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Brain protein mutation from an autistic person alters behavior in mice

A de novo gene mutation that encodes a brain protein in a child with autism has been placed into the brains of mice.

24 Jul 2019

Recreational drugs more likely to be tried for the first time in summer, study shows

American teenagers and adults are more likely to try illegal or recreational drugs for the first time in the summer, a new study shows.

23 Jul 2019

Continuation of community-wide HIV testing could lead to reductions in new HIV cases

Continuation of community-wide HIV testing and prompt initiation of treatment as delivered in the HPTN 071 study in South Africa and Zambia could lead to substantial reductions in new HIV cases, be cost-effective, and help to achieve the UNAIDS 2030 targets, according to projections from mathematical modeling and cost-effectiveness analyses presented today at the 10th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science in Mexico City.

23 Jul 2019

How the Eastern Cherokee took control of their health care

Light pours through large windows and glass ceilings of the Cherokee Indian Hospital onto a fireplace, a waterfall and murals.

22 Jul 2019

Patients' physical health often overlooked in pursuit of treating the mind, finds study

The 18-year life expectancy gap between people with mental illness and the general population can only be bridged by protecting patients' physical and mental health, according to a new study.

19 Jul 2019

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Biden doubles down on Obamacare

Former Vice President Joe Biden has said if he's elected president he would build on the Affordable Care Act rather than move to a whole new health care system, such as the "Medicare for All" plan supported by some of his primary opponents for the Democratic nomination.

19 Jul 2019

Video games may help teens manage emotions

Video games have been blamed for emotional damage and numerous behavioural problems in children and teenagers. A new study turned it all around by using video games for an emotional intelligence training program and found that exposure to these games could help these adolescents express and manage their emotions better after the training.

15 Jul 2019

Biden calling ACA ‘breakthrough’ for mental health parity highlights gaps

In a sit-down interview with CNN, 2020 Democratic presidential primary candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden touted the Obama administration's passage of the Affordable Care Act, asserting that this law evened out the playing field when it came to insurance coverage of mental and physical health.

11 Jul 2019

Gay men in China eight times more likely to face social discrimination

A new study highlights the importance of social and emotional support in homosexual men. Young adult gay men in China were found to be eight times more likely to feel rejected and criticized, fueling feelings of interpersonal sensitivity and loneliness.

10 Jul 2019

Medicare going in ‘right direction’ on opioid epidemic

Prescriptions for two drugs used to treat opioid addiction increased significantly from 2016 to 2018 for people on Medicare, according to a federal report out Wednesday.

10 Jul 2019

Study: One in five university students affected by problematic smartphone use

A survey of more than 3,400 university students in the USA has found that one in five respondents reported problematic smartphone use.

8 Jul 2019

Sobering up: In an alcohol-soaked nation, more seek booze-free social spaces

Not far from the Anheuser-Busch brewery, Joshua Grigaitis fills a cooler with bottles and cans in one of the city's oldest bars.

8 Jul 2019

Florida is the latest Republican-led state to adopt clean needle exchanges

A green van was parked on the edge of downtown Miami, on a corner shadowed by overpasses. The vehicle serves as a mobile health clinic and syringe exchange, where people who inject drugs like heroin and fentanyl could swap dirty needles for fresh ones.

2 Jul 2019

Breaking the barriers for transgender health care

Transgender care is swiftly evolving, and primary care providers face a greater need to be clear about their roles and when to seek the support of specialists, according to the latest review by Mount Sinai experts in the field of transgender medicine.

2 Jul 2019

New research examines whether effects of alcohol/pregnancy policies vary by race

In the U.S. state policies pertaining to alcohol use during pregnancy have been in effect for more than 40 years.

1 Jul 2019

Teens who can describe negative emotions are better protected against depression

Teenagers who can describe their negative emotions in precise and nuanced ways are better protected against depression than their peers who can't.

29 Jun 2019

Universal health care for New Yorkers? Not exactly

On Wednesday, 10 Democratic presidential candidates were asked to raise their hands if they would abolish private health insurance in favor of a government-run option. Just two said they would: Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City.

28 Jun 2019

Cedars-Sinai pharmacist offers advice for safely discarding unused medications

Every year, millions of Americans misuse or abuse prescription medications, sometimes leading to emergency room visits, addiction or even death. The problem has worsened amid the ongoing opioid crisis.

27 Jun 2019

Meth in the morning, heroin at night: Inside the seesaw struggle of dual addiction

In the 25 years since she snorted her first line of meth at a club in San Francisco, Kim has redefined "normal" so many times. At first, she said, it seemed like meth brought her back to her true self — the person she was before her parents divorced, and before her stepfather moved in.

24 Jun 2019

Federal grants ‘a lifesaver’ in opioid fight, but states still struggle to curb meth

In his 40 years of working with people struggling with addiction, David Crowe has seen various drugs fade in and out of popularity in Pennsylvania's Crawford County.

17 Jun 2019