The Ebola outbreak in northeastern Congo has surpassed 2,000 confirmed cases including 754 deaths, the World Health Organization reported Wednesday, as the crisis deepens with health workers at treatment centers going on strike over unpaid salaries and bonuses. Workers at Rwampara General Hospital in Ituri province walked off the job Monday, demanding months of back pay. The strike threatens to cripple containment efforts just as the virus spreads to new communities. A U.S. aid worker infected with Ebola has been flown to Germany for treatment after the Trump administration barred Americans from traveling on commercial flights.
Columbia University scientists have uncovered evidence that serotonin, the chemical best known for regulating mood, may accelerate the progression of a common heart valve disease. The study found that serotonin signaling can speed the development of mitral valve regurgitation, affecting millions of Americans. Separately, researchers announced that a non-invasive ultrasound treatment could help injured joints heal by breaking the cycle of chronic inflammation. The ultrasound therapy, tested in animal models, stimulated tissue repair without surgery. Both studies were published this week, offering new insights into cardiovascular and orthopedic medicine.
The FDA approved Casgevy, a CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing therapy, for children as young as 2 with sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia, expanding from the previous minimum age of 12. The Vertex Pharmaceuticals therapy is now the first and only gene therapy available for this younger pediatric population. The expanded approval could make the treatment available to approximately 5,500 additional patients in the United States.
Researchers have discovered how colon cancer cells undergo an identity change that allows them to metastasize, opening new avenues for treatment. The study, published in Nature Cell Biology, reveals that tumor cells switch to a stem-cell-like state to travel through the bloodstream and establish new tumors. The finding could lead to therapies that block this transformation, potentially preventing metastasis in 90% of colon cancer deaths.
Researchers have identified the mechanism by which Alzheimer's disease kills brain cells, potentially opening new treatment pathways. Scientists discovered a 'hidden brain cell killer' that drives neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's patients. Separately, a study found that reprogramming brain immune cells could fight the disease. New research also revealed a surprising link between vitamin C and brain health, while another study found omega-3 supplements showed no cognitive benefit.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of more than 418,000 people with type 2 diabetes and peripheral artery disease found that GLP-1 receptor agonists are associated with lower risks of major limb events, amputations, and mortality. The findings add to the growing list of health benefits linked to GLP-1 drugs beyond weight loss and blood sugar control.
New research has found that the century-old BCG vaccine, originally developed for tuberculosis, may trigger changes in brain immunity that could help protect against Alzheimer's disease. Researchers observed that patients who received BCG showed altered microglial activity — the brain's immune cells — suggesting the vaccine primes the brain's immune system to clear toxic protein buildup more effectively. The finding adds to a growing body of evidence that common vaccines and immune system modulation may have protective effects against dementia. Clinical trials are being planned to test BCG specifically as a preventive treatment for Alzheimer's in older adults.
The FDA approved the first-ever treatment for chronic hepatitis delta virus infection, a rare but aggressive liver disease affecting approximately 15 million people worldwide. In a separate development, Phase 2 trial results published in JAMA showed a new oral GLP-1 drug achieved 15.4% weight loss in patients with obesity. Researchers also reported progress in CRISPR-based personalized gene therapy for infants with rare metabolic disorders.
Researchers have uncovered a molecular switch that explains why exercise keeps aging muscles healthy. By reducing levels of the DEAF1 gene, physical activity allows older muscles to clear damage and repair themselves. An Oxford-developed calculator predicts individual statin side effect risk.
New research from Mass General Brigham shows that the BCG tuberculosis vaccine remodels the brain's immune environment and alters Alzheimer's-related biomarkers in older adults without evidence of the disease. The yearlong study found BCG reduced amyloid-beta levels in spinal fluid while increasing them in blood, suggesting the vaccine may help clear Alzheimer's proteins from the central nervous system.