The body’s immune reaction to increased levels of a toxic molecule, part of a bacterial species in the human gut, may reveal who is most at risk of developing lupus nephritis, according to a new study led by NYU Langone Health. In people with the disease, which often leads to long-term kidney damage, the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues. Bouts of lupus nephritis have been tied by past studies to upticks in growth of the bacterial species Ruminococcus gnavus. This triggers excess production of the key molecule, a lipoglycan, which is a key part of the bacterium’s outer wall.

Preventing pregnancy is largely viewed as the responsibility of anyone who can become pregnant. It’s a burden that can hold significant emotional, financial and physical weight (not just the bathroom scale kind).

Until now, there have been few therapeutic options for children with severely reduced heart pump function. Recently, surgical constriction of the pulmonary artery has been introduced as an innovative approach to deliberately “train” the heart. Researchers at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) and the University of Bonn investigated the underlying biological mechanisms of this approach.

Flu shots will no longer be required for every U.S. service member.

A routine heart scan might soon do more than just check for clogged arteries; it could act as a crystal ball for your cardiac health. Researchers at Kumamoto University have revealed that by combining two specific markers from a standard cardiac Computed Tomography (CT) scan, they can identify patients at the highest risk for future heart failure and death.