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Each year more and more applicants are applying to residency. It is estimated that 45,000 applicants are applying for residency this year for an estimated 15,000 slots. At the recent AMA meeting in Chicago, President Wilson addressed issues with our health care, citing the need for providing healthcare to underprivileged communities. The training programs are limited so that fewer doctors are being trained than are needed in the community. This is not the fault of the AMA or our training programs, which are receiving decreases in their federal funding. Please write to your congressman and urge that Congress increase Medicare funding, while helping to set aside money for new training programs while building existing ones. With more doctors trained tomorrow, the U.S. will be able to meet the shortage of qualified physicians needed to serve our growing population.

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(From Livescience.com)

Popular culture is loaded with myths and half-truths. Most are harmless. But when doctors start believing medical myths, perhaps it’s time to worry.

In the British Medical Journal this week, researchers looked into several common misconceptions, from the belief that a person should drink eight glasses of water per day to the notion that reading in low light ruins your eyesight.

“We got fired up about this because we knew that physicians accepted these beliefs and were passing this information along to their patients,” said Dr. Aaron Carroll, assistant professor of pediatrics at the Indiana University School of Medicine. “And these beliefs are frequently cited in the popular media.”

And so here they are, so that you can inform your doctor:

Myth: We use only 10 percent of our brains.

Fact: Physicians and comedians alike, including Jerry Seinfeld, love to cite this one. It’s sometimes erroneously credited to Albert Einstein. But MRI scans, PET scans and other imaging studies show no dormant areas of the brain, and even viewing individual neurons or cells reveals no inactive areas, the new paper points out. Metabolic studies of how brain cells process chemicals show no nonfunctioning areas. The myth probably originated with self-improvement hucksters in the early 1900s who wanted to convince people that they had yet not reached their full potential, Carroll figures. It also doesn’t jibe with the fact that our other organs run at full tilt.

Myth: You should drink at least eight glasses of water a day.

Fact: “There is no medical evidence to suggest that you need that much water,” said Dr. Rachel Vreeman, a pediatrics research fellow at the university and co-author of the journal article. Vreeman thinks this myth can be traced back to a 1945 recommendation from the Nutrition Council that a person consume the equivalent of 8 glasses (64 ounces) of fluid a day. Over the years, “fluid” turned to water. But fruits and vegetables, plus coffee and other liquids, count.

Myth: Fingernails and hair grow after death.

Fact: Most physicians queried on this one initially thought it was true. Upon further reflection, they realized it’s impossible. Here’s what happens: “As the body’s skin is drying out, soft tissue, especially skin, is retracting,” Vreeman said. “The nails appear much more prominent as the skin dries out. The same is true, but less obvious, with hair. As the skin is shrinking back, the hair looks more prominent or sticks up a bit.”

Myth: Shaved hair grows back faster, coarser and darker.

Fact: A 1928 clinical trial compared hair growth in shaved patches to growth in non-shaved patches. The hair which replaced the shaved hair was no darker or thicker, and did not grow in faster. More recent studies have confirmed that one. Here’s the deal: When hair first comes in after being shaved, it grows with a blunt edge on top, Carroll and Vreeman explain. Over time, the blunt edge gets worn so it may seem thicker than it actually is. Hair that’s just emerging can be darker too, because it hasn’t been bleached by the sun.

Myth: Reading in dim light ruins your eyesight.

Fact: The researchers found no evidence that reading in dim light causes permanent eye damage. It can cause eye strain and temporarily decreased acuity, which subsides after rest.

Myth: Eating turkey makes you drowsy.

Fact: Even Carroll and Vreeman believed this one until they researched it. The thing is, a chemical in turkey called tryptophan is known to cause drowsiness. But turkey doesn’t contain any more of it than does chicken or beef. This myth is fueled by the fact that turkey is often eaten with a colossal holiday meal, often accompanied by alcohol — both things that will make you sleepy.

Myth: Mobile phones are dangerous in hospitals.

Fact: There are no known cases of death related to this one. Cases of less-serious interference with hospital devices seem to be largely anecdotal, the researchers found. In one real study, mobile phones were found to interfere with 4 percent of devices, but only when the phone was within 3 feet of the device. A more recent study, this year, found no interference in 300 tests in 75 treatment rooms. To the contrary, when doctors use mobile phones, the improved communication means they make fewer mistakes.

“Whenever we talk about this work, doctors at first express disbelief that these things are not true,” said Vreeman said. “But after we carefully lay out medical evidence, they are very willing to accept that these beliefs are actually false.”

Robert Roy Britt
LiveScience Managing Editor

The Society for Neuroscience will be holding its annual meeting this year in San Diego. This year reports the largest number of attendees in history with 38,000. Among the guest speakers to this years event is Newt Gingrich and a panel of renowned neuroscientists from around the world.

For more information, please contact SFN at www.sfn.org.

Why Can’t a Computer be More like a Brain?

Jeff Hawkins Speaker: Jeff Hawkins
Numenta and Palm
Support Contributed by Elsevier
Location: San Diego Convention Center: Ballroom 20
Date & Time: Saturday, Nov. 3, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

The digital computer is an incredible success of the 20th century. Advances in computing have exceeded the wildest expectations of the founders of the digital age in several ways, such as increased speed and reduced size and cost. However, many of the early expectations for computers to replicate the capabilities of humans have not been met. This talk will discuss the past and future of computing, particularly how biologically inspired principles will drive many of the advances in the coming decade.

Presidential Special Lecture
Imaging Synapses in their Habitat CME

Karel Svoboda Speaker: Karel Svoboda, PhD
Janelia Farm Rese Ctr
Support contributed by Pfizer, Inc.
Location: San Diego Convention Center: Ballroom 20
Date & Time: Saturday, Nov. 3, 5:15 PM – 6:15 PM

Recent developments in fluorescence probes and microscopy allow the measurement of the structure and function of individual synapses over times ranging from milliseconds to years, even in the intact brain. These time-lapse measurements are beginning to provide answers to some long-standing questions: Which synapses are plastic in the neocortex, especially in response to novel sensory experience? What are the mechanisms of plasticity? How are stable synapses maintained? This lecture will review some highlights from the last 10 years of imaging synapses and discuss emerging advances.

Fred Kavli Distinguished International Scientist Lecture
Control of Cortical Inhibition and Excitation by Endocannabinoids: Novel Insights into Anxiety and Epilepsy CME

Tamas Freund Speaker: Tamas F Freund, PhD
Hungarian Academy Sciences
Support Contributed by The Kavli Foundation
Location: San Diego Convention Center: Ballroom 20
Date & Time: Sunday, Nov. 4, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Endogenous cannabinoids (endocannabinoids) serve as retrograde signals at synapses in several brain areas, including the cerebral cortex. They are released in an activity-dependent manner and inhibit both GABA and glutamate release via CB1 cannabinoid receptors. This lecture will describe the molecular components and function of this unconventional synaptic regulatory mechanism, and discuss how its malfunctioning impairs the fine-tuning of temporal coordination of neuronal activity, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of various brain disorders such as anxiety and epilepsy.

Peter & Patricia Gruber Lecture
The Neural Network: Integration and Regulation of Synaptic Transmission

Shigetada Nakanishi Speaker: Shigetada Nakanishi
Osaka Bioscience Institute
Support Contributed by The Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation
Location: San Diego Convention Center: Ballroom 20
Date & Time: Sunday, Nov. 4, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM

How synaptic transmission is regulated and integrated in the neural network is a fundamental question for better understanding brain function. Glutamate is a main excitatory neurotransmitter in the neural network. We molecularly elucidated diverse members of glutamate receptors and demonstrated integrative glutamatergic synaptic mechanisms by developing several novel strategies. These include the mechanisms underlying segregation of light-dark signals in the retina, pheromonal discrimination and memory in the accessory olfactory bulb, and motor learning in the cerebellum.

Presidential Special Lecture
The Once and Future Science of Neural Networks CME

H Seung Speaker: H Sebastian Seung, PhD
HHMI and MIT
Support contributed by Lundbeck Research USA
Location: San Diego Convention Center: Ballroom 20
Date & Time: Sunday, Nov. 4, 5:15 PM – 6:15 PM

Once upon a time, mathematical brain models were created using two fundamental ideas: synaptic connectivity determines function and synaptic plasticity underlies learning and memory. By now we have seen tantalizing hints that these basic ideas are at least partially true, as well as examples where they fall short. The advent of high-throughput methods for gathering neurophysiological and neuroanatomical data will transform our ability to test the foundations of neural network theory.

David Kopf Lecture on Neuroethics
Twenty-First Century Neuroscience: From the Lab and Clinic to the Home, Office, and School

Martha Farah Speaker: Martha J Farah, PhD
Univ Pennsylvania
Support contributed by David Kopf Instruments
Location: San Diego Convention Center: Ballroom 20
Date & Time: Monday, Nov. 5, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

The U.S. Congress declared the 1990s to be “the decade of the brain,” in recognition of neuroscience’s progress in understanding normal brain function and treating brain disorders. What the next few decades may come to be recognized for is the expanded influence of neuroscience beyond the research lab and clinic, into the home, office, school, courtroom, battlefield, and beyond. This lecture will sketch some of the ways in which neuroscience is poised to change our lives, with its powerful new tools for monitoring and manipulating the human mind and with its physical, mechanistic view of human nature.

Special Presentation
Biomedical Research Funding: Rebuilding Support for a Vital National Investment

Newt Gingrich Speaker: Newt Gingrich
Center for Health Transformation
Location: San Diego Convention Center: Ballroom 20
Date & Time: Monday, Nov. 5, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

The five-year doubling of the NIH budget ended in 2003. Since then, the bipartisan consensus in Congress in support of basic biomedical research funding has weakened. Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and founder of the Center for Health Transformation, argues that a steady increase in funding for the NIH and National Science Foundation is a vital component of an intelligent 21st century health system, one that saves lives and saves money. Gingrich believes that investments in basic biomedical research also benefit the national economy by stimulating job creation and productivity in a key economic sector. Gingrich will share his ideas on which arguments resonate with national policymakers, and how scientists’ advocacy efforts can positively affect the future funding situation.

Albert and Ellen Grass Lecture
Protein Folding and Misfolding in Neurobiology CME

Susan Lindquist Speaker: Susan L Lindquist, PhD
Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research/HHMI
Support contributed by The Grass Foundation
Location: San Diego Convention Center: Ballroom 20
Date & Time: Monday, Nov. 5, 3:15 PM – 5:00 PM

Proteins begin as long strings that must fold precisely in order to function. Accomplishing this in the crowded environment of living cells is difficult. The misfolding of certain amyloidogenic proteins associated with neuronal cells has profound effects on their biology and is responsible for dreadful neurodegenerative diseases. Surprisingly, similar changes in the folding of other proteins may have beneficial effects in learning and memory. This lecture will investigate therapeutic strategies to control the folding of amyloidogenic proteins and the consequent biological effects.

Presidential Special Lecture
Integrating Neuroscience Knowledge: Brain Research in the Digital Age CME

Mark Ellisman Speaker: Mark H Ellisman, PhD
University of California, San Diego School of Medicine
Support contributed by Merck & Co., Inc.
Location: San Diego Convention Center: Ballroom 20
Date & Time: Monday, Nov. 5, 5:15 PM – 6:15 PM

The need for a scalable and available knowledge environment for the brain research community has captured the attention of many who now work at the hybrid interface of neuroscience and information sciences – sometimes called “neuroinformatics.” This talk will highlight accomplishments in human and animal model studies using tools and data available today, illustrating what tomorrow’s neuroscientists might expect from neuroinformatics in an era in which scientific discoveries will hinge increasingly on the development and use of telecommunications and information technology.

History of Neuroscience Lecture
Dividing Cerebral Networks: The Split-Brain

Michael Gazzaniga Speaker: Michael S. Gazzaniga, Ph.D.
University of California, Santa Barbara
Support contributed by AstraZeneca
Location: San Diego Convention Center: Ballroom 20
Date & Time: Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Attempts to understand hemispheric function over the last 100 years have been largely approached through assessments of patients with focal lesions. Over the past 50 years, this work has been augmented by studies of patients with the cerebral commissures sectioned, allowing for the separate testing of each hemisphere. Today, neuroscientists stand on the brink of studying hemispheric function and the connecting networks in the normally intact brain, using modern brain imaging modalities.

Presidential Special Lecture
Imaging Human Brain Connections CME

Heidi Johansen-Berg Speaker: Heidi Johansen-Berg, DPhil, MSc, BA
Univ Oxford
Location: San Diego Convention Center: Ballroom 20
Date & Time: Tuesday, Nov. 6, 5:15 PM – 6:15 PM

Brain imaging techniques can now be used to estimate paths of connections in the living human brain. These approaches have already supplied novel insights into human brain anatomy and its breakdown in disease. This talk will provide background to diffusion imaging, highlight some recent advances, and discuss the scope and limitations of the technique. In particular, the degree to which anatomical information from brain imaging agrees with evidence from gold-standard classical anatomical techniques will be addressed.

For the past month, camera crews have been filming a movie code named “A Kiss for Rory” in Chicago. A quick search on the internet confirms that this is actually a sequel to Batman, which may be entitled, Batman Returns: “The Dark Knight.”

Much of the local filming so far has been done by dual helicopters, chasing each other while swerving in and around buildings, and other times filming car chase scenes downtown. Above are a few pictures of the filming in action. We can only speculate what the movie will actually be like—perhaps very exciting, given the incredible stunts the camera crew in two helicopters have been shooting so far. And may be, just may be, you might see one of the Med-Line staff members (aka, our winged mascot Dr. Grey) perching in the background of a scene. Only one way to know.

Stay tuned: Same Time. Same Bat Channel.

In May 2007, our mascot, Dr. S. F. Grey, became the first parrot to take a swim in Lake Michigan. Dr. Grey was out for a walk while perching on the shoulder of a staff member on the corner of Lake Shore Drive and Balbo. Dr. Grey may have reacted to a golden opportunity for catching a fish or may have simply been startled by a jogger. He immediately took to flight and dove into the cold waters of Lake Michigan, heading nose first. While he did not catch a fish, staff members immediately went after him and retrieved him from his mis-adventure.

Dr. Grey was given a medical assessment by staff members who helped him dry off and remove any potential water from his precious lungs. Dr. Grey responded by giving a quick shake and shrug while perching himself to proceed along the walk as routine. Passerbys were struck in amazement at seeing a parrot being rescued from the waters of Lake Michigan.

Today, we are simply happy to report that Dr. Grey is doing well but perhaps in his humble way expresses that he does not want to be known forever as the first African Grey parrot to have taken a swim in one of America’s Great Lakes or (as our quiet, humble representative and by a generous caring unexpected welcome) to have attended the American Medical Association’s annual meeting of physicians in June. It’s okay Dr. Grey, we know that you are just a bird, but a beloved intelligent one at that.