Magic mushrooms might be key to quelling depression among people battling cancer. A single dose of psilocybin provided sustained reductions in depression and anxiety among cancer patients diagnosed with major depression, according to small-scale study published June 16 in the journal Cancer. “One dose of psilocybin with psychological support to treat depression has a long-term… read on > read on >
Days after ousting all 17 members of the panel that makes U.S. vaccine recommendations, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has begun remaking it. On Wednesday, he named eight appointees, three of whom are critics of mRNA coronavirus vaccines, The Washington Post reported. “All of these individuals are committed to evidence-based medicine, gold-standard science and… read on > read on >
A “vicious circle” might exist between screen time and troubled children, a new evidence review says. Screen time — particularly on video games — appears to contribute to emotional turmoil among children, researchers say. Those troubled kids are then more likely to turn to screens to make themselves feel better, according to a study published… read on > read on >
Women will flock to an HPV test they can perform at home in private, a new study indicates. Cervical cancer screening more than doubled when women were offered a mail-in self-collection test for human papillomavirus (HPV), researchers reported June 6 in JAMA Internal Medicine. Virtually all cervical cancer is caused by HPV, according to the… read on > read on >
Emergency surgeries are gnawing away at U.S. health care spending, with racial disparities fueling the bill, a new study says. Emergency surgeries cost about 33% more than planned procedures, averaging $13,645 more per patient, researchers write. And costs for these emergency procedures are even higher among Americans of color, results show. Emergency surgeries are needed… read on > read on >
Why does your cat purr when you pet it — or meow when dinner’s late? A new study from the Wildlife Research Center at Kyoto University in Japan suggests the answer could be in its genes. Researchers looked at the androgen receptor gene in 280 spayed or neutered mixed-breed cats. They compared the DNA to… read on > read on >
A new injection to prevent HIV is expected to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) later this month. If approved, the shot — lenacapavir — would be given twice a year and could be a big step forward in the fight against HIV. Drugmaker Gilead Sciences tested the shot in a… read on > read on >
People who get weight-loss surgery experience an improvement in their mental health, but not because of the weight they lose, a new study says. Rather, these patients face much less societal stigma over their weight, and it’s that – not the actual weight loss – that boosts their mental health, researchers reported today in the… read on > read on >
Policy change could have significant implications for health care providers and patients read on >
Americans planning to travel outside the country should make sure they’re vaccinated against measles — no matter where they’re headed, U.S. health officials say. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidance last week to recommend measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) shots for all international travelers, The Associated Press reported. In the past, the… read on > read on >
