#Medicaleducation

In a surprising twist to the promise of artificial intelligence in medicine, a recent study published in a leading medical journal found that doctors who used an AI tool to flag precancerous growths during colonoscopies showed a weakening of their own detection abilities when the tool was withdrawn. After three months of real-time AI assistance, their ability to spot the growths on their own dropped from about 28% to roughly 22%. The finding, though based on an observational study, raises questions about whether AI can improve care in the short term while eroding essential clinical skills in the long term.

A century ago, Dr. George Bradley McFarland helped redefine Thai medicine and medical education. His work at Siriraj Hospital’s medical college laid the foundations for today’s Thai clinical practice and the Thai-English medical lexicon. The story remains a powerful example of international collaboration in health and education that still resonates in Thai classrooms and clinics.

Born in Bangkok in 1866 to American Presbyterian missionaries, McFarland grew up fluent in Thai and deeply engaged with Thai culture. After earning his medical degree in Philadelphia, he returned to Siam not as a guest, but as a bridge between Western science and Thai tradition. His approach shaped both how care is delivered and how medical training is conducted.

A lively exchange among surgeons has offered fresh insights into human anatomy that textbooks often miss. A discussion that went viral on Reddit, summarized by BuzzFeed News, invites surgeons to share lesser-known, fascinating bodily facts. The result is a clearer view of the body’s complexity and resilience with practical implications for patients and the public.

In Thailand, these revelations arrive as medical knowledge remains highly valued and widely accessed through formal channels. The conversation provides a rare chance for Thai readers to deepen their understanding of their own bodies, the procedures they may encounter, and the importance of timely medical care.

Surgeons, the medical professionals most intimately acquainted with the human body, are opening up about anatomical realities that frequently surprise even seasoned healthcare workers. A viral Reddit discussion, recently recapped by BuzzFeed News, asked surgeons to share little-known but fascinating bodily facts—unfiltered details rarely found in textbooks or shared in lay conversations. The responses, which have since circulated on news portals like MSN (source), pull back the surgical curtain on the body’s astonishing quirks and resilience.

Regular physical activity is proving to be a powerful, accessible tool for mental health across Thailand and the world. New research from Thai universities, alongside global studies, shows movement can reduce stress, anxiety, and symptoms of depression. The latest findings highlight that integrating simple exercise into daily routines is crucial for safeguarding psychological well-being, especially in demanding environments like universities and healthcare education.

Rising anxiety, burnout, and depressive symptoms have prompted public health experts to champion exercise as both preventive and therapeutic. In contemporary Thailand, stressors such as pandemic-related restrictions, economic pressures, and heavy academic workloads are affecting people of all ages. Evidence now positions physical activity as a fundamental pillar of resilience, relevant to students, professionals, and older adults in both urban and rural communities.

A surge of international and Thai research confirms that regular physical activity delivers powerful mental health benefits, reducing stress, anxiety, and symptoms of depression. Recent studies, highlighted in the article “The Mental Health Benefits of Exercise: How Movement Reduces Stress,” and new research from Thai academic institutions, show that integrating movement into daily routines is an essential—and accessible—strategy for safeguarding psychological well-being, especially in high-pressure environments such as universities and healthcare education.

A growing chorus of oncologists warns that cancer survival is not the end of the journey. Many survivors, especially women with gynecologic cancers, endure unaddressed sexual side effects long after treatment ends. Chronic vaginal pain and painful intercourse diminish quality of life and strain relationships, even when cancer is curable. A Guardian commentary by a senior oncologist highlighted a patient whose curable cancer left her living with years of sexual pain due to insufficient aftercare and open communication.

A recent call by leading oncologists highlights an often-overlooked aspect of cancer care: the unaddressed and persistent sexual side effects experienced by many survivors, particularly women. Despite advances in cancer treatment and survival rates, distressing symptoms such as chronic vaginal pain and painful intercourse continue to affect the quality of life for thousands, including those whose cancers are considered imminently curable. This troubling issue has come into new focus following a commentary in The Guardian by a prominent oncologist, who detailed the story of a patient whose curable cancer left her suffering years of sexual pain due to lack of adequate aftercare and frank communication.

A rising wave of social media content has Thai viewers fixated on cortisol as the villain behind weight gain and facial changes. Scientists and doctors warn that everyday cortisol fluctuations from normal stress are not the dramatic threat seen in popular videos. This perspective, drawn from a detailed analysis in The Conversation and echoed by endocrinologists and health organizations, urges media literacy around online health claims.

Thai youths and professionals are feeling the impact of wellness trends that blame cortisol for stubborn belly fat or puffy faces. Local creators and influencers have amplified the narrative, with hashtags such as #cortisolbelly gaining traction. However, experts say the science is far more nuanced. Weight and body changes arise from a mix of genetics, sleep, diet, activity, and hormones—not cortisol alone.

Social media’s obsession with “cortisol belly” and “cortisol face” has racked up millions of views among Thai users, amplifying fears that the stress hormone cortisol is sabotaging health and appearance. However, scientists and medical experts are pushing back, clarifying that everyday cortisol fluctuations from modern stressors are far from the catastrophic threat depicted in TikTok and Instagram trends—findings that come as a relief for many in Thailand and across the globe. This latest conversation is rooted in a detailed analysis published by a medical researcher through The Conversation, and corroborated by endocrinologists and global health organizations, signaling an urgent need for critical media literacy around health information online.

A routine sore throat became a life-changing crisis for Vanessa Abraham, a California speech pathologist. Her condition deteriorated rapidly, landing her in intensive care for weeks and leaving doctors puzzled for months. The case, highlighted by CBS News, spotlights the challenges of diagnosing rare neurological conditions, including a little-known Guillain-Barré syndrome variant. The story resonates beyond the United States and offers lessons for Thai readers navigating similar medical uncertainties.

Abraham’s initial symptoms appeared flu-like: fatigue, body aches, and a raspy voice. Within days, she could barely move or breathe on her own. She was rushed to hospital, intubated, and placed on a ventilator. She recalls the experience as among the most fear-filled moments of her life as clinicians searched for answers while she could not speak or eat. The medical team’s tireless efforts eventually revealed a diagnosis four months later: the pharyngeal-cervical-brachial (PCB) variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome—a rare form that affects nerves in the throat, neck, and arms.