Sometimes there are wonderful things
Anybody who suffers from gout has probably been lectured about overindulgence. You eat too much! You drink too much! But what if that isn't it?
From ScienceAlert: Massive Study Reveals Where Gout Comes From, And It's Not What We Thought.
By comparing the genetic codes of people with the condition to those of people without, the team found 377 specific DNA regions where there were variations linked to gout – 149 of which hadn't been associated with the disease before.
Amazing images and story from ScienceDaily.com: Scientists capture flu viruses surfing into human cells in real time.
Summary: Scientists have captured a never-before-seen, high-resolution look at influenza’s stealthy invasion of human cells, revealing that the cells aren’t just helpless victims. Using a groundbreaking imaging technique, researchers discovered that our cells actually reach out and “grab” the virus as it searches for the perfect entry point, surfing along the membrane.
A guy I knew at work would tell everybody how magic mushrooms cured depression. This was years ago. I hope he's reading the news now! From MedicalXpress: Study maps how psilocybin reshapes brain circuits linked to depression.
An international collaboration led by Cornell researchers used a combination of psilocybin and the rabies virus to map how—and where—the psychedelic compound rewires the connections in the brain.
Specifically, they showed ...
From Popular Science: Pet dogs can help teens’ mental health.
“The most interesting finding from this study is that bacteria promoting prosociality, or empathy, were discovered in the microbiomes of adolescent children who keep dogs,” Kikusui said. “The implication is that the benefits of dog ownership include providing a sense of security through interaction, but I believe it also holds value in its potential to alter the symbiotic microbial community.”
I can imagine some canny teen using this as a way to convince mom and dad to get a dog.
People who have had strokes sometimes have lasting problems, and one of them is aphasia. Can singing in a choir help stroke survivors find their words again? CBC reports: How singing in a choir might help people find their voices after a stroke.
I like learning about non-medical interventions that improve health, and this one seems so promising. Fun, too.