853 Wed, 04 Oct 2006 18:18:00 +0100 1097853