September

It’s interesting to me to think about the patients who have left an imprint on my life. What did they have in common that causes me to remember them? What part of our relationship is so memorable for me, and why?

“Doc, we’ve been through thick and thin together, and I need you to come through this one last time.”

A study by Arthritis Research Canada has found that almost 30% of pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus discontinue their antimalarials (especially in the first trimester) despite these medications being safe and recommended during pregnancy. 

UBC scientists have demonstrated a causal link between high insulin levels and pancreatic cancer. In a study published in Cell Metabolism (“Endogenous Hyperinsulinemia Contributes to Pancreatic Cancer Development”), researchers lowered insulin levels in mice predisposed to developing pancreatic cancer and found that the lower levels protected the mice against developing the disease. The findings hold promise for early detection and prevention of pancreatic cancer in humans.

A British Columbian neuroscience charity is delivering neurosurgical support in the most ill-equipped corners of West Africa. Korle-Bu Neuroscience Foundation (KBNF) was founded in 2002 by Vancouver General Hospital neuroscience nurse Marj Ratel. The organization has since developed an extensive international network of neurosurgical supports that recently saved the life of an 8-year-old Liberian patient named Samuel, who was born with nasal encephalocele.