Doubling down on cancer-causing genes

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — One way to tackle cancer, the second-leading cause of death in the United States, is to target oncogenes — genes that have the potential to cause cancer. The University of California, Riverside, has received a $2.2 million grant from the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health that will help…

Rich rewards: Scientists reveal ADHD medication’s effect on the brain

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurobiological disorder characterized by symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity. People with the condition are often prescribed a stimulant drug called methylphenidate, which treats these symptoms. However, scientists do not fully understand how the drug works. Now, researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST)…

Psychedelic drugs could help treat PTSD

Clinical trials suggest treatment that involves psychedelics can be more effective than psychotherapy alone. More than three million people in the United States are diagnosed each year with post-traumatic stress disorder, whose symptoms include nightmares or unwanted memories of trauma, heightened reactions, anxieties, and depression–and can last months, or even years. People with PTSD–difficulty recovering…

Acid reflux drugs may have negative side effects for breast cancer survivors

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Acid reflux drugs that are sometimes recommended to ease stomach problems during cancer treatment may have an unintended side effect: impairment of breast cancer survivors’ memory and concentration. New Ohio State University research shows an association between breast cancer survivors’ use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and reports of problems with concentration…

Study: Critical care improvements may differ depending on hospital’s patient population

Boston, Mass. – Racial disparities have previously been identified across a range of health care environments, sometimes extending into the highest levels of care. A new study led by researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) reveals that while critical care outcomes in intensive care units (ICUs) steadily improved over a decade at hospitals…