Medicine & Healthcare

Researchers from The University of Osaka have found that rituximab, a monoclonal antibody approved for the treatment of nephrotic syndrome in children in Japan, also improves disease management in adults. The drug kept adults with frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome or steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome relapse-free for longer, compared with placebo, with good safety. By reducing the frequency of relapses, rituximab may reduce the reliance on corticosteroids and help to improve quality of life among adult patients with these challenging conditions.

Researchers at National Taiwan University have discovered how light, electricity, and tiny forces can work together to help wounds heal naturally and leave fewer scars, offering new hope for chronic wound care.

The COVID-19 pandemic has provided researchers with a wealth of information on contemporary successes and failures in combating an emerging pathogen. This study outlines a total of 22 opportunities and strategies based on urban functionality and typology to help communities better prepare for and mitigate the effects of the next pandemic.

Female individuals may experience a three-fold reduction in mortality risk from coronary heart diseases, when following recommended exercise guidelines, compared to male individuals, according to a study published in Nature Cardiovascular Research.

A new report from the SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute (SDGHI), supported by the Octava Foundation, has mapped Singapore’s programmes supporting children’s mental health.

A new study suggests that the same henna pigments that change your skin or hair that distinctive orange-red color could be used for another purpose: treating liver disease.

Researchers have developed a novel biomedical engineering tool that uses volumetric MRI analysis to precisely measure paraspinal muscle atrophy, distinguishing nerve root severities in traumatic brachial plexus injuries with 91% accuracy. The new evaluation system outperformed standard clinical assessments and shows promise for diagnosing degenerative radiculopathy, potentially enabling early detection of chronic nerve compression.

Modified yeast developed to efficiently adsorb targeted elements from solutions

SOSE researchers are looking at a possible vaccine for H. pylori, a widely common bacterium that causes stomach ulcers and raises the risk for stomach cancer.

Scientists from National Taiwan University have created a new light-based imaging technology that can trace a person’s blood sugar history by analyzing individual red blood cells. This breakthrough could improve diabetes care and help detect certain cancers earlier through simple, noninvasive testing.

Researchers at The University of Osaka discovered that the protein TMEM217 is essential for sperm motility and male fertility. TMEM217 stabilizes a protein complex that produces the signaling molecule cAMP, which powers the sperm’s tail. Mice lacking TMEM217 have immotile sperm, but treating the sperm with a cAMP-like molecule restored motility and fertility via IVF. This finding opens doors for new diagnostics and therapies for male infertility.

Researchers from The University of Osaka in collaboration with Baylor College of Medicine have developed a new therapy for a severe form of male infertility called non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA). Using lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to deliver specific mRNA into the testes of infertile mice, they were able to restart sperm production. The sperm produced were then used in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to successfully generate healthy and fertile offspring. The findings provide a crucial proof-of-concept for treating male infertility caused by genetic defects.

Ateneo de Manila University and Science Communicators Philippines explored how scientific knowledge can be better shared, understood, and applied for the public good.

A team of international researchers has developed alternatives to antibiotics that prevent infection of cow udders, called bovine mastitis, to address rising antibiotic resistance and concerns around milk contamination from antibiotic residues.

Researchers at The University of Osaka have discovered precursor T follicular regulatory cells (preTfr), comprising 30-50% of circulating Tfr in human blood. preTfr are significantly reduced in severe COVID-19 and sepsis, correlating with increased anti-interferon-gamma autoantibodies and activated atypical B cells. Unlike stable conventional naïve regulatory T cells, preTfr are specifically depleted during severe disease. When stimulated, preTfr up-regulate suppressive molecules including IL-1RA and show enhanced wound healing capacity. Conversely, mRNA vaccination increases preTfr frequency, suggesting controlled immune participation. The findings identify preTfr as a therapeutic target for preventing autoantibody production during severe infections.

Researchers investigated how autoimmune gastritis alters the gastric microbiota and disrupts metabolism, shedding light on mechanisms that contribute to the development of neuroendocrine tumors.

Ancient black holes, How good cholesterol is made, Self-healing plastic, Dengue’s genetic imprint, Korean mussel power & Space clean-up. Read all in the latest Editor's Choice.

National Taiwan University researchers uncover how silencing a single protein protects the brain and extends lifespan.

Commuting time and living environment have been found to correlate with poor sleep health

A new study led by National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) researchers shows that while scarless thyroid surgery preserves delicate structures better, it requires longer operative time, higher costs, and may compromise specimen integrity.

- A collaborative research team from DGIST, Dankook University, KIST, and Ajou University has successfully developed a multifunctional surface modification technology. - The study findings were published as a cover article in Advanced Healthcare Materials, one of the most prestigious international journals in the field of new materials.

This innovative technique allows for precise measurement of brain activity without the need for open-brain surgery by using blood vessels as conduits for electrodes. This holds immense potential for improving neurological care, advancing our understanding of the brain, and unlocking new possibilities for brain-computer interfaces.

A joint team has uncovered how soft, deformable particles, like cells, behave in microfluidic channels. Using precisely fabricated hydrogel particles and simulations on the supercomputer "Fugaku," they demonstrated that particle softness dramatically alters their focusing patterns, deviating significantly from rigid particle behavior. These findings reveal distinct "phase transitions" in focusing, shifting from mid-edge to eight-point, diagonal-edge, and finally center focusing as deformability increases. This breakthrough, explained by a new theoretical model incorporating inertia and deformability, offers crucial insights for designing next-generation microfluidic devices for highly efficient cell sorting and other biomedical applications like early cancer detection. The ability to control particle focusing based on deformability opens exciting possibilities for advanced particle manipulation and separation technologies.

Combined effects of body cooling and mental fatigue hinder endurance performance

Increases in wildfires, linked to projected future climate change, are expected to cause a notable increase in premature deaths, according to two new modelling studies.

Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University have developed an AI model for diagnosing esophageal achalasia using chest X-rays. The AI model demonstrated higher sensitivity and specificity than physicians in its diagnostic capability.

Researchers at The University of Osaka and Kanazawa University have developed a novel method for analyzing cancer metabolism, revealing new insights into cancer's inefficient energy process. This breakthrough, published in Metabolic Engineering, combines biological experiments with advanced information science techniques to uncover the role of cancer-specific inefficient metabolism.

Researchers from National Taiwan University Hospital and Academia Sinica have identified a simple blood marker that can reliably pinpoint chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients at negligible risk of developing liver cancer.

Researchers have identified the mechanism by which a common genetic mutation increases liver disease risk. Their findings suggest that healthy choices, such as increasing antioxidants and limiting exposure to smoke, may reduce the risk of this disease.

Duke-NUS study reveals that better data, smarter treatment plans and more realistic targets are needed to tackle anaemia, which affects nearly two billion people worldwide and remains a major obstacle to global health goals.