going strong

Jun 15, 2005 10:14

Well, being a persistent work rat has paid off. 90% of my stuff is unpacked, and I've got the necessary furnishings ( Read more... )

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doc_paul June 15 2005, 16:04:35 UTC
Hi! Just wanted to say Thanks for the Stereophonics recommendation, they've been on heavy rotation in my office all day. Made the day a lot more bearable.

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msteele_md June 15 2005, 16:13:07 UTC
good... glad i could help. how're those plants looking, doc paul?

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doc_paul June 15 2005, 16:23:00 UTC
Pretty good actually. We had new lamps installed and everyone's green, growing and happy. Flor de manita is about to bloom.

How's Neurology these days?

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msteele_md June 15 2005, 16:40:03 UTC
Decent! We have some interesting cases, and yet there is still time for me to work on my research project. It's happy.

You'll have to explain the Flor de Manita to me sometime; I'm not much of a green thumb ;)

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doc_paul June 15 2005, 16:43:17 UTC
Sounds like you brain guys are doing great. What's your project about?

Difficult to explain, I'll just bring you one.

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msteele_md June 15 2005, 16:54:00 UTC
is it one of those human-eating plants? Just kidding. Although that could be handy.

I'm working on a theory regarding physical differences in the male and female brains and the relationship thereof to depression. It seems more psychology based, but it's a lot of physical stuff. I still work with my research team at Hopkins, and we're in the middle of a very intriguing study.

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doc_paul June 15 2005, 17:04:48 UTC
Heh. No, just pretty red blossoms, without any man eating tendencies.

That sounds intruiging. Though I have to admit that my knowledge of brain areas that relate to behavior is awfully small. All I remember is area 10 or something like that. Are you usuing case studies or test persons?

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msteele_md June 15 2005, 17:07:12 UTC
we've got a test group together. Case studies were not useful, because we've got to run real-time PET and CT scans and MRIs.

Pretty red blossoms sounds good. My desk could use some color.

Man I am getting hungry. It might be time to hit the cafeteria.

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doc_paul June 15 2005, 17:12:00 UTC
How do you use the real-time scans in your test? Are you asking test questions or checking general activity?

If you don't mind I'd join you for lunch, I hate eating alone.

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msteele_md June 15 2005, 17:22:58 UTC
The PET Scans are taken while showing the patient images, playing a disturbing sound, or asking uncomfortable questions. The PET scan estimates the blood flow through the amygdala at the time of discomfort, and compares that to a baseline that was taken when they were not under duress. There was some genotyping involved to check the serotonin levels in each patient, and then compared to their pet scan. Serotonin has been linked to the excitement of the Amygdala. So the difference comes into play when asking men and women to recall the experiences. The amygdala responds differently in men and women when recalling the experience of the uncomfortable situation/duress.

I'm down for lunch. Do you want to hit that sub shop down the street? I'm afraid I can't eat another hospital-made tuna sandwich.

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doc_paul June 15 2005, 17:27:16 UTC
I'm pretty sure that theoretically I should be able to make sense of what you just said, but... you might have to explain it to me again.

You had the cafeteria tuna? You're a brave soul. Sub sounds great. Meet you in the lobby?

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msteele_md June 15 2005, 17:28:57 UTC
excellent. see you in fifteen.

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