Search articles by title, topic or section.
Khabre desk
Recent reporting, analysis and explainers from the biomedical-research desk.
health
A bioRxiv preprint reports that a hepatitis B virus basal core promoter mutation increased viral activity in human-hepatocyte chimeric mice, with effects that varied by viral genotype. Analysis of human liver-tumour datasets also found distinct gene-expression profiles associated with the mutation.
science
A bioRxiv preprint reports that DNA recovered from museum hair samples attributed to Thomas Jefferson supports his direct paternity of children descended from Sally Hemings. The study compares inherited DNA shared with known and putative descendants and remains a preprint.
science
A bioRxiv preprint in a DYT-TOR1A mouse model links striatal cholinergic interneuron pathology to abnormal movements while showing that antimuscarinic drugs can act without those neurons being present. The findings separate a developmental role for the neurons from the circuit mechanism through which the drugs suppress movements.
health
A bioRxiv preprint uses spatial multi-omics and 3D imaging to map melanoma tumours treated with neoadjuvant immunotherapy. The study links organised immune structures, including tertiary lymphoid structures and germinal centres, with treatment response and disease-free survival.
health
A bioRxiv preprint describes a receptor-free electrochemical method for detecting cortisol using a defect-engineered graphene interface and a time-resolved measurement strategy. The researchers report low-nanomolar detection in artificial and biological interstitial fluids, supporting future work on continuous cortisol monitoring.
science
A University of Gothenburg preprint models glycan motifs as a containment hierarchy rather than independent features. Across 45 glycomics datasets, the authors report more estimated true positives and identify motif redistributions that conventional marginal analysis misses.
science
Genetic ablation of the Unc13a cryptic exon preserved memory in a mouse model of TDP-43 dysfunction, supporting UNC13A as a therapeutic target for related dementias.
science
A bioRxiv preprint reports that people in windowless offices exposed to desk lamps supplemented with 850-nm near-infrared light had reduced glucose measurements over a three-day experiment, while standard LED exposure was associated with increased levels. The study used an oral glucose tolerance test and continuous glucose monitoring.
science
A bioRxiv preprint reports using six-base sequencing to analyse DNA modifications in cell-free DNA released by neural cells into cerebrospinal fluid. The authors say the approach could support liquid-biopsy research into neurodegenerative disease.