A new scientific review has highlighted a growing shift in anti-aging research toward highly targeted therapies designed to remove harmful senescent cells while preserving those that play beneficial roles in the body.
The review, published in Volume 18 of Aging-US on May 4, 2026, examines the complex role of cellular senescence in aging and age-related diseases.
The study was led by Jian Deng and Dong Yang from the Department of Targeting Therapy and Immunology at the Cancer Center of West China Hospital, part of Sichuan University.
Cellular senescence refers to a state in which cells permanently stop dividing and begin releasing inflammatory molecules. These cells have long been considered harmful contributors to aging and chronic disease. However, the review notes that emerging evidence suggests senescent cells can also support important biological processes such as wound healing, tissue repair, embryonic development and maintenance of tissue balance.
The researchers analysed how senescence affects multiple organs, including the liver, lungs, kidneys, heart, brain, skin and adipose tissue. They found that aging-related damage is driven by several interconnected factors, including oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, DNA damage, chronic inflammation, metabolic stress, telomere shortening and environmental exposure such as ultraviolet radiation and pollution.
According to the review, senescent cells accumulate across highly specialised cell types — including fibroblasts, macrophages, endothelial cells, hepatocytes, epithelial cells and astrocytes — where they can disrupt tissue structure and accelerate disease progression.
Mechanistic landscape of pro-longevity strategies. This figure illustrates the mechanistic action of key small-molecule drugs in clearing senescent cells, alongside immunotherapy strategies designed for the same purpose. Furthermore, it depicts the mechanisms by which anti-aging agents, such as SASP inhibitors, reduce the secretion of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype to achieve therapeutic anti-aging effects.
Credit Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0),
The paper stresses that senescent cells are not a single uniform group. Depending on their biological environment, some may help prevent fibrosis and support regeneration, while others promote inflammation, tissue degeneration, metabolic disorders and cancer development.
This growing understanding has led scientists to rethink anti-aging therapies. Instead of broadly eliminating all senescent cells, researchers are increasingly exploring “precision geroprotection” — a strategy aimed at selectively targeting harmful senescent cells while preserving beneficial ones important for tissue stability and recovery.
“Based on these insights, this review summarizes the induction mechanisms of cellular senescence and the subsequent evolution of their functional phenotypes across diverse tissues,” the authors wrote.
The review also outlines emerging anti-aging treatments. Early senolytic drugs such as Dasatinib, Quercetin and Fisetin were developed to destroy senescent cells by disrupting their survival pathways.
Newer approaches now include advanced immunotherapies such as CAR-T cell therapies targeting senescence-associated markers, along with “senomorphic” treatments that suppress harmful inflammatory signalling without killing the cells themselves.
The authors said technologies such as single-cell omics, lineage tracing and spatial profiling could help scientists better identify different senescent cell subtypes and develop safer, more precise therapies.
At the same time, the review warns that major clinical challenges remain. These include the lack of reliable biomarkers for senescent cells, difficulties in delivering targeted drugs, risks of unintended tissue damage and limited understanding of how senescent cells evolve over time in different organs.
The researchers cautioned that removing senescent cells indiscriminately could interfere with tissue repair, immune defence and structural stability in organs such as the brain, heart and lungs.
Overall, the review presents a more balanced understanding of cellular aging, arguing that future anti-aging medicine will likely depend on carefully tailored interventions rather than broad elimination of senescent cells.
For decades, scientists have struggled to explain one of the biggest mysteries in human evolution: why nearly 90 per cent of people across cultures are right-handed, while no other primate species shows such a strong population-wide preference.
A new study led by researchers at the University of Oxford suggests the answer may be tied to two major evolutionary developments that helped shape modern humans — walking on two legs and the growth of larger brains.
The research, published in PLOS Biology, analysed data from 2,025 individuals across 41 species of monkeys and apes. The study was conducted by Thomas A. Püschel and Rachel M. Hurwitz from Oxford’s School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography, along with Chris Venditti from the University of Reading.
Using Bayesian evolutionary modelling, the researchers tested several long-standing theories behind handedness, including the influence of tool use, diet, habitat, body size, social structure, brain development and movement patterns.
Humans initially appeared to be a clear outlier compared with other primates. However, when the researchers factored in brain size and the ratio between arm and leg length — an important anatomical indicator of upright walking — humans no longer stood apart from the broader evolutionary pattern.
The findings suggest that bipedalism and brain expansion together may have driven the development of strong right-handedness in humans.
The researchers also used the model to estimate handedness patterns among extinct human ancestors. Early hominins such as Ardipithecus and Australopithecus likely showed only mild right-hand preferences, similar to those seen in modern great apes.
The tendency appears to strengthen significantly with the emergence of the genus Homo, including species such as Homo erectus and Neanderthals, before reaching the strong right-handed dominance seen in modern Homo sapiens.
One notable exception was Homo floresiensis, often referred to as the “hobbit” species. Researchers predicted that this small-brained species had a much weaker right-hand preference, possibly because it retained a mix of climbing and upright walking adaptations rather than full bipedalism.
According to the study, the evolutionary shift likely occurred in two stages. Walking upright may have first freed the hands from locomotion, encouraging specialised manual activity. Later, as human brains expanded and reorganised, right-handedness became increasingly dominant.
“This is the first study to test several of the major hypotheses for human handedness within a single framework,” said Dr Püschel. “Our findings suggest handedness is closely linked to key traits that define humans, especially upright walking and larger brains.”
The researchers said several questions still remain unanswered, including why left-handedness continues to persist in human populations and whether similar limb preferences observed in animals like parrots and kangaroos reflect a broader evolutionary pattern across species.
Jaggery, commonly known as gur, is a traditional, unrefined, natural sweetener. It is produced by concentrating sugarcane juice without the use of chemicals. Often called “medicinal sugar”, it is nutritionally comparable to honey. Jaggery is widely consumed across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean under various local names. It is valued for its natural origin, traditional processing methods, and growing consumer preference for chemical-free sweeteners.
India accounts for over 70 percent of global jaggery production. This makes it the world’s largest jaggery producer. Nearly 20–30 percent of the country’s sugarcane production is used for jaggery production. It is one of the major agro-processing industries in rural India. The sector is marked by decentralized processing, low transport costs, small-scale entrepreneurship and cottage industries. It supports approximately 2.5 million livelihoods.
India’s jaggery sector is supported by substantial sugarcane production. In 2024-25, total sugarcane output was estimated at 444.9 million tonnes (MT). Uttar Pradesh contributed 48.5 percent of total production, followed by Maharashtra (24.1 percent) and Karnataka (10.5 percent). Other producing states include Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana.[1]
India is one of the leading exporters of jaggery and confectionery products (including traditional Indian sweets and candies). In 2015-16, exports stood at USD 197 million with a volume of 292.8 MT. By 2024-25, exports increased to USD 406.8 million with a volume of 471.9 MT. This is a rise of about 106.5% in value and 61.2% in volume over the period.[2] Major export destinations in 2024-25 included Indonesia, the USA, the UAE, Nigeria, and Nepal.[3]
If we compare year-on-year growth, exports during April-January (2025-26) reached 450.1 MT, valued at USD 384.4 million, registering an increase of about 16.5% in volume and 15.9% in value over the same period in 2024-25, when exports stood at 386.2 MT, valued at USD 331.4 million.
Domestic demand for natural sweeteners has also increased. In the sweetener segment, jaggery and honey have recorded a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15–20 percent during 2021-24. Jaggery sales in domestic markets had reached approximately 5,000 metric tonnes annually by August 2024. This indicates growing consumer preference for traditional and natural sweetening products.
The Ancient Roots of India’s Jaggery Tradition
Jaggery is widely regarded as an indigenous Indian product. Its history is closely linked to the cultivation and processing of sugarcane, dating back to the Vedic period. Early references to sugarcane cultivation appear in Indian texts from around 1400–1000 BCE. Scholars have suggested that early thin varieties of sugarcane evolved in the moist regions of north-eastern India. Over time, sugarcane cultivation spread across tropical and subtropical regions, making it an important global crop. The word “sugar” is derived from the Sanskrit term sarkara, indicating deep cultural roots of sweetener production in the subcontinent. Historical accounts note that in 647 AD, a Chinese mission travelled to Magadha to learn sugarcane processing techniques. This demonstrates the early diffusion of Indian knowledge in the production of sweeteners. This long tradition of cultivation, processing, and knowledge transfer laid the foundation for India’s enduring prominence in jaggery production.
Jaggery for Nutrition and Public Health
Jaggery is increasingly recognized as a superfood, a natural, nutrient-rich alternative to refined sugar. Jaggery is produced from concentrated sugarcane juice without chemical refining. It therefore retains essential minerals and micronutrients that are typically lost during the sugar-refining process. In India, sugarcane is processed into jaggery, khandsari, and sugar through distinct production methods. Jaggery is the most naturally processed of the three, and nutritionally the richest. Jaggery is widely used in a range of traditional foods and in liquid form. Its demand is steadily increasing, driven by growing health consciousness and a consumer shift towards natural sweeteners.
Besides its traditional use, jaggery is increasingly recognized as a healthier sweetener in processed foods such as bakery and confectionery products. With the continued expansion of this sector, jaggery variants such as cane jaggery, palmyra jaggery, and raw jaggery are progressively gaining market presence. This shift reflects evolving consumer preferences for natural, minimally processed foods.
Nutritional Value of Jaggery
Jaggery retains most of the nutrients present in sugarcane juice, making it one of the most nutritionally rich natural sweeteners. It retains minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, iron, zinc, copper, and manganese that are lost in the intense refining for white sugar. A good-quality jaggery typically contains more than 70% sucrose, small amounts of glucose and fructose, and about 5% minerals, with low moisture content. Iron content (about 10-13 mg per 100 grams) contributes to improved haemoglobin levels, while potassium and magnesium support cardiovascular and muscle function.
Jaggery also contains trace amounts of vitamins, including folic acid and B-complex vitamins, as well as vitamins A, C, D, and E. These micronutrients make jaggery an energy-rich food that can help address deficiencies in these nutrients. Its mineral salt content is significantly higher than that of refined sugar. This makes it a suitable alternative for dietary supplementation, particularly in undernourished populations.
Integrating Jaggery into Nutrition Interventions
Jaggery has been included in Tamil Nadu’s nutrition interventions to address child malnutrition and support school participation. The state provides complementary weaning foods under its nutritious meal program and the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) framework. This is distributed as Take-Home Rations to eligible beneficiaries for 300 days each year. Jaggery constitutes approximately 27 percent of this complementary food mix, enhancing its energy value and micronutrient content. The supplementary food is popularly known as Sathumavu. It is procured from 25 women-run weaning food manufacturing cooperative societies and two private manufacturers in a 65:35 ratio.
These cooperatives collectively include about 1,450 members. A significant proportion of them are widows, deserted, or economically vulnerable women. Jaggery thus integrates nutrition support with livelihood generation. As per NITI Aayog, the program provides nutritious food to nearly 32.75 lakh beneficiaries across Tamil Nadu. While reducing malnutrition, the programme simultaneously promotes the use of nutrient-rich traditional ingredients such as jaggery.
Health Benefits of Jaggery
Jaggery provides sustained energy because its complex sucrose is digested slowly. It therefore releases energy gradually rather than causing rapid spikes in blood glucose. Iron gets absorbed during preparation in traditional iron vessels, making it beneficial to address anaemia. The presence of mineral salts and micronutrients supports overall health and strengthen immunity.
In traditional practices, like Ayurveda, jaggery has long been utilized as a therapeutic sweetener. Ayurvedic medicine considers it beneficial in treating throat and lung infections and supporting digestion. Its cleansing properties aid in detoxifying the respiratory tract and gastrointestinal system. This makes it especially beneficial for individuals exposed to dust and environmental pollutants. Its thermogenic (warming) effect is associated with relief from cough, congestion, and related respiratory discomfort.
Furthermore, jaggery is regarded as a natural detoxifying agent that supports blood purification. It is also believed to reduce fatigue, promote muscular and neural relaxation, and help maintain blood pressure. The presence of essential minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, and zinc supports bone health. Its reported anti-toxic and potential anti-carcinogenic properties contribute to overall physiological well-being.
From Cane to Livelihoods: Jaggery’s Role in Rural Development
Jaggery production in India forms part of the unorganized agro-processing sector. It plays a significant role in supporting rural livelihoods and local economies. As a leading producer and exporter, the sector sustains farmers while catering to both domestic consumption and growing export demand.
As consumer preferences evolve and global demand rises, it has become necessary to diversify along the sugarcane value chain. This is needed to enhance farm incomes and ensure environmentally and economically sustainable production systems. Value addition through Jaggery production offers substantially higher returns than selling raw sugarcane to mills. Empirical evidence indicates that integrating jaggery production with practices like crop diversification and intercropping can significantly improve net returns per unit area.
Jaggery processing contribute to rural development by fostering entrepreneurship, generating local employment, and strengthening regional economies. Jaggery processing generates year-round employment opportunities and supports migrant labour engagement. The production of high-quality jaggery enables access to premium markets, augmenting farmer incomes. Strengthening jaggery-based cottage industry thus represents a viable pathway for promoting value addition, livelihood enhancement, and inclusive agricultural growth.
Organic Jaggery Powder as a Profitable Value-Addition Enterprise
Anthonisamy, a farmer from Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu, has successfully demonstrated the viability of jaggery production as a value-added enterprise. He produces organic jaggery powder. His product is known for its purity and superior taste. It has gained strong demand across local markets, neighbouring states, and even export channels. By adopting organic cultivation practices and processing a local sugarcane variety, he has transformed a traditional activity into a profitable enterprise.
The value-added approach has significantly improved profitability. According to the farmer, organic jaggery powder is sold at about ₹75 per kg, compared to ₹50 per kg for conventional jaggery. Production costs, for both, are about ₹30 per kg.
Though production is seasonal, market demand for jaggery remains consistent throughout the year, ensuring steady income opportunities. Building on this success, diversified products like jaggery flavored chocolate and coconut, are further expanding market reach. Backed by central government support, the enterprise highlights how small-scale processing can enhance incomes, promote rural entrepreneurship, and strengthen agro-based livelihoods.
Unlocking the Sweet Value Chain: India’s Policy Push for Jaggery Ecosystem
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) promotes infrastructure development and enterprise growth for the food processing sector through several central sector schemes. These include
Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY),
Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI), and
Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme.
These demand-driven initiatives are implemented nationwide. They facilitate the establishment and expansion of processing units by adopting modern technologies. Beneficiary units are required to comply with Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulations. They are also encouraged to align with international food safety standards to improve export competitiveness.
PMKSY has a component called Creation/Expansion of Food Processing & Preservation Capacities (CEFPPC). Five jaggery processing units have been approved under this as of December 31, 2025.Total grants-in-aid for this was ₹17.07 crore. The PMFME Scheme has supported3,528 jaggery based micro food processing units with subsidiestotalling₹102.31 crore. The scheme also provides branding and marketing assistance of up to 50 percent to collectives. These may include Farmer-Producer Organizations (FPOs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs), cooperatives, or special-purpose vehicles of micro-enterprises.
The One District One Product (ODOP)promotes local agro-based industries by enabling economies of scale in input procurement, shared services, and market access. Jaggery and allied products have been identified as ODOP items in 19 districts. This has facilitated value chain development and strengthened support infrastructure.
Quality assurance and standardization are supported through the Directorate of Marketing & Inspection (DMI). Agricultural commodities that meet prescribed standards are certified under the AGMARK system. These standards define quality grades and enable consumers to access reliable products. They also ensure graded raw materials for producers’ remunerative prices for farmers. Jaggery is a notified commodity covered under AGMARK certification, reinforcing quality assurance, market credibility, and export readiness.
Geographical Indication (GI) Tagged Jaggery Varieties in India
A Geographical Indication (GI) is a name or sign given to certain products that relate to a specific geographical location or origins. This could be a region, town, or country. In the jaggery sector, GI recognition strengthens regional branding. It promotes traditional processing practices, and improves market access for rural producers. India has several GI-tagged jaggery varieties, each known for distinct regional qualities and traditional processing methods. Kolhapur jaggery (Maharashtra) is valued for its golden colour and high sucrose content. Muzaffarnagar gur (Uttar Pradesh) is export-oriented and made from high-quality cane. In Keralam, Marayoor and Central Travancore jaggery are recognized for their purity, medicinal value, traditional processing and regional distinctiveness.
Towards a Resilient and Value-Driven Jaggery Sector
Jaggery production and processing form an important pillar of India’s agro-processing economy. It links agriculture, nutrition, rural livelihoods, and export potential. As the world’s largest producer, India benefits from a strong sugarcane base. Traditional processing knowledge and rising domestic and global demand for natural sweeteners further strengthen the case. The sector supports millions of livelihoods through decentralized cottage industries, offering opportunities for value addition, rural entrepreneurship, and enhanced farmer incomes.
In addition to its economic role, jaggery’s mineral content and therapeutic properties make it a healthier alternative to refined sugar. It is a useful dietary supplement for addressing micronutrient deficiencies. Government initiatives promoting food processing infrastructure, micro-enterprises, quality certification, GI tagging, and value chain development are strengthening market access and product credibility. With continued policy support, improved processing practices, and diversification into value-added products, the jaggery sector holds strong potential to drive inclusive and sustainable rural growth.
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus issued a rare direct public message to residents of Tenerife on Friday, urging calm and solidarity as Spanish authorities prepare to receive a cruise ship linked to a hantavirus outbreak.
In a statement addressed specifically to “the people of Tenerife,” Tedros acknowledged public anxiety surrounding the arrival of the expedition vessel MV Hondius, but stressed that the situation was fundamentally different from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is not another COVID,” Tedros wrote, adding that the current public health risk from hantavirus to the local population “remains low.”
The ship has been at the centre of an outbreak involving the Andes strain of hantavirus, a rare but potentially severe viral disease. According to the WHO chief, three people have died in connection with the outbreak.
‘No Symptomatic passengers onboard’ now
Tedros said there were currently no symptomatic passengers aboard the vessel and confirmed that a WHO expert had been deployed on the ship. Medical supplies were also in place as part of the ongoing response effort.
Spanish authorities, he said, had developed a “careful, step-by-step plan” to receive passengers through Tenerife’s industrial port of Granadilla under strict containment measures.
Under the arrangement, passengers will reportedly be transported ashore in sealed and guarded vehicles through a restricted corridor before being repatriated directly to their home countries.
“You will not encounter them. Your families will not encounter them,” Tedros assured residents.
WHO chief on Hantavirus
The WHO chief also defended Spain’s decision to accept the vessel, describing it as “an act of solidarity and moral duty.”
He said the WHO request to Spain had been made in accordance with the International Health Regulations, the legally binding framework governing global responses to international public health emergencies.
“Under those rules, the nearest port with sufficient medical capacity must be identified to ensure the safety and dignity of those on board,” he wrote.
Post-Outbreak trauma affecting passengers
Tedros noted that nearly 150 people from 23 countries had remained at sea for weeks following the outbreak, with many passengers grieving and seeking to return home. “Tenerife has been chosen because it has the medical capacity, the infrastructure, and the humanity to help them reach safety,” he said.
In a notable move, Tedros announced that he personally intends to travel to Tenerife to observe the operation firsthand and meet health workers, port personnel and officials involved in the response.
hantavirus explainer
“I intend to travel to Tenerife to observe this operation firsthand, to stand alongside the health workers, port staff, and officials who are making it happen,” he wrote.
The WHO chief also praised the ship’s captain, Jan Dobrogowski, the crew and the operating company for their cooperation during the crisis. “As I have said many times: viruses do not care about politics, and they do not respect borders. The best immunity any of us has is solidarity,” Tedros said.
The statement comes amid heightened public concern in Tenerife over the planned arrival of the vessel and fears of possible disease transmission linked to the hantavirus outbreak.
The WHO has repeatedly maintained that the public risk associated with the current outbreak remains low and that containment measures are being strictly implemented.
Many breast cancer therapies work by causing DNA replication stress, but triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells survive this stress, even at high levels
TNBC cells overexpress an enzyme, RNase H2, that helps them survive the DNA damage caused by replication stress
In this preclinical study, blocking RNase H2 directly damaged cancer cells and also activated the immune system, making this a promising therapeutic approach.
Blocking RNase H2 Enzyme Shows Promise Against Aggressive Breast Cancer
Scientists at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have identified a crucial enzyme that helps one of the most difficult forms of breast cancer withstand treatment, opening up a potential new therapeutic pathway.
The study, published in Cell Reports Medicine, focuses on RNase H2—an enzyme that appears to enable triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells to survive intense DNA damage caused during treatment. TNBC is widely considered one of the most aggressive breast cancer subtypes due to its resistance to many standard therapies.
Led by researcher Shiaw-Yih Lin, the team found that RNase H2 plays a dual role. While it helps cancer cells cope with DNA replication stress, blocking the enzyme both damages tumour DNA and triggers the body’s immune system, effectively turning the cancer’s survival mechanism against itself.
Lin described this as a “one-two punch,” where inhibiting RNase H2 not only disrupts the tumour’s ability to manage stress but also activates immune signals that draw T cells to attack the cancer.
Why replication stress matters
Replication stress occurs when cells struggle to copy their DNA accurately, leading to structural damage. Many cancer treatments deliberately induce this stress to kill tumour cells. However, TNBC cells have developed ways to tolerate and survive it, allowing the disease to persist and progress.
One key contributor to this stress is the build-up of RNA fragments within DNA. RNase H2 typically removes these fragments to maintain genomic stability.
The enzyme’s hidden role in cancer survival
The researchers discovered that RNase H2 is significantly overproduced in TNBC tumours and is linked to poorer patient outcomes. This suggests that the enzyme helps cancer cells adapt to and survive high levels of DNA damage.
When the team blocked RNase H2—either through genetic methods or experimental drugs—tumour cells experienced heightened replication stress, leading to reduced tumour growth in preclinical models. At the same time, the resulting DNA damage activated the innate immune system, which then signalled T cells to target the cancer.
Implications for future treatment
Although the findings are still at a preclinical stage, they point to RNase H2 as a promising drug target. Inhibitors of the enzyme are already under development, and the study suggests they could be used alongside existing therapies.
Notably, blocking RNase H2 was found to enhance the effectiveness of ATR and PARP inhibitors—two classes of drugs already used in cancer treatment—raising the possibility of combination therapies in future clinical trials.
If validated in humans, this approach could offer a more effective strategy against TNBC, a cancer subtype that has long posed challenges due to its limited treatment options.
A new study has found that children born to mothers lacking a specific fatty acid in their blood during pregnancy face a significantly higher risk of developing asthma in early life, shedding fresh light on how prenatal conditions shape long-term respiratory health.
Childhood asthma—often marked by shortness of breath, persistent coughing, and frequent respiratory infections—remains one of the most widespread chronic illnesses among children globally. Increasingly, scientists are tracing its origins back to the earliest stages of life, including the prenatal period.
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen and the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood (COPSAC), based at the Danish Pediatric Asthma Center, examined the role of a fatty acid molecule known as 12-HETE in pregnant women. Their findings suggest that the absence of this molecule is associated with a markedly higher likelihood of children developing asthmatic bronchitis within their first year.
Over a ten-year observation period, the study found that children whose mothers lacked measurable levels of 12-HETE faced a 62 percent higher incidence of asthma compared to those whose mothers had detectable levels. However, researchers caution that the findings establish correlation rather than direct causation.
The study also identified broader health implications. Infants born to mothers without measurable 12-HETE were more prone to repeated respiratory infections and showed distinct differences in airway bacterial composition. These early-life changes in the microbiome and immune response are believed to contribute to the elevated asthma risk.
According to the researchers, differences in airway biology can be detected as early as one month after birth. Lower levels of the fatty acid during fetal development may impair immune system maturation, leading to an altered lung microbiome and increased vulnerability to infections.
The findings also add nuance to the role of omega-3 supplements during pregnancy. While earlier research has suggested that omega-3 intake—commonly through fish oil—can help reduce asthma risk in children, this study indicates that the benefit may depend on the presence of 12-HETE. Among mothers with measurable levels of the fatty acid, omega-3 supplementation was linked to a 58 percent reduction in early childhood asthma. No such effect was observed in mothers lacking the molecule.
This suggests that blanket supplementation strategies may not be equally effective for all pregnant women, and future interventions could be tailored based on individual biological markers.
Despite the promising insights, researchers stress that the findings are not yet ready for clinical application. More precise benchmarks for measuring 12-HETE levels are needed before it can be used to guide treatment or prevention strategies.
The research draws on data from two major cohorts—the Danish COPSAC2010 study and the US-based VDAART cohort—tracking more than 1,600 mothers and their children. The consistency of findings across both groups strengthens the reliability of the results, even as questions around causality remain unresolved.
Taken together, the study points to the potential of 12-HETE as a biomarker that could one day enable more personalised approaches to preventing childhood asthma—an area of growing urgency given the condition’s global prevalence.
The sperm and the egg cell’s nuclei compete for size directly after fertilization and this is necessary for the proper embryonic development. The mouse study with Kobe University participation finally gives meaning to a phenomenon biologists have known for decades.
At the beginning of a new individual’s life, an egg and a sperm fuse to form what biologists call a “zygote,” a fertilized egg. In mammals such as mice and humans, the DNA-carrying nuclei of these cells don’t fuse right away but remain separate as so-called “pronuclei” until just before the first cell division. “This fact has been known for decades, but no one really understood why this separation exists. People just treated it as a descriptive feature rather than something to be tested experimentally,” says Kobe University developmental biologist KYOGOKU Hirohisa. If anything, separate nuclei may increase the risk of errors during the first cell division. In assisted reproduction, embryos in which the maternal and paternal pronuclei are fused early have therefore attracted interest, but these embryos are known to have a lower likelihood of developing to term.
Kyogoku specializes in studying early development directly after fertilization. “The DNA an individual inherits from their mother and father differs not only in its genetic information. It is also known that the maternal genome has a lot of chemical modifications, like little tags, on the molecules around which the DNA is wrapped. The genome from the sperm, on the other hand, has virtually no such modifications. But these proper modifications are essential for embryonic development,” he explains. Thus suspecting that the fusion of pronuclei might have an influence on gene regulation, he teamed up with researchers from RIKEN and, using his special cell manipulation techniques, took a close look at what happened to these modifications when the pronuclei are fused and under other conditions.
In the journal Nature, the team now published that they found that the size of the pronuclei is essential for maintaining the regulatory modifications. Whenever the size of the nucleus was large, either through manipulation or because of the premature fusing of the maternal and paternal pronuclei, the degree of the chemical tagging became low. And when they investigated what keeps the pronuclei’s sizes small in the natural, separated state, they found that the two pronuclei engage in a race to absorb factors that regulate nucleus growth. This then yielded a clear mechanistic explanation for why the developmental potential of fused nuclei is smaller: Because the single nucleus doesn’t have to compete for these factors it ends up much larger and as a result the genome’s regulatory tags get lost. “I find it exciting that a very familiar structure — two separate nuclei in a fertilized egg — turns out to have a clear and functional role, that is, it actively creates a competitive environment inside the cell which helps maintain proper regulation and supports development,” says Kyogoku.
Caption In mammals such as mice and humans, the DNA-carrying nuclei of these cells don’t fuse right away but remain separate as so-called “pronuclei” until just before the first cell division. This 3D-reconstructed image shows a mouse zygote (fertilized egg), where maternal (magenta) and paternal (green) genomes are enclosed in separate pronuclei. “This fact has been known for decades, but no one really understood why this separation exists,” says Kobe University developmental biologist KYOGOKU Hirohisa. Credit: KYOGOKU Hirohisa
To test their theory, the team temporarily introduced into zygotes with prematurely fused pronuclei an additional pronucleus to re-establish competition. And indeed, this intervention successfully limited nuclear size and partially restored the regulatory marks as well as the developmental potential.
The Kobe University work opens a whole new chapter of research into the very first steps a new life takes. “Even at the beginning of life, spatial organization is not just incidental but fundamentally important,” explains Kobe University biologist Kyogoku. He continues, “This result brings us one step closer to understanding the physical and biological principles that explain why early embryos are both robust and error-prone at the same time.”
Understanding which cells within a tumor will go on to form metastases remains one of the major challenges in cancer research. A study led by the Cell Plasticity in Development and Disease laboratory, headed by Ángela Nieto at the Institute for Neurosciences (IN), a joint center of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and Miguel Hernández University (UMH) of Elche, offers an unexpected answer: the cells that will give rise to metastases can already be identified within the primary tumor.
The study, published in Nature Communications, combines the analysis of a mouse model of breast cancer with patient data. The results show that, at the invasive front of the tumor, there is a specific population of cells capable of both invading and either proliferating or entering a dormant state. This balance determines whether cells that escape the tumor can initiate new tumor growths in distant organs, the feared metastases.
Nieto’s team has been studying the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) for decades, a program that controls cell migration during embryonic development and is reactivated in tumors to enable cancer cells to spread and form metastases. In this new study, the researchers go a step further by showing that metastatic ability does not arise randomly and is not exclusively driven by the microenvironment of the target organ. Instead, metastatic potential is already determined within a subset of cells present in the primary tumor, which adopt a highly metastatic state orchestrated by a key factor: the Prrx1 gene.
Image of a mouse breast tumor showing distinct cellular populations (cancer cells in pink). Advanced spatial biology technologies enable the simultaneous identification of all cell types present in the tissue. Credit: Instituto de Neurociencias UMH CSIC
A key regulator of metastasis
According to Raúl Jiménez Castaño, first author of the study, the Prrx1 gene acts as a true master regulator of tumor behavior. “We recently discovered that Prrx1 is crucial for cancer dissemination, and thanks to this work, we now know that it not only activates the programs that allow cells to detach from the primary tumor, but also controls their ability to proliferate and form metastases or enter a dormant state that can last for years”, he explains.
“What is most striking is that the levels of Prrx1 determine its effect on cancer cells”, adds Nieto. This finding helps explain a paradox observed in many tumors: highly invasive cells do not always give rise to metastases, and highly proliferative cells also tend not to spread.
“Without Prrx1, cells do not disseminate; at very high levels, they spread massively but lose the ability to seed and grow in other organs. Only at intermediate levels do they achieve an optimal balance between mobility and growth”, explains the researcher. In these conditions, cells combine invasiveness and proliferation, making them the most dangerous from a clinical perspective.
To reach these conclusions, the team combined mouse genetic models, single-cell analyses, chromatin studies, and spatial transcriptomics techniques that allow researchers to observe the organization and behavior of cells directly within the tumor tissue. The processing and analysis of the large datasets generated from thousands of cells was led by bioinformatics expert from Nieto’s team, researcher Nitin Narwade. In addition, in collaboration with Professor Gema Moreno Bueno from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and the MD Anderson Cancer Center Spain Foundation, the researchers analyzed breast cancer patient samples and detected similar patterns of Prrx1 expression, suggesting that the mechanism described could have direct relevance for tumor classification and clinical prognosis.
Taken together, the findings provide new insights into the origin of metastatic potential and open the door to developing strategies to prevent tumor cells from reaching this particularly dangerous state. They also provide a framework for improving patient stratification by identifying markers that predict the risk of metastasis.
Scientists studying a shared genetic mechanism across three vastly different species—axolotls, mice and zebrafish—have uncovered fresh clues that could one day support limb regeneration in humans. The findings, detailed this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, point toward the possibility of developing gene-based therapies aimed at restoring lost limbs.
“This work brought together multiple labs and model organisms to understand regeneration in a comparative way,” said Josh Currie, Assistant Professor of Biology at Wake Forest University. He noted that the study reveals common genetic programs that drive regeneration across species as different as salamanders, fish and mammals.
The research also involved David A. Brown of Duke University and Kenneth D. Poss of University of Wisconsin-Madison, who specialise in regeneration studies in mice and zebrafish respectively.
Globally, more than one million amputations are carried out each year due to conditions such as diabetes, trauma, infections and cancer, according to Global Burden of Disease estimates. With ageing populations and rising diabetes cases, this number is expected to increase further, intensifying the search for solutions that go beyond prosthetics.
Researchers involved in the study are aiming to develop therapies that could restore not just the structure but also the function of lost limbs—something prosthetic technology still cannot fully replicate.
Their focus turned to a group of genes known as SP genes, which appear to play a crucial role in regeneration and are shared across the three species examined.
Therapy makes up for missing gene
The choice of species was deliberate, reflecting different regenerative abilities in nature.
The axolotl, a type of salamander, is known for its extraordinary capacity to regrow entire limbs, as well as parts of vital organs including the heart and brain.
Zebrafish, meanwhile, are widely used in research because their tail fins regenerate rapidly and repeatedly. They can also repair tissues in organs such as the heart and spinal cord.
Mice, representing mammals, offer a closer comparison to humans. While their regenerative ability is limited, they can regrow the tips of their digits. Humans share a similar, though restricted, ability when fingertip injuries preserve the nail bed.
The researchers found that regenerating skin tissue in all three species expressed two key genes—SP6 and SP8. This prompted further investigation into how these genes function.
The study also involved contributions from doctoral student Tim Curtis Jr. and undergraduate researcher Elena Singer-Freeman at Wake Forest.
Emulating the abilities of salamander genes
In salamanders, the SP8 gene plays a central role in enabling limb regrowth. Using CRISPR gene editing, researchers removed SP8 from the axolotl genome. The result was a clear disruption in limb regeneration, particularly in bone formation.
A similar outcome was observed in mice when both SP6 and SP8 were absent, confirming the genes’ importance across species.
Building on these findings, Brown’s lab developed a viral gene therapy using a regeneration enhancer identified in zebrafish. This therapy introduced a molecule called FGF8—normally activated by SP8—into mice.
The treatment partially restored bone regrowth in mouse digits, effectively compensating for the missing genes and demonstrating what researchers describe as a “proof of principle”.
While humans lack this level of regenerative ability, the findings suggest it may be possible to mimic such processes through targeted therapies.
“We may be able to design treatments that replicate this regenerative skin environment in humans,” Currie said, highlighting the long-term potential of the approach.
Building the foundation for human therapies
Despite the breakthrough, researchers caution that translating these findings into human treatments will require extensive further study. Moving from digit regeneration in mice to full limb regrowth in humans remains a complex scientific challenge.
Currie described the work as a foundational step toward future therapies that could address limb loss caused by injury or disease.
He added that gene therapy represents just one pathway among several being explored, including stem cell research and bioengineered scaffolds. A combination of approaches is likely to be needed to achieve full limb regeneration.
The collaborative nature of the study, involving different organisms and research disciplines, was key to its success.
“Scientists often work within narrow models, focusing on a single species,” Currie said. “What sets this research apart is the integration across multiple systems, which offers a much broader understanding of regeneration.”
The findings underscore a growing shift in regenerative medicine—from isolated breakthroughs to cross-species insights that could eventually reshape how the human body heals.
Babies who are exclusively breastfed for at least three months show distinct biological markers in their blood compared to those who are not breastfed, according to a major international study.
The research, one of the largest of its kind, analysed blood samples from children to examine epigenetic patterns across the genome. Epigenetics involves chemical modifications to DNA that influence how genes are switched on or off. In particular, scientists focused on DNA methylation—a process detectable in blood that can affect gene activity.
Led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, University of Exeter, and University of Bristol, the study—published in Clinical Epigenetics—found higher levels of DNA methylation in genes linked to immunity and development among children who had been exclusively breastfed for at least three months.
However, researchers cautioned that the study did not assess whether these molecular differences translate into measurable changes in health, immunity, or development.
Co-lead researcher Doretta Caramaschi of the University of Exeter said the findings indicate that exclusive breastfeeding leaves a detectable biological imprint. She noted that while the affected genes are tied to key developmental and immune processes, the study cannot establish whether these changes directly influence those outcomes.
The findings build on existing evidence suggesting breastfeeding is associated with both short- and long-term health benefits in children, though the exact biological mechanisms remain under investigation.
Mariona Bustamante of ISGlobal added that while the results are promising, they should be interpreted cautiously. She emphasised the need for more diverse study populations to better understand how these biological changes operate across different groups.
The study was conducted through the Pregnancy and Childhood Epigenetics Consortium, which brings together data from 11 studies across countries including Spain, the Netherlands, Finland, France, Greece, Lithuania, Germany, South Africa and the United States. UK contributions included the Children of the 90s study, Born in Bradford, and the Isle of Wight Birth Cohort.
In total, researchers analysed epigenetic data from 3,421 children. Breastfeeding information—such as duration and exclusivity—was collected from birth through questionnaires. DNA methylation patterns were measured in blood samples taken between ages five and 12 and compared with umbilical cord samples to assess changes following birth.
The analysis aimed to determine whether early-life feeding practices leave lasting biological signatures—an area that continues to offer new insights into how early nutrition may shape long-term health.
A new study has found that the virus responsible for the common cold can quietly persist in the human body, even in individuals who show no symptoms.
Researchers from the University of São Paulo in Brazil discovered that the rhinovirus can reside deep within the tonsils and adenoids—tissues located at the back of the throat—effectively using them as reservoirs. The study, based on samples from 293 children undergoing surgical removal of these tissues, revealed that the virus can infect key immune cells and remain there undetected for extended periods.
Unlike its typical behaviour—where it infects the surface lining of the nose and throat, multiplies rapidly, and is cleared by the immune system within a week—the virus was found to penetrate deeper layers of tissue. There, it infects long-lived immune cells such as B lymphocytes and CD4 T cells, allowing it to persist without destroying them.
This hidden presence may help explain why cold outbreaks often occur shortly after schools reopen. Children carrying the virus without symptoms can unknowingly transmit it to others in close, indoor environments, triggering wider infections.
The study further found that nearly half of the children tested carried the virus in at least one site—tonsils, adenoids, or nasal secretions—even though they were symptom-free at the time of surgery. Evidence also suggested that the virus remained active and capable of spreading.
Researchers say these lymphoid tissues may act as a “virus reservoir,” potentially supporting long-term immune memory. However, this persistence could also have downsides. In children with asthma, for instance, lingering viruses may trigger inflammation and worsen symptoms.
The findings also raise concerns about diagnostic accuracy. Detecting rhinovirus in throat swabs may not always indicate an active infection, as the virus could be lingering from a previous illness. This could complicate treatment decisions, particularly in respiratory cases.
Scientists are now exploring whether such dormant viruses could reactivate in patients with weakened immune systems, potentially leading to complications without any new external exposure.
Feeding a growing global population has long depended on expanding farmland and harvesting marine resources, often at significant environmental cost. A new study suggests a different approach may be viable: producing protein by cultivating methane-consuming microbes in controlled systems.
The research, led by Yanping Liu and Ziyi Yang at the Beijing University of Chemical Technology, evaluates whether microbial protein can compete with conventional sources such as soybean meal and fish meal. The findings were published in Carbon Research.
Using a life-cycle assessment framework, the team compared three supply chains, examining environmental impact, resource use, and financial performance. The analysis places microbial protein, derived from methane-oxidizing bacteria, alongside two of the most widely used protein inputs in agriculture and aquaculture.
The results indicate that the microbial approach could significantly reduce reliance on land and marine ecosystems while maintaining economic viability.
Life-cycle assessment compares soy, fish meal, and microbial protein
The study modeled the full production cycles of soybean meal, fish meal, and protein produced from methane-oxidizing bacteria, a class of microbes that consume methane as an energy source.
Soybean farming was associated with extensive land use and high agricultural inputs, including fertilizers and pesticides. These factors contribute to deforestation and environmental degradation in many producing regions.
Fish meal production, widely used in aquaculture feed, showed a different set of pressures. The process requires significant fuel consumption and has been linked to stress on marine ecosystems due to large-scale fishing.
In contrast, microbial protein production operates in controlled bioreactors. This setup removes the need for arable land and reduces dependence on freshwater resources. By relying on methane as a feedstock, the system also utilizes a greenhouse gas that would otherwise contribute to atmospheric emissions.
The researchers noted that while the process is energy-intensive, the trade-offs appear favorable when measured across the full life cycle.
Environmental gains include reduced ecosystem and health impacts
According to the study, shifting from soybean-based protein to methane-derived microbial protein could reduce overall ecosystem damage by 88 percent. The figure is based on the study’s modeling and has not been independently verified by a second source.
The analysis also found that microbial protein production could lower negative human health impacts by 41 percent compared to fish meal. These impacts include emissions and processing-related burdens associated with traditional supply chains.
The controlled production environment allows for more predictable and efficient resource use. It also avoids many of the externalities linked to conventional agriculture, such as land clearing and overfishing.
To optimize the process, the researchers evaluated different methane purification techniques. Pressure swing adsorption, a method used to separate gases under varying pressure conditions, was identified as the most effective approach.
The study reports that this method reduced resource depletion by more than 140 percent compared to membrane-based alternatives. This figure is drawn from the study’s findings and has not been confirmed by an independent source.
Economic analysis shows strong returns for microbial systems
Beyond environmental considerations, the research includes a techno-economic analysis to assess financial feasibility. The results suggest that microbial protein production could deliver competitive, and in some cases superior, economic outcomes.
The study reports a net present value of $3.40 million for the microbial protein system, along with a return on investment of 51 percent across the modeled scenarios. These figures are based on the study’s internal modeling and have not been independently verified.
The combination of reduced resource inputs and controlled production conditions contributes to the system’s economic performance. Unlike traditional agriculture, which is subject to weather variability and land constraints, microbial production can be scaled within industrial facilities.
For countries with limited farmland or degraded marine resources, this approach may offer a more stable and independent protein supply.
Sustainable protein production from methane-oxidizing bacteria: environmental and economic comparison with conventional protein sources/Image Credit：Chuan Ma, Tingting Jiang, Qi Sun, Xiuhua Xiao, Liyang Shi, Xinrui Ai, Yanping Liu* and Ziyi Yang*
Implications for global food and feed systems
The findings reflect broader efforts to develop alternative protein sources that reduce environmental impact while meeting rising demand. Microbial protein, sometimes referred to as single-cell protein, has been explored for decades but is gaining renewed attention due to advances in biotechnology and sustainability concerns.
The study positions methane-based protein production as a potential complement or alternative to existing agricultural systems. By converting a greenhouse gas into usable protein, the process aligns with efforts to reduce emissions while supporting food security.
However, large-scale adoption would depend on several factors, including infrastructure development, regulatory approval, and market acceptance. The transition from pilot systems to industrial-scale production would require investment and coordination across sectors.
The researchers present their findings as a step toward quantifying both the environmental and economic case for microbial protein. By providing detailed life-cycle and financial data, the study aims to inform future decisions on sustainable food production.
Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a biosensor that can quickly detect how breast cancer responds to paclitaxel. The system, called MetaRing, analyzes tiny biological samples and delivers results in about 10 minutes. The study, published recently, points to faster, more personalized chemotherapy decisions.
A research team led by Prof. Wang Hongzhi at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has developed a new diagnostic platform designed to quickly assess how breast cancer cells respond to chemotherapy drugs.
The system, named MetaRing, is a programmable plasmonic ring biosensor that identifies sensitivity to paclitaxel, a widely used chemotherapy drug in breast cancer treatment. The findings were published in Biosensors and Bioelectronics.
Rapid assessment of drug sensitivity remains a major challenge in oncology. Conventional testing methods often require extended processing times, large biological samples, and controlled laboratory conditions such as cell culture expansion. These limitations can delay treatment decisions and reduce precision in therapy selection.
The MetaRing platform aims to address these constraints by enabling fast and accurate analysis using only trace amounts of biological material. Researchers said the system eliminates the need for labeling or prolonged cell preparation, which are standard steps in many existing diagnostic workflows.
The design of the MetaRing biosensor is based on the “coffee-ring effect,” a physical phenomenon where particles within a liquid droplet migrate to the edges as it evaporates. By carefully controlling nanoparticle concentration and evaporation temperature, the researchers achieved consistent and predictable nanoparticle assembly.
This process forms hierarchical nanostructures with tightly packed nanogaps, which are critical for enhancing signal detection. The resulting configuration improves both stability and reproducibility, allowing the sensor to function across a range of biological environments.
According to the study, the biosensor demonstrated reliable performance in water, buffer solutions, protein-rich media, and complex cell lysates. These conditions often pose challenges for traditional diagnostic tools, which can struggle with variability and signal interference.
To further enhance detection capabilities, the platform integrates surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, a technique that captures molecular-level signals based on vibrational energy patterns. This allows the system to generate detailed metabolic “fingerprints” of tumor cells and identify how they respond to paclitaxel exposure.
AI integration enables rapid and accurate classification
The MetaRing system combines its sensing capability with a lightweight one-dimensional convolutional neural network to interpret the spectral data. This integration allows for automated classification of drug sensitivity patterns.
In experimental testing, the platform analyzed multiple sample types, including drug-resistant breast cancer cell lines, xenograft tumor models, and patient-derived biopsy tissues. Across these scenarios, the system consistently identified sensitivity signatures linked to paclitaxel response.
The researchers reported that the platform completed drug sensitivity assessments within approximately 10 minutes. In a clinical cohort, the system achieved classification accuracy exceeding 92 percent. The figure is based on the study’s reported results and has not been independently verified by a second source.
The ability to deliver rapid and accurate results may help clinicians tailor chemotherapy regimens more effectively. Breast cancer treatment often varies significantly between patients due to differences in tumor biology, making personalized approaches increasingly important.
Schematic illustration of the MetaRing platform for detecting paclitaxel treatment sensitivity in breast cancer/HUANG Guangyao
Potential implications for personalized cancer treatment
The research highlights the broader shift toward precision oncology, where treatment decisions are guided by patient-specific biological data. By quickly identifying whether a tumor is likely to respond to paclitaxel, clinicians may be able to avoid ineffective therapies and reduce unnecessary side effects.
Paclitaxel is commonly used in breast cancer treatment, but resistance to the drug remains a significant clinical challenge. Traditional testing approaches may not always capture the complexity of tumor behavior, particularly in heterogeneous cancer populations.
The MetaRing platform offers a potential solution by enabling rapid evaluation of tumor response at a molecular level. Its ability to work with small sample volumes also makes it suitable for clinical settings where tissue availability is limited.
Researchers said the system could help address variability between patients and support more informed treatment planning. The platform’s adaptability across different biological environments also suggests broader applications beyond breast cancer.
Study limitations and next steps
The research team noted that further validation will be necessary before the technology can be widely adopted in clinical practice. Larger studies involving diverse patient populations will be needed to confirm the system’s reliability and generalizability.
In addition, while the reported accuracy is promising, independent replication and real-world testing will be critical to establishing clinical utility. Integration into hospital workflows and regulatory approval processes will also shape the timeline for adoption.
The study presents the MetaRing biosensor as a potential step forward in rapid diagnostic technology, particularly in the context of personalized chemotherapy. Its combination of nanotechnology, spectroscopy, and artificial intelligence reflects a growing trend in biomedical innovation aimed at improving treatment precision.
A brightly colored shirt, soft to the touch and designed for everyday wear, may carry more than dye.
Preliminary tests conducted by researchers at Marian University, a private university in Indianapolis, found elevated levels of lead in children’s fast fashion clothing, exceeding federal safety limits.
The findings were presented March 23 at the American Chemical Society Spring 2026 meeting in Atlanta, a major scientific conference featuring thousands of research presentations.
Researchers tested 11 children’s shirts from four retailers, including fast fashion and discount brands, and found that all samples exceeded the U.S. regulatory limit for lead in children’s products.
Lead levels in children clothing exceed U.S. safety limits
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the federal agency responsible for product safety standards, sets a lead limit of 100 parts per million for children’s items such as toys and clothing.
Each of the tested shirts surpassed that threshold, according to the researchers.
Cristina Avello, a student researcher involved in the project, said the findings are particularly concerning for younger children.
“Not only are children the most vulnerable to the effects of lead, but they’re also the population that is going to be putting their clothes in their mouths,” she said. [1]
Lead exposure is considered harmful at any level. Health agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, have linked it to neurological damage, behavioral problems, and developmental issues, especially in children under six years old.
The study found that brightly colored garments, particularly red and yellow fabrics, tended to contain higher levels of lead than more muted tones.
Researchers said this may be tied to the chemicals used in dyeing processes.
Some manufacturers use lead(II) acetate, a compound that helps dyes adhere to fabric and maintain bright colors over time.
(https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Vano3333)
Simulated ingestion tests show potential exposure risk for children
In a second phase of testing, researchers simulated stomach digestion to estimate how much lead could become bioaccessible if fabric is chewed or sucked.
The analysis modeled how gastric acid might break down the material and release lead into the body.
The results suggest that even brief mouthing behavior could expose children to lead levels exceeding daily intake limits set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Researchers described the estimates as conservative, meaning actual exposure could vary depending on behavior and frequency.
They said repeated chewing over time could raise blood lead levels to a point where clinical monitoring is recommended.
Kamila Deavers, the project’s principal investigator, said the research grew out of personal experience after her child showed elevated blood lead levels linked to toy coatings before stricter regulations were in place.
“I started to see many articles about lead in clothing from fast fashion, and I realized not too many parents knew about the issue,” she said.
commons.wikimedia.org
Fast fashion textile safety concerns and next research steps
Previous studies have identified lead in metal components of clothing, such as zippers and buttons, leading to recalls.
The new research expands that concern to the fabric itself, suggesting contamination may be more widespread than previously understood.
The team plans to test additional clothing items and examine whether washing affects the presence of lead compounds.
Researchers are also exploring whether contaminated clothing could transfer lead to other garments during laundering or leave residues inside washing machines. [
They said alternative dye fixing methods already exist, including plant based compounds and mineral mordants such as alum, which are considered safer.
Adopting those alternatives would likely increase production costs, which could slow industry adoption without regulatory or consumer pressure.
The researchers said their goal is to raise awareness and encourage more rigorous screening of clothing products.
“Everything that we’re doing is only important and helpful if we talk about it,” Avello said.
A large new clinical trial has taken a closer look at a long-standing piece of medical advice for kidney stone patients: drink more water. While the recommendation remains sound, the study suggests that actually sticking to it in real life is far harder than many assume.
Kidney stones are known for causing severe, often debilitating pain. In the United States, about one in 11 people will develop them at some point, and nearly half of those patients are likely to face a recurrence. Preventing that cycle has been a major focus for doctors, with high fluid intake widely seen as one of the most effective strategies.
To test how practical that advice is, researchers from the Urinary Stone Disease Research Network conducted what is now the largest behavioural study of its kind. The trial, coordinated by the Duke Clinical Research Institute and published in The Lancet on March 19, followed 1,658 adolescents and adults across six major U.S. medical centres over a two-year period.
Participants were split into two groups. One received standard care, while the other was enrolled in an intensive hydration programme designed to encourage higher fluid intake. This programme went beyond simple advice. It included smart water bottles that tracked how much participants drank, personalised daily hydration targets, reminder messages, financial incentives, and regular health coaching.
Each participant in the programme was given a tailored “fluid prescription,” calculated based on how much urine they typically produced and how much more fluid they would need to reach a target of at least 2.5 litres per day — a level believed to reduce the risk of stone formation.
The results showed that people in the programme did increase their fluid intake and produced more urine on average. However, the improvement was modest, and crucially, it did not translate into a significant reduction in the recurrence of symptomatic kidney stones across the group as a whole.
Researchers say this gap highlights a central challenge: adherence. Even with constant reminders, monitoring, and incentives, maintaining very high levels of daily fluid intake proved difficult.
Charles Scales, a senior author of the study and a professor at Duke University School of Medicine, noted that the findings underline how demanding such lifestyle changes can be. He pointed out that difficulty in maintaining these habits likely contributes to the high rate of recurrence seen in kidney stone patients.
Importantly, the study stands out for measuring actual stone recurrence rather than relying only on indirect markers such as fluid intake or urine output. Researchers used imaging and regular follow-ups to track whether new stones formed or existing ones grew, offering a more realistic picture of outcomes.
The findings are prompting experts to rethink a one-size-fits-all approach. Gregory Tasian, a co-senior author and paediatric urologist, said future strategies may need to be more personalised. Instead of asking every patient to meet the same hydration target, doctors may need to identify which patients benefit most from specific goals and why others struggle to maintain them.
The study also points to broader factors that may affect hydration habits — including work environments, daily routines, and individual health conditions — suggesting that behavioural solutions alone may not be enough.
Researchers are now calling for more tailored interventions, which could include customised hydration plans, better ways to address practical barriers to drinking more fluids, and even medical therapies aimed at preventing minerals from crystallising in urine.
For patients, the takeaway is clear but nuanced. Drinking more water still matters, but this study shows that turning that advice into a sustainable daily habit — and one that meaningfully reduces risk — is more complex than it appears.
As lead author Alana Desai put it, kidney stone disease is a chronic condition marked by sudden and often severe episodes that can disrupt everyday life. While many patients would welcome a simple solution, the path to prevention may require a more personalised and multifaceted approach.
According to scientists at the University of Colorado Boulder, the next generation of weight-loss therapies may be shaped with the help of an unexpected source namely the python blood.
Researchers did name a compound found in pythons, which was published in Nature Metabolism on March 19, that seems to naturally inhibit appetite but maintain the muscle and general metabolic well-being. The discovery may open the path to some weight-loss medications that do not have some of the side effects experienced with the existing drugs.
The study, which was carried out in partnership with the researchers at Stanford and Baylor universities, focuses on the way in which the pythons cope with the extreme feeding patterns. These snakes are able to eat enormous meals and then spend months and even longer without eating it without ill-effect on their organs and even muscle tissue.
The senior author of the research, Leslie Leinwand, remarked that the work was a feeling of learning through the extreme of nature: the scientific perspective. Animals such as pythons, according to her, are capable of doing biological things that mammals cannot, and this provides hints on medical innovation.
Pythons are also characterized by great metabolic plasticity. Once they have eaten, their bodies change dramatically: the size of their heart may grow by approximately 25 percent and their metabolism may kick into overdrive to digest food effectively.
In a bid to determine the cause of these changes, scientists examined blood samples of ball pythons and Burmese pythons after feeding cycles. They discovered over 200 metabolites that were highly increased after a meal.
A single compound, para-tyramine-O-sulfate (pTOS) was outstanding. Its levels increased in almost 1000 times following feeding.
Subsequent experiments, which were implemented along with Baylor researchers revealed that, when pTOS was given to mice, it worked on the appetite-controlling centre in the brain- the hypothalamus, resulting in weight loss. Notably, this has been achieved without inciting gastrointestinal distress, muscle wastage or energy deficiency.
Gut bacteria in snakes synthesize the compound which is not inherent to mice. It is found in humans at low concentrations, especially after meals, but has remained largely undetected, since most metabolic research is done on rodents.
The results are published when the use of drugs affecting the GLP-1 hormone like Ozempic and Wegovy is popular in weight loss management, but may cause side effects and may be quit in the first year.
According to Leinwand, the new discovered compound might be another course. She indicated that even the available GLP-1 medicines were nature-inspired, namely, a hormone present in Gila monster venom.
Based on the finding, the research group has started a start-up, Arkana Therapeutics, to examine how python-related metabolic compounds may be converted into medication.
In addition to the loss of weight, the scientists are also exploring wider applications. Sarcopenia or age-related muscle loss is a significant unresolved medical issue and no current effective treatments exist. The fact that the python can maintain muscle mass, even with many days of starvation, could be of considerable importance.
The researchers intend to explore more into the pTOS mechanism in human beings and examine other metabolites that were found in the study some of which rose by up to 500 to 800 percent following a meal.
The present findings, he said, are but the tip of the iceberg as there is much more to discover about nature-inspired metabolic therapies.
Everything appears to get slower at 35,000 feet above ground, though the body does, as well. Even the most experienced traveller can get a sore back, tired and mentally exhausted because of hours in a tight seat. To combat such a contemporary issue of traveling, a very uncomplicated yet effective remedy is flying: Yoga for Air Travel – the 5-minute on-flight wellness system made with the intent of being very easy to follow.
An innovative project launched at Yoga Mahotsav 2026 by Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Hon. Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ayush This is an innovative project where the timeless yoga can be practiced in the octant and convert your seat into a rejuvenation zone. The protocol was designed by the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga to suit the needs of the modern frequent fliers – giving a fast, safe and efficient method to refresh oneself in the air.
Emphasizing the idea behind the project, Hon’ble Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Ayush Shri Prataprao Jadhav, stated that yoga has an immense preventive health and well-being power. This in-flight yoga guideline is an indication of our desire to ensure that yoga is available in all environments including those at the 35,000 feet location so that people can remain active, relaxed, and balanced when people are on the move.
Why In-Flight Yoga Matters
Long-haul travel especially by air can cause a lot of immobility. This may cause muscle stiffness, lack of circulation, fatigue, jet lag and in some instances, more severe issues such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The necessity to have a basic wellness intervention is clear in a combination with travel stress and change of cabin pressure.
The 5-minute Yoga protocol will help with these challenges with the help of gentle movements, mindful breathing and short meditation, and will help to restore the balance in the body and mind.
Insisting on the scientific and preventive touch, Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, the Secretary, the Ministry of Ayush, stressed that the practice of yoga in everyday life, even in rather limited conditions such as flights, may play an enormous role in enhancing circulation, alleviating stress, and maintaining the well-being. This is because such practical interventions simplify preventive healthcare and make it accessible.
Eating and Exercising at Your Desk
The protocol is easy and accessible and does not need any special equipment or can be conducted when one is seated. It is a smooth combination of physical mobility and breath awareness and mental relaxation:
Centring (15 seconds): Start with a silent awareness or intent to get yourself grounded.
Light Joint movements (45 seconds): rotations of shoulders, stretching of ankle, and any simple movements to enhance blood flow and lessen stiffness.
Seated Yoga Poses: Altered poses include Tadasana (Palm Tree Pose), seated Cat-Cow, spinal rotations, and mild movements involving the legs in order to relieve tension and posture.
Pranayama (Breathing Practices): Deep breathing, Anulom Vilom, Bhramari, and Sheetali to relax the nervous system and improve the flow of oxygen.
Meditation (30 seconds): A short break to re-focus the mind and help bring about relaxation.
Enhancing the greater picture of changing behaviour, Ms Monalisa Dash, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, stressed, “The initiative shows how yoga may be effectively applied in day-to-day circumstances. We want to establish a culture of wellness, which will accompany a person wherever he or she may go by encouraging so easy habit.
Small Practice, Big Impact
Within five minutes, this routine can:
Improve blood circulation
Decrease muscle stiffness and fatigue.
Ease stress and anxiety
Help in digestion and hydration awareness.
Help manage jet lag
Most importantly, it enables travellers to be in-charge of their well-being- even in-flight.
Wellness, Anywhere You Go
Yoga is beautiful because of its flexibility. It finds you at home, in the office, or at the altitude of the clouds. This in-flight procedure is an instructional notice that wellness does not need additional time or area–only purpose.
The next time you buckle in your seatbelt, take a moment to pay attention to yourself. It is better to stop and rest to reconnect with oneself sometimes, the best way to travel far.
New research provided at the Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology shows that a shingles vaccine could provide important protection against heart complications that are life-threatening in individuals who already have a cardiovascular disease.
The researchers used a huge population of over 246,000 adults with atherosclerotic heart disease in the United States to carry out the study and discovered that individuals who had at least one dose of a shingles vaccine had significantly lower risks of serious cardiac events within one year than those who were never vaccinated.
It was found that vaccinated people had almost twice the risk to experience major adverse cardiac events – which consists of heart attacks, strokes and cardiovascular-related deaths. These results complement an emerging body of literature that the shingles vaccine has some other positive effects other than protection against viral infection.
The analysis was performed based on 2018 to 2025 health records with the TriNetX database and comparing two matched groups (more than 123,000 patients each) one of them vaccinated with Shingrix or Zostavax and the other one unvaccinated. The respondents were 50 and above and with very similar demographic and health characteristics.
The changes were intense within a follow-up period of one month to a year after vaccination. It was discovered that vaccinated patients were 46 percent lower than unvaccinated ones to suffer a significant cardiac event and 66 percent less prone to death of any cause. Heart attack risk was reduced by 32 percent and the risks of stroke and heart failure also decreased by 25 percent.
Found in High Risk Individuals
The protective effect was found to be particularly potent in people who were already at high cardiovascular risk, said the lead author Dr Robert Nguyen of the University of California, Riverside. He observed that the risk reduction is equal to significant lifestyle change like smoking cessation.
It is not new to medical experts that shingles is an inflammatory condition caused by reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus and can result in development of blood clots that may cause cardiovascular complications. The vaccine can indirectly eliminate these risks by acting as a preventive measure towards infection.
U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now suggest the use of shingles vaccination to all adults above 50 years of age and to those younger with compromised immune systems. Although the vaccine is mainly meant to stop painful rashes and long-term nerve damage related to shingles, the new benefits on the cardiovascular system can reinforce the arguments in favor of increasing the coverage.
Within One Year of Vaccination
Nevertheless, scholars warned that the research was looking at the results within one year of vaccination. The impact of long-term effect may be wavering, though previous studies pointed out that protective benefits might last many years.
There were also other limitations that were appreciated in the study. People who vaccinate might be better placed to adopt healthier behaviours on the whole, which would somewhat affect the outcomes notwithstanding the ability to control socioeconomic and lifestyle differences.
Nevertheless, the size of the dataset and the agreement of the results of the research conducted on several outcomes give credibility to the conclusion that the shingles vaccination is linked to the significant decrease in cardiovascular risk.
The evidence emerges against the backdrop of more general campaigns against vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, with scientists highlighting the possibility of established vaccines having broader health utility than previously realized.
A massive national survey in Japan has found a massive gap in the routine care of chronic kidney disease (CKD), and one of the major metabolic complications used to remain undiagnosed by lack of testing.
The researchers under the leadership of Mai Tanaka have conducted the study using the data of the Japan Chronic Kidney Disease Database Extension and analyzed the clinical records of over 21 university hospitals in the period between 2014 and 2021. It targeted individuals with moderate CKD (stages 3a to 4) that already have high susceptibility to disease progression and complications.
The results indicate a glaring omission: a simple and cheap test such as serum bicarbonate, which is used to diagnose metabolic acidosis, was ordered less than 10% per year. Consequently, the condition, which, as known, deteriorates kidney outcomes and general health, seems to be considerably under-measured in the everyday care.
Metabolic acidosis is a condition that develops when the body retains too much acid in it because of a deteriorated renal strength. It has also been associated with muscle atrophy, bone mineral loss, insulin resistance with accelerated kidney disease, and an increased risk of dying. The clinical practice is to intervene in cases where the bicarbonate of the body is lower than 22 mEq/L.
Nevertheless, the Japanese statistics indicate that the burden of the condition is being hidden by the low level of testing. Although the general prevalence seemed to be low in the general population of CKD, a more detailed look at patients that indeed underwent a test showed a significantly different pattern. Almost half of them fit the criteria of metabolic acidosis, and the rates were getting higher as the kidney function declined.
Follow up care was limited even among the patients who depicted definite biochemical signs of the condition. It was determined by the study that a gap between detection and clinical response was significant, with only 8.6% actually diagnosed and only 7.5% actually treated.
Metabolic Acidosis Undetected
The results are similar to those reported in North America where individual studies of the U.S. and Canadian cohorts have also indicated that metabolic acidosis is commonly undiagnosed in CKD patients. In such researches, less than every five patients was given sodium bicarbonate treatment in spite of the facts that acid retention was associated with persistent damage to the kidney by inflammation and fibrosis.
According to experts, the problem is not about access or price, since bicarbonate testing is readily available, but it is more about the failure to integrate it into a normal monitoring practice. Current guidelines, such as those of nephrology societies, suggest routine evaluation and correction of metabolic complications in CKD but this is not done so consistently.
The paper highlights a larger issue of concern of health systems where there has been a progressive growth in cases of CKD worldwide due to aging, increased incidences of diabetes and hypertension. Researchers indicate that regular bicarbonate testing may be an intervention that is scalable and practical as a part of the regular care panel.
Early identification of metabolic acidosis would enable clinicians to start treatment, either the use of alkali therapy or diet change at a time that might allow it to delay disease onset and minimize complications.
The authors have come to the conclusion that there is not as much a problem with the rarity of the condition but its invisibility in existing practice. In the absence of regular testing, there is a high-risk chance that a high and manageable element of kidney disease can be ignored, which has long-term patient consequences.
In a significant international study, it has been observed that the health, life experience of fathers can have a significant effect on the pregnancy outcome and future well being of the children which argues the long held maternal-based approach to reproductive care.
The study, which was published in The Lancet and conducted by the team of scientists at the University of Southampton in collaboration with other international partners, claims that the prenatal health of men has long been disregarded despite its quantifiable effects on maternal health and child development.
Based on the evidence of biological, behavioural and social sciences, the study describes the ways in which the physical health of a father, his age, mental health, substance use and childhood experiences could influence the results of pregnancy. There are instances where scientists asserted that paternal factors can be as intense as -or even more so, than the conventional maternal.
Professor Keith Godfrey, a principal researcher of the study, indicated that the results represented a breakthrough in the comprehension of the role of parental health on the future generation. He mentioned that although the health of mothers is important, paying attention to it only leads to the neglect of a larger number of factors that trigger well before pregnancy.
The study presents a framework based on preconception health, in which the upbringing, education, environment of a man and exposure to stress can be influenced and impact on his health in reproductive years. The same factors, in their turn, can also affect the health behaviours of a partner, such as access to prenatal care, and have direct biological impact on the developing foetus.
Next Generation’s Health
Co-author Dr Danielle Schoenaker emphasized the inter relatedness of parental health by stating that there is a chain of influence that starts in life and continues to the next generation. The study indicates that the problems would be improved by considering these factors and thereby the health of children and their pregnancies would be better in a population.
Another issue that the researchers concern themselves with is the social implication of making women the main responsibility in the health of children. They say that this kind of practice enhances gender disparities and ignores the aspect of collective responsibility in child-rearing.
Jonathan Huang, the lead author, emphasized the bigger picture of the structural context, how historical inequalities, such as racism and colonial heritage, have caused disruption in family and community roles, especially among black and brown men. The study indicates that these disruptions have led to disparities in health outcomes and health care access.
The authors advocate culturally sensitive public health that involves more active inclusion of men in the reproductive health planning as well as initiatives of strengthening the family and community support systems.
The research concludes that the enhancement of the health of the boys and the young males should be regarded as an investment in the public health in the long term. According to researchers, policies, clinical practices and awareness campaigns should be modified to be more cognizant of an inclusive model of reproductive care one that views the father as more of an active rather than a passive participant of the pregnancy and child development process.
The authors do not underline the fact that maternal health is still the core, but represent their results as the appeal to more balanced approach when both parents are taken care of prior to, during and after pregnancy to ensure better results in the following generations.
