Stigma felt by opioid-dependent moms impacts the health care received by their babies

The rate of opioid use among pregnant women in the United States quadrupled between 1999 and 2014 and continues to rise — an alarming trend that researchers from the University of Missouri and University of Iowa say has exposed the stigma felt by opioid-dependent mothers and how their shame has negatively impacted the health care received by their infants.

Wake Forest University School of Medicine Launches $100 Million Philanthropic Campaign for Research

Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, the academic core of Advocate Health, are launching their largest campaign for research. Designed with health equity at the forefront, funds raised in this campaign will transform health care for patients, communities and the next generation of health care leaders by integrating research with clinical care while enhancing the speed with which new ideas move from research labs to patients’ bedsides and beyond.

Researchers demonstrate novel technique to observe molten salt intrusion in nuclear-grade graphite

In response to a renewed international interest in molten salt reactors, researchers from the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a novel technique to visualize molten salt intrusion in graphite.

As People Live Longer, Family Caregivers Face Financial Challenges

Many people overlook the short- and long-term costs of financial caregiving, a growing problem that financial advisors and employers can help address, according to a new report by the TIAA Institute and the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (Penn Nursing).

Five unsafe skin care trends to avoid

Social media platforms are rife with skin care advice from a variety of sources, which can make it difficult to know how to approach the recommendations you find online. In recognition of National Healthy Skin Month this November, board-certified dermatologists are spotlighting unsafe skin care trends that they see on social media and elsewhere to help you keep your skin looking its best.

Markey Cancer Center study provides valuable insights into drivers of cancer risk

As people age, the DNA in their cells begins to accumulate genetic mutations. Mosaic chromosomal alterations (mCAs), a category of mutations acquired in blood cells, are linked with a 10-fold increased risk of developing blood cancer.  mCAs hold promise as a tool to identify people at high risk of developing certain cancers and diseases, but they have not yet been studied among a large, diverse cohort of people – a critical step required before such testing can be developed. University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center researcher Yasminka A. Jakubek, Ph.D., has led the first large-scale effort to understand the co-occurrence of mCAs among individuals of diverse ancestries. The study was published in Nature Genetics Oct. 30.

Nerve block can reduce need for postsurgical opioids

A preoperative nerve block used in combination with other medications can reduce the need for opioids to manage pain following spinal surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers found. The findings, published in European Spine Journal, suggest a way to lessen the reliance on opioids to reduce postoperative pain and help patients become ambulatory sooner.

UAlbany Expert Available to Discuss President Biden’s Executive Order on AI

ALBANY, N.Y. (Nov. 1, 2023) — On Monday, President Biden issued a new executive order on “Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence,” aimed at ensuring the United States leads the way in leveraging the promise of the technology, while also…

GW Experts Available: Britain Hosts World’s First Global AI Safety Summit

Britain is hosting the world’s first global artificial intelligence (AI) safety summit to examine the risks of AI and start an international dialogue on regulating the fast-moving technology, according to Reuters. World leaders, tech executives, academics and non-profits are meeting for…

Anxiety Sensitivity ‘What If’ Fears Impact Care for ICU Patients, During and After Hospitalization

Clinicians need to have a better understanding of the potential impact of patients’ anxiety sensitivity, or “fear of fear,” falsely believing that symptoms are the early signs of something bad, such as a heart attack, cognitive decline or social isolation.

Stress in America 2023: A nation grappling with psychological impacts of collective trauma

U.S. society appears to be experiencing the psychological impacts of a collective trauma in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the results of a new survey by the American Psychological Association. Psychologists warn that a superficial characterization of life being “back to normal” is obscuring the post-traumatic effects on mental and physical health.