Root canal is a commonly performed procedure in most adults. But is it a wise one? Dr. Robert Kulacz, a dentist, has spent a significant portion of his professional career trying to answer this question. What he discovered profoundly changed his life, and led him to write a book about his findings called, The Toxic Tooth: How …
A tiny laser is being tested inside blood vessels as part of an unusual attempt to tackle pancreatic tumors that surgeons cannot safely remove. The first-in-human clinical trial at UCI Health is investigating whether light-activated treatment can destroy tumor tissue wrapped around major abdominal arteries and potentially make surgery possible. Early results from six patients …
A three-year-old boy with metastatic liver cancer had already endured chemotherapy, major surgery and multiple attempts to remove tumors when doctors turned to an experimental immune-cell therapy. His cancer had returned despite aggressive treatment, leaving researchers with a difficult case and few conventional options. Then came an extraordinary result. After two outpatient infusions of genetically …
The human brain remains one of the most enigmatic organs, even in today’s age of scientific breakthroughs. Hidden within its intricate networks is the pineal gland, a small yet crucial component often referred to as the “third eye.” Recent discoveries, however, are revealing its deeper significance. Alarmingly, there seems to be a compelling link between …
For years, scientists have struggled to explain exactly what happens inside the brain during a psychedelic experience. New research combining hundreds of brain scans now suggests the answer may be more complicated than simply saying psychedelics disrupt normal brain activity. Researchers analyzed more than 500 brain scans from 267 people across 11 independent datasets and …
For millions of people, chronic pain can feel like a signal that never gets the message to stop. Scientists may now have a better idea of what keeps some pain going, after finding a surprising control system deep inside the brain. The discovery came from an experiment that produced almost the opposite result researchers expected. …
Ciara Burnside expected the first moments with her newborn son to be like those of any other new mother. Instead, when baby Ralph was placed on her chest, she immediately noticed something was wrong, and within minutes, medical staff had taken him away for urgent treatment. He wasn’t crying, his hands were bleeding, and patches …
A sugar found in everyday foods has become the focus of an unexpected cancer research finding. Scientists studying ovarian cancer found that fructose may help cancer cells spread after chemotherapy, at least in laboratory models and mice. The finding may sound alarming if you regularly drink sweetened beverages, but there is an important distinction. The …
A mouse that had stopped building nests began doing it again after researchers gave it two injections of an experimental nanoparticle treatment. The same animals also performed better on a memory test, while researchers found more neurons in their brains. The treatment, called Nano-ERASER, is still years away from becoming a human therapy. Yet the …
As marijuana becomes increasingly accepted worldwide, its reputation as a harmless way to relax or relieve pain is growing alongside it. Yet, behind the haze of growing popularity, there lies a more complex picture. Recent research suggests that marijuana use, particularly for those over 30, might come with hidden costs that go beyond the high. …
Millions of people may be carrying a microscopic parasite that can form cysts inside the brain, often without causing obvious symptoms. Researchers have spent years investigating whether that quiet infection could influence behavior, brain chemistry, and vulnerability to certain psychiatric conditions. The organism is called Toxoplasma gondii, and its life cycle sounds almost like science …
Athletics is often seen as a realm where strength, endurance, and resilience take center stage. Yet, beneath this celebration of human potential, there is a troubling issue—one that has taken the lives of talented female athletes. The recent passing of Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei has left the global sports community in shock, raising critical questions …