This study examines how catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) affects health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with chronic diseases, highlighting the moderating role of family doctor contract services. It finds that patients experiencing CHE had significantly lower HRQoL scores compared to those without, but family doctor services helped mitigate these negative effects. Older age, multiple chronic conditions, and higher healthcare utilization were linked to poorer HRQoL, while higher education and stable employment offered protective benefits. The study suggests that expanding family doctor services for chronic disease patients can help break the "poverty-disease" cycle and improve overall health outcomes.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are tiny particles released by cells that help control egg development. In a recent review, researchers from China explored how EVs influence oocyte health by transferring important molecules between cells. The article discusses how EV function changes under disease conditions and how this affects fertility. It also highlights the growing potential of therapeutic EVs to improve egg quality and treat ovarian disorders, offering new possibilities for advancing reproductive medicine.

A landmark mini-review from Peking Union Medical College Hospital delivers a snapshot of nine PD-1/IL-2 bi-functional drugs now in clinical trials. By silencing PD-1 and selectively fueling T cells with refined IL-2 in one molecule, these agents reinvigorate exhausted immune soldiers while sparing healthy tissue, promising safer and broader cancer cures.

Researchers from the School of Biomedical Sciences at the LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), have made a significant advancement that could reshape the treatment landscape for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer, which often resists treatment and recurs. This cancer is especially prevalent in Southeast Asia and China. The research, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, revealed a previously unknown mechanism that allows HCC to grow more aggressively and evade existing therapies. The team also developed a new small molecule inhibitor that could improve treatment options for HCC patients.