“I'm not great at the advice. Can I interest you in a sarcastic comment?”

This is what ‘Friends’ actor Matthew Perry’s character Chandler Bing was known for. He was known for being funny. However, he had his own struggles in his personal life and those struggles were acute depression. He was treating it with ketamine infusion therapy which is legal in the US and the UK.

What is Ketamine infusion therapy?

Ketamine is an anaesthetic used to treat depression, anxiety and pain under supervised and controlled medical settings. However, it does have its side effects, which can lead to distortion of sight, sound and time. It can also produce calming and relaxing effects.

Ketamine increases a person’s heart rate and blood pressure. If overdosed, it can leave users confused and agitated and can cause them to hurt themselves without even realising it. It can also lead to liver damage and bladder problems.

However, when used in moderation and under the supervision of medical doctors, it can treat depression where traditional antidepressants have failed.

Prof Rupert McShane, a University of Oxford psychiatrist who runs an NHS ketamine treatment clinic told BBC that ketamine “probably turns off the area of the brain that is involved in disappointment.”

Can Ketamine Infusion Therapy Kill Someone?

In simple terms, it cannot, be if the dosage is given in a controlled setting and as prescribed. Ketamine infusion therapy uses drugs in small doses than those used for anaesthesia. It acts faster than traditional anti-depressants, but the effects also wear off way quickly. Which is why it is important to monitor patients’ mental state for relapsing back into depression and discouraging them from overdosing on it.

There are ways of giving people ketamine. One of the ways is through “infusing”, which means to use an IV drip. However, injections, nasal sprays and capsules are also methods used to give people ketamine.

Since the dosage of ketamine used in the infusion treatment is small, it being the reason of actor Perry’s death was ruled out. The medical examiner also noted that Perry’s last ketamine infusion therapy session happened more than a week before his death, which means by the time he had died, it must have worn off.

So, What Happened To Perry?

Though Perry’s last session was more than a week before, his post-mortem showed that his blood contained a high concentration of ketamine. He had died of the “acute effects” of ketamine.

If it was not his session, then how did he get ketamine?

Prosecutors alleged that his assistant gave him at least 27 shots of ketamine in four days before his death, reported BBC.

Perry has been open about his personal struggles and this is what the doctors and dealers used against him. Martin Estrada, the US attorney for California’s Central District told the BBC that people took advantage of his condition. They charged him 165 times more than what vials of ketamine cost.

Names that have come up include Dr Salvador Plasencia, drug dealers “Ketamine Queen” aka Jasveen Sangha and Eric Fleming, and Perry’s live-in assistant Kenneth Iwamasa.

Who Are These Names And What Did They Do?

Ketamine Queen or Sangha supplied drugs that led to Perry’s death. Her home was a “drug-selling emporium,” said Estrada. More than 80 vials of ketamine, and thousands of pills including methamphetamine, cocaine and Xanax were allegedly found in her house known as the “Sangha Stash House.”

Sangha is known to deal with high-end celebs and was a “major source of supply for ketamine to others as well as Perry,” said Estrada.

Dr Plasencia called Perry a “moron” while charging him $2,000 for vials that cost only $12. He sold Perry 20 vials of ketamine between September and October 2023, costing $55,000.

He was the one who taught Iwamasa, who had no medical knowledge to inject the drug. This is after he knew that “Perry’s ketamine addiction was spiralling out of control,” as per what the investigators told the BBC.

Another dealer Fleming was told by Sangha to “delete all our messages.” While Fleming pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute drugs unlawfully, he also allegedly messaged Sangha: “Please call...Got more info and want to bounce ideas off you. I’m 90% sure everyone is protected. I never dealt with [Perry] only his assistant. So the assistant was the enabler.”

The court documents also revealed that he asked Sangha on whether the ketamine stays in your system or “is it immediately flushed out.”

Dr Pepper, Bots, Cans

The people who allegedly exploited Perry used coded language for ketamine and called it “Dr Pepper”, “bots”, or “cans.”

Selling overpriced drugs, taking advantage of Perry’s mental condition and falsifying medical records to make the drugs given to him look legitimate by Dr Plasencia is what took Perry’s life.

Iwamasa is said to have administered more than 20 shots of ketamine and three on the day Perry died. Whereas ketamine is only administered by a physician. Authorities also found that weeks before Perry’s death, Dr Plasencia allegedly bought 10 vials of ketamine and intended to sell to Perry.

He also injected Perry with a large dose, two days later. This caused him to “freeze up” and spiked his blood pressure.

When I Die, I Want Helping Others To Be The First Thing That’s Mentioned

Perry had always been open about his drug addictions, struggles with alcohol and his depression. He said that his openness would help others who are also struggling and wanted to be remembered by his quote which also is on the homepage of the Mattew Perry Foundation that helps others struggling with the disease of addiction: “When I die, I want helping others to be the first thing that’s mentioned.”

Five arrests have been made in the case so far.

Weight loss surgery may do more than help women living with obesity lose weight. A new study has found that metabolic bariatric surgery can improve menstrual cycles and several reproductive symptoms linked to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, now renamed as Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS).

Researchers from the University of Surrey followed 84 women aged 18 to 45 who underwent bariatric surgery, including 49 gastric bypass and 35 gastric sleeve procedures, for 24 months. Another 18 women with obesity who did not undergo surgery were included for comparison. The findings were published in Obesity Surgery.

Bariatric Surgery Improved PMOS Symptoms

Women who underwent surgery lost more than 30 kg on average at both 12 and 24 months after the procedure. But researchers also observed improvements in reproductive health. Women who had previously experienced irregular periods reported more regular menstrual cycles after surgery. The number of women with polycystic ovaries also fell significantly, with the condition persisting in only 10% of those affected after 24 months.

Another common PMOS symptom, hirsutism or excessive facial and body hair, had resolved in the women reporting the condition by 12 months.

Obesity and PMOS can team up in a way that worsens metabolic and reproductive problems. Insulin resistance and hormonal changes associated with excess weight can contribute to irregular ovulation, menstrual irregularity and difficulty conceiving.

Also read: PCOD vs PCOS vs PMOS: Why The Condition’s Name Has Changed Over Time

Weight Loss Could Improve PMOS Symptoms

The researchers suggest that reducing obesity may help correct some of the hormonal and metabolic disturbances affecting reproductive health.

Dr Kathryn Hart, co-author of the study and Associate Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Surrey, said: “Dysregulated hormone levels, irregular periods and conditions such as polycystic ovaries are impacted by obesity. By reducing this, what we have seen is that it can lead to improvements without the need for medication,” she added.

Despite promising results, this does not mean bariatric surgery is a treatment that every obese woman with PMOS should undergo.

The procedure is generally considered for people with obesity who meet a certain clinical criteria. Also it carries its own risks and nutritional considerations that are important.

Also read: From Insulin Resistance to Fertility: Understanding the Metabolic Side of PCOS

Fertility May Return Quickly After Surgery

The researchers also highlighted an important finding for women who may be planning pregnancy. Seventeen women in the study had healthy pregnancies following surgery.

The researchers said reproductive counselling and preconception care should be incorporated into care after bariatric surgery, particularly because fertility can improve as menstrual cycles and ovulation become more regular.

Professor Martin Whyte, co-author and Professor of Metabolic Medicine at the University of Surrey, said many people undergoing bariatric surgery are women of reproductive age who may be considering pregnancy.

“So much remains unknown about the impact of this type of surgery on women who are planning to have children,” he said, highlighting the need to understand when the ideal time to conceive may be after surgery.

Importance Of Combating PMOS-Related Obesity

The study adds to growing evidence that treating obesity can improve some reproductive symptoms of PMOS.

A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis also found that bariatric surgery was associated with reductions in menstrual irregularities, hirsutism and several reproductive hormone abnormalities.

But bariatric surgery is not a cure for PMOS. PMOS is a complex hormonal and metabolic health condition and its symptomscan vary considerably between women.

Amino acids are known for their role in brain function, energy, and overall health. But a new study has raised questions about tyrosine, an amino acid that occurs naturally in high-protein foods. It is also sold separately as a supplement as it helps in improving focus and overall mental performance.

Researchers analysing health and genetic data from more than 270,000 people found that higher tyrosine levels were linked with a shorter lifespan in men.

Additionally, genetic analysis suggested that higher tyrosine levels could cut life expectancy of men by nearly one year. No such significant association was found in women.

More About The Study

Researchers from the University of Hong Kong and the University of Georgia examined data from participants in the UK Biobank to investigate whether two amino acids, phenylalanine and tyrosine, were associated with lifespan.

Initially, higher levels of both amino acids appeared to be linked with a greater risk of death. However, when researchers accounted for the relationship between the two, tyrosine consistently stood out.

Using Mendelian randomisation, a genetic method that can help investigate causal relationships, the researchers found that genetically higher tyrosine levels were associated with approximately 0.91 fewer years of lifespan in men.

Also read: The New Nutrition Gap: Why Knowing What To Eat Doesn't Mean We Actually Eat It

Role Of Tyrosine When It Comes To Brain Health

Tyrosine is an amino acid that the body uses to make proteins as well as important neurotransmitters, including dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine.

Dopamine plays a role in motivation, mood and thinking, which is one reason tyrosine supplements are marketed as products that may support focus and mental performance.

However, tyrosine is not something people get only from supplements. It is naturally present in foods like meat, dairy products, eggs, soy, beans, nuts and seeds. This means the study does not suggest that people should stop eating protein-rich foods.

Also read: Protein Is In Everything, But Is Every Source Actually Healthy? Experts Explain

Are Tyrosine Supplements Dangerous?

One of the most important points about the research is that scientists did not conduct a clinical trial in which people were given tyrosine supplements and followed to see how long they lived.

Instead, researchers studied circulating tyrosine levels and used genetic data to investigate whether naturally occurring differences in tyrosine might influence lifespan.

Therefore, the findings cannot establish that taking a tyrosine supplement will shorten a man's life by nearly one year.

The researchers also said more research is needed to understand why the association appeared stronger in men and what biological mechanisms may be involved.

The study raises the possibility that tyrosine may be connected with biological pathways involved in ageing and metabolism. Previous research has also linked amino-acid metabolism with conditions such as insulin resistance, but whether this explains the association with lifespan remains uncertain.

The researchers also found an apparent sex difference, with the association between tyrosine and shorter lifespan being significant in men but not women.

The findings must be best viewed as an observation rather than a reason to panic about tyrosine supplements. The study suggests that tyrosine may need closer investigation in longevity research. Further studies are needed before doctors can recommend reducing tyrosine intake or avoiding supplements.

Dengue cases are rising in Florida, with 73 locally acquired infections reported statewide, including 59 in Hillsborough County, according to the latest Florida Department of Health surveillance report covering August 23–29.

Ten counties are currently under a mosquito-borne illness advisory or alert, prompting health officials to urge residents to take precautions against mosquito bites.

Florida Reports 208 Dengue Cases In 2026

According to the CDC Dengue Data Dashboard, Florida has recorded 208 dengue cases this year. Of these, 73 were locally acquired, while 135 were travel-associated. Hillsborough County accounts for most of the locally acquired infections, with 59 cases. Other local cases have been reported in Miami-Dade, Pinellas, Palm Beach, Orange and Citrus counties.

The CDC has reported 1,735 dengue cases across the US and its territories in 2026 as of early September. New York, California, Washington and New Jersey have also reported cases.

Health Officials Urge Mosquito Bite Protection

Dengue is transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, which can breed in small amounts of standing water around homes and businesses. Even a bottle cap containing stagnant water can provide enough water for mosquitoes to breed.

State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo joined local officials in Hillsborough County to urge residents to protect themselves from mosquito-borne illnesses.

“As families across Florida prepare to enjoy Labor Day weekend, I encourage everyone to take few simple precautions to protect themselves and their families from mosquitos bites,” said State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo.

“Use insect repellent, cover up when possible, and remove standing water around your home. Individual prevention helps protect you and your community,” he added.

Why Are Locally Acquired Dengue Cases Rising In The US?

Most dengue infections in the continental US are still associated with international travel. But when an infected traveller returns to an area where Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus mosquitoes are present, the virus can enter the local mosquito population.

An infected mosquito can then transmit the virus to other people, creating a cycle of local transmission.

In 2024, 97.2% of dengue cases in the US were travel-associated, according to the CDC. However, states such as Florida can experience local outbreaks because dengue-carrying mosquitoes are already established in parts of the country.

Local transmission requires three factors to overlap:

• an infected person,
• competent mosquitoes
• people who can become infected.

When an Aedes mosquito bites someone carrying dengue virus, it can acquire the virus and later pass it to another person. Repeated mosquito-to-human transmission can then fuel a local outbreak.

Climate May Also Influence Dengue Spread

Temperature and other environmental conditions affect mosquito survival, reproduction and biting behavior, as well as how quickly dengue virus develops inside the mosquito.

Warmer conditions can therefore create more favorable conditions for dengue transmission and potentially expand the areas where these mosquitoes can survive.