Medical Science News

RSS

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

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

Biohybrid hand with muscle tissue mimics real-life movements

A biohybrid hand which can move objects and do a scissor gesture has been built by a team at the University of Tokyo and Waseda University in Japan.

14 Feb 2025

Intermittent fasting may harm insulin-producing cells in teens

A recent study reveals that age plays a significant role in the outcomes of intermittent fasting. Researchers from Technical University of Munich (TUM), LMU Hospital Munich, and Helmholtz Munich discovered that chronic intermittent fasting disrupted the development of insulin-producing beta cells in young mice.

14 Feb 2025

Lack of regulation in sperm donation sparks concerns in Africa

Poor regulation and lack of transparency in Africa's fertility industry leave sperm donors and recipients vulnerable to exploitation and unethical practices, including relatives unwittingly having children together, fertility experts warn.

14 Feb 2025

Extracellular vesicles show promise for diagnosing and treating oral diseases

A comprehensive review has explored the diverse roles of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the oral and maxillofacial region, highlighting their immense potential in disease detection, targeted therapies, and tissue regeneration.

14 Feb 2025

Researchers uncover the brain mechanism behind ketamine's action

Ketamine has received a Hollywood makeover. It used to be known as a rave drug (street name special K) and cat anesthetic.

14 Feb 2025

A step toward precision medicine: New drug targets for heart failure

Researchers identify several promising drug targets for heart failure and its clinical subtypes.

14 Feb 2025

Hospital sink drains found to harbor dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria

We hope to be cured when we stay in hospital. But too often, we acquire new infections there. Such 'healthcare-associated infections' (HAI) are a growing problem worldwide, taking up an estimated 6% of global hospital budgets.

14 Feb 2025

Infants with cystic fibrosis show stunted gut microbiome development

Findings from a new Dartmouth-led study, published in the journal mBio, highlight key differences in the gut microbiome (communities of bacteria) of infants with cystic fibrosis (CF) compared to that of healthy infants, and how these alterations may adversely affect their health.

14 Feb 2025

Risk of bleeding with blood thinners reduces over time

Blood thinners prescribed after blood clots in leg or lung initially increase the risk of bleeding, especially in women and elderly.

14 Feb 2025

Evidence increasingly links ultra-processed food consumption to weight gain

Research shows that promoting fruits and vegetables isn't enough to combat weight gain, highlighting the significant role of ultra-processed foods in obesity.

14 Feb 2025

Study highlights the need for more diversity in vaginal microbiome research

This study emphasizes the need for global equity in vaginal microbiome research, addressing health disparities and improving female health strategies worldwide.

14 Feb 2025

Traditional gender roles persist in modern parenting

Conversations about parental duties continue to be led by mothers, even if both parents earn the same amount of money, finds a new study by a UCL researcher.

14 Feb 2025

Harvard researchers map 70,000 synaptic connections in rat brain

Harvard researchers have mapped and catalogued more than 70,000 synaptic connections from about 2,000 rat neurons, using a silicon chip capable of recording small yet telltale synaptic signals from a large number of neurons.

14 Feb 2025

Pollution shift: How truck electrification moves the burden to power plants

Electrifying heavy-duty trucks reduces on-road emissions but shifts pollution burdens to power plants, with disadvantaged communities still facing higher exposure despite overall air quality improvements.

13 Feb 2025

New biomarker can accurately predict outcomes in meningiomas and breast cancers

Using a new technology and computational method, researchers from Fred Hutch Cancer Center and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have uncovered a biomarker capable of accurately predicting outcomes in meningioma brain tumors and breast cancers.

13 Feb 2025

Discovery of gene silencer offers hope for autosomal dominant leukodystrophy

A team led by University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health geneticists has shown, for the first time, that a gene "silencer" that resides in junk DNA is directly sparing people from a devastating and fatal progressive neurological disease.

13 Feb 2025

Study reveals brain circuit linked to human creativity

A new study led by researchers at Mass General Brigham suggests that different brain regions activated by creative tasks are part of one common brain circuit.

13 Feb 2025