Scavenger platelets that store DNA could transform cancer screening

Laboratory mice are often considered the scientific equivalent of identical twins—genetically identical and expected to look and behave the same. But new research from the Faculty of Science, Charles University, shows that this assumption doesn't always hold true. The team discovered that the composition of the gut microbiota can dramatically influence the structure and function of the immune system—even in genetically identical animals.

People who regularly consume caffeine are usually in a better mood after a cup of coffee or another caffeinated drink—an effect that is much more pronounced in the morning than later in the day. This finding comes from a new study by researchers at Bielefeld University and the University of Warwick, published in the journal Scientific Reports. Participants reported feeling significantly happier and more enthusiastic on those mornings compared with other days at the same hour when they had not yet had coffee.

A new study has revealed that work-family conflict (WFC) is a common contributor to psychological distress among farmers in Ireland, with researchers calling for enhanced mental health support for farming families.

Going home from the hospital can be an anxious time for older people, their caregivers and family members. Yet limited resources exist to support culturally diverse caregivers to cope with this transition, despite Australia's multicultural society.

New research from SAHMRI has found no evidence that common chemical exposures during pregnancy shorten gestation or increase the risk of preterm birth in Australian women, contrasting with multiple previous international studies.

The results are in from Australia's most important test of the summer—and it wasn't just on the pitch. A national heart health screening initiative launched in memory of cricket legend Shane Warne has found nearly 7 in 10 Australians checked have at least one uncontrolled risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is recommending a 2.5% "efficiency adjustment" payment reduction in the proposed 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule based on the assumption that surgeons are faster today in completing procedures than they were five years ago. However, a new research letter published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons shows that overall operative length and complexity have actually increased since 2019.

Scientists have uncovered dementia-like behavior in pancreas cells at risk of turning into cancer. The findings provide clues that could help in the treatment and prevention of pancreatic cancer, a difficult-to-treat disease linked to 6,900 deaths in the UK every year.

Mitochondria do far more than just act as "powerhouses"—they are also response hubs that send and receive messages to regulate cellular activity.

Every party needs balloons. These just happen to be filled with laughing gas.

Columbia University investigators report an increased risk of breast lymphomas after postmastectomy implant-based reconstruction, including anaplastic large-cell lymphoma and several B-cell and T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma histologies.

It has long been understood that experiencing two senses simultaneously, like seeing and hearing, can lead to improved responses relative to those seen when only one sensory input is experienced by itself. For example, a potential prey that gets visual and auditory clues that it is about to be attacked by a snake in the grass has a better chance of survival.

Pop-up screening for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk held at community pharmacies and large-scale sporting events can identify people with uncontrolled cardiovascular risk factors, according to a study published in JACC and simultaneously presented at the 73rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand.

New research from the Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University and Queen's Business School in Belfast has examined the impact of the Great Irish Famine (1845–1852) on human height.

Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDPs) are a group of complications marked by high blood pressure, including chronic hypertension—where elevated blood pressure is present before pregnancy or before 20 weeks—and gestational hypertension, which arises after 20 weeks. These conditions raise the risk of serious health problems or death for both mothers and babies. HDPs are also linked to premature birth, neonatal intensive care admission, and increased infant mortality.

Summer heat, outdoor fun ... and cold and flu symptoms?

Tiny pond worms could help find new ways to treat schizophrenia, develop an understanding of drug addiction and test new medicines for mental illnesses—all while reducing the number of mice and rats used in early medical research.

The medical pros of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) are being exaggerated while the risks are being downplayed, suggest the findings of a survey on the type of information patients and their relatives/friends recall having been given before the procedure, and published online in the Journal of Medical Ethics.