Can Tonsils Grow Back? Yup
After getting her tonsils removed as a child over 40 years ago, Katy Golden found herself back on Popsicles after needing to get her tonsils removed again. Again? It does happen. Golden went to physician Dr. Cynthia Hayes to confirm the regrowth. Although rare, Hayes noted to CNN that the regrowth might have been due to a “cold technique” that was popular at the time of the first removal as opposed to a “hot technique” that she used to completely remove the tissue. With a longer recovery time and a sore throat, Golden said it can “feel like swallowing a cactus for a few days.” I can’t think of a worse way to relive your childhood!
Plastic-Infused Tea
When it comes to plastics in food, we’re no strangers. But it’s time to add a hot steaming cup of brewed tea to that list: commercially available tea bags. A study by the University of Barcelona, published in Chemosphere revealed that billions of microplastics and nanoplastics are released during infusion, varying from 136 to 244 nanometers. Researchers tested the tea to see how the particles react to human intestinal cells, finding that intestinal mucus has the highest amount of plastics. Some particles were found entering the cell nucleus. Not the infusion of wellness we were expecting from a cup of tea.
Resting Hearts Make a Comeback
Back to regeneration. It was once believed that the human heart can’t regenerate itself. However, a recent study published in Circulation by physician-scientists at the University of Arizona College of Medicine provided evidence that might not be true. Using tissues sampled from patients with artificial hearts compared with healthy patients, they found that muscle regeneration occurred at a rate six times greater in those with artificial hearts. The scientists connected the regeneration boost to the ability of the devices to allow the heart to rest, like skeletal muscles after injury. They also noted only about 25% of patients responded to the regeneration. Their next goal is to figure out how to make everyone a responder, resulting in a world with fewer broken hearts.
Zooming In on Imperfections
According to a study by researchers at the Boston University Cosmetic and Laser Center at Boston Medical Center, the boost in video calling and conferencing has correlated with a boost in people being more conscious of their appearance and seeking cosmetic procedures. In a survey of 545 adults, 55.9% claimed video conferencing influenced their desire for treatments, 57.8% were influenced by filters, and frequent self-viewing was reported by 67% which was strongly associated with undergoing cosmetic treatments. Sure, now we can sit in front of the video screen more for convenience, but who are we really looking at?
Sniffles? Blame Nose Fungi
We know the gut has a microbiome that influences health outcomes, but what about the nose? In a study published in Frontiers in Microbiology, researchers from the University of Porto and George Washington University have found that people with allergies or asthma have more diverse fungal communities in their noses than people without those conditions. Swabs were viewed from 340 participants (215 with allergic rhinitis and/or asthma, 125 controls). It was found participants in the allergy and asthma group showed higher levels of allergenic or opportunistic fungi, suggesting that these conditions may alter the immune environment of the nasal cavity. So, if you feel like your nose always has something up there, it just might.
The intersection of medicine and the unexpected reminds us how wild, weird, and wonderful science can be. The world of health care continues to surprise and astonish.