This article was updated Oct. 16, 2020 with new research about COVID and how it affects the body. April 23, 2020 — We have underestimated and misunderstood COVID-19 since it first appeared. And as we learn more, it’s clear that COVID-19 can be more than just a respiratory disease. It’s…

Keywords: Kazutoshi Takahashi, Shinya Yamanaka, Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, Stem cells In 2006, Kazutoshi Takahashi and Shinya Yamanaka reprogrammed mice fibroblast cells, which can produce only other fibroblast cells, to become pluripotent stem cells, which have the capacity to produce many different types of cells. Takahashi and Yamanaka also experimented with human cell cultures in 2007. Each worked at Kyoto…

Follow Me Get new content delivered directly to your inbox. Itchy skin, or pruritus, is a common condition that can affect any part of the body. Many factors can cause itchy legs, including skin conditions, diabetes, or allergic reactions. Typically, itchiness in the legs does not indicate a serious health…

The groin is the area between the lower abdomen and the upper thighs. Females may experience stabbing pain on the left side of the groin for many reasons. Below, we look at various reasons why a female can experience this pain, as well as treatments and home care strategies and…

Lice are easy to confuse with dandruff, which is a very common problem. While lice are a temporary infestation, dandruff is a chronic skin condition. Every year, 6 to 12 million people in the United States get head lice. Most are children ages 3 to 12 years old. Both lice…

Dandruff itself does not cause hair loss, but the two may be linked. This is because some infections and medical conditions can cause both dandruff and hair loss. Dandruff is very common. People with dandruff and dandruff-like symptoms might lose hair, especially if the dandruff is severe. The cause of the hair…

Dandruff is a condition of the scalp that causes flakes of skin to appear. It is often accompanied by itching. The exact cause is unknown, but various factors increase the risk. It is not related to poor hygiene, but it may be more visible if a person does not wash or…

The frontal lobe of the brain is vital to our consciousness, as well as functions that appear uniquely human, such as spoken language. It is one of four paired lobes in the brain’s cerebral cortex, and it plays vital roles in memory, attention, motivation, and numerous other daily tasks. The…

Ureaplasma is a bacteria that is commonly found in people’s urinary or genital tract. It is parasitic, which means it needs a host, such as a human or animal, to survive. Ureaplasma bacteria are part of the body’s bacterial population, and they live in balance, without causing a problem, in…

Urethritis is the inflammation and swelling of the urethra, the narrow tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. It leads to difficulty or pain when urinating. Urethritis is usually caused by bacteria or a virus. A chemical irritant can also trigger it.  It is…

Usually, the brain moves muscles by sending them signals through the nerves. It is an automatic process that people do not even notice happening. Sometimes, an interruption to this process leads to paralysis. When the problem affects the facial nerves, it can result in facial paralysis. In this article, we…

The majority of people can donate blood. However, those who use nicotine products, cannabis products, or both may wonder whether or not they can donate blood. Every 2 seconds, someone in the United States needs blood, but supplies are low due to COVID-19. To find out more about blood donation…

A chemical imbalance in the brain occurs when a person has either too little or too much of certain neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers that pass information between nerve cells. Examples of neurotransmitters include serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. People sometimes call serotonin and dopamine the “happy hormones” because of the…

Metabolism refers to biochemical processes that occur within any living organism – including humans – to maintain life. These biochemical processes allow people to grow, reproduce, repair damage, and respond to their environment. It is a common belief that slim people have a higher metabolism and overweight people have a…

A study in mice suggests that the “glymphatic system,” which removes the brain’s toxic waste during sleep, may not operate efficiently in shift workers who sleep during the day. This may explain their increased risk of brain disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease. In 2012, researchers at the University of Rochester…

Kidney function tests are simple procedures that use either the blood or urine to help identify issues in the kidneys. There are a few different types of kidney function tests that investigate various aspects of kidney function. A kidney function test may check to see if the kidneys are filtering…

Abdominal ultrasounds use sound waves to create images of structures and blood flow in the abdomen. These ultrasound images are a useful way of examining organs, tissues, blood vessels, and other structures within the abdomen. Ultrasound imaging involves sending high-frequency sound waves into the body. These waves reflect off of organs…

Follow Me Get new content delivered directly to your inbox. Hydronephrosis is a condition that puts pressure on the kidneys and can lead to them becoming damaged. Often, something inside or outside of the urinary tract that blocks the urine flow out of the kidneys causes hydronephrosis. Blockages in the…

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Magnesium is an important mineral, playing a role in over 300 enzyme reactions in the human body. Its many functions include helping with muscle and nerve function, regulating blood pressure, and supporting the immune system. An adult body contains around 25 gram (g) of magnesium, 50–60% of which the skeletal system…

Viral pneumonia is pneumonia that develops as a result of a viral infection in the lungs. The symptoms of viral pneumonia are often similar to those of bacterial pneumonia, but, depending on the virus responsible, there may be a few additional symptoms. A wide range of viruses can cause viral pneumonia, including…

Cystic acne is a severe type of acne in which the pores in the skin become blocked, leading to infection and inflammation. The skin condition mainly affects the face, but also often affects the upper trunk and upper arms. Acne most often affects adolescents and young adults, with an estimated 80 percent of…

Hormonal acne is usually known simply as acne. Another term for the skin condition is acne vulgaris. It is sometimes called hormonal acne because of the way the skin problem develops in response to hormonal changes, and especially a rise in androgens, such as testosterone. The rise in androgen levels can trigger a process of…

Nodular acne is characterized by hard, painful acne lesions deep under the skin. It often affects the face, chest, or back. Unlike regular pimples that often heal within a few days, acne nodules may last for weeks or months. They tend not to develop a white head and may remain as hard knots under…

Rib cage pain is a common complaint that can be caused by factors, ranging from a fractured rib to lung cancer. The pain associated with the rib cage may be sudden and sharp or dull and aching. Many cases of rib cage pain are not linked to serious conditions and…

Pleurisy is an inflammation of the lung lining. The severity of the condition can range from mild to life-threatening. Since many cases are mild and resolve themselves without treatment, it is hard to estimate how many people contract pleurisy worldwide. Fast facts on pleurisy: Here are some key points about…

Pneumonia is an inflammatory disorder of the lungs due to an infection of the airways. It is a serious condition, and home remedies will not treat or cure it.  However, certain home remedies may help ease the symptoms and enhance healing during the recovery period. Pneumonia can be life threatening. Medical…

Bacterial pneumonia is an inflammation of the lungs due to bacterial infection. Different types of bacteria can cause pneumonia. This type of pneumonia can occur in both lungs, one lung, or one section of a lung. Pneumococcal disease, which Streptococcus pneumoniae causes, is a major cause of bacterial pneumonia. In the United States,…

A large study finds a dramatic increase in the number of adults in the United States reporting symptoms of depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of adults experiencing depression in the U.S. has tripled, according to a major study. Researchers estimate that more than 1 in 4 U.S. adults now report…

Otoplasty refers to the surgical reshaping of the pinna, or outer ear. The aim may be to correct an irregularity or to improve appearance.  The ears are usually around 2 centimeters from the side of the head. However, having ears more prominent than this can be bothersome. A person who has sustained…

Follow Me Get new content delivered directly to your inbox. Empathy is a precious moral and social resource. It helps us to form friendships, care for the needy, and not be cruel. But what goes on in our brains when we empathize? Can neuroscience help us to explain why we…

Follow Me Get new content delivered directly to your inbox. People whose antisocial behavior starts in childhood and persists into adulthood have less grey matter in parts of their brain that play a role in motivation and emotional control, researchers have found.  Antisocial behavior — which psychologists sometimes diagnose as…

This paper will explore a theoretical model linking the chronic stress of workplace bullying with alterations in cortisol secretion, provide qualitative descriptions and definitions of bullying, and describe tools that have been developed to operationalize the construct. Further, the use of salivary cortisol assays to measure free serum cortisol will be discussed.…

In the first study of its kind to assess the compounding effects of bullying over 5 years, researchers have found that a child experiences more severe and lasting health implications the longer he or she is bullied, suggesting that early interventions could reverse the “downward health trajectory” that victims of…

A swollen earlobe is typically caused by damage or a reaction in the earlobe. Bacteria and other germs may get into the earlobe through a cut or piercing and result in an infection. On other occasions, the body can also have an allergic reaction to a product or item used…

Follow Me Get new content delivered directly to your inbox. Swimmer’s ear is an infection that can occur after spending a long time in the water or outdoors in the wind and rain. It affects the skin that covers the outer ear canal, which leads to the eardrum. Despite the…

The chlorine in swimming pools can cause a rash in some people. Chlorine rash may be confused with swimmer’s itch or heat rash. Chlorine rashes happen after exposure to the chemical. It is not possible to be allergic to chlorine, but one person’s skin may be more sensitive to the chemical than…

Follow Me Get new content delivered directly to your inbox. A wide range of industrial and household products contain chlorine. Although these products are safe when handled correctly, chlorine is poisonous and swallowing or inhaling it can cause harm. Chlorine poisoning is a medical emergency. If a person swallows or…

A new study provides drug developers with clues about how to extend healthy lifespan without severely restricting calorie intake. Scientists have known for some time that restricting calorie intake in laboratory animals can extend their lifespan and reduce their risk of developing diseases of older age, such as cancer, heart disease,…

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Follow Me Get new content delivered directly to your inbox. A recent study has found great variability in terms of which hormone therapies are covered by Medicare. This may have a significant impact on transgender individuals’ access to appropriate gender-affirming therapy.  Gender-affirming therapy and surgery can each have important positive…

The bone density and fracture risk of older individuals do not improve with increased calcium intake. This is the finding of two new studies recently published in The BMJ. Around 99% of the body’s calcium is stored in the teeth and bones, where it helps support their function and structure. The remaining 1%…

Be my patreon for more exciting content: https://www.patreon.com/sapere Follow Me Get new content delivered directly to your inbox. Hypocalcemia, commonly known as calcium deficiency disease, occurs when calcium levels in the blood are low. A long-term deficiency can lead to dental changes, cataracts, alterations in the brain, and osteoporosis, which…

Despite online claims, there is no best time of day to eat fruit — people can get similar health benefits from fruit at any time of the day. That said, people with weight loss goals or diabetes can benefit from timing their fruit intake. Many online sources claim that people…

With so many fad diets and sources of nutrition advice, it can be difficult to separate fact from fiction — especially when it comes to sugar. However, it is worth noting that the body metabolizes fruit sugar differently than processed or added sugars. All fruit contains some natural sugar. Very sweet…

Follow Me Get new content delivered directly to your inbox. People with diets rich in refined sugar may be increasing their risk of chronic inflammation. Research suggests that when people eat and drink less sugar, inflammatory markers in their blood decrease. A high sugar diet can have harmful effects on…