Advances in blood stem cell transplants can now allow far more patients with blood cancers to receive lifesaving treatment, a study shows.

New research explains how low levels of the electrolyte sodium in the blood can disrupt the timing of the heartbeat in patients taking widely used rhythm-control medications such as flecainide, which is commonly prescribed for atrial fibrillation and other fast or irregular heart rhythms.

Scientists at ChristianaCare’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute and the University of Delaware have discovered a surprisingly simple explanation for how our bodies stay so well-organized, even as billions of cells are replaced daily. In a new study, they identified just five basic rules—like when and how cells divide and die—that seem to guide how tissues like the colon maintain their structure over time. Using computer simulations, the team showed how these rules work together like choreography to keep tissues healthy and functioning. This breakthrough, which researchers call a potential “tissue code,” could help explain how our bodies heal, how diseases like cancer form, and even support global efforts like the Human Cell Atlas. It’s a powerful example of how math and medicine can come together to reveal the hidden instructions that keep us alive and well.