Medical Xpress

Medical Xpress

Publication
0 followers

Medical research, clinical breakthroughs and devices/AI

New Scoring Tool Shows Radiation Can Reprogram Pancreatic Tumor Environment
NewsApr 24, 2026

New Scoring Tool Shows Radiation Can Reprogram Pancreatic Tumor Environment

Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center introduced the Harmonic Output of Stromal Traits Factor (HOST‑Factor), a composite scoring system that quantifies the functional state of the pancreatic tumor microenvironment. Using the tool, they showed that pulsed low‑dose‑rate (PLDR) chemoradiation reprograms...

By Medical Xpress
Why Ancestry Matters in the Cardiac Screening of Elite Soccer Players
NewsApr 24, 2026

Why Ancestry Matters in the Cardiac Screening of Elite Soccer Players

A new ESC Preventive Cardiology study examined 9,024 elite male soccer players screened between 2017 and 2024, finding that 25% identified as Black and that cardiac abnormalities varied markedly by regional ancestry. West and Central African players displayed the highest...

By Medical Xpress
Heat Waves and Cold Waves Are Increasing Cardiovascular Events, Analyses Show
NewsApr 24, 2026

Heat Waves and Cold Waves Are Increasing Cardiovascular Events, Analyses Show

A geospatial analysis of over eight million residents in Eastern Poland found that both heat waves and cold waves significantly raise major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). Heat waves trigger an immediate 7.5% rise in MACCE and a 9.5%...

By Medical Xpress
This Routine Heart Scan Sees the Danger Coming Long Before Symptoms Strike
NewsApr 23, 2026

This Routine Heart Scan Sees the Danger Coming Long Before Symptoms Strike

Researchers at Kumamoto University demonstrated that adding a delayed imaging phase to a standard cardiac CT scan enables measurement of Late Iodine Enhancement (LIE) and Extracellular Volume (ECV) fractions. In a cohort of 1,207 patients tracked for an average of...

By Medical Xpress
Fixed or Flexible? Study Shows Vision-Related Neurons Can Rapidly Switch Codes
NewsApr 22, 2026

Fixed or Flexible? Study Shows Vision-Related Neurons Can Rapidly Switch Codes

Neuroscientists led by Doris Tsao have demonstrated that neurons in the inferotemporal (IT) cortex do not rely on static tuning functions as previously believed. Using high‑resolution recordings in awake monkeys, the team showed that individual visual neurons can flip between...

By Medical Xpress
Researchers Explore New Approach to Multivirus Drug Development
NewsApr 22, 2026

Researchers Explore New Approach to Multivirus Drug Development

Researchers at Stanford Medicine, led by Shirit Einav, are pioneering a host‑targeted antiviral strategy that disables human enzymes essential for viral replication rather than attacking the virus directly. Their recent Nature Communications paper describes a small‑molecule, RMC‑113, which halted replication...

By Medical Xpress
New Clues to Hepatitis B Species Restriction Could Help Build a Novel Model for Studying Infection
NewsApr 22, 2026

New Clues to Hepatitis B Species Restriction Could Help Build a Novel Model for Studying Infection

Researchers at Rockefeller University discovered that mouse liver cells can generate hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) at levels similar to human cells, overturning the long‑held belief that DNA composition blocks infection. The study pinpointed a late‑stage...

By Medical Xpress
New Tool Can See How Different Brain Cell Types Work Together
NewsApr 22, 2026

New Tool Can See How Different Brain Cell Types Work Together

Boston University researchers unveiled PhysMAP, a machine‑learning tool that isolates the electrical signatures of individual brain cell types from mixed neural recordings. Trained on seven publicly available optotagged datasets, the algorithm outperforms existing methods and can be applied to new...

By Medical Xpress
Can Doctors Discuss a President's Mental Health? Why Ethics and Public Risk Collide
NewsApr 22, 2026

Can Doctors Discuss a President's Mental Health? Why Ethics and Public Risk Collide

The BMJ opinion piece by David Nicholl and Trisha Greenhalgh examines whether doctors can publicly discuss a U.S. president’s mental health. It reiterates that professional standards prohibit diagnosing without a direct clinical exam, especially for complex conditions like behavioral variant...

By Medical Xpress
Family Environment Can Shape Life Outcomes Across Generations
NewsApr 22, 2026

Family Environment Can Shape Life Outcomes Across Generations

A Swedish study of more than 12,000 sibling pairs found that children adopted into higher‑resource families faced significantly lower risks of mental illness, criminal behavior, and reliance on social benefits compared with their siblings who stayed with biologically disadvantaged parents....

By Medical Xpress
Q&A: What Do Teenagers Need From Their Parents?
NewsApr 22, 2026

Q&A: What Do Teenagers Need From Their Parents?

Greg Fosco, a Penn State professor, explains that teens thrive when parents combine attentive monitoring with trust‑building autonomy. His research shows that stable, supportive parent‑teen relationships lower risky behaviors, improve mental health, and create a halo effect that influences peers. He also...

By Medical Xpress
Overlooked Brain Damage Sets Off a Chain Reaction that Could Change How Neurodegeneration Is Fought
NewsApr 22, 2026

Overlooked Brain Damage Sets Off a Chain Reaction that Could Change How Neurodegeneration Is Fought

Cambridge researchers have shown that localized damage to white‑matter myelin can provoke a cascade of changes in distant gray‑matter regions, including reduced neuronal activity, microglial activation, and loss of synaptic connections. The study, published in Nature, demonstrated that these effects...

By Medical Xpress
Early Myocarditis Onset After Immunotherapy May Predict Treatment-Related Fatality
NewsApr 21, 2026

Early Myocarditis Onset After Immunotherapy May Predict Treatment-Related Fatality

A new analysis of WHO VigiBase data presented at the AACR 2026 meeting shows that immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)‑induced myocarditis occurring within the first month of therapy dramatically increases the risk of death. Patients who develop myocarditis early are 59%...

By Medical Xpress
Bullying and Adverse Social Climate Take Measurable Toll on Mental Health of Gender-Diverse Youth: Study
NewsApr 21, 2026

Bullying and Adverse Social Climate Take Measurable Toll on Mental Health of Gender-Diverse Youth: Study

UCLA Health researchers analyzed data from the large Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study and found that gender‑diverse adolescents experience higher rates of bullying and psychotic‑like experiences (PLEs) than their peers. Bullying accounted for about 18 % of the mental‑health gap, indicating...

By Medical Xpress
Exposure to Wildfire Smoke May Be Linked to Increased Risk of Developing Several Cancers
NewsApr 21, 2026

Exposure to Wildfire Smoke May Be Linked to Increased Risk of Developing Several Cancers

A study presented at the AACR 2026 meeting links long‑term exposure to wildfire smoke to markedly higher risks of several cancers. Analyzing 91,460 participants from the PLCO Cancer Screening Trial, researchers found each 1 µg/m³ rise in wildfire‑related PM2.5 increased lung...

By Medical Xpress
Intralesional Nivolumab May Be Effective Against Precancerous Oral Lesions, Phase I Trial Results Indicate
NewsApr 21, 2026

Intralesional Nivolumab May Be Effective Against Precancerous Oral Lesions, Phase I Trial Results Indicate

A Phase I trial presented at AACR 2026 showed that injecting low‑dose nivolumab directly into precancerous oral lesions produced an 85% clinical response rate, with lesions shrinking an average of 60% and 41% achieving histologic downgrading. Patients received 10 mg or 20 mg...

By Medical Xpress
Unexpected Cancer Mutations in Brain's Immune Cells May Help Fuel Alzheimer's Disease
NewsApr 21, 2026

Unexpected Cancer Mutations in Brain's Immune Cells May Help Fuel Alzheimer's Disease

Researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital sequenced 149 cancer‑driving genes in 190 Alzheimer’s brains and found microglia accumulating mutations in five oncogenic genes. The same mutations were present in the patients’ blood cells, implying that mutated immune cells cross a weakened...

By Medical Xpress
HIV's Earliest Immune Battle Leaves Blood Traces that Forecast Powerful Antibodies Years Later
NewsApr 21, 2026

HIV's Earliest Immune Battle Leaves Blood Traces that Forecast Powerful Antibodies Years Later

Researchers analyzed cell‑free RNA and DNA from blood samples of 14 South African women tracked from pre‑infection through early HIV infection. They discovered that individuals who later produced broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) exhibited distinct early immune activation patterns and unique...

By Medical Xpress
Combining Cannabis with Opioids Offers No Added Pain Relief for Knee Arthritis Patients, Study Concludes
NewsApr 21, 2026

Combining Cannabis with Opioids Offers No Added Pain Relief for Knee Arthritis Patients, Study Concludes

Researchers conducted a double‑blind, placebo‑controlled trial with 21 knee‑osteoarthritis patients to evaluate whether dronabinol, a synthetic THC, enhances the analgesic effect of hydromorphone. The study found that neither drug alone, nor their combination, produced meaningful acute pain relief during laboratory...

By Medical Xpress
Can a Deaf Person's Brain Turn Silence Into Vision?
NewsApr 21, 2026

Can a Deaf Person's Brain Turn Silence Into Vision?

A multinational research team published in Human Brain Mapping that congenitally deaf adults exhibit systematic deactivation in auditory cortex when viewing visual patterns. Functional MRI showed the deactivations are stimulus‑dependent, mapping opposite visual‑field locations and central vision. This contrasts with...

By Medical Xpress
Silence in Health Care Still Kills: Communication Failures Continue to Threaten Patients and Health Care Innovation
NewsApr 21, 2026

Silence in Health Care Still Kills: Communication Failures Continue to Threaten Patients and Health Care Innovation

A new national survey of 3,500 clinicians and administrators, dubbed "Silence Kills 2.0," reveals that while speaking up has risen to 32% of respondents, a majority still remain silent about unsafe practices. The study finds 40% of staff witness rule violations...

By Medical Xpress
Extra Chromosomes May Help Tumor Cells Move and Engulf Neighbors, Study Suggests
NewsApr 21, 2026

Extra Chromosomes May Help Tumor Cells Move and Engulf Neighbors, Study Suggests

Researchers at Tulane University discovered that polyploid cells—cells with extra chromosome sets—activate a JNK‑driven stress pathway that makes them more mobile and able to engulf neighboring diploid cells. Experiments in fruit‑fly larvae showed polyploid cells migrate through tissue and phagocytose...

By Medical Xpress
HIV Treatment Reduces Accelerated Biological Aging by Nearly Four Years, Landmark Study Shows
NewsApr 19, 2026

HIV Treatment Reduces Accelerated Biological Aging by Nearly Four Years, Landmark Study Shows

A landmark study presented at ESCMID Global 2026 shows that antiretroviral therapy (ART) reduces the accelerated biological aging seen in people with HIV (PWH) by an average of 3.7 years after roughly 1.5 years of treatment. Researchers used a plasma...

By Medical Xpress
Improving Oral Care More than Halves Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia Risk, Major Trial Finds
NewsApr 19, 2026

Improving Oral Care More than Halves Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia Risk, Major Trial Finds

The Hospital Acquired Pneumonia Prevention (HAPPEN) study, a stepped‑wedge cluster RCT across three Australian hospitals and 8,870 patients, demonstrated that a structured oral‑care program reduced non‑ventilator‑associated hospital‑acquired pneumonia (NV‑HAP) incidence by roughly 60%, from 1.00 to 0.41 cases per 100...

By Medical Xpress
Antibiotic Resistance Genes Found in Newborns Within Hours of Birth, Study Shows
NewsApr 19, 2026

Antibiotic Resistance Genes Found in Newborns Within Hours of Birth, Study Shows

A new ESCMID Global 2026 study examined meconium from 105 NICU infants and found antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) within hours of birth. The most prevalent genes were oqxA (98%) and qnrS (96%), with beta‑lactamase genes such as blaCTX‑M present in...

By Medical Xpress
Novel Diabetic Wound Treatment Turns Cells Into Manufacturers
NewsApr 19, 2026

Novel Diabetic Wound Treatment Turns Cells Into Manufacturers

Researchers at Texas A&M have created a novel wound dressing for diabetic foot ulcers that leverages an interwoven extracellular matrix produced by human cells, then strips the cells away, leaving a purely biological scaffold. The approach sidesteps the immune‑rejection and...

By Medical Xpress
Thinking About Acupuncture or Herbs for Menopause? Read This First
NewsApr 19, 2026

Thinking About Acupuncture or Herbs for Menopause? Read This First

A new systematic review of 158 trials examined 86 complementary therapies for menopause, including acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, black cohosh, and isoflavones. The analysis found modest benefits for black cohosh, soy‑derived isoflavones, vitamin D (when combined with calcium for osteoporosis), and...

By Medical Xpress
Researchers Use Statistics and Math to Understand How the Brain Works
NewsApr 19, 2026

Researchers Use Statistics and Math to Understand How the Brain Works

Researchers at Georgia Tech's Institute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society are applying mathematics, statistics, and AI to decode brain function. Projects include topographic AI models that mirror brain organization, AI‑driven analysis of spinal cord activity for motor control, and precise...

By Medical Xpress
Diet Tips During Cancer Treatment
NewsApr 19, 2026

Diet Tips During Cancer Treatment

Mayo Clinic outlines practical diet strategies to help cancer patients cope with treatment‑induced side effects such as nausea, altered taste, weight swings, and digestive issues. The guide recommends small, frequent meals, high‑calorie snacks, flavor‑enhancing spices, and tailored texture choices to...

By Medical Xpress
Cardiorespiratory Fitness May Cut Dementia, Depression and Psychosis Risk
NewsApr 19, 2026

Cardiorespiratory Fitness May Cut Dementia, Depression and Psychosis Risk

Recent epidemiological studies reveal that individuals with higher cardiorespiratory fitness face significantly lower risks of dementia, depression, and psychosis. The research, spanning multiple cohorts, quantifies the protective effect of aerobic capacity on both cognitive decline and mood disorders. Findings suggest...

By Medical Xpress
Why Private Gardens Mattered so Much During the First COVID-19 Lockdown
NewsApr 18, 2026

Why Private Gardens Mattered so Much During the First COVID-19 Lockdown

Researchers at the University of Aberdeen examined thousands of Twitter posts and found that private garden mentions surged more than fivefold during the UK’s first COVID‑19 lockdown, while references to mental‑well‑being jumped from roughly 4% to 20% of posts. A...

By Medical Xpress
Q&A: Psychiatrists on the Unintended, Fatal Consequences of Mixing Psychiatric Meds
NewsApr 18, 2026

Q&A: Psychiatrists on the Unintended, Fatal Consequences of Mixing Psychiatric Meds

Brown University psychiatrists warn that psychotropic polypharmacy—using two or more psychiatric drugs simultaneously—is an under‑recognized driver of fatal overdoses. Their commentary notes antidepressants topped prescription substances in intentional overdoses in 2022, and risky mixes with benzodiazepines, alcohol or opioids amplify...

By Medical Xpress
Reproductive Justice Framework Is Essential to Addressing Inequities in High-Risk Pregnancy Care, Argue Researchers
NewsApr 18, 2026

Reproductive Justice Framework Is Essential to Addressing Inequities in High-Risk Pregnancy Care, Argue Researchers

Researchers from Penn Nursing and SisterSong argue that a reproductive‑justice framework is essential for high‑risk pregnancy care. They contend that systemic inequities, not just medical factors, shape families' options when confronting fetal anomalies. The commentary highlights legal restrictions, lack of...

By Medical Xpress
First International Consensus on How to Design, Test and Evaluate Robotic Systems for Stroke Treatment
NewsApr 18, 2026

First International Consensus on How to Design, Test and Evaluate Robotic Systems for Stroke Treatment

A new position statement published in the Journal of the American Heart Association establishes the first international consensus on designing, testing, and evaluating robotic systems for mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in stroke care. The framework, created by a multidisciplinary panel of...

By Medical Xpress
Brain-on-a-Chip Reveals How Parkinson's Proteins Weaken the Brain's Vascular Barrier
NewsApr 18, 2026

Brain-on-a-Chip Reveals How Parkinson's Proteins Weaken the Brain's Vascular Barrier

Researchers at Binghamton and Drexel used a microfluidic brain‑on‑a‑chip to study how Parkinson’s‑related alpha‑synuclein aggregates affect the blood‑brain barrier. The study showed that protein clumps cause endothelial dysfunction, barrier disruption, and vascular regression, leading to impaired blood flow. These findings...

By Medical Xpress
Standard-Dose Antibiotic Is the 'Preferred Choice' Of Treatment for Uncomplicated Acute Sinusitis
NewsApr 18, 2026

Standard-Dose Antibiotic Is the 'Preferred Choice' Of Treatment for Uncomplicated Acute Sinusitis

A nationwide retrospective study of 521,244 U.S. adults with uncomplicated acute sinusitis found that standard‑dose amoxicillin performs as well as the broader‑spectrum amoxicillin‑clavulanate. Both drugs yielded a roughly 3% treatment‑failure rate, but patients on amoxicillin‑clavulanate experienced a modestly higher incidence...

By Medical Xpress
Emergency Room Survey Uncovers Measles Vaccine Gaps and Hesitancy Across the US
NewsApr 18, 2026

Emergency Room Survey Uncovers Measles Vaccine Gaps and Hesitancy Across the US

A University of California Riverside‑led study surveyed 2,459 adult patients in ten U.S. emergency departments and uncovered widespread gaps in knowledge, receipt, and acceptance of the measles‑mumps‑rubella (MMR) vaccine. The data, collected from April to December 2024, show that many...

By Medical Xpress
Austria Recalls Baby Food Jars in Health Scare
NewsApr 18, 2026

Austria Recalls Baby Food Jars in Health Scare

HiPP, a leading baby‑food supplier in Austria, has recalled its entire line of 190‑gram carrot‑potato baby food jars sold at SPAR after authorities could not rule out tampering with a lethal substance. The recall is identified by a white label...

By Medical Xpress
Cough Drops From Several Brands Being Recalled, FDA Says
NewsApr 17, 2026

Cough Drops From Several Brands Being Recalled, FDA Says

On March 20, the FDA initiated a Class II recall of 15 cough‑drop products sold under five private‑label brands after an inspection of the Chinese manufacturer Xiamen Kang Zhongyuan Biotechnology revealed unspecified concerns. The affected items, many bearing lot 20241030 and expiring...

By Medical Xpress
Double Shifts Disrupt Normal Cortisol Patterns
NewsApr 17, 2026

Double Shifts Disrupt Normal Cortisol Patterns

A recent study in Nursing Open examined how single‑ and double‑shift schedules affect salivary cortisol among 52 female nurses in Turkey. Researchers collected cortisol samples before, after, and at midnight for each shift type and found that double‑shift workers had...

By Medical Xpress
Gut Microbes Reveal a Surprising Tie to Cortisol Spikes During Acute Stress
NewsApr 16, 2026

Gut Microbes Reveal a Surprising Tie to Cortisol Spikes During Acute Stress

Researchers at the University of Vienna have shown that greater gut microbial diversity and the capacity to produce specific short‑chain fatty acids are linked to heightened cortisol spikes and perceived stress during acute challenges. The study, published in Neurobiology of...

By Medical Xpress
Menstrual Cycle Reshapes Nearly 200 Blood Proteins, Offering a Broader View of Women's Health
NewsApr 16, 2026

Menstrual Cycle Reshapes Nearly 200 Blood Proteins, Offering a Broader View of Women's Health

A team at Aarhus University mapped the blood proteome across the menstrual cycle, identifying nearly 200 proteins that fluctuate systematically. The study, published in Nature Medicine, reveals that these changes affect immune, hormonal, and metabolic pathways far more than previously...

By Medical Xpress
High-Precision Human Immune Aging Clock Identifies RUNX1 as Key Target for T Cell Senescence
NewsApr 16, 2026

High-Precision Human Immune Aging Clock Identifies RUNX1 as Key Target for T Cell Senescence

Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences unveiled a high‑precision Human Immune Aging Clock (HIAC) that leverages single‑cell multi‑omics to predict immune age with a 5.66‑year mean absolute error. The clock identifies T cells as the most sensitive cellular indicator...

By Medical Xpress
Australian Bee Glue Delivers a Scar-Fighting Compound that Shuts Down Raised Scars Before They Take Hold
NewsApr 15, 2026

Australian Bee Glue Delivers a Scar-Fighting Compound that Shuts Down Raised Scars Before They Take Hold

University of the Sunshine Coast researchers have isolated a natural compound, tomentosenol A, from the propolis of the Australian stingless bee Tetragonula carbonaria. Laboratory tests on human skin cells showed the molecule blocks scar‑forming signals and induces fibroblast self‑destruction, mimicking normal...

By Medical Xpress
Facing Alzheimer's Fear, Patients Say Yes to Blood Tests
NewsApr 15, 2026

Facing Alzheimer's Fear, Patients Say Yes to Blood Tests

A new Northwestern Medicine survey of nearly 600 primary‑care patients revealed that 85% would agree to an Alzheimer’s blood‑based biomarker test if their doctor recommended it. While 84% of respondents were previously unaware of such tests, brief education raised acceptance...

By Medical Xpress
Blood Test Predicts Kidney Failure Risk to Black Americans Years Before Onset
NewsApr 15, 2026

Blood Test Predicts Kidney Failure Risk to Black Americans Years Before Onset

University of Pennsylvania researchers have unveiled a blood‑based test that predicts kidney‑failure risk in individuals of African ancestry carrying high‑risk APOL1 gene variants. The assay measures a small panel of circulating proteins to generate a ten‑year risk score, distinguishing patients...

By Medical Xpress
Loneliness Linked to Increased Risk of Degenerative Heart Valve Disease
NewsApr 15, 2026

Loneliness Linked to Increased Risk of Degenerative Heart Valve Disease

A new cohort study of 463,000 UK Biobank participants found that adults who reported high levels of loneliness faced a 19% greater risk of developing degenerative heart valve disease, with even higher risks for aortic stenosis (21%) and mitral regurgitation...

By Medical Xpress
A Molecular Movie Captures Cancer's Great Escape From Targeted Therapy
NewsApr 15, 2026

A Molecular Movie Captures Cancer's Great Escape From Targeted Therapy

Researchers at the Institute for Systems Biology captured a "molecular movie" showing that melanoma cells enter a reversible, drug‑tolerant state within hours of BRAF‑targeted therapy. The study, published in Nature Communications, reveals an ordered two‑wave transcriptional program driven by NF‑κB‑mediated...

By Medical Xpress
Drug-Resistant Fungi Prompt a Five-Step Global Plan Ahead of WHO's 2026 Update
NewsApr 15, 2026

Drug-Resistant Fungi Prompt a Five-Step Global Plan Ahead of WHO's 2026 Update

An international consortium of 50 researchers led by Radboudumc has issued a five‑step plan to curb the rise of drug‑resistant fungi. The strategy—covering awareness, surveillance, infection control, optimized drug use, and investment—aims to shape the World Health Organization’s 2026 Global...

By Medical Xpress