With summer just around the corner, it’s paramount to be prudent about protecting the skin from the sun. Sun protection is about much more than just avoiding a nasty burn. It’s about protecting oneself from skin cancer as well as premature aging.

According to some statistics, every 1 in 5 Americans could develop skin cancer in the course of their lifetime. When protecting the skin against the sun, people also prevent further, more serious problems as well.

Sunscreen is One of the Most Common Ways of Protecting the Skin

When it comes to protecting the skin from the sun, sunscreen is the most commonly used variant. It is also among the most widely available options. However, make sure you aren’t just choosing any sunscreen to slather on. People have to make sure this has an SPF of at least 15. SPF 15 is a safeguard against 93 percent of the sun’s UV rays. Anything less will likely not be enough to get the job done.

Sunscreen should be applied and used at least 30 minutes before going outside, so it has time to soak in. Also, use anytime after you get in the water or sweat heavily. It should also be reapplied every couple of hours.

Wearing protective clothing is also another way of avoiding sunburn. Although people tend to wear fewer clothes because of the heat, this is counter protective. They should wear long-sleeved but light shirts, hats, and sunglasses to protect themselves. If the heat gets to be too much in warm clothes, people should seek shaded areas where it’s easier to cool down.

Going outside is essential for the health and well-being. However, people should try avoiding the outdoors between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm, when the sun is at its strongest. If you do spend time outside during these hours, make sure to apply the suncream very liberally and seek shaded areas whenever possible.

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The opioid crisis is one of the biggest problems the United States is currently facing. In the last few years, thousands of lives have been taken by opioids. A new report shows that there were more than 4,000 overdose deaths in Ohio. This state is one of the most affected by the opioid crisis.

Overdose Deaths

The number of overdose deaths seems to increase every year, despite considerable efforts made by state officials. Ohio saw a 36% increase in overdose deaths since 2015. Two years ago, more than 3,000 cases were reported. In 2016, more than 4,149 overdose deaths were linked with opioid overdose or consumption. This year, authorities are concerned that the number of deaths caused by opioids will only be higher.

Another report, conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, shows that Ohio had the biggest incidence of overdose deaths in the US in the last 2 years. Synthetic opioids like carfentanil and fentanyl were the more likely culprits. These drugs are more powerful than heroin and morphine, and significantly cheaper. Nevertheless, just a small amount can kill a person.

Police officers and investigators observed that many drug dealers are presently selling fentanyl-laced heroin. Unsuspecting buyers get more than they bargain for when preparing and injecting the substance which, in normal conditions, if 50 to 100 times more potent than what they were accustomed to.

Accidental Overdoses

Cops have a hard time protecting themselves from the opioid crisis. Since fentanyl and carfentanil hit the market, officers are also at risk. Carfentanil, for instance, is actually an elephant tranquilizer. When it comes into contact with the skin, a very small amount can prove fatal, especially since the epiderm absorbs the substance. Several police officers overdosed at the scenes after touching objects laced with carfentanil.

An Ohio officer accidentally overdosed after he brushed off some white powder from his shirt. The white powder was fentanyl-laced heroin belonging to a man that was arrested earlier that night. Several doses of Narcan were used to revive the officer.

Another policeman overdosed on 19 May, after he was at the scene of a suspected opioid overdose. The man started feeling sick seconds after he started searching for drugs at the scene. To revive him, the paramedics used several doses of Narcan. Even the paramedic that helped the police officer needed treatment for exposure to drugs.

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A team of scientists from Stanford University decided to test the efficiency of fitness trackers in monitoring heart rates and energy expenditures or calories. According to their results, while the devices were quite accurate and useful in determining the heart rate, they were still far off for the other.

The researchers tested the efficiency of seven of the most common and used fitness trackers on the market. These were analyzed with help from 60 volunteers. The participants were asked to wear the devices while running, walking, and cycling, all at different levels.

The Fitness Trackers Offered Either Really Good or Very Off Estimates

According to the study team, they were quite surprised by the research results. The researchers set 10 percent as the acceptable error rate. After collecting the data from the fitness devices, they compared it to information collected from EKGs.

“Most devices most of the time were ‘off’ by only about 5 percent,” said Euan Ashley, a study co-author and cardiologist at the Stanford University Medical Center.

These were the results obtained after comparing heart rates. Six out of the seven tested devices were below the error point and seemingly quite useful.

But for the energy expenditure, the results were quite the opposite. Out of the seven devices, only one fitness tracker was somewhat closer to the margin. It had an inaccuracy rate of 27 percent. The least accurate reading was 93 percent off of the actual calories value, according to the team.

As it is, the study team did not establish a cause for this significant difference in the calories values of the fitness trackers. However, they do argue that it is quite hard to develop a device that could accurately fit each and every wearer. The accuracy of the results can depend on the height, weight, activity levels, and several other factors as well.

Some of the makers of the tested fitness trackers issued statements on the matter expressing their confidence in their products. Another questioned if the study team set up the proper parameters for the users of its device.

Study results were released earlier this week in the Journal of Personalized Medicine.

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A team of Spanish researchers set out to determine the best and healthiest of cooking fungi. To do so, they put to the test four standard methods. Then, they compared their results on four different types of mushrooms.

Research results were released in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition. Its tests were carried out on the four most commonly eaten types of fungi at a worldwide level. Namely, they tested the shiitake, white button, oyster, and king oyster mushrooms. These were either grilled, deep fried, microwaved or boiled.

Fungi Should be Grilled or Microwaved to Maintain their Nutritional Value

The team determined that you can make the most out of a mushroom’s nutritional value by choosing to the shortest preparation times. Mushrooms are both rich in fiber, antioxidants, and protein content and low in fat and calories. So their cooking method is quite important as it may result in either a partial, total, or nonexistent loss of nutritional properties.

The Spanish researchers compared the fungi’s antioxidant levels in cooked and raw mushrooms. Which revealed that boiling them in large quantities of water enhanced their betaglucans fraction but decreased their antioxidant value.

Fried mushrooms were noted to suffer the highest losses in both protein and carbohydrate content, while their fat and energy levels rose.

Grilling and microwaving were noted to have the best cooking results. These methods resulted in the highest antioxidant activity values while also sustaining the least losses. The team considers that these results could be based on the fact that such methods require fewer liquids. These can reduce the final, cooked product’s nutritional value and properties.

 “[..] the adequate selection of the culinary method is a key factor to preserve the nutritional profile of this highly consumed food,” stated Irene Roncero, one of the study authors.

The team also found that using some oil also helped bring out the fungi fatty acid while also maintaining a low-calorie content. But only in a small quantity, and olive oil seems to have the best effects.

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A new study shows that an aggressive treatment is the best way of dealing with sepsis. This killer condition is the body’s reaction to infections. The problem is that it is both hard to diagnose and to treat. People who have sepsis may not know that they have a problem until they enter septic shock. As they reach this state, they become increasingly harder to save as their organs are shutting down. So doctors have to turn to a fast and very aggressive treatment.

An Aggressive Treatment for Sepsis Should Also be a Very Fast One

New York was the first among the US states to introduce a three-step guideline for detecting and treating sepsis. The research team behind this new study monitored patients treated in this state. They observed that treating sepsis fast and aggressively can actually save lives as almost every minute counts in such cases. The risk of dying was estimated to increase by 4 percent for every hour that passes without treatment.

Another important element in treating this condition is the patient’s arrival time at the hospital. If they come too late, the doctors’ chances of saving them decreases. The team noted the importance of knowing that something is wrong with you and seeking medical attention for it. This is also why specialists pointed out the need of raising awareness of sepsis. The CDC started a campaign on the matter last year.

Using an aggressive treatment is the best way of treating sepsis because this is not just a simple infection. The condition occurs when the body tries to fight an infection but ends up damaging its own tissues. In turn, this can lead to amputations, sepsis shock, organ failure, and even death.  Over 1.5 million people suffer from sepsis every year in the US and 250,000 of them die.

Scientists mentioned that even the smallest infection could trigger sepsis. It was noted that more than 80% such cases started outside the hospital in healthy people with minor infections. Until now, it was believed that people who had surgery or were sick presented the highest risk of sepsis. Study results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

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A new study showed that eating certain types of tree nuts could significantly help people that have followed a colon cancer treatment. They may do so as they were noted to lower the recurrence risk of the diseases and to reduce death risks.

This new report was released earlier this week, ahead of the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology or ASCO. This will be taking place in Chicago next month. Its results are based on an observational, long-term study. It followed over 826 patients that had been treated for stage III colon cancer. Usually, this therapy includes both chemotherapy and surgery.

Patients to follow this treatment and whose cancer has not spread in the body have a 70 percent median survival chance of 3 years following therapy.

Tree Nuts, an Efficient and Natural Post-Treatment Treat

According to the research team, around 19 percent of the involved patients consumed around 2 or more ounces of nuts of all type on a weekly basis. These presented an average 42 percent lower risk of cancer recurrence. Also, they had a 57 percent decreased risk of death when compared with patients that consumed no nuts at all.

Based on this, the study team also took a closer look at the types of nuts consumed. Which helped them determined that tree nuts had even better results, even if only by a few. Patients that ate these types showed a 53 percent lower risk of death. They also had a 46 percent decreased cancer recurrence rate. This was also for a consumption rate of 2 or more ounces per week.

“[…] we felt that it was important to determine if these benefits [of nut consumption] could also apply to colorectal cancer patients,” said Temidayo Fadelu.

He is the study’s lead and a clinical fellow in medicine at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Still, scientists point out that tree nuts should be used aside and not replace colon cancer treatments.

Also, the team noted that this was an observational study. As such, they were unable to establish a cause and effect relation.

Tree nuts include walnuts, pecans, almonds, cashew, and hazelnuts. The more commonly eaten peanut and peanut butter reported no significant effect.

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Johnson & Johnson is now required to include a warning on their diabetes drug, Invokana, following an admonition issued by the FDA. This new warning is related to the medicine’s potentially high-risk side-effects. A new study shows that Invokana has an increased potential risk of foot and leg amputation.

New Study Connects Series of Foot and Leg Amputation to Diabetes Drug

FDA researchers conducted two clinical trials to test the drug and see if its incidence for leg amputation is higher than for other similar treatments. These included two study groups. One of them was treated with Invokana, the other with placebos. The research team then noted the increased risk of amputations presented by one of the groups. Amputations occurred twice as often for those who were administered this drug.

During the trials, this procedure was most commonly applied to the middle of the foot and the toe. Still, amputations involving the leg both above and below the knee were also noted. Some of the patients even required more than one amputation.

Based on the results of the trials, the FDA considered it mandatory to place a new warning on the label of Invokana. All drugs are required to present a label with their possible side-effects. This is even more important on severe risks medicine. Before administering any treatment, patients need to be aware of their side effects.

For the Johnson & Johnson produced Invokana, the warning needs to be a boxed one. These types of warnings are added for severe side effects like leg amputation, heart conditions, and respiratory problems. Invokana is part of the new class of drugs for people who have type 2 diabetes.

Health regulators recommended people to address their doctors for any pain, tenderness, infection, or ulcers that might have developed due to this drug. Before starting treatment with it, doctors will also need to take into consideration if the patient has any risk factors for leg amputation.

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Many have started debates on the subject of the human sense of smell and its alleged inferiority to that of its animal kingdom equivalent. In response, a researcher named John McGann recently released a paper which contradicts this claim. According to McGann, there’s nothing wrong with humanity’s olfactory capabilities. In fact, they may be even better than believed.

John McGann is a neuroscientist part of the Rutgers Department of Psychology Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience Department. He published his new study result in a paper in the journal Science. The researcher based his studies on the comparisons between the human and rodent sense of smell.

“Actually, we have a really excellent sense of smell,” says McGann. “There are quite a lot of experiments showing that the human sense of smell is pretty similar to what you can find with a rat or a mouse or a dog”.

Myth of the Human Sense of Smell and its Origins

So the researcher nosed his way until he found the reported root of this misconception. McGann states that this idea can be traced back to Paul Broca. He is a French neuroanatomist which lived in the 19^th century. Broca divided mammals into two olfactory groups according to a set of factors. His division was based on the smell’s importance to the day-to-day life, was it critical for them (dogs, for example) or not (humans)?

His conclusion was that humans did not have to rely on their olfactory sense and that we sacrificed smell for evolution. His idea was then embraced by other scientists, including Sigmund Freud, among others, and its influence has created an actual myth around the human sense of smell.

Some of these claims are based on the fact that people have some 400 distinct smell receptors in their nose. This is less than a half of the 1000 detected in rats. However, McGann argues that “400 is an awful lot”. They can also allegedly help distinguish some “tens of millions of unique smells”.

The battle of the nose receptors has yet to offer a conclusive winner or lead to a consistent response. But as McGann points out, and other researchers as well agree, humans “are best” at detecting some smells, while dogs are better are smelling other odors.

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Recently, the Internet was flooded with headlines about a “new cure for baldness.” While a new discovery from the University of Texas won’t immediately cure baldness, it does offer some insight into the process behind hair loss.

Scientists at the UT Southwestern Medical Center recently set out to uncover the process of how certain tumors form. Instead, they found something completely different: the cells that directly form hair and also the mechanism behind hair graying and baldness.

New Insight Into Hair Loss

The study was an animal research project into a rare genetic disease called neurofibromatosis. This causes tumors to grow on nerves. When the researchers genetically engineered mice for their experiment, they noted that some lost all their hair color. The team then decided to take a close look at how they had triggered the change.

It was already known that stem cells in the bulge area of hair follicles could help make hair. They also produce a protein called SCF or stem cell factor, which influences hair pigmentation.

This new research reveals what happens after those stem cells move up the hair follicle, to the base. It also demonstrated that the same cells that make SCF produce the protein KROX20.

In mice, cells with both SCF and KROX20 move up, interact with the cells that produce pigment or melanocytes and then grow into pigmented hair. However, when the researchers deleted the SCF gene, the hair would turn gray, then white. As the KROX20-producing cells were removed, this resulted in hair loss.

This research was carried out in mice, but the findings might apply to humans as well. The next step for the researcher team is investigating whether the SCF gene and the production of KROX20 stop working as people age.

They already predicted that these factors may lead to hair loss or graying. Possibly, they may even result in male pattern baldness. Since changes in the hair are seen as the first signs of aging, future research in this area may one day provide insight into the aging process in general.

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