This study found that conversations between patients and primary care doctors about prostate cancer screening are surprisingly rare, despite national guidelines recommending shared decision-making before screening. MUSC researchers reviewed the records of 600 men ages 45 to 69 years and found that only 6% had a documented discussion about prostate cancer screening in their medical records. However, when those conversations occurred, men were far more likely to undergo prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening.

The findings were especially notable among Black men, who face a higher risk of dying from prostate cancer. Nearly 85% of Black men who had a documented screening discussion went on to receive a PSA screening test, compared with 36% who did not have such a conversation.

Lead author Nicholas Shungu, M.D., said the study highlights an important gap between screening guidelines and what happens in everyday clinical practice. The research suggests that shared decision-making discussions not only help patients to understand the benefits and limitations of screening but also increase the likelihood that men will choose to be screened.

Pre-retrieval imaging is moving liver transplantation toward a more precise and less invasive era.

A research team has uncovered a previously unrecognized mechanism that promotes cancer cell survival under therapeutic pressure. The study shows how a key enzyme in lipid metabolism, stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1), cooperates with an epigenetic regulator to support tumor growth.

Strange “chimeric” RNA once thought to be the product of cancer is actually an important controller of women’s health, including influencing their susceptibility to infectious disease and autoimmune disorders, new research suggests. 

A team of researchers has developed a new type of imaging sensor that uses both light and sound to create detailed pictures of biological tissues. This marks the first successful use of an array of over 40 microscopic, polymer-based "microrings" to capture these types of images. It can track oxygen levels, blood flow, and how dense blood vessels are. Therefore, it is much more effective at spotting the early signs of cancer.

Paneth cell metaplasia (PCM), long viewed as a consequence of chronic inflammation in ulcerative colitis, may also help protect and repair the intestine, according to researchers at Science Tokyo. The study found that inflammation increases IL-22 signaling, which promotes PCM and the production of REG3A, a protein that helps heal the intestinal lining. The findings suggest PCM may be a protective response but should be monitored because persistent PCM could increase cancer risk.