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Added on the 10/08/2016 22:05:22 - Copyright : Wochit
A man’s experiment with DIY prescription drug withdrawal and psychedelic mushrooms went disastrously wrong and nearly killed him. Gizmodo reports the man had wanted to wean himself off prescribed medications for his bipolar disorder. He also had a history of opioid dependence. After boiling the 'magic' mushrooms, the man injected a 'tea' made from the mushrooms into his veins. Soon after, he developed symptoms including lethargy, jaundice, diarrhea, and nausea, along with vomiting up blood. When he was admitted to a hospital ICU, multiple organs had started to fail, including his lungs and kidney. Tests revealed that he had both bacterial and fungal infections. The mushrooms he injected were now literally feeding off him and growing. Among other treatments, he was given an intense course of antibiotics and antifungal drugs. It took 22 days in the hospital to recover.
A new study says better heart health in middle age may help reduce a person's risk significantly for dementia later in life. Researchers at Sweden's Karolinska Institute studied 1,449 Finns enrolled in the Finnish Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Dementia study. Adults with 'ideal' results on several cardiovascular health metrics were found to be 86% less likely to be diagnosed with dementia than those with lower scores. According to UPI, the metrics considered included smoking history, engagement in physical activity, body weight, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure. The findings suggest that maintaining lifelong heart health by not smoking, exercising regularly, and staying slim may reduce dementia risk later in life.
Gizmodo reports certain bacteria spread by cat scratches and other animal exposures can sometimes have a dramatic impact on the brain. A new study profiles a group of patients with psychiatric illness who simultaneously showed signs of infection from bacteria called Bartonella. Bartonella bacteria aren’t usually linked to serious illness in people. But certain groups, like those immunocompromised, might be more vulnerable generally. The rod-shaped Bartonella bacteria can survive and replicate inside other cells, much like viruses. This ability allows them to evade conventional tests for detecting infection and makes it harder for antibiotics to kill them. Bartonella henselae is the most commonly seen infection in humans and causes cat scratch disease--also called cat scratch fever. Despite the name, B. henselae and other disease-causing Bartonella can be spread through dogs and other mammals, and parasites like ticks, fleas, and lice. I
Scientists have identified the brain's 'signature' for major depression. According to UPI, Japanese researchers used machine learning to ID distinct patterns of coordinated brain activity in people with major depressive disorder. Major depression is fairly easy to diagnose. However, the researchers say a better understanding of the brain networks associated with the disease could improve treatment. The new brain network signature could serve as a foundation for discovering brain network patterns associated with different types of depression. It could also reveal relationships between depression and other disorders.