Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) encompasses a spectrum of disease conditions and has an increasing prevalence worldwide. A new review highlights how elevated uric acid (UA) may actively contribute to the development and progression of the disease. Evidence suggests that UA promotes inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic disturbances in the liver. It may serve as a biomarker and therapeutic target for improving MASLD diagnosis and treatment.

The new issue of Tawasul Bulletin, published by Sultan Qaboos University, highlights a range of research addressing real-world challenges across health, environment, and society. The collection features studies on food preservation, mental health, and public health, showcasing how research can contribute to practical solutions and improve everyday life.

Cuproptosis was discovered in 2022. It was a previously unknown type of cell death caused by an excess of copper. The research group led by Professor Johannes Karges at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, used this mechanism to develop a new, copper-based agent complex that kills cells 100 times more effectively than existing chemotherapy treatments. The copper complex is embedded in polymeric nanoparticles that selectively accumulate in tumor tissue. Only through activation via light do the particles dissolve and release the active ingredient, specifically killing tumor cells and preserving healthy tissue. The researchers report their findings in the journal Advanced Functional Materials from March 25, 2026.

The dedicator of cytokinesis 10 (DOCK10) gene has been identified as a key driver of abnormal insulin secretion in insulinomas, as reported by researchers from Institute of Science Tokyo. Using surgical specimens and patient-derived organoids, the team performed comprehensive genetic and transcriptomic analyses, revealing that inhibiting a DOCK10-related pathway reduced excessive insulin release in cellular and animal models. These results pave the way for novel diagnostic biomarkers and treatment options for insulinomas.

Amebiasis is a parasitic disease caused by the microscopic protozoan Entamoeba histolytica. Infection occurs through the ingestion of cysts from contaminated water or food. Worldwide, approximately 50 million symptomatic cases are estimated annually, mainly in tropical and subtropical regions. Fumagillin, a fungal natural product, has been studied for decades as a potential antiparasitic drug, but its more potent relative ovalicin was never developed. Now, a study published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society reveals why: although ovalicin is highly active against amebiasis, liver enzymes rapidly break it down in the body. Researchers used a chem-bio hybrid approach to turn that insight into metabolically stable drug candidates that worked in animal models of amebiasis, including liver infection with abscess formation.