A recent scientific survey conducted by DermTech, Inc. identified a number of alarming trends concerning the sun exposure habits and skin health knowledge of millennials and Gen Xers. The survey’s findings emphasize the need for increased education on skin cancer risks and the importance of preventative measures. To address the need for further education in …
Can the Bat Genome Inform Pandemic Prevention?
Research on the link between bats and human health has gained significant attention in recent years due to the outbreaks of a number of zoonotic diseases, including SARS-CoV-2, or COVID-19. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has only further highlighted the need for a better understanding of the relationship between wildlife — especially bats — and human …
Hormone Could Be Key to Accelerated Sobering and Recovery from Alcohol Poisoning
For thousands of years, people have been searching for an antidote to consuming too much alcohol — an intervention that could accelerate the sobering process. Ancient Greeks drank from amethyst chalices because they believed it would help reduce drunkenness. People continue to use modern remedies, such as coffee, cold showers, and food. Although these may …
Affordable Portable MRI Machines: Bringing Medical Imaging to Developing Countries
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a valuable medical imaging technique, yet it is often inaccessible in developing countries due to the high cost of the technology. To make this tool more widely available, researchers have been working to develop a smaller, portable alternative. One such machine is the Swoop®, a portable scanner that is much …
Can the Brain Heal the Body? Research Examines the Possibilities
Scientists have been exploring the mind-body connection for centuries. Current investigations are examining how the brain affects the body’s immune responses. Gaining a better understanding of the mechanisms at work could allow physicians to leverage the mind’s influence to improve healing. For example, this knowledge could be used to enhance the placebo effect, target cancers, …
Do Alpha Males Exist in Wild Wolf Packs?
The idea of the dominant “alpha wolf” at the top of a wolf pack’s hierarchy has long been entrenched in our understanding of the social dynamics of wolves in the wild. But the notion of alpha males in wolf packs came from observations of wolves in captivity. Observations of wolves in their natural habitat in …
Third Patient Cured of HIV After Stem Cell Transplant
A man in Germany has been cleared of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), according to researchers, after receiving a stem cell transplant from an HIV-resistant donor. The 53-year-old man, known as the “Düsseldorf patient,” received a stem cell transplant within his bone marrow in 2018, and has remained HIV-free since. Administered in conjunction with an already …
Can Species-Spanning Studies Inform Women’s Health?
Can adaptations observed in female animals be used to inspire solutions to unmet women’s health challenges? Research suggests that this approach, known as bio-inspired medicine, may hold promise. Barbara Natterson-Horowitz, cardiologist and professor of medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, specializes in bio-inspired medicine and reported in Scientific American on how the emerging …
Do Obesogens Cause Obesity?
For years, obesity and weight gain have been blamed on the “calorie concept”: the idea that obesity is caused by taking in more calories (through diet) than one burns off (through exercise). But as the obesity epidemic across the globe continues to grow — even as caloric consumption has stayed flat and, in some cases, …
Research Reveals How Epidural Electrical Stimulation Helps People Walk Again
Building on previous research that showed how epidural electrical stimulation (EES) can help restore walking ability in people with spinal cord injuries, neuroscientists have now identified the critical neurons involved and the role that neuronal remodeling plays in healing. EES uses an implanted device to deliver electrical pulses to the nerves in the lower spine. …
