What is it like to spend a night in a sleep lab? How easy is it to sleep hooked up to numerous cables? And is there a link between the microbiome and sleep? Sleep is an essential part of our daily routine and health. Lack of sleep can be detrimental to our well-being. Insomnia is

Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in Cambridge, may have found a combination of drugs that can relieve the pain of passing a kidney stone. They performed their study in pigs. Share on PinterestNew research may help alleviate kidney stone pain. Anyone who has ever passed a kidney stone knows that it can

A recent analysis of gender differences in research reporting has found that female scientists are less likely to use positive language to frame their findings than their male counterparts. Share on PinterestThere are some key gender differences in the way that scientists present their findings. Clinical articles with male first or last authors were more

There is a vast literature on the mysterious placebo effect. The latest paper to join this throng investigates how personality traits might play a role. According to the authors, optimism seems to enhance the effect. Share on PinterestA recent study dives into the murky phenomenon of the placebo effect. The placebo effect describes a beneficial

Rare diseases are by their very nature obscure and unknown, falling through the cracks when it comes to research budgets and treatment development. But now, a study has shown they are more common than we think. New research shows that rare diseases are not that rare. The United States classifies a rare disease as one

Atopic dermatitis is a common form of eczema that affects millions of people in the United States. Now, a new proof-of-concept study suggests that a novel drug could relieve symptoms after just one dose. Share on PinterestA new treatment for atopic dermatitis shows promise in proof-of-concept trial. Researchers estimate that about 16.5 million adults in

We already have vaccines that prevent influenza, but there is a catch. Specialists have to keep creating vaccines that target specific flu strains if they want this preventive strategy to be effective. Can scientists create one flu vaccine to rule them all? Is a universal flu vaccine on the way? Influenza — which people commonly

A recent study concludes that medical research papers often do not describe placebos adequately. The authors believe that this could cause underreporting of harms and overreporting of benefits. A new study underlines the importance of explaining placebos more thoroughly. To find out whether a drug or medical intervention works, researchers must pit it against a

Sertraline, an antidepressant that doctors commonly prescribe, appears to work by reducing anxiety first and doesn’t start tackling depressive symptoms until weeks later. New research sheds fresh light on how antidepressants work. This was the main finding of a study on the use of antidepressants in primary care settings in the United Kingdom. The researchers

Researchers keep on developing new drugs to fight cancer, and while some are indeed effective, others never fulfill their promise. A new study now explains why many cancer drugs may not work in the way their developers think they do. But within the problem also lies the solution. A new study finds that many new

Millions of people around the world have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a condition that often has a significant impact on well-being and quality of life. New research from Israel outlines a new therapy option that could help people with OCD that does not respond to other treatments. Can magnetic stimulation work where other treatment options do

A recent study investigated “spin” in psychiatry and psychology research papers. The study authors found spin in more than half of the abstracts they analyzed. What impact might this have on doctors’ decisions? Many doctors only have time to read the abstract of a study. As news and media outlets compete for views, they can

A new clinical trial tests the benefits of an oral drug for people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and yields very promising results. Scientists may now have a medication for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In the United States, 30–40% of all adults are living with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In Europe, 20–30% of the

Researchers from the United Kingdom have appraised the most recent assessment by the European Food Safety Authority regarding the safety of aspartame, a popular type of artificial sweetener. The investigators caution that the commission’s findings may be misleading. Is aspartame really as safe as official reports claim? Some researchers are unsure. Aspartame is perhaps the

Despite evidence that some active substances in cannabis may support some aspects of health, many people who use this drug, and particularly those who smoke it, develop symptoms of dependence. A new clinical trial shows that a safer, cannabis-based medication can counter dependence. A safer cannabis extract could help users fight cannabis dependence, according to

People who experience acute migraine may soon find relief in a new treatment. The results of a clinical trial of a novel drug revealed that it can eliminate head pain and reduce other symptoms of migraine. New research uncovers the benefits of a novel drug for treating acute migraine. Many people with acute migraine rely

As medical researchers continue their efforts to improve human health, some are turning their attention to the ocean because they believe that the Earth’s seas might harbor novel disease-fighting chemistry. Could human health depend on the creatures of the ocean? The oceans cover more than two-thirds of Earth. As the adage goes, we know more

The media is rife with claims of breakthrough biomedical studies performed in animals. However, can animals ever faithfully model human health? What can animal models tell us about human health? Avid readers of medical news will be familiar with the widespread use of animal models in biomedical research. From nutrition to cancer research and studies

A phase 3 clinical trial testing esketamine nasal spray in the treatment of severe depression found the spray mostly safe and effective. The findings led to the recent FDA approval of this treatment. Despite this, other researchers caution that “more questions than answers” remain. A phase 3 clinical trial found esketamine nasal spray safe and

A drug that scientists originally developed to treat depression may have promise for the treatment of opioid withdrawal, researchers say. A new experimental drug may help reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms. Opioid withdrawal is a challenging experience, and although there are medications already on the market that can help curb the symptoms of withdrawal, these drugs

A minimally invasive surgical procedure that targets nerves leading to the kidneys could one day offer a safe way for some people to reduce their blood pressure medications. Scientists find a new way to optimize blood pressure control. Investigators have announced the 6-month results of an international clinical trial on the safety and effectiveness of

Laboratory and animal studies have suggested that the leukemia drug nilotinib could alleviate symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Now, using early results from a clinical trial in humans, scientists have worked out how the drug reduces toxic protein and raises dopamine levels in the brain. New research explains how a cancer drug increases levels of the

A new clinical trial has tested the ability of a little-studied, noninvasive brain stimulation technique to treat the symptoms of major depression. The results, so far, have been more than promising. A different type of electrical brain stimulation has shown much promise for the treatment of depression. Researchers from the University of North Carolina (UNC)

Researchers discover a drug that has the potential to stop sepsis before the condition reaches major organs and becomes fatal. A new preclinical trial of a sepsis drug brings hopeful results. Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when an existing infection — such as one that develops in a cut, a respiratory infection, or

A series of clinical trials have tested an experimental treatment for Parkinson’s disease that uses a novel approach: administering the drug straight into the brain via implanted ports. The leading researchers believe this may be a “breakthrough” therapeutic strategy for neurological conditions. Newly trialed therapy could launch a fresh chapter in the treatment of Parkinson’s

A preliminary clinical trial shows that stem cell transplantation, along with a tolerable dose of chemotherapy, is safe and more effective at slowing down multiple sclerosis than other existing therapies. Scientists were able to slow down MS progression in a new clinical trial using stem cell transplantation. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurodegenerative condition

Most sleeping pills are so strong that the sound of a fire alarm is unlikely to wake those who take them. However, a new study, published in the journal Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, proposes a safer alternative to these drugs. New research proposes a safer alternative to existing sleeping pills. One-third of adults in the

New research has revealed that targeted cognitive training can successfully reduce cognitive impairment in treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Altering certain neural pathways may improve cognitive ability in people with treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is one of the 15 leading causes of disability globally. In the United States, this condition affects more than 3 million people. Symptoms of schizophrenia