Health News

• New auditory brainstem implant shows early promise Friday, 16 May 2025
  Investigators are developing a new type of auditory brainstem implant that is designed to be soft, and flexible and address limitations of models currently in use. These implants may one day benefit people who can't receive a cochlear implant, such as those with Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) and other severe inner ear abnormalities. In a […]
• In healthy aging, carb quality counts Friday, 16 May 2025
  Intakes of dietary fiber and high-quality carbohydrates in midlife are linked to increased likelihood of healthy aging and other positive health outcomes in older women. Higher intakes of refined carbohydrates and starchy vegetables were associated with lower odds of healthy aging.
• Study reveals a deep brain region that links the senses Thursday, 15 May 2025
  Humans perceive and navigate the world around us with the help of our five senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell. And while scientists have long known that these different senses activate different parts of the brain, a new study indicates that multiple senses all stimulate a critical region deep in the brain that controls […]
• Particles carrying multiple vaccine doses could reduce the need for follow-up shots Thursday, 15 May 2025
  New polymer microparticles can be used to deliver vaccines at different times. The work could lead to childhood vaccines given just once, eliminating the need for booster doses.
• Asians made humanity's longest prehistoric migration and shaped the genetic landscape in the Americas Thursday, 15 May 2025
  An international genomics study has revealed that early Asians undertook humanity's longest known prehistoric migration. These early humans, who roamed the earth over 100,000 years ago, are believed to have traveled more than 20,000 kilometers on foot from North Asia to the southernmost tip of South America. Scientists have mapped the unexpectedly vast genetic diversity […]
• World's largest bat organoid platform paves the way for pandemic preparedness Thursday, 15 May 2025
  Until now, most research has used either generalized cell samples or organoids made from just one type of tropical fruit bat, and only from a single organ. But a breakthrough has arrived: a research team has now created the world's most comprehensive bat organoid platform. These 'mini-organs' are grown from five common bat species found […]
• Key player in childhood food allergies identified: Thetis cells Thursday, 15 May 2025
  Thetis cells, a class of immune cells first described in 2022, play an essential and previously unknown role in suppressing inflammatory responses to food, a new study finds.
• The effect of physical fitness on mortality is overestimated Thursday, 15 May 2025
  That fit people have a reduced risk of premature death from various diseases is a recurring result in many studies. New research shows that people with high fitness levels in their late teens also have a reduced risk of dying from random accidents. This suggests that the associations seen in previous studies have probably been […]
• Enzyme identified as an important tumor inhibitor in T-cell lymphomas Thursday, 15 May 2025
  Lymphomas belong to the group of malignant diseases of the immune system and mainly affect the organs of the lymphatic system. Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) belongs to the subgroup of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and is a rare but aggressive form of T-cell lymphoma that usually occurs in children and young adults. Research teams have now […]
• Protein switch turns anti-viral immune response on and off Thursday, 15 May 2025
  An international research team has discovered a critical protein that acts as a 'switch' regulating immune responses to viruses.
• Seeing blood clots before they strike Thursday, 15 May 2025
  Researchers have found a way to observe clotting activity in blood as it happens -- without needing invasive procedures. Using a new type of microscope and artificial intelligence (AI), their study shows how platelet clumping can be tracked in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), opening the door to safer, more personalized treatment.
• People with critical cardiovascular disease may benefit from palliative care Thursday, 15 May 2025
  Palliative care is specialized medical care focused on easing symptoms, addressing psychological and spiritual needs, and helping patients and caregivers make critical decisions aligned with their personal beliefs and values.
• Recessive genes are subject to Darwinian selection Thursday, 15 May 2025
  As a group, carriers of recessive disorders are slightly less healthy and have a reduced chance of having offspring. This disadvantage is greatest for carriers of a recessive gene for intellectual disability, and reflected in a shorter school career and increased childlessness, according to new research. Time to rewrite the textbooks?
• Marfan syndrome increases risk of brain alterations Thursday, 15 May 2025
  A study reveals that inflammation associated with Marfan syndrome increases vulnerability to neurological diseases and complications following strokes, as demonstrated in animal models.
• The long pathway to cell organization and growth Thursday, 15 May 2025
  Sterols are among the most abundant lipids in eukaryotic cells, yet are synthesized through notoriously long, complex metabolic pathways. Researchers have used a novel approach to show how they interact with other lipids that help cells self-organize.
• Cyberbullying in any form can be traumatizing for kids Thursday, 15 May 2025
  New research shows that cyberbullying should be classified as an adverse childhood experience due to its strong link to trauma. Even subtle forms -- like exclusion from group chats -- can trigger PTSD-level distress. Nearly 90% of teens experienced some form of cyberbullying, accounting for 32% of the variation in trauma symptoms. Indirect harassment was […]
• Patients with glioblastoma who received gabapentin lived longer, study suggests Thursday, 15 May 2025
  A new study suggests that gabapentin, a relatively common anti-seizure/pain medication, is linked to improved survival in patients with glioblastoma (GBM) -- the most common and deadly form of brain cancer in adults. The findings are based on a retrospective analysis and add new evidence to help patients with this devastating disease.
• Focused ultrasound halts growth of debilitating brain lesions Thursday, 15 May 2025
  A new, incision-free technique developed at UVA Health to treat debilitating brain lesions called cerebral cavernous malformations, or cavernomas, has shown great promise in early testing, halting the growth of the lesions almost entirely.
• South African study identifies two new breast cancer genes in black women Thursday, 15 May 2025
  South African scientists have identified two new breast cancer genes -- RAB27A and USP22 -- in Black women, marking the first GWAS of its kind on the continent. This breakthrough highlights the need for Africa-centred genomic research and tools to improve cancer risk prediction and treatment.
• Improved model system allows researchers to study embryo development Thursday, 15 May 2025
  Research improves upon a popular experimental model of mammal development and in doing so, reveals more of the inner workings of a critical period during the formation of an embryo.