‘Study drugs’ set the stage for other drug use and mental health decline
Taking “study drugs” like Adderall without a diagnosis is not only dangerous in itself, but can lead to other drug use and a decline in mental health, according to new research from Binghamton University, State University of New York. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) medications are frequently used illicitly by college students as a study […]
Problems with ‘pruning’ brain connections linked to adolescent mental health disorders
Problems with the brain’s ability to ‘prune’ itself of unnecessary connections may underlie a wide range of mental health disorders that begin during adolescence, according to research published today. The findings, from an international collaboration, led by researchers in the UK, China and Germany, may help explain why people are often affected by more than […]
Opinion | Will Obesity Drugs Change the Bariatric Surgery Landscape?
Mark Twain once said, “History never repeats itself, but it does often rhyme.” As a weight-loss surgeon for over 20 years, I have witnessed the new obesity medications with both anticipation and nostalgia. Just like bariatric surgery experienced a generation ago, we are now hearing the same refrains for obesity medications move from excitement to […]
Can Oncologists Reduce the Suicide Risk in Their Prostate Cancer Patients?
SAN DIEGO — Whether it’s due to the side effects of local and systemic therapies, or the diagnosis itself, men with prostate cancer are at increased risk of mental distress and suicide. The mental health burden associated with a diagnosis and treatment is substantial, pointed out Zachary Klaassen, MD, of the Georgia Cancer Center at […]
Opinion | We’re Reacting to Medical Errors the Wrong Way
Medical mistakes are as old as the practice of medicine itself, but it wasn’t until 1999 that the United States started paying more attention to them. Over 20 years later, we may be reducing medical errors — a recent study published in JAMA found significant decreases in mistakes in cases of pneumonia, acute myocardial infarction, […]
What Causes Stress? Stress Management, Signs, and Types
What is stress? Excess stress can manifest itself in a variety of emotional, behavioral, and even physical symptoms, and the symptoms of stress vary enormously among different individuals. Stress is a normal part of life that can either help us learn and grow or can cause us significant problems. Stress releases powerful neurochemicals and hormones […]
Artificial hail for more accurate weather forecasts
When the low-pressure system dubbed Bernd decided to park itself over part of Central Europe in the summer of 2021, the hazards associated with excessive rainfall events were made dramatically apparent in the form of the resultant catastrophic flooding. Weather records show that extreme natural occurrences such as drought, but also heavy rainfall and hail […]
Is Cervical Lymphadenopathy Serious? Symptoms, Treatment, Causes
Cervical lymphadenopathy is not considered a serious condition in itself; however, it may point to certain infections and some types of cancer. Cervical lymphadenopathy refers to the condition in which swelling occurs in the lymph nodes present in the neck. It is not considered a serious condition in itself, but in a few cases, it […]
Haunted-house experience scares up interesting insights on the body’s reaction to threats
The so-called fight-or-flight response is evolution’s way of preparing the body to defend itself or flee from a real or perceived threat, like a lion in the tall grass or — in modern times — an overdue performance review. Scientists have struggled to study the effects of genuine threats on people’s mental and physical state […]
Microbes can provide sustainable hydrocarbons for the petrochemical industry: Engineered bacteria produce medium-chain olefins that could replace oil and gas in syntheses
If the petrochemical industry is ever to wean itself off oil and gas, it has to find sustainably-sourced chemicals that slip effortlessly into existing processes for making products such as fuels, lubricants and plastics. Making those chemicals biologically is the obvious option, but microbial products are different from fossil fuel hydrocarbons in two key ways: […]