Medical Science News

RSS

Cannabis smoking changes your DNA, leaving epigenetic scars

Long-term, persistent weekly or more frequent cannabis smoking leaves a distinct and partially reversible epigenetic footprint on blood DNA. These methylation changes strongly overlap with those from tobacco and may serve as biomarkers of smoke exposure.

30 Jun 2025

Can a global vault save the world’s threatened microbiomes?

Researchers warn that accelerating human-driven loss of microbial diversity threatens both planetary and human health. The Microbiota Vault Initiative offers a global, equitable framework to safeguard critical microbiomes for future generations.

30 Jun 2025

Oleic acid from olive oil reduces infection-related bone loss with age

A mouse study shows that dietary oleic acid, a key Mediterranean diet component, protects against age-related bone and microbiome damage triggered by periodontal infection. In contrast, a Western-style palmitic acid diet worsens bone loss and destabilizes the gut microbiome.

30 Jun 2025

Study finds no link between omega 6 and increased inflammation

A new study published in Nutrients offers new insight into omega-6 and whether it is truly the proinflammatory fatty acid many claim it to be.

30 Jun 2025

Novel method to improve the biocompatibility and chronic stability of neural electrode implants

An international research team, including scientists from the Institut de Neurociències at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), has developed a new solution to reduce the immune response triggered by neural prosthetics used after limb amputations or severe nerve injuries.

30 Jun 2025

GATE complex discovery sheds light on CMV's evasion of immune defenses

New research from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and La Jolla Institute for Immunology, published today in Nature Microbiology, reveals an opportunity for developing a therapy against cytomegalovirus (CMV), the leading infectious cause of birth defects in the United States.

30 Jun 2025

Urine-based DNA test predicts bladder cancer recurrence after immunotherapy

In a multi-institutional study published in Science Direct, researchers revealed that testing urine-based tumor DNA (utDNA) can help predict which bladder cancer patients are at higher risk for recurrence after treatment.

30 Jun 2025

N2 deep sleep powers your next aha moment, study reveals

A new study in PLOS Biology shows that deep N2 sleep, rather than light N1 sleep, dramatically boosts the likelihood of “aha” moments in a challenging perceptual task. The researchers also reveal that aperiodic brain activity during sleep best predicts who will gain insight after a nap.

30 Jun 2025

Comprehensive study maps genetic mutations in SLC13A5 linked to epilepsy

Citrate is essential for the metabolism and development of neurons. A membrane transport protein called SLC13A5 plays a central role in this process and has previously been linked to a particularly severe form of epileptic encephalopathy.

30 Jun 2025

VIRMA protein regulates brain development by controlling ribosome biogenesis

Ribosomes are tiny molecular machines inside all living cells that build proteins, and ribosome biogenesis is the complex, multi-step process by which they are made.

30 Jun 2025

Ionophore use in farming drives global spread of antibiotic resistance genes, study finds

Researchers identified the widespread presence of the ionophore resistance genes narA and narB in over 2,400 bacterial isolates across 51 countries. These genes are often genetically linked to resistance against critically important human antibiotics, raising concerns over agricultural practices and global antimicrobial resistance.

30 Jun 2025

Coffee’s hidden compounds could help fight type 2 diabetes

A comprehensive review of nearly 150 studies reveals that coffee polyphenols may help regulate blood sugar and reduce inflammation linked to type 2 diabetes. However, most evidence comes from preclinical research, and robust clinical trials are needed to confirm benefits.

29 Jun 2025

How 50,000 years of ancestry shaped India’s unique disease patterns

Scientists sequenced the genomes of 2,762 individuals across India, revealing the country’s unique ancestral makeup and a wealth of previously undocumented disease-related gene variants. The study highlights how ancient migrations, founder effects, and endogamy have shaped both diversity and disease risk in India.

29 Jun 2025

Targeting mitochondrial dynamics to combat breast cancer metastasis

Breast cancer, particularly triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality due to its aggressive nature and limited therapeutic targets.

27 Jun 2025

Limiting carcinogen exposure could mitigate liver cancer risk for people with HBV infection

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is known to be associated with the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but how and why they are connected remains unknown.

27 Jun 2025

Newly discovered target may re-energize exhausted immune cells in the fight against cancer

Van Andel Institute scientists and collaborators have discovered a potential treatment target that may re-energize dysfunctional or "exhausted" immune cells in their fight against cancer.

27 Jun 2025

Beetle-inspired tuberculosis testing device offers accurate detection for people with HIV

Current tuberculosis infection tests struggle to detect the disease in those with HIV. A common co-infection, HIV can hide TB from traditional tests by eliminating the immune cells relied upon to sound the alarm.

27 Jun 2025

PIEZO2 ion channel plays critical role in the formation of coronary vessels and the heart

The ion channel PIEZO2 doesn't just convey touch stimuli. It also plays a key role in the development of coronary vessels, a team led by Annette Hammes from the Max Delbrück Center reports in "Nature Cardiovascular Research."

27 Jun 2025

Blood test can reveal early signs of leukemia without bone marrow sampling

What if a blood test could reveal the pace of our aging – and the diseases that may lie ahead? The labs of Profs. Liran Shlush and Amos Tanay at the Weizmann Institute of Science have been conducting in-depth studies into the biology of blood to better understand the aging process and why some people become more susceptible to disease over the years.

27 Jun 2025

Advancing transdermal insulin delivery through innovative formulation strategies

Announcing a new publication for Acta Materia Medica journal. The prevalence of diabetes is increasing and expected to become a major global health burden.

27 Jun 2025