News at a glance: Hong Kong’s high COVID-19 death rate, Biden’s ‘test and treat,’ and a ResearchGate lawsuit | Science

THERAPEUTICS Big COVID-19 trial notches another effective drug The world’s largest study of COVID-19 treatments has yielded another drug that can reduce mortality. On 3 March, researchers with the United Kingdom’s Recovery trial announced that baricitinib, an oral drug that dampens an overactive immune system and is commonly used by people with rheumatoid arthritis, reduced … Read more

Covid-19 news: Arthritis drug shows promise to treat severe cases

By Michael Le Page, Clare Wilson, Jessica Hamzelou, Sam Wong, Graham Lawton, Adam Vaughan, Conrad Quilty-Harper, Jason Arunn Murugesu, Layal Liverpool, Carissa Wong, Alex Wilkins and Alexandra Thompson Baricitinib Felipe caparros cruz/Alamy Latest coronavirus news as of 12pm on 4 March Immune-suppressing treatment reduces deaths even in people already taking existing covid-19 medicines Another treatment … Read more

There’s an Effective Way to Treat Gaming And Internet Addiction in Teens

Being unhealthily addicted to video games or the internet is now recognized by the World Health Organization‘s International Classification of Diseases, with adolescents particularly at risk – and as you might expect, the global coronavirus pandemic has made the situation worse.   With the disorders linked to mental health problems and poorer academic performance, researchers … Read more

Fat Cells in Our Skin Could Be Key to Fighting Acne, Scientists Discover

The cells in our skin that fabricate fatty acids could play an unappreciated role in acne breakouts. Recent experiments on human acne and mouse skin have found pimples and lesions are closely regulated by fat-producing fibroblasts.   Fibroblasts are the most common type of connective tissue cell we have in our bodies; they produce and … Read more

It is only human to treat the metaverse with scepticism – here’s why

Meta and Microsoft’s new virtual reality projects have been met with suspicion by many, but history has shown that people are often right to be wary of technological change, says James Ball Technology | Comment 16 February 2022 By James Ball Michelle D’urbano HARDLY a day goes by without some new claim promising to bring … Read more

A Common Over-The-Counter Drug Could Treat Long COVID, Case Study Reports

Two patients with long COVID in California have almost completely alleviated their symptoms by taking daily antihistamines, according to a newly published case report. While the evidence is anecdotal, the remarkable results aren’t without precedent, and the authors hope the stories they have detailed can give patients hope and point researchers in the right direction … Read more

Chimpanzees spotted apparently using insects to treat their wounds

Chimps at Loango National Park in Gabon apply small winged insects to their wounds in an apparent form of self-medication, but it is unclear why Life 7 February 2022 By Chen Ly Chimpanzees Suzee, Sassandra and Olive live in Loango National Park in Gabon Tobias Deschner/ Ozouga Chimpanzee Project A community of chimpanzees in Loango … Read more

Hemp-Derived Compound Offers Benefits of THC With Less Paranoia, Study Suggests

Over the past year, you may have seen something called delta-8 THC or “delta 8” appear in convenience stores and pharmacies alongside CBD gummies, oils, and lotions. Delta-8 THC is a hemp-derived compound that’s closely related to delta-9 THC – what’s commonly called THC and which is the psychoactive component of cannabis that’s responsible for … Read more

No hallucinations? LSD relatives appear to treat depression in mice, without obvious side effects | Science

More than 50 years after the Summer of Love, psychedelics are again the rage. This time the love comes from doctors beginning to embrace psychedelics such as LSD and psilocybin to treat depression, substance abuse, and other serious mental health conditions. But because the drugs cause hallucinations, their medical use requires intensive monitoring by clinicians. … Read more