Twinning to Understand the Impact of Food

New research published in JAMA Network Open involved identical twins on an eight-week dietary trial comparing vegan and omnivorous diets. The vegan group experienced notable health benefits: a 10-15% reduction in LDL cholesterol, 25% lower insulin levels, and a 3% weight loss. This study, unique for using genetically identical twins, highlighted the efficacy of a plant-based diet in improving cardiovascular markers and suggested even partial dietary shifts away from animal products can be beneficial. The findings underscore the potential health advantages of vegan diets while acknowledging the challenges of dietary changes. One identical twin went vegan while the other didn't. See what happened | CNN.

The Rising Tide of Autoimmunity

The article Autoimmunity Has Reached Epidemic Levels. We Need Urgent Action to Address It | Scientific American highlights the alarming increase in autoimmune diseases, now considered an epidemic. It emphasizes the urgent need for action to address this growing health crisis. Autoimmune conditions, where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body, affect an increasing number of people worldwide. The article calls for more research, better public awareness, and improved healthcare strategies to combat these diseases. It underscores the importance of understanding environmental triggers and genetic factors contributing to this surge, advocating for a comprehensive approach to tackle the autoimmune epidemic

A Bitter Truth

"Artificial sweeteners were originally intended to stave off the increasing obesity and metabolic disease epidemic, but instead, they may have directly contributed to it." Artificial Sweeteners May Have Despicable Impacts on Gut Microbes - Scientific American Blog Network delves into the potentially harmful effects of artificial sweeteners on gut microbes. It highlights a study suggesting that these sugar substitutes can inhibit the growth of certain beneficial gut bacteria. This disruption may lead to negative health consequences, as a healthy gut microbiome is crucial for overall well-being. The article underscores the importance of further research to fully understand the impact of artificial sweeteners on our gut health and the broader implications for our diet and lifestyle choices.

AI Travel Tips

Who has "packing a suitcase" on their valuable applications of AI Bingo Card? I certainly didn't. AI Teaches Robots the Best Way to Pack a Car, a Suitcase--Or a Rocket to Mars | Scientific American.

What Ails the NHS

Many people (including me) believe a single-payer system is the only way out of the United State's current healthcare morass. Detractors often point to the issues facing Britain's National Health Service (NHS). The New York Times had an interesting opinion on the origins of the current problems with the British System. As with everything in healthcare, the issue is far more complicated than it first appears: Opinion | Britain Ruined One of the Best Healthcare Systems in the World - The New York Times (gift article).

CVS's New Prescription for Pricing

CVS Health has announced a significant shift in pricing prescription drugs, aiming to simplify and make a traditionally complex system more transparent. Set to launch on January 1, 2025, for commercial payers, the new model, named CVS CostVantage, will calculate drug prices and pharmacy reimbursements using a precise formula. This formula includes the cost of the drug, a defined markup, and a dispensing fee. While this change may not uniformly reduce the cost of all medications, it is expected to generally lower prescription costs for consumers, employers, and health insurers. This initiative follows years of criticism over the U.S. healthcare system's lack of clarity and inflated prices. CVS's move mirrors a similar approach by Mark Cuban's online pharmacy, Cost Plus Drugs, which also aims to reduce medicine prices by selling them at a set markup over cost, plus pharmacy fees. Count me as skeptical that the change will benefit consumers. CVS Says It Will Change the Way Its Pharmacies Are Paid - The New York Times (gift article).

Scientific Grounds

A recent study has brewed up a simple yet effective solution to the messy business of coffee grinding. The research, focusing on the role of moisture in reducing static electricity in coffee grounds, found that a spritz of water on beans before grinding can significantly reduce static. This makes for a tidier grinding process and results in a more consistent and stronger-tasting espresso shot. The study, published in the journal Matter, is a part of the growing field of coffee science, which combines diverse disciplines to enhance our understanding of coffee preparation. Interestingly, the collaboration began through a shared interest in electric charge buildup, a common thread between coffee grinding and volcanic eruptions. This interdisciplinary approach led to the discovery that moisture levels in coffee beans play a crucial role in how they accumulate electric charge during grinding, with lighter roasts gaining less static due to higher internal moisture. The practical takeaway from this study is clear: a little water can go a long way in improving both the cleanliness of coffee grinding and the quality of the brew. There's a better way to grind the coffee, according to science - The Washington Post (gift article).

F-Bombs

Expletive use is on the rise. I present to you A very short history of the F-word - Big Think.

Present Tense

"Traumatic memories are not experienced as memories as such," but as "fragments of prior events, subjugating the present moment." A recent study in Nature Neuroscience delves into the unique neural mechanisms of traumatic memories, which may illuminate why they are so vivid and intrusive. Researchers at Yale University and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai conducted brain scans on 28 individuals with PTSD, analyzing their responses to recorded narrations of their memories, ranging from neutral to traumatic. The study revealed that traumatic memories engage the posterior cingulate cortex, a brain area typically involved in introspection or daydreaming. This groundbreaking research offers new insights into the workings of PTSD, suggesting that traumatic memories are processed as ongoing experiences, thereby explaining their persistent and disruptive nature in everyday life. Brain Study Suggests Traumatic Memories Are Processed as Present Experience - The New York Times (gift article).

Harvard's Morgue Mystery

In a shocking scandal at Harvard, the Anatomical Gift Program, where people donate their bodies for scientific study, was exploited for a macabre trade. Cedric Lodge, the morgue manager, along with several others, was indicted for stealing body parts and selling them to oddity collectors. Families who had donated their loved one's body were horrified to discover that the remains might have been part of this gruesome trade. This betrayal of trust at such a prestigious institution has left many in disbelief and mourning, questioning the integrity of body donation programs and the dark underbelly of oddity collecting. Inside The Harvard Morgue Scandal: Missing Body Parts, Mourning Families.