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Exploring the link between leaky blood-brain barrier and major depressive disorder

Women are affected by severe depression twice as often as men. The reasons for this have not yet been fully clarified.

16 Oct 2025

UIC researchers discover an important cellular mechanism that drives aging

As our hairs go gray and our muscles weaken with age, our immune system also changes. In particular, the stem cells that become blood or immune cells can develop mutations, potentially leading to cancers or other dysfunctions.

16 Oct 2025

New computer model sheds light on how brain circuits support flexible thinking

Every day, your brain makes thousands of decisions under uncertainty. Most of the time, you guess right.

16 Oct 2025

New enzyme offers cleaner route to more stable diabetes and obesity drugs

Chemistry researchers at the University of Utah have uncovered an enzyme, dubbed PapB, that can "tie off" therapeutic peptides-protein-like drugs-into tight rings, a process known as macrocyclization.

16 Oct 2025

Blocking key protein restores healthy lung function and reduces fibrosis in mice

Pulmonary fibrosis is a deadly disease in which the lungs become thickened and scarred, gradually losing their ability to deliver oxygen to the body.

16 Oct 2025

RIKEN scientists reveal connection between deep sleep and brain fluid dynamics

Researchers led by Masako Tamaki at the RIKEN Center for Brain Science in Japan report a link between deep sleep and cerebrospinal fluid, the clear liquid that surrounds and supports the brain and spinal cord.

16 Oct 2025

New nanomanufacturing technique enhances vascular systems in artificial human tissue

When biomedical researchers need to test their latest ideas, they often turn to engineered human tissue that mimics the responses in our own bodies. It's become an important intermediary step before human clinical trials.

16 Oct 2025

Study reveals how gut fungi influence the brain’s dopamine response to alcohol

Researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences have found a surprising connection between a fungus associated with alcohol use disorder and the brain's dopamine reward pathway.

16 Oct 2025

Uncovering a molecular weakness in Ewing sarcoma for targeted therapy

A research team at the Seville Biomedical Institute (IBis) has identified a new molecular mechanism that explains the high sensitivity of Ewing sarcoma (an aggressive bone cancer that mainly affects children and adolescents) to certain chemotherapy drugs, such as irinotecan.

16 Oct 2025

Caraway seeds inspire new seizure-fighting medicines

A UNLV-led team of researchers has co-opted a common kitchen spice to create a new class of cannabidiol (CBD)-like medicines that show powerful seizure-reducing effects - offering a safer, more affordable, and more effective treatment for childhood seizure disorders than existing frontline therapies.

15 Oct 2025

UC Irvine develops human-like colon model for precision medicine

Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have developed a 3D human colon model integrated with bioelectronics to aid in colorectal cancer research and drug discovery.

15 Oct 2025

Does eating watermelon lower blood pressure?

Researchers reviewed the role of watermelon as a natural source of L-citrulline and its potential to improve cardiovascular health by enhancing nitric oxide production. While promising effects on blood pressure and arterial stiffness were seen in at-risk groups, long-term and dose-specific studies are still needed to confirm clinical benefits.

15 Oct 2025

Discovery explains why women face higher risk of Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis

New research by UCLA Health has identified a sex-chromosome linked gene that drives inflammation in the female brain, offering insight into why women are disproportionately affected by conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis as well as offering a potential target for intervention.

15 Oct 2025

What happens when microplastics reach the testes? Study shows autophagy and cell loss

Researchers found that microplastics from everyday plastic tableware accumulate in human semen and, although not linked to semen quality in the full cohort, were associated with altered sperm parameters in specific subgroups. Experimental models confirmed that 50 nm polystyrene particles trigger autophagy and apoptosis via the FOXA1/MAP3K1/p38 pathway, impairing sperm structure and function.

15 Oct 2025

Ancient lead exposure may have shaped human evolution and language

A groundbreaking international study changes the view that exposure to the toxic metal lead is largely a post-industrial phenomenon.

15 Oct 2025

Astrocytes revealed as key players in stabilizing long-term emotional memories

Why are we able to recall only some of our past experiences? A new study led by Jun Nagai at the RIKEN Center for Brain Science in Japan has an answer.

15 Oct 2025

New triple action iron supplement restores iron levels without inflammation

Iron-deficiency anemia is a common condition marked by tiredness, headaches or ice cravings. But the oral iron supplements used to treat it can leave behind excess iron that causes inflammation and an upset stomach.

15 Oct 2025

Pets comfort the lonely, but relying on them too much may backfire

This study found that pet ownership does not directly improve well-being but may indirectly enhance it by reducing loneliness, particularly among individuals living alone. However, over-reliance on pets as substitutes for human relationships can increase loneliness and lower well-being.

15 Oct 2025

Targeting bacterial communication may offer antibiotic-free wound therapy

Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have discovered a previously unrecognized mechanism by which Staphylococcus aureus - one of the most common causes of skin and soft tissue infections worldwide - delays wound healing.

15 Oct 2025

GLP-1 medications found to slow alcohol absorption and lessen intoxication

There's mounting evidence that popular drugs prescribed for diabetes management and weight loss - better known by trade names like Ozempic and Wegovy - could be effective in reducing alcohol use.

15 Oct 2025