University of British Columbia

Research challenges the hypothesis that menstrual cramps occur only in ovulatory cycles, showing similar cramp prevalence, duration, and intensity in both ovulatory and anovulatory cycles. Cramp intensity decreases with age, with no significant link to cycle length, pregnancy, or physical activity. The study underscores the complexity of dysmenorrhea's pathophysiology.

Children with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) showed smaller brain volumes and worse cognitive scores than neurotypical controls. Higher socioeconomic status (SES) correlated with larger hippocampus and amygdala volumes in controls but not in PAE children, suggesting PAE's impact may override SES effects on brain development.

Pharmaceutical companies engage in 'disease mongering' by expanding treatable illness boundaries to market new drugs. This involves creating alliances with doctors and patient groups to frame conditions as widespread and severe, often turning ordinary ailments into medical problems. The practice risks unnecessary treatment, economic waste, and diverts resources from serious diseases. Independent information is crucial to counteract this trend.