The Potential of a Hallucinogenic Toad’s Venom as an Anti-Depressant

A recent study has brought to light the potential medicinal benefits of the venom of the Colorado River toad, also known as the Sonoran Desert toad. While this toad is renowned for its psychedelic properties, scientists have long been intrigued by how its venom affects the brain. Now, researchers believe that a compound found within the toad’s hallucinogenic venom could pave the way for a new form of anti-depressant.

In their study, scientists examined a modified form of DMT (Dimethyltryptamine) compound and its interactions with serotonin receptors in mice. Specifically, they focused on the 5-HT1A serotonin receptor, which is associated with feelings of happiness and

Health Minister Dr. Samantlal Sen said that the health and livelihood of the people of Bangladesh are facing multidimensional threats due to climate change. Collaborative partners should come forward to deal with this crisis.

The Minister of Health said these things during a courtesy meeting with the delegation of Sweden, USAID, UNICEF and FCDO at his office on Thursday (May 9).

Meanwhile, to prevent arbitrary use of antibiotics, the minister said, the government and the Ministry of Health are carrying out extensi

The neocortex, a structure essential for human intelligence, is less than five millimeters thick. There, in the outermost layer of the brain, 20 billion neurons process countless sensory perceptions, plan actions, and form the basis of our consciousness. How do these neurons process all this complex information? That largely depends on how they are connected to each other.

What was known until now about the neuronal architecture of the human neocortex was based mainly on findings made from studying animal models such as mice.

The human neocortex is much thicker and more complex than that of the mouse. However, the scientific community had until now assumed (partly due to lack of data) that it followed the same basic principles of connectivity.

Now, in a new study, for which cutting-edge technology and exceptionally difficult to obtain tissue sa

The survival and quality of life of a person with diagnosed and treated HIV are already achievable goals thanks to therapeutic innovation. Indeed, the challenges are different now. Today, one of the most urgent is to offer information adapted to current needs to stop the transmission of the virus, where questions still exist.

The reality of HIV today is very different from that of three decades ago, and the needs of people living with HIV have been transformed. In this sense, some aspects such as the diagnosis and management of neuropsychiatric comorbidities such as anxiety, depression or insomnia, the appearance of resistance and the practice of chemsex, take on greater importance to continue making progress in improving the quality of life of the people affected.

Furthermore, adding to these new challenges is the lack of knowledge that still exists on the correlation and consequences of undetectable = untransmittable. Maintaining undetectable levels of viral load thanks to antiretroviral treatment is fundamental not only for the individual health of the person living with HIV, but also for its significant impact at the community level, reducing transmission of the virus.

With the aim of continuing to advance these goals

Recent studies have shown that the appearance of spots on the skin can be a sign of a deficiency in the body. It is important to carefully evaluate the causes of these marks on the skin as they can be symptomatic of a more serious underlying disorder.

One common deficiency that can manifest through skin rashes is zinc deficiency. Zinc is essential for various functions in the body, including bone health, wound healing, and growth. H

After a serious traffic accident, Tagesschau spokesman Jens Riewa suffers from claustrophobia, as he revealed in a TV program. What is the phobia all about?

Tagesschau speaker Jens Riewa has now opened up in the NDR format “Käpt’n’s Dinner” about an anxiety disorder that makes life difficult for him in certain situations. “I have massive claustrophobia,” Riewa confessed to moderator Michel Abdollahi right at the beginning. The problem: “Captain’s Dinner” is filmed on board a submarine in the port of Hamburg. A big challenge for the 60-year-old (read all about Riewa’s confession here).

But what exactly is claustrophobia? Or is this a different anxiety disorder?

Definition: This is claustrophobia

Experts refer to the pathological fear of being in an elevator or other enclosed spaces as claustrophobia or spatial anxiety. The term “claustrophobia,” however, stands for another form of anxiety disorder: agoraphobia. Strictly speaking, Jens Riewa suffers from a fear of space. Both diseases have differences, but also similarities.

Both claustrophobia and agoraphobia are phobic disorders. These are mental illnesses that are characterized by a pathological fear of c