Medicine & Healthcare

Enhanced pedicled latissimus dorsi flap technique achieves 100% success rate in high-risk head and neck reconstruction

Amino acid serine inhibits Clostridium perfringens spore formation

New research suggesting a link between motor protein Kif23 and microcephaly may be the key to developing more effective treatments for this condition.

The hydrogen atoms of [4Fe-4S] type ferredoxin, one of the electron carriers, have been visualized and both experiments and calculations have revealed the mechanisms that control the redox potential. Aspartic acid (Asp64) located a distance away from the [4Fe-4S] cluster of ferredoxin, was found to be the control switch, an evolutionarily conserved mechanism.

Researchers at Osaka University have identified ARMC5 as a key regulator of fatty acid balance in adipose tissue. ARMC5 degrades non-SCAP-bound SREBP1, activating it to regulate stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD), an enzyme essential for fatty acid desaturation. This discovery opens avenues for developing drugs targeting ARMC5 to manage fatty acid levels and improve health outcomes.

Although crackles have long been regarded as a hallmark finding in physical examinations, this study revealed their unreliability not only among human physicians but also in artificial intelligence systems.

A new simulator gives nursing students hands-on practice with vital procedures like mechanical ventilation and tracheal suctioning in children.

International integration of drug-drug interaction information through mapping of Japanese and international drug codes

SGLT2 inhibitor canagliflozin helps oxygenate kidneys while causing glucose removal through urine

Researchers at Helmholtz Munich and Tohoku University have discovered that PRDX6, a selenium carrier protein, plays a key role in regulating ferroptosis, a form of oxidative cell death. This finding could lead to new approaches in treating cancer by increasing ferroptosis sensitivity and in neurodegenerative diseases by protecting neurons. The study, published in Molecular Cell, highlights PRDX6’s potential as a therapeutic target for both conditions.

Comprehensive analysis of quantitative changes in various proteins due to aging

Development of a low-cost, easy-to-use tool for assessing the lack of essential nutrients

Osaka University researchers elucidated the molecular details of how Drosophila larval epidermal cells (LECs) undergo cell death in a controlled manner to regulate epithelial tissue remodeling. Specifically, lower activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway occurs following reduced endocytosis. Decreased EGFR pathway activity allows LECs to switch from undergoing single-cell apoptosis to more widespread cell death in clusters. This supports faster LEC elimination and allows for proper tissue remodeling.

King of nanomaterials, Old but new, Probing stardust properties, Two-in-one, The good grain & Brain-inspired electronic skin. Read all in the latest Editor's Choice.

Duke-NUS scientists investigated how an inherited genetic variation common among East Asians contributes to drug resistance in cancer cells, driving more aggressive cancer growth. The team trialled a precision therapy for this group by blocking the action of a protein called MCL-1, successfully killing many of the cancer cells in laboratory studies.

Surgical field expansion plate allows surgeons more independence

Model mice given extracts and powders show restoration of cognitive and motor functions

National Taiwan University researchers highlight the benefits of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) in reducing mortality and severe cardiovascular and renal outcomes for diabetic patients with acute kidney disease (AKD). Using a global dataset and propensity matching, they found significantly lower mortality rates, major cardiovascular events (MACEs), and adverse kidney outcomes (MAKEs) among GLP-1 RA users compared to non-users. These findings underscore the potential for GLP-1 RAs to offer tailored protection against complex diabetic complications, marking an advancement in personalized medicine for managing diabetes-acute kidney disease.

A team from Osaka University has developed a large-scale drug screening technique that can track target molecule behavior within cells. The researchers verified their technique by testing the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a known target for cancer drugs. Their drug screening resulted in the identification of the known drugs, as well as others that were not previously known to affect EGFR. This new method can potentially help develop new drugs and repurpose existing drugs.

A new portal linking Japanese genetic variant information with protein sequence and structure date has been launched by Protein Data Bank Japan (PDBj) and Tohoku University Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization (ToMMo). The portal simplifies the mapping of genetic variants to 3D protein structures and includes tools for visualization and analysis. It aims to advance medicine and drug discovery, particularly in precision medicine.

Sorghum possesses unique lipid profiles and bioactive compounds that support health and meet the demand for health-promoting food products.

Next-generation regenerative treatment shows promise in medicine-engineering collaboration

Organised by IPI, a subsidiary of Enterprise Singapore, this flagship event serves as an essential platform for businesses to explore growth opportunities through strategic matchmaking with industry leaders and potential partners.

A research team including Osaka University analyzed wastewater surveillance methods for accurately tracking COVID-19 infection trends. Using wastewater data from Sapporo dating from April 2021–September 2023, they explored survey conditions obtaining strong correlation between viral concentration in wastewater and infection incidence. The study identified key methods, including high-sensitivity analysis and geometric mean data processing, as essential for effective regional surveillance, providing critical insights for future public health monitoring.

Researchers from Osaka University have discovered that GPR31, found in certain immune cells in the human gut, plays a key role in responding to bacterial metabolites and activating immune responses. Specifically, in the presence of metabolite pyruvate, these cells extend dendrites to sample the gut environment, detect pathogens, and activate T cells through GPR31. This discovery could inform the development of new drugs, vaccines, and probiotics that enhance gut immunity by targeting this pathway.

Warnings against saturated fat on heart health need to be revisited as flaws were revealed in the seminal 1950s studies on which these warnings were based, according to new research coming out of the Ateneo de Manila University.

Researchers from Osaka University have revealed a close link between polyploidy and DNA damage, showing that the presence of DNA damage increases the likelihood of polyploidization occurring, and that polyploid cells are more likely to accumulate DNA damage. However, polyploid cells can also tolerate higher levels of DNA damage, taking longer to enter damage-induced growth arrest and senescence. This discovery will aid the development of novel therapies for certain drug-resistant cancers originating from polyploid cells.

Researchers from Osaka University have demonstrated that ultra-short, high-dose proton irradiation increases cell survival rates even in normoxic conditions, challenging prior assumptions that this effect only occurs in hypoxic environments. This world-first discovery utilizes a new superconducting AVF cyclotron, enabling the application of the "FLASH effect," which minimizes damage to healthy tissues while maintaining local control of the tumor. This breakthrough is expected to lead to a new cancer treatment, FLASH proton therapy, offering fewer side effects and higher tumor control.

Taiwan's New Public Health Preventive Medicine Strategy Achieves Success After 10 Years

Pathogenic system found on plasmid can lead to severe food poisoning symptoms