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Sat, Oct 10
6 itemsA short immunotherapy course before surgery kept stage 2-3 bowel cancer from returning in a small trial, while Florida's dengue outbreak grew into the largest in any U.S. state in decades.
Pre-surgery pembrolizumab keeps bowel cancer away in small trial
In the NEOPRISM-CRC trial, 32 patients with a specific genetic form of stage 2-3 bowel cancer received pembrolizumab for up to nine weeks before surgery instead of post-surgery chemotherapy; after nearly three years, none had recurrence.
Why it mattersIf confirmed in larger trials, a short pre-surgery immunotherapy course could replace chemotherapy for this genetic subset of bowel cancer.
Florida dengue outbreak is largest in a U.S. state in decades
Florida's current dengue outbreak is the largest recorded in any U.S. state in several decades, according to a report.
Why it mattersSignals expanding local dengue transmission in the U.S., with implications for mosquito control and clinical awareness.
Study finds five distinct brain activity patterns in depression
Researchers studying 263 people with depression identified five brain profiles, each with different patterns of communication between brain regions and links to symptoms such as anxiety, trauma and substance abuse.
Why it mattersSupports the view that depression is several biological conditions, which could guide more targeted treatment selection.
Loneliness tied to loss of years free of depression and anxiety
A large study found men experiencing both loneliness and social isolation lost about 5.8 years free from depression and anxiety, while women lost roughly 3.7 years.
Why it mattersQuantifies the health cost of social isolation, strengthening the case for loneliness as a public-health target.
Gene changes near MECP2 may explain male autism bias
A study in the American Journal of Human Genetics identifies new genetic candidates, including small changes in the gene MECP2, that may help explain why autism is diagnosed about four times more often in boys than girls.
Why it mattersPoints to specific genetic mechanisms behind a long-observed sex difference, informing future diagnosis and research.
Early-onset Alzheimer's shows broad warning signs before diagnosis
A University of Oulu and University of Eastern Finland study found people who developed Alzheimer's before age 65 accumulated many health problems, especially in the five years before diagnosis, including depression, dizziness, headaches, traumatic brain injuries and epilepsy.
Why it mattersSuggests a cluster of conditions may precede early-onset disease, potentially aiding earlier recognition.