Medicine & Healthcare

Brain atlas, From perfume to plastic, Stable solar power, Plant aging switch, Anti-cancer droplets, Greener gold, Extreme star factory and How research shapes sustainability policy. Read all in the latest Editor's Choice.

Scientists have developed a new computational tool that maps multi-gene pathways more comprehensively than ever before. The study uncovered a previously unknown protein pathway that, when blocked, kills blood cancer cells. The discovery could lead to new therapies for patients with drug-resistant blood cancers.

Researchers from The University of Osaka found migration of glucose and fructose from the blood to saliva drives oral microbiome dysbiosis in patients with type 2 diabetes, increasing the development of dental caries. This suggests that glycemic control could be an effective strategy for controlling dental caries in this population.

Underlying cause of illness at high altitudes examined at the summit of Mt. Fuji

Elastic fiber component level in human hepatic stellate cells may predict liver damage

Asia-led, “sovereign-by-design” platform built for secure, decentralised pathogen intelligence-sharing across borders aims to break data silos and provide faster “time to actionable insight” of outbreaks, from detection to control measures being in place.

A new scoring system using common clinical parameters accurately identifies chronic liver disease patients with a significantly increased risk of developing liver cancer. This tool acts as a universal predictor, helping doctors guide surveillance recommendations for patients with diverse liver diseases, including metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease.

Researchers from National Taiwan University Hospital and collaborating institutions have demonstrated that finerenone, a new-generation nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA), significantly reduces the risk of death and major heart and kidney events compared with spironolactone in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D).

When labelled scans are scarce and hospitals collect images in different ways, a new training recipe developed by SUTD researchers helps segmentation AI keep its bearings across domains without needing more annotations.

BD Medical Products and Terumo Asia Holdings boost Duke-NUS Health Innovator Programme to strengthen talent pipeline and accelerate commercialisation of novel healthcare solutions.

Human clinical trials reveal anti-obesity and heart-protective effects of black cumin

Researchers at The University of Osaka developed the Balloon-Assisted Bronchoscope Delivery (BDBD) technique and in a first-in-human clinical trial, the team successfully demonstrated that this technique is both safe and effective, enabling access to lesions smaller than 20 mm. By using a small balloon to gently widen airways, it allows endoscopes to reach deep, peripheral lung tumors, promising more accurate cancer diagnosis and new minimally invasive treatment options.

A seven-year study of 470 patients revealed that a severe fungal lung infection once mainly seen in specific high-risk groups is increasingly affecting elderly patients and those with common cancers who are not receiving traditional high-risk treatments, suggesting current prevention strategies may be missing vulnerable populations.

In their final year of life, older adults with advanced dementia undergo frequent hospitalisations and invasive interventions such as tube feeding and physical restraints. Family caregivers face heavy emotional and financial burdens, often with limited guidance or support.

Untangling cosmic knots, Samurai jellyfish, Controlling rogue antibodies, Search for anti-ulcer vaccine & Metal-recovering yeast. Plus next SciCom coffee talk on experiences in science journalism in the AI era and WHO guide to reporting on non communicable diseases. Read all in the latest Editor's Choice.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to better train doctors via personalising learning experiences, simulating clinical scenarios and supporting research. Yet, there are human, financial and resource-based barriers to its adoption. Healthcare institutions, medical schools, industry partners and government bodies need to work together to develop responsible and effective solutions.

Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization (ToMMo) has optimized how to run a large-scale genome analysis study over ten years – and they are now sharing their innovative techniques as a valuable resource to advance genome research.

Scientists at The University of Osaka developed a new 3D culture scaffold by integrating the strong cell-adhesive domain of laminin-511 into a clinically used fibrin gel, creating a chimeric protein called Chimera-511. This laminin-functionalized fibrin gel supports efficient 3D expansion of human iPS cells while maintaining pluripotency. As a chemically defined, xeno-free material, it offers a promising alternative to Matrigel and a potential platform for clinically applicable organoids and regenerative therapies.

Researchers have developed an eco-friendly method to create gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using microalgae. This "green synthesis" avoids harsh chemicals, resulting in nanoparticles that are more stable than conventional ones. When activated by a laser, these AuNPs effectively destroy cancer cells while showing lower toxicity to healthy cells. This breakthrough promises a more sustainable and safer approach to photothermal cancer therapy and other applications in nanomedicine.

After lecanemab treatment, MRI scans show no short-term change in waste clearance function in Alzheimer’s patients

UOsaka and MIT scientists revealed that the motor proteins KIF18A and CENP-E work together to align chromosomes during mitosis. Cancer cells with reduced CENP-E levels are especially sensitive to KIF18A inhibition, and dual inhibition of both proteins leads to efficient cell death. The discovery offers new insights into chromosome mechanics and a potential strategy for targeted cancer therapy.

“The Development and Testing of a Virtual Patient for Philippine Medical Education” was presented in front of policymakers, industry professionals, and leaders from academia on the second day of the two-day conference.

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