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Study links sucrase defects to increased IBS risk and severe symptoms

Sucrase-isomaltase (SI) is an intestinal enzyme critical for the digestion of dietary carbohydrates, particularly sucrose and starch.

17 Feb 2025

Innovative photodynamic therapy targets melanoma with light-activated dyes

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive skin cancers, with over 300,000 new cases reported worldwide each year. In Europe, the number of diagnoses has been rising rapidly.

17 Feb 2025

Study shows how pituitary macrophages impact hormone regulation

Finnish researchers show in a new study that pituitary macrophages, the immune cells located in the pituitary gland, help regulate hormonal balance. It is possible that in the future, macrophage cells could be used to treat endocrine disorders that can lead, for example, to infertility.

17 Feb 2025

Researchers develop a way to treat muscular atrophy using regenerative medicine

Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have developed a way to treat ageing-related muscular atrophy using regenerative medicine.

17 Feb 2025

Sweet taste receptors found in the heart could affect heartbeat

In a surprising discovery, scientists have found that the heart possesses "sweet taste" receptors, similar to those on our tongues, and that stimulating these receptors with sweet substances can modulate the heartbeat.

17 Feb 2025

Stanford researchers identify key variants linked to inherited cancer risk

Thousands of single changes in the nucleotides that make up the human genome have been associated with an increased risk of developing cancer.

17 Feb 2025

Can AI be your therapist? Study shows ChatGPT outperforms professionals in key areas

AI-assisted mental health care is evolving, with ChatGPT-4 outperforming therapists in empathy and cultural competence, raising implications for psychotherapy.

17 Feb 2025

Can changing how we think about being alone reduce loneliness?

Researchers found that negative media portrayals of being alone increase loneliness by shaping harmful beliefs, while positive portrayals reduce loneliness, a pattern observed across nine countries.

16 Feb 2025

Obesity and cognition: Surprising study links higher BMI to better memory

Higher BMI in early adulthood and midlife is linked to better memory performance, particularly in men and Black Americans, challenging traditional views on obesity and cognition.

16 Feb 2025

Diabetes drugs may boost brain health but experts warn of risks

Researchers reviewed 374 studies to explore how GLP-1RAs, originally for diabetes, may impact brain health, finding potential benefits for dementia and addiction but inconsistent results for mood disorders.

16 Feb 2025

Vaping and gum health: How does it compare to smoking?

A systematic review found that e-cigarette users show increased plaque and inflammation markers compared to non-smokers, though their gum health fares better than traditional smokers. However, the certainty of these findings is low due to study bias.

16 Feb 2025

ADHD symptoms increase risk of e-cigarette and tobacco use in U.S. youths

A new study finds that U.S. youths with symptomatic ADHD are significantly more likely to initiate e-cigarette and tobacco use over time, highlighting the need for early intervention and effective ADHD management.

16 Feb 2025

New research sheds light on brain inflammation in Alzheimer's

Brain inflammation, while a crucial part of the body's immune response, takes on a detrimental role in Alzheimer's disease.

16 Feb 2025

Gene therapy shows promise in treating SCN1B-linked epileptic encephalopathies

Dravet syndrome and other developmental epileptic encephalopathies are rare but devastating conditions that cause a host of symptoms in children, including seizures, intellectual disability, and even sudden death.

14 Feb 2025

Prozac's surprising immune-boosting effects could lead to new treatments for sepsis

Antidepressants like Prozac are commonly prescribed to treat mental health disorders, but new research suggests they could also protect against serious infections and life-threatening sepsis.

14 Feb 2025

Study reveals key role of opsin 3 in regulating food intake and energy balance

Scientists discovered years ago that the hypothalamus - which helps to manage body temperature, hunger, sex drive, sleep and more - includes neurons that express the protein opsin 3 (OPN3).

14 Feb 2025

Innovative blood test shows potential to replace spinal tap for Alzheimer's diagnosis

Up to half of all people living with Alzheimer's Disease in Ireland remain undiagnosed. Now, a new blood test may have the potential to transform patient care, allowing for better diagnosis, earlier interventions and more targeted treatments.

14 Feb 2025

Duke and Duke-NUS collaborate to fund innovative climate health research projects

Duke University and Duke-NUS Medical School are proud to announce the recipients of their latest Research Collaboration Pilot Project grants, totalling more than S$1 million.

14 Feb 2025

Brain's opiate pathway triggers dessert cravings even after fullness

Who hasn't been there? The big meal is over, you're full, but the craving for sweets remains. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research in Cologne have now discovered that what we call the "dessert stomach" is rooted in the brain.

14 Feb 2025

New gut-on-chip model could revolutionize immunotherapy for melanoma

A team of researchers from the European Institute of Oncology and the Politecnico di Milano, coordinated by Luigi Nezi, Team Leader of the Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology, and Marco Rasponi, Full Professor of the Department of Electronics, Informatics and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, have developed a "gut-on-chip" (a miniature model of the human intestine on a chip-sized device) capable of reproducing the main features of intestinal inflammation and of predicting the response of melanoma patients to immunotherapy treatment.

14 Feb 2025