samedi 28 février 2015

Well: Please Stop Making That Noise

Misophonia, in which certain ordinary sounds offend or irritate the listener, presents special challenges to a primary care physician.

















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Gay group seeks official recognition from California Republican Party

A gay GOP group is seeking official recognition by the California Republican Party at its biannual gathering in Sacramento this weekend, potentially setting the stage for a divisive floor fight on Sunday.



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Before Justices Rule, Floridians Consider Life Without Health Subsidies

As the state with the most Affordable Care Act enrollees, Florida stands to feel the biggest impact if the Supreme Court strikes down the law’s subsidies.





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At Aetna, a C.E.O.’s Management by Mantra

Mark Bertolini, the chief executive of Aetna, is betting that bringing yoga, meditation and higher wages to his employees will be good business.





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Shatner Upset He Can't Attend Nimoy's Memorial

Shatner expressed his sadness that he would be at a charity ball in Florida Saturday, and couldn't travel in time to attend services honoring Nimoy.

















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Showers expected to hit Los Angeles area beginning Saturday afternoon

A winter storm is expected to bring showers and cooler temperatures across Southern California Saturday afternoon and throughout the evening, the National Weather Service said.



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Clayton Kershaw to start Thursday exhibition game for Dodgers

Clayton Kershaw will start on the mound Thursday in the Dodgers’ second game of the exhibition season, Manager Don Mattingly said.



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Marlon Brando's island paradise in Tetiaroa, French Polynesia

A 4-foot lemon shark flashed by my bare legs as we waded in shallow lagoon waters. I grimaced and hoped it wasn't hungry.



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Laguna Art Museum's 'California Printmakers' showcases inventive process

One image feels like confrontation: In Dirk Hagner's woodcut on washi paper, the Austrian painter Egon Schiele appears in stark form — the point of the eyes, the fault lines in the face, the hands entrenched in pockets and a deep shadow running toward you, the viewer.



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'Jihadi John' suspect took anger management classes, says teacher

The British-educated Muslim man now believed to be the notorious Islamic State killer “Jihadi John” reportedly took anger management classes as a student.



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Teen Girl Fatally Shot by Denver Police Hit 4 Times

Denver Police said officers shot at Hernandez when she drove a car toward them, but the family's lawyer said the autopsy tells a different story.

















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Opinion: Medicating Women’s Feelings

Emotion should be seen as a sign of health, not disease.

















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LACMA to screen '400 Blows,' other Francois Truffaut films

After building a reputation as a maverick film critic, New Wave pioneer Francois Truffaut burst into the international scene with his first feature, 1959's "The 400 Blows," a hauntingly personal tale starring Jean-Pierre Léaud as troubled adolescent Antoine Doinel. Over the next 20...



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Richard Linklater: A slow-cook director eyes the microwave

The news this week that Richard Linklater could be tackling Maria Semple's bestselling "Where'd You Go, Bernadette?" was greeted, among those who follow such things, with unbridled happiness. Here was one of the most ‎well-regarded novels -- and, more important, one of the most...



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Egyptian court rules Hamas a terrorist organization

Widening a 20-month-old campaign against Islamist groups, an Egyptian court on Saturday declared Hamas a terrorist organization.



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Bill Weir checks off his 'Wonder List' for CNN

After Bill Weir arrived at CNN from ABC’s "Nightline" in late 2013, he went right on the air to fill in as a prime-time host interviewing guests in a studio.



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Astronaut Sends Tribute to Spock from Final Frontier

American astronaut Terry Virts tweeted a photo of himself flashing the split-fingered Vulcan salute from the International Space Station on Saturday.

















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San Diego leaders seek more study of alleged racial profiling by police

The San Diego Police Department is trying to assess whether its officers are guilty of racial profiling in traffic stops, as some community activists allege.



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Official warns against improper weight cutting by UFC fighters

The head of the California State Athletic Commission warns that improper weight cutting by combat-sports fighters like the Ultimate Fighting Championship athletes who stepped on the scale near Staples Center on Friday is “the biggest problem in the sport today.”



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The Science Behind Anti-Depressants May Be Completely 'Backwards'

Anti-depressants are the most commonly-prescribed medication in the U.S., with one in 10 Americans currently taking pills like Zoloft and Lexapro to treat depression. But these pharmaceuticals are only effective less than 30 percent of the time, and often come with troublesome side effects.



In a controversial new paper published in the journal Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, psychologist Paul Andrews of McMaster University in Ontario argues that this failure of medication may be based in a misunderstanding of the underlying chemistry related to depression.



Andrews surveyed 50 years' worth of research supporting the serotonin theory of depression, which suggests that the disease is caused by low levels of the "happiness" neurotransmitter, serotonin.



But Andrews argues that depression may actually be caused by elevated levels of serotonin. And this fundamental misunderstanding may be responsible for inappropriate treatment: The most common form of antidepressants are selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which operate by targeting serotonin receptors in the brain in an effort to amplify serotonin production.



Currently, scientists are unable to measure precisely how the brain releases and uses serotonin, because it can't be safely observed in a human brain. But Andrews points to research on animals which suggests that serotonin might work just the opposite from what we've assumed.



In this scenario, elevated serotonin levels that are released and used by the brain during depressive episodes trigger processes that promote rumination -- the obsessive negative thinking that is the hallmark of depression. Then, because they facilitate the production of serotonin, SSRI treatments exacerbate rumination and actually worsen symptoms of depression, especially at first, Andrews explained. Over time, in come cases, the SSRIs can reverse ruminative processes and reduce symptoms -- but this is in spite of the medication, not because of it.



HuffPost Science spoke to Andrews about why we've gotten anti-depressants "backwards" -- and what the future of depression treatment might hold.



HuffPost: Where did the low-serotonin hypothesis originate?



Andrews: The hypothesis didn't originate because anybody measured serotonin in depression or in any depressed-like state in an animal. It's really based on circumstantial evidence. Researchers back in the '40s and '50s happened to find that certain drugs that were trying to treat tuberculosis and schizophrenia had depression-relieving properties, and they wondered, why were they relieving depressive symptoms? They eventually figured out that the drugs increased serotonin in rodent models.... They reasoned that if these drugs relieved depressive symptoms in humans -- and, as best as we can tell, they increased serotonin -- then depression must be a state of low or reduced serotonin transmission.



There have been problems with the low-serotonin hypothesis for a while. If you look to any serious neuroscientist, they'll all acknowledge that there are serious problems with it. It still is, nevertheless, the backbone of research on depression in neuroscience.



What evidence is there to suggest that the low-serotonin hypothesis of depression may not be accurate?



There is no way to be absolutely certain for two reasons. First, we cannot directly measure how fast serotonin is released, or transmitted. You can't do that even in a rat. You can measure the concentration of serotonin in a particular brain region, but you can't measure the transmission of it. The transmission would be to measure the release of the serotonin into the synapse.



The only thing we can measure is a marker of transmission, which reflects what happens to serotonin after it is released into the synapse and metabolized. Second, it is currently impossible to study this issue in humans without cutting holes in their skulls. But these studies can be done in animals. In these studies, there is abundant evidence that this marker of transmission is elevated.



We reviewed 15 different models of depression that are used in neuroscience research that had measured this particular marker that we're concerned with. Of those 15 studies, 13 were consistent with the high-serotonin hypothesis, and the other two were not inconsistent with it. If you extrapolate to humans... that would strongly suggest that the evidence is in favor of the high-serotonin hypothesis of depression.



OK, so how do anti-depressants work then?



Another problem with the low serotonin hypothesis is that these drugs increase serotonin pretty rapidly, within minutes to hours. You'd think that if the low serotonin hypothesis was true, the anti-depressant drugs would work rapidly too. But they don't -- it takes three to four weeks for their symptom-reducing effects to kick on. So there's always been this disconnect between the onset of the pharmacological effects of the anti-depressants and their therapeutic effects.



So what's actually happening to depressive symptoms when you first start taking these drugs? Well, it's extremely common for people to start saying "I feel worse" rather than getting better. That's theoretically important because these drugs are working very quickly in terms of increasing serotonin. So what's happening to serotonin in the brain as those three or four weeks pass? It's falling.... As time goes on [after the initial peak], serotonin dips below the baseline and that's when you actually start feeling better.



But things will eventually smooth out again and the brain will return to its steady state. That's what happens over prolonged anti-depressant use. Even when taking the drugs, people experience relapses. They might have that initial worsening of symptoms, then they'll feel better, and over prolonged period of use, they'll tell the doctor that the drugs aren't working anymore... And commonly the doctor will increase the dose or add on another drug.



But the brain is always fighting these drugs and trying to bring itself back to its homeostatic equilibrium.



Antidepressants are known to cause many side effects. What are some of the most common?



Limited efficacy at reducing depressive symptoms, sexual difficulties, difficulty concentrating, and problems with the digestive system are the most common. But many other types of problems can occur, including increased risk of relapse, a decrease in bone mineral density, abnormal bleeding, stroke, suicidal behaviour. Some of these problems can cause death -- several studies have shown that anti-depressants, especially in older people, are associated with an increased risk of death.



You all them all up, and they all can be potentially serious things.



What do you think is the future of depression treatment?



As people and physicians become more aware that antidepressants only work for a limited period of time, and are less safe than they have been supposed, the use of antidepressant medications will decline and the use of psychotherapies will increase.



I would suggest that the attempt to pharmacologically reduce depressive symptoms is not likely to produce lasting effects. You can get these temporary effects, but they're not likely to be lasting effects, and they can cause a whole lot of problems.



Psychotherapy is more likely to produce lasting effects, and can help people cope with the things that actually triggered their depressive episodes, and that's why these therapies are more productive in the long run.



This interview has been edited for clarity and length.



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Wesleyan Struggles To Deal With Student Drug Use

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. (AP) -- As drug overdoses left two Wesleyan students fighting for their lives, witnesses helped investigators quickly identify the suspects: The drug-dealing was an open secret, according to court documents, even as the university has gotten tougher on drug violations.



The club-drug overdoses, which sent a total of 12 people to hospitals, are likely to bring more scrutiny to drug policies on college campuses, including Wesleyan's, which have wrestled with how to approach enforcement and when to involve local police.



"I think it will force schools to examine their policies," said state Rep. Matthew Lesser, a member of the Wesleyan class of 2005 whose district includes the Middletown campus. "It forces us to look at what we can do to make sure students are safe."



Four students have been arrested in connection with last weekend's overdoses, which left two students in critical condition. Authorities say the drug was presented as Molly, a popular name for the euphoria-inducing stimulant MDMA, but was likely cut with other designer drugs.



As on other campuses, the unlawful use and distribution of illicit drugs is prohibited at Wesleyan, but the issue is often complicated by a desire to treat substance abuse as a health issue first and what some describe as society's ambivalence about the use of certain drugs.



Tucker Andersen, a Wesleyan trustee, said the administration has been very thoughtful and tried to balance all the issues involved.



"This is an issue where there is no disagreement on the board. You want a policy which keeps students safe. You don't want them to experiment with all this sort of stuff," Andersen said. "You want to get the message out loud and clear that nobody in a position of authority is in favor of addictive and dangerous substances, but that doesn't mean you have to close your eyes to that it's going to occur anyway."



The school referred 154 students for disciplinary action on drug violations in 2011 but that number jumped to 281 in 2012, according to data reported to the U.S. Education Department. There were 240 students disciplined in 2013 on the campus of 3,200.



"At Wesleyan, we don't sweep these problems under the rug," Dean Michael Whaley said.



University President Michael Roth told the campus newspaper, The Wesleyan Argus, he does not anticipate major changes to drug policies that have been effective in "trying to point students toward making responsible choices, not overly policing them, while at the same time putting up pretty clear guardrails." An interview request from The Associated Press was denied.



A spokeswoman for Middletown police, Lt. Heather Desmond, said Wesleyan has been more "forthright" in recent years about involving them in drug cases. Still, she said there are cases of drug-related illnesses on campus that involve emergency medical responders, but not police.



Dispatchers sent police to campus to aid with the response to a 19-year-old woman who became ill after taking Molly on Sept. 13, the second of two consecutive weekends in which Wesleyan students were hospitalized after taking the drug. Desmond said police did not follow up, likely because it would be difficult to pursue a case involving an intoxicated woman who took a single pill. Wesleyan health officials alerted students to the hospitalizations in an all-campus email that urged them to be aware of the drug's effects and potential side-effects.



As students began getting sick on the morning of Feb. 22, a witness told Wesleyan public safety that they bought what they thought was Molly from one of the four defendants in September, took half the pill and had a reaction similar to the students involved in latest incident. Information from students, the dean's office and public safety sources led police to the suspects, including two who were known to sell Molly from their residences, according to arrest warrants.



The family of the only victim still in the hospital said Friday night that "against all odds" the student would survive.





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Month in Space Pictures: Savor the Beauty of Blastoffs

Catch a sunny view of a spacewalk, lovely launches and other outer-space highlights from February 2015.





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GOP governors carry their states' fiscal baggage to CPAC

— After bolting to national prominence on a record of bringing public employee unions to heel and taming runaway pension costs like those that have challenged state governments across the country, Chris Christie hit a very large hurdle recently.



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The blood orange, one of winter's great fruits, with 12 recipes

Fruit expert David Karp loves to tell the story about a homeowner who was shocked several years ago to discover that she had a blood orange tree in her backyard. She called the cops because she was sure someone was trying to poison her.



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Stolen NASCAR race car recovered by police in Georgia

The great NASCAR car search is over.



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Tour company Best of Morocco went the extra mile for travelers

My friend and I had the opportunity to travel to Morocco. I contacted the Best of Morocco, and they were very flexible and willing to organize my tour according to places we wanted to see and the length of time we were staying. Hafid, our guide and driver, made us feel very safe. The hotels and...



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Cedars-Sinai probing whether superbug infections are tied to scopes

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center said it's investigating whether patients with superbug infections are linked to contaminated medical scopes, similar to a recent outbreak at UCLA.



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Artisanal, hand-crafted chocolate is a growing niche

Ryan Berk makes his chocolate from scratch. That means flying to Central America four times a year, hiking over Maya ruins to remote jungle villages and meeting face-to-face with the farmers who supply his cocoa beans.



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15 tons of marijuana seized at Otay Mesa crossing, Border Patrol says

A near-record load of marijuana -- more than 15 tons -- was seized this week at the Otay Mesa border crossing from a truck carrying a shipment of mattresses and cushions, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.



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Premier League Livestream: Manchester United vs. Sunderland

Manchester United look to stay in the top four with a win over Sunderland, who just hope to stay out of the relegation zone.

















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Ex-Knick Anthony Mason Dies at 48 After Heart Attack

Mason, one of the team's most popular players of the 1990s and had a 13-year pro career, has died following a massive heart attack.

















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Youth Hockey Team Escapes Injury in Rink Roof Collapse

The roof of the Metropolis Rink in Canton, Massachusetts, collapsed under the weight of heavy snow Saturday morning.

















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