Medicine

For that which is relating or is of the topic of Medicine

Medical Overtreatment in the United States: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions

2021, Medicine, Social Science • October 4, 2021

This article was originally submitted to the Modern MD competition hosted by the Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Science (DUJS) and was recognized as an honorable mention. Abstract Healthcare practitioners have a responsibility to adhere to ethical guidelines during all medical procedures. But in certain cases, these guidelines are breached. Medical overtreatment is such a case. …

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Advances in the Search for an Alzheimer’s cure

2021, Medicine, Neuroscience • September 29, 2021

Cover Image: This image displays the differences between a normal brain and the brain of someone with Alzheimer’s disease on a PET scan. (Source: Wikimedia Commons, NIH) Alzheimer’s Disease is one of the most prevalent degenerative neurological diseases within the human population. It is one of the most common causes of dementia and involves a …

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An Introduction to the Ebola Virus

2021, Biology, Medicine • September 29, 2021

Cover Image: Blood sample of a patient infected by the Ebola virus. (Source: Public Domains Pictures, ChiccoDodiFC) Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe, often lethal infection caused by Ebola virus. Ebola victims present with symptoms such as an acute hemorrhagic fever, severe headache, weakness, and fatigue (Jacob et al., 2020). EVD epidemics typically start …

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Rethinking ‘Junk’ DNA: The Vital Role DNA Repeats Play in Cancer and Aging

2021, Biology, Medicine • September 24, 2021

Figure: The image above, created by the National Institutes of Health, helps demonstrate how important a role junk DNA can play. The picture displays a stem cell culture, within which green dots represent viral envelope proteins resulting from the transcription and subsequent translation of junk DNA. When these proteins interact with certain immune cell proteins, …

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Why Your Genes Might Impact Your COVID-19 Experience

2021, Biology, Medicine • September 17, 2021

Figure: An illustration of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. When it comes to SARS-CoV-2 infections, a new study suggests that genetics may play a role in both susceptibility and severity. (Source: Wikimedia Commons, Author: We Are Covert Ltd) In the past, genome-wide association studies have found correlations between specific forms of certain genes and individual susceptibility to …

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Addison’s Disease: Why Does it Take an Adrenal Crisis for a Correct Diagnosis?

2021, Biology, Medicine • August 21, 2021

Figure: Blood samples ready to be tested. Addison’s disease is diagnosed by analysis of ACTH levels via a blood test. (Source: Unsplash, Testalize.me) In 1855 Thomas Addison described symptoms for an illness now known as Addison’s disease, a chronic condition caused by damage to the adrenal glands (Yamamoto, 2018). Addison’s is an incredibly rare disease affecting …

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Considering the Microbiota-Gut-Brain-Axis in Cancer Research

2021, Biology, Chemistry, Medicine • August 12, 2021

Lead Author: Jillian Troth1 Co-Authors (alphabetical order): Roxanna Attar2, Julia Gainski3, Vincent Lai4, Grace Lee5, Callie Moody1, Megan Nelson6 1Dartmouth College, 2University of Texas at Austin, 3University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 4Rice University, 5Williams College, 6Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University Cover Image: A fluorescently-stained image of a three-dimensional culture of human breast cancer cells. …

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Single Cell RNA Sequencing Enhances Understanding of Tumor Genetic Diversity

2021, Biology, Medicine • August 12, 2021

Figure 1: Researchers have shown that tumor cells are a mixture of cancer cells and normal cells. Distinguishing malignant cells and nonmalignant cells in the tumor microenvironment is critical for understanding tumor cell gene expression (Source: Flickr, NIH Image Gallery). Single Cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq), a transcriptomic analysis tool, has become important in cancer research …

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Human Endogenous Retroviruses Might Unlock a New Field of Neurodegenerative Disease Research

2021, Biology, Medicine, Neuroscience • August 12, 2021

Figure 1: Researchers have found viral genetic materials within the human genome which are the result of retroviruses that infected our ancestors millions of years ago. Scientists refer to these viruses as human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs). HERVs have been linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). (Source: Public Domain Pictures, Виталий Смолыгин) Viral …

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Mucins: The Medical Target of the Future

2021, Biology, Medicine • August 8, 2021

Figure: Diagram of Mucin Structure. Mucins are glycosylated membrane proteins with complex o-glycans on their extracellular TR region, which provide identifying information for interactions with microbes (Source: Jcastr07, Wikimedia Commons). While the microbiome has been receiving increasing attention as a key physiological player, the mucinome, or mucus composition in the body, may be the gateway …

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