UC San Diego researchers have identified genetic drivers of cocaine addiction, uncovering a potential new treatment target in the liver. This large-scale study maps how metabolism influences addiction-like behavior to bridge the gap to human medicine.

This study explores the bidirectional skin–brain axis in 305 Brazilian adults, revealing strong correlations between anxiety, depression, and stress. Women exhibited significantly higher psychological symptom scores than men. Although dermatology-related quality of life showed weak correlations with mental health, nearly half of participants reported skin disorders and over half were at risk for a mental health condition. Probiotic intake showed no significant association with mental health outcomes, likely due to low consumption levels. Stress and depression independently predicted anxiety. The findings underscore the greater psychological burden on women and highlight the need for longitudinal, culturally tailored research on gut–skin–brain interactions.

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a devastating complication of joint replacement surgery. A new study in the Journal of Sport and Health Science discovers that musclin, a hormone released by muscles during exercise, directly binds to macrophages. This interaction rewires cellular metabolism, significantly boosting the macrophages' ability to clear dead cells (efferocytosis). This process effectively resolves inflammation, reduces bacterial burden, and promotes tissue repair, offering a promising "exercise-mimetic" therapeutic strategy for managing implant-associated infections.

A research team in Japan has developed an efficient and minimally invasive cancer detection device that uses high-performance zinc oxide nanowires to selectively capture extracellular vesicles (EVs) from bodily fluids. Using this device, researchers successfully captured cancer-related EVs from the blood serum of ovarian cancer patients.

A novel study among Indigenous communities in Canada utilizing sharing circles as the primary method of qualitative data collection shows that heart health is shaped by emotional, spiritual, social, and systemic factors, with trauma strongly influencing how care is accessed and trusted. Results of the study appear in CJC Open, published by Elsevier, as the journal’s first arts-based report. This novel format provides an authentic visual narrative that reflects the depth of community experiences and perspectives.