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Medicine & Health

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 23-Oct-2026 01:16 ET (23-Oct-2026 05:16 GMT/UTC)

Rebalancing the body’s cellular communication system could slow aging

Frontiers
Peer-Reviewed Publication

New paper suggests coordinated targeting of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) could tackle multiple drivers of aging and age-related disease simultaneously.

Journal: Frontiers in Science

The ISSCR announces Kyoto, Japan as host city for 2029 annual meeting

International Society for Stem Cell Research
Meeting Announcement

The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) is pleased to announce that its 2029 Annual Meeting will take place 26-29 June 2029 in Kyoto, Japan. The meeting will be held with the support of the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, and the Japanese Society for Regenerative Medicine (JSRM), bringing the world’s leading stem cell scientists, clinicians, industry innovators, and other stakeholders together in one of the most influential centers for stem cell research and regenerative medicine.

The ISSCR Annual Meeting is the premier global gathering for stem cell science showcasing discoveries across the breadth of the field, from fundamental biology and emerging technologies to disease modeling and clinical translation. The 2029 meeting will provide an exceptional opportunity to highlight Japan’s scientific leadership while fostering international collaboration and accelerating progress across the field.

Targeting the gut, healthy mood: An engineered strain reactivates bidirectional homeostasis of the gut-brain axis

Science China Press
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients disproportionately suffer from depression and anxiety, which exacerbate clinical outcomes yet remain inadequately addressed by current anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) biologics. To bridge this therapeutic gap, we engineered Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (eEcN) as a clinically translatable living microbial therapeutics platform for dual-targeted intervention. eEcN is designed to autonomously secrete immunomodulatory outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) bearing TNFα-neutralizing nanobodies (TNFαnb). These bioengineered nanovesicles specifically target inflamed colon tissue, enabling localized TNFα blockade, mucosal healing, and immune regulation. Concurrently, the eEcN remodels the gut microbiota, increasing symbiotic Lactobacillus abundance to elevate intestinal γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels, addressing a core neurotransmitter deficit in IBD-associated depression. In murine colitis models, this integrated strategy surpassed conventional anti-TNF therapy, simultaneously ameliorating intestinal pathology and depression-like behaviors. Mechanistically, eEcN attenuated neuroinflammation and restored hippocampal GABAergic neurotransmission via the gut-brain axis. This engineered living biomaterial platform, synergizing targeted OMVs-mediated nanobody delivery with microbiota-driven neurometabolite production, represents a promising approach for the complex pathophysiology of IBD and its neuropsychiatric comorbidities.

Journal: Science Bulletin

Maynooth University research finds bariatric surgery can restore immune cell function affected by obesity

Maynooth University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

New Maynooth University (MU)-led research has found that obesity impairs key immune cells that help protect the body against infection and cancer, and that bariatric surgery can reverse this damage.

Journal: JCI Insight
Funder: Health Research Board

Long-term eye-movement training may improve visual function in school-age children

University of Tsukuba
Peer-Reviewed Publication

In a study conducted by researchers at the University of Tsukuba, 28 elementary and middle school students living in Tsukuba City performed home-based eye-movement exercises while watching instructional videos over 24 weeks. The results showed improvements in eye-hand coordination and in the ability to accurately identify moving numbers. These findings suggest that sustained eye-movement training may improve children's visual skills.

Journal: BMC Pediatrics

Amid cost‑of‑living worries and concern for the nation’s future, stress is reshaping Americans’ lives

American Psychological Association
Reports and Proceedings

U.S. adults appear increasingly likely to view stress as an unavoidable part of daily life, according to the 2026 Stress in America™ survey by the American Psychological Association. Around three-quarters cited the cost of living (77%) – such as trying to keep up with rent or a mortgage or pay for other necessities like groceries and childcare – as a significant source of stress in their lives.

China’s experts outline a medical-preventive blueprint to tackle the resurgence of pertussis

Chinese Medical Journals Publishing House Co., Ltd.
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new expert consensus published in Infectious Diseases & Immunity provides actionable strategies for healthcare professionals to combat the global re-emergence of pertussis, emphasizing the integration of clinical care and public health.

Journal: Infectious Diseases & Immunity

Early life sugar restriction linked to lower anxiety and depression risk decades later

Shanghai Jiao Tong University Journal Center
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Sugar restriction during the first 1000 days after conception significantly reduces the risk of anxiety and depression and delays their first diagnosis, highlighting the importance of early life dietary interventions for long-term mental health.

Journal: General Psychiatry

A smart adhesive patch that sticks securely and releases gently without damaging skin

Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)
Peer-Reviewed Publication

POSTECH Professors Jin-Tae Kim and Seok Kim Develop a Skin-Safe Medical Adhesive Patch Using Shape-Memory Materials

Journal: Nature Communications

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