The latest Annual Epidemiological Reports from ECDC indicate a surge in bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) across Europe. In 2024, notifications of gonorrhea and syphilis, alongside congenital syphilis, reached their highest levels in over a decade, reflecting sustained transmission across multiple countries.

Immunotherapy for cancer works like a guided missile, directing the body's immune cells toward tumor cells. However, not all immune cells respond to the call to attack, and this can lead to variability in treatment responses. As immune cell response is a critical factor in the likelihood of overcoming the disease, understanding why is paramount.

Vitamin D is important for the body to function properly: it balances the immune system, helps to keep bones healthy and benefits muscle regeneration. Yet, 1 billion people worldwide are vitamin D deficient. This is the case in winter particularly, as UVB rays barely reach Earth's surface. In fact, the body produces 80% of this type of vitamin through solar radiation (the remainder comes from the diet). Given this, and considering the physiological functions of vitamin D, the effect it might have on both health and physical performance when taken as a supplement has kindled interest.

Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University investigators have identified molecular mechanisms that drive inflammation in alcohol-associated liver disease. Their preclinical discoveries could one day provide targets for therapies to treat the potentially fatal condition.

Younger generations appear to be experiencing poorer health earlier in life than previous generations, according to a review of studies comparing national birth cohort datasets involving tens of thousands of people across the UK born since 1946.

Electrical stimulation of the spinal cord, such as following a spinal cord injury, has made great strides in recent years. However, high-frequency stimulation pulses, which are used in many current applications, appear less efficient at activating those nerve fibers that are believed to contribute decisively to therapeutic effects. This is the conclusion of a study conducted by an international team with the participation of Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU).

Nearly 1.2 billion people worldwide are living with a mental disorder, nearly double the number recorded in 1990. According to a new study, this stark rise has placed mental disorders as the leading cause of disability globally, surpassing cardiovascular disease, cancer, and musculoskeletal conditions.

More than 21% of U.S. adults experience depression, greatly impacting their quality of life. Many people with mild-to-moderate depression can improve their symptoms by adjusting daily habits like sleep, exercise, diet and social interaction, according to Jyoti Mishra, Ph.D., associate professor of psychiatry at University of California San Diego School of Medicine. However, because depression is highly variable between people, a one-size-fits-all lifestyle approach isn't very effective.

Understanding and controlling how cancer cells transition between different states remains a critical challenge in tumor biology. In a recent publication in Advanced Materials, a team from the Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden (IPF) presents a data-driven strategy to guide these transitions using engineered biomaterials.

A research team from the Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), has developed a novel combination therapy that significantly improves treatment outcomes and survival in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with FLT3 gene mutations. The study found that the combined use of the FLT3 inhibitor Quizartinib and the protein synthesis inhibitor Omacetaxine Mepesuccinate (collectively termed QUIZOM) effectively suppresses the growth of cancer cells and activates the patient's immune system, achieving a composite complete remission (CRc) rate of about 83% while reducing the risk of relapse.