Irritable bowel syndrome, chronic itching, asthma and migraine are in many cases hard-to-treat conditions. They have in common that they are triggered by an excessive immune response—which in severe cases can be life-threatening. A team of researchers led by the University of Bonn has now identified a promising bioactive compound that could effectively reduce symptoms and slash fatality risk. The compound blocks a receptor on certain defense cells, thus preventing a derailed immune response. The study findings have been published in the journal Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy. 

Current risk assessment guidelines for ischemic stroke may underestimate patients with mild carotid stenosis. A Japanese multicenter study found that unstable plaque—particularly intraplaque hemorrhage—was a key stroke predictor. Surgical intervention, such as carotid endarterectomy, significantly reduced stroke risk compared to medical therapy alone. These findings could prompt a shift in how physicians assess and treat mild but symptomatic carotid artery disease.

Researchers from The University of Osaka discover new biomarkers at the cell and protein levels for predicting relapse of autoimmune vasculitis before the beginning of treatment. The insights into the disease mechanism and these new biomarkers may lead to better treatment strategies and outcomes for new vasculitis patients.

Amid warnings of near record heat ahead in 2025, the Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and Environment (CPCHE) and the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) say Canada’s schools and child care facilities are ill-prepared and children are paying the price. CPCHE’s summary of evidence and Collective Call for Action, signed by 40+ partners and collaborators, is complemented by twin CELA reports elaborating on the need for climate-resilient infrastructure.

UPF has led the international research team, involving Lausanne University Hospital. This pioneering study, published in Nature Mental Health, paves the way to developing new strategies to treat the disease.

Women have described cases of military sexual trauma as being “enabled, ignored and condoned” in Australia, with mental health and other professionals calling for immediate action to recognise and address this significant ‘entrenched’ issue in the armed forces.

Many of the female veterans described the scars of abuse suffered in the army, navy or air force in civilian life, even though the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has taken steps in recent years to address military justice, sexual violence and unacceptable behaviours in the armed forces.

The article conducts an in-depth analysis of the history, key indicators and difffculties of water ecological assessments in typical countries and organization around the world. It points out the significance of water ecological assessments , and provides future implications for advancing water ecological assessment practices. Research indicates significant progresses have been made in the study and application of water ecological assessments globally. The study highlights the key to effective water ecological assessments lies in establishing a comprehensive and scientifically robust indicator system. Over time, water ecological assessments have gradually shifted from relying on single water quality metrics to adopting holistic ecosystem health assessments. The research proposes that future water ecological assessments should integrate the management of water resources, water ecology, and water environment. It improves the management of water environment in key river basins, and establishes a new framework for systematic governance.