Medicare Advantage plans for seniors dodged a major financial bullet Monday as government officials gave them a reprieve for returning hundreds of millions of dollars or more in government overpayments — some dating back a decade or more. The health insurance industry had long feared the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services would demand repayment of billions of dollars in […]

Bethany Millar, manager of education services in the Division of General Medicine within the Department of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has received the Debra L. Dooley GME Program Coordinator Excellence Award from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). The award recognizes “in-depth understanding of the accreditation process, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, […]

IntroductionStructural and functional medical imagingRadiation exposureIndividual techniquesReferencesFurther reading The use of diagnostic imaging in medicine dates back over a century. However, huge advances have been made over the last 50 years, in which multiple imaging modalities have offered a previously unimaginable wealth of data on the structure and function of the inward organs of the human body. Image Credit: Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock […]

With much enthusiasm, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has welcomed 124 future physicians to the beginning of their journeys in science and medicine. Orientation for the medical school’s Entering Class of 2022 included necessary activities such as faculty introductions, campus tours, and overviews of services such as student health, student support, safety and security, extracurriculars and facilities. […]

IntroductionHistoryCauses and symptomsGeneticsPYGM geneEpidemiologyDiagnosis and treatmentReferencesFurther reading ​​​​McArdle's disease, also known as Glycogen Storage Disease Type V, or GSD5, is a congenital disorder of muscle metabolism. It occurs when the body loses its ability to break down glycogen leading to characteristic symptoms like fatigue, muscle pain, and cramps. McArdle's disease is a genetic disorder due to mutations of the PYGM […]

An experimental drug therapy protects mice from sudden death due to the rupture of a major blood vessel in the abdomen, according to a study from researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The findings, available online in Biomaterials Advances, may lead to a new strategy in treating abdominal aortic aneurysm, a condition in which the wall […]

IntroductionThe Key Role of Animal Research1. Animal Research and Basic Biology2. Animal Research and Human Disease3. Animal Research and Treatment Strategies4. Mandatory Animal TrialsHistorical Role of Animal ResearchIssues with Animal ResearchPoor CorrelationMisleading ResultsNew DirectionsProductive Use of FundingUsing Relevant ModelsConclusionReferencesFurther Reading Animal research is at the center of much debate, often acrimonious, largely due to the increased rights afforded to animals in recent times, at […]

IntroductionWhy is Sleep Important?How Much Sleep is Needed?What are the Signs of Sleep Deprivation?How to Improve Sleeping Time and Quality References Further Reading Good quality sleep is essential for optimal mental and physical functioning. The amount of sleep required for a healthy life varies with age. A lack of sleep can significantly affect the health of people with chronic diseases. Healthy sleep. […]

IntroductionIs Nail Biting Actually a Medical Condition?Nail Biting and Young PeopleThe Psychology of Nail BitingReferencesFurther Reading Nail biting is a common behavior often viewed as nothing more than an annoying habit. The behavior is all too often ignored. However, nail biting can be serious and it is a misunderstood and misdiagnosed disorder. This article probes nail-biting as a medical condition, […]

IntroductionWhat is Optimism?Optimism and the Emergence of Positive PsychologyOptimism and Physical HealthOptimism and Mental HealthReferencesFurther Reading There is growing recognition of the effectiveness of optimism as a positive psychological function and tool for better mental and physical health. Positive thinking. Image Credit: eamesBot/Shutterstock.com This article discusses positive psychology and recent research into positive mental attributes like optimism in the context […]