Outside of the 16% of male-directed contraceptive techniques, contraception seems to primarily rely on the cooperation of females. As discussed by Medical Anthropologist Emily Martin in her rhetorical analysis, “The Egg and the Sperm”, an apparent history of gender stereotypes has been hidden and unaddressed in scientific research. At first glance, such stereotypes may not seem obvious; however, the disparity of gendered-contraception reveals a clear disproportion of social perspective on sex and responsibility. Both men and women are limited by the options of contraception in different ways, which may be fueled by societal biases in marketing and research.
As genetic testing grows in popularity, researchers have begun identifying specific alleles in the human genome related to a heritable aspect of endometriosis, a condition that affects more than one in ten women of reproductive age. Researchers are working to identify specific genetic biomarkers to more accurately diagnose and eventually treat endometriosis. This review will focus on new genetic biomarkers and their role in potential non-invasive diagnostic and possible treatment options.
Psychological stress is a significant risk factor for insulin resistance, and therefore Type II diabetes. Understanding how stress plays a role in insulin resistance would be valuable in gaining more insight into diabetes and feasible preventative and therapeutic approaches. This review will examine the known mechanisms of insulin resistance, shed light on the factors contributing to it, and specifically discuss how psychological stress influences the risks associated with insulin resistance.
Depression is typically treated with psychotherapy and/or medication, but research has also pointed to the efficacy of exercise therapy in supplementing psychotherapy. One novel exercise therapy is therapeutic climbing, in which a group of participants engages in both rock climbing and non-climbing activities such as a reflection or mindfulness activity under therapist guidance. This review will explore the current state of research on therapeutic climbing.
Only two years ago, the gravity-defying sport of climbing made its Olympic debut. Featuring iron-hardened athletes and impossible acrobatics, climbing might seem far from a therapeutic experience. However, some scientists from the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) see things differently.
India struggles with addressing long-standing water pollution, of which rural communities bear the brunt due to limited resources. Tackling this multifaceted issue extends beyond mere technical solutions and requires mindfulness of culture. This review outlines what is currently understood about the relationship between water quality, sanitation, and hygiene in rural India and its impact on waterborne illnesses, as well as possible solutions that are both ethical and sustainable.
Approximately 10% of the world’s population is affected by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a common gastrointestinal disorder that is notable for abdominal pain and bloating. These appear as several subtypes of symptoms that likely result from individuals’ unique microbiota and response to psychological stress. This literature review investigates the factors that lead to IBS and its diverse treatment options.
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication found in hospitals and the third leading cause of death among trauma patients. While there exists a wide variety of causes for AKI, they can be attributed to few pathophysiologies that studies are exploring medications to target. In conjunction with improving treatments, however, there is also a need to improve AKI diagnosis to prevent late-stage complications. This review will explore developments of new diagnostic biomarkers and medications that address these concerns.
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that starts with mild memory loss and progresses to the loss of the ability to carry out daily activities, ultimately leading to death. Recent advances in stem cell research have led to the development of in vitro self-assembling 3-dimensional models of the human brain, called human brain organoids, which can model pathological processes of AD assess the effectiveness of various drug treatments. This literature review will synthesize the research done on the use of 3D human brain organoids to model AD pathology and its use in developing and assessing treatments for AD.
