Describes somatic and genetic manipulations of individual genotypes, using diabetes control as an example of the first mode that is potentially realizable be derepression or viral transduction of genes. Advocates the use of genetic engineering of the second mode to remove man from his biological limitations, but offers maxims to ensure the…

Evaluates vitamins/minerals, distinguishing whether studies cited used animal or human subjects. Vitamins discussed include niacin and vitamins B-12, C, A, D, E, and megavitamin supplementation (intake of vitamins at levels 10 times the recommended daily allowance). Minerals considered include dolomite/bone meal, chromium (glucose tolerance…

The fundamental preclinical and clinical studies of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine metabolism related to infantile autism are reviewed, and new studies are suggested, as examples of the productive strategies that will illuminate features of the autistic syndrome in the next decade. (Author)

Reports on PRL-8-53, an experimental drug that will boost the chemical system in the brain called the cholinergic system and thereby improve one's ability to retrieve information from a preexisting information pool. (Author/IRT)

There are good reasons for criticizing modern medicine and for worrying about its failures. Traces the history of medical practice and suggests the direction it must take to stay effective. (Author/RK)

Discusses how new knowledge may be generated by information retrieval techniques on bibliographic databases. Examples from medical research are used to illustrate the possibility of making discoveries by synthesizing the literature; hidden correlations between factors are discussed; and the creative use of information retrieval systems is…

The statement's principle medical research recommendations address the need for a longitudinal study of the healing of anogenital injuries and for the expansion and refinement of the understanding of normal anogenital anatomy. Four areas for additional medical research are described: uniform terminology, patient triage, sexually transmitted…

Contributes to scholarship on the role of mass media in breast cancer coverage. Finds extremely high, significant correlations between numbers of medical-journal articles and newspaper, magazine, and TV coverage; a two-way concurrent relationship between breast cancer funding and media coverage, and between breast cancer incidence and TV coverage;…

This abstract of a planned session on the future of medicine explains the use of nanotechnology in medicine to manipulate biomolecules that regulate life and death processes and to help improve health care delivery. Topics include nanodevices for drug delivery, cancer detection and cure, and repairing genes. (LRW)

Curcumin, the pungent yellow spice found in both turmeric and curry powders, blocks a key biological pathway needed for development of melanoma and other cancers, according to a study that appears in the journal Cancer. Researchers from The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center demonstrate how curcumin stops laboratory strains of…

Johns Hopkins researchers at the Wilmer Eye Institute have discovered what appears to be the first human gene mutation that causes extreme farsightedness. The researchers report that nanophthalmos, Greek for "dwarf eye," is a rare, potentially blinding disorder caused by an alteration in a gene called MFRP that helps control eye growth and…

Research on Problem-Based Learning in medical education has undergone an evolutionary process from initial proof of concept studies through critiques of the original methods and beyond. Initial studies focused on whether or not the instructional method was effective for medical students and the goals of medical education. Despite much movement…

Reports on new theories of the stress concept. One theory maintains that stress is nonspecific and can cause a variety of diseases through exhaustion of the body. Another theory claims that stress may be caused by the production of hormones which are specific to certain psychological stimuli. (MLH)