A retinal image could help doctors quickly distinguish between similar neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS and Alzheimer’s disease, and with remarkable accuracy, according to new research.  

Researchers from the University of Waterloo are leading the development of a fast, non-invasive, and affordable diagnostic tool. There is currently no objective diagnostic test for ALS or Frontotemporal Lobular Dementia (FTLD-TDP), in which the protein TDP-43 forms deposits in the spinal cord and brain, respectively. 

Berberine is sometimes promoted in social media as a “natural Ozempic,” but scientific evidence does not support this comparison. A review by researchers from Wroclaw Medical University shows that this plant alkaloid does not act like incretin drugs and does not regulate metabolism through a single hormonal mechanism.

Current research indicates that berberine mainly affects the intestinal environment, influencing gut microbiota, inflammatory processes, and the integrity of the intestinal barrier. Its metabolic effects are therefore indirect and strongly dependent on the composition of the microbiota, which may explain why responses differ between individuals.

The authors also note that the compound’s low systemic bioavailability may favor its local action in the intestine, where it is metabolized by gut microorganisms. At the same time, berberine can cause gastrointestinal side effects and interact with several medications, which means it should not be treated as a universal metabolic supplement or a substitute for medical therapy.

A research team from the University of Tokyo and Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology uncovered a new mechanism of Yaku’amide B, a deep-sea sponge-derived natural product. Using photoaffinity labeling, they found that yaku’amide B transiently binds CD9, inducing its degradation, in addition to inhibiting ATP synthase. This dual action suppresses cancer cell proliferation and migration, opening new avenues for anticancer drug development and protein degradation strategies.

Light speckle fluctuations, a noninvasive proxy for cerebral blood flow index (CBFi), are quantified by diffuse correlation spectroscopy. However, this conventional technique provides marginal brain sensitivity for CBFi in adult humans. To improve the brain sensitivity, researchers have now optimized interferometric diffusing wave spectroscopy—a novel approach to quantify the fluctuations. They demonstrated pulsatile CBFi monitoring at 4–4.5 cm source-collector separation in adults with moderate pigmentation.

Tooth enamel is the hardest tissue in vertebrates, yet how its intricate structure forms, remains unclear. Using mouse models, researchers have now discovered how specialized enamel-forming cells move in coordinated, opposing directions to create a woven structure that boosts enamel’s strength. By identifying the specialized cell population and tracking its descendants in mouse incisors, the researchers provide the first experimental evidence for enamel structure, providing new insights into dental biology.