Manjekah Dunn

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This study investigated why spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6), a genetic nerve disease, does not cause symptoms until middle age despite the faulty gene being present from birth. Researchers found that stress on the cell's protein-folding machinery causes abnormal electrical activity in a type of brain cell (Purkinje neurons), and that the brain uses a protective stress-response system to keep symptoms at bay for decades. When this protection fails with age, motor symptoms emerge, explaining the delayed onset seen in many inherited neurological diseases.

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Researchers surveyed 58 patients who had tissue taken from the forearm to reconstruct the mouth and throat after head and neck cancer surgery, assessing arm function and scar appearance years later. Most patients reported low levels of functional impairment and acceptable cosmetic outcomes, but rural patients reported greater difficulty with grip and strength activities. The results suggest surgeons should consider a patient's occupation and lifestyle when choosing which tissue to use for reconstruction.

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A systematic review found that about 14% of gay and bisexual men report having used anabolic steroids non-medically at some point in their lives, with about 8% reporting use in the past year. These rates are higher than general population estimates, and use was similarly elevated among both gym-going and community-recruited samples. The findings point to a need for targeted health outreach addressing steroid use in this population.

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A study of 57 head and neck cancer patients found that circulating tumor cells — cancer cells shed into the blood — were present in 81% of cases before surgery. Patients with five or more circulating tumor cells had about 9.5 times the odds of cancer recurrence and significantly shorter recurrence-free survival. Adding this blood-based marker to standard surgical pathology could help identify which patients need closer monitoring after treatment.

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Engineers refined a technique called the Scaling Subtraction Method to continuously monitor damage in rock and stone-like materials using ultrasonic waves. By carefully isolating noise introduced by the testing equipment itself, researchers showed the method cleanly detects progressive cracking in marble under increasing stress. This makes it a reliable, real-time tool for tracking structural damage in geological or construction materials.

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A brief two-session occupational therapy program taught underserved older adults with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes how to examine and care for their feet. Participants showed improved knowledge about foot care and lifestyle factors, and reported greater satisfaction with their diabetes self-management routines after the program. The findings suggest that even short, culturally tailored programs can meaningfully improve diabetes-related health behaviors.

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A study tested whether implementing a structured nutrition care program before jaw reconstruction surgery for head and neck cancer improved adherence to evidence-based guidelines. After the program launched, nutrition referrals jumped from 64% to 95% of patients, and validated nutritional assessments increased from 13% to 80%. The results show the program is feasible and substantially closes the gap between recommended and actual pre-surgical nutrition care.

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Researchers tested three Spanish-language acronyms designed to help Spanish-speaking Hispanic and Latino adults recognize stroke symptoms, comparing them to standard education without an acronym. All three acronyms performed similarly to standard education in improving stroke knowledge and intention to call emergency services. Healthcare providers and participants preferred acronyms developed in Spanish rather than those translated directly from English.

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A review of 15 studies examined how researchers define and measure the neighborhood impact of supervised drug consumption rooms, facilities where people can use drugs under medical supervision. Studies most often tracked public drug use and discarded needles, but used inconsistent terminology. The authors propose standardizing the term 'drug-related public amenity' to allow better comparison across studies and clearer communication with policymakers.

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This case report describes a young woman who suffered cardiac arrest immediately after a scuba dive due to arterial gas embolism — air bubbles in the blood — and required 90 minutes of resuscitation. The only treatment, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, was unavailable locally, and the nearest suitable facility was 440 miles away. The case highlights the severe logistical challenges in managing critical decompression injuries requiring immediate specialized care.

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Researchers introduced a method for 3D-printing shape-changing structures from liquid crystal elastomers using a high-precision light-based printing process rather than the usual extrusion approach. After printing, a mechanical stretching and heat-treatment step programs the desired shape change into the structure, which can then reversibly flip between two forms when temperature changes. This higher-resolution approach enables more intricate designs for applications in soft robotics and adaptive structures.

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A study tested an early rehabilitation program using a force-controlled jaw-stretching device in 27 patients who developed limited mouth opening after facial nerve reconstruction surgery. Patients' mouth opening improved by an average of 13 mm after 10 weeks of therapy, and quality of life related to eating and pain also improved significantly. Benefits were maintained at 6 and 12 months, establishing the device as a safe and effective early intervention.

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A network of 77 cameras monitored three penguin species across 37 colonies in Antarctica over a decade, finding all three are breeding 10 to 13 days earlier per decade — among the fastest phenological shifts ever recorded in vertebrates. Penguin colony locations are also warming four times faster than the Antarctic average. As species shift their timing at different rates, competition for nesting space and food is increasing, threatening species already under pressure.

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Researchers compared cancer patients who had telehealth oncology visits to those seen in person, finding care quality, communication ratings, and emergency care use were broadly similar. Telehealth patients were more likely to need an in-person follow-up visit within 30 days, and fewer felt their privacy was protected during the visit. The study supports telehealth as a viable option for cancer care but highlights privacy and appropriate patient selection as areas needing attention.

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A review of intellectual property flexibility provisions in international trade law found that governments have used these tools — particularly compulsory licensing — over 90 times between 2001 and 2024 to improve access to medicines. High-income countries now account for more than half of recent compulsory licensing cases, and their use is expanding beyond HIV to cover chronic and rare diseases. These legal tools remain vital for ensuring affordable medicines reach patients globally.

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A large study followed nearly 2,900 women with breast cancer for up to seven years, finding that more than 60% reported some degree of arm, shoulder, or hand impairment throughout follow-up. Women with upper-body impairment early after diagnosis had more than twice the odds of developing lymphedema (chronic arm swelling) at both two and seven years post-diagnosis. The results suggest that monitoring and treating upper-body function early could help prevent lymphedema from developing.

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Scientists studied two similar molecules — spermidine and homospermidine — in the nitrogen-fixing bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti, which forms a beneficial partnership with plant roots. The two molecules perform overlapping but distinct roles: both support bacterial movement, but only one is critical for efficient nitrogen fixation and plant growth. These findings clarify how bacteria regulate molecular resources to maintain both their own survival and their relationship with host plants.

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A detailed cost analysis of jaw reconstruction surgery at one hospital found the average total cost was about $36,400 per patient. The biggest expenses were nursing staff and supplies, surgical implants, and operating room labor. Complications requiring a return to the operating room or intensive care unit roughly doubled costs, making complication prevention the most impactful way to reduce overall expenditure.

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In a primate model of glaucoma, researchers found that the tiny blood vessels supplying nerve fibers in the eye deteriorate faster and earlier than the nerve fibers themselves. This capillary loss in the retinal nerve fiber layer was detectable even before significant structural damage occurred, suggesting that vascular decline is an early feature of glaucoma. The finding supports exploring treatments aimed at protecting blood vessel function to slow disease progression.

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Engineers developed a method using a robotic arm to 3D-print shape-changing materials directly onto curved and irregular surfaces. The printed material, a type of liquid crystal elastomer, can reversibly change shape when heated and cooled based on how it is deposited. By combining robotic printing with 3D scanning, the system can even coat objects with unknown geometry, opening new possibilities for adaptive coatings and structural repair.

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Researchers compared quality of life outcomes for jaw cancer patients who received same-day dental implants and teeth (Jaw-in-a-Day) versus those who got implants but waited months for teeth. Jaw-in-a-Day patients reported better outcomes across most measures, though both groups still had meaningful deficits two years after surgery. The results support same-day reconstruction as beneficial but highlight that long-term recovery remains incomplete for many patients.

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A study of 130 non-elite university athletes found that competing in weight-sensitive sports and experiencing high levels of shame and guilt were the strongest predictors of disordered eating symptoms. Athletes in non-weight-sensitive sports showed lower rates of these symptoms, suggesting sport type acts as a protective or risk factor. The findings point to a need for targeted mental health support within university athletic programs.

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This study traced the collapse of eelgrass meadows in eastern James Bay, Canada, a coastal habitat critical to the Cree (Eeyou) people and migratory geese. Hydroelectric dam construction between 1978 and 1996 was identified as the primary cause, with climate-driven extreme events compounding the damage after 1998. The eelgrass has not recovered, and the Cree have had to adapt their traditional relationship with the coast.

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A quality improvement team at a children's hospital worked to increase prescriptions of a single inhaler that serves as both daily controller and rescue medication for asthmatic children. Through staff education and decision-support tools, prescriptions at discharge rose from 17% to 38% and held steady for 19 months. Gains were consistent across Black patients, low-income patients, and those in disadvantaged neighborhoods.

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This study applied Raman spectroscopy — a light-based technique — to rapidly identify Vibrio vulnificus, a dangerous bacterium found in shellfish and coastal water. The method distinguished this pathogen from related bacteria with 67% accuracy by analyzing its chemical fingerprint without destroying the sample or using chemical reagents. While preliminary, this approach could lead to faster and cheaper shellfish safety testing.

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Scientists modeled what happens when liquefied ammonia — a proposed clean shipping fuel — spills into coastal water. An accidental release of 44 metric tons could expose millions of cubic meters of water to concentrations harmful to marine life for up to two days. The results show ammonia spill risks are comparable to conventional fuel spills, and confined waterways are more dangerous than open water.

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Researchers tested whether CT scan measurements of bone density could objectively assess how well bone heals after jaw reconstruction surgery. Using standard CT values and machine learning, they found that bone density at the outer surface of the jaw was the strongest predictor of healing quality, achieving good accuracy. The approach is promising but needs validation in larger studies before routine clinical use.

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This study tracked children from fifth through ninth grade to see how their mental associations with alcohol changed before they started drinking. Children who eventually began drinking showed substantial shifts in how they mentally organized alcohol-related expectations, while those who stayed abstinent showed no such changes. Targeting these shifting mental patterns with prevention programs could help delay or prevent early drinking.

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Researchers examined the ethical and philosophical challenges of combining traditional Chinese medicine with biomedicine in Singapore's healthcare system. Beyond practical concerns like drug interactions, the paper argues that the two systems have fundamentally different views of the body, health, and what counts as good care. Before integration can work, these deeper conflicts need to be acknowledged and addressed openly.

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Researchers used three genetically diverse populations of mice to study cocaine self-administration across multiple stages — from initial drug taking through extinction and relapse. They found substantial genetic variation in drug-taking behaviors at every stage, with heritability estimates up to 58%, and identified strains with extreme responses useful for further study. The work establishes a framework for identifying the genetic and biological factors that drive escalation from casual drug use to compulsive use.

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Fifteen patients with chronic jaw locking — where the jaw joint is permanently displaced — used a new force-controlled jaw-stretching device as their primary treatment for 10 weeks. Mouth opening improved by an average of 15 mm and remained improved at 6 and 12 months, with no adverse events. The device offers a safe, non-surgical alternative for a condition that often requires more invasive intervention.

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This article discusses how young people and adults with intellectual disability are often excluded from conversations about their own genetic testing, even though such testing directly affects their medical care and family planning. The authors describe co-produced resources and training tools — developed together with people with intellectual disability — to help clinicians involve them meaningfully in decisions about genetic tests and help them understand results. Improving inclusion in genetic medicine is part of broader efforts to ensure equitable healthcare access for people with disability.

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Researchers developed a single vaccine containing inactivated versions of three related brain-infecting viruses — Venezuelan, Eastern, and Western equine encephalitis — transmitted by mosquitoes and also potential bioterrorism agents. Two doses provided complete protection against lethal airborne exposure in mice, and full or near-complete protection in monkeys. This is the first vaccine candidate offering simultaneous protection against all three viruses and could address both public health and biosecurity needs.

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Surgeons compared two techniques for reconstructing the upper jaw after cancer surgery: one using bone from the leg (fibula free flap) and a newer method using cheekbone implants with a tissue flap. Both approaches restored facial contour equally well, and patient-reported outcomes were similar across most measures, except that saliva function was better with the fibula technique. The results support the newer cheekbone implant approach as a viable option for selected patients.

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This study examined runestaves, perpetual wooden calendar sticks used across Scandinavia from roughly the year 1000 until almanacs replaced them in the 17th or 18th century. Drawing on a database of over 800 examples, researchers mapped regional and temporal variation and showed that these objects allowed ordinary people to independently calculate lunar cycles and religious feast days without relying on the church. Runestaves represent a sophisticated form of grassroots scientific knowledge preserved and transmitted outside formal institutions.

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Scientists activated an inflammatory signaling pathway (STING) specifically within Purkinje cells — a critical type of neuron in the brain's motor control center — and found it caused progressive cell death, brain shrinkage, and severe movement problems in mice. Crucially, this neurodegeneration occurred without triggering the immune response normally associated with STING activation, pointing to a separate, previously unrecognized mechanism of neuronal damage. This pathway may be relevant to other neurodegenerative diseases where these cells are lost.

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A surgical team reported outcomes from 50 patients who underwent jaw reconstruction planned using in-house virtual surgical planning software rather than outsourcing to an external company. Planning to surgical product delivery took a median of 15.5 days, and implant success was 95%, comparable to standard approaches. In-house planning reduces cost and delay, and the team has incorporated new techniques such as optical scanning to improve plate positioning accuracy.

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Researchers used eye-imaging technology to measure the shape of the fovea — the central spot of the retina used for detailed vision — in adults with infantile nystagmus, a condition involving constant involuntary eye movement. The fovea was significantly more horizontally elongated in nystagmus patients compared to healthy controls, consistent with the horizontal sweep of their eye movements during development. The finding suggests that early eye movement patterns physically reshape the developing retina.

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A study of 191 men with advanced liver disease awaiting transplantation found that low levels of free testosterone — the biologically active form — were independently linked to nearly double the mortality risk, even after accounting for liver disease severity. Low free testosterone was also associated with greater frailty and a lower chance of receiving a transplant. Free testosterone outperformed total testosterone as a predictor of outcomes, suggesting it should be measured routinely in this patient group.

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Interviews with 24 Aboriginal, LGBTQ+, and regional young Australians aged 16 to 20 explored how alcohol-related social media content shapes drinking culture. Participants described alcohol posts as tied to social identity and peer belonging, with influencer content seen as pervasive but often inauthentic. Marginalized groups faced additional pressures including stereotyping and safety concerns, pointing to the need for social media policies that account for intersectional experiences.

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A study of over 38 million US deliveries found that severe postpartum hemorrhage — defined as bleeding requiring a blood transfusion — was associated with a roughly 2.6-fold increased risk of cardiovascular death and a 67% increased risk of hospital readmission for heart disease within the same calendar year. Women who also had preeclampsia during the same pregnancy faced the highest overall cardiovascular risk. The findings highlight the need to monitor heart health in women who experience severe bleeding after delivery.

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A qualitative study interviewed six adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain and found that those with higher disability tended to blame their pain on physical structural damage and did not recognize stress, negative emotions, or poor coping as contributing factors. In contrast, people with lower disability were more likely to see their positive mindset as helping reduce their pain. These mismatched beliefs may explain why patients often resist psychological or exercise-based therapies despite strong evidence for their effectiveness.

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Researchers analyzed 12 years of follow-up data on nearly 3,000 breast cancer patients to understand how tumor biology and healthcare access each contribute to metastatic disease. Aggressive tumor characteristics and Black race, poverty, and lower education were all independently associated with cancer spreading, but better healthcare access fully explained the poverty and education gaps while leaving the racial disparity largely intact. The findings show that eliminating metastatic breast cancer disparities in Black women requires addressing both tumor biology and systemic barriers, not access to care alone.

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A partnership between the City of Lauderhill, Florida and Nova Southeastern University surveyed residents and conducted focus groups to understand health and social needs in one of the most socially vulnerable cities in the US. Nearly half of survey respondents reported housing insecurity, and focus groups highlighted barriers to healthcare, distrust of medical systems, and mental health gaps, all disproportionately concentrated in the city's southeast neighborhoods. The findings are being used to guide place-based, equity-focused health improvement programs in this predominantly Caribbean-American community.

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This paper describes a clinical trial protocol comparing two ways of delivering breathing assistance to extremely premature babies in the delivery room: a standard pressure-based device versus a ventilator that targets a specific breath volume. The trial will enroll 50 very premature infants (born between 23 and 28 weeks) to assess whether the volume-targeted approach is feasible and safe enough to test in a larger study. The goal is to eventually determine whether this more precise method reduces lung and brain injury in premature newborns.