Category Archives: Uncategorized

Why do we use a vaccine (BCG) to treat an unrelated malignancy (bladder cancer)? This episode was dedicated to the intersection of infectious diseases and cancer. More specifically the use of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), an attenuated form of Mycobacterium bovis, to treat a totally unrelated malignancy, bladder cancer. First, some background. M. bovis is oneContinue reading “Episode 40 – Infectious Cancer Therapy”

Why does the right side of the brain control the left side of the body (and vice versa)? In this episode, we investigated one of the great mysteries in biology: why are our brains cross-wired? Specifically, why does the right side of the brain control the left side of the body, and vice versa? It’sContinue reading “Episode 39 – Neurons, Double-Crossed”

Does tryptophan in turkey really cause a food coma? It’s time to talk turkey. Or, more specifically, the tryptophan that we’ve all heard imbues turkey with amazing sedative properties. This episode can provide fodder for Thanksgiving Day dinner table discussions. Many readers have heard of the Thanksgiving food coma and the idea that the tryptophanContinue reading “Episode 38 – Thanksgiving & The Food Coma”

Why does alcohol make one urinate so much? For this episode, we discussed one of the most commonly used diuretics: alcohol. And we started with a very basic question. Can we explain the increased urination seen with alcohol consumption by simply looking at the fluid intake? If someone goes to a bar and has aContinue reading “Episode 37 – Breaking the Seal”

Why can laxatives turn the colon black? For this episode, we investigated the phenomenon of melanosis coli, a benign finding of dark pigmentation of the mucosal lining of the colon, classically associated with long-term use of laxatives. Melanosis coli first appeared in the medical literature in 1830, at which time the French anatomist Jean CruveilhierContinue reading “Episode 36 – The Mystery of Melanosis Coli”