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Pap smear

In gynecology, the Papanikolaou test or Papanicolaou test (also called Pap smear, Pap test, cervical smear, or smear test) is a medical screening method for detecting infectious, premalignant, and malignant processes in the ectocervix, endocervix and endometrium. The pre-cancerous changes (called dysplasias or cervical or endocervical intraepithelial neoplasia) are usually caused by sexually transmitted human papillomaviruses (HPVs). The test aims to detect and prevent the progression of HPV-induced cervical cancer and other abnormalities in the female genital tract by sampling cells from the outer opening of the cervix of the uterus and the endocervix.

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Health & Medicine News

October 23, 2025

Cedars-Sinai researchers created “young” immune cells from human stem cells that reversed cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s symptoms in mice. The treated animals showed better memory and healthier brain structures. The cells seemed to protect ...
McMaster researchers found that deep abdominal and liver fat can quietly damage arteries, even in people who appear fit. Their MRI-based study of over 33,000 adults shows these fats are closely ...
MIT scientists have found that an amino acid called cysteine can help the gut heal itself. In mouse studies, a cysteine-rich diet activated immune cells that release a molecule speeding up tissue repair in the small intestine. This process helped ...
Texas A&M researchers found that in an aggressive kidney cancer, RNA builds “droplet hubs” that activate tumor genes. By creating a molecular switch to dissolve these hubs, they stopped cancer growth in lab and mouse tests. The work reveals how ...
Researchers have developed a DNA-based therapy that targets the PCSK9 gene to lower cholesterol naturally. Using polypurine hairpins, they increased cholesterol uptake by cells and reduced ...
Researchers at King’s College London have created the first evidence-based dietary guidelines for chronic constipation, finding real relief may come from kiwifruit, rye bread, and mineral water. Psyllium, probiotics, and magnesium oxide also ...
A wireless eye implant developed at Stanford Medicine has restored reading ability to people with advanced macular degeneration. The PRIMA chip works with smart glasses to replace lost photoreceptors using infrared light. Most trial participants ...
Scientists have uncovered a toxic alliance between Aβ and fibrinogen that may explain how Alzheimer’s disease begins. The two proteins together create stubborn clots that damage blood vessels and spark inflammation in the brain. These effects ...
A study found that daily vitamin D supplements helped slow telomere shortening—the cellular process linked to aging and disease. Researchers believe its anti-inflammatory effects may protect DNA. ...
New research reveals that exercise counteracts the mood-damaging effects of a Western-style diet through specific gut and hormonal mechanisms. Running restored metabolites tied to mental well-being and balanced key hormones like insulin and leptin. ...
A powerful new drug combination—niraparib added to standard prostate cancer therapy—has been shown to significantly delay disease progression in men with specific DNA repair gene mutations. In the large AMPLITUDE trial, patients receiving the ...
Mizzou scientists are exploring how a ketogenic diet may protect the brain and prevent Alzheimer’s in people genetically predisposed to it. Their study found that female mice with the APOE4 gene benefited most, showing improved gut and brain ...

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