In the early 20th century, labor movements and demands for better working conditions, voting rights, and equal opportunities rose, highlighting the progress in women's empowerment. Women were now raising their voices against gender disparities, it was all to make a better, a more inclusive society! Thus the day of March 8 came to be known as International Women's Day, wherein each year we celebrate women's achievements. But, has the society really become inclusive? Something as basic as medical needs are still driven by men, based on men, and women are high underrepresented. Their bodies are considered atypical, while men's bodies are the norm, since 1946, notes the Pew Research Center. This is why most of the modern medicine do not take how the medicine reacts on women's body in account.

As per the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC), despite the policy and social changes in 1990s which helped turn the tide, women are still underrepresented in research. In fact, a 2019 study published in Author Manuscript, titled Inclusion of female does not increase variability in rodent research studies highlight that even to this date, many medical researcher avoid conducting studies on female mice. The reason being greater costs associated with purchasing and housing both sexes and concerns that the fluctuating hormones and reproductive systems of female mice may confound the study results. However, isn't what they are supposed to find? Don't women's cycles, their hormone and how the body and its hormones react to a medicine deserve to be studied for better administration of medicines.

AAMC also highlights the historical biases, which have been designed to shield unborn children from exposure of drugs and treatments and ongoing challenges to recruiting and retaining women in clinical trials and medical research limit the understanding of women, their experiences, conditions, and more. There is already so many biases surrounding women, more, if you are a woman of color.

A 2022 study published in Nature, Let's Talk About (Biological) Sex, also highlights that women's hormones play a role in physiological, metabolic, hormonal and even cellular differences. All such factors can influence how disease present and effectiveness of the medicine. The biases run deep, despite the proven fact that heart diseases are the leading cause of death in the US for both men and women, the medical field only recognized that women experience a different symptom of the disease than men when the American Heart Association published its Guide to Preventative Cardiology for Woman in 1999.

Martha Gulati, MD, and a cardiologist at the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, and director of prevention and associate director of Barbara Streisand Women's Heart Center and president of the American Society for Preventive Cardiology says, "Women shouldn’t be [put] in a ‘special populations’ category. It’s important to study women to find out how to care for [51%] of the population. We are the majority of the population. So, although women are special, we are not a ‘special population'."

Case Studies From When Women Were Ignored From Science

Before the 1970s, women were already underrepresented in medical research. Progress suffered another setback in 1977 when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) implemented a policy barring women of reproductive potential from Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials—unless they had a life-threatening condition—according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Research on Women’s Health. This decision stemmed from the thalidomide tragedy of the previous decade, in which thousands of pregnant women in Europe and Australia took the drug for morning sickness, only to later discover it caused severe birth defects and even infant deaths. Although thalidomide was never approved in the U.S., the FDA’s policy response was sweeping, broadly interpreted to exclude nearly all premenopausal women from clinical trials, even those on birth control, with sterile partners, or abstaining from sex.

The 2016 study published in Pharmacy Practice mentions some of the trials where women have been highly underrepresented. Furthermore, there are many studies that one can look at and read for themselves. Some of these case studies are mentioned below:

1962: In response to the thalidomide tragedy—which caused over 10,000 infant deaths and birth defects in Europe and Australia—the U.S. strengthens the FDA’s authority.

1977: The FDA issues guidelines barring women of reproductive potential from early-phase clinical trials, except in cases of life-threatening conditions. This policy is broadly applied, effectively excluding most women of childbearing age from medical research.

1986: An NIH advisory committee recommends including women in medical research studies.

1990: The NIH establishes the Office of Research on Women’s Health to advance women’s health research and increase female representation in clinical trials—as both participants and investigators.

1991: Bernadine Healy, MD, becomes the first female director of the NIH.

1993: The FDA reverses its 1977 policy, now requiring the inclusion of women in clinical research unless exclusion is justified (e.g., for diseases affecting only men). That same year, Congress passes a law mandating the inclusion of women in NIH-funded clinical trials.

1994: The FDA establishes the Office of Women’s Health to promote women’s participation in clinical trials and improve women’s healthcare.

2001: The Institute of Medicine publishes a report highlighting the biological impact of sex differences and the need to study them in clinical research.

2022: A Harvard Medical School study finds that, as of 2019, women remain significantly underrepresented in clinical trials for major diseases.

A retracted eardrum, also called tympanic membrane atelectasis, is a condition where the eardrum gets pulled inward toward the middle ear. Normally, the eardrum (or tympanic membrane) acts as a boundary between the outer and middle ear, transmitting sound vibrations to tiny bones that help us hear. But when it collapses inward, that delicate process can be disrupted.

The condition is often silent at first, meaning people may not realize they have it. But in some cases, it can escalate, causing discomfort or even permanent hearing damage.

Spotting the Symptoms

In most cases, a retracted eardrum doesn’t cause any noticeable symptoms. But when the retraction becomes severe enough to affect structures inside the ear, individuals may experience:

• Earache
• Temporary hearing loss
• Fluid discharge from the ear

If left untreated, a chronic retracted eardrum can lead to permanent hearing loss.

Why Does It Happen?

The most common cause of a retracted eardrum is Eustachian tube dysfunction. These narrow tubes connect the middle ear to the back of the nose and help regulate ear pressure.

When they don’t work properly, pressure inside the ear drops, effectively pulling the eardrum inward.

Some common triggers include:

• Recent or recurring ear infections
• Cleft palate
• A poorly healed eardrum after rupture
• Enlarged tonsils or adenoids

Upper respiratory infections, such as the common cold

How Doctors Diagnose It

Diagnosis typically begins with a discussion about symptoms and any recent infections. A doctor will then use an otoscope, a tool with a light, to look into the ear canal. This allows them to visually confirm if the eardrum is abnormally positioned or collapsed.

Treatment Options: When to Wait and When to Act

Not all retracted eardrums require immediate treatment. In mild cases, doctors often recommend a “watch and wait” approach, as pressure may normalize naturally over a few months.

For more advanced cases, several interventions are possible:

Decongestants or nasal steroids: These can improve airflow in the ear and relieve pressure.

The Valsalva maneuver: This self-administered technique involves closing your mouth, pinching your nose, and gently blowing as if trying to pop your ears. It should be performed under medical guidance.

If the condition begins to affect hearing or causes persistent pain, surgical options may be considered.

Surgical Interventions

Two common surgical treatments are:

Tube Insertion (Myringotomy):

Often used in children with recurring ear infections, this procedure involves placing small tubes into the eardrum to help ventilate the middle ear.

Tympanoplasty:

In more severe cases, part of the damaged eardrum may be removed and replaced with cartilage from the outer ear. This stiffens the eardrum, preventing future collapses.

What’s the Prognosis?

The outlook largely depends on the severity. Minor retractions usually resolve without intervention and don’t cause long-term damage. However, more serious cases, especially those that persist or press against ear bones, may result in hearing loss and need medical or surgical correction.

Experts recommend seeking medical attention if you notice ear discomfort, hearing changes, or frequent infections. Early diagnosis can prevent long-term issues and protect one of your most important senses, your hearing.

In a surprising discovery that bridges the gap between creepy crawlies and cutting-edge neuroscience, researchers at Virginia Tech have identified unique compounds in millipede secretions that could pave the way for future treatments for pain and neurological diseases like Parkinson’s, depression, and schizophrenia.

Led by chemist Emily Meyers, the research team uncovered naturally occurring alkaloids in the defensive secretions of the Andrognathus corticarius, a species known colloquially as the Hokie millipede. The millipede, which lives under decomposing leaves and branches on the university’s Blacksburg campus, produces a chemical cocktail that not only deters predators but may influence neuroreceptors in the brain.

“These compounds are quite complex, so they’re going to take some time to synthesize in the lab,” said Meyers, who specializes in studying underexplored ecological sources for potential new drugs.

A Hidden Chemical Arsenal

The compounds, dubbed andrognathanols and andrognathines by Meyers’ team, belong to a class of complex alkaloids. They were discovered after researchers collected several millipedes from wooded areas on campus and analyzed the contents of their defensive glands using a suite of chemical tools.

The results were striking: some of these secretions had a disorienting effect on ants, one of the millipede’s presumed predators. But that’s not all, several of the compounds were found to interact with a neuroreceptor known as Sigma-1. This receptor has been linked to multiple brain disorders, including schizophrenia, depression, Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS), and Parkinson’s disease.

In addition to warding off predators, the researchers discovered that the compounds may also serve a social function, possibly helping millipedes signal their location to family members in leaf-littered environments.

From Defense to Drug Discovery

This study, recently published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, is not Meyers’ first foray into studying arthropod chemistry. She has been collaborating with entomologist Paul Marek, and together, they have previously suggested that the family of alkaloids found in millipede secretions could have significant therapeutic potential.

“Millipedes have been around for hundreds of millions of years. They’ve developed these intricate chemical defense systems, and we’re only beginning to understand their value,” said Meyers.

While the compounds show promise, the next hurdle is a familiar one in drug discovery: scalability. The compounds exist in trace amounts in the wild, and researchers need larger quantities for in-depth testing and potential pharmaceutical development.

The Road Ahead

The team is now exploring partnerships with laboratories that can synthesize the compounds in bulk, which would allow for further testing on their biological activity and medicinal properties. Meyers emphasized that while the research is still in its early stages, the potential applications are broad, from pain management to novel treatments for complex neurological conditions.

“Nature has always been a wellspring of inspiration for medicine,” said Meyers. “And sometimes, the most powerful solutions come from the smallest and most unexpected creatures, like a tiny millipede under a log.”

With this groundbreaking discovery, scientists are reminded once again that the natural world may hold secrets that, once unlocked, could transform human health in unimaginable ways.

When we hit peak COVID, with people being urged to stay at home and only to leave during emergencies, the issue of how we may be able to diagnose people with the virus, while making sure they aren’t contaminated in the process of getting the test, gave the rise to at-home tests While people were questioning how accurate it was, these at home tests prove to be of great health in difficult times. While now that COVID has died down, people are still opting for at-home test, so researchers looked into a new way to diagnose cancer. To be exact, skin cancer.

University of Michigan researchers have developed a new skin patch that could one day allow for easy, at-home testing for melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer. The patch, called the ExoPatch, uses a simple test strip with two lines—much like a home COVID-19 test—to give quick results without needing a painful biopsy or blood test. This technology could help people detect melanoma much earlier.

What Is Skin Cancer: Causes & Prevention

Skin cancer is a type of cancer that begins when skin cells grow abnormally. These cells can harm and destroy healthy tissue. Sometimes, they can even spread to other parts of the body.

There are many kinds of skin cancer. The most common types are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. While these are common, they are also highly curable. The most dangerous form is melanoma, which is more likely to spread and is therefore harder to treat.

Causes and Prevention

Most skin cancers are caused by a lot of sun exposure, so they typically appear on parts of your body that get the most sun. You can lower your risk by protecting your skin with clothing or sunscreen. For cancers that appear on parts of the skin not exposed to the sun, the cause is often different. To stay safe, it's important to regularly check your skin for any changes and tell a doctor about anything you notice.

How the ExoPatch Works

The ExoPatch is a small silicone patch with tiny, star-shaped needles. These needles are so small they only go into the very top layer of the skin and don't draw blood, making the process less painful. The needles are coated with a special gel that attracts and collects exosomes, which are tiny packets released by cells. Cancerous cells release specific exosomes that can indicate the presence of a tumor.

After wearing the patch for just 15 minutes, you can remove it and place it in a liquid that dissolves the gel and releases the exosomes. You then dip a test strip into the liquid. If two lines appear, it means melanoma exosomes were found. If only one line appears, the test is negative.

Science Behind the Test

Exosomes were once thought to be cellular waste, but scientists now know they carry information like DNA and RNA and are used by cells to communicate. Cancer cells use exosomes to prepare other tissues for tumors to spread. By detecting these specific cancer exosomes, the ExoPatch could catch cancer earlier than previous methods. In initial tests on mice, the patch was able to successfully tell the difference between healthy skin and melanoma tissue, collecting 11.5 times more cancerous exosomes from the melanoma samples.

The ExoPatch is still in the early stages of development, but the researchers are optimistic about its potential. After further testing on humans, this technology could be modified to detect other cancers with solid tumors, such as lung, breast, colon, and prostate cancer. The team has applied for a patent for the patch, which they believe could have huge applications for at-home disease detection in the future.