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Dec 14 2024HEALTH

Mending Ear Deformities: A Creative Fix

Imagine you're born with a deformed ear, something called microtia. It's a common birth defect, and the 'concha-type' can be tricky to fix. Doctors in one study tackled this issue with a clever mix of triangular flaps and full-thickness skin grafts. These methods used the remaining ear tissue and fl

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Dec 14 2024SPORTS

Boxing vs Brain: A Look at Prefrontal Cortex Activity

Ever wondered how boxing affects the brain? Scientists at Atatürk University decided to find out. They tested both amateur boxers and healthy guys around the same age. The boxers had been at it for about 7 years, while the others hadn't done any fighting sports. The researchers used a special test

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Dec 14 2024BUSINESS

Health System: A CEO’s Call for Change After a Tragedy

In a New York Times op-ed, UnitedHealth Group's CEO, Andrew Witty, acknowledged problems in the health care system following the murder of CEO Brian Thompson. Witty condemned the online vitriol directed at the industry after the Dec. 4 shooting in Midtown Manhattan. The alleged shooter, 26-year-old

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Dec 14 2024CRIME

Nursing Home Empire’s Dark Side

Luigi Mangione, the man accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, comes from a wealthy family that runs a nursing home chain. This chain, Lorien Health Services, has a dark side. Despite being known for its luxurious amenities like restaurant-style dining and movie theaters, some of

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Dec 14 2024POLITICS

The UnitedHealthcare Tragedy: A Wake-up Call for Healthcare Reform

The death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has sparked a new push for healthcare reform. On December 8, Thompson was shot outside a Manhattan hotel where UnitedHealth Group held their annual investor conference. The suspect, Luigi Mangione, was arrested in Pennsylvania with a "ghost gun, " a s

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Dec 14 2024HEALTH

Thinking Changes After Surgery: What Happens When Treating Mild Cortisol Excess

Mild autonomous cortisol secretion, or MACS, is a condition where the body produces too much cortisol on its own. But how does this affect our thoughts and memory? A recent study set out to answer this question. They wanted to find out how MACS influences cognition and what factors might lead to low

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Dec 13 2024HEALTH

Tracking Kids' Health: A Fun and Informative Way

Health monitoring systems have been around for some time, but creating one tailored for school kids is a unique challenge. Researchers are on the hunt for the best methods to keep tabs on students' health from a young age. They've toyed with various plans and technologies to check in on students. Th

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Dec 13 2024ENTERTAINMENT

A Pop Music Treasure Trove: Unheard Michael Jackson Songs Discovered

It’s not every day that a stay-at-home dad stumbles upon music history. Recently, former California Highway Patrol officer Gregg Musgrove found himself in possession of a remarkable discovery. In an abandoned storage unit in the San Fernando Valley, Musgrove stumbled upon a treasure trove of unrelea

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Dec 13 2024HEALTH

Tracking Buprenorphine in Moms and Babies: A New Hair Testing Method

Pregnant women dealing with opioid use disorder often rely on Buprenorphine (BUP). Keeping an eye on how much BUP they're taking during pregnancy is super important. It helps make sure they're getting the right dose and staying healthy. One way to do this is by looking at hair samples. Hair can show

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Dec 13 2024SCIENCE

How Peripheral Signals Affect the Blood-Brain Barrier

The blood-brain barrier (BBB)—a vital structure made up of endothelial cells, pericytes, astrocytes, microglia, and neurons—plays a crucial role in protecting the brain. It's like a bouncer at a club, ensuring only the right stuff gets in and the wrong stuff stays out. But this barrier isn't static;

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