Preterm birth is a major cause of neonatal illness and death, especially among women with a history of premature delivery. Researchers in Japan explored whether taking probiotics early in pregnancy could help reduce the risk of spontaneous preterm delivery (sPTD). In a multicenter clinical trial, women who consumed probiotics containing Clostridium butyricum showed lower recurrence rates compared with national averages, suggesting that probiotic therapy may offer a simple strategy to help prevent premature births.

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy results from the accumulation of IgA-containing immune complexes (IgA-ICs) and aberrant IgA antibodies in the glomerular mesangium. Now, researchers have found that complement pathway proteins are involved in the formation of these complexes. One such protein, complement factor H-related protein 1, is overexpressed in the glomeruli and IgA-ICs isolated from patients and could serve as a biomarker for disease susceptibility and progression, as well as a possible target for new therapies.

A doctoral thesis by Amal D. Premarathna shows that polysaccharides derived from algae have strong wound-healing, anti-inflammatory, and skin-protective properties. These findings highlight algae as a promising, sustainable alternative to synthetic treatments for chronic wounds and related health applications.

Published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, a new study from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) combines existing databases with three newly sequenced squid genomes to identify the ‘long fuse’ that led to today’s diversity of squid and cuttlefish.

A new, more life-like physical model of microscopic nerve fibres called axons could speed up the discovery of medicines for multiple sclerosis and other degenerative brain diseases, suggests a new study led by University College London (UCL) researchers.

The article examines the emerging use of genomic testing to predict complex traits in embryos, such as intelligence or the risk of developing conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or Alzheimer’s disease later in life. As embryo testing moves beyond disease prevention toward the prediction of complex human social characteristics, the author argues that stronger oversight and clearer regulations are needed.

Assessing the health impacts of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in cetaceans is challenging due to ethical constraints on live animal testing. This study developed a predictive "QIVIVE" model for finless porpoises. By calculating the "freely dissolved concentration" of POPs using a mass distribution model, we discovered that current environmental exposure levels pose a low risk to cell viability. This novel framework enables precise, ethical chemical risk assessments for marine mammals.

Fujitsu Limited and the Center for Quantum Information and Quantum Biology at The University of Osaka today announced the development of a new technology designed to accelerate the industrial application of quantum computers in the era of early fault-tolerant quantum computing (early-FTQC). By combining ver. 3 of the STAR architecture, a unique highly efficient phase rotation gate quantum computing architecture, with a novel molecular model optimization technique, researchers have significantly reduced computational resource requirements. This breakthrough will enable the energy calculations for chemical material design such as catalyst molecules, within a realistic timeframe using early-FTQC quantum computers. These kinds of calculations are currently not possible using current computers, and would take millennia even using previous versions of the STAR architecture. The technologies are expected to contribute to solving various societal challenges, including accelerating drug discovery, improving the efficiency of ammonia synthesis processes, and advancing carbon recycling technologies.