EurekAlert! News by Subject: Medicine & Health - News by Subject: Medicine & Health

Medicine & Health

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 27-Dec-2025 03:11 ET (27-Dec-2025 08:11 GMT/UTC)

Ex-smokers who relapse may simply be tired of the effort of not smoking

Society for the Study of Addiction
Peer-Reviewed Publication

The most reliable predictor of an ex-smoker’s relapse isn’t strong urges to smoke or low confidence in the ability to stay off tobacco – it’s weariness with the efforts to remain a non-smoker, according to a new study published today in Addiction.

Journal: Addiction
Funder: National Cancer Institute, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia

Hair-thin electrode extends brain signal recording duration threefold

National Research Council of Science & Technology

A research team led by Dr. Hyejeong Seong at the Brain Convergence Research Division of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST, President Sang-Rok Oh), in collaboration with Prof. Seongjun Park at Seoul National University (President Hong-Lim Ryu), announced the development of a breakthrough coating technology that extends the lifespan of implanted electrodes from 1 month to over 3 months.

Journal: Biomaterials
Funder: Ministry of Science and ICT

Research: HUST professor Yiwei Li and Bi-feng Liu develops novel tissue-mimicking hydrogel technology for mechanical cell reprogramming and cancer cell transdifferentiation therapy

Research
Peer-Reviewed Publication

July 10, 2025 - A research team led by Professor Yiwei Li and Professor Bi-Feng Liu from the College of Life Science and Technology at Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) published an important research article titled "Mechanical Cell Reprogramming on Tissue-Mimicking Hydrogel for Cancer Cell Transdifferentiation" in the journal Research. The paper can be accessed through this link: https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/research.0810.

Professor Yiwei Li and Professor Bi-Feng Liu serve as corresponding authors, with doctoral students Xueqing Ren and Research Scientist Dr. Yachao Wang as co-first authors.

This study developed an innovative tissue-mimicking hydrogel system that achieves cell reprogramming through purely mechanical signals for the first time. The technology not only enhances the stemness and bidirectional differentiation potential of fibroblasts but also promotes cancer cell transdifferentiation into adipocytes, providing novel therapeutic strategies for regenerative medicine and cancer treatment.

Journal: Research
Funder: National Key Research and Development Program of China, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities, HUST, Henan Medical Science and Technique Foundation

New blood test shows promise in detecting ALS early

University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences
Peer-Reviewed Publication

New research by UCLA Health has found a simple blood test could provide faster and more accurate diagnosis of ALS by measuring cell-free DNA. The noninvasive test could not only allow neurologists to rule out other neurological diseases but also detect ALS disease earlier to provide better treatment and potentially improve life expectancy.

Journal: Genome Medicine

Efficacy and safety of first-line treatment for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer: A network meta-analysis

Chinese Medical Journals Publishing House Co., Ltd.

This network meta-analysis (29 RCTs, 4607 mTNBC patients) compares first-line regimens. Innovatively, it stratifies by biomarkers: cisplatin + nab-paclitaxel/paclitaxel is preferred overall. For PD-L1-positive cases, atezolizumab/pembrolizumab + nab-paclitaxel works; for BRCA-mutated cases, talazoparib is effective. No OS differences exist across regimens. Neutropenia, diarrhea, and fatigue are common severe AEs. Clinically, it guides biomarker-based personalized first-line care for mTNBC.

Journal: Cancer Pathogenesis and Therapy

Autophagy as a targeted therapeutic approach for skin cancer: Evaluating natural and synthetic molecular interventions

Chinese Medical Journals Publishing House Co., Ltd.

This review systematically delineates autophagy’s dual role in skin cancer: tumor-suppressive in early stages (via clearing dysfunctional cellular components to hinder malignant initiation) and tumor-promoting in advanced stages (sustaining cancer cell survival under stress). It characterizes natural, synthetic, and semisynthetic autophagy modulators (e.g., curcumin, rapamycin) that act through PI3K/Akt/mTOR or ROS pathways, with no notable adverse effects in preclinical models .

Its innovation lies in integrating subtype-specific autophagy regulatory mechanisms and modulator safety profiles. Clinically, it provides a framework for stage-specific strategies (inducers for early stages, inhibitors for advanced) and combination therapies, offering insights into personalized skin cancer treatment.

Biochar shows big promise for climate-friendly soil management

Biochar Editorial Office, Shenyang Agricultural University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Turning agricultural and organic waste into biochar could help store more carbon in the soil and slow climate change, according to a new study published in Biochar. Researchers from Prairie View A&M University reviewed recent findings showing that biochar improves soil health, boosts microbial diversity, and captures carbon that would otherwise enter the atmosphere as greenhouse gases.

Journal: Biochar