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New compounds reduce inflammation without weakening immune defense

Scripps Research scientists have developed a new class of drug compounds that reduce harmful inflammation while leaving the body's ability to fight infections intact-a long-sought goal in treating autoimmune diseases.

6 Apr 2026

Scientists create large library of mitochondrial DNA mutant models

Some of your most important life partners are the mitochondria that power all your cells. You and these little cellular powerhouses are in a 1.5-billion-year-old evolutionary relationship-but mitochondria brought some baggage.

6 Apr 2026

New guidelines aim to improve concussion care for first responders

Management of sports-related concussions has come a long way in the past 25 years: Once considered a minor problem involving minimal time out of the game, a severe knock to the head is now assessed as a potential traumatic brain injury and, if confirmed, requires a structured recovery and an average wait of 13 days before play resumes.

6 Apr 2026

Study shows how blind people map surroundings using sound

Some blind people use returning echoes from their own mouth clicks to perceive external surroundings, or echolocation.

6 Apr 2026

New target identified to overcome resistance in neuroendocrine tumors

Neuroendocrine cells are unique in their ability to act both as nerve cells and hormone-making cells.

6 Apr 2026

Prickly pear may pack a surprising punch against metabolic syndrome

This narrative review examines how Opuntia ficus-indica fruit, or prickly pear, may help target multiple features of metabolic syndrome through its fiber, betalains, polyphenols, carotenoids, and other bioactive compounds. The authors conclude that the fruit shows promising mechanistic and preclinical potential, but stronger human trials are still needed before firm clinical claims can be made.

6 Apr 2026

How gut microbes may shape heart attack damage and recovery

This review argues that gut microbes and the metabolites they produce, especially SCFAs and TMAO, may shape how the heart responds to myocardial infarction through epigenetic pathways such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNAs. It also outlines potential intervention routes, including diet, probiotics, postbiotics, and metabolite-targeted therapies, while noting that much of the evidence remains translational and not yet clinically definitive.

6 Apr 2026

AI helps researchers find antimicrobial peptides in Earth’s harshest habitats

Researchers built the Extreme Environment Microbiome Catalog from 78,213 genomes across global extreme habitats, revealing major taxonomic and biosynthetic novelty, including 32,715 representative species, nearly 4 billion non-redundant genes, and 163,693 biosynthetic gene clusters. They then used protein language models to identify 3,032 candidate non-toxic antimicrobial peptides, with 84 of 100 synthesized peptides showing antibacterial activity and low cytotoxicity in the 50 tested in mammalian cells.

6 Apr 2026

New method identifies key proteins that trigger harmful immune responses

Mayo Clinic researchers have developed a new method to identify which proteins are most likely to trigger an immune response - a discovery that could help improve transplant care, regenerative medicine and other areas where the immune system plays a critical role.

6 Apr 2026

Mayo Clinic researchers develop experimental nanotherapy to treat aggressive brain tumors

Mayo Clinic researchers developed an experimental nanotherapy that delivers two cancer drugs directly to brain tumors, according to a study published in Communications Medicine.

6 Apr 2026

Large-scale exposome research shows how multiple factors influence disease risk

For decades, scientists have been carefully unraveling the role of genes in disease by examining how small variations in a person's genetic code can shape lifelong risk of developing common conditions such as cancer, diabetes, or heart disease.

6 Apr 2026

JMIR Publications' new article showcases the transformative potential of precision oncology

JMIR Publications today announced the release of a timely new article in its News and Perspectives section, showcasing the transformative potential of precision oncology.

6 Apr 2026

Princeton researchers reveal new links between high-fat diets and aggressive breast cancer

Princeton researchers have revealed new links between high-fat diets and aggressive breast cancer, demonstrating the important role fat plays in making some cancers more invasive.

6 Apr 2026

Study reveals bile as reservoir for microplastics in humans

Plastic pollution has become one of the defining environmental issues of modern life, and microplastics are now known to enter the body through food, drink, and air.

6 Apr 2026

Narcissism shows complex, nuanced effects on long-term relationship satisfaction

New research from Michigan State University challenges the popular assumption that narcissists gradually damage their relationships over time.

3 Apr 2026

Organ-on-chip model advances study of sexually transmitted infections

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) not only impact an individual's health but also result in multibillion-dollar economic losses worldwide.

3 Apr 2026

Injectable microgels reduce surgical bleeding risk in infants

Biomedical researchers have designed an injectable microgel to help reduce bleeding in infants who require surgical care. In an animal model, the engineered microgel reduced bleeding by at least 50%.

3 Apr 2026

Novel mucosal vaccine offers broad protection against diverse influenza viruses

A novel vaccine platform has been developed to induce broad, protective immunity against numerous influenza virus infections, showing promise as an effective mucosal vaccine strategy, according to a study published by researchers in the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University.

3 Apr 2026

Calcium channel mutations disrupt early brain development and cause epilepsy

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have uncovered a previously unrecognized mechanism by which inherited calcium channel mutations disrupt early brain development and predispose children to epilepsy and related cognitive challenges.

3 Apr 2026