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Andes hantavirus outbreak highlights global spillover and transmission risks

A Virginia Tech disease ecologist said the outbreak of Andes hantavirus aboard the international MV Hondius cruise ship underscores how little scientists still know about the viruses circulating silently in wild rodent populations before they spill into humans.

11 May 2026

Daily orforglipron treatment reduces weight and blood sugar in seniors

A new analysis to be presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2026, Istanbul, Turkey, 12-15 May) examined daily oral orforglipron treatment for the treatment of obesity, with or without diabetes, in users aged 65 years and over, with results and a safety profile similar to that seen in the ATTAIN clinical trial programme population.

11 May 2026

Atomic-level images could improve future COVID-19 antiviral drug design

The closest-ever detailed look at a key enzyme inside the virus that causes COVID-19 could lead to more effective treatment of the disease.

10 May 2026

Targeted mitochondrial therapy accelerates healing of diabetic chronic wounds

Impaired mitophagy and the accumulation of damaged mitochondria are key drivers of endothelial cell (EC)dysfunction in diabetic wounds.

10 May 2026

Non-invasive swab test offers fast, accurate tuberculosis detection worldwide

A portable molecular test, MiniDock MTB, detected pulmonary tuberculosis rapidly and accurately across seven high-burden countries, using sputum or tongue swab samples. The study suggests the low-cost, battery-operated platform could expand near-point-of-care TB diagnosis in low-resource settings, although real-world implementation and drug-resistance integration still need evaluation.

10 May 2026

Informal networks and professional culture shape advancement in UK surgical careers

While entry into medicine and surgery has become more diverse, why does that diversity disappear at senior levels? A new study from the University of Surrey argues that the answer lies in how careers are judged day-to-day.

8 May 2026

Researchers uncover how bacterial toxin damages colon lining cells to trigger cancer

Since a landmark 2009 study, researchers have known that a common gut bacterium, Bacteroides fragilis, drives colon tumor formation, potentially leading to colorectal cancer, by secreting a toxin that damages the lining of the colon.

8 May 2026

Older adults increasingly use cannabis for pain and sleep relief

For adults over 60, cannabis use is increasing faster than in any other demographic.

8 May 2026

Tiny cellular structure found crucial for brain development processes

A largely overlooked structure inside our cells may play a crucial role in how the brain forms, offering new insight into developmental disorders and potential therapies.

8 May 2026

Multi-center research initiative aims to improve glioblastoma patient outcomes

Investigators at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center are part of a new multi-institution research effort aimed at improving care and outcomes for patients diagnosed with glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat cancers.

8 May 2026

Wearable devices track real-time health effects of pollution and heat

As climate change drives more frequent extreme heat and worsening air pollution, researchers are seeking better ways to understand how these exposures affect health in real time.

8 May 2026

Study challenges assumptions about testosterone’s role in brain cancer

Scientists have long suspected that androgens, male sex hormones like testosterone, may help tumors grow because the hormones can suppress immune responses to some cancers.

8 May 2026

A brain-based approach may improve smoking cessation treatment success

For many people who smoke, quitting is not just a matter of willpower. It is a tug-of-war in the brain – between the pull of reward and the ability to resist.

8 May 2026

AI-driven hormone tracking could help detect infertility early and improve conception

Men and women who appear hormonally 'normal' may still have undetected disruptions in the timing and coordination of their reproductive hormones that could impair fertility, according to research presented at the 28th European Congress of Endocrinology in Prague.

8 May 2026

Engineered regulatory T cells offer a path toward immunosuppression-free transplants

Organ transplantation remains the cornerstone treatment for end-stage organ failure. While conventional broad-spectrum immunosuppression effectively controls acute rejection, it fails to address chronic rejection and carries long-term side effects including infection, malignancy, and metabolic disorders.

8 May 2026

Suppressing TGF-β signaling reactivates dormant bone cells to treat osteoporosis

Osteoporosis, a common skeletal disorder, is marked by reduced bone mass and deterioration of bone microarchitecture, making bones more porous and prone to fractures.

8 May 2026

AI diagnostic reasoning nears physician performance

Advanced AI systems are approaching physicial-level reasoning in diagnostic tasks.

8 May 2026

Metformin targets the gut instead of the liver to lower glucose

For decades, physicians and scientists thought metformin, the leading Type 2 diabetes medication taken by millions worldwide, mainly targets the liver to suppress glucose production.

8 May 2026

The power of organoids in speeding up lifesaving drug development

Organoids are miniature tissue or organ models formed by stem cells (including pluripotent stem cells, tissue-specific adult stem cells, etc.) or progenitor cells in an in vitro three-dimensional culture system, which possess structural features and partial functions analogous to their corresponding in vivo organs. In 2009, the Hans Clevers laboratory developed the first intestinal organoid, marking the inception of organoid-based disease modeling.

8 May 2026

UK restaurant chains miss most government sugar and salt targets

A study reveals low adherence to UK nutrition targets in major restaurant chains, raising concerns about dietary risks for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

8 May 2026