Arthritis, Lollipop Pregnancy Test, and Baby Consciousness

Arthritis is an umbrella term for numerous separate conditions that affect the joints of our musculoskeletal system. As damage accumulates in the joints, arthritis typically causes progressive symptoms, including decreased mobility, inflammation, and pain.

> Colorado orthopedic surgeon Dr. Nick Golinvaux tackles arthritis 101. (More)
> Visualize arthritis with this real knee surgery footage. (More)
> It's not in your head: Research indicates some people can "feel" weather changes in their joints. (More)

About one in five adults in the US has been diagnosed with some form of arthritis. The associated pain and dysfunction from arthritis are a leading cause of disability across the globe.

> Arthritis prevalence differs geographically. (More)

> Osteoarthritis—"wear and tear" arthritis—is the most common form. (More)

> See the makeup of a healthy knee joint. (More)

Currently, there is no cure for arthritis. Once the smooth cartilage surface is lost, it cannot be restored. This is an area of intense research, including hope for the use of stem cells, targeted antibodies, and even synthetic cartilage transplants. In general, if the cause is mechanical—such as in degenerative arthritis or post-traumatic arthritis—medications, physical therapy, braces, and injections are used to manage the pain. If the origin is inflammatory, various medications are available to reduce pain and improve mobility.

> Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder. (More)

> Recent research suggests a common arthritis drug may help combat hair loss. (More)

Discover more: 

> Renoir's rheumatoid arthritis forced him to adapt his painting techniques. (More)

> A 60-year experiment tested whether cracking knuckles boosts arthritis risk. (More)

> Kangaroos have strong knee joints and could provide lessons for humans. (More)
>... explore everything we've learned about Arthritis.

 News in Context 

1440 brings you the knowledge and context behind recent intriguing stories:

Millions of seniors are now receiving $90 payments from the Trump administration; it says about one-third of Medicare Part B enrollees, or 20 million people, are eligible for the rebate to help with their rising premium costs. (More)

> Why overall healthcare costs are sharply rising in America.

A lollipop-based pregnancy test may eventually help women with vision impairments independently test themselves; hormone-sensitive bumps form on the candy if pregnant. (More)

> What's hCG, the pregnancy hormone detected in pregnancy tests?

> You could technically be considered pregnant even before you had sex.

A new federal initiative says it will boost knowledge about vaccine safety with new research and other steps, including incentivizing reports of suspected vaccine-related injuries with physician reimbursements. (More)

> 65% of antivaccine posts on Facebook and X originated from just 12 individuals. 

An American public-private partnership will soon launch a cancer vaccine research program; the mRNA-based effort aims to treat cancers that are already present, not prevent disease. (More)

> Listen to how mRNA vaccines work to fight diseases like cancer.

> mRNA vaccines have downsides, including that they break down very easily.

 Medical Developments Spotlight 

We love spending time learning about the latest medical breakthroughs and spotlighting research that piques our interest, may influence future research directions, or inform healthcare conversations. Here's what we found this week.

A teen's testicular tissue was transplanted back into his body after chemotherapy; if he begins producing sperm, it will help validate this emerging approach for preserving male fertility.

The Guardian | Andrew Gregory. Although semen freezing is common for adolescent and adult males undergoing chemotherapy, this procedure—now performed for the second time—could provide options to preserve fertility for prepubescent boys who don't yet produce sperm. One testicular tissue transplant already had positive results earlier this year elsewhere in Europe. (More)

> See how men's overall sperm count and quality are down population-wide.

One in 15 cats may harbor the 'beaver fever' Giardia parasite, and nearly 1 in 5 of those infected cats can transmit the diarrhea-causing pathogen to humans.

ABC News | Allen Chang. The common parasite is sometimes called "beaver fever" because outbreaks in the 1970s were linked to contaminated water where beavers dwelled. Researchers tested feces from over 155,000 cats across North America to detect Giardia duodenalis, a microbe that can cause recurrent diarrhea in felines and humans. Young male cats, particularly in the Midwest, were most likely to harbor the parasite. (More)

> "Borborygmi" is the sound your body makes before intense diarrhea.

> See the full life cycle and images of Giardia duodenalis.

Among Parkinson's patients, eight or more hours of consistent weekly physical activity has been linked to a slower rate of mental and physical decline.

HealthDay | Dennis Thompson. The small improvements were discovered when researchers tracked almost 300 people with mild to moderate Parkinson's for up to seven years and asked them to report their estimated weekly physical movements and take annual tests evaluating their movement, thinking, and memory. The researchers theorize that the improvements may be due to improved blood flow to the brain or reduced inflammation. (More, paywall may apply)

> A woman smelled her husband's Parkinson's disease years ahead of symptoms.

 Etcetera 

> Scientists are scanning baby brains to pinpoint when consciousness emerges.

> Here's how inhalers dilate airways and reduce inflammation.

> Meditation brain waves may differ for advanced and beginner meditators. 

> Ignore all the hype on consuming collagen peptides—they show no proven benefit.

> A mother's quest led to a startling discovery about anesthesia complications.

> See where medical aid in dying is legal in the US for terminally ill patients.

> The two FDA-approved Alzheimer's blood tests come with false positive risks.

> Food poisoning cost the US economy more than $74B in 2023.

> Visualize America's loneliness and disconnection.

> Explore an interactive happiness map to learn what makes people happy.

> Why beeswax is used for some lip balms.

> Vaseline comes from petroleum.