Peer-reviewed studyPNAS
Study finds cancer-associated fibroblasts do not always form a shell around tumors
A peer-reviewed study in PNAS uses lab-made three-dimensional clusters of cancer and fibroblast cells to challenge the idea that cancer-associated fibroblasts usually form a barrier around tumors. The authors find these cells often accumulate in the core, or mix throughout the tumor, depending on whether the cancer cells are epithelial-like or mesenchymal-like. Peripheral localization appeared only under restricted conditions.
- Published
- Oct 12, 2026
DOI 10.1073/pnas.2624455123
Preprint, not peer-reviewedbioRxiv
Preprint reports arsenic disrupts early heart cell development in lab and zebrafish
A preprint, not yet reviewed by other scientists, uses human stem cells and zebrafish to study arsenic exposure and early heart development. The authors report that arsenic suppressed the formation of heart muscle cells and impaired their maturation, while increasing some early mesoderm markers. In zebrafish, arsenic increased heart rate and disrupted ion channel gene expression, and the work uses laboratory models rather than studying patients.
- Published
- Oct 12, 2026
DOI 10.64898/2026.10.11.758344
Preprint, not peer-reviewedmedRxiv
Many standard lab analysers in Tanzania are not working, preprint finds
A preprint on medRxiv, not yet reviewed by other scientists, assesses standardised laboratory analysers across mainland Tanzania, equipment covered by a national equipment guideline. It found 13.0% were non-functional, with urine analysers most affected, and equipment breakdown was the leading cause. The authors call for stronger preventive maintenance, timely repairs and better equipment lifecycle planning.
- Published
- Oct 13, 2026
DOI 10.64898/2026.10.09.26365127
Preprint, not peer-reviewedmedRxiv
Review of trials suggests physiotherapy eases temporomandibular disorder pain
A preprint on medRxiv, not yet reviewed by other scientists, is a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized trials on manual therapy and therapeutic exercise for temporomandibular disorders. It pooled 25 trials with 1,540 people, and the authors report these treatments were more effective than controls in most studies. They conclude that the combination of dry needling and manual therapy looks most effective, but say the variable study quality means more high-quality research is needed.
- Published
- Oct 13, 2026
DOI 10.64898/2026.10.11.26365246
Preprint, not peer-reviewedbioRxiv
Preprint maps genetic variants behind maize stalk digestibility
A preprint, not yet reviewed by other scientists, examines 239 field-grown maize inbred lines and their stalk properties, including how efficiently they convert to sugars. A genome-wide association study identified 79 quantitative trait loci across all 10 maize chromosomes. The authors describe a complex, shared genetic basis for these traits and report several novel genetic loci underlying variation in digestibility.
- Published
- Oct 13, 2026
DOI 10.64898/2026.10.11.758201
Preprint, not peer-reviewedbioRxiv
Preprint reports engineered system for producing circular RNA molecules
A preprint, not yet reviewed by other scientists, describes a system that uses a human precursor transfer RNA scaffold with an archaeal motif to produce circular RNA in cells and in vivo, meaning in living organisms. The authors report much higher yields for large circular RNAs than a previous method, and say the system can drive protein expression from translatable circular RNAs. They propose applications including therapeutic aptamers and protein-coding circular RNAs for genome editing.
- Published
- Oct 13, 2026
DOI 10.64898/2026.10.12.758436
Preprint, not peer-reviewedbioRxiv
Preprint reports candidate compound blocking autoantibody activation of a receptor
A preprint, not yet reviewed by other scientists, describes an early compound, TP1, that acts as a negative allosteric modulator of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor at a site different from current angiotensin receptor blockers. In cells and mice, it reduced signaling, arterial contraction and blood pressure rises caused by angiotensin II, and it blocked binding of pathogenic autoantibodies in serum from patients with preeclampsia and dilated cardiomyopathy. The authors describe it as a proof of concept.
- Published
- Oct 13, 2026
DOI 10.64898/2026.10.12.758523
Preprint, not peer-reviewedbioRxiv
Preprint links gut bacteria and brain reward activity to unhealthy food choices
A preprint, not yet reviewed by other scientists, analyzes data from 592 healthy adults in the Healthy Brain Study and finds a combined pattern linking gut bacteria, connectivity in reward-related brain regions, anxiety sensitivity, life-event impact and body mass index. That pattern predicted higher valuation and choice of unhealthy food in a food auction task. The authors describe it as a possible pattern to investigate further.
- Published
- Oct 13, 2026
DOI 10.64898/2026.10.12.758555
Preprint, not peer-reviewedbioRxiv
Preprint links anti-inflammatory macrophages to Gas6 signaling in vessel inflammation
A preprint, not yet reviewed by other scientists, reports experiments in a three-dimensional chip model built from primary human cells. Anti-inflammatory macrophages limited endothelial inflammation and reduced neutrophil extravasation, the movement of neutrophils out of vessels, compared with devices lacking macrophages. The authors identify Gas6, an AXL ligand, as a likely mediator, since blocking AXL increased extravasation and soluble Gas6 reduced it.
- Published
- Oct 13, 2026
DOI 10.64898/2026.10.12.758565
Peer-reviewed studyPNAS
Study links RALF signaling to heat tolerance in tomato pollen tubes
A peer-reviewed study in PNAS finds that pollen tube integrity separates heat-sensitive from heat-tolerant tomato cultivars. Loss of one of four pollen-expressed Rapid Alkalinization Factor (RALF) signaling peptides enhanced thermotolerance, the authors report. They also found that heat stress disrupts the RALF signaling that maintains pectin patterns in the pollen tube wall.
- Published
- Oct 15, 2026
DOI 10.1073/pnas.2611706123
Preprint, not peer-reviewedbioRxiv
Preprint links parathyroid hormone receptor in AgRP neurons to feeding
A preprint, not yet reviewed by other scientists, reports that signaling through parathyroid hormone receptor 1 in Agouti-related peptide (AgRP) neurons helps control feeding behavior and how the body partitions nutrients. The authors say the hormones PTH and PTH-related peptide activate distinct intracellular kinases and lipophagy in these neurons, producing convergent outputs. They describe this as a fine-tuning mechanism that lets the hypothalamus adapt to energy demands.
- Published
- Oct 15, 2026
DOI 10.64898/2026.10.08.757566
Preprint, not peer-reviewedbioRxiv
Preprint reports protein nanoparticles protect against peanut-induced anaphylaxis
A preprint, not yet reviewed by other scientists, describes self-assembling protein nanoparticles displaying two major peanut allergens, Ara h 2 and Ara h 6, formulated with a Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonist. The authors report protection against peanut-induced anaphylaxis in both preventive and therapeutic settings, with longer lymph node retention than soluble allergens. They say the nanoparticles promoted allergen-specific IgG and T cell responses while limiting immunoglobulin E (IgE) escalation.
- Published
- Oct 15, 2026
DOI 10.64898/2026.10.08.757764
Preprint, not peer-reviewedbioRxiv
Preprint identifies a DNA repair deficiency in cancers that gene tests miss
A preprint, not yet reviewed by other scientists, describes ribonucleotide excision repair deficiency, a state in which cells fail to remove misincorporated ribonucleotides from DNA. It also describes a classifier called RERDetect that identifies this deficiency from whole-genome mutation patterns. Applied to more than 11,000 cancers, it found a recurrent subset of tumors with the deficiency, most lacking detectable RNASEH2 gene alterations, and the authors report these cells were sensitive to EXO1 and FANCM inhibition.
- Published
- Oct 15, 2026
DOI 10.64898/2026.10.09.757935
Preprint, not peer-reviewedmedRxiv
Preprint finds research attitudes shape willingness to join Alzheimer's research
A preprint, not yet reviewed by other scientists, surveys 201 older adults about Alzheimer's disease knowledge, research attitudes and willingness to take part in research. Favorable research attitudes were associated with greater willingness across all proposed activities, and they accounted for the link between education and willingness. Knowledge of the disease did not, so the authors suggest research attitudes may be a modifiable focus for broadening participation.
- Published
- Oct 15, 2026
DOI 10.64898/2026.10.13.26365095
Preprint, not peer-reviewedbioRxiv
Preprint finds MK2 kinase helps end colon inflammation, not only start it
A preprint, not yet reviewed by other scientists, reports that mice lacking MAPKAP kinase-2 (MK2), an enzyme best known for promoting inflammation, had more severe and persistent colon inflammation after dextran sodium sulfate-induced injury. Their colons did not shift to producing specialized pro-resolving mediators, and giving those mediators during recovery restored resolution, improving weight, disease activity and mucosal healing. The authors describe MK2 as coordinating the transition from injury to repair.
- Published
- Oct 15, 2026
DOI 10.64898/2026.10.13.758902
Preprint, not peer-reviewedmedRxiv
Preprint identifies plasma protein markers of Parkinson's disease progression
A preprint, not yet reviewed by other scientists, profiles proteins in 850 plasma and 1,200 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 832 participants in the Parkinson's Precision Medicine Initiative. It identifies 68 plasma and 3 CSF biomarkers of disease burden, and 4 plasma biomarkers of disease activity. The authors also report that early-disease protein changes often abated after dopaminergic medication began, and they suggest the framework offers a blueprint for objective disease surveillance in clinical and trial settings.
- Published
- Oct 15, 2026
DOI 10.64898/2026.10.14.26364535
Preprint, not peer-reviewedmedRxiv
Preprint finds proteomic aging clocks predict mortality, including cancer deaths
A preprint, not yet reviewed by other scientists, tests systemic and organ-specific proteomic aging clocks in 401 Finnish twins followed for a mean of 10.6 years. 15 clocks predicted all-cause mortality after correction for multiple testing, and 11 remained significant after lifestyle adjustment. Only the immune clock predicted cancer-related death, and no clock was associated with cancer incidence after correction.
- Published
- Oct 15, 2026
DOI 10.64898/2026.10.14.26365410
Preprint, not peer-reviewedmedRxiv
Preprint examines how news media influence urban health policy in Bangladesh and Nepal
A preprint, not yet reviewed by other scientists, reports interviews with 30 key informants in Bangladesh and Nepal, including 17 journalists, 10 health policymakers and 3 public health advocates. Participants said government data were often a primary source, and that media influence on urban health policy was largely indirect and event-driven, though consistent coverage sometimes raised public pressure. The authors suggest stronger journalist training and access to credible data could support evidence-informed policymaking.
- Published
- Oct 15, 2026
DOI 10.64898/2026.10.14.26365501
Preprint, not peer-reviewedbioRxiv
Preprint reports long-acting nanoparticles reduce arthritis severity in mice
A preprint, not yet reviewed by other scientists, describes injectable nanoparticles made from a polymer carrying indole-3-propionic acid, a gut microbial metabolite. In mice with collagen antibody-induced arthritis, the nanoparticles reduced clinical disease severity and paw swelling with both prophylactic and therapeutic dosing. The authors report injection-site fluorescence for at least 35 days and higher lymph node levels, and describe the approach as a long-acting option for inflammatory arthritis.
- Published
- Oct 16, 2026
DOI 10.64898/2026.10.13.759006
Preprint, not peer-reviewedbioRxiv
Preprint says lithium promotes heart cell division and is linked to heart defects
A preprint, not yet reviewed by other scientists, uses a network model to find approved drugs that could affect heart muscle cell proliferation, and reports that lithium, widely prescribed for bipolar disorder, promoted it in experiments. Treating pregnant mice increased DNA synthesis in their embryos' heart cells, and a retrospective analysis of an adverse-event reporting database found more congenital heart defects in males exposed to lithium in utero than in those exposed to other mood stabilizers, but not in females. The authors see possible value for adult heart regeneration alongside a congenital risk to developing embryos.
- Published
- Oct 16, 2026
DOI 10.64898/2026.10.15.759417
Preprint, not peer-reviewedbioRxiv
Preprint finds serine and glycine restriction delays cancer cachexia in mice
A preprint, not yet reviewed by other scientists, reports that a diet without serine and glycine delayed the onset of cancer cachexia, a wasting condition, in tumor-bearing mice. Adipose depots were preserved, and the authors say the effect is independent of serine's impact on tumor growth, which suggests a host-driven response. They report reduced oxidative lipid stress and inflammation, and describe host metabolic state as a possible therapeutic target.
- Published
- Oct 16, 2026
DOI 10.64898/2026.10.15.759471
Preprint, not peer-reviewedbioRxiv
Preprint links estradiol phases to shifts in brain rhythms in mice and women
A preprint, not yet reviewed by other scientists, compares cortical activity across the ovarian cycle in mice and in women. Across species, high estradiol was associated with a steeper aperiodic power spectral slope and weaker auditory entrainment to 40Hz stimulation. At the single-cell level, high estradiol increased firing of putative fast-spiking interneurons while reducing their temporal coherence, and the authors say estradiol dynamically modulates cortical network states.
- Published
- Oct 18, 2026
DOI 10.64898/2026.10.12.757951