Pharmacology
Reptile urine crystals may inform future approaches to gout and kidney stones
Heather Vogel Larawang ginawa ng AI Fact checked
Scientists reporting in the Journal of the American Chemical Society examined solid urine from more than 20 reptile species and found tiny uric‑acid spheres that package waste while conserving water. The study, highlighted by the American Chemical Society and ScienceDaily, also suggests uric acid helps convert toxic ammonia into a less harmful solid, a mechanism that could guide future strategies against gout and kidney stones.
Two common drugs show promise against fatty liver disease
Researchers at the University of Barcelona have discovered that combining two existing medications, pemafibrate and telmisartan, significantly reduces liver fat in animal models of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). This approach could offer a safer treatment option for the condition, which affects about one in three adults worldwide. The findings highlight the potential of drug repurposing to address a disease with limited current therapies.
Scientists discover protein that switches off hunger
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Researchers have identified how a protein called MRAP2 regulates hunger by transporting the brain receptor MC4R to the cell surface, enhancing appetite-suppressing signals. This finding, from a study involving institutions in Germany, Canada, and the UK, could lead to new obesity treatments. The work was published in Nature Communications.
Fentanyl overdoses with stimulants surge 9,000% among seniors
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Fatal overdoses involving fentanyl mixed with stimulants among adults aged 65 and older have increased by 9,000% over the past eight years, according to new research. This trend mirrors patterns in younger adults and highlights the opioid crisis's fourth wave affecting older populations. The findings, presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY® 2025 annual meeting, urge better prevention and education for seniors.
New compounds halt cancer growth without damaging healthy cells
October 11, 2025 00:34Stevia compound enhances minoxidil for treating hair loss
October 11, 2025 00:34Scientists uncover brain circuit that overrides chronic pain
October 05, 2025 15:52Cellular switch discovery offers hope for Parkinson's treatment
October 05, 2025 15:52Higher semaglutide dose boosts weight loss in obesity trials
Colorado audit finds many cannabis flower THC labels overstated; concentrates largely accurate
Heather Vogel Larawang ginawa ng AI Fact checked
A statewide analysis led by the University of Colorado Boulder found that about 43% of cannabis flower products sold in Colorado listed THC levels outside the state’s ±15% accuracy threshold—most overstating potency—while 96% of concentrates matched their labels. The results point to a need for tighter testing and clearer packaging to bolster consumer trust.
Scientists uncover hidden antibiotic intermediate 100-fold more active than methylenomycin A
Heather Vogel Fact checked
Researchers from the University of Warwick and Monash University report that pre-methylenomycin C lactone—an overlooked biosynthetic intermediate from Streptomyces coelicolor—shows more than a 100-fold increase in activity over methylenomycin A against Gram‑positive pathogens, including those behind MRSA and VRE. The finding adds momentum to efforts to tackle antimicrobial resistance, which was directly linked to an estimated 1.27 million deaths in 2019.
Genetic study links lower cholesterol to reduced dementia risk
Heather Vogel Fact checked
A large-scale genetic analysis of about 1.09 million people suggests that lifelong, genetically lower cholesterol—specifically non‑HDL cholesterol—is associated with substantially reduced dementia risk. Using Mendelian randomization to emulate the effects of cholesterol‑lowering drug targets such as those for statins (HMGCR) and ezetimibe (NPC1L1), the study found up to an approximately 80% lower risk per 1 mmol/L reduction for some targets. ([research-information.bris.ac.uk](https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/publications/cholesterollowering-drug-targets-reduce-risk-of-dementia-mendelia?utm_source=openai))
Scientists create mini human livers to predict drug toxicities
Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and Roche have developed a human liver organoid microarray platform that models immune-driven drug reactions. This system, built from patient-derived stem cells and immune cells, accurately replicates toxicities like those from flucloxacillin in genetically susceptible individuals. The findings were published online on September 26, 2025, in Advanced Science.