Grand Rounds, Vol. 3, No 44

Grand Rounds Vol. 3, No 44: It’s All in a Day’s News

As excited as I was to host Grand Rounds for the first time, I had a fair amount of trepidation, too. How was I going to arrange all these posts in an interesting yet logical way, one that did justice to the wide array of topics included and still appealed to all types of readers? The answer arrived on my doorstep in the neatly folded form of my trusty daily newspaper. Of course. I started my career in newspapers, and decided to use elements from my favorite print and online papers for today’s compilation of news, analysis, and debate.

Have at it!

Front Page Stories:
When Blogging Gets You Fired by David Bradley at Sciencebase discusses ways to maintain a blog and still maintain a career, especially pertinent advice if you practice medicine
Why Chernobyl's Birds Matter by grrlscientist at Living the Scientific Life explores the unequal effects of radiation on bird species twenty years after the catastrophic Chernobyl nuclear reactor disaster—and what this means for humans
For the Love of Strange Medicine by Kim at Emergiblog uses a hypothetical situation to take on what can be a controversial issue of authority in the ER
Making Meaning by Susan at Rickety Contrivances of Doing Good draws a powerful parallel between being a volunteer hospital chaplain and being an English professor

News:
Mirrors Provide New Treatment for Chronic Pain by HowToCopeWithPain discusses an exciting and non-invasive treatment for chronic pain using mirror images
Runaway Costs Can Undermine Health Reform in a Hurry by Health Business Blog looks at a potentially costly flaw in Massachusetts’s health care reform plan
Proof Innovative Thinking in Health Care Exists by Hospital Impact Blog uncovers the proactive approaches one hospital has implemented to improve the patient experience
Suicidal Breast Implants by Shrink Rap provides shownotes for a podcast discussing an increased risk of suicide in women who have cosmetic breast augmentation
Should Rapid HIV Tests Be Mandatory During Pregnancy? by International Network for Ethical Issues in Resource Allocation reviews research that concludes pregnant women shouldn’t be required to undergo rapid HIV infection tests

Op-Ed:
What You’ll Learn in Pre-Med Classes by Dr. Val
& The Voice of Reason tackles the question that plagues all pre-meds at some point: Are you ever going to use any of this stuff?
Is American Health Care Headed Overseas? by Madness: Tales of an Emergency Room Nurse includes thoughts about the emerging trend known as medical tourism
Web 2.0 and Clinical Genetics in Practice by Scienceroll lends support for the significance of technology in diagnosing genetic conditions
Is Mental Illness Adaptive? by Behavioral Ecology Blog debates Nobel Prize winner John Nash’s statements on the subject

Science/Technology:
Exploding Lips and Other Combustible Pursuits by Ian at Impactednurse offers amusing analysis on the use of lip balm during oxygen therapy
Sex, Lies and Anesthesia by Counting Sheep lays bare the common(and comedic) misconceptions that people have about anesthesia
Beyond the Hype: The iPhone and Health by Tech Medicine shows the medical uses of the iPhone, proving it is more than simply the coolest new accessory
How To Do a Pelvic Exam by Women’s Health News offers candid commentary on a video of the procedure every woman dreads: the pelvic exam
A Placebo State of Mind by Christian at Med Journal Watch is a series that explores the power of the human mind when it comes to placebo treatment
Pregnancy and the HSIL Diagnosis by Fruit of the Womb covers the questions and concerns that accompany high-grade cervical dysplasia
An Unusual Cause of High Serum Amylase in the Setting of Normal Serum Lipase by Inside Surgery is a concise, technical explanation of an uncommon cause of this condition

Your Life:
Don’t Give Up by Amy at Diabetes Mine captures the other "low" of living with type 1 diabetes—and all the reasons why she doesn’t give into it
The Disconnect by Kerri at Six Until Me recounts a grateful reunion with her insulin pump after a week away from its many conveniences
Where Would I Be? by Rachel at Tales of My Thirties reveals the surprising ways living with Type 2 diabetes and anxiety has shaped this patient’s life
Why the Dutch Look Down on Us by Parallel Universes provides commentary on the factors that make people taller or shorter
Can Elvis Cure Throat Cancer? by Dr. Bruce Campell explores rationalism versus empiricism in the context of a postage stamp turned panacea—and why rationalism can still be so appealing, even when we know better

Travel/Leisure:
DisAdventure: Advice for World Travelers with Disabilities and Chronic Conditions by Jocelyn at Chronic Babeoffers the keys for smart travel—you won’t need a vacation from this vacation
Strange Occurrences by Lemonade Life details wacky blood sugars, misinformed athletic trainers, and other random events in the life of this diabetic
Tales of a Jellyfish by Medicine for the Outdoors
is a stinging account of a marine encounter gone wrong—and what could have prevented it
Better Exercise on the Stairs by The Fitness Fixer shows how climbing stairs can be painless, not punishing
A Travel Destination of Another Kind by Eye on DNA looks at medical tourism and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD)

Thanks for reading today’s edition!* Many thanks to Nicholas Genes for all his hard work in keeping this fantastic tradition going strong, and thanks again to everyone who submitted. You made my run as temporary editor-in-chief a great one.

Don’t forget to check out next week’s Grand Rounds at another Boston-based blog, Health Business Blog

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