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.
A Lancet review of 37 studies with over 25 million pregnancies finds that the association between prenatal antidepressant use and autism/ADHD largely disappears after accounting for maternal depression and family history. The data show children of mothers with depression are more likely to be diagnosed with autism/ADHD, and paternal antidepressant use during gestation also correlates with these conditions, suggesting a genetic rather than pharmacological link. The authors note that current guidelines supporting continuation of antidepressants during pregnancy, when clinically indicated, are reinforced, and emphasize weighing the risks of untreated maternal depression against medication exposure.
Imaging and experiments suggest abdominal muscle contractions push blood into the spine, moving the brain inside the skull via the vertebral venous plexus and potentially aiding cerebrospinal fluid flow to clear brain waste; findings from mice and simulations point to a locomotion-linked hydraulic mechanism with future work on detection and obesity effects.
Hantavirus is suspected to have spread aboard the MV Hondius, a luxury 46-day Antarctica cruise, killing three passengers and sickening others as the ship traveled from Ushuaia toward its Atlantic route; investigators have not confirmed the exact strain or transmission mode, with theories ranging from rodent exposure to rare human-to-human spread (Andes virus). There is no vaccine and treatment is mostly supportive, sometimes ECMO. The ship, carrying about 148 people, including 17 Americans, faced a cluster of illnesses as it neared St. Helena after departing Argentina.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
"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.
The relationship between experiences of psychedelics and psychosis has evolved over time. In the mid-20th century, researchers believed that psychedelics induced a temporary psychosis, providing a scientific model for understanding schizophrenia. However, as moral panic and stricter evidence requirements emerged, psychedelic research was largely abandoned by psychiatry. Today, there is a resurgence of psychedelic research, particularly in the field of psychedelic-assisted therapy. While there are differences between psychedelics and psychosis, their similarities in subjective experiences suggest that they should be examined together. Lessons from psychedelic research, such as considering meaning and mysticism, exploring the impact of set and setting, and providing compassionate care, could inform the understanding and treatment of psychosis. However, as psychedelic research seeks regulatory approval, it may become more aligned with the medical model, potentially losing some of its expansive and complex perspectives.
