After a three-decade tripling in childhood obesity rates, the trend has leveled off and, for the first time, appears to be on a substantial decline - at least among Massachusetts infants and preschoolers, according to a new study. Xiaozhong Wen, HMS research fellow in population medicine at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, is the lead author. David Ludwig, HMS professor of pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Boston, is also quoted.
Scientists may have identified the cause of “brain freeze” as a change in the brain’s blood flow associated with consuming cold drinks or desserts. Jorge Serrador, HMS instructor in neurology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, led the study.
A new documentary on HBO offers some insight into the obesity epidemic in the country, particularly with America’s children. Elsie Taveras, HMS assistant professor of population medicine and Greg Lewis, HMS assistant professor of medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, are both featured in the four-part series.
A growing number of hospitals say they are fielding requests from families to have children present during delivery and relaxing policies to accommodate them. Toni Golen, HMS assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive biology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, is quoted.
The results of a study showed that administering psilocybin to terminally ill subjects could be done safely while reducing the subjects’ anxiety and depression about their impending deaths. John Halpern, HMS assistant professor of psychiatry at McLean Hospital, is also mentioned as a physician who used psychedelic drugs in an effort to ease end-of-life anxieties in two patients with Stage 4 cancer.
Two Harvard graduate students, including HMS student Kristin Huang, have recently launched a campaign to ban smoking in all Harvard graduate student housing. Jonathan P. Winickoff, HMS associate professor of pediatrics at Massachusetts General Hospital, is quoted.
For nearly a century, the third year of medical school has been a pivotal point in training, a crucial step in the development of professional skills and attitudes toward patients. Recently, however, the tradition of monthlong “rotations” – has come under fire. The Harvard Medical School-Cambridge Integrated Clerkship at Cambridge Health Alliance is highlighted as an innovative third-year program. David Hirsh, HMS assistant professor of medicine at Cambridge Health Alliance and director and co-founder of the innovative program, is quoted.
Seven Massachusetts hospitals plan to offer patients harmed by medical errors a prompt apology and financial settlements before they resort to lawsuits, part of a major new initiative to improve the state’s cumbersome medical malpractice system. Kenneth Sands, HMS associate professor of medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, is quoted.
