Reusable menstrual cups reduce waste and are more cost-effective than single-use pads and tampons. But some people avoid the cups because they require thorough cleaning and are sometimes messy to empty. To solve these problems, researchers coated a commercially available silicone cup in silicone oil and created a plant-based, absorbent tablet. These design adjustments could make menstrual cups safer and easier to use, according to a study published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.

Despite modern imaging and genetic testing, diagnosing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) remains challenging, particularly when distinguishing it from clinically similar neurodegenerative disorders. A new study led by the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) in cooperation with Alfried Krupp Hospital Essen now shows that combining two blood biomarkers – serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) – significantly improves diagnostic accuracy in ALS. The study results have been published in the journal Annals of Neurology.