Medicine

Revised techniques reveal bone loss in shoulder replacements

Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) has a higher prevalence among East Asian women and is characterized by poor clinical outcomes. An interdisciplinary team led by Professor Ruby Yun-Ju Huang at National Taiwan University College of Medicine has established a comprehensive spatial atlas of OCCC, revealing how distinct tumor cell populations are organized within the same tumor and identifying a key molecular regulator of tumor plasticity.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for roughly 15–20% of all breast cancer cases and is difficult to treat. Patients are often left with chemotherapy as their only treatment option. This is because TNBC tumors contain a large number of T cells that suppress the immune system. Yet researchers from Tohoku University have come up with a three-pronged approach to overcome this problem.

Scientists have identified submillimeter gray matter nuclei in the human brain involved in the distinct stages of processing information when making rapid, high-stakes decisions. These findings provide critical insights for precise targeting of the neural substrates that govern human choice behavior.

Researchers at the University of Osaka discovered that people who reach extreme old age have an unusual immune system. Around the age of 100, they develop large numbers of rare immune cells that resemble those seen in people fighting cancer, allowing them to remain highly active in their supercentenarian years. The findings suggest that the immune system can adapt with age and may help protect some people from disease to support exceptional longevity.

A recent study has tracked survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake over a 15-year period, discovering that continuous monitoring of mental-health care is critical for early intervention.

Researchers from Tohoku University and the University of Tokyo developed groundbreaking technology, earning a place among the Milestone 2 Awardee teams recognized in the XPRIZE Healthspan Competition.

A spinout from the University of Osaka is developing a slim, lightweight, single-use endoscope designed specifically for gastric cancer screening. By simplifying conventional endoscope design, the device aims to reduce patient discomfort, lower costs, and lessen the burden on healthcare professionals. Its disposable format removes the need for cleaning and disinfection, while future integration with AI and digital platforms could support more accessible and efficient screening.

Growth impairment is a common late effect of childhood stem cell transplantation. A Japan-wide study found that growth hormone therapy improves adult height, but prior radiation therapy and transplant-related complications negatively affect how much children benefit.

Japan-based Elix, Inc. and the University of Vienna, Austria announce the signing of a joint research agreement aimed at advancing drug discovery using AI technologies.

Researchers at the University of Osaka found that Bofutsushosan, a Kampo medicine used for obesity, reduced fibrosis-related changes in fat tissue and the liver of aged male mice. Cell experiments suggested that Bofutsushosan also had a direct effect on fibrosis-related signals, partly through the TGF-β/SMAD2/3 pathway. Four ingredients showed particularly strong anti-fibrotic activity, while some mineral ingredients showed the opposite effect under cell-culture conditions. Adjusting the formula strengthened the suppression of some fibrosis-related markers in cultured cells. However, the modified formulas have not been tested in animals or people, and further research is required before the findings can guide treatment.

Researchers from the University of Osaka found that hepatocyte-derived extracellular vesicles treated with sPLA2 (SPLEVs) induce a lipid counterstorm that counteracts cytokine storm in mice with acute respiratory distress syndrome. SPLEVs also demonstrated significant beneficial effects in mouse models of sepsis, coagulopathy, liver injury, colitis, and pneumonia. As lysophosphatidylglycerols were identified as a key mediator of SPLEV activity, these findings suggest a promising approach for developing inexpensive, cell-free anti-inflammatory treatments.

Accessible group programs could combat mental decline in older adults

First to demonstrate that the sequence of immune-cell exposure can determine glioblastoma treatment response

In a breakthrough clinical trial undertaken by Australian biotechnology company Marinova, a unique seaweed extract has been shown to relieve the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Enables precise editing of both nuclear and mitochondrial genes while dramatically reducing off-target effects to ensure therapeutic safety

Researchers at the University of Osaka have developed a method to build stable, tubular hydrogel structures at the arteriole scale. Using a technique called meniscus-guided interfacial ring-by-ring assembly, UV light is used to form ring-shaped structures at an oil–hydrogel interface, which combine to form hollow tubes. Different tubes could be created with good stability, controlled sizes, complex shapes, and multi-component structures. These structures could help to create vascular networks for artificial tissue models.

Professor Yasutoshi Kido of Osaka Metropolitan University (OMU), in collaboration with K.K. DNAFORM and the National Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is developing a portable rapid diagnostic system for Ebola virus disease (EVD) caused by Bundibugyo virus (BDBV). The project has been selected for funding by the Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Fund).

Researchers find dormant pigment cells in vitiligo patches, suggesting a new treatment strategy

Certain blood types may have increased risk of mortality in patients undergoing hemodialysis

The game's traditional Filipino remedies are based on real research from the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC).

Host genetics-driven expansion of invasive Escherichia coli in the gut microbiome exacerbated tumorigenesis by targeting Hippo pathways to induce cancer stemness via CD44 upregulation. Mouse models of Apc gene mutation and bacteria-epithelial cell cocultures provided proof of concept that invasive bacteria derived from commensal microbes enhanced epithelial clonogenicity. Our data support the use of bacterial precision medicine as an alternative strategy for managing colorectal cancers, even in the hereditary subset.

Early rice gets the flower, Exercising against cancer, Efficient artificial photosynthesis, New “living pink rocks”, Unlocking megathrust earthquakes, Longevity protein demystified and Death gene paradox. Read all in the latest Editor's Choice.

Complete tumor remission and suppression of recurrence/metastasis demonstrated in animal models of triple-negative breast cancer and colorectal cancer

Researchers at The University of Osaka have developed an improved technique called “tapping-mode scanning probe electrospray ionization” (t-SPESI), allowing the analysis of regions within individual cells with greater sensitivity and stability. Through device miniaturization and molecular modification of the probe surface, the team achieved higher sensitivity and long-term stability, successfully visualizing lipid distributions in mouse brain tissue at a pixel size of 5 µm.

Researchers at the University of Osaka developed the CLiB assay, a high-throughput platform to engineer protein-based lipid-binding probes. By screening a library of protein variants, they created a highly sensitive probe for the signaling lipid PI(3,5)P2. This tool allowed the team to visualize how cells remodel their membranes to engulf damaged materials, providing a framework for developing next-generation biosensors and unlocking new insights into the dynamic landscape of biological membranes.

Research led by National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and National Taiwan University uncovers a successful postnatal gene therapy strategy that restores hearing and preserves inner ear structures in a hereditary deafness model. This breakthrough identifies vital therapeutic windows after birth, paving a clear path toward clinical translation for genetic hearing loss.

A research team from National Taiwan University and University of Oslo analyzed data on more than 1.3 million children across two countries, finding that an earlier European safety signal weakens to non-significance once underlying disease and other confounders are accounted for.

A groundbreaking study reveals how fine particulate matter (PM2.5) fuels bladder cancer malignancy by triggering Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) via the ERK/WNT/beta-catenin pathways. These findings provide critical evidence of air pollution's destructive molecular reach far beyond the respiratory system, promoting tumor metastasis.

Each unit of cost invested in Helicobacter pylori screening can generate approximately a five-fold return in gastric cancer prevention benefits.