Daily Chiaroscuro

The chiaroscuro stem cell: a unified stem cell theory.

Hematopoiesis has been considered hierarchical in nature, but recent data suggest that the system is not hierarchical and is, in fact, quite functionally plastic. Existing data indicate that engraftment and progenitor phenotypes vary inversely with cell cycle transit and that gene expression also varies widely. These observations suggest that there is no progenitor/stem cell hierarchy, but rath...

Lives in a chiaroscuro. Should we suspend the puberty of children with gender identity disorder?

Transgender children who are not treated for their condition are at high risk of violence and suicide. As a matter of survival, many are willing to take whatever help is available, even if this is offered by illegal sources, and this often traps them into the juvenile criminal system and exposes them to various threats. Endocrinology offers a revolutionary instrument to help children/adolescent...

Mohandes al-Mamalek Ghafari's Daily Notes

Having studied mathematics and mining engineering abroad, Mirza Nazem was one of the first Iranian scholars in Europe and a very successful technocrat of Qajar era. He was a man of discipline and sheer will who was very professional in his field of action and enjoyed writing. He was also trusted by both Naser al-Din Shah and Mozaffar al-Din Shah, which allowed him to gain numerous administrativ...

Alternative Daily

Conversion from daily to alternate daily corticosteroids in rheumatoid arthritis.

An attempt was made to convert 24 patients on corticosteroid treatment from a daily to an alternate daily regimen. Ten patients were successfully converted, 11 failed to convert, and 3 had to be withdrawn for irrelevant reasons. A simple tetracosactrin stimulation test gave some indication of which patients were more likely to convert successfully. Success was not influenced by severity or dura...