Medical parole applications are rarely approved despite terminal diagnoses; researcher argues that we must do better

You may have heard of the mind-body connection: the broad concept that thoughts and feelings, especially those related to stress, can influence physical health. Mohamad Alkhouli, M.D., an interventional cardiologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, is researching the relationship between the brain and the heart. Each can have a powerful impact on the other, Dr. Alkhouli explains.

About a dozen studies in the past five years have made claims linking nearly every type of human cancer with the presence of microbiomes, "communities" of bacteria, viruses and fungi that live in or on people's bodies. Now, scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine say a study that sequenced human cancers found far less microbial DNA sequences than earlier studies reported in the same cancer tissue samples.

A research team from Umeå University, Sweden, in collaboration with Ghent University, Belgium, has made a groundbreaking discovery about how the body's first immune defense, neutrophils, orchestrate the mobilization of zinc to fight microbes.

In many low- and middle-income countries, pediatric cardiologists can't help children with congenital heart conditions because of a critical hurdle. They don't have easy access to advanced diagnostic technology.

The brain depends on a constant supply of oxygen, delivered through an intricate network of tiny blood vessels. Unlike other organs, it has little energy stored and is particularly sensitive to interruptions in blood flow.

New research has uncovered how cerebrospinal fluid dynamics in the brain play an important role in driving the spread of medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor in children.

Uncemented hip replacement surgery uses implants with roughened surfaces designed to allow the patient's bone to grow directly onto the implant, creating a strong, natural biological bond. Unlike cemented implants, which rely on bone cement that can degrade and fracture, uncemented implants depend on this natural bone integration for long-term stability.

A team of researchers has identified for the first time the mechanism linking a mutation in the Shank3 gene with alterations in social behavior. Using a mouse model carrying this autism-associated mutation, the study shows that vasopressin, a brain hormone essential for social relationships, is not properly released in the lateral septum.

In the lab, it's easier to grow simple balls of cells than complex asymmetrical structures with two distinct ends—like the one million filtering units—nephrons—that make up a human kidney. But new research unveils a blueprint that makes it possible to generate specific kidney cell types on demand—cells that hold immense value for preclinical studies of new therapeutics, congenital kidney diseases, and drug-induced nephrotoxicity.

People hesitant about getting a COVID vaccine were more likely to consider getting the shot after hearing a myth explained and corrected with facts, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Astrocytes in the lateral hypothalamus region of the brain, an area involved in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness, play a key role in neuron activity in mice and affect their behavior, Canadian researchers have found.

A new study led by CUNY SPH researchers suggests physicians were the most trusted public health messengers during the 2024 H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in the United States, surpassing institutional sources like the CDC, state or local health departments, or even family and friends. The research is published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Survivors of sexual assault in largely rural and remote northwestern Ontario face systemic barriers when seeking forensic care, according to a new study led by McGill University researchers. The work is published in the journal Violence Against Women.

"Children are the mirror of their parents" is a cliché, but it describes the reality in certain contexts. At least in relation to physical inactivity, this was demonstrated by a study conducted by researchers at São Paulo State University (UNESP) in Brazil. The study examined 182 young people between the ages of 6 and 17 and their respective parents.

Many student-athletes are preparing or returning to the field or court for their upcoming season. With the start of both collegiate and professional sports, injuries are inevitable—and when they do happen, getting fast, reliable results can make all the difference.

A new ESC Clinical Consensus Statement is calling for greater awareness of the multidirectional relationship between mental health conditions and cardiovascular disease to improve patient health. The first ever ESC Clinical Consensus Statement to be developed on this topic was published today at ESC Congress 2025 and in the European Heart Journal.

Abuse and neglect experienced during their active years continue to impact the lives of female elite gymnasts long after their competitive careers have ended. This is according to a recent study by Natalie Barker-Ruchti, researcher in sports science at Örebro University, Sweden. Her research findings will be invaluable in her new role as ethics specialist on the Swiss Olympic Committee.

Today, when an aging parent, relative, or friend starts to forget things, a firm diagnosis can be surprisingly elusive.