Health authorities are issuing a warning about a new and on the rise drug called the Gray Death.

Health authorities are issuing a warning about a new and on the rise drug. Called the “Gray Death”, this mix of opioids is extremely dangerous and lethal and is unfortunately spreading.

According to authorities, Georgia, Alabama, and Ohio reported the highest number of overdose episodes caused by this combo.

What is the Gray Death?

The new and dangerous mix was named after its physical characteristics, besides its dangerous effects. It seems to have both the consistency and the aspect of a concrete mix. Its composition also varies, which led to even more problems.

Gray death is, in fact, a combination of more than just one drug. Usually, it’s a combination of several opioids, which can lead to fatal effects. Most commonly, it was found to contain heroin, carfentanil, the opioid U-47700, and fentanyl. Carfentanil is occasionally used as a tranquilizer, but only for large animals, for example, elephants.

“Gray death is one of the scariest combinations that I have ever seen in nearly 20 years of forensic chemistry drug analysis,” says Deneed Kilcrease.

She is the manager of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Chemistry Department. According to an earlier press releases, authorities pointed out another major problem with this drug. Sometimes, specialists found this new mix in marked bags that had stamped logos, and which imitated a heroin sale.

This led them to believe that some users did not even know what they were buying. Or that they were about to consume another drug. Specialists also consider that most users are still in the dark about the gray death’s concentration or ingredients. In turn, this makes the drug’s effects even more dangerous, more likely particularly lethal.

Reports show that the gray death has been either injected, swallowed, snorted, or smoked. Over the past three months, reports have tied more than 50 overdose cases to this new mix in Georgia alone. Ohio reported that it is facing a similar problem.

Now, authorities are on high alert and have issued a press release on this highly dangerous combo. They are particularly concerned as the country is passing through a nationwide opioids epidemic.

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A new research observed that people who have a slim jawline are more likely to be left-handed.

Many people associate left-handedness with different random things including a higher rate of mortality. Now, a new research shows a connection between left-handed people and a slim jawline. Those who have certain facial figures are more likely to favor their left hand.

People who have a convex facial profile, as well as a slender jaw, are 25% more likely to write with their left hand. This new study was published in the Journal Laterality: Asymmetries of Body, Brain & Cognition. A team of scientists from the University of Washington conducted this latest research.

For their study, the researchers used three national health surveys. More than 13,536 people in the US were involved in these. The researchers observed that people who have a slim jawline are more likely to be left-handed.

Left-Handed People Could Be At A Higher Risk Of Developing TB?

A slender jaw is actually as rare as writing with your left hand. Only 1 in 5 US people have a slender jaw, and 10% of the population is left-handed. There is a problem too. People who have this facial figure reportedly also have a higher risk of developing tuberculosis.

“Almost 2,000 years ago a Greek physician was first to identify slender jaws as a marker for TB susceptibility, and he turned out to be right.” said study author, Philippe Hujoel.

A lot of studies showed that people who have a slender jaw are more likely to have tuberculosis. Low body weight, as well as a slender jaw, are known as TB markers. Researchers now believe that there is a connection between all three of these elements: TB, a slim jawline, and left-handedness.

For instance, the UK is considered the TB capital of Western Europe. This country registers the highest number of left-handed people, and also a lot of people have slender faces. On the other hand, Eskimos have the lowest rate of TB. This is because most of them are right-handed and also have robust facial features.

The team mentioned the need for more studies on this topic before they can make a connection between the three elements. Now, people will just have to wait and see what new correlations appear between left-handedness and seemingly random things.

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A 2017 study that examined health data from 2014 recently revealed the top 5 preventable life shorteners in the U.S.

A 2017 study that examined health data from 2014 recently revealed the top 5 preventable life shorteners and causes of death in the United States. Working together, a team of researchers from the Cleveland Clinic and New York University School of Medicine established the following top 5. Obesity, diabetes, tobacco use, high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol, in that order, are shortening life spans across the nation.

Obesity Takes the Lead as the Top Life Shorteners

While tobacco once topped the list of preventable ways Americans die, obesity has now surpassed it. This tops the list of deadly life choices, shortening life spans by 47% more years than tobacco. These results are seemingly not surprising.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity has been steadily rising since 1997. Then, 19.4% of the Americans over the age of 20 were obese. By 2015, that number had increased to 30.4%.

Diabetes came in second on the list. This too, is unsurprising, as obesity is on the rise and is “the single best predictor of type 2 diabetes.” Tobacco use and hypertension can shorten the life by almost the same amount. High cholesterol levels rounded out the top 5 preventable causes of death.

This study confirms that lifestyle choices are, in fact, linked to longevity. It is an excellent reminder that people have significant control over their health. It is possible to prevent or control every one of the life shorteners on this list. Though dangerous, high cholesterol and blood pressure respond to lifestyle changes.

Diabetes, too, can be managed and controlled. A study conducted by the National Institutes of Health showed that those with risk factors for diabetes reduced their likelihood of becoming diabetic by 58% through lifestyle changes.

Obesity can also be mastered with such changes, and tobacco use is always optional. The fact that this latter is no longer the nation’s top preventable killer proves that unhealthy habits can be altered. Medical science already knows how to prevent and control the killers on this list. This serves as an important guide detailing which unhealthy habits America needs to focus on defeating.

In short, this study sheds light on the preventable ways people are shortening their lives. Because each of these life shorteners is preventable, identifying them gives doctors and their patients the information they need to make healthier choices. Doing so can avoid or minimize the risks presented by such issues.

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Choline is an essential nutrient for the body but can also come with some health risks.

Choline or C5H14NO is an essential nutrient that helps the body utilize fats and cholesterol. Specifically, it stops fats from accumulating in the liver and helps them get into the cells. C5H14NO is necessary for the health of the liver, the kidneys and the protective myelin sheathing around the nerve cells.

A 1983 study seemed to link C5H14NO to heart disease. Dietary choline comes in the form of phosphatidylcholine, or lecithin. Some medical researchers believe that when it reaches the gut, the bacteria there turn it into C5H14NO and a gas called trimethylamine.

The latter is then sent to the liver. This detoxifies it and turns it into a compound called trimethylamine oxide, or TMAO. It’s this latter, the researchers claim, that causes heart problem risks.

Now, a new research from Cleveland Clinic specialists took a further look at the effects of C5H14NO. Study results were released in a paper in the Circulation journal.

New Study Links Choline To The Increase In Blod Cloths

The study involved 18 volunteers and was led by Dr. Stanley Hazen. All the research participants were given choline supplements or 500 mg on a daily basis. Reportedly, after a month, the blood of the participants was more likely to clot.

This was determined as the team analyzed the volunteers’ TMAO levels. These were seen to have a ten-fold increase. At least when compared to their levels before the study. Dr. Hazen stated that the TMAO probably “supercharges” the platelet function. More exactly:

“What is clear from this study is if you increase the choline in your diet, the TMAO level goes up and that changes your platelet function.”

However, there are still many variables that must be taken into account. For example, the team stated that vegan or vegetarian participants had lower choline levels even after taking the supplements. This is because C5H14NO is more common in meats, eggs, and dairy. It is also abundant in foods such as liver, red meats, or egg yolks, among others.

Also, the research team pointed out the following facts. Taking the supplements did not actually increase the participants’ risk of heart problems. However, it did raise their TMAO and their risk of developing blood clots. The researchers stated that their study is based on a small number of participants and was not that long. Not enough to determine a link between choline and heart disease.

As it is, more studies on the matter are needed. Choline is still an essential nutrient as it was shown that, in low levels, it does actually lead to heart problems, among others. Still, the team states that people should not consume excessive C5H14NO. The substance can be naturally taken in from foods, and supplements should be used only if prescribed by the doctor.

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A study from University of Pennsylvania researchers brought came with new data on the brain stimulation treatment.

To date, an effective solution for memory loss hasn’t been identified. As it is, a recent study from University of Pennsylvania researchers has sparked new life into a brain stimulation treatment previously disputed as only marginally beneficial.

The study, published in Current Biology, brings the world one step closer to solving memory loss in patients with epilepsy, brain trauma, or dementia.

It’s All in the Timing of the Brain Stimulation

This research was part of the Department of Defense’s Restoring Active Memory initiative. The goal of the four-year program is to develop an implantable device capable of restoring memory function.

While this study targeted and was completed for epilepsy patients, the DOD got involved due to the memory loss problems exhibited by soldiers who suffered traumatic head injuries.

The research team examined the process of deep brain stimulation using implanted electrodes. Previous attempts with this method showed mixed results. In some cases, it improved memory. However, the same pulses also worsened the recall is some of the instances. This study cleared up the confusion by proving that the effectiveness depends on the timing.

When the electric stimulation was delivered during a memory loss moment, the patients’ memory actually benefited from it. At the same time, when their memory was functioning well and they went through with the procedure, the electrical impulses seemed to impair their recall. As such, the team determined that the deep brain stimulation improved the memory function only if administered at the right moment.

This research could bring the “closed loop” treatment one step forward towards being used. A closed loop system of implanted electrodes works by monitoring the brain function in memory areas. As it does so, it also delivers a pulse. But only when the function is low. These sensitive systems could help bring the subtle difference needed for memory improvement.

This study could represent a turning point in neuroscience. The puzzle of the deep brain stimulation’s complicated nature could be one step closer to clarification. More research is needed to distil this concept into an actual therapy.

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Adult ADHD is a mental health condition characterized by difficulty maintaining attention.

Adult ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a mental health condition characterized by difficulty maintaining attention. Currently, it affects more than 3 million people in the United States each year.
Since the cardinal symptoms of ADHD include trouble focusing, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior, Adult ADHD has a profound impact on life activities. Persons with this disorder report relationship difficulties and a poor work performance. They are characterized as being impulsive and having a risk-taking behavior.

Brief Account of Adult ADHD

Some problems linked to inattention include making careless mistakes, having trouble organizing activities, and losing necessary materials. Many adults attribute such difficulties to a lack of energy, forgetfulness or other issues.

These are also erroneously associated with an advancing age. Some have even engineered their lives to avoid activities requiring a high degree of focus. Other adults have underlying medical issues such as untreated diabetes or thyroid issues that make completing tasks difficult.

For these reasons, consulting with a licensed psychologist, psychiatrist, or other professionals with specialized ADHD training is of particular importance. In an adult, hyperactivity can take the form of fidgeting, interrupting during conversations, or restlessness.

Between 10% and 60% of children become adults with ADHD. Those who have this condition and are not diagnosed until adulthood must have exhibited inattentive or impulsive behavior before age 12 to receive a formal diagnosis of ADHD as an adult. Although a variety of factors, ranging from gluten sensitivity to parenting techniques, have been blamed for ADHD, a recent study has linked it to brain structure differences. This was determined by using medical imaging.

Adult ADHD is a relatively common condition that is completely treatable with talk therapy, medication or, most often, a combination approach. If you think that either a loved one or yourself are affected, you need to see a licensed specialist for screening and a possible treatment.

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A new study claims that running can allegedly help prolong the life expectancy by around 3 years.

A new study claims that running can allegedly help prolong one’s life. The researchers state that only two hours of such an exercise per week can help expand one’s lifespan with about three years. Reportedly, neither the speed nor the mileages of the run will matter.

The new research was carried out by Iowa State University scientists. They published their results in the Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases. For their study, the team re-analyzed information and data gathered by previous researchers carried out at the Cooper Institute in Dallas, Texas some three years ago.

These found that running on a weekly basis for some 5 to 10 minutes every day at about less than 6 miles per hour can reduce the mortality risk by even up to 30 percent.

Running Is Reportedly Beneficial Even If Performed At A Slow, Or Rather Short Rate

Now, this new study echoes and reinstates some of the original findings and also comes with new information. For example, they found that the actual pace or mileage of a run do not actually matter. Instead, just the physical activity in itself is enough to reduce the risk of premature death. This was estimated to fall by about 40 percent.

The research team then introduced factors such as drinking, smoking, or various health problems. Nonetheless, the findings still ‘held true’ even in such cases.

Based on the previously gathered data, the team also went to establish that runners engaging in such a physical activity for 2 hours every week, could significantly expand their life expectancy. This could grow by three years or even more. Also, this would translate into less than 6 months of actual running over a 40-years period.

However, people should not expect a further addition in years, no matter how much they run. The team also stated that are as yet unsure what actually cause these benefits, or of why running can extend the life expectancy. They offered the lifestyle as a potential reason, but more research on the matter is still needed.

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A new study went to discover the reasons why bed bugs are becoming harder to kill.

A new study went to discover the reasons why bed bugs are becoming harder to kill. According to this research, these have seemingly become more resistant to most common insecticides used to terminate them.

Research results were released earlier this week in The Journal of Economic Entomology. The study team found bed bugs have started showing a lower susceptibility to most pesticides, especially to the two most common ones. These latter are known to contain bifenthrin and chlorfenapyr.

This Is The First Study To Point Out The Increased Pesticide Resistance Of The Bed Bugs

In order to confirm their theory, the research team tested 10 bedbug species. These were collected from across several states including Virginia, Tennessee, New Jersey, and Ohio. They were also gathered from Indiana and Washington DC. Then, the researchers subjected the collected specimens to a pesticide treatment.

Also, the team used a strain known to be susceptible to these insecticides as a control group. As such, they compared the impact of bifenthrin and chlorfenapyr on the two groups. The study went to verify how long it took before their effects started to kick in.

As it is, research noted that killing the collected specimens required a higher concentration of insecticides when compared to the control group. The bugs in this latter group died three days after being exposed to bifenthrin. It also took seven days before their exposure to chlorfenapyr killed them.

However, both these time frames were stretched out in the case of the 10 test populations. These took longer to perish after being exposed to the same quantity of such pesticides. Nonetheless, the research team pointed out as follows.

These ‘pesky insects’ are not unstoppable. “[…], both bifenthrin and chlorfenapyr should be integrated with other methods used for bed bug elimination in order to preserve their efficiency in the long term.”

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A new study believes to have found a new way of ameliorating Parkinson symptoms.

A new study believes to have found a way of ameliorating Parkinson symptoms. The research team considers that it may be able to do so by injecting a modified virus into a specific brain part. By doing so, they should be able to reprogram cells in order to help treat the disease.

People who have Parkinson’s disease have trouble controlling their movements. According to research, this happens as some of their dopamine-producing neurons start dying off. Dopamine is seen as a brain signaling chemical.

Now, this latest study proposes a new way of replacing such neurons. Research was carried out by a team of Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden scientists. They published their results in a paper in the Nature Biotechnology journal.

The research team, led by Ernest Arenas, tested its new method in lab tests on mice. These latter had already lost their brain’s dopamine neurons.

Parkinson Symptoms Could Reportedly Be Reduced, Even Treated, With Help From This New Method

The researchers stated that they injected the study mice with a specifically modified virus. This latter was engineered so as to carry 4 exact genes. These were used for reprogramming astrocytes which are also seen as the support cells of the brain. They were then turned into dopamine-producing neurons. Some 5 weeks later, the researchers started seeing an improvement in the way in which the mice moved.

“They walked better, and their gait showed less asymmetry than controls”. This is according to Arenas, the study lead.

The research team stated that the effects of its virus were only localized in the specific injection area. They did not notice astrocytes turning into dopamine-producing neurons in any other brain region. Also, they did not observe any adverse reactions nor did they see signs of tumors or other such counter effects.

As it is, the team stated that it would have to improve the technique and carry out careful safety checks before even trying such a technique on humans. Nonetheless, preliminary tests found that it may potentially be useful in humans as well.

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