June 11, 2025

Removing a cancer-activated cell type is shown to virtually eliminate liver metastasis

June 11, 2025 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / liver metastasis

by University of the Basque Country edited by Lisa Lock, reviewed by Robert Egan Credit: Hepatology Communications (2025). DOI: 10.1097/HC9.0000000000000669 Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are activated to heal the liver when it has a lesion (such as fibrosis or fatty liver); their function is to protect the liver by producing an extracellular matrix comprising collagen, among other things, and […]

Removing a cancer-activated cell type is shown to virtually eliminate liver metastasis Read More »

FDA approves Sonu Band for drug-free treatment of pediatric nasal congestion

June 11, 2025 / Clinical Practice / InnovateMed Author / pediatric nasal congestion

by Lori Solomon edited by Robert Egan The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the Sonu Band, an artificial intelligence-enabled, wearable medical device for at-home treatment of moderate-to-severe nasal congestion in pediatric patients aged 12 and up. This expanded approval makes Sonu the first FDA-approved, drug-free solution for nasal congestion due to allergic and

FDA approves Sonu Band for drug-free treatment of pediatric nasal congestion Read More »

Rheumatoid arthritis drug shows promise for treating excessive inflammation due to COVID-19

June 11, 2025 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / rheumatoid arthritis

by Institute of Science Tokyo edited by Gaby Clark, reviewed by Robert Egan COVID-19 causes a severe cytokine storm leading to excessive inflammation of organs. Iguratimod—a safe drug already in use for treating rheumatoid arthritis—suppresses excessive inflammation caused by COVID-19 in mouse models, without reducing the antiviral immune response, leading to higher survival rates and viral clearance

Rheumatoid arthritis drug shows promise for treating excessive inflammation due to COVID-19 Read More »

Green light activates this antibiotic only where it’s needed

June 11, 2025 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / antibiotic

Peer-Reviewed Publication American Chemical Society FacebookXLinkedInWeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail image: A clear boundary formed after exposing light-activated penicillin to green light — half of the dish was sterilized, and the other half teemed with E. coli bacterial growth. view more Credit: Adapted from ACS Central Science 2025, DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.5c00437 To treat bacterial infections, medical professionals prescribe antibiotics. But not all active

Green light activates this antibiotic only where it’s needed Read More »

A repurposed heart arrhythmia drug shows promise in killing antibiotic-resistant bacteria

June 11, 2025 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / heart arrhythmia

by Emory University edited by Robert Egan Credit: CC0 Public Domain A new study from Emory University addresses the growing global crisis of antibiotic-resistant infections. Many of these drug-resistant bacteria are spread through hospitals, and there are few antibiotics available for treatment. The study, published in PNAS, looks at a particular bacterium called Acinetobacter baumannii, which is highly infectious,

A repurposed heart arrhythmia drug shows promise in killing antibiotic-resistant bacteria Read More »

Beards and microbes: What the evidence shows

June 11, 2025 / Patient education / InnovateMed Author / beard

by Primrose Freestone, The Conversation edited by Stephanie Baum, reviewed by Andrew Zinin Credit: CC0 Public Domain Beards have long attracted suspicion, sometimes seen as stylish, sometimes as unsanitary. But how dirty are they, really? Human skin is home to billions of microorganisms—mainly bacteria, but also fungi and viruses—and facial hair provides a unique environment for them to thrive. Research shows

Beards and microbes: What the evidence shows Read More »

Hundreds of new N-acyl lipids identified, expanding the dictionary of human metabolism

June 11, 2025 / Clinical Practice / InnovateMed Author / human metabolism

by University of California – San Diego edited by Stephanie Baum, reviewed by Robert Egan First study author Helena Mannochio Russo, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral researcher in the Dorrestein lab at UC San Diego. Credit: Kyle Dykes/UC San Diego Health Sciences Human metabolism is a complex web of chemical processes and interactions between our cells and the

Hundreds of new N-acyl lipids identified, expanding the dictionary of human metabolism Read More »

hMPV is likely one of the viruses making us sick this season. Here’s what to know about human metapneumovirus

June 11, 2025 / Clinical Practice / InnovateMed Author / metapneumovirus

by Lara Herrero, The Conversation edited by Lisa Lock, reviewed by Andrew Zinin Credit: Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels As winter settles over Australia, it’s not just the drop in temperature we notice—there’s also a sharp rise in respiratory illnesses. Most of us are familiar with the usual winter players such as COVID, influenza and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), which often

hMPV is likely one of the viruses making us sick this season. Here’s what to know about human metapneumovirus Read More »

Tailored brain stimulation treatment results offer hope for people with depression

June 11, 2025 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / depression

by QIMR Berghofer edited by Sadie Harley, reviewed by Robert Egan Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Medical researchers at QIMR Berghofer have achieved a significant milestone in the treatment of depression, demonstrating the effectiveness of personalized transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy. This innovative approach uses advanced brain imaging to tailor treatment to an individual’s unique brain anatomy

Tailored brain stimulation treatment results offer hope for people with depression Read More »

SARS-CoV-2 protein found to spread between cells, triggering immune attack on healthy cells

June 11, 2025 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / immune attack

by Hebrew University of Jerusalem edited by Gaby Clark, reviewed by Robert Egan Contribution of different NP parts to binding to heparin and the cell surface. Credit: Cell Reports (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2025.115512 A new study uncovers a surprising mechanism by which the SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for COVID-19, might cause immune-mediated tissue damage by targeting cells it has never infected.

SARS-CoV-2 protein found to spread between cells, triggering immune attack on healthy cells Read More »