If you have recently been diagnosed with ALK+ lung cancer, you likely have many questions. This short animation will discuss what ALK+ lung cancer is, common symptoms, and some commonly prescribed treatments. We will also include information for carers of those with ALK+ lung cancer and discuss the value of other forms of support, such as attending support groups, and making lifestyle choices that can help you to maintain physical and mental wellbeing.

Many diseases can emerge as we age, with metabolic disorders such as diabetes, and neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease, representing two reasonably common age-related illnesses. Many age-related diseases share common underlying mechanisms, including inflammation, a build-up of reactive oxygen molecules that can damage cellular components, and insulin insensitivity. Treatments that can target these mechanisms could have transformational effects on age-related diseases.

Peripapillary intra-choroidal cavitation – or PICC – is a lesion that occurs at the back of the eye. This lesion is much more common in people with short-sightedness. PICC lesions occur around an area called the optic disc, where the optic nerve leaves the eyeball. While PICC is considered benign, it is frequently associated with visual defects resembling those seen in glaucoma, leading to diagnostic confusion. There is a need to better understand the condition to chart a path forward. Professor Adèle Ehongo and Dr Noélie Bacq of Erasmus Hospital in Brussels have written a review covering the latest data on PICC. Their goal is to pave the way for a greater understanding of PICC and its associated changes, to aid the development of new treatments.

Interacting with therapy dogs can have significant benefits for patients, such as reduced anxiety and pain. A growing number of pediatric healthcare facilities even have ‘facility dogs’, or full-time therapy dogs who are specially trained to work closely with staff. The positive impacts of these dogs on the wellbeing of pediatric patients are well documented. However, Dr. Clare Jensen, Dr. Maggie O’Haire, and their colleagues from Purdue University and the University of Arizona wished to investigate whether facility dogs also benefit pediatric healthcare workers. Professionals in these positions are at risk of experiencing poor mental health and burnout, so finding ways to reduce their stress would be invaluable.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks and destroys pancreatic cells that produce insulin. Near to diagnosis, people cannot produce enough insulin, meaning that their blood sugar levels can become dangerously high. Some people associate type 1 diabetes with children, but more than half of type 1 diabetes patients are diagnosed in adulthood. Researchers know very little about how the condition develops in adults. The Type 1 Diabetes Risk in Adults – or ‘T1DRA’ – Study is actively screening adults through a small blood sample to determine their risk of type 1 diabetes.

Opioid use disorder has been on the rise in the USA, fueled by an increased availability of fentanyl and other opioids. Current gold-standard treatments involve using opioid agonist drugs, such as methadone or buprenorphine alone or in combination with opioid antagonists, to address cravings and withdrawal. However, these treatments suffer from high levels of patient relapse and can pose safety risks. A promising alternative lies in using hallucinogenic compounds that can enable ‘neuroplasticity’, which means changing the brain’s neural architecture, potentially allowing patients to overcome their addictive behaviors.