Onco-neurology is an emerging multi-disciplinary sub-specialty dedicated to the study of the indirect effects of tumors and their therapeutic processes on the nervous system. Its core lies in elucidating the complex pathophysiological mechanisms by which tumors induce neurological dysfunction through non-metastatic mechanisms. The Neurology and Oncology Departments of Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, have accumulated extensive experience in the clinical practice of onco-neurology, providing comprehensive and personalized medical care to patients with oncological neurological complications through a multi-disciplinary collaboration model. This article, for the first time, introduces the concept of onco-neurology and elaborates on its classification, diagnosis, and treatment essentials. It aims to establish an organic intersection between oncology and neurology from an academic perspective, providing theoretical guidance and practical instructions for enhancing the efficacy of tumor treatment and reducing nervous system-related adverse effects in clinical practice, ultimately improving tumor patients' quality of life and survival outcomes.

The raccoon roundworm Baylisascaris procyonis can cause severe diseases in humans, including fatal brain damage. A research team from the ZOWIAC collaborative project at Goethe University Frankfurt has now presented the first comprehensive analysis for Europe: The parasite is already established in nine countries and continues to spread. The study combines new investigations of 146 raccoons from Germany with a comprehensive evaluation of all available European data and has been published in the journal Parasitology Research.

Using human liver samples and a mouse model of cirrhosis, researchers identified epigenetic overactivation of the inflammatory PAF–PAF-R pathway in hepatic macrophages as a key driver of liver damage. Published in Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, the study shows that blocking this pathway improves liver structure and vascular function, highlighting a promising target for future cirrhosis therapies.

A research team led by the School of Public Health at the LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), has discovered that tai chi, a traditional Chinese mind-body exercise, offers long-term benefits for chronic insomnia comparable to cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), the current first-line non-pharmacological treatment for chronic insomnia. The study supports the therapeutic use of tai chi as an accessible, culturally relevant, low-cost alternative for managing chronic insomnia among middle-aged and older adults. The findings were published in The BMJ.

The team led by Prof. Shao Li at Tsinghua University has long focused on the mechanisms and early prevention of inflammation–cancer transformation. Their earlier work defined a newly recognized stage—the “exceedingly-early” stage of gastric cancer—and identified its cellular features, biomarkers, and therapeutic targets, forming an intelligent and precise early-prevention framework. 

“Tiny biological batteries” can change the cell membrane’s electrical properties—a discovery that has big implications for health, as many essential cellular processes hinge upon precise electrical activity.