Lucy Mulloor woke up one morning and realized something was terribly wrong. The 45-year-old single-mom could hear her two daughters in the kitchen but couldn’t call out to them. She’d lost the ability to talk and to move the right side of her body. Mulloor managed to work her way to the side of the bed and drop onto the floor to attract the girls’ attention. The oldest called 911. Mulloor would soon learn she’d experienced a massive stroke in the night and would spend the next five months in hospital.
Exploring the effect of oxidizing compounds on melanoma cells
Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer. Although less common, it is the most serious due to its high potential for metastasis. Despite the health benefits of sunlight, prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays is the main risk factor for developing the disease. Excessive radiation induces oxidative stress and inflammation in skin cells through photo-oxidation reactions.
Rose-scented citronellol may carry neurotoxic potential at high exposure levels
Citronellol, a rose-scented compound commonly found in cosmetics and household products, has long been considered safe. However, a Korean research team has, for the first time, identified its potential to cause neurotoxicity when excessively exposed.
Autism prevalence was 32.2 per 1,000 8-year-olds in 2022, analysis shows
The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was 32.2 per 1,000 children aged 8 years across 16 sites in the United States in 2022, according to research published in the April 17 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Mindfulness and step tracking boosts motivation to exercise—new study
A new study from the Center for Motivation and Behavior Change at the University of Bath has found that combining step tracking with mindfulness training delivered via a mobile app can significantly boost people’s desire to exercise.
Frequent use of antibiotics in infants and young children may increase risk for asthma, allergies and other conditions
Antibiotics are commonly prescribed to young children to combat conditions such as ear infections and pneumonia. But the drugs may disrupt the digestive microbiome at a significant time in a child’s development.
Cognitively impaired older drivers less likely to cause a crash when accompanied by a passenger, study finds
Researchers from the University of Tsukuba examined variations in the likelihood of older drivers causing traffic crashes based on the presence of a passenger, utilizing nationwide traffic crash data between 2014 and 2020. Their analysis revealed that even drivers with cognitive impairment had a reduced risk of causing crashes when accompanied by a passenger.
Arkansas, Indiana push to ban candy, soda from SNAP program
Republican governors in Arkansas and Indiana are asking the federal government for permission to ban soda and candy purchases with food stamps.
Scientists achieve record-breaking growth in miniature, functional liver models
The liver is the body’s control tower for metabolism, powering vital functions like converting nutrients to glucose, storing fat and breaking down toxins. Over a third of the world, however, is thought to be affected by conditions including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), which jeopardize key liver functions as the condition progresses. Hepatocyte organoids—the miniature, 3D models of the organ—hold immense promise for accelerating drug development and advancing regenerative therapies.
Amplifying delusions: How social media can negatively impact our mental well-being
Imagine a tribe of uncontacted hunter-gatherers in the deepest Amazon rainforest. Anthropologists airdrop dozens of smartphones loaded with social media apps, with solar chargers, simple instructions in their native language and Wi-Fi just within the tribe. What would happen to their culture and their mental health?