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Blood immune cells found to impact cancer survival

The immune systems of cancer patients are highly disrupted, with those who have a higher number of immune cells in their blood having a better survival rate, finds a new study that uses a pioneering technique developed by researchers at UCL and the Francis Crick Institute.

20 Feb 2025

Do prenatal antibiotics weaken breast milk immunity? A new study aims to find out

A new study will investigate whether prenatal antibiotic use impairs breast milk immune function and disrupts neonatal gut microbiota, potentially affecting infant health. Researchers aim to assess how prolonged antibiotic exposure in late pregnancy alters breast milk IgA and neonatal immune development.

19 Feb 2025

Can the carnivore diet trigger kidney stones? Case study raises red flags

A case study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition examines how one patient’s switch to a carnivore diet increased kidney stone risk by raising calcium, uric acid, and oxalate levels while reducing protective citrate.

19 Feb 2025

Scientists track diet through stool DNA, revealing a new way to monitor nutrition

Scientists developed MEDI, a method to estimate dietary intake from food DNA in human stool, offering a more accurate alternative to self-reported food tracking.

19 Feb 2025

Unlocking the potential of double negative memory B cells in cancer treatment

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center scientists have discovered a novel subset of cancer-fighting immune cells that reside outside of their normal neighborhood – known as the tertiary lymphoid structure – where they become frustratingly dysfunctional when in close contact with tumors.

19 Feb 2025

Milk boosts gut-friendly bacteria while cheese alters microbiome balance, study reveals

Researchers found that dairy consumption influences gut microbiota composition, with milk promoting beneficial bacteria and cheese altering microbial diversity in distinct ways.

18 Feb 2025

Swimming in lakes may increase risk of Legionella infection

Swimming in some lakes with still water can lead to infection with Legionella, bacteria that can cause pneumonia, and people who engage in open water swimming should be aware of this risk, say the authors of a practice article published in CMAJ.

18 Feb 2025

Active ventilation can reduce bioaerosol risks in public restrooms

Bioaerosol emissions during toilet flushing are an often-overlooked source of potential health risks in shared public facilities.

18 Feb 2025

Strengthening the gut barrier may halt Crohn’s disease progression

Researchers at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, have uncovered a critical mechanism that may pave the way for innovative treatments for Crohn's disease.

18 Feb 2025

ImmuneLENS method provides new insights into cancer prognosis

18 Feb 2025

Do probiotics enhance sports performance?

Researchers found that probiotics may enhance endurance, recovery, and immune function in athletes, but the evidence for strength and power performance remains limited.

17 Feb 2025

Diabetes fuels antibiotic resistance, worsening infections and treatment challenges

A new study reveals that diabetes significantly accelerates the emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections, highlighting a major public health concern.

17 Feb 2025

Vaping and gum health: How does it compare to smoking?

A systematic review found that e-cigarette users show increased plaque and inflammation markers compared to non-smokers, though their gum health fares better than traditional smokers. However, the certainty of these findings is low due to study bias.

16 Feb 2025

New research sheds light on brain inflammation in Alzheimer's

Brain inflammation, while a crucial part of the body's immune response, takes on a detrimental role in Alzheimer's disease.

16 Feb 2025

Prozac's surprising immune-boosting effects could lead to new treatments for sepsis

Antidepressants like Prozac are commonly prescribed to treat mental health disorders, but new research suggests they could also protect against serious infections and life-threatening sepsis.

14 Feb 2025

New gut-on-chip model could revolutionize immunotherapy for melanoma

A team of researchers from the European Institute of Oncology and the Politecnico di Milano, coordinated by Luigi Nezi, Team Leader of the Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology, and Marco Rasponi, Full Professor of the Department of Electronics, Informatics and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, have developed a "gut-on-chip" (a miniature model of the human intestine on a chip-sized device) capable of reproducing the main features of intestinal inflammation and of predicting the response of melanoma patients to immunotherapy treatment.

14 Feb 2025

Hospital sink drains found to harbor dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria

We hope to be cured when we stay in hospital. But too often, we acquire new infections there. Such 'healthcare-associated infections' (HAI) are a growing problem worldwide, taking up an estimated 6% of global hospital budgets.

14 Feb 2025

Infants with cystic fibrosis show stunted gut microbiome development

Findings from a new Dartmouth-led study, published in the journal mBio, highlight key differences in the gut microbiome (communities of bacteria) of infants with cystic fibrosis (CF) compared to that of healthy infants, and how these alterations may adversely affect their health.

14 Feb 2025

Dead bacteria offer nutrients to neighbors through evolved enzyme

Darwin's theory of natural selection provides an explanation for why organisms develop traits that help them survive and reproduce.

14 Feb 2025

Study highlights the need for more diversity in vaginal microbiome research

This study emphasizes the need for global equity in vaginal microbiome research, addressing health disparities and improving female health strategies worldwide.

14 Feb 2025