https://phys.org/ en-us Latest news from University of Chicago Medical Center Detecting whether osteosarcoma, a rare but aggressive bone cancer that most often affects children and adolescents, has returned or spread remains a major challenge for patients and doctors. Blood-based biomarkers, which are measurable biological signals in the body, could offer a minimally invasive way to monitor the disease, but current methods often struggle to detect the small amounts of tumor DNA released by these bone cancers. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-blood-based-dna-track-osteosarcoma.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 09:20:06 EDT news695462821 In season 1, episode 2 of the popular show "The Pitt," a Black woman with sickle cell disease arrives at the emergency department in acute pain, only to be initially dismissed as drug-seeking. "Unfortunately, this contemporary media portrayal is all too relevant," said Austin Wesevich, MD, MPH, MS, a hematologist and health services researcher at the University of Chicago Medicine. "Nationwide, patients with sickle cell disease are not receiving the same quality of care that other patients experience." https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-opioid-stigma-underlie-clinician-biases.html Mon, 13 Apr 2026 11:00:02 EDT news695293621 The hippocampus is a crucial part of the brain that plays a role in memory and learning, especially in remembering directions and locations. New research from the University of Chicago shows how this small, curved structure reorganizes its activity depending on whether a situation matches people's memories and expectations. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-key-memory-center-brain-unexpected.html Fri, 10 Apr 2026 15:20:01 EDT news695041135 For decades, Chicago's South Side neighborhoods have experienced high rates of firearm violence, making speedy access to expert trauma care a matter of life and death. A recent study in JAMA Surgery helps quantify the impact of critical care: the opening of the University of Chicago Medicine's Level 1 trauma center in 2018 was associated with a nearly 4% reduction in firearm mortality, thanks to faster and closer emergency treatment. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-trauma-center-gunshot-minutes-deaths.html Sun, 29 Mar 2026 10:00:22 EDT news693760786 New research from a multi-institutional team, published in Nature Cardiovascular Research, reveals that heart failure and atrial fibrillation share underlying genetic and molecular mechanisms, suggesting that the two cardiovascular conditions may be less distinct than previously thought. The work is titled "A reduced TBX5-dependent gene regulatory network links atrial fibrillation and heart failure." https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-heart-failure-atrial-fibrillation-disease.html Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:20:06 EDT news693762541 Every multicellular organism, from tiny worms to humans, elephants, and whales, needs a way for their cells to connect with each other to form tissues, organs, and organize their overall body plan. Cells have a variety of protein receptors on their surfaces that connect with receptors on other cells to form so-called adhesive structures, as well as communicate with other cells and respond to cues from their environment. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-manual-cells.html Cell & Microbiology Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:40:03 EDT news692881862 Research on preventing type 1 diabetes often focuses on limiting the autoimmune response that destroys the body's ability to produce its own insulin. A new technology developed by scientists at the University of Chicago takes a different approach, centered on preserving insulin-producing beta cells by giving them the ability to protect themselves. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-nanoparticle-mrna-diabetes.html Bio & Medicine Sun, 01 Mar 2026 08:00:03 EST news691240687 Approximately 10.5 million Americans have atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that causes an irregular, often too fast, heartbeat. AFib increases the risk of stroke four to five times more than normal because it can cause blood to pool in the atria, or upper chambers of the heart. This allows clots to form, which can travel to the brain and cause a stroke. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-cardiologist-rethinks-devices-patients-afib.html Cardiology Thu, 19 Feb 2026 20:40:02 EST news690715001 A paper published in Science describes the discovery of Spinosaurus mirabilis, a new spinosaurid species found in Niger. A 20-person team led by Paul Sereno, Ph.D., Professor of Organismal Biology and Anatomy at the University of Chicago, unearthed the find at a remote locale in the central Sahara, adding important new fossil finds to the closing chapter of spinosaurid evolution. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-scimitar-crested-spinosaurus-species-central.html Evolution Thu, 19 Feb 2026 14:00:11 EST news690710341 Despite major advances in genetic testing for breast cancer risk prediction, death rates remain disproportionately high among women of African ancestry. This is often due to a combination of factors, including failure of existing genetic models to accurately predict risk, higher rates of aggressive tumor subtypes, and later-stage diagnoses. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-genetic-tools-accurate-breast-cancer.html Genetics Mon, 02 Feb 2026 15:07:40 EST news689267221 Gaps in the U.S. stroke transfer system are drastically reducing survivors' chances of receiving critical treatment and increasing the likelihood that they will leave the hospital with a disability, according to a study published in The Lancet Neurology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-delayed-linked-disability.html Neuroscience Wed, 21 Jan 2026 18:30:15 EST news688215601 In a paper published in Nature, a team led by University of Chicago paleoanthropologist Professor Zeresenay Alemseged reports the discovery of the first Paranthropus specimen from the Afar region of Ethiopia, 1,000 km north of the genus' previous northernmost occurrence. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-million-year-paranthropus-fossil-early.html Evolution Wed, 21 Jan 2026 11:00:04 EST news688122185 Most conversations about breast milk tend to focus on topics like nutrients, antibodies and bonding time rather than bacteria. But it turns out that human milk carries its own tiny community of microbes, and those passengers may help shape a baby's developing gut microbiome—which in turn can impact nutrient absorption, metabolic regulation, immune system development, and more. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-breast-microbes-infants-gut-microbiomes.html Medical research Wed, 07 Jan 2026 16:20:11 EST news687024983 Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer care by training the immune system to detect and destroy tumors. For many patients, it works very well in shrinking tumors and sending cancer into remission, an undetectable state of cancer. But that remission is short-lived in some cases, and the cancer can return more resistant than before. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-cancer-stem-cells-shield-immunotherapy.html Oncology & Cancer Tue, 09 Dec 2025 13:05:35 EST news684507901 People who have used GLP-1 medications—better known by their brand names like Ozempic, Mounjaro or Wegovy—have likely seen meaningful changes in their health, such as improved blood sugar, lower blood pressure and weight loss. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-11-qa-weight-loss-bariatric-surgery.html Surgery Thu, 20 Nov 2025 10:50:03 EST news682857656 When physicians don't have to type detailed clinical notes while simultaneously talking to their patients, the visit feels different. Eye contact lasts longer, follow-up questions become sharper, and—crucially—clinicians go home less drained. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-11-ambient-ai-burnout-fosters-patient.html Medical economics Wed, 19 Nov 2025 19:10:01 EST news682780210 Sunlight is vital for human health as it helps the body produce essential nutrients, such as vitamin D. However, too much sun exposure can significantly increase the risk of skin cancer. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-11-sunburn-triggered-inflammation-skin-cancer.html Oncology & Cancer Thu, 13 Nov 2025 16:52:04 EST news682275121 The microbiome—the trillions of bacteria, viruses, and fungi that live quietly in our body—plays a crucial role in shaping human health by providing a variety of micronutrients necessary for vital functions. But these tiny microorganisms can provide even more extraordinary benefits by reaching deep inside cells to accurately decode the genetic information that makes proteins, the building blocks of life. https://phys.org/news/2025-10-microbiome-metabolites-mammalian-cell-growth.html Cell & Microbiology Wed, 29 Oct 2025 10:12:04 EDT news680951521 In a new paper in Science, experts from the University of Chicago describe steps that took place some 66 million years ago to transform the carcasses of a duck-billed dinosaur, Edmontosaurus annectens, into dinosaur "mummies" preserving fine details of scales and hooves. https://phys.org/news/2025-10-dinosaur-mummies-secrets-real-life.html Paleontology & Fossils Thu, 23 Oct 2025 14:00:06 EDT news680370662 Researchers at the University of Chicago have found that patients with violent injuries often face legal and financial needs that can have an impact on their recovery—and that providing legal help at the bedside can make a measurable difference. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-medicallegal-partnerships-aid-recovery-patients.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Thu, 16 Oct 2025 15:54:04 EDT news679848841 A program that helps patients navigate the health care system with help from patient advocates significantly reduces repeat emergency department (ED) visits for low-acuity medical issues (minor or non-urgent needs), according to a study by University of Chicago Medicine researchers. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-patient-advocate-er.html Medical economics Fri, 26 Sep 2025 09:07:05 EDT news678096421 When someone mentions the word "toxicity" in relation to cancer treatment, they're usually referring to the negative physical side effects and complications that can result from therapies like radiation and chemotherapy. But researchers at the University of Chicago Medicine are raising awareness of another kind of toxicity patients face: financial toxicity, which refers to the stress, expense and instability caused by direct and indirect costs associated with health care. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-exposes-toll-financial-hardship-patients.html Oncology & Cancer Thu, 11 Sep 2025 15:38:04 EDT news676823881 In a new study, researchers from the University of Chicago discovered that zeaxanthin, a plant-derived carotenoid best known for protecting vision, may also act as an immune-boosting compound by strengthening the cancer-fighting activity of immune cells. The findings, which are published in Cell Reports Medicine, highlight the potential of zeaxanthin as a widely available supplement to improve the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapies. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-based-nutrient-boost-immune-cells.html Oncology & Cancer Tue, 02 Sep 2025 16:10:28 EDT news676048221 Researchers at the University of Chicago have developed a "universal" chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) platform that offers enhanced safety, adaptability, and the potential to overcome long-standing barriers in cancer immunotherapy. Promising initial testing results, published in Science Advances, suggest that this new form of CAR-T cell therapy could dramatically change the treatment landscape for certain cancers. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-universal-play-car-cell-therapy.html Oncology & Cancer Mon, 25 Aug 2025 08:57:05 EDT news675331021 In a recent paper published in Nature, researchers at the University of Chicago discovered how to block nicotinamide N-methyl transferase (NNMT), an enzyme that is involved in the progression of high-grade serous ovarian cancer. The team showed that NNMT promotes cancer growth by helping the tumor evade the immune system, and they also developed a potent NNMT inhibitor that could help overcome therapy resistance, providing a new and effective strategy for treating ovarian cancer. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-cancerous-cells-ovarian-cancer-resistance.html Oncology & Cancer Thu, 24 Jul 2025 08:40:03 EDT news672565198 Frailty is a medically defined condition in older adults that increases vulnerability to everyday stresses, leading to a higher risk of falls, hospitalization and loss of independence. Warning signs of frailty include: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-slightly-faster-older-adults-stay.html Gerontology & Geriatrics Wed, 16 Jul 2025 14:00:19 EDT news671865708 Every year, billions of birds undertake intrepid journeys between temperate regions in North America and their tropical wintering grounds in South America. https://phys.org/news/2025-07-tropical-bird-migration-stable-weather.html Plants & Animals Tue, 15 Jul 2025 07:08:23 EDT news671782064 In a newly published article in Nature Genetics, researchers from the University of Chicago have identified tumor aneuploidy—an imbalance in the number of chromosomes—as a powerful biomarker associated with resistance to immunotherapy across cancer types. The study emphasizes how combining immunotherapy with radiation may help overcome the issue of therapy resistance, offering a new framework for predicting treatment response and personalizing cancer therapy. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-chromosomal-abnormality-scores-path-personalized.html Genetics Wed, 09 Jul 2025 15:56:54 EDT news671295409 During animal development, cells divide and arrange themselves in a coordinated way, eventually forming the embryo. The cells communicate with one another during this process through cell-surface receptors, which interact with proteins outside the cell to trigger processes within the developing embryo's cells at specific times and places. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms behind how cells communicate during early embryonic development are not yet fully understood. https://phys.org/news/2025-07-unique-cell-receptor-interactions-essential.html Cell & Microbiology Tue, 01 Jul 2025 11:51:04 EDT news670589461 A new study details the development of a nanoparticle-based system that delivers concentrated chemotherapy specifically to cancer cells and not normal cells, potentially allowing clinicians to administer higher, more effective doses of anti-cancer drugs while avoiding some of the well-known toxic side effects. https://phys.org/news/2025-07-nanoparticle-based-delivery-unleashes-full.html Bio & Medicine Tue, 01 Jul 2025 09:58:05 EDT news670582681