Astragalus mongholicus, a cornerstone of traditional Chinese medicine, produces isoflavonoids—bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory, immune-boosting, and antiviral properties. 

University of Missouri researchers have published a major review of flow matching, an emerging AI approach that helps scientists model how biological systems change over time, offering new opportunities in drug discovery, precision medicine and disease research. The work highlights how flow matching could ultimately help create AI-powered “virtual cells” that accelerate biomedical breakthroughs and improve understanding of living systems.

The present study investigated the disease burden and associated productivity losses attributable to T2DM among adults, while also forecasting the disease burden through 2050. The study adopted a quantitative approach and drew upon datasets obtained from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 database, the World Bank, the United Nations, and the International Labor Organization. Projections based on the BAPC model indicate that the ASDR will rise to 2243.12 per 100,000 population by 2050. The estimated annual productivity loss attributable to T2DM in the region exceeds 220 billion U.S. dollar (USD). Comprehensive and sustainable interventions, including health policies, educational initiatives, and social protection measures, are needed to reduce disparities associated with T2DM.

A new study explores how individual and community health experiences of adults with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) shape resilience — the capacity to adapt to adversity.

University of Missouri researchers discovered MKV3, the first compound that blocks key copper transport proteins, making bacteria and cancer cells more vulnerable to the toxic effects of copper. The early-stage breakthrough could lead to new treatments for antibiotic-resistant infections and cancer while also providing a powerful tool for studying copper transport across many forms of life.

A recent study led by the Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), in collaboration with the Correctional Services Department, has demonstrated that mass screening of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among persons in custody (PICs) is a cost-effective strategy. By enabling early identification and treatment of infected PICs, this approach can offer measurable health benefits. The data provides strong evidence to support the implementation of systematic prison-based HCV screening in Hong Kong. The findings were published in The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific.

A joint research team led by the LKS Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), in collaboration with The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New York University and Newcastle University, has found that a combination of policies and service measures could enhance the value and affordability of esketamine nasal spray, a novel rapid-acting treatment for adults with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) in Hong Kong. The study found that measures such as price negotiation, value-based access arrangements, optimised service delivery and targeted patient selection could help make esketamine more accessible while maintaining the sustainability of the healthcare system. The findings were published in PLOS Medicine.

This review highlights microneedle-based cosmetic delivery as a minimally invasive strategy for overcoming the skin barrier and improving intradermal delivery of active ingredients. It summarizes advances in solid, coated, dissolving, hollow, and hydrogel-forming microneedles, together with their materials, fabrication methods, and delivery mechanisms. Key cosmetic applications include anti-aging, skin rejuvenation, pigmentation control, acne management, hydration, barrier repair, and hair-growth treatments. The review also discusses safety, regulation, consumer acceptance, commercialization, and emerging innovations such as smart, stimuli-responsive, personalized, wearable, and IoT-integrated microneedle systems, emphasizing their potential to transform conventional topical skincare into precise, controlled, next-generation dermal delivery platforms for aesthetic dermatology.