https://phys.org/ en-us Latest news from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine A new study shows that migration from Mexico to the United States can influence cardiovascular risk profiles. The study's findings are important for clinicians who serve immigrant populations and who would need to consider how time in the U.S. can lead to changes in lifestyle factors, including diet and physical activity that can influence health. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-migration-cardiovascular-profiles.html Thu, 02 Apr 2026 18:50:01 EDT news694340326 Electronic health records (EHRs); insurance claims; patient registries; wearable tech: Never before has health data been so abundant. However, the United States continues to struggle with siloed health data systems that make it difficult for critical data to be streamlined and used for the advancement of science and medicine—particularly public health, safety monitoring, and precision medicine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-health-real-world-evidence-patients.html Thu, 05 Mar 2026 17:10:01 EST news691951921 A new UNC study finds that a chemical derived from ashwagandha disrupts viral and cancer processes that make B-cell lymphomas difficult to treat with standard chemotherapy. Cancer has many causes, including inherited genes, alcohol- and tobacco-use, and environmental carcinogens. But scientists are now focusing more on viruses, such as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which have been linked to certain cancers, including diffuse large B cell lymphoma, Burkitt lymphoma, NK/T cell lymphomas, and Hodgkin lymphoma. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-natural-compound-derived-ashwagandha-benefit.html Immunology Thu, 19 Feb 2026 14:30:36 EST news690733801 In a collaboration between several labs at UNC Lineberger, researchers have defined cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) subtypes that are clinically robust, prognostic, and predictive of immunotherapy response and developed a clinical classifier designed to distinguish between these subtypes in patients. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-sample-cancer-fibroblast-subtypes-patient.html Oncology & Cancer Wed, 18 Feb 2026 14:42:53 EST news690648121 A multi-institutional study led by researchers at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, and UC San Diego has uncovered new genetic rules that determine how powerful immune cells—known as CD8+ killer T cells—choose between becoming long-lasting, protective defenders or slipping into exhausted, dysfunctional states. The findings, published in Nature, reveal new strategies for sustaining immune memory while preserving the ability to fight cancer and infections, with broad implications for immunotherapy and infectious disease research. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-genetic-blueprint-killer-cell-exhaustion.html Genetics Wed, 04 Feb 2026 14:57:48 EST news689439422 Researchers at the UNC School of Medicine have developed a tool that can identify airway mucus abnormalities in patients with chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or asthma before symptoms start. A study led by Mehmet Kesimer, Ph.D., a professor of pathology and lab medicine at the UNC School of Medicine, describes a new metric called the Quantitative Mucin Index (MUCQ) of the Lung. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-metric-physicians-lung-health.html Inflammatory disorders Mon, 02 Feb 2026 16:36:33 EST news689272562 A new study led by researchers at the UNC School of Medicine and Cartesian Therapeutics, found that immunotherapy can help people with generalized myasthenia gravis, a disease where the body accidentally attacks the cells that help your nerves and muscles work together, causing variable muscle weakness and fatigue. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-car-cell-therapy-symptoms-myasthenia.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:21:34 EST news688839661 If you have had strep throat or an ear infection, there's a good chance you received amoxicillin or penicillin to effectively kill the troublesome bacteria. These drugs, which belong to a broad group of antibiotics called beta-lactams, are commonly used to treat various bacterial infections, from urinary tract infections to pneumonia and sepsis. https://phys.org/news/2026-01-specific-immune-protein-antibiotic-tolerance.html Cell & Microbiology Tue, 27 Jan 2026 16:43:02 EST news688754521 Researchers with UNC School of Medicine, Gillings School of Global Health, and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center collaborated on a new study that highlights a simple but effective way to improve women's health screenings for women who are often missed by traditional programs. The work is published in the journal JAMA Network Open. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-home-sti-hpv-screening.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Thu, 15 Jan 2026 08:42:51 EST news687688922 Ongoing clinical research at UNC could lead to a first-of-its-kind enzyme replacement therapy for Hunter syndrome, an ultra-rare disorder that causes progressive multisystem disease and neurologic decline. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-enzyme-therapy-ultra-rare-hunter.html Genetics Mon, 05 Jan 2026 15:03:19 EST news686847781 A new study in the lab of Jason Stein, Ph.D., modeled brain development in a dish to identify cells and genes that influence infant brain growth, a trait associated with autism. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-scientists-mini-brains-uncover-cells.html Autism spectrum disorders Tue, 23 Dec 2025 14:48:37 EST news685723682 Babies born prematurely can have a number of complications at birth, simply because they are brought into the world before their organs are fully developed. One complication is called patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-early-meds-life-threatening-conditions.html Cardiology Tue, 09 Dec 2025 16:52:14 EST news684521521 UNC researchers discovered how a key step in cell signaling works by showing exactly how G proteins detach from receptors that many common medicines target. https://phys.org/news/2025-11-protein-simulations-reveal-critical-cells.html Cell & Microbiology Fri, 21 Nov 2025 12:55:21 EST news682952113 Breathing wildfire smoke, even briefly, can change the bacteria and immune cells in your lungs, which may contribute to adverse health effects. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-11-uncover-wildfire-impact-respiratory-health.html Health Thu, 06 Nov 2025 11:54:04 EST news681652442 UNC School of Medicine researchers have led an international clinical trial of patients with generalized myasthenia gravis, finding the therapy is safe and effective across all subtypes. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-11-wider-fda-drug-rare-muscle.html Medications Thu, 06 Nov 2025 08:14:04 EST news681639242 Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, can't always be removed with a scalpel. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-inhibiting-problematic-protein-immunotherapies-car.html Oncology & Cancer Tue, 28 Oct 2025 22:50:01 EDT news680888044 A new multi-site study, published in JAMA, and co-led by researchers at the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and Wake Forest University School of Medicine, has demonstrated that a direct-to-patient digital health program can significantly increase recommended lung cancer screening for high-risk individuals. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-digital-health-outreach-lung-cancer.html Oncology & Cancer Mon, 20 Oct 2025 12:42:03 EDT news680182921 Since the 1940s, antibiotics have been our primary weapon against harmful bacterial infections. But some stubborn pathogens, like Staphylococcus aureus, can infect and hide within our own immune cells, making it incredibly difficult for antibiotics to reach and eliminate them. https://phys.org/news/2025-10-small-molecule-combat-antibiotic-treatment.html Molecular & Computational biology Tue, 14 Oct 2025 16:12:37 EDT news679677152 A first-of-its-kind clinical study shows that offering modest monthly grocery cards for produce leads to improvements in blood pressure compared to distributing pre-selected boxes of healthy food. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-clinical-evidence-food-delivery-insecurity.html Health Tue, 14 Oct 2025 15:04:05 EDT news679673041 The idea of a child dying by suicide is unimaginable. Yet, according to recent data, a significant number of children will seriously consider or attempt suicide, even at ages as young as 5. For Adam Bryant Miller, Ph.D., a UNC School of Medicine researcher and father of two, this statistic is deeply alarming. He believes it's critical to identify warning signs early, and he's made it the focus of his current research. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-early-screening-suicidal-thoughts-children.html Psychology & Psychiatry Mon, 13 Oct 2025 14:00:01 EDT news679580688 Researchers at the UNC School of Medicine and the University of Vermont have developed a more precise way to assess stroke risk in people with atrial fibrillation (A-Fib), a condition that affects 10.5 million Americans and is a leading cause of stroke. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-physicians-atrial-fibrillation-patients.html Cardiology Mon, 06 Oct 2025 14:18:04 EDT news678979082 Alzheimer's disease not only robs people of their memory but also affects mood, often causing anxiety and depression. Until now, scientists haven't fully understood how these symptoms are connected in the brain. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-uncovers-brain-pathways-alzheimer-memory.html Neuroscience Mon, 06 Oct 2025 10:22:03 EDT news678964921 A new study from UNC School of Medicine researchers, published this week in Neuron, reveals a unique look at how junk food rewires the brain's memory hub—leading to risk of cognitive dysfunction. This new research opens the door to early interventions that can prevent even long-term memory loss associated with obesity. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-junk-food-diet-quickly-disrupt.html Alzheimer's disease & dementia Thu, 11 Sep 2025 15:40:04 EDT news676824001 Suicide is a leading cause of death in postpartum women—and it is a preventable one. It is estimated that nearly half of mothers experiencing perinatal depression are undiagnosed and are not receiving treatment. But when women are given vital mental health tools in an accessible manner, their deaths can be prevented. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-physicians-fast-treatment-ease-depression.html Psychology & Psychiatry Mon, 08 Sep 2025 13:20:06 EDT news676555472 University of North Carolina researchers affiliated with the School of Nursing and School of Medicine contributed to new blood pressure guidelines released by the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-medical-approach-high-blood-pressure.html Cardiology Thu, 28 Aug 2025 10:11:05 EDT news675594662 A new clinical trial demonstrates that dietary changes significantly reduce persistent post-traumatic headaches (pPTH), a common and debilitating consequence of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Researchers from the UNC School of Medicine, the Uniformed Services University, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that increasing omega-3 fatty acids (commonly found in fatty fish like salmon and tuna) while reducing omega-6 fatty acids (abundant in seed oils such as corn, sunflower, and cottonseed oils) led to fewer and less severe headaches. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-diet-ease-persistent-headaches-brain.html Health Thu, 17 Jul 2025 11:40:02 EDT news671968447 Cellular communication between neurons within our brain is complex and busy, much like a USPS mailroom. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-proteins-important-brain-communication-roles.html Neuroscience Tue, 01 Jul 2025 16:02:41 EDT news670604555 A new update, led by researchers at the UNC School of Medicine and the Gillings School of Global Public Health, describes major findings from the past half decade in the realm of psychiatric genomics and next steps for researchers. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-exploring-major-decade-psychiatric-genomics.html Genetics Fri, 27 Jun 2025 10:14:46 EDT news670238063 A new comparative study led by researchers at the UNC School of Medicine found that a new therapy for prevention of recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection may be less effective than traditional therapy when it comes to preventing severe disease over time. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-traditional-fecal-transplant-outperforms-pill.html Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes Wed, 11 Jun 2025 08:35:29 EDT news668849724 In 2021, health care costs associated with gastrointestinal health reached $111.8 billion. But, this is more than just a number. This statistic also represents the increasing physical and financial burdens on patients, medical professionals, and the overall health care system. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-04-gastrointestinal-disease-billion-annually.html Medical economics Mon, 07 Apr 2025 16:57:03 EDT news663263822