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Time in nature may improve disadvantaged children’s mental health

Growing up in disadvantaged communities can take a toll on children, with greater stress leading to mental health issues and delays in psychological development.

17 May 2026

Vaginal birth after cesarean more common at Black-serving hospitals

Low-risk patients at predominantly Black-serving hospitals (BSH) who previously gave birth through Cesareans are likelier to attempt and successfully deliver vaginally in a subsequent pregnancy than they are at hospitals treating few Black patients, new UCLA-led research finds.

17 May 2026

Targeted radiotherapy may delay progression in metastatic breast cancer patients

Treating breast cancer that has begun to spread around the body with targeted radiotherapy could help patients to live longer without their cancer getting worse, according to the results of a small randomised controlled trial presented at the Congress of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO 2026).

17 May 2026

Fewer radiotherapy sessions for prostate cancer show minimal side effects

Two larger doses of radiotherapy for prostate cancer cause no additional side effects compared to the standard five doses of radiotherapy, according to results presented at the Congress of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO 2026).

17 May 2026

Prenatal chemical mixtures may influence fetal growth and placental health

Common environmental chemicals could affect birthweight and placental function, according to a new study published in Environmental Science & Technology and led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a centre supported by "la Caixa" Foundation. Conducted within the Barcelona Life Study Cohort (BiSC), the research underscores the importance of considering real-life exposure to complex chemical mixtures and highlights the role of angiogenic biomarkers in linking these exposures to fetal development.

17 May 2026

Cancer-driving MYC protein also helps tumors repair damaged DNA

A protein best known for driving cancer growth also helps damaged tumor cells survive by repairing their DNA, according to a new study that could influence how some cancers are treated.

17 May 2026

Multi-institutional trial explores new lifeline for advanced prostate patients

For men with advanced prostate cancer that no longer responds to standard hormone therapies, treatment options are limited – and time matters. As the disease progresses, the window for effective, less intensive treatments begins to close.

15 May 2026

Evidence shows RF-TC improves seizure control by altering brain networks

Drug-resistant epilepsy affects millions of people worldwide and remains one of the most difficult neurological disorders to treat. For patients whose seizures continue despite medication, surgical removal of seizure-causing tissue can be effective.

15 May 2026

Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty outperforms oral semaglutide in short-term weight loss

A comparative study, presented at ESGE Days 2026, has found that endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) is associated with significantly greater short-term weight loss than oral semaglutide in adults with obesity.

15 May 2026

New mechanism to enhance precision in cancer drug development

Researchers at The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) have identified how a key enzyme called ATR protects DNA from breaking when cells copy damaged genetic material, a discovery that could affect how certain cancer drugs are developed.

15 May 2026

Psilocybin offers fast-acting alternative to traditional antidepressants

A single dose of the psychedelic substance psilocybin can provide rapid relief from depressive symptoms – within just a few days. This is shown by the first randomised, double-blind study in Sweden of psilocybin for depression. The effect persisted for over three months, according to researchers at Karolinska Institutet.

15 May 2026

Addressing depression and anxiety in primary care improves chronic pain management

A study published this month in the American Journal of Managed Care explores how integrating behavioral health care into primary care can improve outcomes and be cost-effective for adults with depression, anxiety and chronic pain who are on long-term opioid therapy.

15 May 2026

New guidelines for identifying and treating high-risk IEC-HS patients

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy has revolutionized the treatment of hematologic malignancies, offering durable responses for patients with otherwise refractory disease. However, its clinical success is accompanied by a spectrum of immune-related toxicities, which remain a major challenge in practice.

15 May 2026

ANU researchers map hidden cellular networks to better understand diseases

A new nanoscopy technique developed at The Australian National University (ANU) has uncovered hidden networks used for communication between cells, opening new ways to understand human diseases.

15 May 2026

New CRISPR breakthrough promises more affordable disease diagnostics

A team of engineers at the University of Florida has developed a new form of CRISPR technology that could make diagnostics and treatments safer, more precise, and more affordable, while opening the door to entirely new ways of controlling disease.

15 May 2026

GLP-1 weight loss medications linked to significant drop in asthma flares

New research presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul, Turkey (12-15 May) shows the use of the new GLP-1 class of obesity drugs in people with asthma is associated with a 26 % fall in the number of asthma exacerbations and a 14% drop in use of asthma inhaler reliever use. The study is by Simon Høj and Dr Kjell Erik Julius Håkansson, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark and colleagues.

15 May 2026

New research reassures mothers on NSAID safety during the first trimester

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen, taken during the first trimester of pregnancy are not associated with an increased risk of major birth defects, according to a new study published May 14th in the open-access journal PLOS Medicine by Sharon Daniel of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Clalit Health Services, Beer-Sheva, Israel, and colleagues.

15 May 2026

Study reveals why aging makes the body more vulnerable to breast cancer

Researchers at Georgetown's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified a mechanism that may help explain a key reason why older people experience worse outcomes from breast cancer.

15 May 2026

University of Queensland study unveils new defense against antibiotic resistance

Alternative therapies that aid the body's immune system to fight bacteria have shown promise in addressing the global threat of antibiotic resistance.

15 May 2026

Scientists call for innovative strategies to combat tuberculosis superspreaders

Superspreading became a familiar concept to many during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior studies examining infectious disease epidemics, including those on COVID-19, have found that some individuals are much more likely to transmit infections to other people. Superspreading, when one person with an infection passes it to an unusually large number of other people, is a key feature of tuberculosis (TB) epidemiology.

15 May 2026