The authors have proposed the Microbiota-derived metabolites–epigenetics (MDME) axis, a conceptual framework explaining how microbial metabolites function as a critical link between the environment and host health. These metabolites directly instruct the host's epigenome, reprogramming gene expression and regulating host health and diseases. Diverse categories of metabolites contributing to host health via different epigenetic mechanisms are comprehensively discussed. This perspective moves beyond simple associations to provide a predictive model for how our lifestyle, mediated by our microbiome, shapes our health and disease risk, opening new avenues for mechanistic and therapeutic studies.

A new study of 4,348 children who underwent heart surgery in China identifies 14 factors linked to longer ICU stays. Key risks include younger age, post-surgery complications, and need for resuscitation. Findings can help hospitals better plan care and manage resources.

Researchers at Miguel Hernández University (UMH) in Spain have successfully tested a new generation of visual neuroprosthesis capable of bidirectional communication with the cerebral cortex, enabling a more natural and functional artificial vision. This technology, developed at the UMH (Spain), represents a crucial step toward achieving more natural and functional artificial vision, holding immense potential to improve the quality of life, mobility, and autonomy of people who are blind.

Metastasis remains the deadliest cancer complication, driven by circulating tumor cells (CTCs) that evade immune defenses in the bloodstream. A new review by scientists of China explores how CTCs interact with platelets, immune cells, and molecular pathways to survive, highlighting emerging therapeutic strategies and the evolving role of CTCs in liquid biopsy and metastasis prevention. The findings offer promising directions for advancing cancer diagnostics and anti-metastatic treatments.