Tuberculosis bacteria have evolved to remember stressful encounters and react quickly to future stress, according to a study by computational bioengineers at Rice University and infectious disease experts at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS). Published online in the open-access journal mSystems, the research identifies a genetic mechanism that allows…
Melatonin synthesized in the lungs acts as a barrier against SARS-CoV-2
Melatonin synthesized in the lungs acts as a barrier against SARS-CoV-2, preventing expression of genes that encode proteins in cells such as resident macrophages in the nose and pulmonary alveoli, and epithelial cells lining the alveoli, all of which are entry points for the virus. The hormone, therefore, prevents infection…
Treatment of Middle-of-the-Night Insomnia
Intermittent or middle-of-the-night (MOTN) insomnia afflicts 10-40% of adults in the US population. It is characterized by nocturnal awakenings with difficulty in returning to sleep afterwards. Patients report a variety of causes for these awakenings, but objectively, 90% of clinically significant awakenings are preceded by an episode of altered breathing…
Milk Thistle Health Benefits
Milk thistle is a wild, commonly found plant with wide range of possible health benefits. This plant derives its name from its large white veins and big prickly leaves. Milk thistle can be consumed via oral capsules, tablets, or in powdered or liquid form. Recent research has indicated unique properties…
APO-Alendronate
NOTICE: This Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) is intended for persons living in Australia. APO-ALENDRONATE ONCE WEEKLY Alendronate sodium Consumer Medicine Information What is in this leaflet This leaflet answers some common questions about alendronate. It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking…
How to effectively prioritise at work (and why it’s so important)
Feeling overwhelmed, stressed or out of control when it comes to your work? Here’s why learning to prioritise could help – and how to do it properly. No matter what our job title, seniority level or area of expertise, we all know how it feels to be overwhelmed by work….
The long-term biological effects of COVID-19 stress on kids’ future health and development
One fortunate aspect of COVID-19 is that children have been less directly affected by the disease. But despite the relatively low incidence of severe illness in children, the response to the pandemic may have long-term adverse effects on the health and well-being of children and adolescents. As researchers in psychology,…
Medical pot may help many battle insomnia, pain and stress: Study
(HealthDay)—More and more U.S. states are allowing marijuana to be taken as medicine, and a new study suggests that users do indeed feel better. In a survey of nearly 1,300 people with chronic health conditions, researchers found that those using “medicinal cannabis” reported less pain, better sleep and reduced anxiety….
COVID-19 places added prenatal stress on mother and child that could have lasting impact
An international consortium of researchers have identified particular sources of prenatal stress, as experienced by mothers, that have a direct effect on a child’s subsequent mental health. The findings emerged from the DREAM-BIG (Developmental Research in Environmental Adversity, Mental health, BIological susceptibility and Gender) project, and are published in the…
Cellular stress makes obese mothers have obese babies
Maternal obesity increases the risk for obesity and metabolic perturbations in their offspring, but what are the mechanisms? In a new study published March 12 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology, Sebastien Bouret of the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) in Lille, France, and colleagues show…
Families continue to enjoy TV together — but potentially ruin it for each other
TV companies battling to preserve the shared experience of scheduled TV viewing in an era of 24/7 streaming and personalised viewing need more than binge-watching contracts and no-sleeping agreements to keep customers. Recently, Netflix introduced a binge-watching contract for couples and families to regulate the way they watch TV together….