Treating pain without opioids
Thousands of people die from opioid-related overdoses each year. Many of them started their addiction with prescriptions for pain. A new paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences may have found an alternative for nerve pain. This new compound reduces hypersensitivity and regulates the body’s integrated stress response without hitting any opioid receptors. Researchers are hopeful this treatment becomes the standard for chronic pain management. (University of Texas at Austin)
Is it hot in here?
The heat index estimates how hot the weather feels, which can differ from the actual temperature. However, scientists have found that the heat index in Texas has increased nearly three times faster than the measured temperature. On some extreme days, it can feel eight to 11 degrees hotter than what the thermometer says. Sadly, Texas isn’t the only state experiencing this wave, and many outdoor workers are at risk of over-heating and death, according to research in the journal Environmental Research Letters. (UC Berkeley)
Robots have taken over the operating room
The autonomous system for tumor resection, or ASTR, is a new system that can remove tumors from the tongue extremely accurately. This procedure is a challenge for surgeons due to factors like fatigue and visual obstructions in the head and neck area. Scientists from Johns Hopkins University have created this robotic system that overcomes these human obstacles. Physicians give ASTR pre-surgery inputs then supervise the procedure. The research is published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. (Johns Hopkins University)
You can’t trust your FitBit for accurate sleep measurements
New research in Smart Health reveals that this device underestimates total sleep time. The good news is that it accurately measures circadian rhythms, which are important factors in aging that are associated with cognitive decline and risk of dementia. (University of Texas at Austin)
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