Medical Research News

RSS

Study identifies genetic fingerprint of neuropathic pain neurons

Researchers from The University of Texas at Dallas and their international colleagues have determined the molecular signature of human sleeping - or silent - nociceptors: sensory neurons that are unresponsive to touch or pressure yet are key culprits in neuropathic pain.

4 Feb 2026

Mediterranean diet may protect women against all stroke types

Following a Mediterranean diet is associated with a lower risk of all types of stroke among women, according to a study published on February 4, 2026, in Neurology Open Access, an official journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

4 Feb 2026

Specialized palliative care shows potential to enhance well-being in pediatric cancer patients

How to reduce suffering in children with advanced cancer remains an ongoing but urgent question. A Mass General Brigham-led study examined whether systematically surveying children with advanced cancer and their parents about their symptoms and quality of life, providing feedback to children, families, and clinicians-and acting on that information by implementing personalized palliative care-could improve patients' experiences.

4 Feb 2026

Five mutation patterns shape how cancers evade immunity

Cancer cells carry thousands of mutations, but not all mutations are created equal. Some make tumors highly visible to the immune system, while others help cancers hide.

4 Feb 2026

Autism diagnosis rates equalize between males and females

Autism has long been viewed as a condition that predominantly affects male individuals, but a study from Sweden published by The BMJ shows that autism may actually occur at comparable rates among male and female individuals.

4 Feb 2026

Menstrual blood testing shows promise for HPV screening

Testing menstrual blood for human papillomavirus (HPV) could be a "robust alternative or replacement" for current cervical cancer screening by a clinician, finds a study from China published by The BMJ today.

4 Feb 2026

Burn injuries may have driven key human evolutionary traits

Humans' exposure to high temperature burn injuries may have played an important role in our evolutionary development, shaping how our bodies heal, fight infection, and sometimes fail under extreme injury, according to new research.

4 Feb 2026

Study finds ADHD symptoms linked to higher internet addiction risk in college students

A cross-sectional study of Chinese college students found ADHD symptoms were associated with internet addiction, with insomnia and executive dysfunction acting as mediating factors. Moderate and high physical activity levels were also linked with lower internet addiction symptoms, although causality cannot be inferred.

4 Feb 2026

Promoting thriving is key to high-quality aged care

Recent research at Åbo Akademi University highlights that promoting thriving is essential for older persons in care homes and constitutes a cornerstone of high-quality aged care.

4 Feb 2026

Molecular signature of sleeping nociceptors offers new pain targets

Researchers from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and the Institute of Neurophysiology at Uniklinik RWTH Aachen in Germany have deciphered the molecular signature of so-called sleeping nociceptors-a type of pain-sensing nerve cell that normally remains quiet and does not respond to touch or pressure, but can become overactive and drive chronic pain.

4 Feb 2026

Pigs and grizzly bears may reveal secrets of youthful skin

The secret to youthful appearance and repairing scars may lie in a microscopic skin structure humans share with pigs and grizzly bears - but, surprisingly, not monkeys.

4 Feb 2026

Emotional pain often outweighs fear in post-traumatic stress disorder

New research is challenging the long-held view of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a fear-based disorder. In a new study, 68% of trauma-exposed individuals reported that emotional pain (guilt, shame, sadness, loss of joy) impaired their daily functioning more than fear.

4 Feb 2026

Brain network discovery opens new path for Parkinson’s treatment

Parkinson's disease, a progressive neurological disorder affecting more than 1 million people in the U.S. and more than 10 million globally, is characterized by debilitating symptoms such as tremors, movement difficulties, sleep disturbances and cognitive impairments.

4 Feb 2026

Study identifies brain region driving one-shot visual learning

Despite decades of research, the mechanisms behind fast flashes of insight that change how a person perceives their world, termed "one-shot learning," have remained unknown.

4 Feb 2026

Hormone therapy reduces abnormal nerve growth in chronic back pain

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common health problems worldwide, affecting people of all ages and placing a heavy burden on healthcare systems. Many patients experience persistent discomfort that interferes with work, sleep, and daily activities.

4 Feb 2026

Small molecule targets glioblastoma oncogene in preclinical studies

UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center scientists have identified a molecule that blocks the gene responsible for glioblastoma, raising hopes that the molecule could become a much-needed new treatment for the deadliest brain cancer.

4 Feb 2026

Newly discovered stage controls malaria parasite division

Researchers studying the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum have discovered a previously unknown stage in its life cycle that appears to be crucial for reproduction.

4 Feb 2026

New compound advances body clock independent of dosing time

A collaborative team including Emeritus Professor Tei H. (Kanazawa University), Associate Professor Takahata Y. (Osaka University), Professor Numano R. (Toyohashi University of Technology), and Associate Professor Uriu K. (Institute of Science Tokyo) discovered that Mic-628 selectively induces the mammalian clock gene Per1.

4 Feb 2026

Engineered yeast cells accelerate testing of cancer immunotherapies

Engineered yeast cells can mimic real cancer cells and be used to test new cancer immunotherapies much faster, benefiting patients.

4 Feb 2026

Why did influenza fail to spread in a crowded indoor setting?

The EMIT-2 trial shows zero influenza transmission despite ideal conditions, suggesting a perfect storm is needed for the virus to spread effectively.

4 Feb 2026