Research conducted at the University of São Paulo shows that changes in the prefrontal cortex caused by severe stress or trauma during adolescence may be linked to the onset of disorders such as schizophrenia and depression.

A new binational study of 259 outpatient psychotherapists across Canada and the United States highlights significant gaps in clinician knowledge, confidence, and formal training related to treating eating disorders and muscle dysmorphia among boys and men, conditions that are rising sharply but remain widely misunderstood.

Responsible for producing steroid hormones such as cortisol, the adrenal gland regulates essential functions such as blood sugar, blood pressure, and the response to stress. Kotaro Sasaki and Michinori Mayama of the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and colleagues have established an organoid system that faithfully mimics how the human adrenal gland develops and forms complex tissue structures, providing a powerful tool to study adrenal biology and potential treatments.

In solid tumors such as pancreatic cancer, CAR T cell therapy is hindered by a dense barrier of connective tissue and cells that suppress the immune response. Immunologist Ellen Puré of the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and collaborators have “melted away” this barrier using lipid nanoparticles to generate CAR T cells directed at specific cells in the barrier. This approach paves the way for a potentially safer, more accessible, and cost-effective method for using CAR T cell therapy to treat solid tumors.

Dentists Kyle H. Vining and Hardik Makkar from the University of Pennsylvania are taking a new approach to treating severe gum disease by focusing on the physical properties of gum tissue. Using a Jell-O-like hydrogel, their team discovered that physically stiffening model tissues dramatically reduced inflammation, paving the way to strengthen the gums and halt the destructive cycle of periodontal disease.

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and collaborating institutions took a closer look at how the gastrointestinal tissue repairs itself. They reveal key players and their connections in the repair process and suggest the possibility that they also may contribute to the repair of other types of tissues.