EurekAlert! News by Subject: Medicine & Health - News by Subject: Medicine & Health

Medicine & Health

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 3-Jul-2025 07:10 ET (3-Jul-2025 11:10 GMT/UTC)

New study suggests RNA present on surfaces of leaves may shape microbial communities

Indiana University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Biologists at Indiana University Bloomington have shown that the surfaces of plant leaves are coated with a diverse array of RNA molecules. The finding suggests that the RNA present on the leaf surface may play a role in shaping the microbial communities that inhabit them, potentially influencing plant health and interactions within their environment, according to a new study.

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Funder: U.S. National Science Foundation

Scientists unveil surprising human vs mouse differences in a major cancer immunotherapy target

University of California - San Diego
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Much of our knowledge of the protein PD-1, a leading cancer treatment target, comes from studies in mice. In a comprehensive assessment of PD-1, researchers have found that PD-1 in mice is significantly weaker than the human version, providing new information on how cancer treatments are developed.

Journal: Science Immunology
Funder: NIH/National Institutes of Health, Human Frontier Science Program, Japan Science and Technology Agency, American Cancer Society, Hartwell Foundation, Kinship Foundation, Pew Charitable Trusts

Multilingualism improves crucial cognitive functions in autistic children

University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study from UCLA Health adds to the growing body of evidence on the cognitive benefits of speaking multiple languages, finding that multilingualism not only enhances general cognitive abilities but also may help reduce certain symptoms and bolster control of daily thoughts and actions in children with and without autism.

Journal: Autism Research

Study finds 25% of youth experienced homelessness in Denver in 2021, significantly higher than known counts

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A first of its kind study, published today in Pediatrics, has provided full-picture assessment of youth homelessness in Denver, Colorado. The findings reveal that nearly 25% of youth in Denver experienced homelessness or housing insecurity in 2021, with rates increasing almost every year since 2017.

Journal: PEDIATRICS

Advanced imaging uncovers hidden metastases in high-risk prostate cancer cases

University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study led by researchers at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center has found that many cases of high-risk nonmetastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer may be more advanced than previously thought.A new study led by researchers at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center has found that many cases of high-risk nonmetastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer may be more advanced than previously thought.

Journal: JAMA Network Open

Trends in screening for social risk in physician practices

JAMA Network
Peer-Reviewed Publication

In this survey-based cross-sectional study of U.S. physician practices, social risk screening increased substantially from 2017 to 2022, although still less than one-third of practices systematically screened for a set of 5 common social risks (food, housing, utilities, interpersonal violence, and transportation).

Journal: JAMA Network Open

AI system helps doctors identify patients at risk for suicide

Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study from Vanderbilt University Medical Center shows that clinical alerts driven by artificial intelligence can help doctors identify patients at risk for suicide, potentially improving prevention efforts in routine medical settings. The study was published in JAMA Network Open.

Journal: JAMA Network Open
Funder: NIH/National Institute of Mental Health, NIH/National Human Genome Research Institute, Evelyn Selby Stead Fund for Innovation (VUMC), FDA Sentinel, Wellcome Leap MCPsych