A new study suggests that certain genetic differences, passed down from ancient human ancestors, and exposure to common present-day chemicals could explain why some women are more likely to develop endometriosis. 

As winter closes in, you might start to notice your fingers and toes freezing when you go outside, or your face flushing hot when you go into a heated building. In these moments of changing temperature, we become more aware of our bodies. 

Until now, bodily temperature has been seen as a purely physiological signal. But a new review published in Trends in Cognitive Sciences looks at how ‘thermoception’ – our perception of changes in skin temperature, such as a warm hug or a chill in the air – influences how strongly we experience our bodies as “our own.” 

Real progress in oral health doesn’t come from expensive gadgets, but from better daily habits. That is the conclusion of dentist- periodontist Tim Thomassen in his dissertation Oral Disease Prevention, which he will defend on 12 December at the University of Amsterdam. In his research, he examines how effective different types of toothbrushes are and how much impact the actual time people spend brushing has on oral health.

A study from the Hospital del Mar Research Institute, published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation, indicates that the high expression of the estrogen receptor is the main factor preventing the most common type of breast cancer, luminal breast cancer, from responding to immunotherapy.

The high presence of the estrogen receptor sequesters the LCOR molecule, whose action on tumor cells is necessary to make tumors visible to the immune system. In experimental models, the researchers found that combining immunotherapy with endocrine therapy allows LCOR to function and the immune system to attack the tumor.

At the same time, they have generated a modified version of the LCOR molecule that sensitizes tumors to immunotherapy, including those with hormone receptors. The next goal is to study this molecule combined with immunotherapy in clinical trials.