Author: healthadmin

People who regularly use psychedelic drugs outside of a clinical setting appear to process emotional information differently than non-users. A recent brain imaging study found that experienced psychedelic consumers process threatening facial expressions more efficiently and show altered neural responses to different emotions. The study was published in the journal Human Brain Mapping. Classic psychedelics such as psilocybin mushrooms and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) profoundly alter sensory perception, mood, and self-awareness. Recent medical trials have shown that these substances may have long-term psychological effects. Patients who participate in these clinical trials often experience reduced symptoms of depression, less anxiety about…

Unlike tobacco and alcohol, cannabis products are often packaged as colorful gummies, chocolates, candies, and snacks that look very similar to products found in grocery store aisles. A new study from Washington State University suggests that some of these products may attract the attention of underage consumers. More than 80% of the 454 teens and young adults surveyed said that some cannabis gummy and candy products appeal to people under the age of 21, even if they comply with Washington state cannabis packaging regulations. Although cannabis products are sold only in licensed stores that minors cannot legally enter, young people…

NEW YORK — The U.S. infant mortality rate will hit a record low in 2025, according to preliminary government data. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were fewer than 5.4 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2025. Although this number appears to be a slight decrease from about 5.5 deaths in 2024 and 5.6 deaths in the two years before that, researchers say it is statistically significant and would translate into hundreds of fewer infant deaths per year. While it’s difficult to pinpoint the cause of recent developments, “this is an encouraging data point and…

It’s a mystery. An eye disease known as retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) can lead to permanent blindness if untreated. However, there are significant differences in how often Norwegian hospitals actually provide this treatment. “These differences between hospitals are inexplicable,” says Dordi Oosteng. Osteng is a professor in the Department of Neurology and Exercise Sciences at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). In fact, the proportion of newborns who develop this condition should be the same across the country. There should be no difference between hospitals in the proportion of premature infants who develop the disease and therefore require…

Birds can see much of the world around them, but when flying in flocks they only pay attention to the birds next to them or in front of them. They do not coordinate their movements with the birds behind them. This behavior appears to contradict Newton’s third law. This is the famous principle of action and reaction, often summarized as, “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” This principle is easy to see in everyday life. When we run, our feet push against the ground and the ground pushes back with the same force. The same idea…

A study conducted at the University of Jyväskylä in Finland is the first to investigate the effects of the prebiotic xylooligosaccharide (XOS) on fatty liver in humans. The findings of this study suggest that fiber supplements may reduce harmful metabolic byproducts in the gut, thereby improving liver health. Importantly, the composition of the gut microbiota before taking the supplement influences the observed effects. Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MASLD) is a common comorbidity of overweight and obesity, affecting approximately 75% of overweight individuals. If left untreated, it can progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Although lifestyle changes remain the main…

Surgical artificial intelligence company Uncovr has secured $7 million in seed funding for a platform that analyzes surgical videos and automatically generates procedural coding and clinical documentation. Index Ventures led the startup’s seed round, with Seedcamp, Frst, No Labels Ventures, and Entrepreneurs First also supporting the round. Digital Surgery founder Jean Nehme, Color Health CEO Othman Laraki, Meta board member Charlie Songhurst, and a group of surgeons and operators also contributed to the round. Launched in 2025 by Ines Iraki, Johann Diep, and Eric Vibert, MD, Uncovr automatically generates procedural coding and surgical reports directly from surgical video and intraoperative…

New research published in engineering combined machine learning (ML) and experimental validation to identify the natural flavonoid dihydromyricetin (DHM) as a potent inhibitor of the TGF-β/ALK5 signaling cascade with therapeutic potential in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). IPF is a chronic, progressive, life-threatening lung disease characterized by diffuse alveolitis, structural destruction, and excessive extracellular matrix deposition, with a median survival of only 3 to 5 years. Current drug treatments, including pirfenidone and nintedanib, only slightly slow disease progression and cannot halt or reverse fibrosis, creating an urgent need for new therapeutic approaches. In this study, researchers built a fine-tuned ML classification…

Recent research published in natural medicine Evidence shows that special brain implants can enable people with severe paralysis to communicate and operate computers independently at home. The system translated brain signals into text and computer cursor movements, allowing participants to talk and work without the need for daily supervision from scientists. These discoveries represent an important step toward developing practical assistive devices for people who have lost the ability to speak or move. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive neurological disease that gradually impairs a person’s ability to control their muscles. This condition often results in complete loss of speech…

Widely known as the “forever chemicals,” PFAS are among the most stubborn contaminants facing scientists today. These compounds are so stable that they can persist in water supplies, ecosystems, and even the human body for decades. Because of their persistent actions, PFAS contamination is a growing environmental and public health concern around the world. Now, researchers have discovered important clues that could help improve efforts to eliminate these chemicals. New clues in the fight against PFAS contamination New research shows that PFAS can be broken down using intense light without adding chemicals. More importantly, the researchers identified the key process…