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Rice, seafood and water may help explain striking differences in metal exposure across US communities

Researchers compared urinary trace-metal profiles across 666 adults from six ethnic groups in three US cohorts, with up to 19 elements measured and paired serum measurements available for the Asian Indian MASALA cohort. Distinct metal patterns emerged across populations, with the findings suggesting that diet, drinking-water sources, regional hydrogeology, urban-rural conditions, smoking, and physiological handling may all contribute to differences in exposure profiles.

8 Sep 2026

Study identifies 14 egg-layer gene variants linked to female infertility

Researchers determine 14 variants in the egg's protective layer associated with female infertility which can affect assisted reproductive technology outcomes.

8 Sep 2026

Researchers use an experimental drug to reverse the effects of systemic sclerosis

Investigators at Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University used an experimental drug to reverse the effects of systemic sclerosis, a serious autoimmune disease. The study, conducted in a laboratory, was published in JCI Insight.

8 Sep 2026

New approach repairs airway barrier defects in cystic fibrosis

A UNIGE team has succeeded in restoring the defective respiratory protective barrier in people with this rare genetic disease.

8 Sep 2026

Retinal immune cell gateway may unlock targeted uveitis treatments

As part of an effort to understand the molecules and mechanisms that regulate transendothelial migration in different vascular beds of the body, researchers focused on the blood vessels of the retina, part of the blood-brain barrier.

8 Sep 2026

Teens can now order lunch from almost anywhere. Schools are facing a new dilemma

A national survey of 1,027 US adolescents aged 13 to 17 found that nearly one in four reported using mobile food delivery services during school hours, while almost half used them after school. Fast food and sugar-sweetened beverages were among the most commonly ordered items through delivery apps overall, while students also raised concerns about cost, inequality, safety, and disruption at school.

8 Sep 2026

Hormone therapy during menopause transition associated with lower heart disease risk

A study led by Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Pittsburgh provides pivotal insights into one of the most debated questions in women's health: how does hormone therapy for menopause symptoms affect cardiovascular disease risk when used in peri- or early postmenopause?

8 Sep 2026

Working shifts may change more than your sleep schedule

A cross-sectional analysis of 1,814 Japanese workers found that shift work was associated with lower raw seafood intake and shorter sleep patterns in both sexes, while female shift workers also consumed less milk and dairy products. Total energy intake was similar between work groups, but male shift workers were more likely to consider preference and convenience when choosing foods, highlighting potentially important differences in dietary quality and lifestyle rather than calorie intake.

8 Sep 2026

A common drink pattern was linked to less sleep and more fatigue in soldiers

A cross-sectional study of 1,155 active-duty Spanish Army personnel identified three distinct co-consumption profiles based on the frequency of caffeinated beverage, energy drink, and sugar-sweetened beverage use. Compared with the lower-frequency profile, the higher-frequency profile was associated with about 14 minutes less sleep per night, lower sleep efficiency, and greater habitual physical fatigue, although the study cannot establish causality or quantify caffeine or sugar exposure.

8 Sep 2026

Traditional Japanese Igusa mats boost focus and reduce anxiety

Publishing in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers at Kyushu University found that using mats made from Japanese Igusa, or rush grass, was associated with increased activity in regions of the brain related to concentration and engagement.

8 Sep 2026

New drug forces aggressive leukemia cells to die from stress

Pushing the accelerator and the brake at the same time is rarely a good idea. But researchers at the University of Gothenburg are using this approach to treat leukemia.

8 Sep 2026

Vitamin A derivative prevents immune cell exhaustion in brain tumors

Immune cells can become exhausted after prolonged exposure to cancer, gradually losing their ability to attack tumor cells.

8 Sep 2026

Severe asthma inflammation linked to structural changes in the brain

People living with a severe form of asthma show subtle differences in the structure of their brains compared with people whose asthma is well controlled, according to new research presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

8 Sep 2026

Genome sequencing reveals clues about asymptomatic strep throat carriers

Streptococcal sore throat - strep throat for short - is one of the nastier maladies of childhood, causing fever, swollen tonsils, and the namesake sore throat.

8 Sep 2026

Ultrasonic vocalizations in rats linked to pleasurable food consumption

Understanding how the brain processes rewarding experiences could help researchers better understand behaviors such as overeating, as well as conditions such as anhedonia-the inability to experience pleasure, which is a common symptom of depression.

8 Sep 2026

Two collagen receptors cooperate to enhance cranial bone regeneration

Bone repair depends on skeletal progenitor cells (SPCs) moving to injured areas and developing into bone-forming cells, but how these cells respond to their surroundings remains unclear.

8 Sep 2026

Healthy midlife choices add both years and quality to life

In a 50-year follow-up study, men with a low cardiovascular risk in their 40s retained their functional capacity, happiness and quality of life better than others as they aged.

8 Sep 2026

Leicester's cardiovascular research hub shines spotlight on life-saving innovations

The latest medical innovations in cardiovascular research have been showcased by the British Heat Foundation Leicester Centre of Research Excellence.

8 Sep 2026

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

Why do older adults often feel better emotionally? Mindfulness may be part of the answer

In a cross-sectional U.S. sample of 129 adults, older age was associated with greater positive and lower negative emotional well-being, alongside greater dispositional mindfulness and lower neuroticism. Lower neuroticism statistically accounted for age differences in both positive and negative well-being, while mindfulness statistically accounted for differences in negative well-being only, although the study cannot establish causality.

8 Sep 2026