Somewhere in the body of a patient, a small clump of cells, growing undetected, has begun to form a tumor. It has yet to cause pain or visible symptoms of illness. Several months from now, or perhaps years, those first signs will prompt a doctor’s inquiry, a referral to a specialist, and an eventual diagnosis. Treatment will depend on how long the cancer has gone unnoticed and how far it has spread.
Youth anxiety and depression rates rose steadily from 2016 to 2022, survey finds
The percentage of children under 18 years old with anxiety and depression increased steadily from 2016 to 2022, according to publicly available data from the National Survey of Children’s Health that were analyzed by researchers from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.
Hospitalized patients who receive alcohol use disorder treatment can substantially reduce heavy drinking
Nearly 30 million adults in the United States experience alcohol use disorder (AUD), but the vast majority of people with this condition do not receive treatment. A new study led by Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH), BU Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, and Boston Medical Center (BMC) researchers indicates that hospitals may be an ideal setting to close this gap in care.
In kids, EEG monitoring of consciousness can safely reduce anesthetic use
Results of a randomized, controlled clinical trial in Japan among more than 170 children aged 1 to 6 who underwent surgery show that by using EEG readings of brain waves to monitor unconsciousness, an anesthesiologist can significantly reduce the amount of the anesthesia administered to safely induce and sustain each patient’s anesthetized state.
Stimulating the retina to allow people to see a brand new color
A team of engineers, computer scientists and ophthalmologists at the University of California, Berkeley, working with a pair of colleagues at the University of Washington, has developed a technique for stimulating the retina that allows people to see a color not normally seen by humans.
Omnivorous? Vegan? Makes no difference to muscle building after weight training, study finds
A new study asked three questions about muscle protein synthesis in response to a nine-day diet and weight training regimen: First, does the source of protein—plant or animal-based—make any difference to muscle gain? Second, does it matter if total daily protein intake is evenly distributed throughout the day? And third, does a moderate but sufficient daily protein intake influence any of these variables? The answer to all three questions is “no,” the researchers found.
Saliva test plus AI could flag chemotherapy risk, early study results suggest
Early results from a new study suggest that a simple saliva test and powerful artificial intelligence algorithms could help doctors identify cancer patients at high risk for severe side effects from a widely used chemotherapy drug.
Feeling awe for your child may make parenting more joyful and fulfilling
New research from the University of Rochester suggests that experiencing feelings of pride and awe toward one’s children can significantly enhance parental well-being. The study, published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science, found that these positive emotions contribute to greater life satisfaction and stronger parent-child bonds.
Brain scans reveal neural circuitry linked with the subjective interpretation of art
These paintings are both by the Dutch artist Piet Mondrian but display strikingly different styles. The house on the left is representational; the colorful squares on the right are more abstract. In a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists showed this pair of paintings (and others) to people while scanning their brains. The results shed light on how we respond to art and provide a scientific test of a longstanding idea in art theory.
Using AI to reveal the neural dynamics of human conversation
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital investigated how our brains process language during real-life conversations. Specifically, they wanted to understand which brain regions become active during speaking and listening, and how these patterns relate to the specific words and context of the conversation.