Promising tool for treatment-resistant depression

+ Mastodon social media app; flash droughts US Edition - Today's top story: Patients suffering with hard-to-treat depression may get relief from noninvasive magnetic brain stimulation [View in browser]( US Edition | 16 November 2022 [The Conversation]( Depression is widespread in the United States, yet effective treatments are elusive for many people. Patricia Junquera, a psychiatrist and professor of clinical services at Florida International University, writes about transcranial magnetic stimulation, a treatment that has shown [promise in recent years when medication and therapy have not worked](. A device called a treatment coil produces a highly concentrated magnetic field, which “turns on and off rapidly while targeting a portion of the prefrontal cortex – the area of the brain responsible for mood regulation,” she writes. She gives an overview of this relatively new procedure and predicts costs will come down as access grows. Official counts estimate that Earth’s population hit 8 billion earlier this week. A rising population, combined with climate change, has profound implications for public health globally, writes Maureen Lichtveld, dean of University of Pittsburgh’s School of Public Health. Among her top concerns are the spread of infectious diseases, the health effects of extreme heat, poor air quality, and food and water security. Even as diplomats continue to meet in Egypt at the COP27 climate conference, she reminds us that [climate change will be a primary driver of health concerns]( now and in the future. In a new study, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences delve into the mechanisms that cause cancerous cells to continue dividing – sometimes referred to as their “immortality.” Their paper identifies a [gene in melanoma cells associated with uncontrollable growth](, a finding they hope can help other researchers diagnose and treat cancer. Also in this week’s science news: - [Nuclear physics: New search for rare isotopes]( - [Preventative care for transgender patients]( - [Learning from ants to solve human problems]( If there’s a subject you’d like our team of science editors to investigate, please reply to this email. Martin La Monica Director of Editorial Projects and Newsletters Transcranial magnetic stimulation has worked when medication and other therapies have not. Monty Rakusen/Image Source via Getty Images [Patients suffering with hard-to-treat depression may get relief from noninvasive magnetic brain stimulation]( Patricia Junquera, Florida International University Patients who undergo transcranial magnetic stimulation say it’s painless, with few to no side effects. The treatment isn’t yet widely accessible, but for those who use it, the effects can be profound. Melanoma is a particularly aggressive form of skin cancer. Dlumen/iStock via Getty Images Plus [How cancer cells can become immortal – new research finds a mutated gene that helps melanoma defeat the normal limits on repeated replication]( Pattra Chun-On, University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences; Jonathan Alder, University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences One enzyme plays a key role in how tumor cells replicate and divide indefinitely. Identifying the genes that give these cells their immortality could provide new drug targets to treat cancer. Infectious diseases like COVID-19 top the list of health concerns. Marco Longari/AFP via Getty Images [8 billion people: Four ways climate change and population growth combine to threaten public health, with global consequences]( Maureen Lichtveld, University of Pittsburgh The human population has doubled in 48 years, and worsening climate change has left the world facing serious health risks, from infectious diseases to hunger and heat stress. [What is Mastodon? A social media expert explains how the ‘federated’ network works and why it won’t be a new Twitter]( Brian C. Keegan, University of Colorado Boulder The turmoil at Twitter has many people turning to an alternative, Mastodon. The social media platform does a lot of what Twitter and Facebook do, but there are key differences. [What is a flash drought? An earth scientist explains]( Antonia Hadjimichael, Penn State Flash droughts can develop within a few weeks, causing water shortages, damaging crops and worsening fire risks. [What is hydroelectric energy and how does it work?]( Brian Tarroja, University of California, Irvine How does flowing water make electricity? An engineer explains hydroelectric generation. [Ants – with their wise farming practices and efficient navigation techniques – could inspire solutions for some human problems]( Scott Solomon, Rice University Over hundreds of million years of evolution, ants have come up with some pretty smart solutions to problems of agriculture, navigation and architecture. People could learn a thing or two. [Concussions can cause disruptions to everyday life in both the short and long term – a neurophysiologist explains what to watch for]( David Howell, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus While high-profile concussions in the NFL have brought renewed attention to the gravity of head injuries, they can also occur on the playground or during junior varsity practices – with lasting effects. [Health rights for trans people vary widely around the globe – achieving trans bliss and joy will require equity, social respect and legal protections]( Reya Farber, William & Mary While gender-affirming health care is essential to the well-being of trans people, access to quality services varies significantly by geographic region and social context. - [Bird flu has made a comeback, driving up prices for holiday turkeys]( Yuko Sato, Iowa State University Hunters are warned to take precautions handling wild birds, and the virus can spill over to non-avian species, so no one should approach wild animals that appear ill. - [Doctors often aren’t trained on the preventive health care needs of gender-diverse people – as a result, many patients don’t get the care they need]( Jenna Sizemore, West Virginia University From primary care to cancer screening and insurance coverage, gender-diverse people still face many hurdles to getting good medical care. - [Powerful linear accelerator begins smashing atoms – 2 scientists on the team explain how it could reveal rare forms of matter]( Sean Liddick, Michigan State University; Artemis Spyrou, Michigan State University A new particle accelerator has just begun operation. It is the most powerful accelerator of its kind on Earth and will allow physicists to study some of the rarest matter in the universe. - Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly emails: [Politics Weekly]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Global Economy & Business]( - - About The Conversation: We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. [Donate now to support research-based journalism]( [The Conversation]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]( 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451 [Forward to a friend]( • [Unsubscribe](