The double face of fentanyl: the neuronal basis of opioid addiction

Fentanyl is a particularly powerful synthetic opioid. Diverted from its original medical use, it has become a deadly drug responsible for three-quarters of overdose deaths in the United States. Yet, our knowledge of the impact of opioids on the brain remains incomplete. By deciphering the neuronal mechanisms involved, a team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) has discovered that…

Paleolithic diets are not without risks

High-protein diets, known as ‘‘Paleolithic diets’’, are popular. Using mouse models, scientists at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) have studied their impact. While effective in regulating weight and stabilizing diabetes, these diets are not without risks. Excess protein greatly increases ammonium production, overwhelming the liver. Excess ammonium can cause neurological disorders and, in severe cases, lead to coma. These results, published…

Religious Leaders Blamed for Hindering Efforts to Curb Teenage Pregnancies in Uganda

Stakeholders from civil society organizations, politicians, and the medical fraternity have criticized religious leaders for hindering campaigns aimed at reducing rampant teenage pregnancies in Uganda. This criticism was voiced during the Kigezi Regional Dialogue on Sexual Reproductive Health Rights, organized by the Non-Governmental Organization Local Sustainable Communities (LOSCO) at White Horse Inn, Kabale. Kabale District…

Everything you need to know about the brain-eating amoeba that’s killed three children in Kerala

Although deaths from amoebic meningoencephalitis are rare, they could become more common because of climate change. 18 July 2024 By Linda Geddes After three children in Kerala, India, died, and a fourth was infected, the “brain-eating amoeba” Naegleria fowleri is back in the spotlight.  Each year, sporadic cases are reported in hot and humid areas of…

New Bereavement Care Service Launched for Families Grieving Terminal Illness Losses

Families grieving for relatives who succumbed to terminal illnesses can benefit from a new grief and bereavement care service being piloted by palliative care providers. Iddi Matovu, a Public Health Specialist at Kitovu Mobile in Masaka, explained that they embarked on research to support caregivers and relatives after realizing many suffer profound agony and sometimes…