Harvard in News on 12/2/2024

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[Editorials] Faculty Governance Must Not Die in Committee

Harvard President Alan Garber announced the creation of a faculty council to enhance faculty input in governance, addressing calls for a faculty senate. While the council marks progress, concerns remain about its representativeness and independence, given its small size and dean-selected members. Critics argue it resembles task forces that lack meaningful influence. Advocates support a formal faculty senate, which would provide a broader, elected faculty voice on key issues. The council’s two-year trial period offers an opportunity to evaluate its impact, but it shouldn't replace broader efforts for stronger faculty representation.

Flyby: The "I'm Not Tired" Challenge (Impossible)

The article humorously explores coping mechanisms for college students facing exhaustion from academic pressures and the seasonal shift to earlier darkness. It suggests practical tips like using a REM cycle alarm to improve restfulness, curating upbeat playlists to energize mornings, and relying on Vitamin C for a quick boost. Acknowledging the struggles of maintaining routines, it encourages catching breakfast or indulging in sweet treats for nourishment. For extreme cases, it even proposes an all-nighter to reset sleep schedules, all while commiserating with readers over collective fatigue and the approaching holiday reprieve.

Lipedema's invisible toll - Occurring almost entirely in women, this surprisingly common condition is often misunderstood and misdiagnosed.

Lipedema, a misunderstood and underdiagnosed condition affecting up to 12% of women, is characterized by abnormal fat accumulation in the lower body, often resistant to diet and exercise. Hormonal changes and family history are linked to its onset, with symptoms including pain, mobility issues, and easy bruising. Frequently mistaken for obesity or cellulite, lipedema also has significant emotional impacts, with patients facing stigma and self-esteem challenges. While there's no cure, treatments such as compression therapy, lymphatic massage, liposuction, and exercise can alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life. Education and support are key to overcoming societal and medical misunderstandings.

Inflammatory bowel disease's gender bias - IBD poses distinctive challenges for women.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), affecting about 1 in 100 American adults, imposes unique challenges on women despite its equal prevalence in both sexes. Women with IBD report greater psychological distress and lower quality of life, with symptoms often worsening during menstruation and complications like painful intercourse, fertility issues, and pregnancy risks. They also face increased risks of cervical cancer, anemia, and osteoporosis. Open communication with healthcare providers and seeking specialized IBD programs can help address these gender-specific concerns and improve management of the condition.

The latest thinking on inherited high cholesterol - Familial hypercholesterolemia — a common cause of early heart attacks — can cause very high LDL cholesterol levels.

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic condition causing extremely high LDL cholesterol levels, significantly raising heart disease risk. Affecting about 1 in 250 adults, FH results from mutations in genes that help clear LDL from the bloodstream. Heterozygous FH, inherited from one parent, can elevate LDL levels up to 350 mg/dL, while the rare homozygous FH, from both parents, can push levels to 1,000 mg/dL. FH accounts for a subset of individuals with LDL over 190 mg/dL, whose heart disease risk is five times higher than those with optimal levels.

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