Researchers at Zhejiang University found that acute stress increases natural repair mechanisms in the brain, while chronic stress suppresses them. Autophagy was most affected in the lateral habenula, a brain region linked to emotional regulation. Several antidepressant drugs were tested and found to reverse this suppression, pointing to autophagy in the lateral habenula as a common therapeutic pathway in these treatments.
New strategy may enable cancer monitoring from blood tests alone
A new, error-corrected method for detecting cancer from blood samples is much more sensitive and accurate than prior methods and may be useful for monitoring disease status in patients following treatment, according to a study by Weill Cornell Medicine and New York Genome Center investigators. The method, based on whole-genome sequencing of DNA, also represents an important step toward the goal of routine blood test-based screening for early cancer detection.
US measles cases surpass 700 with outbreaks in six states. Here’s what to know
U.S. measles cases topped 700 as of Friday, capping a week in which Indiana joined five others states with active outbreaks, Texas grew by another 60 cases and a third measles-related death was made public.
Pandemic agreement: key points under discussion
For more than three years, countries have been negotiating an international agreement on tackling future pandemics aimed to help avoid repeating the mistakes made during the COVID-19 crisis.
RFK Jr’s autism ‘epidemic’ study raises anti-vaxx fears
US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s announcement of a vast study to reveal the cause of a so-called autism “epidemic” has alarmed medical experts, who fear it could rekindle thoroughly debunked conspiracy theories about vaccines.
Complete genome sequences of six ape species unveiled
Differences among the DNA of seven ape species—including humans—are greater than originally thought, according to an international team led by researchers at Penn State, the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and the University of Washington. They revealed the genetic details with “complete” reference genomes, which are standardized sequences of a species’ genes and other chromosomal regions.
Three-year study of tirzepatide shows that most patients only regain 5% or less from their lowest weight
New research to be presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2025, Malaga, Spain, 11–14 May) shows that around two-thirds of participants of the SURMOUNT-1 trial had only regained 5% or less of their so-called nadir (or lowest weight) three years after beginning treatment with tirzepatide.
Common respiratory condition nearly triples the risk of death in adults, study finds
A study presented at ESCMID Global 2025 has revealed that adults with respiratory syncytial virus-associated acute respiratory infection (RSV-ARI) face a 2.7-fold higher risk of death within one year compared to the general population.
Study identifies promising biomarker for early sepsis detection in neonates, children and pregnant women
A study presented at ESCMID Global 2025 has uncovered the potential of interleukin-6 (IL-6) as a powerful diagnostic biomarker for the early detection of sepsis in high-risk patient groups, including neonates, children and pregnant women. This study is the first to evaluate IL-6’s diagnostic performance in a real-world cohort across all three populations.
Pig kidney removed from US transplant patient, but she set record
Doctors have had to remove the pig kidney implanted in an American woman after her body rejected it, but her four months living with the animal’s organ set a record, the hospital that performed the operation said Friday.