https://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. Scientists at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research have captured, for the first time, "housekeeping" immune cells actively attacking and engulfing live melanoma cells—a discovery that could change the way we approach treatment for one of Australia's most common and deadly cancers. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-scientists-capture-housekeeping-immune-cells.html Thu, 21 May 2026 16:00:07 EDT news698571781 A new implantable device which aims to maximize the effectiveness of light-sensitive drugs could improve outcomes for bladder cancer patients in the future. Engineers and cancer scientists from the University of Glasgow are behind the development of the device, which uses wirelessly powered micro-LEDs to boost the delivery of light through tissue-mimicking models in the lab. The platform, developed by a team led by Professor David Flynn, is a first step towards a more precise, affordable and comfortable application of photodynamic therapy to treat bladder cancers in the years ahead. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-implantable-tech-bladder-cancer-treatment.html Thu, 21 May 2026 14:20:05 EDT news698586181 An important chemical messenger that typically inhibits brain activity might sometimes do the opposite, according to new Yale School of Medicine (YSM) research. One way that brain cells communicate is through chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. Most research indicates that the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) quiets brain signals, serving as the system's brakes. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-brain-chemical-power-reshape-mental.html Wed, 20 May 2026 08:00:05 EDT news698480014 Professor Iksung Kang (School of Electrical Engineering), in collaboration with Professor Na Ji's research team at UC Berkeley, has developed a technology that accurately corrects image aberrations in microscopes used for live biological imaging. Notably, the experimental design and algorithm development—the core components of this technology—were led by Professor Kang during his postdoctoral fellowship in Professor Na Ji's group. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-ai-enables-clearer-views-deep.html Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:40:07 EDT news696693901 The brain is more mechanically connected to the body than previously appreciated, scientists report in Nature Neuroscience. Through a study using mice and simulations, the team found a potential biological mechanism underlying why exercise is thought to benefit brain health: abdominal contractions compress blood vessels connected to the spinal cord and the brain, enabling the organ to gently move within the skull. This swaying facilitates the surrounding cerebrospinal fluid to flow over the brain, potentially washing away neural waste that could cause problems for brain function. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-hydraulic-brain-body-motion-linked.html Mon, 27 Apr 2026 05:00:05 EDT news696252204 A cross-disciplinary team led by Prof. Qu Jianan from the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering and Prof. Julie L. Semmelhack from the Division of Life Science at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has developed a powerful laser control technique. Functioning as a smart dimmer, it can selectively adjust the brightness of every pixel during laser scanning, and prevent unintended neural activation, thereby significantly enhancing the precision of all-optical brain manipulation and imaging. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-smart-laser-dimmer-neural-crosstalk.html Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:00:12 EDT news696078062 Glioblastoma, the most common and most aggressive brain tumor type in adults, remains difficult to treat because it can infiltrate surrounding brain tissue and spread far beyond the main tumor. Researchers from DZNE, University Hospital Bonn and the Cluster of Excellence ImmunoSensation at the University of Bonn have captured this infiltration process in the living brain with advanced microscopy. Their study is based on observations in mice affected by a brain cancer very similar to human glioblastoma. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-advanced-imaging-uncovers-immune-cells.html Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:40:07 EDT news695994431 Despite its small size—it could sit in the palm of your hand—the zebra finch is a remarkable learner. A songbird native to Australia, it's renowned for its ability to pick up new songs. That talent has made it a favorite of scientists studying how animal brains imprint new skills, particularly vocal learning, or the capacity to perfect new sounds. And now researchers at Boston University have discovered another quirk to the zebra finch brain—one that could also have implications for understanding human gray matter. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-songbird-brains-generate-neurons-human.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 11:00:02 EDT news695547121 Though many studies approach the developmental disorder Rett syndrome as a single condition arising from general loss of function in the gene MECP2, a new study by neuroscientists at The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at MIT shows that two different mutations of the gene caused many distinct abnormalities in lab cultures. Moreover, correcting key differences made by each mutation required different treatments. The research is published in the journal Nature Communications. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-rett-syndrome-highlights-potential-personalized.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 17:40:01 EDT news695403841 One night, Tomás realized something was seriously wrong. He went for a stroll, along the same paths near his village that he had walked along countless times with his friends, their cheerful voices echoing in the still of the night. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-dark-treatments-hereditary.html Wed, 08 Apr 2026 18:00:04 EDT news694870458 A scientific dispute spanning six decades about fundamental mechanisms of visual perception in mammals has now been settled. Researchers at TUM have succeeded in observing the visual information flow from neuron to neuron. Their findings confirm the validity of the 1981 Nobel Prize-winning model by David Hubel and Torsten Wiesel, which had remained controversial in some aspects. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-proof-visual-perception-fundamental-mechanisms.html Thu, 02 Apr 2026 13:40:01 EDT news694354081 Microscopic sensors that are as thin as a strand of hair but capable of taking multiple measurements simultaneously could revolutionize the diagnosis and monitoring of diseases like cancer. Researchers from Adelaide University's Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing and the University of Stuttgart in Germany worked together to develop the tiny sensors using state-of-the-art, ultrafast 3D micro-printing technology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-hair-thin-fiber-optic-sensors.html Mon, 23 Mar 2026 19:00:01 EDT news693499802 A study has found that precise application of radio waves can change the activity of brain cells in ways that could counter neurological conditions. Led by researchers at NYU Langone Health, the work introduces a technique called transcranial radio frequency stimulation (TRFS), which promises to treat neurological diseases with neither the invasiveness of surgery nor the frequent failure of drugs as patients (e.g., 30% of people with depression and epilepsy ) develop resistance. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-precision-radio-counter-brain-diseases.html Wed, 18 Mar 2026 15:00:07 EDT news693063841 A research team led by Professor Sei Kwang Hahn (Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, POSTECH) has published an Editorial for an Advanced Materials Special Issue, in collaboration with Professor Dame Molly Stevens (University of Oxford, UK) and Professor John Rogers (Northwestern University, U.S.). The editorial was recently published online in Advanced Materials and was selected as the cover article. It provides a systematic overview of the latest advances and future directions in photonic nanomaterials and health care devices. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-smart-photonic-health-devices-future.html Thu, 12 Mar 2026 16:30:02 EDT news692550767 In a prospective imaging study of 200 adults with lung cancer, photon-counting CT reduced radiation exposure, yielded fewer adverse reactions and provided higher image quality and better detection of malignant features compared with conventional CT. Results of the study are published in Radiology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-photon-ct-outperforms-conventional-lung.html Tue, 03 Feb 2026 14:20:01 EST news689350599 The first randomized trial to compare photon- and proton-based radiation therapy for breast cancer finds that patients report equally strong health-related quality of life with either treatment. Patients who received proton therapy were more likely to say they would recommend or choose it again, but overall patient-reported outcomes were similar. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-randomized-proton-photon-breast-cancer.html Mon, 29 Sep 2025 16:30:02 EDT news678356161 New technology developed by researchers at the University of Houston could revolutionize medical imaging and lead to faster, more precise and more cost-effective alternatives to traditional diagnostic methods. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-02-photon-detectors-fast-ray-images.html Tue, 25 Feb 2025 13:30:01 EST news659711727 Standard medical procedures are often time-consuming and generally do not take into account the individual characteristics of patients. This can have a negative impact on the success of treatment and impair quality of life. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-early-disease-body-fluids-photonic.html Fri, 02 Aug 2024 10:20:02 EDT news641811466 Ultrahigh-spatial-resolution photon-counting detector CT improved assessment of coronary artery disease (CAD), allowing for reclassification to a lower disease category in 54% of patients, according to a new study published in Radiology. The technology has the potential to improve patient management and reduce unnecessary interventions. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-02-photon-ct-coronary-artery-disease.html Tue, 20 Feb 2024 10:00:01 EST news627643447 Russian scientists have proposed a new promising rapid way to diagnose breast cancer. It will spot the disease based on a blood test that takes between 15 and 20 minutes. The solution can be adapted to spot other diseases, too. Once that is accomplished, it could even enable simultaneous screening for multiple diseases. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-01-combination-photonic-sensors-microfluidics-cancer.html Wed, 31 Jan 2024 11:04:04 EST news625921441 Cardiovascular disease is the world's leading cause of death. According to the World Health Organization, 17.9 million people die every year due to cardiovascular diseases. For the prewarning and accurate treatment of cardiovascular diseases, it is important to monitor hemodynamic parameters continuously, including blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), peripheral resistance (PR), and vascular elasticity. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-08-photonic-skin-network-cardiovascular-health.html Wed, 16 Aug 2023 11:08:01 EDT news611402878 New CT technology allows for a comprehensive, simultaneous evaluation of lung structure and function, something not possible with standard CT, according to a study published in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-07-photon-counting-ct-lung-function.html Thu, 13 Jul 2023 03:52:04 EDT news608439120 Deep ultraviolet (DUV) irradiation is a fast and effective way to inhibit the spread of pathogenic microorganisms, because it can directly destroy the genetic materials of microorganisms or prevent the effective replication of genetic material. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-06-deep-ultraviolet-photonics-disinfection-sars-cov-variants.html Mon, 26 Jun 2023 17:29:40 EDT news607019372 New ultra-high-resolution CT technology enables excellent image quality and accurate diagnosis of coronary artery disease in high-risk patients, a potentially significant benefit for people previously ineligible for noninvasive screening, according to a study published in Radiology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-06-photon-counting-ct-noninvasively-heart-disease.html Tue, 20 Jun 2023 10:00:01 EDT news606470301 A new advanced form of CT imaging called photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT) offers better cardiovascular imaging quality at a similar radiation dose compared to dual-source CT (DSCT) in infants with suspected cardiac heart defects, according to a study published in Radiology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-05-photon-counting-ct-superior-imaging-babies.html Tue, 23 May 2023 13:45:39 EDT news604068335 A research team at China's Peking University has made a new breakthrough in multiphoton microscopy by developing a miniature three-photon microscope that has successfully captured deep-brain images of freely moving mice. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-04-three-photon-microscope-capturing-deep-brain-images.html Tue, 04 Apr 2023 10:15:24 EDT news599822083 Photon-counting detector CT reduces the amount of contrast needed for CT angiography (CTA) while maintaining image quality, according to a new study published in Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-photon-counting-ct-enables-contrast-media.html Thu, 26 Jan 2023 15:25:03 EST news593969101 An accepted manuscript published in the American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR) guides optimization of clinical protocols when implementing ultra-high-resolution photon-counting detector (UHR PCD) CT of the lungs, providing insights on the association of reconstruction kernel and slice thickness with image quality. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-12-protocols-ultra-high-resolution-photon-counting-detector-ct.html Thu, 08 Dec 2022 16:51:59 EST news589740717 New CT technology outperforms conventional CT in detecting subtle damage in the lungs of patients with persistent symptoms of COVID-19, according to a new study published in Radiology. The technology could lead the way to earlier treatment and better outcomes for the growing number of people with COVID-related lung damage, researchers said. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-11-photon-counting-ct-post-covid-lung.html Tue, 29 Nov 2022 13:54:03 EST news588952441 New CT technology paired with artificial intelligence (AI)-based noise reduction offers superior detection of bone disease associated with multiple myeloma at lower radiation doses than conventional CT, according to a new study published in Radiology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-09-photon-counting-ct-myeloma-bone-disease.html Tue, 06 Sep 2022 15:10:29 EDT news581695826