Hälsa & medicin

A major quality-control study found that 48% of cancer treatment centers approved radiation plans they should have rejected, raising safety concerns across the field. The finding suggests that how clinics use their quality-assurance equipment matters far more than which device they own—and that current practices need urgent standardization to protect patient safety.EN

Researchers discovered that bile duct cancer cells produce their own growth-promoting inflammatory protein, IL-6, which simultaneously weakens anti-tumor immunity. The finding opens new drug targets and could explain why some patients resist current immunotherapies—with implications for treatment selection and personalized medicine strategies in this hard-to-treat cancer.EN

Researchers have released the first global consensus on how to standardize a promising MRI technique called IVIM, which detects blood flow and water movement in organs. The standardization removes a major barrier to clinical adoption: right now, every hospital runs IVIM differently, making results incomparable and risky for doctors to rely on.EN

A new review finds that hospitals and ICUs lack consistent methods for calculating personalized brain pressure targets that could improve outcomes for critically ill patients. This fragmentation across institutions blocks wider adoption of a promising technique that tailors care to individual physiology.EN

Researchers studying patients across Asia and the West discovered that digestive disorders commonly overlap multiple regions of the GI tract—contradicting how doctors currently diagnose and treat them. The finding could reshape clinical guidelines and open new treatment pathways for millions experiencing these hard-to-classify conditions.EN

A Swedish study of 62 children found that a combination therapy reduced time spent on inhalation and airway clearance from 92 minutes daily to 70 minutes—a clinically significant drop that could improve medication adherence and quality of life. The finding signals potential cost savings for health systems through reduced treatment burden and hospitalizations.EN

New research shows that ambiguous robot voices lead people to design less human-like, more inclusive machines, while masculine voices trigger more human-form designs. The finding suggests that voice selection early in robot development can reduce unintended gender bias—a growing concern for companies and regulators navigating responsible AI and robotics deployment.EN

European rheumatology experts have streamlined their recommendations for treating rheumatoid arthritis, cutting guidance from previous iterations to 9 core directives. The 2025 update consolidates evidence on older drugs like methotrexate alongside newer biologics and JAK inhibitors, helping clinicians and payers navigate treatment decisions more efficiently.EN

A combination of two immunotherapy drugs reduced the risk of death from advanced kidney cancer by 29% compared to standard chemotherapy, according to final results from a major trial with nearly a decade of follow-up. The finding could reshape treatment guidelines and market dynamics in oncology, where kidney cancer affects over 430,000 patients globally each year.EN

Researchers found that three common cardiovascular biomarkers reliably predict kidney function decline and disease risk across nearly 62,000 patients. The discovery could streamline screening for patients at dual cardiovascular-kidney risk, potentially improving treatment outcomes and reducing costly complications.EN

A Swedish study of 137 patients found that when squamous cell carcinoma spreads beyond the skin, survival drops sharply: only 56% of patients live two years. The finding matters for healthcare systems and insurers because most cases occur in elderly patients who are otherwise healthy enough for aggressive treatment, yet outcomes remain poor—signaling a need for better early detection and new therapies.EN

New research reveals that nine in ten primary care doctors have never read cancer rehabilitation guidelines, and most don't offer physical activity advice to survivors. This care gap creates a business case for rehabilitation providers and signals a policy failure that insurers and health systems must address to improve patient outcomes and reduce long-term costs.EN

Scientists discovered that mixing tea polyphenols with certain rice varieties creates a compound that resists digestive breakdown, potentially offering food makers a natural way to develop healthier grain products. The finding could reshape functional food formulations targeting digestive health and metabolic disease prevention markets.EN

A Swedish survey of nearly 6,000 adolescents found that deaf and hard-of-hearing students in regular classrooms report significantly lower well-being and higher mental health complaints than their hearing classmates. The finding highlights a critical gap in school inclusion policy and raises questions about whether current mainstream education models adequately support communication and social needs.EN

A major Swedish study tracking over 26,000 people for two decades found that apolipoprotein B, a blood lipid measure, predicts atrial fibrillation risk differently in men and women. The finding could reshape how doctors assess stroke and heart disease risk, particularly for female patients, and may influence lipid-management guidelines.EN

Researchers have identified molecular markers that predict which obese patients will develop liver fibrosis before symptoms appear, potentially enabling early intervention. The findings target a disease affecting over a billion people globally and costing healthcare systems billions annually, opening new avenues for diagnostic tools and drug development.EN

A major review of 25 clinical trials finds that virtual and augmented reality tools train dental and oral surgeons as effectively as traditional apprenticeships—without needing live patients. The finding could reshape surgical education by reducing training bottlenecks, lowering patient risk, and cutting costs for teaching hospitals and private practices.EN

An international taskforce has identified why evidence-based guidelines for diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease fail to translate into actual patient care. The barriers—poor translation, siloed systems, and weak clinician communication—are solvable through coordinated national strategies, offering payers and healthcare systems a roadmap to close the care gap.EN

A Danish study of 694 neurointensive care patients found that 25% had treatment-limiting decisions made, with withdrawal of care far more common than withholding. The findings highlight stark variations in end-of-life decision-making that could signal gaps in clinical protocols and raise questions about resource allocation and family communication in critical care.EN

Researchers have identified the material-level mechanisms behind structural deterioration in bioprosthetic aortic valves, the most common replacement option for millions of patients. The findings could guide the development of more durable valves, reducing repeat surgeries and expanding the addressable market for transcatheter valve companies.EN

Researchers say erectile dysfunction and female sexual arousal disorder should be treated as early warning signs of cardiovascular disease, not separate issues. Doctors and insurers should use sexual health screening as part of routine heart risk assessment—a shift that could reshape clinical protocols and preventive care strategies.EN

Researchers mapped immune markers across four understudied ovarian cancer subtypes, identifying specific checkpoint proteins that vary by tumor type. The findings could enable pharma companies to design targeted immunotherapies and help oncologists predict which patients will respond to treatment, addressing a major gap in precision cancer medicine.EN

A study of Spanish teens reveals that girls and boys face different obstacles to active commuting, with girls uniquely burdened by school bag weight. The finding has implications for urban planners and education policymakers seeking to boost youth physical activity and reduce car congestion around schools.EN

A major analysis of observational studies finds that antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers reduce suicide attempts and deaths in actual clinical practice—results that differ from controlled trials. For healthcare systems and policymakers, the finding suggests these medications work better in real-world settings than previous evidence suggested, shifting cost-benefit calculations for mental health treatment.EN

Researchers identified five molecular markers in cerebrospinal fluid that predict postoperative delirium in older surgical patients with over 77% accuracy. The finding opens a path to preoperative screening and preventive treatments, potentially reducing a complication that costs hospitals millions and increases dementia risk.EN