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Technology 2025-06-13

The many ways that AI enters rheumatology

High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is the standard to diagnose and assess progression in interstitial lung disease (ILD), a key feature in systemic sclerosis (SSc). But AI-assisted interpretation has the potential to improve the quantification and characterisation of SSc-ILD, making it a powerful tool for monitoring. Francesca Motta offered new data from an observational study pitting AI-assisted analysis against two radiologists with expertise in thoracic imaging. Results showed that the AI outperformed visual scoring in assessing the progression of fibrosis in patients with SSc-ILD, and showed more significant correlation with values from pulmonary ...
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Medicine 2025-06-13

Pregnancy outcomes in autoinflammatory disease

To address this, a French multi-centre prospective pregnancy observational cohort was set up, to analyse disease activity, treatment, pregnancy outcomes, delivery, and neonatal health. The work – presented at the 2025 annual congress of EULAR – showcased findings from 97 women with an autoinflammatory disease. The most common diagnoses were FMF (81%), followed by undifferentiated systemic autoinflammatory diseases (USAID), tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS), cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS), Still's disease, recurrent pericarditis, mevalonate kinase deficiency, A20 haploinsufficiency, and other ...
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Physics 2025-06-13

The value of physical activity for people with RMD

Several sessions at the 2025 annual congress of EULAR, which took place in Barcelona, focused on the value of physical activity for people with a variety of RMD – as well as the potential barriers to implementing these programs in the real world.   Previous trials have demonstrated that long-standing, personalised supervised exercise therapy is more effective than usual care after 1 year in people with severe functional limitations due to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA).3,4 David Ueckert and colleagues set out to evaluate ...
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Science 2025-06-13

First data from the EULAR RheumaFacts project

New work presented at the 2025 congress of EULAR – The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology – in Barcelona described RMD health-related indicators from all EULAR member countries, collected as part of the RheumaFacts project – a study identifying potential inequities between countries.  Data were collected on a diverse range of topics, including access to reimbursed physiotherapy and psychological care, the possibility for patients to self-refer to rheumatologists in the public sector, the number of rheumatology departments and rheumatologists, and treatment availability. So far, 31 countries have submitted data.   The ...
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Medicine 2025-06-13

Research spotlight: Preventing stalling to improve CAR-T cells’ efficacy against tumors

Marcela Maus, MD, PhD, director of the Cellular Immunotherapy Program and the Paula J. O'Keeffe Endowed Chair of the Mass General Cancer Center, is senior author and Stefanie Bailey, PhD, Hana Takei, and Giulia Escobar, PhD of the Krantz Family Center for Cancer Research at Massachusetts General Hospital are co-lead authors of a paper published in Science Translational Medicine, “IFN-g-resistant CD28 CAR-T cells demonstrate increased survival, efficacy, and durability in multiple murine ...
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Medicine 2025-06-13

c-Fos expression differentially acts in the healthy brain compared with Alzheimer’s disease

Immediate-early genes (IEGs), including c-Fos, are integral to the brain's response to stimuli. Initially identified as a proto-oncogene, c-Fos is essential for neural activity, synaptic plasticity, and stress responses. While its transient expression supports memory formation in healthy brains, chronic overexpression in AD exacerbates neurotoxicity and cognitive decline. This review synthesizes findings from postmortem studies, animal models, and cell cultures to elucidate the dual roles of c-Fos and its mechanisms in AD pathogenesis. Expression of c-Fos in Brain Regions and Cell Types c-Fos is expressed in specific brain regions such as the hippocampus, amygdala, and cortex, ...
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Medicine 2025-06-13

Computed tomography perfusion and angiography for death by neurologic criteria

About The Study: The observed sensitivity and specificity measures for computed tomography perfusion and computed tomography angiography as an ancillary test for death by neurologic criteria did not meet the prespecified validation threshold of greater than 98%. Clinical examination remains the cornerstone of death by neurologic criteria, and ancillary imaging should be interpreted cautiously within a comprehensive clinical assessment. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Michael Chasse, MD, PhD, email michael.chasse@umontreal.ca. To access ...
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Environment 2025-06-13

New tool could help Florida homeowners weather flood risks, lower insurance costs

With flood risks increasing from extreme weather events like hurricanes and even routine plumbing issues, a team from the University of Florida’s College of Design, Construction and Planning is helping Florida homeowners make smarter choices about building materials and interior finishes that better protect their homes and potentially save on their insurance premiums. Lisa Platt, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the department of interior design and a researcher within the Florida Institute for Built Environment Resilience, or FIBER, and Arezoo Zeinali, a graduate research assistant in Platt’s Design Dynamics ...
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Engineering 2025-06-13

Researchers develop a rapid method for building vascular organoids

Blood vessels are essential to nearly all tissues, delivering nutrients and oxygen, regulating hemostasis, and modulating inflammation. Recreating functional vascular networks is foundational to both basic and translational vascular biology, however current methods to make blood vessels from stem cells are often slow, inefficient, or lack the complexity needed for therapy. In this study, researchers developed a fast and defined method to build vascular organoids—3D microvascular networks—from human stem cells. By ...
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Medicine 2025-06-13

Cannabis legalization and opioid use disorder in Veterans Health Administration patients

About The Study: The results of this cohort study suggest that medical cannabis laws and recreational cannabis laws enactment was associated with greater opioid use disorder (OUD) prevalence in Veterans Health Administration patients over time, with the greatest increases among middle-aged and older patients and those with chronic pain. The findings did not support state cannabis legalization as a means of reducing the burden of OUD during the ongoing opioid epidemic. Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Deborah S. Hasin, PhD, email dsh2@cumc.columbia.edu. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link ...
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Science 2025-06-13

Volume and intensity of walking and risk of chronic low back pain

About The Study: In this cohort study, daily walking volume and walking intensity were inversely associated with the risk of chronic low back pain. The findings suggest that walking volume may have a more pronounced benefit than walking intensity.  Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Rayane Haddadj, MS, email rayane.haddadj@ntnu.no. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.15592) Editor’s Note: Please see ...
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Energy 2025-06-13

New cooling tech could curb data centers' rising energy demands

Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a new cooling technology that could significantly improve the energy efficiency of data centers and high-powered electronics. The technology features a specially engineered fiber membrane that passively removes heat through evaporation. It offers a promising alternative to traditional cooling systems like fans, heat sinks and liquid pumps. It could also reduce the water use associated with many current cooling systems. The advance is detailed in a paper published on June 13 in the journal Joule. As artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing continue to expand, the demand for data processing—and ...
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Technology 2025-06-13

First quantum-mechanical model of quasicrystals reveals why they exist

Photos   A rare and bewildering intermediate between crystal and glass can be the most stable arrangement for some combinations of atoms, according to a study from the University of Michigan.   The findings come from the first quantum-mechanical simulations of quasicrystals—a type of solid that scientists once thought couldn't exist. While the atoms in quasicrystals are arranged in a lattice, as in a crystal, the pattern of atoms doesn't repeat like it does in conventional crystals. The new simulation method suggests quasicrystals—like crystals—are fundamentally ...
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Medicine 2025-06-13

Cardiovascular disease and diabetes are driving the increase in us excess mortality—and adults without college degrees are bearing most of the burden

About 525,000 more deaths occurred among US adults in 2023 than would be expected had pre-2010 mortality trends continued. More than 90 percent of these deaths occurred among individuals without a Bachelor's degree and were largely caused by cardiovascular diseases, underscoring how educational attainment can influence individuals’ health opportunities and outcomes. Cardiometabolic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes have emerged as some of the key drivers of worsening mortality rates in the United States over the last ...
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Medicine 2025-06-13

Diagnostic value of GeneXpert MTB/RIF in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid for pulmonary non-tuberculosis mycobacterial in acid-fast stain smear-positive and GeneXpert MTB/RIF-negative cases

Background: The identification of non-tuberculosis (TB) mycobacterial (NTM) infection remains a significant challenge. This study aims to investigate the diagnostic value of multicolour nested real-time fluorescence quantitative nucleic acid amplification detection technology [Xpert Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB)/rifampicin (RIF)] in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) acid-fast smear-positive cases. Methods: Between 1 January 2017 and 30 June 2022, 365 patients who underwent fibreoptic bronchoscopy and had positive acid-fast ...
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Science 2025-06-13

BGI Genomics successfully concludes first Southeast Asia training workshop

BGI Genomics has successfully wrapped up its inaugural Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) Interpretation of Genetic Diseases Training Workshop for Southeast Asia, marking a significant milestone in international genomics education. Held at the BGI Center in late May, the workshop brought together emerging healthcare professionals and researchers from Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam for a week of intensive, hands-on learning. Comprehensive Learning Curriculum The program aimed to improve genetic disease diagnosis in Southeast Asia. It offered both theoretical lessons and hands-on ...
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Medicine 2025-06-13

Rare ovarian tumor discovered during postmenopausal vault prolapse evaluation

“The incidental discovery of a pure SCT in an atrophic ovary during pelvic surgery in a postmenopausal woman is exceedingly rare.” BUFFALO, NY — June 13, 2025 — A new case report was published in Volume 12 of Oncoscience on May 22, 2025, titled “A rare case: Pure Sertoli cell tumor uncovered in atrophic ovary during postmenopausal vault prolapse evaluation.” In this case report, corresponding author Naina Kumar from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and team describe a ...
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Technology 2025-06-13

Innovative algorithm revolutionizes chip placement for advanced circuit design

In the fast-paced realm of semiconductor technology, optimizing chip design to meet the dual challenges of performance enhancement and cost reduction has emerged as a pivotal focus. A new study published in Engineering introduces a groundbreaking approach to address this challenge, presenting an exact algorithm for placement optimization in mixed-cell-height (MCH) circuits. Led by researchers Binqi Zhang, Lu Zhen, and Gilbert Laporte, the work tackles the intricate task of arranging diverse circuit cells within constrained chip regions while adhering to critical design rules, including ...
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Medicine 2025-06-13

Hereditary mutations in BRCA genes increase risk of rare lymphoma among women with breast cancer who received textured breast implants

(WASHINGTON, June 13, 2025) – Women with breast cancer who were also carriers of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation and received textured breast implants as part of their reconstructive surgery after mastectomy were 16 times more likely to develop breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), a rare T-cell lymphoma, compared with similar women without these genetic mutations, according to a study published today in Blood Advances. “Our findings show that BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations are a significant risk factor for developing this type of lymphoma, confirming earlier suggestions of a possible role. It’s possible ...
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Environment 2025-06-13

Improving resilience to tsunamis and earthquakes via predictions of waste disposal times

Tsunamis and earthquakes pose devastating threats to coastal communities worldwide. However, beyond the immediate destructive power of these events, the negative impact of the disaster waste they produce is sometimes overlooked. For example, when the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake struck, approximately 23 million tons of waste were generated, severely hindering post-disaster recovery processes. Similarly, the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake produced 2.7 million tons of waste—equivalent to seven years of normal waste disposal. Thus, rapid processing of disaster waste is essential for restoring community functionality, making it a critical ...
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Science 2025-06-13

Scientists extend facial expression analysis system to include bonobos

Researchers have successfully adapted a standardized system for analyzing facial expressions to include bonobos, our closest living relatives alongside chimpanzees. The study, led by an international team of scientists from multiple institutions including Leipzig University and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, extends the Chimpanzee Facial Action Coding System (ChimpFACS) to another species closely related to humans and chimpanzees, bonobos. The research confirms that bonobos possess a repertoire of 28 distinct facial movements, including ...
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Medicine 2025-06-13

SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin treatment stabilizes kidney function in patients who have had a heart attack

Journal: Nature Cardiovascular Research – June 13 Online Issue Author: Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH, MBA, Director of Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital and the Dr. Valentin Fuster Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Title: Secondary analysis of the EMPACT-MI Trial Reveals Cardiovascular-Kidney Efficacy and Safety of Empagliflozin After Acute Myocardial Infarction Bottom line of study: SGLT2 inhibitors have become a major drug used to treat diabetes, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease. However, there have been questions as to whether it is safe to use these drugs ...
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Medicine 2025-06-13

City of Hope developed a foundational map of tumor cells for personalized brain cancer treatments

LOS ANGELES — City of Hope®, one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the U.S. with its National Medical Center named top 5 in the nation for cancer by U.S. News & World Report, co-led the first study to demonstrate that characterizing genetic material near chromosomes forecasts how mutated, cancer-causing genes reengineer DNA and alter the tumor microenvironment. The leading-edge brain cancer research provides foundational knowledge that one day will improve the practice of precision medicine and allow oncologists to deliver more personalized therapies to cancer patients. Tiny DNA molecules ...
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Science 2025-06-13

Pangolins in Africa hunted for food rather than illicit scales trade – with meat ranked as ‘tastiest’

Study suggests that appetite for bushmeat – rather than black market for scales to use in traditional Chinese medicine – may be driving West Africa’s illegal hunting of one of the world’s most threatened mammals.   Interviews with hundreds of hunters show pangolins overwhelmingly caught for food, with majority of scales thrown away. Survey work shows pangolin is considered the most palatable meat in the region. The vast majority of pangolin hunting in African ...
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Medicine 2025-06-13

How solvents shape precision drug delivery

Even the best products won’t meet expectations if they are packed poorly — packaging matters. The same goes for drug delivery. Osaka Metropolitan University researchers have uncovered the critical role played by solvents in how effectively drugs can be loaded into metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), a promising class of drug carriers. Their findings shed light on a previously overlooked part of the loading process, with the potential to boost the efficiency of how medications are delivered inside the body. To treat diseases effectively, it’s not just the medicine that counts — but also how that medicine is delivered into our ...
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