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New study tracks early genetic changes in hepatitis E virus

Knowing how viruses change in the initial weeks of an infection can provide important information about their adaptability.

13 Jul 2026

Smelling dark chocolate before training may improve workout performance

Chocolate odors influence resistance exercise performance in fasted men, highlighting the potential of sensory cues to enhance training and appetite control.

13 Jul 2026

Animal-free lung model unlocks better treatments for RSV in babies

Future therapies for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) must target both the virus and its immune response to ensure babies get the best possible outcomes, finds a new study by researchers at UCL and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH).

13 Jul 2026

Social media and low body esteem fuel cosmetic procedure addiction

As cosmetic procedures become increasingly normalized worldwide, new research suggests that for some women, repeated treatments may become addiction-like rather than purely cosmetic.

13 Jul 2026

Nearly one in 10 Britons use or want weight-loss medication

The prevalence of GLP-1 receptor agonists for weight management in Great Britain highlights public interest and concerns over safety and prescribing practices.

13 Jul 2026

Study links GLP-1 treatment to fewer alcohol drinking days

Current GLP-1 receptor agonist prescriptions were associated with modestly lower AUDIT-C scores in a large, diverse US cohort. The difference appeared to reflect less frequent drinking rather than fewer drinks per occasion or fewer binge-drinking episodes.

13 Jul 2026

Gut microbiota may shape eating behavior and guide new obesity treatments

The review shows how gut microbiota may influence appetite, food reward, inflammation, and energy balance through the gut-brain axis. Microbiota-targeted approaches could support future treatments for obesity and eating disorders, but clinical evidence remains limited.

12 Jul 2026

EGFR inhibitors may overcome chemotherapy resistance in glioblastoma treatment

Treating glioblastoma with a class of drugs known as EGFR inhibitors made this cancer more sensitive to chemotherapy, suggests a study in preclinical models co-led by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

12 Jul 2026

Gum disease bacteria linked to calcific aortic valve stenosis

Gum disease bacteria may spur calcium buildup in the heart's aortic valve, leading to a common and serious heart valve disease, according to preliminary, independent research presented at the American Heart Association's Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Scientific Sessions 2026.

12 Jul 2026

Global study reveals country-specific patterns in dementia risk factors

A major, USC-led study of more than 214,000 older adults across 14 countries and regions finds that the most common controllable risk factors for dementia - such as low education, high blood pressure and smoking - vary widely from country to country, meaning a one-size-fits-all approach to prevention won't work everywhere.

12 Jul 2026

New benchmark shows AI still misses the human side of mental health care

PsyEval is a new benchmark that tests how large language models perform on mental health knowledge, diagnostic assessment, and emotional support tasks. The study found that leading models can show strong factual recall and fluent responses, but still struggle with empathy, clinical nuance, prompt sensitivity, and safe diagnostic behavior.

12 Jul 2026

Cold-exposed mothers pass metabolic protection to male rat offspring through milk

Maternal cold exposure during early pregnancy improved glucose control and reduced liver fat in male rat offspring, with benefits persisting into late adulthood. The findings implicate a breast milk LCA, gut microbiota, and Th17 immune pathway, while human cohort data showed an observational link between winter conception and lower MASLD risk.

12 Jul 2026

Rural radiation oncology clinic closures threaten cancer patient care

A new study led by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai found that although the overall number of radiation oncology clinics in the United States has appeared stable in recent years, many individual treatment centers have quietly closed while others have opened.

11 Jul 2026

New stem cell approach targets functional cure for diabetes

New research presented today at the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 2026 Annual Meeting explores an approach that could expand the potential of cell replacement therapy for type 1 diabetes by evaluating whether immune-engineered, allogeneic insulin-producing cells can survive and function without chronic immunosuppression.

11 Jul 2026

Genetic risk knowledge alone fails to curb obesity, study shows

Does informing people about their genetic risk of obesity help them change their habits and lose excess weight? A study, published in the journal Obesity Reviews by scientists including researchers from SWPS University, shows that knowledge about one's genes alone is not enough.

11 Jul 2026

Study links oxalate to systemic inflammation and heart damage

Oxalic acid might do more than just contribute to the formation of kidney stones — it may also be an underappreciated driver of inflammation and heart damage in people with impaired kidney function.

11 Jul 2026

New generation approaches revive BET protein inhibitors in solid tumors

BET proteins, especially BRD4, drive oncogenic transcription in solid tumours. First‑generation inhibitors (JQ1, molibresib, birabresib) showed preclinical promise but failed clinically due to modest efficacy, dose‑limiting thrombocytopenia, and resistance (isoform switching, compensatory PI3K/AKT/WNT signalling).

11 Jul 2026

New study explains how brain tumors evolve to resist treatment

A form of glioma, a type of brain cancer, tends to progress towards greater malignancy due to an increasing tendency of the glioma cells to transform into immature, stem-cell-like states, according to a study led by investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine, the New York Genome Center, Harvard Medical School and Mass General Brigham.

11 Jul 2026

New stem cell therapy offers hope for chronic spinal injury

New research presented today at the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 2026 Annual Meeting highlights a significant step toward developing a stem cell-based treatment for chronic spinal cord injury (SCI), a condition for which no effective restorative therapy currently exists.

11 Jul 2026

Cruise ship pollution increases risk of viral infections in ports

Air pollution from cruise ships could be damaging the health of people living in port cities by increasing inflammation and susceptibility to viruses such as the common cold and COVID-19.

11 Jul 2026