Bad cholesterol breaking really bad

In Epilepsy, BAD Is Not Really Bad

In this issue of Neuron, Giménez-Cassina et al. (2012) show that fuel utilization by neuronal mitochondria, controlled by the Bcl-2 family member BAD, defines response to seizures. Control of K(ATP) channels by mitochondrial metabolism might be a target for antiepileptic therapies.

A really bad locum.

Dr. Smith is getting close to retirement. I can tell this without ever having met him. I don’t remember seeing him when I worked in this clinic before; maybe he was away then, too, and had some other locum filling in. One of the patients mentions that Dr. Smith will be retiring soon, but I would have guessed it from the fact that so many of his patients are old. All of those in hospital are ove...

Breaking bad news.

Breaking Bad News

Even the most skilled physician knows that conveying bad news to a patient or family can be one of the most arduous aspects of health care. Historically, breaking bad news is a skill that has generally been under-emphasized in training programmes. Critical care physicians are commonly faced with the difficult task of breaking bad news, often in dramatic, emotional and unexpected situations. Bre...

Breaking bad news concerning fertility.

Introduction The subject for this opinion paper is breaking bad news, a complex and integral part in the area of infertility. From the couple’s point of view, involuntary childlessness is not a question of once receiving bad news but repeatedly receiving bad news during the infertility investigation and treatment. Already before seeking medical attention, the couple will have had monthly bad ne...