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Could scorpion venom inspire new treatments for liver disease?

Scorpion venom peptides show promising anti-inflammatory, antiviral, analgesic, and immunomodulatory effects, with experimental evidence suggesting that some candidates could target pathways involved in chronic liver disease and viral hepatitis. The review highlights Kv1.3-blocking peptides and antiviral compounds as potential therapeutic leads, while emphasizing that limited hepatic efficacy data, poor pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, and manufacturing challenges must be overcome before clinical translation.

8 Sep 2026

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

Too little or too much testosterone may matter for heart rhythm

A review of clinical trials, observational studies, genetic analyses, and mechanistic research suggests that atrial fibrillation risk may follow a U-shaped relationship with testosterone, increasing at both low and high levels. Evidence on testosterone replacement therapy remains mixed, with researchers calling for prospective studies to determine whether mid-physiological testosterone targets and treatment formulation influence AF risk.

2 Sep 2026

New tool predicts heart failure treatment effects on blood pressure, kidney function and serum potassium

A new heart failure (HF) treatment effect calculator could help overcome one of the largest barriers to effective heart failure care by predicting the expected effects of treatment on blood pressure, kidney function and potassium levels.

31 Aug 2026

Researchers develop mild skeletal editing method for medicinal chemistry

Researchers at Ritsumeikan University report a halogen-guided method for transforming accessible hydroxycoumarins into coumaranones, valuable heterocyclic structures in medicinal chemistry.

27 Aug 2026

Scientists found a distinct gut microbiome pattern in people with symptomatic diverticular disease

A multicenter Japanese study found that symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (SUDD) was associated with reduced gut microbial diversity, increased abundance of the Ruminococcus gnavus group, and depletion of Coprococcus and other butyrate-producing bacteria. Predictive microbiome analysis also identified enrichment of pathways linked to exopolysaccharide biosynthesis and the cell cycle, although the observational design means these associations cannot establish causality.

25 Aug 2026

Potassium-competitive acid blockers match proton pump inhibitors for preventing bleeding after PCI

Announcing a new article publication for Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications journal. Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) increases the risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB).

20 Aug 2026

Wake-activated brain circuits reveal what drives the urge to sleep

Researchers identified wake-activated neurons in the median raphe and anterior medial preoptic area that track sleep pressure and help regulate when and how deeply mice sleep. Manipulating these circuits altered NREM sleep, sleep-pressure accumulation, and rebound sleep, revealing key neural mechanisms underlying mammalian sleep homeostasis.

20 Aug 2026

Review reveals how nicotine damages blood vessels and heart health

A review published today in Nature Reviews Cardiology provides the most detailed picture yet of how nicotine damages the cardiovascular system – tracing the biological chain of events from the moment nicotine binds to receptors in blood vessel walls through to the atherosclerotic plaque rupture that triggers heart attacks and strokes.

19 Aug 2026

New AI method predicts protein metal-binding sites in seconds

With more accuracy and less time, a new deep-learning method called PRIME makes the search for metal-binding sites easier.

19 Aug 2026

Why keto appears to lower blood pressure for some people but not others

A narrative review finds that ketogenic diets may modestly lower blood pressure through weight loss, reduced visceral fat, improved insulin sensitivity, fluid and electrolyte shifts, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, effects vary across studies, long-term cardiovascular evidence remains limited, and diet quality, hydration, electrolyte balance, and medication monitoring are important.

17 Aug 2026

How much do nuts matter for blood pressure? This study points to about a handful a day

A meta-analysis of eight prospective studies involving 143,380 participants found that higher nut consumption was associated with a lower risk of developing hypertension. Each 28 g/day increment was associated with a 20% lower relative risk in the linear analysis, while the modeled association appeared to level off at around one handful per day.

12 Aug 2026

Why pulses could play a bigger role in healthy and sustainable diets

A narrative review finds that pulses may support gut and metabolic health through their fiber, protein, phytochemicals, and interactions with the gut microbiota, while offering a lower environmental footprint than many animal protein sources. Human evidence is strongest for selected cardiometabolic outcomes, while many microbiome and fermentation-related benefits remain supported mainly by animal and laboratory studies.

9 Aug 2026

KCNE gene family emerges as a promising target for future precision medicine

A growing understanding of the KCNE gene family is reshaping how scientists view the regulation of electrical signaling across the human body, highlighting its essential role in maintaining normal physiological function and its connection to a wide range of diseases.

5 Aug 2026

Experts propose a new strategy to better control high blood pressure

High blood pressure can be controlled better with a strategy that combines boosting potassium intake with reducing sodium, according to a new report.

30 Jul 2026

Evidence shows artificial sweeteners cannot be judged as a single group

This narrative review found that non-nutritive artificial sweeteners have compound-specific and context-dependent associations with gut microbiota, metabolism, and health-related outcomes. Evidence does not support treating all sweeteners as uniformly harmful or safe, with human findings often limited or inconsistent.

23 Jul 2026

New target makes cancer cells vulnerable to immune destruction

Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago have identified a molecular switch that helps determine whether cancer cells remain soft and difficult to destroy or become stiff enough for the immune system to attack.

20 Jul 2026

New review shows why antidepressants often fail in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s depression

A Molecular Psychiatry review shows that depression in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease may reflect disease-specific molecular, neurotransmitter, inflammatory, and circuit-level disruptions rather than standard depression biology alone. It argues that broad antidepressants often show limited efficacy in these patients and that future trials should use biomarkers, neuroimaging, and symptom profiling to guide targeted treatments.

7 Jul 2026

Dutch study shows why plant-based eating can miss key nutrients

A Dutch dietary modeling study found that replacing major animal-based protein sources with plant-based substitutes reduced protein, EAA, vitamin, and mineral intake across age groups. Older adults, adolescents, children, and women were especially vulnerable to shortfalls, highlighting the need for planned substitutions, fortified foods, and age-specific dietary guidance.

3 Jul 2026

Plant-based diets offer heart benefits but may require supplements

A study reveals unsupplemented vegan diets in Northeast China lead to micronutrient deficiencies, despite benefits for body composition and cholesterol levels.

2 Jul 2026