Mental Health – Hyperemesis gravidarum is a severe form of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, beyond typical “morning sickness.” It often causes persistent vomiting, dehydration, weight loss (often ≥5% of pre-pregnancy weight), nutritional deficiencies, and other physical problems. It affects around 1-3% of pregnancies.
Medical education has long relied on lectures, textbooks, and standardized patients to teach students clinical reasoning and patient care skills. In recent years, however, educators have increasingly recognized the power of personal storytelling as an effective teaching and learning tool. Storytelling — whether from patients, instructors, or students themselves — provides an emotional, narrative framework that helps learners better retain knowledge, develop empathy, and connect abstract medical concepts to real human experiences.
Cancer – A 10-year-old boy named Stephen Mondek recently became one of the youngest stem cell donors at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, donating stem cells to his father, Dr. Nick Mondek, who has been battling acute myeloid leukemia
Urinary – Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common issue among women veterans. Behavioral treatments — such as pelvic floor muscle exercises, bladder control strategies, fluid management, etc. — are first-line therapy and are known to be effective. However, many veterans face barriers to accessing these treatments in person: geographic distance, lack of trained providers at VA facilities, travel time and cost.
Epilepsy – Periodic Limb Movements during Sleep (PLMS) are repetitive, involuntary movements of the limbs (usually legs), typically occurring in sleep at regular intervals (every ~20-40 seconds), each lasting a few seconds. They may result in arousals or sleep fragmentation,
Forever Chemicals – California has taken a significant step in environmental health by passing legislation to ban per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals,” in various consumer products. These synthetic chemicals, notorious for their persistence in the environment and human body, have been linked to serious health issues such as cancer, liver damage, and developmental delays. The new law, Senate Bill 682 (SB 682), was approved by the California Legislature and is now awaiting Governor Gavin Newsom’s signature. If enacted, it will phase out PFAS in several product categories over the next decade.
Radiologists – A recent study by the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute looked at insurance claims data (commercial, Medicaid, and Medicare Advantage) from 2016 to 2023.
Methotrexate – A new controlled comparative study, published in Annals of Medicine, examined effects of methotrexate on arterial blood pressure in patients with newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who had not previously been treated with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).
Diabetes – how diabetes is globally underdiagnosed, how treatment often fails to achieve adequate control, why that matters, and what the key figures and challenges are.
Introduction: Childhood Loneliness as a Public Health Concern
Childhood loneliness—defined as the subjective feeling of social isolation, disconnection, or lack of companionship during early development—has been increasingly recognized as a risk factor with long-term implications for mental and cognitive health. While loneliness is often seen as an emotional issue of childhood, research now indicates that its effects can extend well into adulthood, influencing brain function and increasing vulnerability to cognitive decline. Understanding this connection is critical for developing early interventions that safeguard cognitive aging and promote lifelong mental well-being.
