Medical Bulletin 09/September/2026 - Video

Here are the top medical news for today:

Bariatric Surgery Linked to Restored Menstrual Cycles and Fewer Polycystic Ovaries in Women: Study

Weight loss surgery may do more than reduce body weight. A new study suggests it can also help restore regular periods and improve reproductive health in women living with obesity.

Researchers from the University of Surrey followed 84 women aged 18 to 45 who underwent bariatric surgery. Forty-nine had gastric bypass surgery and 35 had gastric sleeve surgery. They were compared with 18 women with obesity who did not undergo surgery.

After 12 and 24 months, women who had surgery had lost more than 30 kilograms on average. Several reproductive health measures also improved.

The number of women with polycystic ovaries fell significantly after surgery. By 24 months, the condition remained in only about 10% of women who had it. Excess body hair, known as hirsutism, also resolved in women with improvements reported by 12 months.

Women who had irregular periods before surgery also reported that their menstrual cycles became more regular after the procedure.

The study recorded 17 healthy pregnancies among women who underwent surgery. Researchers did not specifically study pregnancy outcomes, but found no difference in birth weight between babies conceived within the first year and those conceived later.

The researchers say these findings are important because many women undergoing bariatric surgery are of reproductive age and may want to become pregnant in the future. Obesity can affect hormone levels, menstrual cycles and fertility, and increase pregnancy risks.

However, the study does not prove that surgery directly improves fertility or guarantees healthier pregnancies. They recommend preconception care and reproductive counselling after surgery, including advice on pregnancy timing, especially for women planning pregnancy.

Overall, the findings suggest that treating obesity through bariatric surgery may improve menstrual and reproductive health, but women should receive personalised medical advice before planning pregnancy.

REFERENCE: Whyte, M., et al. (2026). Menstrual and Reproductive Function Before and After Metabolic Bariatric Surgery. Obesity Surgery. DOI: 10.1007/s11695-026-08852-6.

Researchers Explore Scorpion Venom as Potential Treatment Strategy for Liver Disease

Scorpion venom may sound dangerous, but its peptides are attracting attention as possible medicines for inflammation, liver disease, pain and viral infections.

A recent review in iLIVER examined research on scorpion venom peptides and their potential for inflammatory and liver disorders. Scientists have identified thousands of scorpion species, making their venom a source of active molecules.

Researchers broadly divide these peptides into two groups: disulfide-bridged peptides and non-disulfide-bridged peptides. These molecules can interact with cell membranes, immune pathways and ion channels, which may allow them to influence inflammation and other disease processes.

Several peptides have shown promising effects in laboratory and animal studies. For example, BmKK2 can affect a protein called Kv1.3 involved in immune-cell activity and may reduce inflammatory signalling. Other peptides have shown pain-relieving effects or reduced inflammation in experimental models.

The liver is another area of interest. In mice, a processed venom-gland extract containing BmKK2 reduced liver fat, inflammation and fibrosis in a model of diet-related fatty liver disease. However, these results are still preclinical and have not established that the treatment works in people.

Some venom peptides have also demonstrated antiviral activity against viruses including hepatitis B and hepatitis C in laboratory studies. Researchers are exploring whether these molecules could eventually help block viral entry or replication.

Despite the promise, challenges remain. Venom peptides can be difficult and expensive to produce, may be broken down quickly in the body, and can have limited absorption when taken orally. Scientists are investigating artificial intelligence, advanced screening and nanoparticle-based delivery systems to improve their stability and targeting.

Overall, scorpion venom peptides represent a promising source of drug candidates. However, most evidence remains experimental, and extensive studies on safety, dosing, pharmacokinetics and effectiveness in humans are needed before clinical use.

REFERENCE: Doctor, J., Parikh, Z., Chauhan, A., & Raina, A. (2026). Scorpion venom peptides: Novel therapeutic approaches for inflammatory and hepatic disorders. iLIVER. 5, 100255. DOI: 10.1016/j.iliver.2026.100255

New Study Identifies Amino Acid That May Influence Men’s Lifespan

Higher levels of tyrosine may be linked to a shorter lifespan, with the association appearing clearer in men, according to a new study.

Published in Aging, the study analysed data from 272,475 UK Biobank participants to examine whether blood levels of tyrosine and phenylalanine were associated with the risk of death.

Tyrosine is an amino acid that uses to make brain chemicals, including dopamine, adrenaline and noradrenaline. These chemicals help regulate mood, attention and the body's response to stress.

Researchers found that higher phenylalanine levels were associated with a greater risk of death in both men and women. Higher tyrosine levels, however, were associated with increased all-cause mortality in men but not women. The difference between men and women was not statistically significant.

The researchers also used Mendelian randomisation, a method that uses genetic differences to explore whether a factor may have a causal relationship with an outcome. Genetically predicted higher tyrosine levels were associated with shorter lifespan in both men and women in the analysis. However, some analyses produced less consistent results, among women.

Phenylalanine was also linked with cardiovascular and cancer-related mortality in the analysis, while tyrosine was not clearly associated with either cause.

The researchers suggest that insulin resistance could be one possible explanation for the tyrosine-lifespan association. Tyrosine may also interact with hormones such as testosterone, potentially contributing to differences between men and women.

However, the findings do not show that eating tyrosine-rich foods or taking tyrosine supplements shortens lifespan. The study was observational, and the genetic analysis also had limitations, including some overlap between study populations.

The researchers say future studies are needed to confirm the association, understand the biological mechanisms and determine whether higher tyrosine levels have effects on health and lifespan overall in the future.

REFERENCE: Zhao J, Sun Y, Zhang J, Ye K. The role of phenylalanine and tyrosine in longevity: a cohort and Mendelian randomization study. Aging (Albany NY). 2025; 17:2500-2533. DOI: 10.18632/aging.206326

Scientists Discover Hidden Health Concern Linked to Popular Sugar Substitute

A sugar substitute may not always stay in the gut. New research suggests sorbitol can be converted into a fructose compound and reach the liver after digestion.

Published in Science Signaling, the study examined how sorbitol is processed in the body and gut bacteria influence its fate. Researchers used zebrafish and found that the intestine can produce it from glucose after eating.

Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol commonly used in sugar-free sweets, chewing gum. It is also naturally found in some fruits.

The researchers found that certain gut bacteria, including Aeromonas strains, can break down sorbitol into a harmless bacterial product. This may keep sorbitol in the gut.

However, when sorbitol levels become too high, these bacteria may not be able to process all of it. Large amounts of glucose can also increase sorbitol production.

When sorbitol reaches the liver, it can be converted into a fructose compound. This is important because fructose metabolism has been linked with liver fat accumulation and metabolic effects.

The findings suggest that the effects of sorbitol may depend not only on how much is consumed, but also on the types and amounts of bacteria present in the gut.

However, the research is still at an early stage. The experiments were conducted mainly in zebrafish, so the findings cannot yet show that sorbitol causes liver disease in humans.

The study also does not mean that normal amounts of sorbitol from fruit are harmful. Researchers need to determine how this pathway works in humans and whether commonly consumed amounts can affect liver metabolism.

Overall, the findings challenge the idea that sugar substitutes pass through the body without metabolic effects and highlight the role of gut bacteria in determining what happens to these compounds.

REFERENCE: Madelyn M. Jackstadt, et al.; Intestine-derived sorbitol drives steatotic liver disease in the absence of gut bacteria. Science Signaling, 2025; 18 (910) DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.adt3549

Lifestyle Changes May Improve Cognition 55% More Than Basic Health Guidance: Study

A two-year lifestyle programme combining exercise, healthy eating, brain training and social support may help protect thinking and memory in older adults at risk of dementia, according to a new study.

Published in The Lancet and presented at AAIC 2026, the LatAm-FINGERS study followed 1,065 adults across 11 Latin American countries for two years. Researchers compared a structured programme with regular coaching and supervision with a group that received health advice.

The structured group took part in supervised exercise, nutrition counselling based on a modified MIND diet, computer-based brain training, cardiovascular risk monitoring and group meetings. The comparison group received health education and attended four group sessions.

After two years, participants receiving the structured programme had a 55% greater improvement in overall cognitive performance than those receiving general advice. They also showed greater improvements in memory, executive function and processing speed.

Researchers said the findings show that lifestyle programmes can be adapted to different cultures and communities. Exercise activities included familiar options such as salsa, tango and group workouts in public parks. Dietary advice was also modified to include locally available foods such as avocado, quinoa, chia and pumpkin seeds.

The study supports the idea that several lifestyle factors may need to be addressed together because dementia risk is influenced by physical health, diet, mental activity and social connection.

However, the findings do not prove that the programme can prevent dementia. The study tested changes in cognitive performance and did not establish whether participants were less likely to develop dementia over time.

Overall, the researchers say structured guidance and social support may be important for improving brain health in older adults. Larger and longer studies are needed to determine whether these programmes can reduce dementia risk in other populations worldwide.

REFERENCE: Lucia Crivelli, et al.; Multidomain lifestyle intervention for the prevention of cognitive decline in at-risk older adults in Latin America (LatAm-FINGERS): a single-blind, multicentre, randomised controlled trial. The Lancet, 2026; 408 (10553): 417 DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(26)01278-X