A research team led by Professor Jane Zhou Jie and Professor Yuen Kwok-Yung, from the Department of Microbiology under the School of Clinical Medicine in the LKS Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), in collaboration with Professor Hans Clevers from the Hubrecht Institute, a pioneer in organoid technology, has achieved a groundbreaking milestone in virology research. The team successfully utilised human respiratory organoids (mini-organs) established by their team to propagate human rhinovirus C (HRV-C), which had previously been refractory to conventional virus cultivation. This breakthrough opens new avenues for understanding these common respiratory viruses and expediting the development of vaccines and antiviral drugs. The research findings were published in the latest issue of Nature Communications [link to publication].

Communities exposed to drinking water contaminated by PFAS experience up to a 33% higher incidence of certain cancers, according to new research from the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Data on cancer cases between 2016 and 2021 were obtained from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program, while data on PFAS levels in public drinking water (2013-2024) came from the EPA’s Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule programs. Researchers found that between 2016 and 2021, counties across the U.S. with PFAS-contaminated drinking water had higher incidence of certain types of cancer, which differed by sex. Increases in incidence ranged from slightly elevated at 2% to substantially elevated at 33% (the increased incidence of mouth and throat cancers linked to perfluorobutanesulfonic acid, or PFBS). Males in counties with contaminated drinking water had a higher incidence of leukemia, as well as cancers of the urinary system, brain and soft tissues, compared to males living in areas with uncontaminated water. Females had a higher incidence of cancers in the thyroid, mouth and throat, and soft tissues. Overall, PFAS in drinking water are estimated to contribute to more than 6,800 cancer cases each year, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The results add to the mounting evidence that PFAS levels should be limited, and suggest that proposed changes may not go far enough.

Mild cognitive impairment is linked to blood vessel dysfunction in the brain’s temporal lobes — the seat of memory — according to a new USC-led study. The findings, seen in people with and without signs of amyloid buildup in the brain, suggest that microvascular trouble may be an important, early biomarker for dementia as well as a potential target for therapy.

There has been a shift away from the use of more reliable hormonal methods of contraception to less reliable fertility awareness methods among women requesting abortion in England and Wales over the past 5 years, reveals research published online in the journal BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health.

Older women are challenging traditional views of aging, embarking on solo road trips in search of adventure, personal growth and new horizons.