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. New research indicates that a drug commonly prescribed for gout may also lower the risk of heart attack and stroke when taken at an appropriate dose. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-gout-early.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 22:10:01 EST news689848812 Medical artificial intelligence (AI) is often described as a way to make patient care safer by helping clinicians manage information. A new study by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and collaborators confronts a critical vulnerability: when a medical lie enters the system, can AI pass it on as if it were true? https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-medical-ai-large-llms-health.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 18:30:05 EST news689848617 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 When we think about iron imbalance, most people are familiar with iron deficiency and the health problems it can cause. What many may not realize is that the opposite problem, iron overload, can be just as serious—yet many aren't even aware of the condition. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-haemochromatosis-iron-overload-condition-undiagnosed.html Sat, 07 Feb 2026 15:00:04 EST news689518565 Testing the biological sex of an athlete is becoming more common in sport, with governing bodies defending the practice as safeguarding fairness for women. But as the introduction of mandatory genetic testing raises questions about human rights, it could pave the way for more legal challenges. The study is titled "Genetics, gender and justice: the legal implications of genetic testing for gender eligibility in sport" and published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-genetic-sports-fairness-human-rights.html Sat, 07 Feb 2026 12:30:03 EST news689257825 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 Diagnostic tools based on artificial intelligence are now making their way into Norwegian hospitals. AI can independently read X-ray images and detect bone fractures, or assess cancer tumors in both the breast and prostate. "AI tools can take over the detection of simple and clear-cut cases, allowing doctors to spend their time on more complex ones," said Tone Frost Bathen. She is a professor at NTNU and the project manager of an AI-powered analysis tool for prostate cancer called PROVIZ. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-ai-tool-prostate-mris-biopsy.html Sat, 07 Feb 2026 09:30:05 EST news689442342 Replacing animal testing with alternate methodologies in preclinical drug trials holds potential for the development of cheaper, safer pharmaceuticals as well as alleviating animal suffering. But according to a new paper co-written by a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign expert in legal issues surrounding cutting-edge medical developments, such a novel approach to drug trials needs to be implemented judiciously and with caution. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-paper-urges-caution-fda-phase.html Thu, 05 Feb 2026 19:50:03 EST news689518630 When she noticed an unusual craving for hot dogs, Matte'a Brooks suspected her body was telling her something, so she decided to take a pregnancy test. She took two just to be sure. Both were positive. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-youre-pregnant-uninsured-medicaid.html Thu, 05 Feb 2026 16:48:37 EST news689532482 Imagine diagnosing one of the most challenging neurological diseases with just a quick finger-prick, a few drops of blood and a test sent in the post. This may sound like science fiction, but we are hoping our research could soon help it become a reality. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-lab-alzheimer-home.html Wed, 04 Feb 2026 12:09:07 EST news689429282 According to the New York Post, our research team has discovered a much-overlooked "superfood": bamboo shoots. Before you rush out to harvest the ornamental bamboo growing in your garden, there are a few things you should know. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-bamboo-superfood-superfad.html Wed, 04 Feb 2026 11:58:31 EST news689428681 A research team led by La Trobe University has developed a single-use test strip that could ultimately change how diseases like cancer are diagnosed. The research used enzymes to boost an electrical signal to detect disease-indicative molecules, also known as microRNAs. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-technology-accessible-diagnosis.html Tue, 03 Feb 2026 15:10:02 EST news689351534 Young men are being encouraged to undergo testosterone testing and start hormone therapy through Instagram and TikTok content that promotes unproven health claims while downplaying medical risks, a new international study has found. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-masculinity-crisis-social-media-testosterone.html Tue, 03 Feb 2026 10:17:16 EST news689336162 Australian researchers have uncovered a crucial new mechanism that helps explain how the heart's major blood vessels form during early development, and how disruptions to this process can lead to serious congenital heart defects. The study, led by scientists from Adelaide University, reveals that a specific group of cells known as neural crest cells play a previously unrecognized role in controlling heart development by carefully regulating a key growth signal. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-tiny-cellular-human-heart.html Tue, 03 Feb 2026 08:45:30 EST news689330701 Medical artificial intelligence is a hugely appealing concept. In theory, models can analyze vast amounts of information, recognize subtle patterns in data, and are never too tired or busy to provide a response. However, although thousands of these models have been and continue to be developed in academia and industry, very few of them have successfully transitioned into real-world clinical settings. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-medical-ai-context-clinic-potential.html Tue, 03 Feb 2026 07:20:08 EST news689324743 Despite major advances in genetic testing for breast cancer risk prediction, death rates remain disproportionately high among women of African ancestry. This is often due to a combination of factors, including failure of existing genetic models to accurately predict risk, higher rates of aggressive tumor subtypes, and later-stage diagnoses. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-genetic-tools-accurate-breast-cancer.html Mon, 02 Feb 2026 15:07:40 EST news689267221 Technology created at the University of Queensland could improve the odds of surviving brain cancer and change how we treat a range of neurological conditions. Dr. Richard Lobb and Dr. Zhen Zhang from UQ's Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology have opened a "window to the brain" with a new diagnostic device that can tell how deadly brain tumors respond to treatment from a simple blood test. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-window-brain-chip-tracks-glioblastoma.html Mon, 02 Feb 2026 12:17:19 EST news689256945 Racism has long disrupted relationships, deepened social divisions, and hindered collective action on global challenges. While modern societies strive to be just and advocate against social injustices, many still turn away from engaging in conversations surrounding racism, health inequities, and racial tensions. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-black-women-health-racism.html Mon, 02 Feb 2026 11:38:56 EST news689254682 Chlamydia pneumoniae—a common bacterium that causes pneumonia and sinus infections—can linger in the eye and brain for years and may aggravate Alzheimer's disease, according to a study from Cedars-Sinai. Published in Nature Communications, the discovery suggests this bacterium can amplify Alzheimer's disease and points to potential interventions including inflammation-limiting therapies and early antibiotic treatment. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-common-bacteria-eye-linked-cognitive.html Mon, 02 Feb 2026 10:18:05 EST news689249821 There were only 10 reported cases of Guinea worm infections confined to three countries in 2025, a historic low announced Friday by The Carter Center. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-world-closer-eradicating-human-guinea.html Sat, 31 Jan 2026 04:53:01 EST news689057552 Antibodies are the immune system's precision tools for recognizing and neutralizing viruses, bacteria and other foreign substances that can make us ill. These proteins circulate in the bloodstream and are built from chains of amino acids. Yet pinning down the exact amino acid sequence of an antibody is surprisingly tough. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-benchmark-antibodies-dataset-aims-standardize.html Fri, 30 Jan 2026 12:35:25 EST news688998901 Researchers have discovered that natural "sunscreen" compounds found in algae and cyanobacteria may also support skin and heart health. By comparing two mycosporine-like amino acids, the team showed for the first time that these molecules can block a key enzyme involved in blood pressure control in laboratory tests, while also offering antioxidant and anti-aging effects. The findings open new possibilities for cosmetics and functional foods based on nature-derived ingredients. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-natural-sunscreen-compounds-potential-skin.html Fri, 30 Jan 2026 12:24:22 EST news688998241 An estimated 4.2 million people die within 30 days of surgery worldwide each year. A new study suggests that deaths and serious heart disease might be prevented if some patients see a specialist heart doctor as part of their post-surgery care. The work appears in the European Heart Journal. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-heart-common-unnoticed-surgery-cardiologist.html Thu, 29 Jan 2026 19:10:01 EST news688842662 As COVID-19 testing becomes less routine, official case numbers can make outbreaks look smaller than they really are. A research team led by Professor Michio Murakami has now shown that wastewater surveillance can uncover this "invisible" spread, providing a more objective picture of community infections and offering early warning signs for hospital-acquired cases. The study is published in the journal Environment International. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-sewage-uncovers-invisible-covid-cases.html Thu, 29 Jan 2026 18:20:05 EST news688915641 Cancer screenings play a critical role in protecting long-term health. They can detect cancer early, when treatment is most effective, and in some cases help prevent cancer before it develops. While screening recommendations vary based on age, sex, family history and personal risk factors, several key cancer screening tests should be reviewed regularly. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-staying-pap-hpv-cancer-screenings.html Thu, 29 Jan 2026 17:30:02 EST news688900921 Assessing the toxicity of food contaminants—including carcinogenic potential—is a major challenge in evaluating the risks associated with exposure. In recent years, as part of efforts to reduce animal testing, two-dimensional (2D) analytical methods using human hepatic cell lines (which make up most of the liver) have advanced predictive toxicology for contaminants. However, these approaches have limitations, because they do not sufficiently capture the organ's complexity. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-miniature-human-liver-toxicology-food.html Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:52:32 EST news688927921 A study into the long-term health impacts of coronavirus, led by experts from the University of Leicester, Imperial College London and University College London, has found changes in the blood after COVID-19 that might pinpoint patients at risk of ongoing lung disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-blood-lingering-lung-covid.html Thu, 29 Jan 2026 06:01:50 EST news688888861 Malaria remains the most deadly parasitic disease in the world. Although it is not endemic to countries such as Spain, imported cases are diagnosed each year in people returning from areas where the infection is common. These patients can rapidly progress to severe forms of the disease, but detecting which patients are at higher risk is not always easy, especially in settings where clinical experience is limited and initial symptoms are non-specific. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-based-rapid-flags-severe-imported.html Wed, 28 Jan 2026 17:10:01 EST news688838545 Two emerging pathogens with animal origins—influenza D virus and canine coronavirus—have so far been quietly flying under the radar, but researchers warn conditions are ripe for the viruses to spread more widely among humans. If surveillance and diagnostics continue to lag, influenza D virus and canine coronavirus have real potential to trigger outbreaks, writes a team of infectious disease experts and authors. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-viruses-health-threats-scientists.html Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:00:03 EST news688838108 Virginia Tech researchers have discovered an indication hidden in the brain that may help doctors identify children suffering from a rare genetic disease earlier. Their findings are published in EMBO Molecular Medicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-early-neural-stem-cell-defects.html Wed, 28 Jan 2026 12:47:21 EST news688826736