Scientists at Northwestern University and University of California San Diego have developed a new, potent injectable therapy that can protect the heart from damage after a heart attack.

The therapeutic approach comprises specially designed polymers that act like proteins. These protein-like polymers (PLPs) “grab” onto regulatory proteins, which blunt the body’s natural healing process, in heart tissue. With those proteins out of the way, the healing proteins are free to do their job — preventing stress and inflammation.

Protein-like polymer demonstrated improved heart health in animal experiments.

Heart attacks cause long-term damage that ultimately leads to heart failure. New treatment protects the heart from long-term damage after a heart attack.

Tiny self-powered Janus particles navigate tight spaces, showing promise for health and environmental problem-solving.

Researchers have developed a handheld device that could potentially replace stethoscopes as a tool for detecting certain types of heart disease.

The researchers, from the University of Cambridge, developed a device that makes it easy for people with or without medical training to record heart sounds accurately. Unlike a stethoscope, the device works well even if it’s not placed precisely on the chest: its larger, flexible sensing area helps capture clearer heart sounds than traditional stethoscopes.

The device can also be used over clothing, making it more comfortable for patients – especially women – during routine check-ups or community heart health screening programmes.

A research team has developed an innovative biomimetic dual-mode magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) nanoprobe for detecting early-stage liver fibrosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

The work, using the Steady High Magnetic Field Facility (SHMFF), was recently published in Advanced Science. The team was led by Prof. Wang Junfeng at the High Magnetic Field Laboratory, the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

NAFLD is a growing global health concern with even higher rates among individuals with obesity or type 2 diabetes. Detecting liver fibrosis early, before it becomes irreversible, is crucial for timely intervention and treatment. While MRI is a promising non-invasive tool for identifying liver fibrosis, traditional imaging techniques often lack the sensitivity to catch early-stage changes. Conventional contrast agents either face safety concerns or fail to target fibrotic tissues specifically.

DNA changes in umbilical cord blood may help predict which children are at higher risk for future health issues like diabetes, liver disease, and stroke.