Researchers at Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University and colleagues have achieved a major breakthrough in understanding sperm DNA packaging. Using high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM), they captured the real-time process of protamine (PRM)-induced DNA condensation, providing critical insights into fertility, genome stability, and future applications in medicine. Their findings are published in Nucleic Acids Research.

A new consensus paper, published by the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO), the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), and the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC), provides an updated evaluation of reference bone turnover markers (BTMs) and newer markers in the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis. The paper reassesses the clinical utility of BTMs in predicting fracture risk and monitoring osteoporosis treatment based on evidence from the past decade. The study reaffirms the use of procollagen type I N propeptide (PINP) and β-isomerized C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (β-CTX-I) as reference BTMs, with standardized measurement protocols for clinical studies and patient monitoring.