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Medicine & Health

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 18-Jun-2026 15:15 ET (18-Jun-2026 19:15 GMT/UTC)

More than two million Australian middle-aged men drinking at risky levels

Flinders University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The first national in-depth study to examine alcohol use among Australian middle-aged men has found more than two million are drinking at levels that put their health at risk of harm.

Journal: Drug and Alcohol Review
Funder: Flinders University, Alcohol and Drug Foundation

Novel vision-language model to support diagnosis using computed tomography scans

Meijo University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Lung cancer diagnosis relies heavily on interpreting complex computed tomography (CT) images, where accuracy can vary depending on physician’s experience. A new study introduces an artificial intelligence model that generates detailed, question-driven findings from chest CT scans instead of simple classifications. By combining structured medical data with visual question answering model, the approach enables interactive and interpretable diagnostic support. This method could improve consistency in reporting, assist clinical decision-making, and enhance training for medical professionals.

Journal: International Journal of Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery

Kumamoto University Professor Emeritus Eiichi Araki awarded Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon for landmark discoveries in diabetes research

Kumamoto University
Grant and Award Announcement

Professor Emeritus Eiichi Araki of Kumamoto University has been awarded the prestigious Japanese Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon (Shiju Hosho) in the Spring 2026 Conferment for his extraordinary contributions to academic and scientific development. A pioneer in the field of Diabetology, Professor Araki is recognized for his transformative research into insulin signaling and the molecular mechanisms underlying diabetes, work that has significantly advanced the global understanding of the disease.

Engaging with arts linked to slower pace of ageing

University College London
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Regularly taking part in arts activities such as reading, listening to music or visiting a gallery or museum may slow the pace of biological ageing, suggests a new study by University College London (UCL) researchers.

Journal: Innovation in Aging

Cannabis compounds may boost metabolic health while supporting weight loss

University of California - Riverside
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A University of California, Riverside preclinical study is shedding light on a long-observed but poorly understood phenomenon: chronic cannabis users tend to have lower body weight and a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes, despite the drug’s well-known tendency to increase appetite.

Journal: The Journal of Physiology
Funder: Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program

Data hidden in tuberculosis screening tests sheds light on patients’ overall mortality

University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Scientists have long known that the immune system plays a key role in aging. As people age, they have weaker responses to vaccination, greater risks of infection and higher levels of inflammation. A new study led by UCLA Health researchers used results of a routine clinical lab test to measure not only immune responsiveness but also how it links directly to a patient’s long-term mortality.

Journal: GeroScience

How much biochar is enough? New study maps safe and effective use across global ecosystems

Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Biochar is increasingly viewed as a powerful tool for restoring degraded ecosystems, improving soil health, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and immobilizing pollutants. But a new review published in Biochar highlights a key question for scientists, land managers, and policymakers: how much biochar should be used?

Journal: Biochar

Metasurface spectral AI chip diagnoses dry eye–related gland disorder with 96% accuracy-Ultrafast “in-sensor computing” captures molecular fingerprints of meibomian gland tissue in milliseconds

Chinese Society for Optical Engineering
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A metasurface-based spectral convolutional neural network chip enables real-time, high-precision pathological diagnosis of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), achieving 96.22% diagnostic accuracy—significantly outperforming conventional RGB image analysis (84.00%). This is the first study to apply an optical neural network chip for MGD diagnosis and to establish a spectral histopathology framework for ocular surface disease.

Journal: PhotoniX
Funder: National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Key Research and Development Program of China

UofL breaks ground on $280-million facility for health education and collaboration

University of Louisville
Business Announcement

The University of Louisville has begun construction of a transformative new building that will serve as a cornerstone for education, engagement and research at the UofL Health Sciences Center and as a resource for the broader university and healthcare communities. The Health Sciences Building is designed to provide a rich environment for innovative and collaborative education that will equip existing and future health professionals to provide superior care and discover solutions to our most pressing health challenges.

Funder: Commonwealth of Kentucky