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Common hospice medications linked to higher risk of death in people with dementia

A new study finds that benzodiazepines and antipsychotics prescribed to patients with dementia receiving hospice care may carry major unintended risks, including increased mortality. The study highlights two policy issues: lack of oversight of medication use in hospice and a mismatch between hospice policy and dementia care.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 14, 2025

MIT researchers develop a new system can dial expression of synthetic genes up or down

Researchers at MIT have developed a new system that allows for precise control over the expression of synthetic genes in cells. The DIAL system uses a promoter editing mechanism to establish desired protein levels, which can be edited after delivery. This technology has the potential to improve gene therapy and cell reprogramming appli...

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateOct 14, 2025

UVA Health developing way to ID people at risk of dangerous lung scarring even before symptoms appear

Researchers aim to determine if biomarkers can identify adults at risk of developing interstitial lung disease (ILD), a chronic condition that causes inflammation and scarring in the lung tissue. The approach could lead to the development of new, better treatments with more tolerable side effects.

SourceUniversity of Virginia Health System·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateOct 10, 2025

Major cosmetic injection survey finds safety gaps

A recent survey of 919 UK adults who received botulinum toxin injections found alarming differences in the quality of care and advice given. Despite existing requirements for qualified prescribers, many participants reported not receiving written consent forms or being informed of potential complications.

SourceAnglia Ruskin University·JournalAesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum·DateSep 30, 2025

Chinese Medical Journal review highlights neoadjuvant therapy’s promise in advanced colon cancer treatment

Recent clinical trials demonstrate the potential benefits of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and immunotherapy in improving tumor response and surgical success for patients with locally advanced colon cancer. The approach also reduces the risk of recurrence and metastasis, increasing survival outcomes and decreasing cancer-related complications.

SourceChinese Medical Journals Publishing House Co., Ltd.·JournalChinese Medical Journal·TypeLiterature review·DateSep 19, 2025

Unveiling the therapeutic potential of abaloparatide in treating periodontal dehiscence

Researchers demonstrate that intraoral administration of abaloparatide combined with orthodontic force supports alveolar bone thickening. ABL-induced alveolar bone formation is linked to the focal adhesion pathway, where FAK activation plays a crucial role.

SourceEditorial Office of West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University·JournalInternational Journal of Oral Science·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 19, 2025

Landmark genetic study sheds new light on how the eye develops its sharpest vision

Researchers have identified over 120 genetic signals shaping foveal development, including pathways involved in vitamin A metabolism and retinal cell fate. The study provides the first comprehensive genetic dissection of human foveal pit architecture, revealing new insights into childhood visual disorders.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalInvestigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 18, 2025

Study identifies candidates for therapeutic targets in pediatric germ cell tumors

Researchers have identified distinct immune profiles for different subtypes of pediatric germ cell tumors, which could lead to more targeted therapies. The study found that certain tumor subtypes respond well to immunotherapy and others exhibit an immunosuppressive environment, making them more aggressive.

Precision targeting of the centromedian nucleus in drug-resistant epilepsy highlighted in brain network disorders

Researchers developed new methods to accurately target the centromedian nucleus for deep brain stimulation in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. Advanced imaging techniques, such as high-resolution MRI and DTI tractography, improve targeting accuracy by identifying specific brain pathways and neural firing patterns.

SourceBrain Network Disorders Editorial Office·JournalBrain Network Disorders·TypeLiterature review·DateSep 16, 2025

Prescribed opioid pain medications during pregnancy likely aren’t associated with increased risk of autism, ADHD

A Swedish study of over 1.2 million children found no significant association between prenatal exposure to opioids and increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The researchers attributed the observed differences in ASD rates among exposed versus unexposed children to other pre...

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateSep 16, 2025

Acupuncture for chronic low back pain in older adults

A randomized clinical trial found that acupuncture provided greater improvements in back pain-related disability compared to usual medical care alone. The study suggests that acupuncture needling is an effective and safe treatment option for older adults with chronic low back pain.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateSep 12, 2025

Vitamin K analogues may help transform the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases

Researchers synthesized hybrid vitamin K analogues with enhanced neuroactive properties, exhibiting threefold greater potency in inducing neural progenitor cell differentiation compared to natural vitamin K. The compounds preserved vitamin K and retinoic acid's biological activity via the SXR and RAR receptors.

SourceShibaura Institute of Technology·JournalACS Chemical Neuroscience·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 12, 2025

Semaglutide reduces cocaine use in rats

Researchers at the University of Gothenburg found that semaglutide reduced both cocaine use and relapse in rats, with motivation to keep taking cocaine decreasing by 52%. The study suggests that semaglutide may blunt cocaine's ability to raise dopamine levels in the brain.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalEuropean Neuropsychopharmacology·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 5, 2025

Weight-loss drug semaglutide reduces cocaine use in rats: Suggests possible first pharmacological treatment for human cocaine dependency

Semaglutide significantly reduces cocaine-seeking behavior in rats by 26%, with a 62% drop in seeking after abstinence. This finding suggests semaglutide's potential as a treatment for human cocaine dependency, currently lacking effective pharmacological options.

SourceEuropean College of Neuropsychopharmacology·JournalEuropean Neuropsychopharmacology·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 3, 2025

Beta blockers, the standard treatment after a heart attack, may offer no benefit for heart attack patients and women can have worse outcomes

A new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine and the European Heart Journal finds that beta blockers, commonly prescribed after a heart attack, provide no clinical benefit for patients with preserved heart function. Women treated with beta blockers had a higher risk of death, heart attack, or hospitalization for heart f...

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateAug 30, 2025