https://medicalxpress.com/medications-news/ en-us Latest medical news and research in Clinical pharmacology Curcumin, berberine and other plant-derived compounds have long attracted scientific interest because of their anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. A new study by researchers from Wroclaw Medical University and the University of Wroclaw, however, shows that not all natural compounds act in the same way, and strong anticancer activity does not always go hand in hand with a favorable safety profile. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-natural-compounds-sarcoma-greatest-potential.html Wed, 22 Jul 2026 14:20:01 EDT news703941842 Sleep is known to be essential for survival, as it allows both humans and other animals to rest, while the brain consolidates memories and clears out metabolic waste products. For many people worldwide, however, falling asleep at a reasonable time every evening and sleeping enough hours is challenging, due to various conditions such as insomnia, circadian rhythm disorders, depression and anxiety. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-newly-molecule.html Wed, 22 Jul 2026 09:20:03 EDT news703772239 Certain antibiotics are overused in most countries, while too few people receive the specific antibiotic treatments they need, according to a study of antibiotic use across 186 countries published in The Lancet Public Health journal. The study provides scientific estimates of how many and which types of antibiotics each country could be expected to use ideally, based on local rates of infection and antibiotic resistance. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-countries-overuse-powerful-antibiotics-global.html Wed, 22 Jul 2026 08:00:03 EDT news703925405 Malignant melanoma is one of the most dangerous forms of cancer. Around half of melanomas and about 7% of all other cancers carry a mutation in a protein called BRAF. This mutation disrupts the regulation of cell division, causing cells to multiply in an uncontrolled manner. Researchers at PSI and the University of Zurich have now examined the BRAF protein in greater detail, gaining valuable insights into its complex regulation. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-protein-reveals-cancer-mechanism-potential.html Tue, 21 Jul 2026 18:00:08 EDT news703864998 Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago have identified a molecular switch that helps determine whether cancer cells remain soft and difficult to destroy or become stiff enough for the immune system to attack. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-druggable-metastatic-cancer-cells-easier.html Tue, 21 Jul 2026 17:00:06 EDT news703863842 People taking semaglutide for weight loss continued to consume significantly fewer calories after 60 weeks on the medication, helping explain how the medication supports both initial weight loss and long-term weight maintenance. The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and led by investigators from Penn's Center for Weight and Eating Disorders and Penn Metabolic Medicine, is among the first to examine the long-term effects of semaglutide on eating behavior beyond the initial months of treatment. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-semaglutide-sustains-calorie-intake-year.html Tue, 21 Jul 2026 15:40:02 EDT news703857028 Viagra was originally developed to treat high blood pressure and chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart, but over the past three decades it has become the world's best-known therapy for erectile dysfunction. In the future, this blockbuster drug may find yet another use. In a study published recently in Cancer Research, scientists in the lab of professor Ayelet Erez at the Weizmann Institute of Science found that sildenafil, Viagra's active ingredient, may restrict cancer metastasis through a newly discovered biological mechanism. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-viagra-cancer-metastasis.html Tue, 21 Jul 2026 11:40:08 EDT news703851196 For millennia, people have used the psychedelic mescaline as a spiritual and religious tool. Mescaline is a naturally occurring chemical found in cacti, mainly peyote cacti, that are located in the Southwest United States and Mexico. The drug has been used for 5,700 years, according to archaeological evidence, making it one of the oldest hallucinogens. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-oldest-psychedelics-modern-brain-imaging.html Tue, 21 Jul 2026 10:00:01 EDT news703845722 Joint replacements are among the most common surgeries worldwide, and preventing blood clots is critical to recovery. A Dalhousie-led study published this month—one of the most robust of its kind to date—found that a straightforward treatment following surgery may be just as effective as a more complex one, challenging common assumptions in post-surgical care. The results could simplify care and reduce costs across health systems. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-aspirin-costlier-blood-thinners-hip.html Mon, 20 Jul 2026 14:00:02 EDT news703773541 A review article by a University of Nebraska Medical Center/Child Health Research Institute research team underscores how altering fundamental brain development processes can harm the developing fetus. The publication suggests that curtailing the use of certain medications could reduce the risk of neurodevelopmental pathology in the developing fetal brain. The medications studied include some statins, antidepressants, anxiety medications and cardiovascular drugs. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-attention-brain-medications-pregnancy.html Mon, 20 Jul 2026 12:40:03 EDT news703769821 Scientists have identified genetic changes in wild populations of the parasitic worm that causes schistosomiasis that may reduce its response to praziquantel, the only available treatment. The study provides an early warning for disease control and elimination programs. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-early-potential-drug-resistance-schistosomiasis.html Fri, 17 Jul 2026 14:00:10 EDT news703491490 Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine have reported results from a large international clinical trial showing that semaglutide, a medication in the GLP-1 class of drugs widely used to treat diabetes and obesity, may help reduce liver scarring in patients with advanced fatty liver disease, including those with early-stage cirrhosis. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-glp-patients-advanced-fatty-liver.html Fri, 17 Jul 2026 11:00:07 EDT news703497631 Despite the end of federal shortages of popular GLP-1 weight-loss medications, the market for compounded alternatives remains strong—and some patients may unknowingly be receiving products from pharmacies with concerning regulatory histories, according to new research from the University of Colorado Anschutz. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-medical-spas-pharmacies-compounded-weight.html Fri, 17 Jul 2026 09:00:04 EDT news703491325 Scientists have, for the first time, mapped in exquisite three-dimensional detail six major conformations of a membrane in the brain related to learning, memory and fear-related behavior. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-images-key-membrane-protein-brain.html Thu, 16 Jul 2026 15:30:01 EDT news703427381 The skull heals its cracks, the bruises fade, the swelling subsides and the bleeding stops. From the outside, a traumatic blow to the head, whether from a battlefield blast, car crash or even a tackle gone wrong, may seem like it's healed. But that's only the opening act of traumatic brain injury (TBI). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-scientists-seizures-brains-gut-chemical.html Thu, 16 Jul 2026 07:58:07 EDT news703407455 In a new research report, scientists at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center say they have found a potential therapeutic target that can boost the potency of a chemotherapy drug used to treat certain cancers. The study is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-newly-inhibitors-boost-chemotherapy-drug.html Wed, 15 Jul 2026 14:40:05 EDT news703338897 Blinding diseases caused by the degeneration of photoreceptors, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP), affect 200 million people worldwide and represent the leading causes of visual impairment and blindness. Beyond the personal impact on quality of life and independence, vision loss places a global economic burden estimated at more than $400 billion per year in health care costs and lost productivity. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-drugs-sight-mice.html Wed, 15 Jul 2026 12:10:02 EDT news703329275