Inspired by dragonfly eyes, researchers at Fudan University have developed a self-driven polarization-sensitive ferroelectric photomemristor that dramatically improves the recognition of low-contrast images. The developed devices combine anisotropic rhenium diselenide with ferroelectric single-crystalline DIPAB, enabling real-time, in-sensor image enhancement and achieving up to 85.9% recognition accuracy—nearly double that of traditional photomemristors.

Maternal mortality in Sierra Leone used to be among the highest in the world.  A 15-year-old non-profit programme that trains community health officers to do life-saving surgeries has helped slash that risk by two-thirds.  

Penile shortening and erectile dysfunction are common problems after radical pelvic surgery for prostate, bladder, or rectal cancer. A new review published in UroPrecision finds that penile traction therapy (PTT), a non-invasive mechanical treatment, may help preserve penile length and improve erectile function when started early after surgery. This review is part of the themed issue “Distinct Themes for the Advanced Practice Providers in Andrology”

In modern medical systems, drug therapy remains one of the most essential approaches for disease prevention and treatment. In particular, combination therapy has become a common strategy for improving therapeutic efficacy and reducing drug resistance in the treatment of complex diseases. However, the use of multiple drugs simultaneously significantly increases the risk of drug–drug interactions (DDIs), which may alter the pharmacological effects of drugs or even lead to adverse reactions, posing a threat to patient safety.

This Perspective highlights how engineered chiral nanomaterials can regulate immune cells and reshape cancer therapy strategies. A multi-scale "Design-Validate-Translate" framework offers a roadmap for translating chirality from structural design to functional, clinically relevant nanomedicines.

Researchers have reviewed recent advances in electrocaloric (EC) cooling devices, highlighting their potential as compact, energy-efficient alternatives to conventional refrigeration technologies. The study, published in the open-access journal Thermo-X, summarizes the latest developments in device architectures, thermodynamic cycles, and performance evaluation methods for electrocaloric cooling systems.

This study highlights a practical formulation strategy to enhance the skin penetration of 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10H2DA), a key bioactive compound in royal jelly. By incorporating anionic cross-linked polymers, the authors achieved more than a tenfold increase in 10H2DA permeation compared with royal jelly extract alone. The study further confirmed epidermal penetration using DESI imaging mass spectrometry and demonstrated that higher skin hydration strongly promotes 10H2DA delivery. These findings emphasize that both formulation design and skin condition are critical for improving the dermal delivery of low-molecular-weight amphiphilic compounds.

A high-resolution cellular atlas of liver fibrosis and recovery identifies two proteins, SEMA4D and LMCD1, as promising therapeutic targets. The findings were validated in both mouse models and human patient samples, suggesting relevance to human disease.

A research team from the School of Public Health at the LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), has found that brisk interval walking performed once a week can significantly improve body fat reduction and cardiorespiratory fitness in adults with central obesity, comparable to exercising three times a week – the traditional recommendation for exercise frequency. The study provides strong scientific evidence supporting the therapeutic use of once-weekly brisk interval walking as a convenient exercise approach for adults with central obesity, particularly for those with time constraints. The findings were published in Nature Communications.