Greater risk of psychosis; immune system vs. cancer; it’s Friday the 13th – Morning Medical Update

An increase in psychosis?

A new study found that patients taking high doses of amphetamine could have a greater risk of developing psychosis or mania. One researcher said the findings are not necessarily cause for alarm, but should lead to extra caution when considering the drugs for treating conditions such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Those prescriptions have increased in the last 10 years. Here is the study and an accompanying news release.

Fighting cancer, or not

The human body cannot fight back invading cancer cells, but why? A new study examines how a molecule reprograms immune cells to become “pro-tumor,” which in turn could lead to new therapies against many kinds of cancer. Here’s the study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and an accompanying news release.

An unlucky day? (Be careful anyway!)

Some people may regard Friday the 13th as an unlucky day. Some common superstitions about luck actually may indicate some real-world hazards to health. Here’s a blog from Community Care Physicians in New York state about seven health hazards to avoid on this day, and pretty much every day. (As for things getting extra weird astronomically, don’t worry – September’s Harvest Moon full moon is not until Sept. 17.)