Personalized Medicine

University of Missouri researchers report that a small antibody fragment targeting the EphA2 protein can be tagged with a radioactive marker to make EphA2-positive tumors stand out on PET scans in mouse experiments, a step they say could help match patients to EphA2-targeted therapies.

March 07, 2026 Reported by AI

Researchers at Mayo Clinic have discovered a rare mutation in the MET gene that directly causes metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, a condition affecting about one-third of adults worldwide. The finding, based on a family case without typical risk factors, suggests similar variants may contribute to the disease in many others. Published in Hepatology, the study highlights the role of genomic analysis in uncovering hidden genetic causes.

Researchers in Dresden have discovered that the protein MCL1, known for helping cancer cells evade death, also regulates their energy production through the mTOR pathway. This dual role explains why drugs targeting MCL1 can fight tumors but sometimes harm the heart. The team has developed a dietary approach to mitigate this cardiotoxicity, paving the way for safer therapies.

January 05, 2026 Reported by AI Fact checked

A small randomized, double-blind trial suggests that MRI-based measures of brain structure may help predict which patients with major depressive disorder will show early symptom improvement after treatment with the traditional Chinese medicine Yueju Pill. In the four-day study, Yueju Pill and escitalopram were both associated with lower depression rating scores, but only Yueju Pill was linked to a rise in blood levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

In a recent open-access interview, Dr. Eric J. Nestler, the Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, looks back on nearly four decades of research into how stress and drugs reshape brain function. He highlights the transcription factor ΔFosB’s role in long-lasting behavioral change and argues that understanding natural resilience could shift mental health care toward strengthening protective mechanisms, not just correcting damage.

December 12, 2025 Reported by AI Fact checked

Preclinical research from McGill University indicates that peripheral nerve injuries can cause long-term changes in the immune system across the body, with distinct patterns in male and female mice. Male mice showed strong and persistent inflammatory responses in the blood, while females did not show the same increase, yet serum from both sexes transmitted pain hypersensitivity when transferred to healthy mice. The findings point to previously unrecognized pathways involved in chronic pain and may open the door to more personalized treatments.