A team led by Rutgers University-New Brunswick engineers has developed a portable device capable of detecting rare genetic mutations from a single drop of blood.

The instrument, described in a study published in Communications Engineering of the Nature Publishing Group, was shown in lab experiments to quickly and accurately test for a genetic condition called hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis, which can cause heart problems.

In the first peer-reviewed study to examine the potential risks and benefits of teen skin-care routines posted on social media, scientists at Northwestern Medicine found girls ages 7 to 18 are using an average of six different products on their faces, with some girls using more than a dozen products. These products tend to be marketed heavily to younger consumers and carry a high risk of skin irritation and allergy, the study found. 

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati are exploring ways to interrupt the lifecycle of the parasite behind Chagas disease, offering hope of developing a cure.

A study led by biomedical scientists at the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine shows how a genetic mutation associated with Crohn’s disease can worsen iron deficiency and anemia — one of the most common complications experienced by patients with inflammatory bowel disease.