The tragic early death of “Friends” star Matthew Perry from a ketamine overdose in 2023 has swung a spotlight on the dangers of unsupervised use of the potent anesthetic.  Now, America’s leading group representing anesthesiologists is issuing new guidelines on proper use of the drug.  Ketamine has also come under increasing scrutiny as a treatment…  read on >  read on >

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the National Institutes of Health (NIH) from making big cuts in medical research funding ordered by the Trump administration. The proposed cost-cutting could have reduced support for hospitals, universities and labs across the country. Monday’s ruling by U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley puts on hold funding caps for indirect…  read on >  read on >

Ozempic, Wegovy, Saxenda, Trulicity: These and other GLP1-RA diabetes/weight-loss meds can also boost outcomes for folks battling chronic kidney disease, new research shows. Compared to another common class of kidney medications, called DPP4is, GLP1-RA medications did better in helping slow the progression of kidney disease, keeping kidney disease patients out of the hospital and helping…  read on >  read on >

It was a bit safer to go into the water last year: Unprovoked shark attacks worldwide fell by about a third in 2024 compared to the year before, new data show. The United States continues to be the most likely country in which to get bitten by a shark, according to the annual International Shark…  read on >  read on >

Want to thrive in tough, stressful times? Stay playful. That’s the take-home message from a new study of who fared best, in terms of mental resiliency, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers said the findings have relevance to weathering any sort of trying times. “Playful” people differ from others in that they display “greater optimism…  read on >  read on >

About 93% of people worldwide who struggle with mental health or substance abuse issues aren’t getting adequate care, a new report finds. In many cases, people affected by mental illness do not recognize that they have a diagnosable condition, the Canadian research team found.  But even when diagnoses are made, treatment is often lacking.  Men…  read on >  read on >

When and what you eat might play a role in maintaining good mental health, a new study suggests. Researchers in China found that folks with heart disease were more likely to keep depression at bay if they ate a big, calorie-rich breakfast.  There’s evidence that heart disease patients “are more likely to develop depression when…  read on >  read on >