<![CDATA[Evidence links some hormonal contraceptives—especially in teens—to higher depression risk; see which types matter and how to monitor mood.]]>
<![CDATA[Vibrance-1 phase 2 results show alixorexton improves narcolepsy type 1 severity, cognition, and fatigue for 13 weeks with good tolerability.]]>
<![CDATA[Chatbot makers face rising lawsuits over suicide, addiction, and psychosis.]]>
<![CDATA[Authoritarian governments are detrimental to mental health. Let’s explore a historic case.]]>
‘Postcode lottery’ in robotic surgery access for patients, data shows
NHS patients in England are facing a “postcode lottery” in access to robotic-assisted surgery, analysis by RCS England shows.
A narrative review on oxytocin at the intersection of sleep, stress, and social behavior
Sleep, stress regulation, and circadian rhythms form an interdependent network that shapes cognition, emotion, and social behavior. Disruption of any component can amplify stress sensitivity and impair emotional regulation, leading to neurobehavioral instability. This review discusses evidence from human and animal studies to illustrate how oxytocin (OT) may function at multiple brain regions to modulate sleep regulation, stress physiology, and social interaction. We discuss mechanisms by which sleep deficiency heightens hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activity and stress-related behavioral reactivity and impulsivity, and how OT signaling is thought to counteract these effects by reducing HPA output and stress-induced behavioral responses. Furthermore, converging evidence from preclinical and emerging human studies suggests that OT release may contribute to non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep stability potentially via modulation of hippocampal-amygdalar circuits and thalamocortical network activity, including sleep spindle-related dynamics, thereby enhancing emotional processing and social memory. Social isolation, a potent stressor, reduces OT signaling and disrupts sleep–wake dynamics, suggesting a mechanistic link between positive social interaction and sleep maintenance. Collectively, we propose OT as a key neuromodulatory regulator at the intersection of sleep, stress resilience, and social behavior, providing new insights into the neuroendocrine pathways that underlie adaptive emotional regulation and identifying potential therapeutic targets for stress-related sleep disturbances.
Reduced bilateral auditory cortex activation during pure-tone perception in pediatric HIV
IntroductionChildren with perinatally acquired HIV (CPHIV) are at increased risk of neurodevelopmental difficulties, including hearing-related impairments, despite early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Previous studies have reported a higher prevalence of hearing loss in CPHIV compared with uninfected children; however, the contribution of the central auditory system to these auditory differences remains unclear. Understanding central auditory processing in CPHIV is important, as even subtle auditory difficulties during childhood can negatively affect speech and language development, academic performance, and quality of life.MethodsFunctional MRI was used to examine neural responses to auditory stimulation in 108 11-year-old children (60 CPHIV and 48 children without HIV). During scanning, participants listened to pure tones at low (500 Hz), middle (1,500 Hz), and high (4,000 Hz) frequencies.ResultsCPHIV demonstrated modestly elevated hearing thresholds (reflecting poorer hearing sensitivity) at several frequencies; however, the prevalence of clinically defined hearing loss did not differ between groups. Across all children, pure-tone stimulation elicited robust bilateral activation of the auditory cortices, with both the spatial extent and magnitude of activation decreasing as tone frequency increased. Relative to controls, CPHIV exhibited significantly reduced bilateral auditory cortex responses across frequencies. These group differences persisted after accounting for sex and handedness and after excluding children with hearing loss. Associations between hearing thresholds and auditory cortex activation were generally weak, except at 4,000 Hz in CPHIV, where poorer hearing was associated with stronger auditory cortex activation, consistent with a compensatory neural response.DiscussionDespite largely normal peripheral hearing, CPHIV receiving ART exhibited reduced bilateral auditory cortex responses during pure-tone processing. These findings suggest that alterations within the central auditory system may contribute to auditory vulnerability in CPHIV.
The role of sensory experience in the maturation of prefrontal cortical circuits
Sensory input during early life is crucial for brain circuitry to be appropriately wired and refined. Foundational studies in the past century established that early sensory input was required for the appropriate development of primary sensory areas. Further investigation in the beginning of the 21st century extended this idea by suggesting that early sensory inputs may also impact remodeling of associative cortical regions. While many of the early studies promoting this idea were based on correlational observations, more causal studies followed soon after. It quickly became clear that sensory experience is a driver for shaping associative regions, including those that do not necessarily receive direct sensory input, such as the prefrontal cortex (PFC). The PFC is a region critical for sensory integration as well as for goal-directed, flexible behavior across species. Importantly, the PFC is a late developing structure, where the integration of diverse types of information, such as sensory information, during early life can elicit alterations in the underlying developing neural circuitry. These sensory inputs can interact with genetically-encoded biological programs to shape the maturation of PFC circuitry. In this review, we will highlight the studies supporting this model and delve further into how sensory experience during early life can impact different biological mechanisms to shape developing PFC circuitry.
Number of children and maternal mental health in the context of China’s fertility policy transition: the moderating effect of employment status and the mediating effect of family environment
BackgroundHaving more children may be detrimental to maternal mental health during China’s ongoing fertility policy transition. However, under what circumstances and how number of children could be associated with maternal mental health remains understudied in China. This study examined the association between number of children and maternal anxiety and depressive symptoms among mothers of middle school students in Shanghai, China. It also explored the moderating effect of maternal employment status and the mediating effect of family environment.MethodsMothers of students from 7 middle schools in Shanghai were surveyed. In total, 4,215 valid questionnaires were obtained. The survey included sociodemographic information, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and the Chinese version of the Family Environment Scale (FES-CV). Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to examine the association between number of children and maternal anxiety/depressive symptoms. Model 1 and Model 4 of SPSS PROCESS were then employed to examine the moderating effect of employment status and the mediating effect of family environment.ResultsThe rates of clinically significant anxiety and depressive symptoms among mothers were 13.6% and 17.6%, respectively. The moderating effect of maternal employment status was significant. Among unemployed mothers, number of children was positively associated with both maternal anxiety and depressive symptoms, whereas among employed mothers, number of children was not associated with maternal anxiety or depression. Among unemployed mothers, family environment mediated the association between number of children and maternal anxiety/depressive symptoms through the pathways of family conflict and organization. Among employed mothers, family environment suppressed the association between number of children and maternal anxiety/depressive symptoms through the pathways of family conflict, intellectual-cultural orientation, organization, control, and independence.ConclusionOur findings suggest that number of children per se is not necessarily associated with worsened maternal mental health. Instead, the potential changes in employment participation and family environment that accompany having more children may be more relevant. Therefore, stakeholders, clinicians, and researchers should therefore focus on these aspects when addressing maternal mental health.
Analysis of characteristics of hospitalized patients with chronic insomnia: a single-center retrospective study
ObjectiveInsomnia is a prevalent health issue within the general population. Nonetheless, there is a paucity of research specifically addressing chronic insomnia among hospitalized patients. Consequently, the objective of this study is to investigate chronic insomnia in adult inpatients.MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on hospitalized patients at Fengjie County People’s Hospital in Chongqing from January 2022 to June 2025. The study included patients aged 18 to 100 years, with comprehensive documentation of their demographic information, laboratory test results, and insomnia treatment details. Patients with incomplete data or those under 18 years of age were excluded from the study. The analysis focused on the age distribution, gender ratio, and BMI distribution of the patients, as well as the prevalence of primary diagnostic categories and the distribution characteristics of fasting blood glucose levels and dyslipidemia.ResultsThe study included a total of 871 patients, with a male representation of 39.6%. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 23.1 ± 3.7 kg/m², and the mean age was 64.1 ± 13.9 years. The predominant sources of disease were identified as infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, tumors, and musculoskeletal conditions. A significant proportion of patients presented with elevated fasting blood glucose levels and dyslipidemia.ConclusionChronic insomnia in hospitalized patients predominantly affects elderly women. Chronic insomnia in hospitalized patients predominantly affects elderly women, who primarily present with infectious diseases, cardiovascular conditions, neurological disorders, tumors, and musculoskeletal issues. These patients often exhibit dyslipidemia and elevated fasting blood glucose levels, necessitating clinical attention.