Scientific discovery: Neutralizing a protein may prevent the development of food allergies
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 2-Jan-2026 15:11 ET (2-Jan-2026 20:11 GMT/UTC)
A new study from the Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at Tel Aviv University may mark a breakthrough in the treatment of Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) — a chronic inflammatory disease of the esophagus caused by food allergies. EoE leads to difficulty swallowing, chest and abdominal pain, and even growth delays in children. Its prevalence has been steadily increasing over the past decade in Israel and the Western world. In this new study, researchers identified the protein TSLP as a catalyst in the disease’s development, and found that neutralizing it may lead to significant relief of symptoms.
A new analysis using data from a longitudinal study that followed children between the ages of 5 and 17 has revealed a surprising association; kids who engaged in kind, caring, and helpful behaviors (being prosocial), were more likely to sustain healthy eating habits as teenagers. The findings from the study appearing in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, published by Elsevier, suggest that fostering prosociality throughout childhood may be a novel intervention strategy to promote healthy eating.
Pharmacotherapy is an effective, evidence-based treatment for people living with obesity, as part of a long-term, individualized treatment plan. An updated pharmacotherapy guideline for obesity management in adults reflects new evidence and Health Canada–approved medications, with increased emphasis on individualized and personalized care. The guideline is published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
With the sustained growth of the economy and significant changes in social demographics, the issue of elderly-related diseases has increasingly drawn attention, particularly. Alzheimer’s disease (AD), as a representative disease of neurodegenerative diseases, has become a major challenge, affecting the health and quality of life of the elderly population severely. In recent years, the incidence, prevalence and mortality rates of AD have increased in China, imposing substantial economic burdens on families, society and the entire healthcare system. To proactively address this challenge and respond to the national ‘Healthy China Action’ initiative, leading experts from authoritative institutions jointly authored the China Alzheimer Report 2025. Building on previous editions, this report updates epidemiological data on AD in China, thoroughly analyses the latest economic burdens of the disease and comprehensively evaluates the current status of AD diagnosis and treatment services, as well as the allocation of public health resources in our country. Its release reflects China’s progress in AD research and prevention, underscores societal concern for elderly health and aims to provide scientific guidance and data support for AD prevention, diagnosis and treatment. It also facilitates academic exchanges and cooperation, enhancing public awareness and promoting active participation in elderly healthcare, towards achieving ‘healthy ageing’ in China.
A comprehensive review reveals how large language models (LLMs) are transforming bioinformatics by enabling unprecedented analysis of biological sequences, protein structures, and multi-omics data. The study highlights LLMs’ capabilities in accelerating drug discovery, improving disease diagnostics, and mining biomedical literature—while addressing critical challenges like interpretability and data bias. Future directions emphasize multimodal AI integration and ethical frameworks to advance precision medicine.