Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic disease that affects an increasing number of children and adults. The skin is dry and irritated, and the itching can be so severe that it interferes with sleep and daily life. Although AD has been discussed for years, it is only now that scientists are beginning to understand exactly why the disease causes so much itching.

A team of students from the Student Scientific Association and researchers from Wroclaw Medical University and Medical University of Silesia in Katowice described in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences the so-called IL-31/IL-33 axis – a mechanism that drives inflammation and itching in atopic dermatitis.

Researchers at Kumamoto University have demonstrated that iron supplementation can significantly alleviate muscle pathology and functional decline in a mouse model of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), a rare genetic muscle disease for which no effective treatment currently exists.

Multimorbidity is defined as the concurrent presence of two or more age-associated diseases within an individual, which often results in detrimental health outcomes. Immunosenescence, the gradual deterioration of the immune system associated with aging, constitutes a significant risk factor for the development of these conditions. Moreover, certain diseases may exacerbate immunosenescence, thereby establishing a self-perpetuating pathological cycle. This bidirectional interaction forms a complex pathological network that presents considerable challenges for both the investigation and prevention of multimorbidity. In light of these challenges, it is pertinent to consider whether a paradigm shift in research and intervention strategies—centered on protective factors or anti-aging mechanisms—could facilitate substantial advancements in this field. On October 13, 2025, a research team led by Associate Researcher Xiaolin Ni and Researcher Erping Long from the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences published an article entitled "Centenarians: a model of immune resilience against multimorbidity" in the journal Life Medicine. By examining the mechanistic interplay between immunosenescence and multimorbidity and referencing the unique immune profiles of centenarians, the authors proposed a novel systemic therapeutic paradigm termed IMET. This approach focuses on the modulation and restoration of the immune microenvironment, thereby offering innovative research directions and intervention strategies aimed at mitigating the burden of aging-related multimorbidity.

New findings have shown that routine eye screening could also be used for early detection of underlying heart disease in people with type 2 diabetes.

A research team from the Department of Surgery and the Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), has demonstrated that prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening for men aged 45 and above can significantly reduce the incidence of advanced-stage prostate cancer from 39% to approximately 1%, and lower the mortality rate from 6.14% to 2.85%. The study highlights that implementing risk-stratified screening in Hong Kong is highly cost-effective, providing robust evidence to support the formulation of future cancer prevention and control policies in the city. The study findings were published in The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific.

University of Texas at Dallas researchers, in partnership with Texas-based biotech company EnLiSense, have demonstrated a pioneering wearable perspiration-based sensor that measures two key hormones that regulate the body’s sleep-wake cycle. The electrochemical sensor continuously monitors cortisol, which promotes wakefulness, and melatonin, which signals the body to sleep.

Metformin makes it easier for women with the hormone disorder PCOS to get pregnant, and the mother often gets better throughout the pregnancy. Her children, however, have a markedly higher risk of eczema and allergies.