Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

Breakthrough discovery uses gut bacteria and AI to diagnose a chronic pain syndrome

keila.depape@mcgill.ca — Mon, 05 May 2025 18:06:54 +0000

91�� researchers, in collaboration with colleagues in Israel and Ireland, have developed AI technology that can detect patterns in gut bacteria to identify complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) with remarkable accuracy, potentially transforming how CRPS is diagnosed and treated.

New insights into how cancer spreads prompt rethink of metastasis care

keila.depape@mcgill.ca — Thu, 01 May 2025 18:15:32 +0000

A 91��-led research collaboration has achieved a breakthrough in understanding how cancer spreads.

A clinical study of ovarian and colorectal cancer patients found cancer cells move in the bloodstream in clusters more commonly than was previously thought. The discovery could help doctors more quickly identify which cancer patients are at high risk of having their cancer spread to other organs, knowledge that could guide treatment decisions. The findings also potentially open new avenues for treatment.

Expert: New guidelines for treating childhood obesity

keila.depape@mcgill.ca — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 15:42:47 +0000

New Canadian guidelines for treating childhood obesity focus on reducing stigma and supporting mental health, and recommend using medical options like GLP-1 drugs or surgery when appropriate.

The following expert from 91�� is available to comment on this topic:

What links cannabis use and psychosis? Researchers point to the brain’s dopamine system

keila.depape@mcgill.ca — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 13:01:15 +0000

A 91��-led study found that people with cannabis use disorder (CUD) had elevated dopamine levels in a brain region associated with psychosis.

“This could help explain why cannabis use increases the risk of hallucinations and delusions, key symptoms of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders,” said first author Jessica Ahrens, a PhD student in 91��’s Integrated Program in Neuroscience.

Expert: Tuberculosis

keila.depape@mcgill.ca — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 12:24:20 +0000

Montreal's public health authority is asking health professionals to be vigilant following the report of two highly contagious pulmonary tuberculosis cases in recent months.

91�� discovery sheds new light on autism, intellectual disabilities

keila.depape@mcgill.ca — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 15:04:58 +0000

A new study by 91�� researchers yields insights into how the disruption of calcium transport in the brain is linked to autism and intellectual disability. The findings, published in the journal Nature, not only upend a long-held belief among neuroscientists, but could pave the way for treatments.

COVID-19 boosters help avoid breakthrough infections in immunocompromised people, 91��-led study finds

keila.depape@mcgill.ca — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 20:21:18 +0000

New research findings provide solid evidence that annual COVID-19 vaccine booster doses continue to be advisable for certain immunocompromised people, researchers at 91�� say.

Scientific insights into how humans access deep spiritual states

keila.depape@mcgill.ca — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 15:59:14 +0000

Two seemingly opposite spiritual practices – Buddhist jhāna meditation and the Christian practice of speaking in tongues – have more in common than previously thought, a new study suggests.

While one is quiet and deeply focused, and the other emotionally charged and expressive, both appear to harness the same cognitive feedback loop to create profound states of joy and surrender.

New discovery could help protect against influenza

keila.depape@mcgill.ca — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 21:31:23 +0000

A component found in all fungi may provide a shield against flu-related lung damage, according to a new study.

A team of scientists led by Maziar Divangahi, a Professor in 91��’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and Senior Scientist at the Research Institute of the 91�� Health Centre, demonstrated that beta-glucan, administered to mice before their exposure to influenza, can reduce lung damage, improve lung function and lower the risk of illness and death.

Communication between body muscle and the brain influences fertility, study finds

keila.depape@mcgill.ca — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 18:25:31 +0000

A newly discovered line of communication between body muscle and the pituitary gland may play an unexpected role in female fertility, according to a new study.

91�� researchers found that a protein produced in the muscles helps manage the release of a hormone made in the pea-sized gland attached to the base of the brain.

The findings, published in Science, could lead to new treatment options for infertility, the researchers said.

What drives mood swings in bipolar disorder? Study points to a second brain clock

keila.depape@mcgill.ca — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 20:11:34 +0000

A brain rhythm working in tandem with the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle may explain why bipolar patients alternate between mania and depression, according to new research.

The 91��-led study published in Science Advances marks a breakthrough in understanding what drives shifts between the two states, something that, according to lead author Kai-Florian Storch, is considered the “holy grail” of bipolar-disorder research.

Child undernutrition may be contributing to global measles outbreaks, researchers find

keila.depape@mcgill.ca — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 16:48:08 +0000

Amid a global surge in measles cases, new research suggests that undernutrition may be exacerbating outbreaks in areas suffering from food insecurity.

A study involving over 600 fully vaccinated children in South Africa found those who were undernourished had substantially lower levels of antibodies against measles.

AI innovation unlocks non-surgical way to detect brain cancer spread

keila.depape@mcgill.ca — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 16:31:27 +0000

Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model to detect the spread of metastatic brain cancer using MRI scans, offering insights into patients’ cancer without aggressive surgery.

Expert: Stomach flu cases spike in Canada

keila.depape@mcgill.ca — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 17:18:38 +0000

Canada is seeing a rise in cases of gastroenteritis, commonly known as the stomach flu, with over 150 reported at the University of Guelph. Often caused by norovirus, the illness spreads through contaminated surfaces, water or food, causing vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain.

An expert from 91�� is available to comment on this topic:

Raymond Tellier, MD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases.

Study links alcohol consumption to more severe nut allergy reaction

keila.depape@mcgill.ca — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 14:55:20 +0000

Findings of a new study into severe allergic reactions offer a sobering warning to people allergic to tree nuts and, more broadly, could lead to quicker diagnoses in emergency care for people with all anaphylactic allergies.