Health

Harmful or helpful?: Using toxic algae blooms for cystic fibrosis treatment

Biology, Health / /

For such a tiny microscopic organism, the algae behind the Gulf of Mexico’s toxic red tides inflicts a mighty force. Characterized by discolored water, dying marine life, and the release of respiratory irritants, red tides have plagued the Gulf since the 1800s and have since increased in intensity and frequency. Karenia brevis, the dominant algae […]

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Going where no drug has gone before: A difficult journey through the blood-brain barrier

Health / /

When functioning optimally the human brain poses one of the largest challenges encountered in medicine. For the past 50 years, scientists have struggled to find methods to bypass the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a vital immunological barrier responsible for the transport of select molecules into the brain. Solving this problem would allow for the development of

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Opinion: Alternatively, medicine can do harm too

Health, Opinion / /

Advancements in medicine have undeniably revolutionized the quality of life in society today. Unfortunately, even medicine can be faulty — side effects, drug resistance, or simple ineffectiveness are just a handful of the risks patients face when seeking medicinal aid. Anti-obesity medication (AOM) is one of many drug categories that carry a host of side

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Don’t mess with biochemistry: Why some people are trading medication for dietary supplements

Health / /

Conventional medicine, or Western medicine, describes a system where healthcare professionals trained in the sciences treat symptoms and diseases with medication or surgery. While conventional medicine is widely accepted, it is not the only healthcare system available. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is defined by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) as

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Anxiety and exploitation: Ethical dilemmas in pediatric genetic screening

Biology, Health / /

The possible inheritance of unfavorable genetics sits in the front of many new and soon-to-be parents’ minds. Though it may seem comforting to know if one’s child carries the risk of developing certain conditions in adulthood, is it in the best interest of the child to grow up with this knowledge? This burden poses an

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The power of the mind: Using neural signals to restore movement in paralyzed limbs

Biology, Health / /

Monkeys can play video games with their minds. Rats can control each others’ brains. Previously injured humans can restore sensation and function in limbs. These impossible-sounding events are all achievable with brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), which are systems that use electrical devices to collect neural signals from the central nervous system and, using algorithms, translate them

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Opinion: Physician perception of ‘female hysteria’ is alive and well

Health, Opinion / /

Many have heard of the term “female hysteria,” a pejorative, outdated, catch-all term that refers to any complaints a female has about their health. The implication in this so-called diagnosis is that the health concerns are invented in the patient’s head. Symptoms attributed to female hysteria have varied throughout history, from anxiety and tremors to

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