Tag: 2016-17

2016-17, Health, Psychology

The Correlation Between Smoking and Mental Health

by Jenna Mallon (’18) Since smoking affects different neurotransmitter systems throughout the body, it has been known to cause changes in mood and sleep patterns. Numerous studies have been done to determine the relationship between smoking and sleeping, but mental illnesses and mood changes have been greatly overlooked. Dr. Takahiro Kawada and a team of researchers from the Center for Regional Collaboration at Kochi University … Continue reading The Correlation Between Smoking and Mental Health

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2016-17, Biology, Medicine and Physiology

Exploring A Safer Steroid Therapy

by Aaron Gochman (’18) Most pharmacological approaches in the study of congenital adrenal hyperplasia involve the administration of corticosteroids, potent drugs that quickly affect the body. Extended use of corticosteroids, however, typically yields unpleasant metabolic side effects. Despite this weakness, corticosteroids have been the mainstream treatment in attempting to suppress adrenal androgen. However, scientists from the United Kingdom have discovered a novel approach: corticosterone, a … Continue reading Exploring A Safer Steroid Therapy

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2016-17

The Effect of Radiation Exposure on the Brain

by Jenna Mallon (’18) The effects of radiation exposure, whether from cell phones, power lines, or medical imaging systems such as x-rays, have been a focus of study for many researchers. There are concerns over the numerous health risks that can results from EM energy radiation exposure, since it affects the central nervous system. However, not all the side effects from radiation exposure are harmful. … Continue reading The Effect of Radiation Exposure on the Brain

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2016-17, Biology, Engineering, Medicine and Physiology

Hippo Biology: The Next Step in Tissue Regeneration

by Aaron Gochman (’18) Traditional studies of tissue regeneration and repair have focused on delivering cells and biomaterials, compounds that will presumably grow when placed in a biologically friendly environment. A new avenue for research, however, has been revealed by a Chinese group that has chosen to focus on drug-based therapeutics instead. The study detailed a discovery in which the team found a drug, XMU-MP-1, … Continue reading Hippo Biology: The Next Step in Tissue Regeneration

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2016-17, Medicine and Physiology, Pharmacology

The Effect of Acetaminophen on Pregnant Women

by Sahil Rawal (’19) Acetaminophen is a painkiller that is often used by pregnant women as an analgesic, as it is readily available over-the-counter. The CDC had previously deemed this drug safe, and it was shown to cause no major birth defects. However, there have been recent studies that have shown that acetaminophen may play a role in causing autism-like symptoms in children. As a … Continue reading The Effect of Acetaminophen on Pregnant Women

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2016-17, Medicine and Physiology, Psychology

Neurocognitive Development in Children with Epilepsy

by Lillian Pao (’18) Epilepsy affecting children is associated with neurophysiological and neurocognitive mechanisms. These children grow up with a weakened and less organized network structure in comparison to children without epilepsy. Prior studies have attempted to understand the neurocognitive functions in child epilepsy through eye movements. Unlike those that conducted previous studies, Professor Judith Lunn from Lancaster University in the United Kingdom, aimed to … Continue reading Neurocognitive Development in Children with Epilepsy

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2016-17, Medicine and Physiology

The Disadvantages of Opioids as Painkillers

by Sahil Rawal (’19) Opioids are one of the most commonly used painkillers in the United States. They have been shown to bind to opioid receptors and reduce the feeling of pain. However, there have been very few, if any, studies conducted that prove the negative aspects of opioids and how they may not actually relieve pain as well as we once believed. Dr. Grace … Continue reading The Disadvantages of Opioids as Painkillers

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2016-17, Technology

The Exploration of Stone Tools

by Lillian Pao (’18) Stone tools have been around for millions of years. It is a technology that has evolved with the hominin phenotype. About three million years ago, flake-making was mastered by the African hominins, followed by handaxes 1.75 million years ago, and custom complex stone reductions by 1.6 million years ago.  Professor Mark W. Moore from the University of New England and a … Continue reading The Exploration of Stone Tools

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2016-17, Medicine and Physiology

Aloe Vera May Be Beneficial For Diabetic Patients

by Sahil Rawal (’19) Diabetes mellitus is an epidemic that leads to many deaths every year. It is caused when a person’s blood sugars are too high, and can eventually lead to organ failure and death if left untreated. Billions of dollars each year are spent trying to find potential cures for this disease, but unfortunately most are to no avail. However, recent studies have … Continue reading Aloe Vera May Be Beneficial For Diabetic Patients

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2016-17, Environment

The Effects of Palm Oil Deforestation

by Lillian Pao (’18) Palm oil is harvested from the African oil palm cash crop and is used in cooking oil, fast foods, cosmetic products, and household cleaners. Because of the demand for these products, the production of palm oil in the humid tropics continues to increase and often leads to deforestation of tropical forests.  Professor Varsha Vijay from Duke University and his colleagues decided … Continue reading The Effects of Palm Oil Deforestation

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2016-17, Psychology

The Effect of Mindfulness on Adult Attachment

by Amanda Ng (’17) Much of the mental health profession, both today and in the past, has been focused on alleviating the psychological distress experienced by the everyday person, which is often anxiety or depression. An individual’s psychological well-being, or often lack thereof, can affect their cognitive and physical processes, leading to changes in their physical and mental health. The theory of attachment hypothesizes that … Continue reading The Effect of Mindfulness on Adult Attachment

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2016-17, Biology

Predicting Your Child’s Likelihood to Succeed

by Julia Newman (’19) The Journal of Molecular Psychiatry recently published research that suggests a factor of predictability in children’s educational achievement. Previous studies have assumed that variances among children’s school performances may be explained by one large difference in their genetic makeup, but Dr. Selzam and his team of researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience in London found that it is … Continue reading Predicting Your Child’s Likelihood to Succeed

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