A drop in temperature

In the nearly two centuries since German physician Carl Wunderlich established 98.6°F as the standard “normal” body temperature, it has been used by parents and doctors alike as the measure by which fevers — and often the severity of illness — have been assessed. Over time, however, and in more recent years, lower body temperatures…

Shot of alcohol can help an irregular heartbeat

Research out in this week’s issue of JAMA confirms the success of a treatment for persistent atrial fibrillation (AFib) that combines the standard treatment, catheter ablation, with a separate infusion of ethanol, or alcohol, to the vein of Marshall. Miguel Valderrabano, M.D., division chief, cardiac electrophysiology, Houston Methodist, designed the procedure, first using it successfully…

Mclean joins public-private partnership to develop early interventions for schizophrenia

Highlights: Through the Accelerating Medicines Partnership (AMP), AMP Schizophrenia (SCZ) will work to discover promising biological markers that can help early detection of those at risk of developing schizophrenia The public-private partnership brings together NIH, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and multiple nonprofit and private organizations, including McLean Hospital NIH’s National Institute of…