News
Phantom limb study rewires our understanding of the brain
In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers found that the brain’s control center for a lost appendage can persist long after surgical amputation, which stands in stark contrast to longstanding theories about the brain’s ability to reorganize itself, also known as plasticity.
Doctors Say Clinical Labs Are Indispensable, but System Pressures Threaten Collaboration
Nearly all doctors call lab testing essential, but shortages and patient pressures are putting the system to the test.
"More than half—55%—said they heavily rely on lab experts to confirm which tests are most relevant, while 96% said they welcomed feedback from laboratory colleagues to improve ordering practices."
Generative AI creates life-saving antibiotics from scratch
From 50,000 designs to two in vivo winners
While some generative AI models, like ChatGPT, work by predicting the next word or element in a sequence, "diffusion" models start from random "noise" and iteratively refine it into a coherent output - the principle behind tools like DALL·E and Stable Diffusion.
UCLA shares strategies for combatting antibiotic resistant NDM-1
Implementation of real-time pathogen surveillance enabled effective response to an ongoing outbreak that involved environmental sampling, microbiological testing, whole-genome sequencing, facility management, and updated infection prevention policies.
Study finds association between physician burnout reduction and smart watch use
The authors launched a randomized clinical trial to find out if smart watch use can be associated with boosted physician wellness. The trial lasted a year. Participants wore smart watches for at least six months. They were split into two groups, one wore smart watches for the first six months of the trial and then on (“immediate intervention”), and the other wore them after six months (“delayed intervention,” control).
Workplace Culture, Not Policies, Drives Mental Health Disclosure
New research highlights how organizational climate influences whether employees feel safe sharing mental health concerns.
Certain recommendations for maternal vaccines revised by ACOG
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) announced the publication of the most recent recommendations for vaccinating pregnant mothers against certain respiratory viruses.
One mother for two species via obligate cross-species cloning in ants
Living organisms are assumed to produce same-species offspring. Here, a shift from this norm in Messor ibericus, an ant that lays individuals from two distinct species, is reported.
New Monthly Pill Shows Potential as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis HIV Drug Candidate
The compound, MK-8527, belongs to a novel class of antiretrovirals.
Electrical stimulation reprograms macrophages to reduce inflammation
Macrophages are a type of white blood cell with several high-profile roles in our immune system. They patrol around the body, surveying for bugs and viruses, as well as disposing of dead and damaged cells, and stimulating other immune cells – kicking them into gear when and where they are needed.
However, their actions can also drive local inflammation in the body, which can sometimes get out of control and become problematic, causing more damage to the body than repair. This is present in lots of different diseases, highlighting the need to regulate macrophages for improved patient outcomes.
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