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Category: biotech/medical – Page 9

Malaria rebound spurs AI-driven hunt for parasite genes linked to deadly cases

Despite decades of efforts to combat it, malaria remains a major global health threat. According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2025 World Malaria Report, about 282 million cases and approximately 610,000 deaths were recorded worldwide in 2024. Recently, there has been a slight rise in the number of cases again. Children under the age of 5 in sub-Saharan Africa are particularly affected.

While many millions of lives have been saved since 2000, progress is slowing down. Reasons for this include drug and insecticide resistance, the effects of climate change, and weak health systems. The WHO stresses that increased international efforts and innovative approaches are urgently needed to curb malaria in the long term.

“For over 100 years, the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine has been dedicated to researching and combating malaria,” says Prof. Jürgen May, Chairman of the BNITM Board. “In view of stagnating progress and new challenges, it is clear how important new scientific approaches are. A key factor here is the use of modern data analysis.

The Influence of Arterial Anatomy on Early and Late Outcomes of Carotid Artery Stenting

To identify anatomical risk factors for poor perioperative outcomes in patients treated with carotid artery stenting (CAS). To compare long-term results for patients with favourable and hostile anatomy (HA) for CAS.

Single-centre, retrospective study of patients who underwent CAS from 2004 to 2024 at a public hospital in Latin America. Anatomical data were extracted from preoperative imaging regarding the aorta, the supra-aortic trunks, and the internal carotid arteries (ICA). Short-term outcomes included the primary composite outcome of major stroke and death (S/D); any ischaemic neurological event (AINE); major stroke, any stroke. Multivariate analysis (MA) was performed to identify classifying anatomical factors regarding hostility to CAS. Long-term outcomes, defined as AINE; cumulative survival; major stroke-free survival; and stent primary patency (SPP), were analysed using Kaplan–Meier estimates.

MA associated hostile anatomy with complex ICA, defined as either significant tortuosity or near-occlusion. One hundred and eighty-seven CAS procedures were performed in 172 patients, of which 79 (42.3%) had HA. HA correlated with a higher perioperative incidence of AINE (p = .018), any stroke (p = .029), and S/D (p = .049), but not with major stroke (p = .054). At 5 years, the HA group presented higher cumulative incidence of AINE (p = 0,047) and lower SPP (p = 0,011). There were no differences between groups for cumulative survival and major stroke-free survival.

Bronchial Arterial Chemoembolization Combined with Tislelizumab for Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer: An Exploratory, Prospective, Single-Arm, Phase II Trial

To assess the effectiveness and safety of bronchial arterial chemoembolization (BACE) combined with tislelizumab for advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Benefits and Harms of Dementia Screening for Family Members of Older Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Alzheimer disease and related dementias screening of adults ≥65 years in primary care had no significant benefits or harms on family member quality of life or psychological well-being.

Question How does screening adults aged 65 years and older for dementia in primary care affect their family members’ health-related quality of life, stress, and perceived readiness to provide care?

Findings In this randomized clinical trial that included 1808 patient-family member dyads, there was no significant difference in benefit of screening to family members, measured by physical and mental component summary scores, and no difference in harm, measured by depression and anxiety between the screen and no screen groups over time.

Meaning These findings suggest that screening older adults for dementia in primary care did not improve or worsen their family members’ quality of life or psychological well-being.

The Science of piRNA and Predicting Death With a Blood Test

Researchers have identified specific small non-coding RNA molecules, known as piRNAs, that may serve as potent biomarkers for predicting all-cause mortality. This breakthrough suggests that a single blood test could eventually quantify biological aging and help clinicians identify high-risk patients long before clinical symptoms of age-related decline emerge. More on the research.

A new study analyzed piRNA — first discovered in 2006 — as a strong predictor of short-term survival in older patients. It could one day be a simple blood test.

When pomegranates meet the artery wall: How gut-derived metabolites may stabilize atherosclerotic plaques

For years, pomegranates have enjoyed a reputation as a “heart-healthy” fruit. As a cardiovascular researcher, I have often been asked a seemingly simple question: If pomegranates are so good for us, how exactly do they work? Our recent study, published in Antioxidants, set out to answer that question—not by focusing on the fruit itself, but by following what happens after the body and, crucially, the gut microbiome gets involved.

Atherosclerosis—an inflammatory disease that underlies heart attacks and strokes—develops slowly. It begins when low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles become trapped and oxidized in artery walls, triggering immune cell recruitment, chronic inflammation, and eventually plaque formation. Drugs such as statins are effective but not perfect; many patients continue to carry significant “residual risk.” This has driven interest in other preventative and therapeutic agents. These include nutraceuticals—bioactive food components that may potentially complement existing therapies.

Among these, pomegranate polyphenols, especially a compound called punicalagin, have stood out. But there is a catch. Punicalagin itself is poorly absorbed. What actually enters the bloodstream in meaningful amounts are urolithins: small molecules made when the gut bacteria metabolize punicalagin and its breakdown product, ellagic acid.

MHealth Intervention to Improve Hypertension Care in High-Risk Patients

RESEARCH ARTICLE: mHealth Intervention to Improve Hypertension Care in High-Risk Patients @valnp @countryside1991 @PDrawz

BACKGROUND: The mGlide RCT (randomized controlled trial) evaluated whether a pharmacist-led, mobile health technology facilitated care model improves hypertension control in diverse populations. METHODS: We recruited adult English, Spanish, or Hmong-speaking patients with uncontrolled hypertension from a large health care system and smaller community clinics serving low-income patients. Participants were randomized 1:1 to mGlide or usual care. The 6-month intervention included daily blood pressure (BP) self-monitoring using a smartphone and wireless monitor, automated app-based data sharing, and responsive medication adjustment by a pharmacist-led provider-team. Comparison participants received a digital monitor. Outcomes included mean 6-month systolic BP (SBP), 12-month sustained BP control, 24-hour ambulatory BP and patient activation.

The Man Growing Organs On Demand

The initial heart transplant was not greeted with universal applause. Shortly after Dr. Christiaan Barnard performed the procedure for the first time in 1967, people bombarded his hospital in South Africa with letters that characterized the doctor as a butcher and a ghoul. A fellow cardiologist likened the operation to a form of cannibalism. Many people criticized Barnard for picking one life over another and playing God.

Justin Rebo, KindBio and their fantastic sacks.

Alternating atomic layers enable rare electron pairing mechanism in new unconventional superconductor

Superconductors, materials that can conduct electricity with a resistance of zero, have proved to be highly promising for the development of quantum technologies, medical imaging devices, particle accelerators and other advanced technologies. These materials can be divided into two broad categories: conventional and unconventional superconductors.

In conventional superconductors, the formation of electron pairs (i.e., Cooper pairs) that underpin superconductivity occurs at low temperatures, prompted by interactions between electrons and lattice vibrations. Unconventional superconductors, on the other hand, typically enter the superconducting phase at higher temperatures.

In unconventional superconductors, the formation of cooper pairs is prompted by other physical phenomena beyond electron-phonon interactions, such as magnetic fluctuations, interactions between electrons or other unknown mechanisms. Electrons in most superconductors form so-called spin-singlet pairs, pairs of electrons with an opposite intrinsic angular momentum (i.e., spin), which have a total spin of zero.

Tiny ‘light-concentrating’ particles boost terahertz technology, study shows

Scientists have found a way to boost terahertz technology using particles thousands of times smaller than a grain of sand. Research published in Scientific Reports by Loughborough University’s Emergent Photonics Research Center shows how a sparse layer of nanoparticles can make materials that produce terahertz radiation more efficient.

Terahertz radiation sits between microwaves and infrared on the electromagnetic spectrum and has a range of potential uses. It can “see” through materials like clothing or plastic and detect chemical fingerprints, with applications in security screening, medical imaging, materials testing, and wireless communications.

But existing devices are limited by how efficiently they can generate terahertz waves.

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