Those who climb indoors are doing something for their health. But climbing shoes contain chemicals of concern that can enter the lungs of climbers through the abrasion of the soles. In a recent study, researchers from the University of Vienna and EPFL Lausanne have shown for the first time that high concentrations of potentially harmful chemicals from climbing shoe soles can be found in the air of bouldering gyms, in some cases higher than on a busy street. The results have been published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology Air.

A pioneering study uncovers crucial immune dynamics in hepatitis B, offering new insights into how immune responses evolve throughout the different clinical phases of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Researchers analyzed liver and blood samples from patients in various clinical phases—acute hepatitis B (AHB), immune tolerant (IT), immune active (IA), and inactive chronic infection (ICI)—using single-cell RNA and TCR/BCR sequencing. The findings highlight critical immune cell subsets and potential molecular mechanisms that drive disease progression, providing valuable targets for the development of future immunomodulatory therapies.

A study conducted by the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, found that men with a genetic predisposition supporting higher muscle strength had a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases, regardless of their leisure-time physical activity levels or other lifestyle-related factors.

New research from UTHealth Houston reveals that substance use disorders accelerate biological aging in the brain through substance-specific molecular mechanisms. The study, published in Genomic Psychiatry, identified distinct genetic and biological pathways that contribute to premature aging in individuals with alcohol, opioid, and stimulant use disorders, offering potential targets for future therapeutic interventions.

A newly published personal tribute in Brain Medicine offers a rare window into the remarkable life and influence of Dr. Seymour "Si" Reichlin, who turned 100 in June 2024. Written by former endocrine fellow Dr. Leonard Kapcala, the article chronicles their 48-year relationship and illuminates how Reichlin's brilliance, mentorship, and humanity shaped generations of neuroendocrinology researchers.