https://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. Often called "the window to the soul," the eyes may also offer clues about something less poetic but just as important: the health of the brain. A new study of tens of thousands of patients has revealed that cheap, simple and common photographs of the retina at the back of the eye can accurately predict many of the most common risk factors associated with developing Alzheimer's disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-retinal-alzheimer-disease-factors.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 17:40:03 EDT news700846621 Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other intestinal disorders affect millions of people worldwide, often causing lasting damage to the lining of the gut. In severe cases, this damage can become irreversible, leaving surgery as one of the few remaining treatment options. In recent years, however, regenerative medicine has emerged as a promising alternative approach, raising the possibility that damaged tissues could one day be repaired using a patient's own cells. Central to this vision are tiny three-dimensional replicas of human organs known as "organoids," which are grown from stem cells and can mimic important features of real tissues. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-clinical-grade-intestinal-organoids-regenerative.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 17:40:01 EDT news700847521 University of Queensland researchers have examined taste and smell genes to help determine whether specific foods cause or are linked to disease. People who like the taste and smell of onions are more likely to have lower blood pressure and risk of type 2 diabetes, they have found. The findings are published in the journal BMC Medicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-genes-diet-disease.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 17:20:08 EDT news700846921 New research has found signs that may help researchers better understand why some babies are born early. Some signs are present as early as the first trimester. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-molecular-clues-maternal-blood-preterm.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 17:20:01 EDT news700846321 Orforglipron is beneficial for blood glucose control in individuals with type 2 diabetes using metformin or taking insulin glargine, according to two studies published online June 8 in The Lancet and the JAMA to coincide with the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association, held from June 5 to 8 in New Orleans. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-ada-orforglipron-beneficial-hba1c-diabetes.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 17:00:07 EDT news700835015 A study led by Georgia Institute of Technology's Associate Professor Costas Arvanitis takes a major step toward safer and more effective treatment and diagnosis of brain diseases. His team's research, published in Advanced Science, shows how combining artificial intelligence (AI) with focused ultrasound can safely deliver therapies and improve diagnostic interventions to the brain. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-ai-ultrasound-bloodbrain-barrier-procedures.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 17:00:06 EDT news700845182 It is a common misperception that electrocardiograms (ECGs) simply contain data about heart activity. However, modern ECGs enhanced with artificial intelligence (AI) can contain data about a patient's sex, age, race and even exact identity derived from ECG signals, raising fresh privacy concerns. To address these worries, researchers from the University of Kansas have developed a privacy-preserving AI model called (PP-VAE) to protect personally sensitive data. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-ecg-privacy-shields-age-sex.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 16:40:07 EDT news700844762 The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted routine health care in unprecedented ways, forcing providers and patients alike to delay or forgo preventive services. At the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Dental Medicine, those disruptions allowed a team of oral health and informatics researchers to better understand what happens when routine periodontal maintenance is paused, and what those findings mean moving forward. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-pandemic-era-gaps-dental-reveal.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 16:40:01 EDT news700846682 Infant mortality in the U.S. dropped to a new all-time low in 2025, according to preliminary government data. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-infant-mortality-fell-trails-similar.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 16:20:10 EDT news700845507 Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) affects approximately 0.2–2% of pregnant women and typically develops after 30 weeks of gestation. As the most common symptom is severe itching of the palms and the soles of the feet, the condition can often be identified during routine prenatal care. The diagnosis is confirmed by elevated liver enzyme levels and increased concentrations of bile acids in the blood. Although the condition usually resolves after delivery, it is associated with an increased risk of complications, including preterm birth and stillbirth. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-large-scale-genetic-uncovers-factors.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 16:20:08 EDT news700843921 Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have become popular for weight loss, but results vary from person to person and from drug to drug. Venky Soundararajan and colleagues explored the full range of responses to tirzepatide (e.g., Mounjaro or Zepbound) and semaglutide (e.g., Ozempic, Wegovy or Rybelsus) by analyzing de-identified electronic health records for matched cohorts of 10,339 tirzepatide-treated and 10,339 semaglutide-treated patients. In the real world, outcomes ranged from minimal weight loss to more than a 25% reduction in body weight. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-tirzepatide-outperformed-semaglutide-weight-loss.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 16:00:05 EDT news700835336 A drug previously developed at UCLA to help heart tissue repair itself after a heart attack might also help kidney tissue repair and regenerate, researchers have found. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-kidney-protein-blockade-scarring-faster.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 16:00:01 EDT news700843681 A new JAMA study finds that federal efforts to expand the physician workforce fall short for primary care and rural communities, despite clear policy goals. The findings raise pressing questions about whether current implementation strategies can effectively address longstanding physician shortages across the U.S. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-medicare-residency-expansion-rural-primary.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 15:40:06 EDT news700838881 Cancer cells are remarkably good at adapting to stress. When treatments damage them, they often find new ways to survive, fueling drug resistance and disease progression. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-hidden-pim1-pathway-prostate-cancer.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 15:20:03 EDT news700838188 Researchers at the University of Cologne's Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC) have discovered a previously unknown mechanism that makes most pancreatic cancer cells susceptible to a form of programmed cell death. The team, led by Professor Dr. Silvia von Karstedt, showed that cancer cells with mutations in the KRAS gene develop a vulnerability that can be used to eliminate tumor cells in preclinical models. The findings open up new perspectives for treating pancreatic cancer. The study "Oncogenic KRAS-Driven type I Interferon Signalling Primes Pancreatic Cancer for Necroptosis" was published in the journal Nature Communications. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-pancreatic-cancer-strategy-kras-mutant.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 15:00:08 EDT news700834921 Some people might not mind spending time alone, but new research with data from 18 countries suggests that older people who struggle with loneliness—rather than strictly being alone—may experience faster mental and physical decline. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-loneliness-cognitive-impairment-shorter-life.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 14:40:02 EDT news700834122 In contrast to classical digital media, short-video platforms are characterized by rapidly changing content, highly personalized recommendations and a targeted maximization of usage time. This is precisely where the study begins: It examines whether and how this specific design—and not just the content—can influence neurocognitive and emotional effects in adolescents and young adults. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-endless-scroll-inattention-stress-25s.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 14:20:13 EDT news700834028 Federal health officials are mobilizing against the New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite recently detected in animals in the southwest United States. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-cdc-fda-tackle-world-screwworm.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 14:00:05 EDT news700835003 Men are overrepresented when it comes to heart disease, but there are certain conditions that mainly affect women, such as "broken-heart syndrome." Stress and anxiety are common in this group. A new study led by researchers at Uppsala University and Karolinska Institutet shows that internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can reduce symptoms and help patients manage their emotions better. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-online-cbt-eases-stress-broken.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 14:00:03 EDT news700833866 New research by the University of Limerick in Ireland has found that collaborative sessions combining music therapy with speech and language therapy can support meaningful communication gains in young children recovering from acquired brain injuries. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-music-speech-therapy-combined-children.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 13:40:06 EDT news700834802 Chronic stress, the prolonged exposure to psychological and/or physical strain, is known to be a risk factor for depression, anxiety and some other psychiatric disorders. Past studies suggest that chronic stress disrupts the integrity of myelin, a fatty insulating layer that surrounds nerve fibers and helps electrical signals travel efficiently between brain cells. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-intermittent-fasting-shield-brain-chronic.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 13:40:03 EDT news700832011 More than three-quarters of psychologists report their patients are discussing artificial intelligence in therapy, using the technology to seek additional support with their mental health, find a diagnosis, or for friendship and intimate relationships, according to a survey by the American Psychological Association. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-psychologists-patients-chatbots-mental-health.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 13:20:11 EDT news700833385 Scientists have discovered a new protective communication circuit between specialized immune cells in the intestines, a circuit that may be therapeutically targeted to improve inflammatory bowel disease outcomes, according to a recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-immune-cell-circuit-barrier-function.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 13:20:04 EDT news700832641 Among the body's most crucial protective features are the brain barrier systems, including the blood-brain and blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barriers. These barriers are made of highly specialized cells that allow essential nutrients to enter yet repel dangerous toxins and pathogens that may be circulating in the bloodstream. Scientists have long known what these barriers do, but less about how they are built during development. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-zombie-cells-play-unexpected-role.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 13:00:06 EDT news700832521 What do hurricanes, military equipment, aromatherapy oil and a pet raccoon have in common? According to a new review led by Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies), all have been linked with cases of melioidosis, a potentially fatal disease caused by the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei, as part of tracking the global spread of the disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-unmasking-melioidosis-collaborative-alarming-global.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 13:00:04 EDT news700831141 New research from large population studies provides invaluable evidence on genome screening of newborn babies to reduce risks from overdiagnosis. The authors conclude that further studies are needed before such screening is rolled out. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-large-scale-population-newborn-genome.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 12:40:05 EDT news700830421 In a new study published in Science Immunology, researchers at King's College London looked at a type of tissue important for the immune response called gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), which is located within the lining of the gut. Unlike other tissue structures in the gut lining that act as a barrier between the trillions of bacteria in the gut and the rest of the body, GALT actively transports gut microbes into the body. By doing this, GALT activates immune responses that help maintain a stable relationship with beneficial gut bacteria. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-immune-cell-interactions-gut-tissue.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 12:20:08 EDT news700830781 More than 1 in 10 adults in the United States believe they had a substance use problem at some point, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Among these adults, more than 7 in 10 considered themselves to be in recovery. An increasingly common way people support their recovery is by visiting recovery community centers (RCCs), which have emerged across the country and in Pennsylvania. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-recovery-community-centers-people.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 12:20:01 EDT news700824905 University of Warwick researchers have shaped a new Mental Health Joint Code of Practice, launched by the Construction Leadership Council, that presents solutions to poor mental health in construction, which is one of the most significant risks facing the construction industry. The Office for National Statistics says the suicide rate for men in U.K. construction is nearly four times the national average. Yet mental health harm is not inevitable; it is the result of decision-making around how construction work is designed, planned and led. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-tackling-root-mental-health.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 12:00:05 EDT news700824893 Many medicines begin life with one purpose and end up proving useful for a completely different reason. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-men-health-drugs-purpose.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 11:40:03 EDT news700824782