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Study identifies key risk factors driving MASLD across populations

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) affects approximately 32% of the US adult population.

23 Apr 2026

Obesity health risks differ significantly between men and women

New research being presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Istanbul, Turkey (12-15 May), reveals distinct patterns of heart, metabolic, and inflammatory health risks between men and women living with obesity, providing an insight into how clinicians may be able to tailor management approaches.

13 Apr 2026

Microplastics found in human bile may be associated with gallstones

Findings show microplastics in bile may trigger cellular senescence, suggesting a link to gallstone disease and highlighting the need for further research.

9 Apr 2026

Imaging study measures pancreatic fat in children and teens

Higher fat content in the pancreas of children and adolescents with obesity is associated with an increased level of heart and metabolic risk factors, including higher than average body mass index (BMI), elevated diastolic blood pressure, higher levels of abdominal and liver fat, and insulin resistance, according to new research presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Istanbul, Turkey (12-15 May).

1 Apr 2026

Palmatine improved fatty liver markers in a preclinical type 2 diabetes study

Researchers used a bioinformatics-plus-rat-model approach to investigate how palmatine may help treat T2DM-associated MASLD, identifying five core targets: ADRB2, BCL3, EGR1, FOS, and MAP3K8. In rats, palmatine improved liver injury, inflammation, oxidative stress, glycolipid metabolism, steatosis, and fibrosis, while reducing apoptosis-related signaling, providing a preclinical foundation for further therapeutic study.

23 Mar 2026

Combination therapy shows promise for leptomeningeal metastasis in breast cancer

Patients with leptomeningeal metastasis (LM) have historically had few treatment options. Now, researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have found a combination of targeted therapies, tucatinib and trastuzumab, plus the chemotherapy drug, capecitabine, may improve symptoms and extend survival in some breast cancer patients with LM.

18 Mar 2026

Long-term cola intake weakens immune cell counts in controlled rat study

Replacing drinking water entirely with sugar-sweetened or sugar-free cola for eight weeks altered gut microbiota composition and immune-related indices in rats, despite no changes in body weight or blood glucose. Both beverages were associated with leukocyte reductions and organ-related biochemical shifts, with sugar-sweetened cola more strongly linked to renal markers and diet cola to elevated liver enzymes.

25 Feb 2026

ATG14 found to be a critical defender against hepatic injury and fibrosis

Autophagy is indispensable for maintaining hepatocyte integrity, metabolic homeostasis, and survival. While several autophagy-related proteins have been studied in hepatic physiology, the specific role of Autophagy Related 14 (ATG14) in liver health has remained unclear.

24 Feb 2026

Study reveals a new facet of how pancreatic cancer cells regulate autophagy

A feature of pancreatic cancer cells' surroundings determines whether they grow fast or become resistant to chemotherapy, a new study shows.

16 Feb 2026

Genetic and cellular mechanisms underlying steatotic liver disease

Steatotic liver disease (SLD), mainly encompassing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), alcohol-related liver disease (ALD), and metabolic dysfunction and ALD (MetALD), has emerged as the dominant cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, displacing viral hepatitis as the primary aetiology.

10 Nov 2025

GLP-1 drugs calm inflammation beyond diabetes and weight loss

This Journal of Clinical Investigation review describes how glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)–based medicines reduce systemic and tissue inflammation through both weight-dependent and weight-independent mechanisms. It details preclinical and clinical evidence linking GLP-1 receptor activation to cardiovascular, renal, hepatic, neural, and joint anti-inflammatory effects while outlining uncertainties and future research needs.

4 Nov 2025

Research shows citrus and grape compounds may protect against type 2 diabetes

A six-month clinical trial found that a supplement combining citrus and grape extracts, hesperidin, and chromium significantly reduced fasting blood glucose in prediabetic adults. Participants also saw improved cholesterol and triglyceride levels, returning many to normal metabolic health.

2 Nov 2025

Study aims to examine the association between arsenic exposure and MASLD

While metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is associated with obesity, the cause of its rapidly rising prevalence is not well understood.

29 Oct 2025

Ganoderma lucidum protects against liver damage from high-fat diets

A long-term high-fat diet (HFD) exerts lipotoxic effects on multiple organs, particularly the liver, leading to metabolic diseases.

16 Oct 2025

Molecular fingerprint predicts physical fitness in older adults

Could a simple blood test reveal how well someone is aging? A team of researchers led by Wolfram Weckwerth from the University of Vienna, Austria, and Nankai University, China, has combined advanced metabolomics with cutting-edge machine learning and a novel network modeling tool to uncover the key molecular processes underlying active aging.

30 Sep 2025

Researchers design factor IX variants for short- and long-term Hemophilia B management

After blood vessel damage, effective blood clotting is essential to halt bleeding. However, this process is inefficient in some individuals due to hereditary factors. Hemophilia B, for example, results from a deficiency in coagulation factor IX (FIX), which can lead to prolonged bleeding after injuries or surgery.

30 Sep 2025

Scientists test whether chaya leaves can lower blood sugar in diabetes

Researchers reviewed current evidence on the chaya plant (Cnidoscolus chayamansa), highlighting its nutritional profile, hypoglycemic activity in animal models, and potential as a complementary aid for diabetes management. While promising, safety, dosage, and interaction studies remain essential before clinical use.

29 Sep 2025

Novel biosensing platform provides quantitative graded evaluation of mild to severe liver injury

Real-time monitoring of key biomarkers is a critical prerequisite for early disease diagnosis and personalized therapy. Early detection of liver function impairment particularly relies on the measurement of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT).

29 Sep 2025

Higher arsenic exposure linked to increased risk of metabolic liver disease

While metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is associated with obesity, the cause of its rapidly rising prevalence is not well understood. In this study, we aimed to examine the association between arsenic exposure and MASLD in humans.

22 Sep 2025

Daily orforglipron GLP-1 pill achieves over 11% weight loss in global obesity trial

In a phase 3 trial, once-daily oral orforglipron induced significant, dose-dependent weight loss over 72 weeks in adults with obesity but no diabetes. It also improved multiple cardiometabolic markers with a safety profile similar to other GLP-1 receptor agonists.

18 Sep 2025