Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) was long regarded primarily as a disease of an increasingly fatty and inflamed liver, associated with an elevated risk of liver cancer. Today, research paints a far more complex picture: metabolism, the immune system, adipose tissue, the gut and the microbiome all interact in the development and progression of MASH – and the disease can, in turn, influence other conditions throughout the body. Two new reviews in Nature, led by researchers from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Tübingen, bring together the current state of knowledge on disease mechanisms and therapies and show how these insights could pave the way for more personalised treatment.

An experimental cancer drug could stop osteoporosis and help women stay slim after the menopause – according to new research from the University of East Anglia.

A study published today reveals that a compound originally designed to fight cancer may not only protect against osteoporosis - but could also reduce body fat and reverse some of the metabolic changes linked to menopause.

The drug, known as CADD522, was developed to block a protein which helps drive the growth and spread of several cancers.

But scientists found the treatment appeared to strengthen bones in post-menopausal mice while also helping them stay leaner.

Lead researcher Dr Darrell Green, from UEA’s Norwich Medical School, said: “Osteoporosis affects around one in three women over the age of 50, leaving sufferers vulnerable to painful fractures that can seriously impact quality of life.

“Current treatments exist, but many are plagued by side effects, safety concerns or inconvenient dosing schedules that make long-term use difficult.

“We have uncovered an entirely new way of tackling the disease."

A new study finds that when p53, one of the most important cancer-protecting genes, stops working, cells produce too much RNA and consume excessive amounts of the building blocks needed to copy their DNA. This shortage disrupts DNA replication, leading to DNA damage, chromosome instability and major genetic changes that can promote cancer development. The findings reveal a previously unknown way in which p53 protects genome integrity and point to new avenues for understanding cancers in which p53 is damaged or missing.

(Toronto, Sept 4, 2026) — JMIR Publications released three feature News and Perspectives articles this week, covering an emerging application of drone delivery, the implications of AI tools used in early education, the nascent field of cancer neurotech, and the future of consumer wearable devices.

Radiotherapy may be able to do far more than simply destroy tumor cells. A review published in Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology explores how combining radiotherapy with immunotherapy could improve outcomes for patients with pancreatic cancer