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. Artificial intelligence could help doctors detect serious heart valve disease years earlier, potentially saving thousands of lives, a new study suggests. Researchers led by the University of Cambridge analyzed heart sounds from nearly 1,800 patients using an AI algorithm trained to recognize valve disease, a condition that often goes undiagnosed until it becomes life-threatening. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-ai-stethoscope-silent-epidemic-heart.html Tue, 10 Feb 2026 05:00:01 EST news689849101 The latest monthly report from ECDC for December 2025 shows that between January and December 2025, 7 655 measles cases were reported by 30 countries. Eight of these individuals died following measles infection: four in France, three in Romania, and one in the Netherlands. While the total number of infections in 2025 represents a significant decrease compared with the more than 35 000 cases in 2024, it is almost double the cases reported in 2023. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-community-ongoing-measles-transmission-europe.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 22:40:04 EST news689867961 California health officials are urging people to stay away from wild mushrooms entirely after a sharp rise in poisonings tied to the deadly death cap mushroom. Since Nov. 18, more than three dozen people have been poisoned after eating death caps, according to the California Department of Public Health. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-california-foraging-toxic-mushrooms.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 21:30:05 EST news689873225 A preclinical study led by the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), in collaboration with the Institut de Myologie and the Sant Pau Research Institute, has analyzed the role of the protein HDAC11 in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and its potential as a therapeutic target. The results of the study have recently been published in the journal Life Sciences. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-links-hdac11-muscle-duchenne-dystrophy.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 19:40:02 EST news689868018 Health officials in San Bernardino County, California, have confirmed the first case of measles in the county since 2023. The county's Department of Public Health said the case involves an unvaccinated child who was visiting from another state, and is unrelated to the recent case of an international traveler who visited a Disney park. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-san-bernardino-county-measles-case.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 19:30:01 EST news689848769 South Carolina is reporting nearly four dozen new cases of the measles virus, public health officials said on Feb. 6. This brings the state's total reported cases close to topping 1,000. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-south-carolina-nears-cases-measles.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 19:00:01 EST news689848757 Just over one in 10 deaths from a wide range of infectious diseases can be attributed to obesity worldwide, finds a major new study led by a University College London (UCL) researcher. People with obesity face a 70% higher risk of hospitalization or death from an infection than those of a healthy weight, according to the findings published in The Lancet. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-obesity-linked-infection-deaths-globally.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 18:30:03 EST news689848501 A recent study has found gut bacteria resistant to common antibiotics (ampicillin and ceftriaxone) in a sizable percentage of healthy birthing moms and their newborns. In this study, 38% of bacterial strains resistant to ceftriaxone transmitted from mother to infant were E. coli, which is a major cause of urinary and bloodstream infections, as well as meningitis in infants. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-antibiotic-resistant-bacteria-healthy-birthing.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 17:10:36 EST news689879401 Researchers have been studying how the chemistry of cooking food includes similarities to the molecular process of endometriosis lesions. When these lesions form, the presence of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) appears to worsen the resulting inflammation and related symptoms in a similar way to the cooking technique known as the Maillard reaction. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-diet-worsen-endometriosis-age-rage.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 17:08:33 EST news689879282 Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, a type of immunotherapy that leverages the immune system to combat diseases, is a powerful treatment option for certain cancers. The treatment relies on genetically modified T cells—a type of immune cell—to destroy cancer cells. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-immune-cells-toxic-proteins-brain.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 16:56:57 EST news689878561 A significant discovery by Case Western Reserve University researchers could change how doctors treat two of the most devastating neurodegenerative diseases. The team identified a link between gut bacteria and the deterioration of the brain in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). The researchers discovered that certain bacterial sugars cause immune responses that kill cells—and how to prevent it. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-gut-brain-discovery-bacterial-sugar.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 16:00:03 EST news689869543 A comprehensive study analyzing data from nearly 240,000 women has found that estrogen-containing hormonal contraceptives are associated with a significantly lower risk of chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps (CRSsNP), while menopause status showed no significant association with the condition. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-explores-link-hormonal-contraceptives-chronic.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 15:09:36 EST news689872142 Many people may have a dim view of their fat tissue, yet scientists have come to recognize adipose as a necessary and metabolically active organ, carrying out many vital functions within the body. In the case of obesity, too much fat can contribute to conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Intriguingly, for people with certain rare genetic and autoimmune disorders, such as familial partial lipodystrophy type 2 (FPLD2), the abnormal loss and distribution of adipose tissue can also lead to diabetes and metabolic disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-uncovering-rare-disease-resulting-abnormal.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 13:21:51 EST news689865661 For many Kentuckians with dementia, medical interventions may seem like the only choice, but a new University of Kentucky study shows that prioritizing joy and engagement through enrichment activities is vital for the health of both residents and the caregivers who support them. This research highlights how advancing Kentucky's health care means looking beyond standard measures to support the holistic well-being of the aging population. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-person-centered-dementia-residents-caregivers.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 13:15:48 EST news689865302 Guaranteed income programs may reduce food insecurity and improve nutrition among low-income Black households in the state of Georgia, according to a new study led by the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-income-food-black-households-georgia.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 12:47:42 EST news689863621 A common kidney medication could be the key to treating a type of infertility that affects up to 3% of women under 40, according to a study published in Science. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-kidney-drug-fertility-premature-ovarian.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 12:00:03 EST news689857457 Heart disease affects women differently than men, and understanding those differences can be lifesaving. Dr. Sharonne N. Hayes, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist and leading expert in the field of women's heart health, says progress in research, treatment and prevention has accelerated but women still need better information. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-video-cardiologist-discusses-heart-disease.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 11:23:03 EST news689858521 In a huge global study led by University of Cambridge researchers, a single group of bacteria—named CAG-170—has repeatedly shown up in high numbers in the gut microbiomes of healthy people. CAG-170 is a group of gut bacteria known only from their genetic fingerprints—scientists have never been able to grow most of them in the lab. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-overlooked-group-gut-bacteria-key.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 11:00:09 EST news689606521 Mount Sinai researchers have identified a cellular mechanism linking infections from influenza A viruses (IAVs) to cardiovascular disease, providing critical insights on how influenza can damage the heart and increase the risk of a heart attack or other major cardiovascular event. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-flu-season-strain-heart-mrna.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 11:00:05 EST news689593021 The growing number of storms and floods associated with climate change is increasing the risk of a serious human infection—and Australia's rural communities are underprepared. That's the stark warning from research led by the University of New England (UNE) in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. The authors recommend concerted testing of the public for the zoonotic infection leptospirosis, greater vigilance in regions well beyond the tropical north, and further urgent research. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-hidden-climate-disease-threat.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 10:26:38 EST news689855162 Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-based molecular tests can reliably distinguish multiple sclerosis (MS) from other neurological conditions, according to a new study that analyzed cryopreserved CSF samples from 160 individuals. The study involved three centers in the United States and Canada that are part of an MS research consortium called SPINCOMS. The group evaluates the clinical performance of CSF-based molecular tests in a diverse cohort of people with MS and others undergoing diagnostics for central nervous system conditions that mimic MS. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-cerebral-spinal-fluid-molecular-early.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 09:35:38 EST news689852102 A randomized controlled study found that time-restricted feeding—a form of intermittent fasting—significantly reduced symptomatic disease activity and systematic inflammation in adults with Crohn's disease and overweight or obesity. Results of the study were published in Gastroenterology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-intermittent-fasting-crohn-disease-halves.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 09:00:01 EST news689593261 Doctors say the big game can also bring big health risks, from heart strain to food poisoning and alcohol-related emergencies, especially for folks with underlying medical conditions. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-super-bowl-doctors-hidden-health.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 08:46:10 EST news689848975 For nearly a year, repeated misdiagnoses of the deadly kala-azar disease left 60-year-old Harada Hussein Abdirahman's health deteriorating, as an outbreak in Kenya's arid regions claimed a record number of lives. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-neglected-killer-kala-azar-disease.html Sun, 08 Feb 2026 10:10:01 EST news689766213 New research explores how hormonal contraceptive use may influence cardiovascular and thrombotic risk in women, including those with anxiety, depression or PTSD. Antonia Seligowski, Ph.D., of the Neurocardiac Effects of Stress & Trauma Laboratory within the Department of Psychiatry at Mass General Brigham, is the senior author of a paper published in JAMA Network Open, titled "Hormonal contraceptive use, stress disorders, and cardiovascular and thrombotic risk in women." https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-qa-discusses-interplay-hormonal-contraceptive.html Sat, 07 Feb 2026 17:30:01 EST news689527212 People with ulcerative proctitis, a milder and more limited form of ulcerative colitis, are not at higher risk of developing rectal cancer than the general population. This is shown in a new Swedish registry study from Karolinska Institutet, published in Gastroenterology. The findings may contribute to more individualized follow-up of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-ulcerative-proctitis-linked-higher-rectal.html Sat, 07 Feb 2026 16:00:02 EST news689520123 GLP-1 drugs have ushered in a new era in weight loss. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-youve-weight-loss-goal-glp.html Sat, 07 Feb 2026 14:30:01 EST news689518515 A group of medications often used to treat diabetes may also help protect aging kidneys, according to a new study. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-diabetes-drug-kidney-aging-fast.html Sat, 07 Feb 2026 13:30:01 EST news689518382 Infectious disease experts are sounding the alarm about two pathogens in animals that have the potential to trigger the next major health crisis. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-emerging-animal-viruses-potential-global.html Sat, 07 Feb 2026 11:00:07 EST news689496950 New research suggests the liver plays a previously unrecognized role in bone health, but only in males. A McGill University-led study published in Matrix Biology found that a protein made in the liver helps regulate bone growth in male mice, but not in females. The findings may help explain why men with liver disease are more likely to experience bone loss. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-protein-liver-key-factor-men.html Sat, 07 Feb 2026 09:00:03 EST news689512047