All articles tagged with #medical research
A Washington Post Well+Being piece reports an Annals of Neurology study finding people with chronic back pain process sounds more intensely, suggesting amplified sensory processing in the brain. fMRI showed heightened responses to unpleasant noises, and pain-reprocessing therapy produced modest reductions in sound unpleasantness for some patients.
A Cell study in mice finds that exercise strengthens the brain’s protective blood-brain barrier via a liver-released protein, improving memory and learning in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease; researchers hope this mechanism translates to humans.
J. Michael Bishop, a microbiologist who shared the 1989 Nobel Prize for discoveries on cancer-causing genes known as oncogenes, died at 90 in San Francisco; he later served as chancellor of the University of California, San Francisco.
Novartis settled a Maryland federal suit with Henrietta Lacks’ estate over profits tied to HeLa cells, the 1951-derived line taken without Lacks’ consent that underpins countless medical advances; terms are confidential. It marks the second settlement the estate has reached with a biotech company after Thermo Fisher, as the estate sought full net profits from commercializing HeLa. Johns Hopkins says it did not profit from the cell line, though many firms hold HeLa-based patents. The Lacks family also has ongoing lawsuits against Ultragenyx and Viatris, with potential for more filings, highlighting ongoing debates over consent and benefit-sharing in medical research.
Some scientists are exploring whether avoiding environmental exposures before conception and in early life—the so‑called 'trimester zero' window—could lower autism risk in some children. While still in early stages, obstetricians like Jeanne Conry point to a 1,300‑day window (from preconception through a child’s second birthday) during which nutrition and lifestyle may influence autism risk, suggesting potential, non-guaranteed prevention rather than definitive outcomes.
A new study reports that blood tests can help build a rough 'clock' for Alzheimer's, potentially predicting when symptoms will emerge. While not precise enough to map an individual trajectory, the approach could improve early diagnosis and inform preventive treatments.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is backing a $1+ billion quantum computing hub in suburban Maryland to accelerate cancer research and spur a local quantum industry, potentially delivering breakthroughs that could outpace today’s supercomputers—while also raising cybersecurity concerns about encryption and data protection as quantum capabilities grow.
A new study suggests diseased kidneys release tiny particles that are toxic to the heart, helping explain why more than half of people with advanced kidney disease develop cardiovascular problems and pointing to new directions for diagnosis and treatment.
A 33-year-old man with influenza-triggered ARDS survived 48 hours on an external artificial-lung system that maintained blood flow to the heart, allowing a double lung transplant. He recovered rapidly, kidneys and heart function normalized, and years later shows no rejection, suggesting the device could help other critically ill patients awaiting transplants.
This study investigates how gut microbial ethanol metabolism contributes to auto-brewery syndrome, highlighting specific bacterial pathways and species involved, and providing data and tools for further research.
In 1991, a couple named Ida Sabelis and Jupp participated in an experimental MRI scan while having sex to study body responses, resulting in iconic medical images that contributed to understanding female anatomy and the shape of the penis, and the experiment is also remembered as a love story.,
Recent research has challenged the long-held belief that testosterone promotes prostate cancer growth, showing that testosterone therapy is safe for men with low levels and may even help in managing prostate cancer, leading to a shift in medical practice and treatment approaches.
President Trump signed an executive order reclassifying marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, potentially easing research restrictions and reducing stigma, though it does not legalize the drug federally. Experts believe this change could facilitate more scientific studies on marijuana's medical benefits, but some caution about increased addiction risks and emphasize that marijuana's medicinal value remains unproven by conclusive research.
Marijuana stocks fell sharply after President Trump signed an executive order to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug suitable for medical use, but stopped short of full legalization, making it a symbolic win for the industry without changing federal law or impacting markets significantly.
President Trump signed an executive order reclassifying marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, aiming to facilitate medical research and reduce legal barriers, while not legalizing it federally. The move recognizes marijuana's potential medical benefits and seeks to improve research and medical access, but possession remains illegal under federal law.