CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — In a new study, scientists used nearly every tool in their toolkit — genomics, transcriptomics, greenhouse experiments and advanced statistical methods — to gain new insight into the complex chemical interactions that take place in underground root nodules, where legumes like soybeans exchange vital nutrients with soil microbes called rhizobia. Reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, their study identified clusters of rhizobial genes that appear to move rapidly through bacterial populations and drive greater plant biomass ...

Embargo 28 July 2025 20:00 UK / 15:00 US Eastern Times Peer-reviewed / Experimental / Insects   REMAPPING THE EVOLUTIONARY TREE OF BUTTERFLIES   Some butterflies can smell others of the same species, allowing them to identify each other in areas where multiple species all look the same, new research finds. A large international team has genetically mapped glasswing butterflies found across Central and South America, rewriting the evolutionary tree and highlighting six new species. The ...

Two new studies find that leaders are less likely to empower followers who raise concerns about workplace decisions, even though these “challenging voice” employees play a critical role in highlighting problems and identifying solutions. The studies also outline what drives these decisions. “We know that employee performance improves and employee turnover declines when employees are empowered – that’s good,” says Bradley Kirkman, co-author of a paper on the two studies. “We also know that having employees who use challenging voice are also beneficial to the bottom line – because ...

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Living within miles of the ocean breeze may be linked to a longer life, but you shouldn’t count on the same benefits if you live in a riverside city, suggests a recent study. Researchers from The Ohio State University analyzed population data — including life expectancy — in more than 66,000 census tracts throughout the U.S. and compared it based on proximity to waterways. Their study was published online in the journal Environmental Research. A correlation between longer life expectancy and water was clear for those who live within about 30 miles of an ocean or gulf. But for those who live in urban settings and near an inland ...

Key Takeaways Among 3 million surgical patients, 0.5% developed alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS), with 0.2% experiencing severe delirium tremens (DT).  AWS was associated with a 37% higher risk of complications, including respiratory failure and sepsis, and a 40% increased mortality risk if DT occurred. Hospital stays were 5 days longer, and costs rose by $10,000 per patient with AWS, totaling $165 million in excess costs nationwide.  CHICAGO — Patients who develop alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) after major surgery face significantly higher risks of complications, longer hospital stays, and increased health care costs, ...

About The Study: This randomized clinical trial found that among older adults at risk of cognitive decline and dementia, a structured, higher-intensity intervention of regular moderate-to-high-intensity physical exercise, adherence to the MIND diet, cognitive challenge and social engagement, and cardiovascular health monitoring had a statistically significant greater benefit on global cognition compared with an unstructured, self-guided intervention. Known as the US Study to Protect Brain Health Through Lifestyle ...

Detecting early rising Parkinson’s disease (PD) symptoms could improve treatment outcomes by enabling earlier treatment interventions. In a new eNeuro paper, Daniil Berezhnoi, from Georgetown University, and colleagues used machine learning technology to detect subtle, early rising behavioral changes in mouse models of PD. The researchers also evaluated whether Levodopa, the primary approved treatment for PD, can effectively treat these symptoms.  Berezhnoi et al. used a previously developed motion sequencing platform to evaluate movements of different ...

Previous expectations can influence how much pain people eventually feel. These expectations can be shaped by external cues or by verbal information from clinicians about how treatments might relieve pain. Led by Lauren Atlas, researchers from the National Institute of Health explored if and how distinct ways of shaping expectations differentially influence physically hurtful experiences.  In their JNeurosci paper, the researchers present their findings from 40 healthy volunteers who rated how hurt they were following painful ...

A groundbreaking international study, recently published in Health Data Science, analyzed objective sleep data from 88,461 adults in the UK Biobank and found significant associations between sleep traits and 172 diseases. The research, led by teams from Peking University and Army Medical University, highlights sleep regularity—such as bedtime consistency and circadian rhythm stability—as an underrecognized but critical factor in disease risk. Using actigraphy data over an average of 6.8 years, researchers identified that 92 diseases had over 20% of their risk attributable to poor sleep behavior. Notably, irregular ...

CHICAGO — Today at ADLM 2025 (formerly the AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo), researchers will unveil a blood test developed with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) that identifies Lyme disease sooner and more accurately than the current standard — and that could translate to vastly improved patient outcomes. A second study highlights how certain generative AI tools can empower adolescents by helping them to gather useful medical information. Together, these findings spotlight the potential of AI to make a profound, positive difference in people’s ...

Immune-inflammatory skin diseases (e.g., psoriasis, atopic dermatitis) involve dysregulation of CD4+ T-cell subsets (Th1/Th2/Th17/Treg) and cytokine networks (IL-17/IL-23/IL-4). Biologics targeting specific pathways—TNF-α, IL-17, IL-12/23, IL-4/13, PD-1/PD-L1—revolutionize treatment but trigger immune drift, shifting CD4+ T-cell polarization and causing adverse skin reactions. This review synthesizes mechanisms, clinical manifestations, and management strategies. Mechanisms of Immune Drift by Biologic Class (Summarized in Table 1) 1. TNF-α Inhibitors (Etanercept, Infliximab, Adalimumab) Mechanism: Blocking ...

Simple technology that harnesses ultraviolet light to ‘zap’ airborne viruses has been shown to significantly lower the number of respiratory infections in aged care facilities, paving the way for smarter infection control. Adapted by scientists from Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute  (FHMRI) and SAHMRI, the technology is based on using germicidal ultraviolet (GUV) appliances which purify the air with UV-C light rays and deactivate harmful micro-organisms like viruses and bacteria. The new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine trialled commercially-available GUV appliances in aged care facilities ...

Researchers at the University of Tokyo explored how female body odor can influence behaviors in men. They found certain scent compounds in female body odor increased during ovulation and can subtly influence how men feel. When these scents were added to armpit odor samples, men rated them as more pleasant and faces associated with the samples as more attractive. The scents also seemed to reduce stress. The team states this is not evidence of pheromones in humans, but that smell might subtly shape how we people interact. While they’re a common staple of pop culture, especially in romantic comedies, pheromones, behavior-altering ...

UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL 16:00 UK TIME (11:00 AM ET) ON MONDAY 28 JULY 2025 New insights could help phages defeat antibiotic resistant bacteria Researchers at the University of Southampton have worked out how bacteria defend themselves against viruses called phages and the new insights could be key to tackling antibiotic resistance. Phages are seen as a promising alternative treatment to antibiotics. Unpicking how bacteria protect themselves, and how phages might overcome these defences, could be a significant step in defeating antibiotic resistant bacteria. Phages, ...

Cambridge, MA – Scientists often seek new materials derived from polymers. Rather than starting a polymer search from scratch, they save time and money by blending existing polymers to achieve desired properties. But identifying the best blend is a thorny problem. Not only is there a practically limitless number of potential combinations, but polymers interact in complex ways, so the properties of a new blend are challenging to predict. To accelerate the discovery of new materials, MIT researchers ...

About The Study: In this nationwide cohort study, no increased risk of 29 adverse events was observed after vaccination with the updated COVID-19 mRNA vaccine containing the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron JN.1 lineage in approximately 1 million adults.  Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Niklas Worm Andersson, MD, PhD, email nian@ssi.dk. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.23557) Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, ...

About The Study: The findings of this study suggest that patients with type 2 diabetes may experience substantially more adverse financial outcomes compared with patients without diabetes, highlighting the need to consider patient financial health when treating type 2 diabetes, particularly for patient groups at higher risk.  Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Cazilia Loibl, PhD, CFP, email loibl.3@osu.edu. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.23453) Editor’s ...

Embargoed until 11 a.m. ET, July 28, 2025   In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers used a unique dataset to show that patients with type 2 diabetes have significantly worse financial outcomes than other patients.   Findings showed diabetes patients fared worse on all seven financial outcomes studied, including below-prime credit scores, medical and non-medical debt in collections, 60-plus-day delinquent debt, debt charge-offs, bankruptcy filings and foreclosure.   The diabetes patients in this study were compared to people who had a blood test ...

Coronary heart disease (CHD), characterized by atherosclerosis-induced myocardial ischemia, remains a leading cause of mortality in China. Safflower yellow pigments (SYPs), the primary bioactive components of Carthamus tinctorius L., consist mainly of quinochalcone C-glycosides, with hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) and anhydrosafflor yellow B (AHSYB) as key constituents. This review synthesizes evidence on SYPs' mechanisms, therapeutic applications, and future directions in CHD management. Chemical Composition and Pharmacokinetics SYPs comprise over 20 identified compounds, including HSYA and AHSYB, which confer cardiovascular protection, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. ...

“TraMA is likely to be of particular value to researchers interested in understanding the biological processes underlying health and aging, and for social, psychological, epidemiological, and demographic studies of health and aging.” BUFFALO, NY — July 28, 2025 — A new research paper was published in Aging (Aging-US) Volume 17, Issue 6, on June 13, 2025, titled “Development of a novel transcriptomic measure of aging: Transcriptomic Mortality-risk Age (TraMA).” In ...

TORONTO, ON July 28, 2025 A new research article published in the Journal of Participatory Medicine unveils how successive waves of digital technology innovation have empowered patients, fostering a more collaborative and responsive health care system. The paper, titled "From Internet to Artificial Intelligence (Al) Bots: Symbiotic Evolutions of Digital Technologies and e-Patients," explores the symbiotic evolution of digital health tools and the increasingly engaged e-patient. The concept of the e-patient, defined as an individual "equipped, enabled, empowered, and engaged" in their health, has been propelled forward by advancements spanning ...

Leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease caused by Leishmania parasites, affects millions globally. Current synthetic treatments face limitations including toxicity, cost, and resistance. Phytochemicals from medicinal plants offer promising alternatives. This mini-review synthesizes preclinical mechanisms of plant-derived compounds against leishmaniasis, focusing on mitochondrial disruption, immunomodulation, and redox imbalance. Key Antileishmanial Mechanisms 1. Membrane Disruption & ...

The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP), the premier global molecular diagnostic professional society, today announced the recipients of its 2025 Excellence in Molecular Diagnostics, Jeffrey A. Kant Leadership and Meritorious Service Awards. These prestigious honors will be presented in November during the AMP 2025 Annual Meeting & Expo in Boston. Award for Excellence in Molecular Diagnostics Elaine R. Mardis, Ph.D. Co-executive Director, Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, Nationwide Children’s Hospital Rasmussen Nationwide Foundation Endowed Chair in Genomic ...

Usually, light waves can pass through each other without any resistance. According to the laws of electrodynamics, two light beams can exist in the same place without influencing each other; they simply overlap. Light saber battles, as seen in science fiction films, would therefore be rather boring in reality. Nevertheless, quantum physics predicts the effect of “light-on-light scattering”. Ordinary lasers are not powerful enough to detect it, but it has been observed at the CERN particle accelerator. Virtual particles can literally emerge from nothing for a short time, interact with the photons and change their direction. The effect is extremely small, ...

A new study finds that White students visit academic advisers the least, but have the highest academic benefits, in terms of GPA and graduation rates, compared to nonwhite students and international students. In higher education, substantial gaps exist between White and nonwhite students, with a greater number of White students graduating in fewer years and receiving higher grades than many other groups. Prior research shows that nonwhite students are less likely to engage with faculty members, but there is a dearth of information related to interactions with academic advisers—staffers ...