Author: healthadmin

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have identified a novel, highly potent opioid that shows potential as a treatment for both pain and opioid use disorder. In a study published in natureThe research team observed the effects of the new drug in experimental animals. They demonstrated high analgesic efficacy in humans without causing respiratory depression, tolerance, or other indicators of potential addiction. Opioid painkillers are essential for medical purposes, but can lead to addiction and overdose. Developing highly effective painkillers that do not have these drawbacks would greatly benefit public health. ” Nora D. Volkow, MD,…

In South Korea, a cheerful green cartoon dinosaur named Dooley, known for the two small tufts of hair on his head, has been popular for generations. So when scientists discovered a new species of young dinosaur on the island of Afe, the name came naturally. Durisaurus. “Dooly is one of the very famous and iconic dinosaur characters in Korea. Every generation in Korea knows this character,” said Jeongyun Jeong, a visiting postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas Jackson School of Geosciences who led the study. “And because our specimen is also a juvenile, or ‘baby,’ it’s the perfect dinosaur…

Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have discovered a molecular switch in neurons that limits the regrowth of damaged axonal fibers. The survey results were published in a magazine nature (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-10295-z), show that blocking a protein called aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) may promote nerve regeneration and functional recovery after peripheral nerve or spinal cord injury. Axons are long fibers that carry signals between nerve cells or neurons in both the central and peripheral nervous systems. Axons are essential for communication in the nervous system. When fibers are severed or damaged, recovery depends on the neuron’s ability…

Practicing mindfulness meditation for a month using a mobile application will help you process visual information and initiate local eye movements faster. The benefits of visual attention apply equally to young, middle-aged, and older adults, with no clear differences across age categories. These initial findings, published in the journal eNeuro, suggest that a short daily meditation can successfully change basic cognitive functions. The human brain relies on a small region called the locus coeruleus to maintain mental focus and process incoming sensory information. This deep brain structure serves as the main source of norepinephrine. Noradrenaline acts as a chemical messenger…

For decades, multiple sclerosis research has focused on myelin, the insulation around the brain’s wiring. Scientists paid less attention to other losses occurring in parallel. Neurons in the cortex, the seat of higher-level thinking and cognition, were silently dying. A research team led by the University of California, San Francisco, the University of Cambridge, and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center has now determined that the loss is caused by destruction of neurons’ DNA when inflammation overwhelms the brain. The findings help explain why brain scans of MS patients reveal damage to not only the white matter, but also the gray matter, the…

Perinatal depression, which occurs during pregnancy or the postnatal period, is one of the most common mental health conditions experienced by women. This condition affects not only the health of the mother during pregnancy and after childbirth, but also the development of the child. Multiple factors influence maternal mental health, and recently emerging evidence suggests a link between antibiotic use and maternal mental health. The study was published in the journal Volume 26. BMC public health It was conducted on January 10, 2026 by Kenta Matsumura, a former associate professor at the University of Toyama’s Department of Public Health and…

UNIGE’s team has engineered a molecular system that identifies and neutralizes cancer cells with unprecedented precision, paving the way for autonomous and self-regulating drugs. How can we target cancer cells without damaging healthy tissue? This is one of the big challenges facing oncology today. Using synthetic DNA strands, a team at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) has developed a “smart” system that can recognize cancer cells with great precision and release powerful drugs only where they are needed. Beyond cancer treatment, this research paves the way for “smart” medicines and programmable drug delivery. The full article is available in the…

Kinesio taping, or “KT tape”, which is widely used to relieve joint and muscle pain and increase range of motion, may not be all that effective, suggests a pooled data analysis of existing evidence published in the online journal BMJ Evidence-based medicine. The cotton-based, breathable adhesive tape, commonly used on the bodies of high-profile athletes, athletes and women, may have immediate or short-term benefits, but researchers say current evidence is “highly uncertain”. The researchers concluded that the lack of strong evidence, as well as the associated potential for skin irritation, may limit its use in clinical practice. Kinesio (KT) taping…

Placing fruit and vegetable sections near supermarket entrances can increase purchases and improve the quality of women’s diets, according to new research funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NIHR). Published in a magazine PLOS medicineThe study showed that placing such produce near store entrances resulted in approximately 2,525 extra pieces of fruit and vegetables being purchased per store per week. This was in contrast to the significant decline in population-level fruit and vegetable purchases and intake during the study period, which coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic and cost of living crisis. The researchers say government regulations…

Do you drink coffee at night to keep you awake? A new study from the University of Texas at El Paso suggests the habit may have some unexpected downsides. Scientists have found that consuming caffeine at night increases impulsive behavior, making you more likely to engage in risky or uncontrollable behavior. The survey results are iscienceis from a study led by Dr. Eric Sardes, Dr. Paul Sabandal, and Dr. Kyung-An Han. Researchers used fruit flies to examine how caffeine ingested at different times of the day affects inhibition and impulsivity. The tree species used are Drosophila melanogasterwhose genetic makeup and…