July 2025

Spinal cord damage leads to neurogenic bladder control loss, study finds

July 31, 2025 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / spinal cord damage

by Jessica Cerretani, Children’s Hospital Boston edited by Gaby Clark, reviewed by Andrew Zinin Immunostaining for causal network and pathway validation. Credit: JCI Insight (2025). DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.180275 Spinal cord damage—whether from traumatic injury or conditions such as spina bifida—can have a profound impact on bladder function. This can result in neurogenic bladder, a problem in which damage to the nerves […]

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The dirty truth about what’s in your socks: Bacteria, fungi and whatever lives between your toes

July 31, 2025 / Patient education / InnovateMed Author / bacteria in socks

by Primrose Freestone, The Conversation edited by Gaby Clark, reviewed by Andrew Zinin Credit: Susanne Jutzeler, suju-foto from Pexels Your feet are microbial hotspots. The area between your toes is packed with sweat glands, and when we wrap our feet in socks and shoes, we trap that moisture in a warm, humid cocoon that’s ideal for microbial growth.

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Study reveals brain pathway behind metformin’s blood sugar-lowering effects

July 31, 2025 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / metformin

by Baylor College of Medicine edited by Sadie Harley, reviewed by Andrew Zinin Metformin 500mg tablets. Credit: public domain Although metformin has been the go-to medication to manage type 2 diabetes for more than 60 years, researchers still do not have a complete picture of how it works. Scientists at Baylor College of Medicine and international collaborators have

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Research confirms role of DJ-1 gene in Parkinson’s disease

July 31, 2025 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / Parkinson disease

by Institute of Science Tokyo edited by Stephanie Baum, reviewed by Andrew Zinin Mutation of DJ-1 is implicated in hereditary Parkinson’s disease. However, the exact molecular mechanism of its pathophysiological role was unknown. Researchers from Japan used molecular simulations and biochemical mutational assays to reveal the key residues involved in its catalytic function of converting cyclic 3-phosphoglyceric anhydride—a

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Drug for celiac disease shows promise in treating severe post-COVID syndrome in children

July 31, 2025 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / celiac disease, post-COVID syndrome in children

by Mass General Brigham edited by Stephanie Baum, reviewed by Andrew Zinin Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain In a small trial, Mass General Brigham researchers have found that a drug designed to treat celiac disease supported a more rapid return to normal activities for patients following COVID. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare but serious condition

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Multiple sclerosis medication gap: Study finds women less likely than men to receive drugs

July 31, 2025 / Clinical Practice / InnovateMed Author / multiple sclerosis

by American Academy of Neurology edited by Sadie Harley, reviewed by Robert Egan Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Women are less likely than men to receive drugs for multiple sclerosis (MS) between the ages of 18 to 40, during women’s childbearing years, even when those drugs have been shown to be safe for use during pregnancy or to have

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Study finds allergy shots work regardless of dose or allergy severity

July 31, 2025 / Allergy, Patient education / InnovateMed Author / allergy shots

by Madeline McCurry-Schmidt, La Jolla Institute for Immunology edited by Stephanie Baum, reviewed by Andrew Zinin Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Allergic to peanuts? Bees? Pollen? Cockroaches? There’s a shot for that. Each year, around 2.6 million Americans receive allergy immunotherapies, commonly called allergy shots. These therapies have been available for decades, and they are generally safe and effective. Here’s

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Trump administration is launching a new private health tracking system with Big Tech’s help

July 31, 2025 / Clinical Practice / InnovateMed Author / health system

by Amanda Seitz edited by Andrew Zinin An American flag flies in front of the White House, Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Washington. Credit: AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson The Trump administration is pushing an initiative for millions of Americans to upload personal health data and medical records on new apps and systems run by private tech

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Beta-HPV can directly cause skin cancer in immunocompromised people, research reveals

July 31, 2025 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / HPV

by National Institutes of Health edited by Sadie Harley, reviewed by Andrew Zinin Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have shown for the first time that a type of human papillomavirus (HPV) commonly found on the skin can directly cause a form of skin cancer called cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) when

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Study finds animal-based fats fuel tumor growth in obese mice, plant fats do not

July 31, 2025 / Research update / InnovateMed Author / tumor growth

by Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research edited by Stephanie Baum, reviewed by Andrew Zinin High fat diet causes obesity and impairs systemic metabolism, regardless of dietary fat source. Credit: Nature Metabolism (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s42255-025-01330-w Obesity elevates the risk of at least 13 major cancers, including those of the breast, colon and liver. It also impairs immune responses that target tumors

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