Medical & Health Sciences

For many parents, a child’s snoring may seem harmless, even endearing. Yet in some cases, it signals something more serious. Obstructive sleep apnoea is a condition in which a child’s breathing is repeatedly disrupted during sleep. These interruptions can affect growth, behaviour, and learning. Children with this condition may toss and turn at night, struggle to concentrate during the day, or show signs of hyperactivity and fatigue. Traditionally, enlarged tonsils and adenoids have been seen as the main culprits. Surgery to remove them has long been considered the standard treatment. However, research led by Consultant ENT Surgeon Ms. Aikaterini Dritsoula of The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust invites us to look deeper. Her work suggests that the story is often more complex, especially in very young children.

Early childhood is a critical period for growth and development, yet many young children face nutritionrelated risks that can go unnoticed. Professor Janis Randall Simpson and colleagues have developed NutriSTEP®, validated and reliable screening tools that help identify potential nutritional concerns in toddlers and preschoolers. Their large-scale analysis of Canadian data reveals patterns in diet, behaviour, and food access that could help guide early interventions and support healthy development.

At Montana State University Billings, Dr Lynn George and her team are investigating the cellular mechanisms underlying amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Using a new mouse model, their research reveals that disruption of the Elongator complex leads to nucleolar stress and the loss of the protein TDP-43 from motor neurons. These findings connect two major hallmarks of ALS and offer new insight into how the disease develops.

Cancer immunotherapy has transformed treatment outcomes, yet many patients still fail to respond. At Maastricht University, Jella van de Laak, working with Professor Ludwig Dubois and Professor Jan Theys, is exploring how tumour-targeting bacteria could improve immune responses and expand treatment success.

New research has identified proteins from gut bacteria, called Sel1-like proteins, that have the potential to help the body get rid of excess oxalate, an organic substance linked to kidney stones, kidney disease, and other health problems. Sel1-like proteins help the cell in assembling large molecular complexes important for cell function. Dr Hatim Hassan from the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States, is part of a team of scientists researching whether these proteins and their derived peptides could reduce blood and urinary oxalate levels to prevent and/ or treat hyperoxalemia (high blood oxalate), hyperoxaluria (high urine oxalate) and related disorders (including kidney stones).

Dr Norio Mitsuhashi, former Professor of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Tokyo Women’s Medical University, leads revolutionary clinical research into optimising stereotactic body radiation therapy for lung cancer. Dr Mitsuhashi and his colleagues examine whether routinely available patient and tumour characteristics can predict respiratory tumour motion, a critical source of uncertainty in high precision radiotherapy. Their findings suggest that respiratory motion cannot be reliably inferred, and must instead be measured directly in every patient.

Quaternary ammonium compounds are a large class of compounds used as disinfectants in hospitals, restaurants, healthcare and animal care facilities, and are popular as household cleaners. With disease outbreaks increasing our fears about infections, the use of disinfectants has skyrocketed in recent years. Understandably, we all want to feel safe. However, as Professor Terry Hrubec from the Department of Biomedical Sciences of E. Via College of Osteopathic Medicine discovered, such products may be causing more harm than good.

Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy offers life-saving potential, particularly against blood cancers, but severe side effects such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS) limit its safety. These toxicities are linked to uncontrolled CAR expression levels on the T-cell surface. Led by Professor Abraham P. Lee, researchers at the University of California, Irvine, have developed an advanced microfluidic system, called the Acoustic-Electric Shear Orbiting Poration (AESOP) platform, to precisely control the dose of genetic material delivered into primary T cells. This innovation promises safer, more homogeneous, and highly effective cellular immunotherapies.

For people with special healthcare needs, something as basic as visiting a dentist can be nearly impossible. A ground-breaking paper by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) exposes the scale of this crisis. By outlining potential paths forward, Dr Ray Stewart and Dr Ben Meisel offer hope for significant improvements in access to essential dental care.

MELAS is a rare and serious genetic condition that affects how the body’s cells produce energy, leading to extreme fatigue, muscle weakness, and a range of other symptoms. With no cure currently available, treatment focuses only on managing complications.
A team of researchers led by Dr Liisa Laakso at the Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland, Australia, is exploring an innovative, non-drug therapy called photobiomodulation, which uses light to stimulate mitochondria to work more efficiently. This pioneering study will provide intial evidence on whether PBM can safely reduce fatigue and improve quality of life for people living with MELAS, paving the way for future clinical trials.

The way in which viruses invade and replicate within their hosts involves a multilayered system of protein-based interactions, and understanding the mechanisms at play is crucial when developing potential treatments. Utilising new techniques such as genetic code expansion, Professor John Paul Pezacki and his team of researchers at the University of Ottawa in Canada have designed a novel, highly specific artificial protein complex which can halt the progression of viral infections in human cells. They have identified and described a novel approach to wider preventative and restorative therapeutics in human disease.

Parkinson’s disease is the most rapidly growing neurological disease worldwide. At present, there are no treatments that can prevent or reverse the damage caused by this disease. Therefore, there is a demand for therapies that ease and manage symptoms. Professor Rebecca States of Hofstra University collaborated with colleagues from Long Island University to evaluate the effects of exercise on the balance and postural control of individuals with Parkinson’s disease. The outcomes shed light on how exercise should be used for healthcare practitioners and researchers working with Parkinson’s disease.

Scientists have a growing body of data that could bring them a step closer to being able to ‘instruct’ skin collagen to resist the effects of ageing, according to a review of the latest research undertaken by Dr Peter Kim, biochemist and founder of private tuition company Veribera.

New research led by Dr Nathaniel R. Johnson of UND and his mentors at NDSU, Drs Julie Garden-Robinson and Sherri Stastny, reveals a strong link between protein type and mental health in older adults. Analysing data from 637 North Dakotans aged 50+, the study found that self-reported average meal patterns that included lean proteins, like chicken, fish, eggs, and legumes, were associated with fewer days of depression and anxiety. In contrast, processed meats such as bacon and deli slices correlated with increased mental distress, especially in rural communities. These findings suggest that protein quality may significantly influence emotional well-being in later life, offering a simple, everyday strategy to support mental health, one nourishing meal at a time.

Crohn’s Disease (CD) is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that is due to abnormalities of the gastrointestinal (GI) immune system that result in immunologic hyper-responsiveness to normal GI constituents. It causes severe and recurrent GI symptoms that can be managed but not cured, except in rare cases where histocompatible bone marrow transplantation can be applied to replace the errant immune system.

Dr Warren Strober from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the USA, specialises in the study of the GI immune system, both when it operates normally to maintain homeostasis, as well as when it operates abnormally causing health issues such as CD.

The nasal cavity serves as the primary entry point for SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratoy viruses, making it a critical frontline for immune defence. Professor Antonio Bertoletti from Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore has been investigating how our immune systems respond to SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination. His groundbreaking research reveals that individuals who experience breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections after vaccination develop a uniquely robust ‘hybrid immunity’ in their nasal passages. This work provides crucial insights into developing more effective vaccines and enhances our understanding of why some people may be better protected against future infections than others.
Developments in the mathematics of fractional calculus and special functions then helped to facilitate extensive studies of space and our solar system. Over the last 30 years, under the umbrella of the United Nations, space science has boomed, with 7 new centres set up across the globe and over 20 dedicated workshops arranged. A new generation is being trained to tackle the mysteries and challenges presented to us by outer space.

Histology is the science dealing with the structure and analysis of cells and their formation into tissues and organs. The profession is responsible for the preparation of all pathological tissue samples removed and collected from the human body for the microscopic detection of tissue abnormalities for disease diagnosis and treatment. Despite advances in immunohistochemistry, molecular diagnostics, and digital pathology, the US Clinical Laboratory Improvements Amendments (CLIA) regulations from 1988 have not evolved to reflect histology’s scientific demands, including performing complex diagnostic tasks essential to patient care. Elizabeth Chlipala from Premier Laboratory (LLC), Longmont, Colorado and colleagues argue for a national certification requirement and regulatory oversight for histologists. Citing current problems including quality issues, workforce shortages, and the need for standardized practices, these experts argue that recognizing histologists under CLIA would elevate the profession, ensure competency, and improve patient outcomes, challenging the current position of the College of American Pathologists.

Dr Masumi Kamiyama, Associate Professor at Jumonji University, Saitama, Japan, leads research into the early detection and prevention of diabetic nephropathy, which is kidney damage caused from long-term high blood sugar that makes it harder for the kidneys to filter waste, and can potentially lead to kidney failure. Dr Kamiyama and colleagues are exploring the role of a protein called angiotensinogen (AGT) as an early biomarker of kidney damage. The team studies the potential of plant-based antioxidants, called isoflavones, to slow or halt kidney damage from highly reactive molecules, such as oxygen free radicals. Ongoing research by Professor Han Lamers (University of Oslo) and Professor Bettina Reitz-Joosse (University of Groningen) reveals how Fascist Italy weaponized ancient Rome’s language to legitimise its power and connect Mussolini’s regime to Italy’s imperial past. Their projects involve collaboration with an international team of mostly junior researchers based in Norway, the Netherlands, Austria, and Italy.

Myocardial infarction, commonly termed as a heart attack, is a major cause of death and poor health worldwide. Regenerating heart tissue is an exciting and promising concept that can have significant benefits in myocardial infarctions and related diseases, but this has not yet been achieved in real-life clinical treatments. In a collaboration between Goethe University Frankfurt and Goethe University Hospital, Professor Jaya Krishnan and colleagues address this by controlling pathologic genes involved in the development of heart failure that develops after heart attacks. The researchers demonstrate a new way of treating heart disease by aiding in the division and regrowth of heart cells after a heart attack.

The correct functioning of the human immune system depends on its ability to recognise danger, such as tumour cells, viruses, and bacteria. Scientists are learning how immunoproteasome activation can overcome the mechanisms by which cancer cells escape immune responses. Immunoproteasomes are small high molecular weight protein-degrading machines that signpost abnormal proteins made by cancer cells, directing the immune system against them. Dr James Driscoll at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center is using novel proprietary small molecules to selectively boost the catalytic activity of immunoproteasomes, which increases the tumour killing (or cytotoxic) effect of a group of white cells called T-cells. These findings provide a strong rationale for developing personalised therapeutics that target immunoproteasomes, for cancer and other immune-mediated conditions.

Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating condition that strips away people’s memory, thinking, and independence. By 2050, it is expected to affect over 100 million people around the world, making it a high priority for scientific and medical research. Researchers are now exploring the potential for mechanical and light-based stimulation of the brain and nervous system to treat Alzheimer’s disease symptoms. At the University of Minho in Portugal, Francisca Monteiro is developing a PhD project supervised by a multidisciplinary set of experienced researchers, who have reviewed the evidence behind these approaches, including whole-body vibration, auditory stimulation, transcranial ultrasound stimulation, and photobiomodulation. The team aims to synthesize the evidence to support these treatments and understand what further work is needed.

Cancers often develop because of faulty DNA repair systems. PARP inhibitors (PARPi) are a class of targeted anti-cancer drugs that exploit this weakness, by inhibiting a complementary DNA repair system, to selectively target the tumour. However, these medicines need to be taken every day, creating a burden on patients and reducing the options for combination with other anticancer therapies. Professor Nicola Curtin and her team at Newcastle University investigated how long different PARPi stay active in cancer cells after a single dose and how this influences their effectiveness when combined with another anti-cancer drug.