Head Examiner: Neurologist Ann McKee talks about battered brains, tangled tau, and the future of sports

BU Research Ann McKee, MD, neurology and pathology For Ann McKee, every brain tells a story. And sometimes it’s a tragic one. McKee, a professor of neurology and pathology at the Boston University School of Medicine (MED), is the director of neuropathology for the Veterans Affairs New England Healthcare System, and also directs BU’s Chronic […]

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Pass the Salt?

BU Today Richard Wainford, PhD, pharmacology Let’s face it: salt is delicious. Sprinkle it on tomatoes and they pop with flavor; shake it over popcorn and it’s movie time. Even Nelson Mandela noted its worth in his inaugural address: “Let there be work, bread, water, and salt for all,” he said. Expert quote: “Something has […]

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Brigham and Women’s Chief Named NFL Medical Adviser

Boston Globe Robert Cantu, MD, neurosurgery The National Football League, moving to quell criticism that it has long neglected the safety of players, on Monday named the president of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston as its first chief health and medical adviser. Expert quote: “She is a very respected clinician but also a very […]

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Making TB the Next Polio

BU Today Jerrold Ellner, MD, infectious diseases When Jerrold Ellner started working in infectious disease, schistosomiasis was a greater concern to international health professionals than tuberculosis. Fast forward a few decades and TB is now among the greatest public health threats worldwide. Expert quote: If Ellner’s team is successful, TB could be the world’s next […]

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Tablets and Smartphones May Affect Social and Emotional Development, Scientists Speculate

The Guardian Jenny Radesky, MD, pediatrics Using a smartphone or iPad to pacify a toddler may impede their ability to learn self-regulation, according to researchers. Expert quote: “These devices may replace the hands-on activities important for the development of sensorimotor and visual-motor skills, which are important for the learning and application of maths and science,” […]

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Different Definitions Muddy Measures of Medical Homes

Medscape Arvin Garg, MD, MPH, pediatrics Researchers have found a discrepancy in the ways pediatric medical homes are defined, which may affect the perception of success. Expert quote: “Therefore, it is possible that NCQA-guided practice transformation may not lead to the beneficial child outcomes previously associated with the NSCH-assessed medical home at the population level,” […]

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