Contractions News and Research

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Targeting KV7 proteins could help delay preterm labor

Scientists have found that targeting a particular group of proteins in the uterus muscle (myometrium) can suppress human uterine contractions in laboratory studies and delay preterm birth in a preclinical model.

3 Sep 2026

Inhaled cannabis reduces premature heartbeats in habitual users

Habitual cannabis users experienced about 9% fewer premature heartbeats on days they inhaled cannabis compared with days they abstained, a counterintuitive finding that adds to the complex and evolving understanding of how cannabis affects the heart, new UC San Francisco-led research found.

12 Aug 2026

The coffee advice given to atrial fibrillation patients may deserve a rethink

The DECAF randomized trial found that adults with persistent atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter assigned to drink at least one cup of caffeinated coffee daily had a 39% lower hazard of recurrent clinically detected AF or flutter than those assigned to avoid coffee and caffeine. The findings challenge longstanding advice to routinely restrict caffeinated coffee in people with AF, while further research is needed to determine whether coffee itself provides a protective effect.

12 Aug 2026

Gentle electroacupuncture effectively promotes nerve repair in facial paralysis

Peripheral facial paralysis (PFP) affects around 38 out of every 100,000 people in China, leaving 2% to 29% of patients with lasting issues such as facial twisting, eye dryness, and muscle synkinesis.

20 Jul 2026

High doses of caffeine from energy drinks cause cardiovascular harm

Previous studies have found that caffeine is the world's most popular stimulant and psychoactive substance, and coffee is the most common way people consume caffeine.

20 Jul 2026

NOX4 inhibition may protect hearts affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Researchers at the University of South Florida USF Health Morsani College of Medicine have identified a potential pathway that could protect cardiac function in people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a progressive and fatal genetic disease that weakens the body's muscles.

17 Jul 2026

New molecular mechanism identified in common inherited heart disease

A study led by the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), working in collaboration with an international research team, has identified a new molecular mechanism involved in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the most common inherited cardiovascular disease.

7 Jul 2026

ReproNovo announces first participant dosed in EU Phase 2 trial of RPN-002 for embryo implantation

ReproNovo, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to addressing critical gaps in male and female fertility as well as women’s health, today announced that the first participant has been dosed in the Company’s EU Phase 2 clinical trial of RPN-002, entitled Nolasiban Optimized Regimen Dosing for Inhibition of Uterine Contractility (NORDIC).

6 Jul 2026

New oral drug shows promise for chronic heart failure treatment

An early clinical study shows that a new oral drug is safe and well-tolerated in patients with chronic heart failure.

24 Jun 2026

The menstrual cycle changes heart-rate variability but not strength

Menstrual cycle phases influence heart autonomic regulation, showing HRV variations, yet muscle performance and mood states remain largely unchanged.

23 Jun 2026

New treatment platform delivers full-length mRNA for Duchenne muscular dystrophy

A new treatment platform developed by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center was able to deliver messenger RNA (mRNA) of the full-length DMD gene into preclinical models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, successfully restoring the production of an important muscle protein, dystrophin, and dramatically improving muscle strength, endurance and function in vivo.

11 Jun 2026

New ultrasound pacemaker design promises minimal recovery time for cardiac patients

MIT engineers have developed a noninvasive pacemaker that stimulates the heart using ultrasound. The design could one day provide a surgery-free alternative to traditional cardiac implants.

2 Jun 2026

Miniature lab grown circuits unlock hidden recovery paths for paralysis

Cambridge scientists have grown miniature circuits in the lab that mimic how the brain and spinal cord connect up, which underlies our movements. They used this model to show how damage to these connections previously considered 'irreversible' could, in fact, be reversible.

28 May 2026

Novel wearable ultrasound patch improves high-risk pregnancy monitoring

Current fetal monitoring tools for physicians to closely follow high-risk pregnancies are inadequate, so researchers at Stanford Medicine, the University of California San Diego and Oxford University developed a wearable ultrasound patch to monitor such pregnancies.

26 May 2026

Mental stress can weaken muscle performance

Cognitive pressure disrupts muscle control and blood flow, highlighting its role in physical performance during low-intensity motor activities.

12 May 2026

The simple link between core strength and brain health

The brain is more mechanically connected to the body than previously appreciated, scientists reported today (April 27) in Nature Neuroscience. Through a study using mice and simulations, the team found a potential biological mechanism underlying why exercise is thought to benefit brain health: abdominal contractions compress blood vessels connected to the spinal cord and the brain, enabling the organ to gently move within the skull.

28 Apr 2026

Microneedle nanoparticle platform improves lymphatic imaging with high resolution

The lymphatic system plays a critical role in pathological conditions such as lymphedema and chronic inflammation to tumor metastasis, venous insufficiency, and impaired wound healing, making accurate evaluation of its structure and function increasingly important.

13 Apr 2026

Study reveals brain mechanisms behind post-stroke urinary incontinence

A new USC-led study using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) reveals the neural mechanisms that contribute to urinary incontinence, a common condition affecting stroke survivors that has a significant impact on their quality of life.

13 Apr 2026

This Northern Cheyenne doula was about to start getting paid — then Medicaid cuts hit

Misty Pipe had about an hour before her shift began at the post office. She used that time to check in on a new mom who lives a few miles outside this town at the heart of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation.

7 Apr 2026

New stem cell therapy offers permanent cure for Hirschsprung disease

Scientists are developing a revolutionary new stem cell therapy to treat a rare and life-threatening disease that leaves newborn babies unable to function without invasive surgery, thanks to a collaboration between UCL, the University of Sheffield and Queen's University Belfast.

31 Mar 2026