A new study on circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing for advanced breast cancer has unveiled encouraging results, with high detection rates of genetic mutations and a substantial impact on treatment decisions. 

Many countries regularly experience shortages of blood and plasma (the liquid gold part of blood).  Australian Red Cross Lifeblood is the first in the world to allow people with an inherited iron blood disorder called haemochromatosis to donate both blood and plasma.

Now, in a paper in Transfusion researchers from Lifeblood are calling on blood services worldwide to actively encourage people with haemochromatosis to become blood donors.

People with this disease store too much iron in their bodies which can damage joints and organs and lead to cancer if untreated. The primary treatment involves regular removal of about half a litre of blood, which is typically done every 12 weeks. This is often done at medical practices, with the blood being thrown away. Case study available. 

Systemic circulation of chemotherapy drugs leads to off-target side effects, premature drug loss, and limited therapeutic efficiency in colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment. Researchers have now developed a drug delivery strategy in which CRC cell-activated nanoconjugates (CTNCs) are enclosed inside a pH-sensitive alginate matrix. This matrix provides a shield against the acidic environment of the stomach and small intestine, ensuring selective drug delivery in the colorectum, thus facilitating precise local CRC therapy without off-target side effects.

In a landmark review published in Brain Medicine, Professor Hyman M. Schipper maps out the complex interactions between reproductive hormones and neurological health. This comprehensive analysis examines how sex hormones influence various conditions including migraine, stroke, movement disorders, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis. The review highlights emerging evidence on neurosteroid pathways and suggests potential therapeutic applications, while emphasizing the importance of considering hormonal factors in neurological care.