A groundbreaking clinical trial has revealed that a single dose of psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in mushrooms, can provide sustained reductions in depression and anxiety in individuals with cancer suffering from major depressive disorder. The findings, published in the peer-reviewed journal CANCER, suggest that this treatment approach may offer long-term relief for cancer patients struggling with depression.

The study involved 28 participants who received psychological support from a therapist prior to, during, and after receiving a single 25-mg dose of psilocybin. Two years later, a significant proportion of these individuals demonstrated lasting reductions in depression and anxiety. Specifically:

* 53.6% (15 patients) showed a sustained reduction in depression.
* 50% (14 patients) experienced remission from depression as well as reduced anxiety.
* 42.9% (12 patients) reported reduced anxiety at the two-year mark.

Building on these promising results, an ongoing randomized, double-blind trial is currently evaluating up to two doses of 25 mg of psilocybin versus placebo for treating depression and anxiety in cancer patients. This study aims to determine whether repeating the treatment can resolve depression for more than half of the participants.

According to lead author Manish Agrawal, MD, from Sunstone Therapies, “One dose of psilocybin with psychological support has a long-term positive impact on relieving depression for as much as 2 years for a substantial portion of patients with cancer. If randomized testing shows similar results, this could lead to greater use of psilocybin to treat depression in patients with cancer.”

The PREVENT risk calculator has been shown to accurately estimate 10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and identify individuals with plaque buildup in their heart’s arteries, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. The study found that combining the PREVENT score with a coronary calcium score further improved risk prediction, matching patients with the highest risk of heart attack to those who actually experienced one during the follow-up period.

The PREVENT calculator, released by the American Heart Association in 2023, estimates CVD risk based on age, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, body mass index, Type 2 diabetes status, social determinants of health, smoking, and kidney function. This tool can help tailor care and determine who may benefit from treatment to prevent a heart attack.

Another important factor in screening heart health is coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), a non-invasive imaging test that visualizes plaque buildup in the heart’s arteries. The CCTA provides a coronary artery calcium (CAC) score, which helps inform decisions about heart disease prevention and treatment.

The researchers analyzed electronic health records for nearly 7,000 adults who had undergone CCTA screening at NYU Langone Health between 2010 and 2024. They found that the PREVENT score accurately matched the level of calcium buildup according to the CAC score. The study also used the PREVENT risk assessment and coronary artery calcium scores, separately and in combination, to predict future heart attack risk and assess the accuracy of each with the participants who had a heart attack during the follow-up period.

Study co-author Sadiya Khan emphasized that the CAC score can help classify risk for heart disease by analyzing calcium buildup. The study’s findings are important in shaping future guidelines on the use of the PREVENT calculator and CCTA, particularly for patients uncertain about starting lipid-lowering therapy or intensifying it.

The study had several limitations, including a single institution as the data source and a predominantly white participant population, which may not be generalizable to other groups. The analysis only included people who had undergone coronary calcium screening, and electronic health records were the sole source of data. Additionally, the follow-up time was relatively short at 1.2 years, and the presence of non-calcified plaque in the heart’s arteries was not assessed.

Despite these limitations, the study demonstrates that the PREVENT risk calculator is accurate in identifying individuals with subclinical risk for CVD, meaning blocked arteries before symptoms develop. This research contributes to shaping future guidelines on the use of the PREVENT calculator and CCTA.

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Revolutionizing Healthcare: Lab-on-a-Chip Devices Bring Medical Testing into Home

Imagine being able to detect mental health disorders or heart conditions from the comfort of your own home. This is now possible thanks to a revolutionary new device developed by University of Cincinnati engineers. The “lab-on-a-chip” device, created by researchers led by Distinguished Research Professor Chong Ahn and his students, can measure stress hormone levels from saliva, providing valuable diagnostic information that can help doctors make timely interventions.

Mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression, affect over 400 million people worldwide. Prolonged cortisol elevation is linked to numerous mental health disorders, including depression and anxiety. The lab-on-a-chip device can track cortisol levels in minutes using a disposable collection device that a person places in their mouth, which is then inserted into a reader. The results are transmitted quickly to a portable analyzer and smartphone.

“This device will help doctors make timely interventions,” Ahn said in an interview. “Mental health care can be an urgent situation.”

The study was published in the journal Biomedical Microdevices. Researchers also highlighted the potential of this technology for detecting other health issues, such as heart conditions.

“We can monitor troponin in the blood on a daily basis and hopefully get valuable information,” said co-author Vinitha Thiyagarajan Upaassana, a doctoral graduate at UC. “The test provides immediate results, which is important when a patient is in need of immediate care.”

In addition to mental health disorders, researchers also developed a new point-of-care-testing platform for COVID-19. The device can provide rapid and effective biochemical testing that measures troponin from a drop of blood.

“The next step would be to collaborate with psychiatrists and conduct clinical trials to see if our platform works as expected,” said co-author Supreeth Setty, a doctoral student at UC. “Point-of-care testing is a practical way to make results available quickly for everyone.”

The lab-on-a-chip device has the potential to revolutionize healthcare by providing patients with quick and accurate diagnostic information, even in remote or underserved areas. This technology could potentially save lives and improve patient outcomes worldwide.