Health
A Stanford-led study published in Cell Stem Cell shows that induced pluripotent stem cells, when combined with an adjuvant, can shrink or reject tumors in mice, suggesting a potential path to personalized cancer vaccines pending human trials.
Health
A 12-year-old's death in Kerala from Nipah virus has triggered a containment effort, with 188 contacts traced and a quarantine zone established. The virus, with a 75% fatality rate and no cure, poses a serious threat despite being less contagious than COVID-19.
Health
Samsung's EYECAN+ is an assistive device that lets users control a computer with only eye movements and blinks, requiring calibration only once. The technology and design will be released as open source, potentially broadening access for people with disabilities.
Health
Recent studies are investigating non-antibiotic treatments for severe bacterial infections, including bacteriophage therapy and immune-based interventions. These approaches aim to combat antibiotic resistance and offer new options for patients with resistant infections.
Health
Chinese researchers have developed a smartphone-controlled hydrogel implant that activates insulin-producing cells in diabetic mice, stabilizing blood sugar within two hours. The device, called HydrogeLED, uses LED lights triggered by an app, but current limitations require mice to stay within an electromagnetic coil. Future versions aim to include a built-in glucometer and batteries for full mobility.
Health
A Vancouver cardiologist's minimally invasive aortic valve replacement, performed without general anesthesia, has enabled 411 patients to leave the hospital within a day. The 3M procedure, presented at a major cardiology conference, could reshape heart surgery recovery.
Health
Swiss scientists have developed a lab-grown bone marrow tissue that supports blood-forming stem cells for days, overcoming a long-standing hurdle. The model, described in PNAS, could accelerate drug testing and personalized treatment for blood disorders like leukemia.
Health
A CDC report links pet store puppies to 118 cases of antibiotic-resistant Campylobacter jejuni infections. The investigation found that many puppies were given antibiotics unnecessarily, contributing to drug resistance. Experts urge that antibiotics be reserved for treating illness, not as a preventive measure.
Health
Tesla has temporarily waived fees at its Supercharging stations across China to help owners during the coronavirus outbreak. The move supports drivers in quarantined cities and those seeking to avoid public transit. It follows Tesla's history of aiding customers during natural disasters.
Health
Doctors report a rise in tic-like behaviors among young people, particularly girls, during the pandemic, linking the trend to social media exposure and stress. Researchers have coined the term 'functional tic-like behaviors' to distinguish these cases from Tourette syndrome. Experts urge compassion and commitment to help affected individuals.
Health
During a televised interview, Medicare administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz struggled to explain President Trump's claim of cutting drug prices by 1,500 percent, a figure that mathematically implies negative costs. The exchange highlighted ongoing concerns about the administration's health policy communications and the credibility of its officials.
Health
Health authorities across several countries are investigating a rare cluster of monkeypox cases, with infections reported in the US, UK, Portugal, Spain, and Canada. While the virus is rarely fatal and a vaccine exists, experts are concerned by the unusual international spread and are working to understand transmission patterns.
Health
Novo Nordisk, the Danish drugmaker behind Ozempic and Wegovy, will lay off about 9,000 employees, or 11% of its workforce, as it faces rising competition in the weight-loss drug market. The cuts are part of a cost-saving plan to trim $1.3 billion by 2026, following a profit warning and a new CEO appointment. The company also announced a full-time return-to-office mandate starting in 2026.
Health
A Cornell psychiatrist says Trump’s debate performance showed signs of cognitive decline, citing tangential speech and repetition. While not diagnosing, he recommends a neuropsychiatric evaluation. Harris’s performance was seen as normal.
Health
A daily gel combining testosterone and a synthetic hormone reduced sperm counts to levels considered contraceptive in a phase 2 trial of 222 men. Side effects were mild, but the study has yet to confirm whether the gel actually prevents pregnancy when used as the sole contraceptive by couples.
Health
A new study in the journal Sexualities suggests that the NoFap movement, which encourages abstinence from pornography and masturbation, may be linked to increased suicidal thoughts, depression, and erectile dysfunction among participants. Researchers from UCLA and London South Bank University surveyed 587 men, finding that nearly 30% reported suicidal ideation after 'relapsing.'
Health
A 30-year-old poison control counselor in Minnesota faces charges for allegedly poisoning his wife, a Mayo Clinic pharmacist, with colchicine. Investigators cite divorce talks, debt, and a $500,000 life insurance policy as motives, and his internet searches for lethal doses and sodium nitrate as evidence.
Health
Russian officials are moving forward with plans for a new orbital station, but a top scientist warns that reusing modules from the ISS could introduce harmful microbes. The warning comes amid ongoing geopolitical tensions and follows past incidents of microbial damage on the Mir station.
Health
Four people infected with anthrax in a remote Siberian town reportedly left a hospital before doctors cleared them, prompting an official alert. The incident, tied to an unvaccinated animal camp, echoes a 2016 outbreak linked to thawing permafrost.
Health
Stanford researchers have developed a prototype pair of autofocal glasses that track eye movements and adjust focus automatically, offering a potential new solution for the 123 million Americans expected to suffer from presbyopia by 2020. The bulky headset, to be presented at SIGGRAPH in Vancouver, showed improved vision in early tests.
