Early Embryos Made from Skin Cells?
In a bold step toward tackling infertility, researchers at Oregon Health & Science University pulled off a cellular magic trick they call “mitomeiosis” — a lab-made mashup of mitosis and meiosis. By taking non-replicated human somatic nuclei into enucleated human oocytes, they forced these cells into a reductive division, trimming chromosome sets roughly in half. Fertilization with sperm stalled it at metaphase, but a little pharmacologic nudge with a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor kicked things into gear, prompting polar body extrusion and pronuclear formation. Sequencing showed chromosomes segregated randomly, leaving embryos with an average of 23 somatic chromosomes each mingling with sperm-derived sets. While only ~9% of these embryos reached the blastocyst stage, the proof-of-concept demonstrates it may be possible one day to rewire cell division and build embryos carrying both somatic and sperm DNA. It’s early days, but mitomeiosis might just open future doors for in vitro gametogenesis and fertility medicine.
Source: Nature Communications
Matcha May Be Good for Mouths
With matcha lattes already trending on every corner, tea has found its way back into the clinic—this time for gingivitis. In a pilot trial at the University of Baghdad, 27 adults with localized gingivitis (bleeding on probing [BOP] between 10% and 30%) drank matcha tea twice daily for 30 days and brewed up real results. Plaque, BOP, and salivary 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) all dropped, but the biggest wins went to those reclassified as “healthy” (BOP 10% or less), who cut bleeding from 16% to 6% and reduced 8-OHdG levels from 7 to 6 ng/mL. Those who remained in the gingivitis group showed improvements in plaque and bleeding but no antioxidant benefit. A receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve identified a baseline BOP of 18% or less as the sweet spot for a matcha-powered turnaround (sensitivity 0.92, specificity 0.70). Small and short though it was, this study adds weight to the idea that the tea everyone’s already sipping may also help keep gums healthy.
Source: Oral Health and Preventive Dentistry
The Bariatric Job Boost
In a sweeping review of 42 studies spanning nearly 160,000 patients, bariatric surgery was not just about trimming waistlines but also about reshaping work life. Investigators found employment rates rose from about 54% before surgery to 66% one year later. Absenteeism decreased, while both presenteeism and overall work capacity improved. But the honeymoon period faded: by five years, employment rates slid back toward baseline, tracing a reversed U-curve that shows the gains don’t always last. Barriers included older age, comorbidities, and sex, while limited prior job experience may have made re-entry more difficult. The takeaway? Bariatric surgery gives a career boost alongside its health benefits, but sustaining those gains may require long-term support programs—such as career counseling, targeted rehabilitation, or even GLP-1s to help maintain momentum.
Source: JAMA Surgery
Flu on the Tip of the Tongue
Move over swabs and spit tests—this team has cooked up a flu detector that literally tickles your taste buds. In a study from the University of Würzburg and the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, scientists whipped up sugar-based sensors that latch onto influenza’s neuraminidase enzyme—the viral “scissors” that snip α-glycosidic bonds. Once clipped, the sensor pops loose a flavor molecule (think thymol, the spicy kick from thyme oil), serving up a taste patients can detect in under 30 minutes—no lab gear required.
The sensor wasn’t easily fooled either: it shrugged off bacterial neuraminidases but lit up for influenza, even in saliva samples from hospitalized patients across multiple flu seasons. It held steady in storage, and cytotoxicity tests gave the all-clear for human cells. Clinical trials will be needed to confirm patient-reported “taste results,” but the idea flips the tongue into a built-in flu detector, working 24/7. And if future versions swap thymol for super-bitter denatonium, you might just “taste” your way into quarantine before symptoms even show up.
Source: ACS Central Science
Carts, Kids, and Collisions
Forget the greens—kids are getting hurt in golf carts long before the 18th hole. At the American Academy of Pediatrics’ 2025 National Conference & Exhibition, researchers reported that pediatric golf cart injuries are on a steady upswing, with national estimates topping 53,000 cases between 2010 and 2023—about 3,800 each year. Nearly half of the cases involved children younger than 12, and boys made up the overwhelming majority (90%).
Falls from carts led the causes (about 50%), especially among younger children, while adolescents were more likely to be injured in collisions or rollovers. The most common injury sites were the head, face, and neck (44%), while teens more often suffered lower-extremity injuries. Superficial scrapes and cuts topped the charts, but researchers flagged the lack of safety features and standardized guidelines as major contributors to risk.
The bottom line? Golf carts may look harmless, but when kids are at the wheel, they’re anything but par for the course.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics
The intersection of medicine and the unexpected reminds us how wild, weird, and wonderful science can be. The world of health care continues to surprise and astonish.
