Five major “epochs” of human brain development

The five major "epochs" of human brain development, identified by a recent study, are Childhood(birth to age 9), Adolescence (9 to 32), Adulthood (32 to 66), Early Aging (66 to 83), and Late Aging (after 83). These epochs are characterized by distinct patterns of neural rewiring, with major turning points occurring at ages 9, 32, 66, and 83.  The five epochs of brain developmentContinue reading "Five major “epochs” of human brain development"

Delaware Rural Health Overhaul

Governor Matt Meyer announced Delaware’s application for up to $1 billion from the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, part of a $50 billion national effort. The plan assembles 15 projects aimed at transforming healthcare delivery in Kent and Sussex counties, home to nearly 40% of Delaware’s population. Core goals: expand access, lower costs, and strengthenContinue reading "Delaware Rural Health Overhaul"

Paris Holiday Gone Sideways: Apple Watch Sends SOS

A Split Second in ParisCrossing a street near the Louvre, I had no time to react before an inebriated Parisian ran a red light and struck me in the pedestrian lane. My Apple Watch immediately detected the impact, sent an SOS message to my three children (my emergency contacts) and summoned an ambulance. I lostContinue reading "Paris Holiday Gone Sideways: Apple Watch Sends SOS"

My Brother is Gone

It is with deep sadness that I share the passing of my beloved brother Charles Varipapa, DDS, cosmetic dentist, bon vivant, Italophile, and master story teller. Charley was loved by his mother, brothers, nephews, nieces and friends. He had an outsized influence on everyone he met: brilliant, funny, exacting, and generous to a fault. CharleyContinue reading "My Brother is Gone"

Comparison of enfortumab vedotin (EV, aka Padcev) and pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in metastatic urothelial/bladder cancer

What we know of their benefits, limitations, and toxicities. Mechanisms & therapeutic role (in metastatic bladder cancer) Enfortumab vedotin (EV) EV is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting nectin-4 (a cell-surface adhesion molecule expressed in urothelial carcinoma). The antibody binds nectin-4, is internalized, and releases a cytotoxic payload (monomethyl auristatin E, MMAE) inside the cancer cell,Continue reading "Comparison of enfortumab vedotin (EV, aka Padcev) and pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in metastatic urothelial/bladder cancer"

Goliath’s Curse

Luke Kemp’s Goliath’s Curse is a brilliant, unnerving, and strangely hopeful journey through the rise and fall of civilizations. Like Sapiens meets Mad Max, it exposes a central truth: the bigger and more unequal societies become, the more fragile they are. Drawing on thousands of years of history and cutting-edge data, Kemp argues that the real cause of collapse isn’tContinue reading "Goliath’s Curse"

The US ‘Healthcare’ System is a Mess

A recent and important PBGH white paper reveals the fundamentally chaotic and arbitrary nature of U.S. commercial healthcare pricing, demonstrating that provider rates have no correlation to quality and vary dramatically without logical justification 😳 Key Findings The study analyzed data from five major employers (including Boeing, Qualcomm, and Denver's city/county government) across multiple geographicContinue reading "The US ‘Healthcare’ System is a Mess"

One Battle After Another

I’m calling it the best movie of the year (or the decade!) Can’t stop talking about ‘One Battle After Another’? Neither can we “One Battle After Another” brought in $48.5 million globally last weekend, making this wild, R-rated comedy-action-thriller…the No. 1 movie in the world…Critics have been no less effusive, calling it “an epic marvelContinue reading "One Battle After Another"

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK IN PARIS

This Paris map from Kate Donnelly has her favorite restaurants, cafés, bars, the best bakeries, quick restaurant reviews, and best places to photograph all around the major tourist attractions as well as smaller more village-y parts of Paris that you might not have been to. Here are Kate's favorite places in Paris My Favorite FrenchContinue reading "WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK IN PARIS"