As we learn more and more about Zika virus every day, I just wanted to update a few important points.
Category Archives: Medical Musings
The Truth Squad with Cloudy Media Blog
14 years after we’ve last been fascinated by Mulder and Scully’s investigations of paranormal activities on prime time, the duo went back to work at the FBI’s X-Files in a 6-episode mini-season. This season was just enough to whet fans’ appetites with fond memories of their favorite stories (Eve, anyone?) and infuriate us with a cliffhanger ending. But it was the bookended storyline linking episodes 1 and 6, that made my scientist blood boil (FYI–just a saying, tissues would be incinerated long before blood could boil).
It takes two to make a thing go right, or wrong
At the same time we have Hillary, 4 female astronauts graduating from the NASA space program, Samantha Bee on late night tv, and actual dialogue about gender gaps in salary and management, it’s still been a rough start to 2016 for women. Continue reading It takes two to make a thing go right, or wrong
Attack of the killer mosquitoes! Part 1: Zika virus
Somewhat unbelievably given the preponderance of violence today, humans are not responsible for the most human deaths worldwide. This distinction instead belongs to that annoying buzzy insect, the mosquito. Mosquitoes are like an Uber for infectious pathogens hitching a ride to and from nice cozy destinations such as humans. There are numerous viruses, bacteria, and even fly larvae (I dare you to watch this video) taking mosquito Ubers, but the one I want to talk about today is called Zika.
Continue reading Attack of the killer mosquitoes! Part 1: Zika virus
10 Facts: Concussions
#1 The word concussion is derived from the latin term concutere, meaning to shake violently. It is a type of traumatic brain injury with short-term neurologic impairment caused by biomechanical force (ie. the violent shaking).
Charlie Sheen has HIV…so what?
In a blitz of media frenzy, Charlie Sheen recently announced he is HIV positive. So, should we care?
Before saying anything else, absolutely and unequivocally: YES! Raising awareness for disease is always a good thing. Remember that ALS ice bucket challenge? Even a disease like HIV, which for the general public is a has-been, benefits from media attention. To the medical and scientific community, HIV is so much more. HIV remains the number 1 infectious disease killer and top-funded research area. Despite not yet having an effective vaccine (the Holy Grail of infectious disease if there ever was one), we’ve made enormous progress in understanding this unwieldy virus.
Man dies from his parasite’s cancer
In a strange collision of infectious disease and oncology, The New England Journal of Medicine (@NEJM) yesterday published a case report of a man who succumbed to cancer, which was surprisingly not his own, but his parasite’s.
Continuing the conversation: Tom Brady-poster child for pseudoscience?
What people are saying about Tom Brady’s association with business partner/snake oil salesman Alex Guerrero.
Continue reading Continuing the conversation: Tom Brady-poster child for pseudoscience?
Tom Brady–poster child for pseudoscience?
I have to admit, it hurts me a little–ok A LOT–to write this piece. I’ve probably done a bit more research than was needed because I was hesitant to come to the realization that I’ve lost respect for one of my favorite athletes. This feeling doesn’t take away 4 championships from a franchise with arguably the best NFL coach of all time, but it does still hurt.
Because Tom Brady may just be the newest poster child for pseudoscience. What an idiot.
Addyi Up
The little pink pill is here! So what’s with the negative media?
Recently, Sprout Pharmaceuticals attained approval from the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to sell their female sexual dysfunction drug Flibanserin–to be marketed as Addyi.