Medical Bulletin 17/September/2026

Here are the top medical news for today:

Study of Nearly 10,000 Patients Identifies Effective Knee Arthritis Pain Relief Options

Knee braces, water-based therapy and exercise may offer effective drug-free options for managing knee osteoarthritis, according to a large analysis published in PLOS One.

The study analysed 139 clinical trials involving nearly 10,000 people. The team compared 12 treatments, including knee braces, hydrotherapy, exercise, laser therapy, electrical stimulation, insoles, kinesiology tape, shock wave therapy and ultrasound.

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common joint condition that can cause pain, stiffness and difficulty moving. While anti-inflammatory medicines are often used to manage symptoms, use can carry gastrointestinal and cardiovascular risks, increasing interest in non-drug approaches.

Researchers used a network meta-analysis, a method that allows several treatments to be compared using evidence from different studies. Knee braces performed well, with findings suggesting improvements in pain, stiffness and physical function.

Hydrotherapy, which involves exercise or treatment in warm water, was especially helpful for reducing pain. Regular exercise also showed consistent benefits, improving pain and physical function.

Some technology-based treatments showed benefits in specific areas. High-intensity laser therapy and shock wave therapy appeared promising in certain comparisons. Ultrasound, however, repeatedly ranked among the least effective treatments.

The findings suggest that relatively simple treatments may provide benefits without requiring medicines. Knee braces can help support the joint, while water-based exercise can reduce stress on painful joints and make movement easier. Exercise can also help maintain strength and mobility around the knee.

The study also does not establish that one treatment is universally best for every patient in care. Treatment choice may depend on symptoms, mobility, access, safety and cost. Researchers say future studies involving patients and clinicians should examine whether combining therapies provides greater benefits.

REFERENCE: Xiao Chen, Yuanhe Fan, Hongliang Tu, Yuan Luo. Clinical efficacy of different therapeutic options for knee osteoarthritis: A network meta-analysis based on randomized clinical trials. PLOS One, 2025; 20 (6): e0324864 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0324864

New Study Uncovers Why Fatty Liver Disease May Strike Young Adults Early

Cirrhosis linked to fatty liver disease may develop much earlier than expected, with new research identifying a distinct risk profile among people who develop advanced liver scarring before age 50.

MASLD, often called fatty liver disease, can progress from fat accumulation in the liver to inflammation, fibrosis and eventually cirrhosis. Cirrhosis may remain silent until serious complications develop.

Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine analysed data from about 2,400 adults with biopsy-confirmed metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). The study, published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, found that about 25% of cirrhosis cases occurred before age 50.

The researchers described this group as having early-onset MASLD cirrhosis. Their findings suggest that younger patients may have a combination of inherited genetic susceptibility and metabolic risk factors that contribute to faster progression of liver disease.

Type 2 diabetes emerged as an important metabolic factor. Obesity and higher genetic risk were also highlighted as factors that may help identify younger adults who need closer liver assessment.

The study also revealed a potential problem with current screening methods. Several commonly used liver fibrosis scores include age as part of their calculations. Because younger age can lower these scores, some patients with serious liver scarring may not reach the thresholds that normally prompt further testing.

Nearly one-third of participants with early-onset MASLD cirrhosis had screening scores that would not typically lead to additional evaluation. This suggests that relying only on age-based fibrosis scores could miss some younger people with advanced disease.

The researchers say identifying high-risk patients earlier could allow closer monitoring and earlier management of liver disease. This may also be important for liver cancer prevention, because cirrhosis increases the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of primary liver cancer.

However, the findings show associations rather than proving that genetics or diabetes directly cause early cirrhosis. More research is needed to improve risk prediction and determine which younger patients would benefit from enhanced screening.

REFERENCE: Rohit Loomba, et al.; Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology; DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2026.08.033

DASH Diet Tailored for Diabetes Improves Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes: Study

A DASH-style diet adapted for people with diabetes may help improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes, according to a secondary analysis of the DASH4D trial.

The study, published in Diabetes Care, examined 101 adults with type 2 diabetes. Participants had an average age of 67 years, and 65% were women. Researchers compared a diabetes-focused DASH diet with a diet designed to represent typical eating patterns.

The DASH4D diet emphasised fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy, while the comparison diet contained fewer fruits and vegetables and more red meat and sugar-sweetened foods.

Participants followed four diets in random order. Both the DASH4D and comparison diets were tested with higher and lower sodium levels. Each diet period lasted five weeks, with at least a one-week gap between periods. Meals and snacks were prepared by researchers, while calorie intake was adjusted to keep body weight stable.

Compared with the typical US diet, the DASH4D diet reduced fructosamine levels by 5.6 µmol/L. Fructosamine reflects average blood sugar over roughly two to four weeks. Fasting glucose also fell by 4.5 mg/dL, while HbA1c decreased by 0.09 percentage points.

The benefits appeared greater among people who started with higher HbA1c levels. Fructosamine fell by an average of 8.8 µmol/L in participants with HbA1c of 8%-9%, compared with 5.5 µmol/L among those with levels of 7%-7.9% and 3.7 µmol/L among those below 7%. A similar pattern was seen for fasting glucose. About 84% of participants completed all four diet periods, and reported adherence was about 96% of study days.

However, the study had limitations. It excluded people with HbA1c above 9%, subgroup numbers were small, and adherence was partly self-reported.

The findings suggest that a structured DASH-style eating pattern may provide a practical way to support glucose control. Larger and longer studies are needed to determine whether these improvements translate into meaningful long-term diabetes benefits.

REFERENCE: Michael Fang, et al.; Effects of the DASH4D Diet on Biomarkers of Glycemia in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: A Secondary Analysis of the DASH4D Randomized Clinical Trial. Diabetes Care 2026; dc261062. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc26-1062

New Study Reveals Four-Week Approach Linked to Reversed Biological Aging

Diet may influence biological ageing markers in older adults within just four weeks, according to new research from the University of Sydney.

Published in Aging Cell, the study included 104 Australians aged 65 to 75 who were randomly assigned to one of four diets. Researchers examined whether changing fat, protein and carbohydrates affected biological age.

Biological age differs from chronological age. It estimates how old the body appears based on markers. Researchers calculated biological age using 20 biomarkers, including cholesterol, insulin and C-reactive protein.

All four diets provided 14% of energy from protein. Two were omnivorous, with half of protein from animal foods, while two were semi-vegetarian, with 70% from plants. Each dietary pattern was either higher in fat and lower in carbohydrates or lower in fat and higher in carbohydrates.

Participants following the omnivorous high-fat diet showed no meaningful change in estimated biological age. However, the other three groups showed reductions in the biological age calculated from their biomarker profiles.

The strongest evidence was seen in the omnivorous high-carbohydrate group, providing about 28-29% of energy from fat and 53% from carbohydrates.

Overall, these new findings suggest that reducing dietary fat, animal-based protein, or both may influence ageing-related biomarkers in older adults over a short period.

However, a lower biological age score does not mean ageing has been permanently reversed. The study also cannot show whether these changes will last or reduce age-related diseases or extend lifespan.

The researchers stressed that longer studies are needed to determine whether the biomarker changes persist and whether similar effects occur in younger or different populations.

REFERENCE: Caitlin J. Andrews, Rosilene V. Ribeiro, Alison Gosby, David G. Le Couteur, David Raubenheimer, Jian Tan, Stephen J. Simpson, Alistair M. Senior. Short‐Term Dietary Intervention Alters Physiological Profiles Relevant to Ageing. Aging Cell, 2026; 25 (5) DOI: 10.1111/acel.70507

Scientists Identify Overlooked Cause of High Blood Pressure Missed During Routine Testing

Nighttime hormone surges may reveal a commonly missed cause of high blood pressure, according to research suggesting wearable monitoring could improve detection of primary aldosteronism.

Published in Science Translational Medicine, the study examined primary aldosteronism, a hormone disorder that may affect many people with hypertension. The condition occurs when the adrenal glands produce too much aldosterone, a hormone that helps control salt and water balance. It can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke

Researchers monitored 60 patients for 24 hours using U-RHYTHM, a device developed at the University of Bristol. Worn around the waist, it collected hormone samples from the skin every 20 minutes while participants continued activities and slept at home.

Researchers measured aldosterone and related hormones, including 18-hydroxycortisol and 18-oxocortisol. They found that aldosterone was not consistently high throughout the day. Instead, some patients experienced repeated hormone bursts, including during sleep.

These nighttime surges are important because conventional testing usually relies on blood samples taken at specific times while patients are awake. A single test could therefore occur when hormone levels are temporarily lower and fail to detect the disorder.

The unusual hormone bursts were particularly pronounced in people whose condition was caused by a problem affecting one adrenal gland. Importantly, the abnormal pattern disappeared after the affected gland was surgically removed, supporting a link between the hormone pattern and the disease.

The researchers say continuous monitoring could help identify patients whose fluctuating hormone levels are missed by conventional testing. Earlier diagnosis could be valuable because primary aldosteronism can be treated and, in some cases, cured.

However, this was a proof-of-concept study involving only 60 patients. Larger studies are needed to determine how accurately wearable hormone monitoring can diagnose primary aldosteronism and whether it should become part of routine hypertension testing.

REFERENCE: Marianne A. Grytaas, et al.; Tissue corticosteroid rhythms are dysregulated predominantly during sleep in primary aldosteronism. Science Translational Medicine, 2026; 18 (864) DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aeb7517