Read article – This feature story in April issue of Nature looks at the use of smartphone apps to diagnose and treat a variety of mental health issues. The story features apps created by Dror Ben-Zeev, asst. professor of Psychiatry at Geisel, and the Psychiatric Research Center at Dartmouth. “We can now reach people that up until recently were completely unreachable to us,” says Dror Ben-Zeev.

Read article – In this commentary, Kendall Hoyt, asst. professor of medicine at Geisel, and Richard Hatchett, acting director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority in Washington, DC, suggest lessons from the U.S. biodefense program should inform international efforts to build a medical countermeasure enterprise for emerging infectious diseases.

Read article – Diane Gilbert-Diamond, assistant professor of epidemiology and community and family medicine, is quoted about the Food and Drug Administration’s recent proposed limit on the amount of arsenic in infant rice cereal. “I think that the FDA’s proposal to limit arsenic in infant rice cereal is an important step to reducing arsenic exposure in infancy,” says Gilbert-Diamond.

Read article – Alan Budney, professor of psychiatry, is quoted about a new study found that long term marijuana use can have significant impacts on financial standing. “Most people who have used or are currently using marijuana do not experience financial troubles. A subset of those who use do develop problems, just as with any substance that is misused or overused to the point of creating problems,” says Budney.

Read article – Quotes Philip Goodney, associate professor of surgery and of the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, who recently conducted a pilot study of vascular surgery patients and found that patients facing surgery were more likely to quit smoking when their physician offered the right kind of assistance.

Read article – Highlights research conducted by Lisa Schwartz and Steven Woloshin, both professors of medicine, community and family medicine, and of the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, which indicated that while the sleeping drug Belsomra purports to extend your snooze time, it just barely delivers. Individuals who were given a 15-milligram or 20-milligram dose of the drug nightly for three months fell asleep only six minutes quicker than those taking a placebo pill, and stayed asleep just 16 minutes longer.

Read article – References the Informulary created by professors at Dartmouth (Lisa Schwartz and Steven Woloshin, both professors of medicine, community and family medicine, and of The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice) to find independent information about drugs.

Read article – Judy Stern, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology and pathology, is quoted about a recent study that suggests women who use in vitro fertilization and other reproductive technologies may be more likely to have children with certain birth defects than their peers who conceive the old-fashioned way. “Even though the study found differences in risk of birth defects, it should be remembered that overall prevalence of these defects is low,” says Stern, who was not involved in the study.

Read article – Margaret Karagas, chair and professor of epidemiology and professor of community and family medicine, is quoted about the Food and Drug Administration’s recent proposed limit of 100 parts per billion for inorganic arsenic in infant rice cereal, saying that this common starter food is a leading source of exposure to the toxin. “Data are still emerging on whether this level is sufficient, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction,” says Karagas.