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SMART breakthrough offers a promising pathway toward improved manufacturing of high‑quality cells for regenerative therapies to treat joint diseases.

Cultured from induced pluripotent stem cells, “miBrains” integrate all major brain cell types and model brain structures, cellular interactions, activity, and pathological features.

A new, highly efficient process for performing this conversion could make it easier to develop therapies for spinal cord injuries or diseases like ALS.

Lincoln Laboratory and MIT researchers are creating new types of bioabsorbable fabrics that mimic the unique way soft tissues stretch while nurturing growing cells.

Professor Li-Huei Tsai studies how brain waves can be used to treat neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

FDA is taking an initial step to advance treatment options for men’s health by encouraging sponsors of approved testosterone replacement therapy products to contact FDA for information if they are interested in pursuing a potential new indication for low libido in men with idiopathic hypogonadism.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today issued a draft guidance for sponsors seeking approval of human gene therapy products involving genome editing technologies.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has reminded more than 2,200 medical product companies and researchers of the requirements to submit certain clinical trial results information to ClinicalTrials.gov.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Foundayo (orforglipron) marking the fifth approval under the Commissioner's National Priority Voucher (CNPV) pilot program.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Kresladi (marnetegragene autotemcel), the first gene therapy for the treatment of severe Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency Type I (LAD-I).

The adaptor on Namic RA syringes may unwind during use. The resulting loose connection or disconnection may lead to infection, blood loss, or air embolism.

The adaptor on Namic RA syringes may unwind during use. The resulting loose connection or disconnection may lead to infection, blood loss, or air embolism.

Philips Trilogy Evo Ventilators may not function as intended if used with certain nebulizers.

Stryker is updating use instructions for TMJ Unilateral and Bilateral Implants due to a discrepancy in the positioning of the screw hole.

Percussionaire Corporation issues updated instructions for ventilator tubes due to design defect that could cause hypoventilation, respiratory failure

Scientists at Cornell University may be closing in on the long-sought “holy grail” of male contraception: a safe, reversible, nonhormonal method that completely halts sperm production. In a breakthrough mouse study, researchers used a compound called JQ1 to temporarily shut down meiosis—the critical process that produces sperm—without causing lasting harm. After treatment stopped, sperm production bounced back, fertility returned, and the animals produced healthy offspring.

Scientists at Michigan State University have uncovered the molecular “switch” that powers sperm for their final, high-speed dash toward an egg. By tracking how sperm use glucose as fuel, the team discovered how dormant cells suddenly flip into overdrive, burning energy in a carefully controlled, multi-step process. A key enzyme, aldolase, helps convert sugar into the burst of power needed for fertilization, while other enzymes act like traffic controllers directing the flow of fuel.

Researchers have discovered a biological switch that explains why movement keeps bones strong. The protein senses physical activity and pushes bone marrow stem cells to build bone instead of storing fat, slowing age-related bone loss. By targeting this “exercise sensor,” scientists believe they could create drugs that mimic exercise at the molecular level. The approach could protect fragile bones in people who are unable to stay active.

Researchers have recreated a miniature human bone marrow system that mirrors the real structure found inside our bones. The model includes the full mix of cells and signals needed for blood production and even maintains this process for weeks. It could transform how scientists study blood cancers and test new drugs. In the future, it may support more personalized treatment strategies.

Researchers discovered that chronic inflammation fundamentally remodels the bone marrow, allowing mutated stem cell clones to quietly gain dominance with age. Reprogrammed stromal cells and interferon-responsive T cells create a self-sustaining inflammatory loop that weakens blood production. Surprisingly, the mutant cells themselves may not be the main instigators.

A newly identified gene mutation may help explain why schizophrenia patients struggle to update their understanding of reality. The mutation disrupts a brain circuit involved in flexible decision-making, causing mice to stick with outdated choices even when conditions change. Researchers pinpointed the issue to a key thalamus–prefrontal cortex pathway. By reactivating this circuit, they were able to restore normal behavior—raising hope for future therapies.

Korean researchers found that low-dose radiation therapy eased knee pain and improved movement in people with mild to moderate osteoarthritis. The treatment, far weaker than cancer radiation, showed real benefits beyond placebo. With no side effects and strong trial results, the approach could provide a middle ground between painkillers and joint surgery.

For decades, scientists believed Alzheimer’s was driven mainly by sticky protein plaques and tangles in the brain. Now Purdue researchers have revealed a hidden culprit: fat. They found that brain immune cells can become clogged with fat, leaving them too weak to fight off disease. By clearing out this fat and restoring the cells’ defenses, researchers may have uncovered an entirely new way to combat Alzheimer’s — shifting the focus from plaques alone to how the brain handles fat.

Mayo Clinic scientists uncovered how excessive drinking triggers fatty liver disease by disrupting the enzyme VCP, which normally prevents harmful protein buildup on fat droplets in the liver. Alcohol blocks this protective process, allowing fat to accumulate and damage liver cells.

Switching clocks twice a year disrupts circadian rhythms in ways that harm health. Stanford scientists found permanent standard time would reduce obesity and stroke rates nationwide, making it the strongest option over permanent daylight saving time or seasonal shifts.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have emerged as promising therapeutic agents for inflammatory diseases because of their potent immunomodulatory properties. Although acute inflammation transiently enhances MSC functionality, the impact of chronic inflammatory exposure remains poorly defined. In this study, we investigated the effects of sustained TNF-α stimulation and indirect co-culture with M1 macrophages on MSC behavior. Comprehensive gene expression profiling was performed to assess the changes in immunoregulatory, apoptotic, and metabolic pathways. To determine functional reversibility, we also evaluated MSCs following the withdrawal of TNF-α. Short-term exposure led to upregulation of Tgf-β, Il-10, and Fasl, whereas prolonged stimulation suppressed these genes and significantly increased the expression of immune checkpoint genes Pd-1 and Ctla-4, indicative of an exhaustion-like phenotype. This phenotypic shift was associated with sustained NF-κB activation, upregulation of Stat3 and Ap-1, suppression of mTORC1/2 components, decreased Pd-l1 expression, and increased Pd-1 expression, raising the possibility that PD-1 upregulation is associated with MSC dysfunction under chronic inflammatory stress. These findings revealed that prolonged stimulation (48 h) induces an exhaustion-like dysfunction state in MSCs, characterized by checkpoint activation, transcriptional repression, and metabolic dysfunction. PD-1 may serve as a biomarker associated with inflammation-induced MSC impairment.

IntroductionHuman fetal neural stem cells (hfNSCs) from the subventricular zone (SVZ) are employed in clinical trials for neurodegenerative diseases, yet their bioelectrical properties remain largely unexplored. Molecular markers alone do not reliably correlate with functional state, highlighting the need for complementary functional descriptors.MethodsWe performed whole-cell patch-clamp recordings on hfNSCs from three independent SVZ donors (15–16 weeks of gestation) to characterize resting membrane potential (Vm) and voltage-gated currents, assessing inter-donor reproducibility and differentiation dynamics over 30 days in vitro.ResultshfNSCs exhibited a highly reproducible bioelectrical signature across all donors, characterized by a depolarized resting membrane potential (∼−30 mV), a non-excitable profile, and a stereotyped composition of outward K+ currents. The two current components were resolved using combined biophysical and pharmacological approaches, while Western blot analysis confirmed the expression of Kv4.2 and Kv1.1 channel subtypes functionally consistent with IA and IK, respectively. Remarkably, inter-donor variability in bioelectrical parameters was minimal despite independent cell line derivation. During differentiation, Vm underwent rapid hyperpolarization within 24 h, representing the earliest detectable functional transition. IA showed progressive reduction detectable as early as 24 h and more pronounced by day 15, while IK remained stable throughout. By day 30, inward voltage-gated currents emerged in approximately 60% of cells, consistent with progression toward more differentiated neuro-glial electrophysiological states; however, cells remained non-excitable under our recording conditions. This late-stage divergence highlights heterogeneity in maturation trajectories and completes a temporally ordered sequence of electrical remodeling.ConclusionSVZ-derived hfNSCs possess a reproducible bioelectrical signature within the 15–16-week gestational window across independent donors, supporting electrophysiological profiling as a quantitative functional benchmark for identity and standardization. During in vitro differentiation, Vm hyperpolarization and IA/IK remodeling track early functional progression, whereas the late emergence of inward currents in only a subset of cells indicates increased heterogeneity at later stages. Overall, these findings support bioelectrical profiling as a quantitative functional biomarker with potential utility for standardization and quality assessment in hfNSC-based regenerative therapies.

BackgroundAtrophic acne scars represent a therapeutic challenge with significant psychosocial impact. Autologous cell-based therapies, such as stromal vascular fraction (SVF) and the ReCell® system, aim to address the underlying dermal matrix deficiency through regenerative mechanisms. This systematic review and meta-analysis provides an updated and comprehensive quantitative synthesis of their standalone efficacy and safety.MethodsWe conducted a systematic search of multiple databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang) from inception to December 2025 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and split-face studies comparing autologous cell therapies (SVF, ReCell, fat grafting) with control treatments (e.g., saline, laser alone) for atrophic acne scars. The primary outcome was the change in the ECCA grading score. Secondary outcomes included patient satisfaction, objective scar metrics, healing time, and adverse events. Data were pooled using random-effects models.ResultsEighteen studies involving 500 participants were included. Autologous cell therapies significantly reduced ECCA scores compared to controls (Standardized Mean Difference [SMD] = −1.25, 95% CI: −1.80 to −0.70, p < 0.001; I2 = 65%). Subgroup analysis indicated the largest effect size for SVF-based therapies (SMD = −1.40). Patient satisfaction was significantly higher in intervention groups (Risk Ratio [RR] = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.24–1.70). Objective outcomes also favored cell therapies, with greater scar depth reduction (Mean Difference [MD] = −0.25 mm, 95% CI: 0.41 to −0.10) and accelerated wound healing (MD = −2.5 days, 95% CI: 3.9 to −1.1). The overall incidence of adverse events was lower in the intervention groups (RR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.50–0.98).ConclusionAutologous cell-based therapies, particularly SVF, are effective and safe for improving atrophic acne scars, offering superior clinical, patient-reported, and safety outcomes compared to standard controls. The integration of detailed methodological insights provides a valuable evidence base to guide clinical protocol optimization and future research focused on standardization and long-term efficacy.

Endometrial receptivity (ER) is a pivotal determinant of successful embryo implantation, and its dysfunction is a major cause of infertility and recurrent implantation failure. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy due to their multipotency, self-renewal capacity, and potent paracrine activity. This review elucidates the multifaceted mechanisms through which MSCs enhance ER, including direct differentiation into endometrial cells, promotion of angiogenesis via secretion of factors like VEGF, immunomodulation by inducing Treg cells and M2 macrophages, and remodeling of the extracellular matrix. Crucially, we highlight emerging clinical evidence; for instance, in a recent clinical trial, intrauterine infusion of umbilical cord-derived MSCs in women with intrauterine adhesions significantly increased endometrial thickness from a mean of 4.2 ± 0.5 mm to 6.8 ± 0.7 mm and improved the clinical pregnancy rate to 38.5%. Furthermore, we discuss ongoing clinical trials and future directions, such as the development of engineered MSC-derived exosomes and biomaterial-scaffold combinations. Despite challenges in standardization and long-term safety, MSC-based therapy represents a novel and potent approach for regenerating dysfunctional endometrium, offering new hope for refractory infertility.