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Elsevier


Erasing fear: A one-session treatment for phobia?

A new study published in Biological Psychiatry reports the successful reduction of fear in spider-fearful participants following a 2-minute exposure combined with a single dose of propranolol. The treatment resulted in drastically reduced avoidance behavior and increased approach behavior, with effects persisting for one year.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateDec 9, 2015

New schizophrenia treatments may be effective for subgroup of patients

A new study suggests that pomaglumetad methionil, a glutamate pathway target, may be an effective treatment for individuals in the early course of schizophrenia. Researchers found a statistically significant response in patients who are early-in-disease or have not already been exposed to other antipsychotic medications.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateDec 8, 2015

Cannabis increases the noise in your brain

A new study published in Biological Psychiatry suggests that cannabis use is associated with increased neural noise in healthy human subjects. The researchers found that delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary active constituent of cannabis, induces psychosis-like effects by increasing random brain activity.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateDec 3, 2015

High-quality foster care reduces chance of callous-emotional trait development for abandoned children

A study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry finds that high-quality foster care can reduce the development of callous-unemotional traits in adolescents who experienced parent deprivation. The intervention also showed benefits for boys, particularly those with sensitive caregiver responses.

SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·DateDec 1, 2015

New vaccine could prevent high cholesterol

A new vaccine has shown promise in reducing 'bad' LDL cholesterol levels in mice and macaques, suggesting potential as an alternative to statins. The vaccine targets the PCSK9 protein, which regulates cholesterol levels in the blood, offering a more powerful treatment with fewer side effects.

SourceElsevier·JournalVaccine·DateNov 10, 2015

Vanilla yogurt makes us feel happy, suggests research

A new study published in Food Research International found that eating vanilla yoghurt can make people feel happy due to the pleasant surprise of tasting a different flavor. Researchers discovered that yoghurts with lower fat content also elicit stronger positive emotional responses.

SourceElsevier·JournalFood Research International·DateNov 9, 2015

Better sleep and tai chi reduce inflammation and promote health

A new study published in Biological Psychiatry found that treatment for insomnia with cognitive behavioral therapy or tai chi reduces inflammation levels in older adults. These behavioral interventions also represent a third pillar, along with diet and physical activity, to promote health and reduce age-related morbidities.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateNov 5, 2015

New genetic risk marker for late-life depression

A new study finds that the APOE epsilon 4 allele is associated with an increased risk of late-life depression, even after controlling for Alzheimer's disease. The presence of this allele predicts future depression in older adults, highlighting its potential as a marker for prevention and early detection.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateNov 3, 2015

Could your job be making you obese?

A new study published in Social Science & Medicine suggests that having skills and freedom at work is linked to lower BMI and smaller waist size, while needing to make many decisions is linked to bigger waist size. The findings highlight the importance of considering job control components separately when assessing their impact on health.

SourceElsevier·JournalSocial Science & Medicine·DateOct 28, 2015

New technology uses smartphones and paper to analyze samples

A new study presents a portable smartphone-based detection system using a paper sensor that produces strong signals to detect pesticide thiram. The system integrates nanoparticles, a mini-laser, an optical filter, and software that runs on Android, giving reliable and accurate detection readings at low concentrations.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiosensors and Bioelectronics·DateOct 15, 2015

Children born in the summer more likely to be healthy adults

Research published in Heliyon found that women born in summer months were more likely to be healthy adults, with slightly higher birth weights and later onset of puberty. This effect is thought to be linked to increased vitamin D exposure during pregnancy, which can influence childhood growth and development.

SourceElsevier·JournalHeliyon·DateOct 12, 2015

Sex change hormonal treatments alter brain chemistry

A new study in Biological Psychiatry finds that hormonal treatments for sex reassignment alter brain chemistry, increasing serotonin levels in female-to-male transsexuals and decreasing them in male-to-female transsexuals. These changes may explain why testosterone improves symptoms in some forms of depression.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateOct 8, 2015

Could candle soot power electric vehicles?

New research shows that candle soot can be used to power the lithium batteries in electric cars, offering a cost-effective and scalable solution. The discovery opens up possibilities for using carbon in more powerful batteries, which could drive down production costs and increase efficiency.

SourceElsevier·JournalElectrochimica Acta·DateOct 7, 2015

Super yellow blends for light efficiency

Researchers have developed a polymer blend that significantly improves light output from LEDs by manipulating hole-mobility and exploiting the difference in energy levels of the polymers. The optimized device achieves an ultrahigh efficiency of approximately 27 candelas per amp, outperforming a similar device using only Super Yellow.

SourceElsevier·JournalMaterials Today·DateOct 6, 2015

Alzheimer's drug could prevent bone fractures

Researchers found that the Alzheimer's drug donepezil increases bone mass in mice by preventing osteoclasts from being made, reducing the risk of bone fractures. The study suggests that treating Alzheimer's disease with donepezil may also be beneficial for patients with osteoporosis.

SourceElsevier·JournalHeliyon·DateSep 21, 2015

New Ebola test could help curb disease spread

A new Ebola test using magnetic nanoparticles is 100 times more sensitive than current tests and easier to use, enabling faster isolation of patients and prevention of disease spread. This technology has potential applications in diagnosing other infectious diseases like flu and detecting tumors.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiosensors and Bioelectronics·DateSep 9, 2015

Do antipsychotic medications affect cortical thinning?

A meta-analysis of 1155 patients with schizophrenia and 911 healthy controls found progressive cortical gray matter loss relative to healthy controls, related to cumulative antipsychotic intake. Second-generation antipsychotics showed a neuroprotective effect, reducing progressive loss.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateSep 3, 2015

Research reveals link between age and opinions about video games

A study of 109 clinicians found that older participants are more likely to believe playing video games leads to violent behavior, highlighting a generational effect. The researchers suggest that parents can help bridge this gap by engaging with their children and trying out the games themselves.

SourceElsevier·JournalComputers in Human Behavior·DateAug 19, 2015