clinical research

A decade-long international study has demonstrated for the first time that a structured exercise program following colon cancer treatment reduces the risk of cancer recurrence, new cancers, and death more effectively than standard care alone. Presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the trial enrolled nearly 900 patients across the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, France, Canada, and Israel. Researchers found that patients who worked with personal trainers or health coaches to achieve exercise goals experienced a 28 percent lower risk of recurrent or new cancers and a 37 percent reduction in risk of death over eight years, compared with patients who received only a healthy lifestyle booklet.

A newly published study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has revealed a promising diagnostic tool capable of accurately predicting which seemingly healed diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are at high risk of reopening. By measuring trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL)—an indicator of skin barrier function—researchers found that wounds with elevated TEWL were substantially more likely to recur. The results, which will be published in the journal Diabetes Care, suggest that incorporating TEWL measurements into standard wound-care protocols could greatly enhance clinicians’ ability to ensure truly complete wound closure and reduce life-long risks associated with DFUs, including lower-limb amputations and premature mortality.

A groundbreaking study by scientists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has unveiled the underlying biological mechanisms that cause normally harmless sensations like heat and touch to become painful in the presence of inflammation. The findings, published by researchers from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), may open the door to more precise treatments for chronic and inflammatory pain.

Older adults with cancer respond just as well as younger patients to immune checkpoint inhibitors, despite the natural weakening of the immune system that occurs with age. This promising conclusion comes from a new study conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, the Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, and the Johns Hopkins Convergence Institute.

A groundbreaking study from Johns Hopkins Medicine reveals that older adults with cancer respond just as well as younger patients to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs)—a class of life-saving cancer immunotherapy drugs. This promising discovery counters longstanding concerns that age-related immune system changes might reduce treatment effectiveness in elderly patients.

A new study out of Sweden has found that initiating combination cholesterol-lowering therapy early after a heart attack can significantly reduce the risk of subsequent cardiovascular events and death. The findings, published by researchers at Lund University and based on data from over 36,000 patients, challenge existing global treatment guidelines and could prompt a shift in how post-heart attack care is delivered.

Lyme disease continues to pose a growing public health concern, infecting an estimated 476,000 people each year in the United States alone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The tick-borne illness, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, can lead to severe long-term complications, including debilitating fatigue, joint pain, and neurological issues, if left untreated. Despite decades of research and near breakthroughs, no human vaccine has yet proven commercially viable.

A new study from the University of Jyväskylä in Finland reveals that the everyday physical activities most women engage in are insufficient to counteract the accelerated bone loss driven by hormonal changes during menopause. Researchers warn that while regular movement is beneficial for overall health, the typical impacts of daily life do not provide the targeted bone-loading necessary to slow the weakening of bones that accompanies the menopausal transition.