Proteins are conventionally trafficked and secreted extracellularly via the endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi pathway. Some proteins that bypass this system and use unconventional mechanisms to exit the cell have been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, inflammation, and cancer. Researchers from Japan have elucidated a novel role of autophagy mediated by the formation of “secretory autolysosomes” in the release of PARK7—a protein associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Their findings uncover potential pathogenic mechanisms, early biomarkers, and therapeutic targets.

Sarcopenia has been linked to dementia risk, but previous studies have focused on older adults. Japanese researchers assessed several muscle-related indices and cognitive function in middle-aged individuals. They found that phase angle—a measure of muscle quality—was strongly associated with cognitive function, especially in women. A significant association with memory performance was also observed in both genders. It could serve as an early marker for the risk of cognitive decline in clinical screenings.

Mongolia’s vast landscape, coupled with a Soviet-era healthcare legacy, has created sharp contrasts in healthcare between cities and rural areas. In a recent study, researchers from Japan explored the challenges and strengths of Mongolia’s healthcare, including topics, such as universal coverage, traditional medicine, and professional development. They also pointed to gaps in rural access and disease prevention strategies and proposed culturally aware, partnership-based solutions to help improve care across the country.

Mycetoma, a devastating neglected tropical disease, often resists standard treatment with itraconazole when caused by the fungus Madurella fahalii. In a recent study, researchers from Japan identified the mechanism behind this resistance: an additional gene encoding a variant of cytochrome P450 14-α sterol demethylase. Using genetic engineering, protein modeling, and computer simulations, the team demonstrated how this second gene reduces treatment effectiveness, guiding the development of future effective therapies.

Near-infrared fluorescent dyes hold promise for applications like bioimaging, solar energy, and more, but their synthesis is often complex. Researchers at Shibaura Institute of Technology have developed redox-switchable pyrazinacene-based dyes using an intramolecular charge transfer design. This approach enables tunable fluorescence from the visible to near/short-wave-infrared regions and supports applications such as real-time redox sensing in cells. This is useful for monitoring cellular redox processes and imbalances.

Ammonia is a chemical essential to many agricultural and industrial processes, but it’s mode of production comes with an incredibly high energy cost. Various attempts have, and are, being made to produce ammonia more efficiently. For the first time, a group including researchers from the University of Tokyo combined atmospheric nitrogen, water and sunlight, and using two catalysts, produced sizable quantities of ammonia without a high energy cost. Their processes mirror natural processes found in plants utilizing symbiotic bacteria.

A research group led by Professor Takahiro Nemoto from the Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience and the Department of Social Implementation Psychiatry at the Toho University Faculty of Medicine analyzed large-scale clinical data to examine the association between the COVID-19 pandemic and the incidence of anorexia nervosa (ICD-10 classification: F50.0) in young patients in Japan. Their study revealed that the number of patients with anorexia nervosa increased after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This research was published in the international academic journal Medicina (Lithuania) on March 3, 2025.

Researchers at University of Tsukuba have discovered a phenomenon—applying pressure to a copper-chromium Prussian blue analog, which is a compound featuring crystal voids, causes the discharge of water retained within these voids. This material is expected to serve as a novel onsite water production platform for extraction of water solely through pressure application, without temperature or humidity control, even in arid regions.

Researchers from the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, developed a tumor-microvessel  on-a-chip system and demonstrated that clusters of circulating tumor cells, after detaching from primary tumors, disrupt blood-vessel walls by inducing endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition. The clusters then enter the bloodstream and establish distal metastases. Targeting the ability of these clusters to disperse could help treat patients with advanced metastatic cancer.