https://phys.org/ en-us Latest news from Houston Methodist Scientists at Houston Methodist Research Institute have discovered that a fast-rising strep bacterium comes in more forms than expected, including ones that may lead to life-threatening infections. The study, led by James Musser, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine and director of the Center for Infectious Diseases at Houston Methodist, is published in Microbiology Spectrum. It is the largest U.S. study investigating Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis (SDSE) at this level, as these strep infections are increasing worldwide. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-genetic-code-bacterial-threat-genome.html Mon, 30 Mar 2026 17:00:02 EDT news694103761 A new study has revealed a promising new approach to curb the spread of triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat forms of the disease. Published recently in Cancer Letters, Gabriel Duda, Ph.D., scientific director of transplant oncology and therapeutics at Houston Methodist Research Institute, and his research team discovered pairing targeted treatments with CAR T-cell therapy may help control cancer recurrence when intervention options are otherwise limited. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-treatments-immune-cells-early-triplenegative.html Tue, 10 Mar 2026 21:00:01 EDT news692362696 Bloodstream infections (BSI) can turn deadly fast, particularly for patients with weakened immune systems. A new study from Houston Methodist Research Institute finds that artificial intelligence can assist clinicians in identifying previously unseen patterns of infection in patients. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-ai-clinicians-high-patients-bloodstream.html Mon, 09 Mar 2026 13:30:03 EDT news692281261 In a new study published in Communications Biology, Houston Methodist researchers led by Sonia Villapol, Ph.D., found that short-term antibiotic treatment significantly reduced neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration following traumatic brain injury (TBI) by altering the gut microbiome in animal models. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-gut-brain-antibiotics-aid-recovery.html Neuroscience Thu, 26 Feb 2026 17:00:01 EST news691346042 The eyes—specifically, the outer area of the retina—may provide a window into early detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD) long before irreversible brain damage has occurred, according to new research from Houston Methodist. This discovery could dramatically change how the disease is diagnosed, monitored and treated. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-eyes-window-early-alzheimer.html Alzheimer's disease & dementia Thu, 19 Feb 2026 13:27:02 EST news690729961 A new Alzheimer's treatment side effect that results in brain swelling may have an upside, according to a new study from Houston Methodist Research Institute. The research finds that beta amyloid—a protein that accumulates as plaques in the brain—may be cleared more in brain regions that had this side effect, signaling a stronger treatment response. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-good-side-effect-brain-alzheimer.html Neuroscience Tue, 17 Feb 2026 13:06:29 EST news690555961 Radiation therapy is highly effective at killing cancer cells, but it often harms healthy skin around the treatment area, a common side effect experienced by up to 95% of cancer patients undergoing treatment. In worst-case scenarios, it can result in delayed or halted treatment. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-mrna-therapy-patients-skin-cancer.html Oncology & Cancer Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:51:34 EST news689964661 A personalized blood test known as a circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) test—which detects tiny fragments of cancer DNA circulating in the bloodstream—may help identify liver cancer recurrence earlier in transplant recipients and reduce the need for invasive procedures, according to a new study from Houston Methodist. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-blood-early-liver-cancer-recurrence.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Tue, 20 Jan 2026 15:06:50 EST news688143962 Twinkling lights, family gatherings and holiday cheer often come with indulgent meals and celebratory drinks. But cardiologists at Houston Methodist are sounding the alarm on a little-known condition that can turn festivities into a health scare: Holiday Heart Syndrome. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-heart-holiday-overdrive-cardiologist-seasonal.html Cardiology Tue, 16 Dec 2025 10:57:35 EST news685105021 Scientists have identified a promising strategy to improve liver cancer immunotherapy: targeting B-cells. While immunotherapy has transformed cancer treatment by activating T-cells—a type of immune cell that fights cancerous cells—many patients still fail to respond. New research shows that B-cells—another type of immune cell that fights infections—may play a surprising role in limiting immunotherapy's effectiveness. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-cells-boost-immunotherapy-liver-cancer.html Oncology & Cancer Mon, 15 Dec 2025 14:56:39 EST news685032961 Where you live may matter more than you think when it comes to your health. A new study has found that people living in neighborhoods with a high climate vulnerability index face a significantly higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes—even after accounting for personal health and lifestyle factors. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-home-diabetes.html Diabetes Wed, 10 Dec 2025 14:53:28 EST news684600781 Houston Methodist neuroscientists have developed a first-of-its-kind method to rapidly produce synchronized, human brain wave-like activity in lab-grown neural networks that can communicate over long distances. This innovation offers researchers a powerful tool to study how brain connectivity is affected in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's and to explore potential treatments. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-neuroscientists-human-brain-technology-alzheimer.html Neuroscience Mon, 08 Dec 2025 13:10:01 EST news684420866 New Houston Methodist research has revealed that a protein associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) also plays a role in regulating DNA mismatch repair, a process essential for replicating genetic information and cell health. The finding could change how scientists understand both cancer and neurodegeneration. https://phys.org/news/2025-12-dementia-linked-protein-role-dna.html Molecular & Computational biology Tue, 02 Dec 2025 12:13:47 EST news683899981 A first-of-its-kind nationwide study has mapped epilepsy incidence rates among older adults in the United States and identified key social and environmental factors associated with the neurological condition. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-11-america-epilepsy-belt-reveals-regions.html Neuroscience Thu, 20 Nov 2025 12:30:04 EST news682864201 A study from Houston Methodist sheds light on how Alzheimer's disease may contribute to larger health issues by hijacking the body's ability to regulate its metabolism. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-11-alzheimer-hijack-communication-brain-fat.html Alzheimer's disease & dementia Wed, 05 Nov 2025 14:14:03 EST news681574441 Obesity has long been acknowledged as a risk factor for a wide range of diseases, but a more precise link between obesity and Alzheimer's disease has remained a mystery—until now. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-tiny-cell-messengers-obese-individuals.html Alzheimer's disease & dementia Thu, 02 Oct 2025 07:00:02 EDT news678536881 Neuroinflammation is linked to a host of detrimental brain disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. A collaborative research team from Houston Methodist and Rice University has developed a way to fight back with a tiny, bioengineered system to deliver anti-inflammatory proteins to specific targets in the brain. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-tiny-treatment-neuroinflammation-brain.html Neuroscience Thu, 25 Sep 2025 09:43:03 EDT news678012181 Sinus and congestion problems are more than just earthly annoyances, according to new research from Houston Methodist. A newly published study reveals that a staggering 85% of astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) experienced at least one nasal and sinus issue during their mission, which can significantly impact health. The work is published in the journal Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology. https://phys.org/news/2025-08-houston-sinus-problem-astronaut-nasal.html Space Exploration Thu, 07 Aug 2025 13:10:04 EDT news673789300 Chemotherapy used to target and kill bladder cancer cells may trigger an inflammatory response that ultimately may make the cancer more resistant to treatment, according to new research from scientists at Houston Methodist. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-fiery-cell-death-chemotherapy-bladder.html Medical research Wed, 16 Jul 2025 13:40:02 EDT news671890938 Houston Methodist nurses are using an adapted screening tool at the bedside to assess whether patients have true penicillin allergies, thus enabling their care teams to offer them the most appropriate antibiotics without delay. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-03-collaboration-hospital-optimizes-antibiotic-patient.html Medications Thu, 20 Mar 2025 07:24:03 EDT news661674241 A national study seeking more effective treatment for deadly metaplastic breast cancer has identified two inhibitor drugs with the potential to interrupt disease progression. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-02-effective-treatment-aggressive-breast-cancer.html Medications Mon, 03 Feb 2025 11:11:07 EST news657803461 Houston Methodist researchers have identified a key protein as a potential therapeutic target for stopping the body's immune system from mistakenly attacking itself, offering new hope for treating autoimmune diseases and allergies. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-01-protein-autoimmune-diseases-allergies.html Immunology Tue, 21 Jan 2025 13:30:12 EST news656688607 Houston Methodist researchers have discovered that certain components of so-called "good" cholesterol—high-density lipoproteins (HDL)—may be associated with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-12-discovery-good-cholesterol.html Medical research Thu, 19 Dec 2024 08:22:04 EST news653818922 A concerning increase in global rates of severe invasive infections becoming resistant to key antibiotics has a team of infectious disease researchers at the Houston Methodist Research Institute studying a recently emerged strain of bacteria called Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis (SDSE). SDSE infects humans via the skin, throat, gastrointestinal tract and female genital tract to cause infections ranging in severity from strep throat (pharyngitis) to necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating disease). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-11-severe-human-infections-streptococcus-subspecies.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Sat, 02 Nov 2024 06:40:27 EDT news649748415 Houston Methodist researchers have developed an advanced mathematical model that predicts how novel treatment combinations could significantly extend progression-free survival for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the most common type of lung cancer. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-09-mathematical-effective-drug-combinations-small.html Medications Fri, 27 Sep 2024 13:22:04 EDT news646662122 Houston Methodist researchers have discovered a more accurate and timely way to deliver life-saving drug therapies to the brain, laying the groundwork for more effective treatment of brain tumors and other neurological diseases. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-precise-medicine-brain.html Neuroscience Fri, 09 Aug 2024 05:35:32 EDT news642400526 Early-stage cervical cancer patients see better survival and decreased recurrence rates after open radical hysterectomy than minimally invasive laparoscopic approaches, according to a five-year study led by Houston Methodist researchers and published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-06-survival-radical-hysterectomy-early-stage.html Obstetrics & gynaecology Wed, 12 Jun 2024 11:00:43 EDT news637408838 A new study has found that pancreatic cancer cells are different based on their location in the pancreas, providing new information about tumors that could lead to better targeted treatments. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-05-difference-pancreatic-cancer-cells-immunotherapy.html Oncology & Cancer Wed, 01 May 2024 09:32:03 EDT news633774722 A team from Houston Methodist Research Institute recently showed that a nanofluidic implant delivered an HIV drug that achieved more potency than other forms of drug administration (oral) and other HIV drugs. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-03-implantable-device-hiv-antiviral-potency.html HIV & AIDS Tue, 26 Mar 2024 13:09:31 EDT news630677365 Houston Methodist researchers identified a troublesome subset of T-cells in transplant recipients that may be a more effective therapeutic target for preventing transplant rejection in patients. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-03-key-deprogram-cells-transplant.html Genetics Thu, 14 Mar 2024 11:18:31 EDT news629633908