A research team at Toho University has revealed that ferulic acid (FA), a polyphenol abundant in rice bran, suppresses intestinal smooth muscle contractions by inhibiting voltage-dependent calcium channels. This finding may open new avenues for dietary-based strategies to manage intestinal motility disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Decline in youth physical fitness seen in association with pandemic
During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a decline in the physical fitness of U.S. youth, according to a study published online June 4 in JAMA Network Open.
Alcohol-linked liver deaths rising in women and young adults, finds study
Alcohol-related liver disease deaths are increasing—and they’re rising faster in some groups, including women, young adults and Indigenous people, new research shows.
Exploring patient experiences in juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Adolescents and young adults with chronic diseases need special care—and pediatric rheumatological conditions can persist into adulthood. Two new works presented at the 2025 congress of EULAR—The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology—consider the training that health care professionals need to help support transition for younger patients, and the perspectives and experiences of young adults.
What does the new pandemic treaty mean for global health?
The adoption of the WHO Pandemic Agreement by the World Health Assembly on 20 May 2025 was a landmark moment in global health.
New PET imaging approach provides precise mapping of nasopharyngeal cancer biomarker
A novel immuno-PET/CT imaging technique has identified and validated a potent biomarker for nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). The biomarker, CD70, is highly and constantly expressed in NPCs, and CD70-targeted immuno-PET/CT has proven effective in accurately detecting primary and metastatic NPC lesions.
Muscle ‘control center’ discovery could help elderly with better muscle healing
When a house is hit by a hurricane, you must first remove the damaged parts before reconstruction can begin. The same applies to our muscles after injuries—and now researchers from Aarhus University and Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus have discovered who functions as the coordinator of this repair process.
Preventing stalling to improve CAR-T cells’ efficacy against tumors
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells are a promising cancer therapy that are made from the patient’s own T cells, which are reprogrammed to fight their cancer. One of the limitations of CAR-T cell therapy is the ability of these cells to survive long enough to target the entire tumor.
Two biomarkers that may predict diabetic foot ulcer healing outcomes identified
Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a major clinical challenge, with high rates of morbidity, disability, amputations and mortality. Despite extensive research, effective predictive biomarkers for DFUs healing remain elusive.
First data from the EULAR RheumaFacts project
Rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMD) are the leading causes of disability worldwide, resulting in significant health care and social support costs. One of the reasons for this increasing burden seems to be the variability in the number and nature of allocated resources across Europe, as well as organizational aspects of health systems that result in disparities and health inequities across countries.