Medical Bulletin 10/December/2025

Sweat, often overlooked, contains a rich library of biological information. Unlike blood draws or urine tests, collecting sweat is painless, non-invasive, and continuous, making it ideal for daily monitoring. The new study, led by researchers at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), explores how combining AI with advanced micro-sensors can decode this naturally produced fluid to detect biomarkers for conditions like diabetes, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and some cancers—possibly long before symptoms appear.

The researchers point out that recent progress in microfluidics, stretchable electronics, and wireless communication has made it possible to design thin, flexible patches that stick to the skin and continuously gather small amounts of sweat. AI systems analyze the chemical composition in real time, interpreting complex patterns in hormones, electrolytes, and metabolites to provide personalized, predictive health data.

According to co-author Dr. Dayanne Bordin, a UTS analytical chemist, these “smart wearables” could soon go beyond lifestyle tracking. For athletes, they could measure electrolyte losses or prove they are drug-free before competitions. For patients with diabetes, they might eventually monitor glucose levels through sweat instead of finger-prick blood tests.

Another UTS scientist, Dr. Janice McCauley, noted that the integration of AI is what makes this revolution possible. Modern machine learning algorithms can evaluate vast datasets of chemical and physiological signals, identifying subtle correlations between sweat chemistry and body function. The team is currently testing microfluidic tools capable of detecting ultra-low concentrations of key biomarkers like cortisol (the stress hormone) and glucose.

Though still in development, the researchers envision a future where your wearable patch can alert you to rising stress hormones, dehydration, or disease risk—long before you notice symptoms. In short, your body’s sweat could soon become its own health report, decoded by AI.

REFERENCE: Dayanne Mozaner Bordin, Janice Irene McCauley, Eduardo G. de Campos, David P. Bishop, Bruno Spinosa De Martinis. Sweat as a diagnostic biofluid: analytical advances and future directions. Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis, 2025; 101473 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpha.2025.101473

Kiwifruit Intake Enhances Skin Vitamin C Levels and Strengthens Dermal Structure: Study

Vitamin C is more than just an immunity booster—it’s one of the skin’s most powerful natural defenders. A new study in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology reveals how dietary vitamin C directly changes the skin from within, reshaping both its structure and function. The research shows that eating vitamin C–rich foods like kiwifruit can increase ascorbate concentration across all skin layers, subtly improving skin density and cellular renewal.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is essential for collagen production, antioxidant defense, and skin repair. It exists in both the dermis (the collagen-rich inner layer) and the epidermis (the outer layer where new cells form). While topical serums are popular, they struggle to deliver stable and active vitamin C across the skin’s tough outer barrier. The human body instead relies on active transport proteins—SVCT1 and SVCT2—to absorb vitamin C from the bloodstream into the skin. Until now, however, there has been little data on how dietary intake influences vitamin C levels in different skin compartments.

To fill this gap, researchers measured vitamin C levels in dermal and epidermal tissue samples from healthy adults and then ran a dietary intervention where participants consumed about 250 mg of vitamin C daily through kiwifruit. Blood and skin samples were analyzed using advanced chromatography and imaging to track changes in ascorbate distribution and skin physiology.

Results showed striking differences between skin layers. Dermal fibroblasts contained roughly seven times more vitamin C than epidermal cells, similar to levels found in the brain and adrenal glands—suggesting an intense need for the nutrient in collagen production. After supplementation, participants with initially low plasma vitamin C reached full saturation, and skin density increased by 50%, reflecting better structural protein content. These increases were confirmed through both biopsy samples and noninvasive blister-fluid analysis, showing synchronized rises in plasma and skin ascorbate.

While elasticity dropped slightly and no measurable jump in collagen peptides was seen, the study confirmed a key takeaway: dietary vitamin C effectively reaches all skin compartments, boosting renewal and structure. The authors conclude that maintaining steady vitamin C intake—through fruits like oranges, kiwifruit, or peppers—supports healthy skin from the inside out, offering real biological benefits beyond the cosmetic aisle.

REFERENCE: Pullor, J. M., Bozonet, S. M., Segger, D., et al. (2025). Improved Human Skin Vitamin C Levels and Skin Function after Dietary Intake of Kiwifruit: A High-Vitamin-C Food. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2025.10.587, https://www.jidonline.org/article/S0022-202X(25)03509-2/fulltext

New Study Warns Global Cancer Cases May Double Worldwide by 2050

Cancer is no longer a disease confined to wealthy nations—it’s fast becoming a global emergency. A massive new analysis from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 Cancer Collaboration, spanning 204 countries, paints a sobering picture: cancer cases and deaths are climbing sharply across low- and middle-income regions, outpacing health system growth and prevention efforts. The researchers call the findings “hard to process,” even for experts accustomed to vast datasets.

Published in the Lancet Oncology, the study offers the most comprehensive look yet at global cancer trends. In 2023 alone, there were an estimated 18.5 million new cases and 10.4 million deaths—making cancer responsible for one in six global deaths. Nearly 70% of these deaths occurred in poorer regions, where diagnostic services, treatment access, and palliative care remain limited. Using more than three decades of cancer data (1990–2023), the team also projected that by 2050, the world could face 30.5 million new cases and 18.6 million deaths per year, nearly doubling today’s figures.

Researchers found that 41.7% of global cancer deaths were linked to modifiable risk factors—including tobacco and alcohol use, unhealthy diets, obesity, air pollution, and hazardous occupational exposures. These aren’t simply personal choices but reflections of systemic issues like poor food policy, weak tobacco control, and lack of environmental regulation.

Another concerning trend is the rising burden among younger adults, disrupting education, careers, and family life. The report argues that cancer is no longer just a medical problem—it’s becoming a societal crisis, deepening inequality and financial strain worldwide.

Experts urge bold, coordinated action. Priorities include scaling up screening for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers, expanding oncology workforce training, and strengthening pathology and registry systems to track real progress. Prevention, they emphasize, must go hand in hand with equitable access to early diagnosis and affordable treatment.

Though the numbers are daunting, the researchers stress that this trajectory isn’t inevitable. With strong political will, public education, and investment in health infrastructure, governments can still rewrite the future of global cancer care—turning warning signs into momentum for change.

REFERENCE: Force, Lisa M et al.; The global, regional, and national burden of cancer, 1990–2023, with forecasts to 2050: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023; The Lancet, Volume 406, Issue 10512, 1565 – 1586; doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(25)01635-6