Howard G. Smith, MD, AM
PENTA Medical Network
+1-617-488-9699
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Health Reports 4th week October, 2026
The Keto Diet Increases….But Also Decreases GI Cancers
Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/De0CSPgvJOe/
The diet appears to protect against cancer in one part of the gastrointestinal tract yet promote it in another. MIT biologists in collaboration with Harvard gastroenterologists document this phenomenon in their preclinical study published in the journal Nature.
Keto diets are high in fat and very low in carbohydrates. They encourage the body to burn fat for energy instead of relying primarily on carbohydrates. The researchers tested this diet in mice genetically predisposed to developing intestinal cancer. They were surprised to find that the ketogenic diet triggers more cancers in their small intestines yet suppresses tumor formation in the colon.
Seeking to understand the mechanisms for this, the researchers traced the increased small-intestinal tumor growth to the way intestinal stem cells process dietary fat. The fat we ingest is oxidized to so-called PPAR proteins that cause stem cells to multiply more rapidly. This action is both good and bad: the new stem cells help repair the intestinal lining, but the excessive cell division increases opportunities for cancer to develop.
With regard to the situation in the large intestine, the colon, previous studies have shown that the ketones generated by the diet protect against the development of colon cancers.
But a caveat: this was research in genetically susceptible mice and not proof that the ketogenic diet causes small-intestinal cancer in humans. Further research is needed to determine whether these findings translate to people and whether particular dietary fats influence the outcome.
The investigators advise those on the keto diet not to discontinue it without consulting their medical teams. But those at higher risk for gastrointestinal cancer, those with inflammatory bowel diseases including Crohn’s and or celiac disease or with a family thhistory of small bowel cancer, should only start a ketogenic diet on the advise of their medical professionals.
The references for this report are available on my website.
#KetoDiet #CancerResearch #MITResearch #NutritionScience #HealthNews
KetoDiet, CancerResearch, MITResearch, NutritionScience, HealthNews
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10779-y
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261002080037.htm
Regrowing Healthy Knee Cartilage Rather Than Replacing The Joint
Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/De4rD0RuUG_/
All of our knee cartilages deteriorate with age and injury due to an increase in the destructive enzyme 15-hydroxy prostaglandin dehydrogenase or 15-PGDH. Now, Stanford University biologists and orthopedic surgeons demonstrate that blocking this enzyme stops this process and even restores already damaged cartilage.
Their studies, published in the journal Science, involve mice with deteriorated cartilage due to aging and/or injuries. The data shows that blocking this enzyme restores the diseased cartilage. The treatment also helps protect against osteoarthritis after knee injuries resembling anterior cruciate ligament damage or ACL injuries suffered by humans.
he scientists find that in the absence of 15-PGDH, the existing cartilage cells called chondrocytes begin producing healthier cartilage. Rather than relying on stem cells to build new tissue, the treatment appears to encourage mature cells to adopt a more youthful pattern of behavior. The regenerated tissue is healthy hyaline cartilage, the type of smooth cartilage that effectively cushions the ends of bones and allows joints to move with minimal friction.
The researchers also tested cartilage removed from patients undergoing knee replacement surgery. After exposure to the experimental 15-PGDH inhibitor in the laboratory, the human tissue showed changes consistent with cartilage regeneration.
Osteoarthritis affects millions of Americans. Current therapy relieves pain and improves mobility, but does not restore lost articular cartilage. When joint damage becomes severe, knee or hip replacement becomes necessary. This treatment that could safely regenerate cartilage is a major advance.
Clinical research with carefully controlled human trials will be needed to establish whether 15-PGDH inhibitor therapy can safely and effectively restore cartilage, relieve pain, and improve function.
The references for this report are available on my website.
#CartilageRegeneration #Osteoarthritis #StanfordMedicine #JointHealth #MedicalResearch
CartilageRegeneration, Osteoarthritis, StanfordMedicine, JointHealth, MedicalResearch
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adx6649
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261005011249.htm
Sugar Intensifies Antibiotic Side Effects
Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/De4sEr8M8P1/
Experiments in mice supported these findings. Animals receiving an antibiotic while consuming sucrose developed substantially larger populations of toxic intestinal bacteria than controls.
The researchers suggest that dietary sugar gives harmful bacteria additional fuel to grow while antibiotics weaken the competition. The precise mechanism still needs to be determined.
The researchers suggest that temporarily cutting back on sweets and other sources of added sugar during and possibly after antibiotic treatment would help limit microbiome disruption. But this remains a promising hypothesis, not a proven treatment. Clinical trials are needed to determine whether reducing sugar actually preserves beneficial bacteria or prevents infections.
The study limitation: the human participants were hospitalized patients with blood cancers, a group particularly vulnerable to infections and microbiome disturbances. The results cannot automatically be applied to everyone taking antibiotics.
For now, a sensible takeaway is to consume a balanced diet and avoid excessive added sugar while on antibiotics. If you have cancer, are undergoing a transplant, or have special nutritional needs, ask your clinical team before making substantial dietary changes.
The references for this report are available on my website.
#Antibiotics #GutMicrobiome #SugarIntake #NutritionScience #HealthResearch
Antibiotics, GutMicrobiome, SugarIntake, NutritionScience, HealthResearch
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-11077-3
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261007042059.htm
Redirecting A Cancer Accelerator Can Suppress Tumor Growth
Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/De4s8wJBjxj/
Stanford biologists have developed a molecule that converts a protein responsible for stimulating lymphoma growth into a trigger for cancer-cell death. Their mouse studies are now published in the journal Cell.
Their research focuses on diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Many of these cancers flourish under the influence of a protein called BCL6 that causes malignant cells to continue multiplying. Under normal circumstances, BCL6 helps immune cells multiply temporarily when the body needs to fight an infection by suppressing genes that would otherwise stop cell growth and initiate programmed cell death.
The Stanford team designed a molecule called TCIP23 to redirect the activity of BCL6. This designer molecule adds chemical tags that switch on genes to initiate the cancer cell’s own self-destruct process.
The researchers tested TCIP23 in mice carrying tumors made from human lymphoma cells. After twice-daily treatment, the tumors disappeared within 11 days, while tumors in untreated control animals remained. The treated mice showed no obvious signs of toxicity during the experiment.
These findings are encouraging, but these results in mice cannot establish whether TCIP23 drug will be safe or effective in people. In addition to affecting tumor cells, it can also impact a patient’s own protective immunity. With careful modifications, TCIP23 may also be helpful for treating autoimmune disease. It remains for controlled clinical trials to demonstrate the usefulness of this approach for treating human cancer and immunity out of control.
The references for this report are available on my website.
#CancerResearch #Lymphoma #StanfordMedicine #CancerTreatment #MedicalScience
CancerResearch, Lymphoma, StanfordMedicine, CancerTreatment, MedicalScience
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261005071533.htm
FDA-Approved Epilepsy Drug Reverses Osteoarthritis Damage
Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/De4t7HphAMK/
Yale orthopedic researchers now report in the journal Bioactive Materials that the epilepsy drug lacosamide, LCM for short and branded as Vimpat, injected periodically into a joint, reduces the pain of osteoarthritis and shifts cartilage cell activity toward repair rather than destruction.
The Yale team finds that LCM inhibits a protein called Nav1.7 that helps nerve cells transmit pain signals and signals the cartilage cells, chondrocytes, to break down cartilage. The researchers tested LCM by delivering it into arthritic knee joints in a temperature-sensitive gel.
In mouse experiments, the researchers find that a single injection of the drug-containing hydrogel every four weeks effectively protects cartilage and leads to its repair. Their study did not measure pain reduction.
It remains to planned controlled clinical trials to demonstrate that LCM Nav1.7 inhibition effectively and safely triggers cartilage repair as well as pain relief for those with osteoarthritis.
The references for this report are available on my website.
#Osteoarthritis #Lacosamide #CartilageRepair #YaleMedicine #MedicalResearch
Osteoarthritis, Lacosamide, CartilageRepair, YaleMedicine, MedicalResearch
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452199X26001064?via=ihub
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261006234528.htm
Loneliness Is Associated with Health Decline
Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/De4uwd5h7na/
Persistent loneliness costs you up to nearly 6 years of healthy life. This from new research by Tulane University epidemiologists working with colleagues at the Harvard School of Public Health and published in the journal Nature.
The researchers analyzed health information from nearly 277,500 adults between the ages of 40 and 69. They examined how social isolation and loneliness were associated with the number of years people could expect to live without major physical illnesses, depression, or anxiety.
Among people experiencing both social isolation and loneliness, men had an estimated 5.8 fewer years free from depression and anxiety. For women, the estimated loss was approximately 3.7 years. Physical health was affected, too. Women experiencing both conditions had about 2.4 fewer years free from major physical diseases, while men had about 1.7 fewer years.
The investigators emphasize the difference between social isolation and loneliness. Social isolation means having relatively few social connections or interactions. Loneliness is the distressing feeling that your relationships are insufficient or that you lack the connection you need.
The study also uncovered an important difference in the role of health habits. Regular exercise, adequate sleep, a healthier diet, and non-smoking were associated with smaller losses of disease-free years among people experiencing social isolation. However, those lifestyle habits did not significantly offset the additional risks associated with loneliness itself.
That suggests that being physically healthy and feeling socially connected may be two different challenges. Exercise and good nutrition matter, but they may not replace meaningful relationships and emotional support.
So, what can you do?
Make time for people who matter to you. Reach out to a friend you have not spoken with recently. Consider a community group, volunteer activity, class, or regular social gathering. If loneliness persists or affects your daily life, speaking with a mental health professional may help.
And if someone you know seems withdrawn, a simple phone call or invitation can be a meaningful first step.
There is an important limitation to remember: this was an observational study. The findings show associations between loneliness, social isolation, and disease-free life expectancy; they do not prove that loneliness directly causes a specific number of lost healthy years. Further studies and clinical trials are needed to understand cause and effect.
The references for this report are available on my website.
#Loneliness #SocialIsolation #MentalHealth #HealthyAging #HealthResearch
Loneliness, SocialIsolation, MentalHealth, HealthyAging, HealthResearch
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-74498-8
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261006234514.htm
Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/De4vctouRlC/
Imagine this! A tiny device injectable through a needle and powered wirelessly offers a new approach for managing chronic pain and movement disorders. All this without the batteries, connecting wires, or surgically implanted hardware used in current pain control systems.
This technology was developed by NYU bioengineers and Cleveland Clinic gastroenterologists sited in Abu Dhabi. It delivers electrical signals near a targeted nerve, controllable wirelessly from outside the body.
The device, named SEED, is the size of a small seed and designed to be delivered through a standard needle. Once positioned in a blood vessel near a target nerve using ultrasound and CT imaging, it receives power from outside the body and delivers programmable electrical pulses.
The researchers tested the technology in laboratory experiments and in living animals, including a rat model. They show that the device can activate nerves and produce controlled responses.
These are early engineering achievements, but they are not evidence that SEED can relieve chronic pain in human patients. That remains for future randomized and controlled clinical trials.
The references for this report are available on my website.
#ChronicPain #MedicalTechnology #NerveStimulation #NYUResearch #HealthInnovation
ChronicPain, MedicalTechnology, NerveStimulation, NYUResearch, HealthInnovation
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aeg1437
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261008005253.htm
Vanilla Helps Wound Healing
Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/De4wFKju0rl/
Could the compound that gives vanilla its familiar flavor help heal wounds that refuse to heal? Biomedical nanoengineers at Australia’s Flinders University now publish a review article in the International Journal of Pharmaceutics cataloging the beneficial properties of vanillin, vanilla’s signature compound. They describe its potential antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. These characteristics are all useful for facilitating wound healing.
The researchers propose vanillin-based advanced wound dressings and therapy for chronic wounds and skin ulcers. Studies have shown that vanillin-containing biomaterials can support an extracellular matrix, a structural framework surrounding cells that promotes effective wound closure. Vanillin’s chemical structure could also help engineer materials for medication delivery. Also advantageous is the fact that vanillin can be manufactured inexpensively in large quantities.
Chronic wounds in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients are treatment challenges when inflammation, bacterial contamination, and borderline oxygen availability interferes with healing. A readily-available material that addresses these problems could eventually offer new options for wound care.
The references for this report are available on my website.
#WoundHealing #Vanillin #MedicalResearch #ChronicWounds #HealthNews
WoundHealing, Vanillin, MedicalResearch, ChronicWounds, HealthNews
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378517326007118?via=ihub
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261011211550.htm
Gut Bacteria Control How Many Calories You Absorb
Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/De4xFdkMwTH/
The calorie count listed on food labels doesn’t tell the entire story? Biodesign researchers at Arizona State University now publish in the journal PLOS One their mathematical model showing how the bacteria in your gastrointestinal system help determine how much energy your body actually absorbs from food.
Their model, called DAMM standing for Digestion, Absorption, and Microbial Metabolism, tracks how digested foods interact with gut microbes. These bacteria break down fiber and starch producing substances called short-chain fatty acids that the body can absorb and use for energy.
In a controlled study of 17 healthy adults, those eating a high-fiber diet absorbed approximately 116 fewer calories per day than those eating a typical marginally healthy Western diet. Those consuming the abundant fiber did not report feeling hungrier.
So, if you are trying to control your weight and who isn’t, consider a diet rich in fiber. It allows you to feel full while reducing the number of calories you consume on a daily basis.
The references for this report are available on my website.
#GutHealth #Nutrition #Fiber #Microbiome #HealthResearch
GutHealth, Nutrition, Fiber, Microbiome, HealthResearch
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0347668
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261011211613.htm
Endless Smartphone Scrolling Deteriorates Your Brain
Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/De4yQMihPdL/
Hungarian social scientists studied smartphone habits in 225 adults ages 18 to 35. About one-third of the participants were classified as heavy-process users, spending much of their time phone scrolling and consuming content rather than communicating in the real world. Their study was published in the journal Acta Psychologica.
Their data show that those who spend four to five hours a day consuming online content showed concerning deterioration in memory, attention, and sleep compared with occasional users. They find that this excessive phone use is associated with weak self-control and fear of missing out.
The researchers also identified the physical effects of prolonged phone use. Gazing down at a screen contributes to forward-head posture, neck strain, and potential balance problems.
So how do you avoid falling prey to this seductive habit? Silence unnecessary notifications, set limits on social media browsing, avoid your phone before bedtime, and hold the screen closer to eye level.
The references for this report are available on my website.
#SmartphoneUse #BrainHealth #SleepHealth #DigitalWellness #HealthResearch
SmartphoneUse, BrainHealth, SleepHealth, DigitalWellness, HealthResearch
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691825009217?via=ihub
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261011211611.htm
Olive Oil Reduces Blood Sugar Surges
Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/De4y7mcuN6a/
Japanese endocrinologists at Kyoto University publish this surprising effect they observed in mouse studies in the journal Diabetes.
When both diabetic and normal mice are fed olive oil 15 minutes before glucose, their initial blood sugar rise is significantly smaller than when they receive the carbohydrates first. The olive oil slows stomach emptying and activates the digestive hormones glucagon, GIP, and GLP-1 as well as nerve signals that control blood sugar regulation.
If human studies confirm this effect, changing the order in which you consume foods could become another strategy for managing blood sugar. The references for this report are available on my website.
#BloodSugar #DiabetesResearch #OliveOil #Nutrition #HealthNews
BloodSugar, DiabetesResearch, OliveOil, Nutrition, HealthNews
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261008102700.htm
Peptide Injection Shrinks Belly Fat
Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/De4zuLEP5v8/
Taiwanese researchers now report to the European Association for the Study of Diabetes that injections of the peptide CBL-514 significantly shrink deposits of body fat. The compound works by selectively causing fat cells to self-destruct.
In phase two clinical trials, participants receiving the CBL-514 experience an average reduction of about 12% in deep abdominal visceral fat four weeks after treatment. These fat deposits around the intestines are associated with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Destroying these fat cells could also prevent weight regain following discontinuation of the GLP-1 diet drugs.
The injections also reduce the size of fat layers beneath the skin. Nearly 70% of those receiving the CBL-514 lost at least 150 milliliter of skin fat.
The injections do have side effects including pain, swelling, and redness at injection sites.
These results are promising, but larger phase three trials are needed to establish the safety and effectiveness. Of CBL-514.
The references for this report are available on my website.
#ObesityResearch #BellyFat #VisceralFat #WeightLoss #MedicalResearch
ObesityResearch, BellyFat, VisceralFat, WeightLoss, MedicalResearch
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261008102713.htm
Childhood Exercise Could Trigger Better Adult Endurance
Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/De40dj0MqTg/
This possibility is even more likely if you are a bird. So report Penn State biomedical physiologists reporting their studies of 12 guinea fowl in the journal Royal Society Proceedings B.
In the experiments, half of the birds carried small weights on one leg during development while the other half did not. At 16 weeks, researchers measured how much energy the birds used walking with and without extra weight.
Their data show that the birds unburdened with extra weights while growing up used 23% more energy when walking with an added load. Birds accustomed to the weights during development carried them as adults without using extra energy.
Assuming you can translate these results to humans, physical activity during childhood and adolescence would help make movement more energy-efficient later in life. That would encourage lifelong exercise. A key caveat: carrying leg weights is not the same as typical human childhood exercise.
If clinical studies with appropriate childhood exercise confirm this principle, terrific. If not, this study is strictly for the birds!
The references for this report are available on my website.
#ChildhoodExercise #PhysicalActivity #ExerciseScience #HealthyAging #HealthResearch
ChildhoodExercise, PhysicalActivity, ExerciseScience, HealthyAging, HealthResearch
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261013015811.htm
At What Age Does Your Body Start Losing Strength?
Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/De41YichHAF/
The answer comes from clinical physiologists at Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet. They followed 427 men and women born in 1958, tracking their physical performance from age 16 through age 63.
Their data show that aerobic fitness and muscular endurance generally peaks between ages 26 and 36. By age 35, physical performance begins a gradual decline. By age 63, performance has fallen by approximately 30 to 48 percent.
These effects are likely due to muscle cell deterioration, decline in cellular energy production, and nervous system exhaustion.
But there is some encouraging news. Those who exercise can improve their physical capacity by roughly 5 to 10 percent. The studies also show that better fitness earlier in life is associated with less arterial stiffness by age 63. Exercise does not prevent every age-related change, but it does help preserve fitness and your arterial structures.
The bottom line: it’s never too late to improve your strength. Whether you’re 35, 55, or older, regular physical activity can still make a meaningful difference.
The references for this report are available on my website.
#HealthyAging #Exercise #MuscleStrength #PhysicalFitness #KarolinskaInstitutet
Healthy Aging, Exercise, Muscle Strength, Physical Fitness, Karolinska Institutet
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jcsm.70134
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261014000912.htm
What Brain Activities Occur While You’re Unconscious
Vidcast: https://www.instagram.com/p/De42GJWuOcn/
Can your brain process language and fabricate prediction when you’re unconscious? Answers come from neuroscientists at Baylor College of Medicine in studies published in the journal Nature.
The scientists studied patients undergoing epilepsy surgery and recorded electrical activity from hundreds of individual neurons in the hippocampus, a brain region critical for learning and memory. Using sophisticated probes, they monitored how brain cells respond to sounds and spoken stories while the patients were under general anesthesia.
The results show that the brain cells of the unconscious can not only respond to musical tones, but also demonstrate improvements in distinguishing them as the experiments progressed. When the anesthetized subjects listen to short stories, patterns of brain activity reflect different categories of words, including nouns, verbs, and adjectives. The signals also contain information about words likely to come next, suggesting that the brain anticipates how the story will continue.
This neuronal activity as well as other study data does not prove that anesthetized patients consciously hear, understand, or remember the stories. The brain processes information without a person being aware of it.
These findings could help scientists understand how consciousness differs from the brain’s underlying information-processing abilities. They could also eventually help design brain-computer interfaces and speech prosthetics designed to assist communication following strokes or neurological injuries.
The references for this report are available on my website.
#BrainResearch #Consciousness #GeneralAnesthesia #Neuroscience #BrainComputerInterface
Brain Research, Consciousness, General Anesthesia, Neuroscience, Brain Computer Interface
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10448-0
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261015003440.htm