Deep inside the ear, specialized cells called hair cells detect vibrations in the air and translate them into sound. Ten years ago, Stefan Heller, PhD, professor of otolaryngology at the Stanford University School of Medicine, came up with the idea that if you could create these cells in the laboratory from stem cells, it would… Continue reading
Day: May 23, 2010
All about amino acids
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. The body has twenty different amino acids that act as these building blocks. Nonessential amino acids are those that the body can synthesize for itself, provided there is enough nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen available. Essential amino acids are those supplied by the diet, since the human… Continue reading
New effective bipolar and schizophrenia drug
The FDA has approved a new drug called Saphris to treat schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder in adults. “Mental illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder can be devastating to patients and families, requiring lifelong treatment and therapy,” Thomas Laughren, MD, director of the division of psychiatry products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and… Continue reading