medical research

A large-scale Canadian study has found that use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) medicines—widely prescribed to manage diabetes and promote weight loss—may significantly increase the risk of developing neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) among older diabetic patients. Researchers at the University of Toronto analyzed medical data for more than one million Ontario residents with diabetes and identified a cohort of 46,334 individuals, predominantly taking semaglutide (Ozempic) or, to a lesser extent, lixisenatide. Over a three-year follow-up period, those who used GLP-1 RAs for at least six months exhibited double the risk of new-onset nAMD compared with matched diabetic controls not on these medications. Risk escalated further—to more than three times higher—among patients taking the drugs for 30 months or longer.

OAK BROOK, Ill. (June 3, 2025) – A new study published today in Radiology, the journal of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), reveals that carotid artery plaques—which may exist quietly in patients with no symptoms—can evolve into dangerous lesions over time. Researchers from the Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, and collaborators analyzed data from the long-running Rotterdam Study in the Netherlands and found that even calcified plaques once considered stable can develop internal bleeding, dramatically increasing the risk of plaque rupture and subsequent stroke.

Owlstone Medical, a global leader in breath-based diagnostics through its proprietary Breath Biopsy® platform, has announced an equity investment of up to $2.3 million USD (approximately £1.7 million) from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The funding will be used to support the development of a non-invasive breath test for the detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF).

Scientists have identified a specific gut microbiota profile that can help forecast future heart attacks and major cardiovascular events in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). The findings, published in the European Heart Journal, provide promising evidence that the gut microbiome may become a valuable tool in personalizing treatment and improving preventive strategies in cardiovascular care.

Over the past 30 years, Australia has seen a troubling surge in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphilis. Despite the availability of testing and treatment, these bacterial infections continue to climb — often silently and without immediate symptoms.

Hypersensitivity to cold—especially ice-cold feet—and a sensation of heaviness in the legs may be important, yet under-recognized indicators of varicose veins, according to a new large-scale study published in the journal Open Heart.

In a breakthrough that bridges the gap between physical and mental health, researchers at McMaster University have identified a novel link between body fat and anxiety. Published in Nature Metabolism, the study reveals how psychological stress activates fat cells in a way that directly impacts anxiety-related brain activity, offering new hope for future treatments.

For decades, planetary scientists have puzzled over a major Martian mystery: why are the strongest traces of Mars’ ancient magnetic field found almost exclusively in the planet’s southern hemisphere? A new study may finally have the answer—and it lies at the heart of the Red Planet.