Could this molecule be “checkmate” for coronaviruses like SARS- CoV-2?

Caltech professor of medical engineering Wei Gao and his colleagues are envisioning a smart bandage of the future—a "lab on skin" that could not only help patients and caregivers monitor the status of chronic wounds but also deliver treatment and speed up the healing process for those cuts, incisions, scrapes, and burns that are slow to heal on their own.   In 2023, Gao's team cleared the first hurdle toward achieving that goal by showing that a smart bandage they developed could provide real-time ...

“Our discovery has found a possible treatment that could specifically target and help patients with this disease” (Boston)—The global burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is rising, with more than 800 million people affected worldwide. Vascular diseases in patients with CKD are unique and grouped as uremic vascular diseases. One of them, calciphylaxis, typically affects patients with end-stage, advanced kidney disease. It is a condition characterized by severe, painful and non-healing skin ulcers with no known cure.   For the first time, researchers from Boston University Chobanian ...

Collagen is well-known as an important component of our skin, but its impact is much greater, as it is the most abundant protein in the body, providing structure and support to nearly all tissues and organs. Using their novel Freeform Reversible Embedding of Suspended Hydrogels (FRESH) 3D bioprinting technique, which allows for the printing of soft living cells and tissues, Carnegie Mellon’s Feinberg lab has built a first-of-its-kind microphysiologic system, or tissue model, entirely out of collagen. This advancement expands the capabilities of how researchers can study disease and build tissues for therapy, ...

Chinese scientists have discovered that fragile swamp forests in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region suddenly collapsed around 2.1 thousand years ago (ka)—with human activity as the cause. The study, led by researchers from the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry and the Institute of Oceanology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, sheds new light on the role of human activity in ecosystem collapse. Published in Science Advances, the study focuses on Glyptostrobus pensilis (G. pensilis), a critically endangered species of Chinese swamp cypress that once thrived in extensive swamp forests in the PRD. Through palynological (i.e., pollen and ...

18.5% reduction in sick leave following LEZ implementation 10.2% decrease in respiratory issues Annual public health savings of over £37 million New research from the University of Bath has revealed that Greater London's clean air policies—the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) and the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) are not only improving the city’s environment but are also delivering significant measurable public health and economic benefits. The study, published in the Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization  which analysed over a decade of data ...

In a breakthrough that blends ancient design with modern materials science, researchers at the University of Houston have developed a new class of ceramic structures that can bend under pressure — without breaking.  Potential applications for this technology range from medical prosthetics to impact-resistant components in aerospace and robotics, where lightweight - but tough - materials are in high demand.  Traditionally known for their brittleness, ceramics often shatter under stress, making them difficult to use in high-impact or adaptive applications. But that may soon change as a team ...

The antimalarial drug mefloquine could help treat genetic diseases such as cystic fibrosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, as well as some cancers. In these diseases, a mutation in the genetic code introduces a stop signal in completely the wrong place, leading to the production of a shortened protein. An international team of researchers, including scientists of the University of Groningen, have now demonstrated how the antimalarial drug mefloquine can enhance the effect of aminoglycosides, another class of drugs, to override ...

Ottawa, ON, April 23, 2025 – 20% of residents newly admitted to long-term care became permanently unable to make everyday decisions for themselves within five years, according to new research from Bruyère Health Research Institute and ICES.  A significant number of long-term care (LTC) residents experience states of severe cognitive and physical impairment, leaving them unable to make personal decisions—like what to eat or what to wear—and unable to communicate with staff or loved ones.   “Our study set out to trace the experiences of residents newly admitted to long-term care, and ...

About The Study: In this study, severe permanent impairment in function and cognition were common and often present near the end of life for long-term care residents, but a minority of residents lived in these states for years. These results suggest that building shared understanding and open communication about the natural course of frailty trajectories for long-term care residents may support resident-centered medical decision-making. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Daniel Kobewka, MD, MSc, email dkobewka@toh.ca. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link ...

About The Study: Despite the high prevalence of adverse social determinants of health (SDOH) in emergency department (ED) populations, in this survey study of 232 EDs, less than one-third performed screening, and one-fifth did not have policies requiring a response to positive screens. Bridging this gap may require expanding adverse SDOH screening practices while also ensuring that EDs have the resources and infrastructure to respond appropriately to identified social needs. Future research might explore advanced technological solutions ...