Window in the Drapes

“Our patient has surgery today, would you like to observe?” my doctoring mentor asked. Of course, I responded eagerly. Our patient was a 65-year-old woman who had suffered from epilepsy since childhood. Her frequent seizures caused two types of spells. She would repeat words in an endless loop, or she would experience drop attacks, when…

Gum Disease May Raise Hypertension Risk

People with gum disease may be at increased risk for high blood pressure. For a study in Cardiovascular Research, researchers combined the results of 81 studies including more than 200,000 people. Using a blood pressure reading of 140/90 or higher as the definition of hypertension, they found that people with a diagnosis of gum disease…

Fires Rage in Indonesia, Turning the Sky Red

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Nearly 2,000 wildfires are burning across Indonesia, turning the sky blood red over central Sumatra and creating dense clouds of smoke that have caused respiratory problems for nearly a million people. By Wednesday, rain had brought some relief in reducing the number of hot spots, which include burning jungles and smoldering peatfields,…

Sleep Apnea Tied to Mood Disorders

Sleep apnea may increase the risk for mood disorders, researchers have found. Obstructive sleep apnea, or O.S.A., is a sleep-related breathing disorder that has been linked to many other conditions, including cardiovascular disease, asthma exacerbation, glaucoma, erectile dysfunction and neurocognitive problems. For the new study, in JAMA Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery, researchers enrolled 197 Korean…

Cats Like People! (Some People, Anyway)

In the perennial battle over dogs and cats, there’s a clear public relations winner. Dogs are man’s best friend. They’re sociable, faithful and obedient. Our relationship with cats, on the other hand, is often described as more transactional. Aloof, mysterious and independent, cats are with us only because we feed them. Or maybe not. On…