Engineered lettuce may turn injectable GLP-1 therapies into oral pills

Few drugs have entered mainstream awareness as quickly or as dramatically as glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1 receptor agonists. Initially approved by the FDA for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, they have since also transformed the therapeutic landscape of obesity and weight management. These medications are clearly effective. They stimulate the release of insulin and … Read more

Vaginal estrogen therapy is safe for young endometrial cancer survivors, study finds

Despite the increased incidence of endometrial cancer in younger women, there is limited research regarding the safety of local, low-dose vaginal estrogen therapy (ET) for survivors. A new study suggests that this form of estrogen is not only effective in relieving numerous menopause symptoms but also does not seem to increase a woman’s risk of … Read more

UCF researcher explores insulin signaling as new target for diabetic neuropathy

Neuropathy – chronic pain, numbness and tingling in the hands and feet – is a challenging fact of life for many patients with Type 1 diabetes. Thanks to a new National Institutes of Health grant, a University of Central Florida (UCF) College of Medicine scientist is investigating a new approach to treat neuropathy without relying on … Read more

Hormone fluctuations influence perceived effort during intense workouts

Female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone fluctuate monthly across the menstrual cycle, affecting moods and energy levels. New research from the University of Oregon finds that those fluctuations don’t change a woman’s ability to exercise hard, but they do influence how difficult that work feels. The findings were published in the Journal of Applied Physiology. … Read more

Blocking growth hormone receptor may improve treatment response in lung cancer

Researchers at Ohio University have discovered what may be a new way to fight lung cancer that is resistant to other treatments. The study published in the International Journal of Molecular Science and led by Goll-Ohio Eminent Scholar and distinguished professor John J. Kopchick, Ph.D., and his graduate student Arshad Ahmad at the Heritage College … Read more

Privacy-focused AI improves screening for rare endocrinological condition

An AI can accurately diagnose a rare endocrinological condition just by analyzing pictures of the back of the hand and the clenched fist. The privacy-conscious achievement by Kobe University holds promise for establishing more efficient referral systems and reducing healthcare disparities across communities. Acromegaly is a rare, intractable disease usually setting in in middle age … Read more

Combination therapy may help overcome barrier in early-stage prostate cancer treatment

A multi-institutional study led by Mayo Clinic and published in Cell Reports Medicine reports that pairing a next-generation immunotherapy with standard hormone therapy before surgery may help overcome a long-standing barrier in early-stage prostate cancer treatment.  Immunotherapy has been generally ineffective for prostate cancer because the tumors are considered immunologically “cold,” meaning they do not attract enough immune cells to mount a strong attack. Hormone therapy commonly used for prostate cancer, called androgen … Read more

Combined GLP-1 and GLP-2 treatment appears safe but does not beat placebo for obesity

Can combining two gut hormone pathways unlock better obesity treatments? In the first human trial of dapiglutide, researchers found encouraging metabolic signals but no statistically significant edge over placebo, highlighting both the promise and the limits of next-generation dual agonists. Trial: Dapiglutide, a dual GLP-1 and GLP-2 receptor agonist, for obesity: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled … Read more

Early hydrocortisone treatment improves survival for extremely premature babies

Early hydrocortisone treatment of extremely premature babies increases their chances of survival without lung disease, according to a study led by Linköping University. The study also shows that the treatment is safe to give. The results are published in JAMA Network Open. More than half of babies born extremely prematurely – before 28 weeks of … Read more