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. There's a growing consensus that your ZIP code is a strong predictor of your health and lifespan. Now, researchers at NYU School of Global Public Health have determined that neighborhood conditions may be driving aging at the cellular level. Their study, published in Social Science and Medicine, finds that people living in neighborhoods with fewer social and economic opportunities such as jobs and stable housing are more likely to have an abundance of CDKN2A RNA, a measure of cellular aging. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-neighborhood-aging.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:40:03 EDT news694798861 A first-of-its-kind study led by the Medical University of South Carolina raises questions about the value of fish oil supplements for people with repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries. In work published in Cell Reports, researchers say the supplements, often seen as neuroprotective, may actually impair the healing process after brain injury. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-widespread-belief-fish-oil-effects.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:20:05 EDT news694798501 Timely HIV diagnosis and treatment are critical to preventing transmission. To help make this happen, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides funding for HIV testing to local health departments and community organizations. In a new NIH-funded Johns Hopkins Medicine study, researchers used a computer model to quantify the effect of funding cuts for HIV testing. They estimate that HIV infections could increase an average of 10% in 18 U.S. states if this funding is interrupted or ended. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-hiv-infections-cdc-funds.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:00:03 EDT news694793108 An Australian-led international research collaboration has delivered a promising breakthrough in the quest to better understand and treat childhood dementia. Recently published in the journal Nature Communications, the study uncovered a fundamental mechanism underlying Sanfilippo syndrome, a common form of childhood dementia, revealing how hyperactive and dysregulated synaptic circuits emerge in the brain tissue of children impacted by this devastating disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-childhood-dementia-brain-cells.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:40:03 EDT news694798321 Scientists have created a new "molecular map" uncovering how an important human receptor involved in blood clotting and inflammation works—an advance that could help us design better drugs for conditions such as pulmonary arterial hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. The study, led by an international team including researchers from Trinity College Dublin and published in Nature Communications, used advanced cryo-electron microscopy to capture high-res images of the thromboxane A2 receptor while it was active and primed to send signals across the membrane to the cell interior. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-molecular-treatments-heart-lung-diseases.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:20:03 EDT news694798081 A cancer drug target already being investigated in clinical trials turns out to be doing something even more consequential than researchers realized. Scientists at Scripps Research have discovered that the enzyme Pol theta (Polθ) drives a DNA repair mechanism directly at broken replication forks—one of the most frequent forms of DNA damage in cancer cells. The findings, published in Molecular Cell on March 16, 2026, help explain how tumors survive relentless replication stress and clarify why Pol theta inhibitors may be an effective strategy to selectively target cancer. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-scientists-reveal-cancer-cells-survive.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:00:01 EDT news694789292 A bit of sugar before a class test, a piece of chocolate before an important negotiation, a muesli bar before a marathon—the important role glucose plays in coping with stressful situations has been well researched. When we consume sugar, the body reacts more strongly to stress by releasing more cortisol. In addition, our heart rate remains elevated for longer. This means that more energy is available in acutely stressful situations. The negative long-term consequences are also well known: increased risk of high blood pressure, obesity and cardiovascular disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-sugar-undermine-meditation-massage-calm.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:50:01 EDT news694799701 Researchers at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Hyderabad have identified a mammalian protein, Cnpy1 (Canopy1), that is essential for the survival and function of vomeronasal sensory neurons in mice. Published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study shows that Cnpy1 acts as a specialized endoplasmic‑reticulum‑associated factor required to maintain functional receptor complexes in these neurons, allowing them to thrive in an unusually high ER‑stress‑like environment. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-key-protein-required-function-survival.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:40:02 EDT news694797482 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 Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi have developed smart molecules that can both detect and treat cancer, offering a safer and more precise approach to care. The research, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, focuses on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a widely used tool that allows doctors to see tumors inside the body. While MRI agents are commonly used for diagnosis, they do not typically play a role in treatment. The NYU Abu Dhabi team designed molecules that combine both functions in a single system. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-smart-mri-molecules-cancer.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:20:03 EDT news694796521 A first-of-its-kind study led by researchers at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) has found that artificial intelligence (AI) models used to predict aggressive incidents in acute psychiatric care can reinforce and amplify existing social and structural inequities by overestimating the likelihood of aggression among already marginalized groups. The findings, published in npj Mental Health Research, underscore the importance of careful evaluation to ensure AI tools don't perpetuate harm in clinical settings but promote more equitable care. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-ai-tools-psychiatry-bias.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:10:07 EDT news694799102 Loneliness plays an important role in the development of suicidal ideation, thoughts of ending one's life, which precedes nearly every suicidal death, according to a study by researchers at Vanderbilt Health. Their findings, published March 4 in the journal JAMA Network Open, suggest that reducing loneliness could "arrest some of the progression from anxiety and depressive symptoms toward suicidal ideation," and thus help prevent suicide, which claims more than 48,000 lives in the United States every year. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-people-links-loneliness-suicidal-thoughts.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:00:03 EDT news694789323 Photodynamic treatment of cancer is based on administering an initially inactive substance that is only activated in the tumor via targeted light irradiation. It then generates reactive oxygen species that kill the cancer cells. However, this method reaches its limits when no oxygen is present, as is the case with many fast-growing tumors. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-tumors-independently-oxygen-photodynamic-therapy.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 16:40:04 EDT news694794061 Cornell scientists have taken a major step toward developing a safe, reversible, long-acting and 100% effective nonhormonal male contraceptive, considered the holy grail of male contraception. A proof-of-principle study in mice, six years in the making, shows how targeting a natural checkpoint in meiosis, the process by which sex cells reproduce, safely stopped sperm production. The study is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-big-safe-reversible-male-contraception.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 16:20:03 EDT news694791661 Researchers have mapped how genetic switches are regulated in East Asian populations, identifying tens of thousands of unique markers linked to complex diseases. This massive dataset bridges a crucial diversity gap in genetics, paving the way for more inclusive translation of genetic discovery worldwide. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-genetic-unique-east-asian-populations.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 16:00:04 EDT news694782581 A diagnosis of depression in connection with hospital treatment can have long-term consequences for personal finances. This is shown in a new registry-based study from the Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, which follows nearly five million people in Denmark over time. The study includes only people who had contact with a hospital and therefore does not cover those treated solely by a general practitioner or private practitioners. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-depression-hidden-diagnosis-falling.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:40:05 EDT news694790041 Children exposed to maternal smoking before birth are more likely to experience behavioral and mental health challenges, according to a large study published in the journal Development and Psychopathology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-prenatal-linked-emotional-behavioral-problems.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:20:01 EDT news694789472 A virus that typically infects marine animals, such as shrimp and fish, has jumped to humans and is causing chronic eye disease in some people, according to a study published in the journal Nature Microbiology. In recent years, the number of people in China with a condition called persistent ocular hypertension viral anterior uveitis (POH-VAU) has been increasing with no clear explanation as to why. Symptoms include extremely elevated eye pressure and inflammation. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-virus-seafood-linked-persistent-eye.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:00:03 EDT news694788010 When the stomach is full, how does the brain know to stop eating? Scientists long assumed the answer lies mainly with neurons, the brain's primary signaling cells. But a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggests that another type of brain cell called astrocytes, usually seen as "support staff," may be playing a far more active role in controlling behavior than previously thought. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-link-brain-appetite.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:40:01 EDT news694788002 Metastases are a key problem in many types of cancer. As descendants of the primary tumor, they can grow in other organs distant from the primary site and are often difficult to identify. A research team from the Institute of Genetics at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) has now identified molecular mechanisms which can enable cancer cells to colonize other tissue. The team led by Dr. Tobias Reiff has published findings in Nature Communications. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-hamelin-assay-molecular-mechanisms-cancer.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:20:03 EDT news694787821 Currently, in U.S. states where abortion remains legal, women have to visit specialized clinics to access in-person medication abortion, as drugs like mifepristone and misoprostol are not available over-the-counter (OTC). A recent study makes the argument that these drugs do qualify under the FDA's over-the-counter criteria, which states that people should be able to rely on the product's packaging and its drug facts label to decide for themselves if the medicine is safe and appropriate, without having to consult a doctor first. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-case-counter-abortion-pills-people.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:00:04 EDT news694785463 Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have discovered a new blood-based biomarker that can help identify and characterize asymptomatic people with Lynch Syndrome (LS) who are more susceptible to developing cancer based on early immune detection signatures, allowing clinicians to stratify patients based on their personal risk level. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-blood-based-biomarker-stratify-cancer.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 13:40:03 EDT news694787101 As many as 1 in 4 cancers are driven by mutations in the SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complex, which controls access to DNA. A study led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital recently identified the gene-regulatory protein PHIP as a critical vulnerability in cancers driven by broad SWI/SNF inactivation. The work revealed PHIP as a potential therapeutic target for cancers, including rhabdoid tumors in children, and other hard-to-treat malignancies. The results are published in Nature Communications. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-scientists-uncover-previously-unknown-chromatin.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 13:00:04 EDT news694783261 A Georgia State University study shows standard cognitive screening tools used to monitor Alzheimer's disease may not reflect underlying brain changes in the same way for women and men. According to the Alzheimer's Association, nearly two-thirds of Americans living with Alzheimer's are women. New Georgia State research published in the journal Brain Communications adds to growing evidence that Alzheimer's may progress differently in men and women—and that those differences could matter in clinical care. It also suggests doctors may need to interpret common tests differently for each sex. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-alzheimer-screening-tools-differently-women.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 12:50:01 EDT news694784222 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 A major new global modeling study led by researchers at Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) at the University of York challenges the international focus on air pollution. Published in The Lancet Planetary Health, the study finds that reducing population vulnerability is as important as cutting emissions for saving lives. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-emissions-air-pollution.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 12:20:01 EDT news694781041 University of Virginia School of Medicine researchers have used an advanced gene-editing technique to correct the underlying cause of a severe form of epilepsy in lab mice. This breakthrough could one day lead to new treatments or cures. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-approach-epilepsy-treatment.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 12:00:08 EDT news694779783 Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, accounting for nearly one in five cancer deaths—around 1.8 million lives lost each year. One of the main reasons is late diagnosis: in its early stages, the disease appears as extremely small nodules that are difficult to distinguish from healthy tissue, even for experienced radiologists. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-ai-doctors-lung-cancer-earlier.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 11:40:03 EDT news694779241 People whose sleep apnea changes dramatically from night to night are 30% more likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or heart failure, reveals a new study from Flinders University. The research, published in the journal SLEEP, shows that it is not just how severe sleep apnea is that matters, but how much it fluctuates, with wide night-to-night swings in breathing problems during sleep linked to a higher risk of serious heart disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-patterns-reveal-hidden-heart.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 11:20:06 EDT news694776661 An advanced version of a procedure using magnetic fields to stimulate brain nerve cells in treating depression was significantly effective for 85% of active military and veterans suffering from combat post-traumatic stress disorder enrolled in a recent study, when added to psychotherapy. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-combat-ptsd-treatment-mri-tms.html Tue, 07 Apr 2026 11:00:01 EDT news694775281