Author: healthadmin

A new study suggests hospitals may need more than just oversight, showing that comprehensive physician reviews can defuse public backlash when AI-assisted diagnosis causes harm. Paper: Public reaction to hospitals after adverse events related to AI. Image credit: Antonio Marca / Shutterstock In the medical field, artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used for tasks such as diagnosis, treatment planning, patient communication, and clinical operations. However, according to a recent study published in the same journal, experimental results suggest that public reaction may be negative when errors in diagnosis or adverse events that harm patients are involved. npj digital public…

Microplastics (tiny plastic pieces broken down from larger plastic waste) are a growing concern for human health, especially the liver. A University of Oklahoma study was published today. scientific progressa common type of microplastic has been shown to be particularly harmful to the liver under high-fat dietary conditions. The study, conducted in mice, found that blood markers of liver damage were more than twice as high in animals exposed to microplastics while consuming a high-fat diet compared to animals exposed to the same particles while consuming a standard diet. The study focused on the most common type of plastic, polyethylene,…

Whales and dolphins inhabit some of the largest and seemingly most pristine environments on Earth, from tropical coastlines to Antarctic waters. But even they can’t escape PFAS, persistent “forever chemicals” that leak into the ocean from homes, factories, and waterways. Forever chemicals are the secret ingredient in nonstick pans, waterproof jackets, and stain-proof carpets. These chemicals belong to a group of more than 1,400 compounds known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). They enter the environment through manufacturing waste, industrial effluents, wastewater treatment facilities, and firefighting foam. But once these chemicals leak out of our homes or factories, they are…

Children growing up in active conflict zones experience sustained stress that alters their biology, resulting in visible differences in their morning hormone levels. A study of Palestinian boys found that they are exposed to significant trauma in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and that there are regional patterns in how their bodies produce stress hormones. The study was published in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology. Millions of children currently live in areas affected by armed conflict and political violence. Prolonged exposure to such environments creates a lasting psychological burden. This sustained pressure affects physical as well as mental development.…

The Trump administration on Wednesday announced $700 million in “new funding” for mental health and addiction programs, with a focus on combating homelessness caused by severe, untreated mental illness. But behavioral health experts quickly cast doubt on that claim, identifying the $700 million as not new money but a long-awaited release of existing grants that Congress had previously approved and that the federal government already planned to spend. Many of the funding notices posted this week by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration were actually months late, worrying state behavioral health officials and local addiction treatment and mental…

More than three-quarters of psychologists report that their patients rely on artificial intelligence for mental health support, from self-diagnosis to finding companionship. This trend shows that people are increasingly looking beyond traditional psychotherapy to manage their psychological health. These findings were published in a recent research report by the American Psychological Association. Generative artificial intelligence involves computer systems that can create text, images, or other media in response to human prompts. As these digital tools become widely available, millions of people are using them for work, personal tasks, and to answer everyday questions. Medical professionals are seeing this widespread adoption…

The Federal Trade Commission and four state attorneys general have sued a leading professional organization of gender-affirming care clinicians for making false claims about selling medical services to children. The lawsuit against the World Association of Transgender Health Professionals, filed Wednesday in federal court in Texas, is part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to end gender-affirming care for minors. The FTC and the attorneys general of Alaska, Iowa, Nebraska, and Texas allege in the lawsuit that WPATH misled children and parents about the benefits and risks of surgeries and drugs and “led many consumers to believe that its treatment…

Increased levels of highly abundant chemical messengers in the brain are associated with increased sensitivity to mistakes. This exaggerated response to mistakes helps explain why some people are more likely to experience overlapping symptoms of anxiety and depression. The study was published in the journal Frontiers of neuroscience. The anterior insular cortex is a structure located deep in the brain. Gather information about physical sensations, emotional states, and unexpected consequences. People dealing with anxiety often show abnormally high activity in this area when monitoring themselves for mistakes or recognizing potential threats. Glutamate is the main excitatory chemical in the human…

Vorpoise (Fokoena Bay) is a small porpoise found only in the shallow waters of the northern Gulf of California, Mexico, and is one of the most endangered marine mammals on Earth. At about 5 feet long, it is the smallest member of the cetacean group, which includes whales, dolphins, and porpoises. The vaquita, identified by the black spots around its eyes and mouth, was unknown to science until the late 20th century. Today, it has become a powerful symbol of the biodiversity crisis affecting oceans around the world. There are only an estimated small number of vaquita porpoises left in…

Bacteria that produce intestinal toxins Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus ruber Together, they cause hundreds of millions of infections each year and are one of the leading causes of diarrheal deaths, especially in children. Decades of vaccine development efforts have been inadequate, in part because the targets of conventional vaccines vary widely from strain to strain. A new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis points out that these enteric pathogens have common biological characteristics that could lead to a vaccine that protects against both. Researchers at WashU Medicine, along with collaborators at the University of Missouri and…