Chicks, just like pets, also benefit from gentle human touch, new research has revealed.  Scientists at the University of Bristol have discovered that gentle human interactions do not only prevent fear in baby chicks but also triggers positive emotions. The findings offer new insights into how early-life handling affects the welfare of young farm animals.

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.

Treatment-resistant depression affects a large proportion of people with major depressive disorder, and while ketamine offers rapid relief, its antidepressant effects fade within a few weeks. Now, researchers from Japan have identified the enzyme NOX-1 as a key molecular target to prolong ketamine’s antidepressant effects. Their findings shed light on key molecular and brain circuit mechanisms and point to new research directions for developing longer-lasting treatments for depression.

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.