Great news for partners of celiac sufferers: you can kiss your partner without making them sick to their stomach. Since about 1 percent of the population has celiac disease and the symptoms can be dramatic, concern about inadvertent gluten transmission via kiss in not insignificant. Many partners of people with the condition have expressed concern about inadvertently transferring gluten to their loved one via kiss. A new study, presented at DDW2025 (Digestive Disease Week) in San Diego should pu ...read more
Fungi can be wonderful. Penicillium molds produce the antibiotic penicillin, which has saved untold lives by warding off bacterial infection. Psychedelic mushrooms alter the mind in profound and psychologically beneficial ways.But fungi have a dark side, too. Many parasitize and zombify other creatures, hijacking their bodies for gruesome, self-interested purposes — fortunately, humans have not yet made the list. Others, in stark contrast to penicillium, can cause severe infections. Here’s ...read more
In January 1922, Leonard Thompson was a teenager dying of diabetes in a Toronto hospital. There was no cure for diabetes, and most adolescents succumbed to the disease within a year of diagnosis.Thompson had endured diabetes for almost three years. The best physicians could advise was a near-starvation diet that reduced Thompson to only 65 pounds. His medical team agreed he was doomed. But then, Thompson received two injections of an experimental intervention— insulin. Within a day, his blood ...read more
If you’ve ever had a cold sore, the viral infection that caused it may lead to a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease down the line. A growing body of evidence suggests that herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) — a common virus that often results in cold sores — is linked to Alzheimer’s.Several studies have found a correlation between HSV-1 infection and tau proteins, which play a major role in Alzheimer's progression. Find out what can happen inside your aging brain after catching th ...read more
Stumbling upon your grandmother’s colorful pillbox organizers or custom-made blister packs might leave you impressed — how does she keep track of all those differently shaped and colored pills, each taken at different times of the day? What seems like a simple routine is often a logistical challenge, and for many, keeping up with a strict medication schedule is easier said than done.A team of engineers at the University of California - San Diego may have found a solution. They’ve developed ...read more
Author Vishay SinghPosted on Categories Discover Magazine