science-and-medicine12.78 min read
California braces for a summer COVID surge as vaccines adapt
11 days ago•Source: Los Angeles Times
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7.085 min•2 months ago
LA County’s Third Consecutive Dip in Overdoses Highlights Prevention Push
Los Angeles County recorded 2,298 accidental overdose and poisoning deaths in 2025, a 6% drop from 2024 and the third straight year of decline, driven by sustained prevention, treatment, and harm-reduction efforts (including naloxone distribution and fentanyl-focused campaigns). While deaths fell across most age groups, older adults rose and disparities persist for Black residents and men, with the 40–64 age group remaining the most affected.
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Abdominal muscle contractions may drive brain movement to flush waste, new study says
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Hantavirus mystery hits luxury Antarctica cruise, three dead
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NEJM Launches MMWR Rival Amidst Scientific and Ethical Concerns
The article summarizes recent developments in scientific publishing, including NEJM launching a new public health report rival, a former NIH official's paper receiving an expression of concern, and a study revealing that 1 in 5 chemists have intentionally added errors during peer review, highlighting ongoing issues of misconduct and integrity in research.
Highlights from the Wellcome Photography Prize 2025 and Top Scientific Experiments
The article highlights the 2025 Wellcome Photography Prize, showcasing stunning images that explore health, science, and medicine, including microplastics beneath skin, brain neurogenesis, pollution, and innovative research like underwater greenhouses and climate change impacts, with winners announced in July 2025.
"KNT-127: A Novel Delta Opioid Receptor Agonist for Anxiety Modulation"
A study published in Neuropsychopharmacology Reports reveals the potential of delta opioid receptors to alleviate anxiety through the activation of a specific brain pathway. The selective DOP agonist, KNT-127, was found to reduce anxiety-like behavior in mice, offering promise for developing new treatments for anxiety-related disorders. The study's methodology, anchored in optogenetics, targeted a neural pathway from the prelimbic cortex to the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala, critical areas associated with emotion regulation and anxiety development. The findings underscore the pivotal role of this brain circuit in regulating innate anxiety and demonstrate the potential of DOP agonists, like KNT-127, in alleviating anxiety.
"Reconsidering the Function of the Ovary Appendage: A Potential 'Tongue' of the Organ"
The rete ovarii, a structure long dismissed as functionless, may actually play a crucial role in regulating ovulation and potentially extending the female reproductive lifespan. Duke University researchers have found that this tiny ovarian appendage, present in various mammal species, contains proteins and anatomical features suggesting it contributes to hormone signaling and may act as a sensory appendage, akin to the ovary's 'tongue'. The researchers suspect it may sense changes in the ovary's environment and send signals for reproductive organs to respond accordingly, and they plan to further investigate its response to physiological signals.
"MDMA's Impact on Positive Social Feedback Uncovered in New Study"
A new study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology suggests that MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, may uniquely enhance positive emotional responses to social interactions, shedding light on its potential to influence social perception and treat conditions characterized by impaired social processing. The research, led by Anya Bershad and her colleagues at UCLA, found that MDMA increased feelings of happiness and acceptance in response to positive social feedback, aligning with its empathogenic properties. The study's findings highlight the need for further research into MDMA's prosocial effects and its potential integration into psychotherapeutic settings to improve social connectivity and emotional well-being.
"Teenage Emotional Cue Processing Recalibrated by Testosterone"
A recent study explores how testosterone, particularly in transgender boys undergoing hormone therapy, influences the processing of emotional cues from caregivers and peers during adolescence. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), researchers found that testosterone therapy appears to recalibrate the neural response to emotional cues, reducing the impact of negative familial cues while heightening sensitivity to peer emotions. These findings shed light on the differential impact of testosterone on the brain's processing of emotional cues and its role in the social reorientation process during adolescence.
Ancient Viral DNA's Crucial Role in Embryo Development
Researchers have discovered a link between a 500-million-year-old viral infection and the early stages of embryo development, shedding new light on the role of endogenous retroviruses in regulating pluripotency factors. The study, conducted on mouse embryos, identified a retroviral protein called MERVL-gag that influences the transition from totipotent to pluripotent cells, a crucial step in embryo specialization. This finding has implications for artificial embryo creation, regenerative medicine, and understanding fertility issues, highlighting the important functions of ancient retroviruses that have co-evolved with complex organisms over millions of years.
The Decline of Academic Clinician-Scientists: An Endangered Species
The number of academic clinician-scientists, healthcare professionals who dedicate a substantial amount of time to research, is declining, posing risks to the long-term health and wealth of countries. The characteristics of these professionals must be defined, and efforts should be made to nurture and support them. Clinical practice can enhance research in applied fields and provide insights into human variation. However, barriers such as rigid and prolonged clinical training and a shift in funding focus have deterred clinicians from pursuing research careers. Industry jobs are becoming more attractive, but autonomy and the pursuit of interesting questions are preserved in academia. Funders and regulatory bodies should support clinician-scientists, and current professionals should inspire and support trainees to ensure the continued contributions of this group to human knowledge and health.
Nobel Prize Winner's Overlooked mRNA Research Paved the Way for COVID Vaccine
Immunologist Drew Weissman and his research partner Katalin Karikó have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for their groundbreaking research that led to the development of the COVID-19 vaccine. By engineering a modified version of messenger RNA (mRNA) and developing a delivery system, they were able to trick the immune system into producing antibodies and creating partial immunity. The ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden, included a speech highlighting the impact of their research on public trust in science. Weissman, a Brandeis alumnus, is the second from the university to win a Nobel Prize.
Unveiling the Mysteries of Sleep: The Unsung Geniuses and Unanswered Questions
"Mapping the Darkness: The Visionary Scientists Who Unlocked the Mysteries of Sleep" by Kenneth Miller explores the history of sleep research and the emergence of sleep as a medical discipline. The book highlights the contributions of pioneering scientists such as Nathaniel Kleitman, Eugene Aserinsky, and William Dement, who made groundbreaking discoveries about sleep and dreaming. It also discusses the challenges faced by early sleep scientists and the development of treatments for sleep disorders like sleep apnea and insomnia. The book pays tribute to the unsung geniuses who shaped the field of sleep science and continues to make foundational discoveries.