Medical
Having already cured many diseases and conditions that were once a death sentence, medical researchers continue to strive to help us live longer and healthier lives. Read about the latest advances here.
Latest News
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A cup in the mouth may replace a needle in the arm for drug delivery
September 29, 2023Nobody likes getting needles, but unfortunately there are some medications that can only be administered via injection. That could be about to change, however, thanks to the invention of a suction cup that you stick in your mouth. -
Call to revise hand arthritis treatments due to efficacy concerns
September 28, 2023Researchers have called for a review of the recommendations for the treatment of hand arthritis, after a large study revealed that injections were as ineffective as a placebo for pain relief. Injections are considered the most effective pain reliever. -
Vagus nerve important for heart function during exercise, not just rest
September 27, 2023A new study has found that during exercise, the vagus nerve, essential to the body’s ‘rest and digest’ response, has a more important role in heart function than we thought. The findings could help treat diseases like heart failure. -
Genetic mechanism linking zinc to diabetes & liver disease uncovered
September 27, 2023Researchers have identified the mechanism underlying the protective role zinc has in type 2 diabetes and the fatty liver disease associated with the condition. The findings open the door to developing a novel diabetes treatment. -
AI model improves cancer tumor removal during breast surgery
September 27, 2023Researchers have developed an AI model that can predict in real-time whether a surgeon has removed all cancerous tissue during breast cancer surgery. The model performed as well as, or better than, human doctors. -
Stem cell transplant refreshes brain cells to treat Alzheimer's in mice
September 26, 2023Scientists at Stanford Medicine have tested a new potential treatment for Alzheimer’s disease in mice. The therapy involves transplanting blood stem cells from healthy mice into those with the disease, which helps replace defective neural cells. -
World holds its breath as second dying man is given a pig's heart
September 25, 2023A 58-year-old man with terminal heart disease has become the second patient to receive a pig's heart, in a complicated, high-risk xenotransplant. The first recipient died last year from complications, two months after the landmark world-first surgery. -
Drug that mimics exercise triggers weight loss and builds lean muscle
September 25, 2023As a new age of weight-loss therapeutics dawns, scientists are one step closer to a drug that can coax muscles into behaving as if they’ve just been put through a workout. The benefits range from weight loss to treating diabetes and heart conditions. -
Immune cells replaced by suboptimal versions in older adulthood
September 25, 2023Researchers have found that, in older age, immune cells called killer T cells are replaced by less effective versions that struggle to fight viral invaders. The world-first discovery may lead to improved therapies tailored to different age groups. -
Light therapy helps the brain clear out toxic Alzheimer’s proteins
September 24, 2023A new study has found that light therapy applied to mice during deep sleep increased the brain’s ability to clear away beta-amyloid protein, which may lead to a drug-free, non-invasive treatment for Alzheimer's disease. -
Coffee compound improves age-related decline in memory and learning
September 24, 2023A new study has found that a bioactive compound found in coffee beans improved learning and memory decline in aged mice. The findings open the door to developing a supplementary medicinal compound to treat or prevent age-related cognitive decline. -
Targeted gene therapy helps completely paralyzed mice walk again
September 24, 2023A complete spinal cord injury results, tragically, in total paralysis of all limbs and muscles below the injury site. But now, scientists at EPFL have demonstrated in mice a new gene therapy that can regenerate nerves and restore the ability to walk. -
New gene-editing tool reduces unintended mutations by more than 70%
September 21, 2023Splitting the gene editor used in traditional CRISPR technology creates a more precise tool with significantly less chance of causing unintended mutations, a new study has found. The novel tool could correct half of the mutations that cause disease. -
Mysterious circular RNA linked to Alzheimer’s & Parkinson’s disease
September 20, 2023Researchers have gained new insights into largely overlooked circular RNAs in brain cells and the crucial role they play in diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, opening the door to developing diagnostic tests and treatments for them. -
Novel light-activated compound kills cancer cells in a unique way
September 20, 2023A novel platinum-enhanced, light-activated compound kills cancer cells in a unique way without requiring oxygen, overcoming a limitation with existing light-based cancer therapies. It paves the way for the next generation of anti-cancer drugs.
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