https://medicalxpress.com/biomedical-technology-news/ en-us Latest medical news and research in Laboratory medicine A team of scientists from NTU Singapore has developed a new biochip that, when paired with artificial intelligence, can quickly and accurately detect extremely small amounts of microRNAs, which are tiny genetic markers linked to diseases such as heart disease. Introduced in an article published in the journal Advanced Materials, the new biosensing platform combines a specially designed nanophotonic chip with AI-automated image analysis. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-ai-powered-biochip-genetic-markers.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 18:20:03 EDT news695463755 Researchers from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) developed a new RNA sequencing strategy that can reveal how genetic variants disrupt gene function and improve the diagnosis of rare diseases. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-rna-sequencing-platform-rare-disease.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:00:03 EDT news695394721 Detecting whether osteosarcoma, a rare but aggressive bone cancer that most often affects children and adolescents, has returned or spread remains a major challenge for patients and doctors. Blood-based biomarkers, which are measurable biological signals in the body, could offer a minimally invasive way to monitor the disease, but current methods often struggle to detect the small amounts of tumor DNA released by these bone cancers. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-blood-based-dna-track-osteosarcoma.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 09:20:06 EDT news695462821 Determining the presence of a protein in non-tumor cells within the cancer microenvironment could be one of the keys to establishing prognosis in patients with colon and rectal cancer. It may also help identify which patients could benefit from immunotherapy or from treatments aimed at inhibiting a specific protein linked to tumor proliferation. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-hidden-tumor-protein-immunotherapy-success.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 06:00:01 EDT news695360905 A study by investigators at Mass General Brigham has found that a blood test of plasma phosphorylated tau 217 (pTau217), an Alzheimer's disease biomarker, can predict the progression of amyloid PET scan changes and cognitive decline in cognitively healthy older adults. The findings may help push back the clock to enable simpler, earlier disease prediction and indicate who may be at risk for cognitive decline. The results are published in Nature Communications. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-blood-alzheimer-disease-years-symptoms.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 05:00:08 EDT news695310301 Researchers at Boston University have discovered an unexpectedly high prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA (TB DNA) in patients hospitalized in Boston, suggesting that tuberculosis disease may be significantly underdiagnosed in the United States. The findings, published in Nature Communications, could reshape how clinicians approach tuberculosis (TB) detection and help accelerate progress toward elimination goals. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-ultrasensitive-reveals-evidence-previously-undetected.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 05:00:07 EDT news695293382 Scientists led by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, have discovered that specific proteins in urine can accurately predict the likelihood of dengue patients developing severe dengue. The findings could help doctors assess if a dengue patient can be sent home for recovery or if they require hospitalization for further treatment, prioritizing care for those who need it most as well as easing the burden on health care resources. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-urine-likelihood-severe-dengue-disease.html Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:00:06 EDT news695303761 Outbreaks of bacterial meningococcal disease in England and recent cases in students in New Zealand have raised awareness of this serious and life-threatening disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-outbreaks-highlight-bacterial-meningitis-vaccinate.html Sun, 12 Apr 2026 16:30:03 EDT news694950671 Scientists have long known that our skin is home to vast communities of bacteria, fungi and viruses. But knowing which microbes are present only tells part of the story. What matters just as much is which microbes are active, what genes they switch on, and how they interact with one another on the skin. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-hidden-skin-microbe-revealed-real.html Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:40:02 EDT news695041309 Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 20 million deaths each year. Rapid diagnosis and risk assessment of cardiac injury are therefore essential for improving patient outcomes. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-ai-powered-portable-sensor-enables.html Thu, 09 Apr 2026 14:20:10 EDT news694959642 A new analysis from UC San Francisco argues that diagnostics—medical tests that match patients to the appropriate treatment—are being overlooked both in the United States and around the world. This is slowing progress against major diseases, despite rapid advances in targeted therapies and precision health. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-medicines-difference.html Thu, 09 Apr 2026 14:00:05 EDT news694949275 AI models can generate more complete summaries of complex cancer pathology reports than physicians, according to a new Northwestern Medicine study that tested six models developed by Meta, Google, DeepSeek and Mistral AI. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-ai-outperforms-doctors-complex-cancer.html Thu, 09 Apr 2026 07:20:01 EDT news694936382 Stem cell transplantation could be a rapid and effective way to restore hemoglobin production in individuals with the blood disorder β-thalassaemia. The treatment, presented in a phase 1 clinical trial, could reduce dependence on blood transfusions in some individuals with the disease in the future, although further trials are needed to confirm these findings. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-gene-stem-cells-blood-disorder.html Wed, 08 Apr 2026 17:00:04 EDT news694881422 Bladder cancer arises from the lining of the bladder, the organ that stores urine, and is one of the most common cancers in the United States. Most patients are diagnosed at an early stage called non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), in which the tumors are confined to the inner layers of the bladder. Despite early detection, the disease frequently returns. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-urine-bladder-cancer.html Wed, 08 Apr 2026 12:20:06 EDT news694867082 A QUT-led pilot study has shown the use of a relatively simple and cost-effective method of monitoring the presence of infectious disease-causing bacteria in intensive care units and their sites of transmission. The collaborative project between QUT, University of Southern Queensland, University of Queensland and St Vincent's Private Hospital in Toowoomba has demonstrated the power of academia and hospitals working together to address the critical problem of hospital-acquired infections. The paper is published in the journal Microbial Genomics. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-effective-combat-icu-drug-resistant.html Wed, 08 Apr 2026 11:20:07 EDT news694865822 A new single-cell technology is giving scientists their clearest view yet of immune cell behavior—capturing not just genetic intent, but real-time activity. By measuring RNA and proteins simultaneously, it reveals cytokine activity with greater accuracy, strengthening the foundation for understanding cancer, inflammation and treatment resistance. Published in Scientific Reports, the findings could ultimately sharpen immunotherapy design and improve predictions of patient response. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-sequencing-method-exposes-hidden-gaps.html Wed, 08 Apr 2026 05:00:01 EDT news694794962 A new blood test combined with a standardized questionnaire and artificial intelligence may transform the way leprosy is diagnosed in Brazil. Researchers at the University of São Paulo (USP) tested the new test in Brazil using blood samples collected during a COVID-19 population survey. The method showed potential for identifying the disease earlier, in its initial stages, when symptoms are subtle and traditional laboratory tests often fail. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-ai-powered-blood-paves-early.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:30:01 EDT news694799401 To gain better insight into what's happening in the brain, researchers examine the molecules produced by brain cells, including RNA and proteins. But existing methods for molecular profiling don't always capture the cells' full complexity. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-brain-cells-falter-disease.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 12:40:01 EDT news694782482 UCLA scientists have developed a simple and cost-effective blood test that, in early studies, shows promise in detecting multiple cancers, various liver conditions and organ abnormalities simultaneously by analyzing DNA fragments circulating in the bloodstream. The test, described in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could offer a powerful and more affordable approach to early disease detection and comprehensive health monitoring. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-multiple-cancers-diseases-blood-sample.html Mon, 06 Apr 2026 15:00:03 EDT news694429501 Researchers from University of Tsukuba and Institute of Science Tokyo have identified nonrandom patterns in the emergence of spike D614 reversions in publicly available SARS-CoV-2 genomic data. Analysis of publicly available sequences revealed numerous instances in which the spike D614G substitution, previously associated with increased transmissibility, reverted from G614 to the ancestral D614 residue, with these events predominantly occurring in the delta and omicron BA.2 lineages. The detected reversions also exhibited nonrandom patterns in temporal occurrence and geographic distribution. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-sars-cov-delta-omicron-ba2.html Sat, 04 Apr 2026 14:30:01 EDT news694175286 The federal government's disease-tracking agency has paused its diagnostic testing for rabies, monkeypox and a number of other infectious diseases. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-cdc-dozens-lab-downsizing.html Thu, 02 Apr 2026 02:00:01 EDT news694311380 A blood test could help identify people at higher risk of cognitive decline years before a traditional diagnosis is possible—according to University of East Anglia research published in the journal Gut Microbes. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-simple-blood-dementia-years-earlier.html Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:40:03 EDT news694250018 Researchers in the UC Davis Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine have created a new tuberculosis blood test that can detect the active, infectious form of the disease. The discovery enables faster diagnosis and treatment. It also helps prevent the spread of tuberculosis (TB) by quickly identifying those who are contagious. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-infectious-tuberculosis.html Tue, 31 Mar 2026 22:50:02 EDT news694169144 The symptom profiles of different neurodegenerative diseases often overlap, and diagnosing age-related cognitive symptoms is complex. A patient may have multiple overlapping disease processes in the brain at the same time, for example, Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body disease, especially in the early stages of cognitive decline. Now, researchers at Lund University have developed an AI model showing that it is possible to detect several neurodegenerative diseases from a single blood sample. Their paper is published in the journal Nature Medicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-ai-multiple-cognitive-brain-diseases.html Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:00:05 EDT news694181642 Centenarians often live to 100+ due to a combination of protective genetic factors, which account for up to 50%, and healthy lifestyles, such as plant-forward diets, regular, natural movement and strong social connections. While these "agers" often possess unique immune system signatures, understanding the metabolic signs of healthy aging is not yet fully understood. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-bile-acid-steroid-signatures-extreme.html Mon, 30 Mar 2026 19:20:04 EDT news694104737 Patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs) could receive the right antibiotic far sooner, thanks to a new test that produces results within hours rather than days. Researchers at the University of Reading, working with colleagues at the University of Southampton and Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, have shown that a novel method testing directly from urine can tell doctors which antibiotic will work in an average of 5.85 hours. Standard laboratory testing currently takes two to three days. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-rapid-urine-effective-uti-antibiotics.html Mon, 30 Mar 2026 19:00:01 EDT news694079234 Over one billion people worldwide are over 60, and the population is projected to more than double by 2050. But as more people live into their 60s, 70s, and 80s, health care systems across the globe may face new challenges as they attempt to manage associated increases in age-related disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-chip-technology-replicates-decades-human.html Mon, 30 Mar 2026 18:40:04 EDT news694104481 Immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy is an autoimmune disease characterized by the deposition of circulating IgA-containing immune complexes (IgA-ICs) in the glomerular mesangium, leading to mesangial cell proliferation, enhanced extracellular matrix production, and variable infiltration of inflammatory cells. Because IgA nephropathy carries a lifelong risk of progression to end-stage kidney disease, optimal therapeutic strategies to halt renal deterioration are needed. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-biomarker-immunoglobulin-nephropathy.html Mon, 30 Mar 2026 18:00:08 EDT news694101049 Scientists at Houston Methodist Research Institute have discovered that a fast-rising strep bacterium comes in more forms than expected, including ones that may lead to life-threatening infections. The study, led by James Musser, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine and director of the Center for Infectious Diseases at Houston Methodist, is published in Microbiology Spectrum. It is the largest U.S. study investigating Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis (SDSE) at this level, as these strep infections are increasing worldwide. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-genetic-code-bacterial-threat-genome.html Mon, 30 Mar 2026 17:00:02 EDT news694103761 Most people who have heard of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (more commonly known as CRISPR) associate it with gene editing—the precise molecular scissors that allow scientists to cut and rewrite DNA. But the same underlying technology that makes CRISPR so powerful for editing genes also makes it a versatile diagnostic tool. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-gene-technology-sti-diagnosis.html Sun, 29 Mar 2026 14:30:01 EDT news693564629