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Jan 06 2025HEALTH

Picking the Perfect Patient for Anti-Reflux Surgery

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can be effectively treated with surgical gastric fundoplication, a procedure that almost completely stops both acid and non-acid reflux. However, this surgery isn't always the best choice for everyone. Lasting side effects can sometimes outweigh the benefits. T

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Jan 06 2025HEALTH

The Glasgow Coma Scale: 50 Years of Simplifying Brain Injury Assessment

Half a century ago, the medical community got a game-changer. Sir Graham Teasdale and Bryan Jennett introduced the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) in The Lancet. They wanted a clear, easy-to-use tool to rate coma levels. Back then, doctors used different words for consciousness. It was confusing. The GCS c

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Jan 05 2025HEALTH

Is Surgery Enough? Fixing Kneecap Problems When Shape is Off

Patellar instability, where the kneecap slides out of place, is a common problem orthopedic surgeons face. One big reason for this is an unusual shape of the thighbone's groove, called trochlear dysplasia (TD). Doctors have been trying different operations to fix this. Two common ones are rebuilding

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Jan 05 2025SCIENCE

How Skin-Friendly Are Salicylate Esters? A Deep Dive into Their Absorption and Metabolism

Did you know that salicylate esters can behave quite differently when applied to the skin? You might think they're all the same because they share a similar structure, but their absorption and breakdown vary hugely. This variation makes assessing their safety a bit tricky. Salicylate esters are

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Jan 05 2025ENVIRONMENT

The Hidden Danger of Masks in Landfills: A Plant's Perspective

Imagine what happens when you toss a disposable face mask into a landfill. Scientists have been looking into this, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic led to a surge in mask use. They found that these masks can break down over time, releasing tiny pieces called microplastics and harmful chemicals

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Jan 05 2025HEALTH

Updating Cervical Cancer Detection: Is Hyperspectral Colposcopy the Next Big Thing?

Cervical cancer is a big concern, especially for young women. Current methods like Pap smears and colposcopy have limits. They depend on how skilled the doctor is, and sometimes they miss things. This study looked into a new tool called hyperspectral imaging. This tech combines regular images with s

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Jan 05 2025HEALTH

Comparing Two Bone Regrowth Membranes: Which One Works Better?

Imagine you're missing a tooth and the bone around that area needs help to grow back. Would you rather have a membrane made of gelatin and polylactic acid (GT/PLA) or one called Guidor®? This experiment involved 32 people who needed bone regrowth after losing a tooth. They were split into two groups

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Jan 05 2025HEALTH

California Puts Humans Back in Charge of Health Insurance Claims

Health insurance denials can be a nightmare for many people. Recently in California, over a quarter of health insurance claims were rejected. This is a common problem across the nation, making people angry with health care companies. Now, a new law ensures that AI can't be the sole reason for denyin

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Jan 05 2025POLITICS

Gender and Politics: Views on Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment, or SH, is when someone does or says things that make others feel uncomfortable, scared, or disrespected. A study from Spain looked into how political beliefs affect how people see SH, and how this differs between men and women. Researchers talked to students at a university in Sp

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Jan 05 2025HEALTH

New Hope for Psoriatic Arthritis: Latest Treatments and Challenges

Psoriatic arthritis, or PsA, is a complex inflammatory disease that can affect joints and skin, and it often comes with other health issues. Managing PsA is crucial to control the disease, prevent damage, and improve quality of life. Over time, many drugs have been developed to help. While some, lik

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