Author: healthadmin

When ecologist Patrick Sullivan flew to Alaska’s Salmon River to conduct a vegetation survey in the summer of 2019, he was excited to paddle a pristine arctic river. But before he and his colleagues got there, the pilot warned them that they might not see what John McPhee described in his best-selling book, Coming Into the Country, as “the purest water I’ve ever seen.”Even then, Sullivan was unprepared for the river that would eventually come into view. As far as the eye could see, the water was a bright orange color. Later research revealed that it was too toxic for…

The Montreal Protocol of 1987 is often cited as the most successful environmental treaty ever created. This is steadily phasing out chemicals worldwide that once damaged the ozone layer and increased the risk of diseases such as skin cancer. An MIT-led study showed that by cutting out these ozone-depleting substances, the ozone layer slowly recovers. (Some estimates suggest a return to 1980 levels as early as 2040.) But the agreement included exceptions. Certain ozone-depleting chemicals are still used as raw materials to make other materials, with the idea that only a small portion, about 0.5 percent, escapes into the atmosphere.…

Researchers examining the intimate lives of trauma survivors found that psychedelics have different effects on communication and emotional connection during sexual encounters. A recent global analysis showed that women who associated psychedelics with healing sexual trauma reported better intimate communication than men with similar trauma histories. The findings were published in the Journal of Sex Research. Scientists are increasingly investigating substances such as psilocybin, ayahuasca, and lysergic acid diethylamide to treat mental health conditions. These specific drugs interact with the serotonin system in the brain, altering perception and emotional regulation. By disrupting rigid thought patterns, these substances can theoretically increase…

Leading pharmaceutical companies have spent more than a decade researching and advancing clinical studies of anti-amyloid Alzheimer’s drugs, and have so far generated sufficient evidence to support FDA approval of three of the drugs. But after years of questions and some successes, the new analysis throws even more cold water on the treatment. Drugs in a class of drugs such as Biogen and Eisai’s Requemby and Eli Lilly’s Kisunra are “likely to have no clinically meaningful positive effects,” according to a press release from the nonprofit health research organization Cochrane. Additionally, the research group found that the drug likely increases…

Scientists at UCLA have discovered a group of harmful immune cells that silently accumulate in aging tissues and in the livers of people with fatty liver disease. Removing these cells from the mice sharply reduced inflammation and reversed liver damage, despite continuing an unhealthy diet. This research natural agingfocuses on cellular senescence, a stress-induced process in which cells stop dividing but do not die. These residual cells, often referred to as “zombie cells,” remain active within the tissue and emit a steady stream of inflammatory signals that can damage surrounding cells. “Senescent cells are pretty rare, but think of them…

Although most oncologists say they would prescribe hormone therapy to cervical cancer patients who experience early menopause due to radiation therapy, barriers actually prevent many patients from doing so, according to a new study from the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center published in JAMA Network Open. Premenopausal patients treated for cervical cancer with chemoradiotherapy, which combines chemotherapy and radiation, often experience menopause as a side effect of radiation to the ovaries, with symptoms such as hot flashes, trouble sleeping, and vaginal dryness. Although clinical guidelines support the use of hormonal therapy to manage menopausal symptoms in this group, research…

Researchers from the University of Bonn and Bonn University Hospital elucidate the mechanisms essential for survival When humans or animals eat something that makes them feel sick, they then avoid that food source. Until now, it was unclear exactly how this avoidance learning occurs. New research shows that communication between brain cells and fat cells may play an important role here. Participants from the University of Bonn, Tohoku University (Japan), and University Hospital Bonn uncovered a previously unknown mechanism in fruit flies. Similar forms may exist in mammals and humans. The results have now been published in the journal Neuron.If…

You’re reading the web version of DC Diagnosis, STAT’s twice-weekly newsletter about health and medical politics and policy. Sign up here to get it in your inbox on Tuesdays and Thursdays. By the time this newsletter hits your inbox, I’ll be in New Orleans for the French Quarter Festival. I’ll be back on Monday. In the meantime, stay tuned for news tips and favorite sounds and flavors from the birthplace of jazz and Louisiana Creole cuisine. (email protected) Or Signal’s John_Wilkerson.07. Can Kennedy continue his message? When Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. heads to Capitol Hill this week…

Roche will begin a new international Phase 3 trial for its controversial Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene therapy drug Erebidis in a new push for approval in Europe. Rather than relying on patient groups to make a passionate case, the company aims to dispel doubts through the rigor of its clinical studies. The Swiss drugmaker will begin a new phase 3 trial after the European Medicines Agency’s medicines examiner last year did not support approval of Erevidis for ambulatory Duchenne patients. Following feedback from the EMA and the Duchenne community, Roche plans to generate additional placebo-controlled data necessary for resubmission to…

Babies who are exclusively breastfed for at least three months have different markers in their blood than babies who were not breastfed. The findings come from the largest study of its kind conducted across an international consortium. The researchers examined the children’s blood sample data and looked for epigenetic marks across the genome. Epigenetics refers to chemical changes to DNA that affect which genes are active and how they function. Specifically, the research team looked at the epigenetic process of DNA methylation, a chemical process that can be detected in blood samples. The research was led by the Barcelona Institute…