COVID-19 Update: When is a vaccine coming?  How effective will it be?

Two comprehensive review papers in this week’s issue of NATURE magazine have encouraging news for us.[1],[2]  One summarized the extent of this pandemic: 30 million people in 215 countries are affected, with a death rate of almost a million as of September of this year. Experts pointed to several animal models available for testing vaccines
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Varicose Veins

I hate wearing shorts in the summer because I have varicose veins. They also hurt! What’s the best way to get rid of them? Varicose veins are not only unsightly and in some cases painful, but they can also be dangerous. Varicosities come from a weakness in the wall of the vein, or in the
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Split Ends

Split Ends
My hair is full of split ends. Are there any shampoos that can help damaged hair? What about vitamin treatments? Can anything help my hair grow faster? A. A split end is a sign that the hair cuticle – the outer layer of the hair shaft – is damaged and it is one of the
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Are Hair Dyes Safe?

Q. Are hair dyes safe? Can they cause cancer? A. About one-third of all American women use permanent hair dyes, and through the years, there has been debate over whether the chemicals used in hair dye are carcinogenic. In particular, two compounds formerly used in dark hair dyes – 4 MMPD or 4 MMPD sulfate
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Fainting

Q. Sometimes I faint after eating a very big meal. Why does this happen? Why do some people faint after hearing bad news? A. Fainting is the loss of consciousness, or the complete unawareness of the surrounding world and a lack of any response to stimuli. Fainting is caused by an inadequate blood supply to
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I wear an underwire bra, am I increasing my risk of cancer?

breast pimple illustration
While browsing through a bookstore, I came across a book that claimed that underwire bras can cause breast cancer. I wear an underwire bra, am I increasing my risk of cancer? I searched the medical literature for studies on underwire bras and a possible link to cancer, and I did not find any. I also
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When Your Plastic Heart Changes It’s Structure and Function to Produce What You Need

Doctors stethoscope
A recent report from the National Academy of Science documents (not for the first time!) that we humans have a unique ability to develop our heart’s capacity for stress. The investigators compare us with our relatives, the apes and chimpanzees, and say that these animals, unlike us, don’t have this resource: they are only equipped
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Does Drinking Wine Prevent Heart Attacks?

People hands with wine glasses
Q. I have read that drinking a glass or two of wine a day can help prevent heart attacks. Is this true for women? I don’t drink that much, should I start? A.You are referring to the studies that have shown that women who drink one or two glasses of wine – or any kind
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Ravages Of The Covid Pandemic

The ravages of the covid pandemic caused the closing of New York City businesses in mid March. That decision saved countless lives, but  impacted the funding of our Foundation along with all the other non profit institutions in the city. The response of our major supporters to the announcement that our annual gala, originally scheduled for
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​Memorial For Harold Burson With Great Sadness

​Memorial for Harold Burson With great sadness, we report the death of one of the  most generous supporters of the Foundation, Harold Burson. He helped shape the first days of our work in gender-specific medicine, and continued to guide us through the following three decades as our program solidified and gained international recognition.  He came
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