Health

Nature Medicine, Published online: 14 January 2026; doi:10.1038/d41591-026-00003-9

New data confirm that mpox infection during pregnancy — and particularly in the first trimester — is associated with a substantial risk of fetal loss and congenital infection, calling for targeted prevention and treatment strategies.

Nature Medicine, Published online: 14 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41591-025-04105-8

Researchers studied the blood-based metabolome of over 23,000 people from ten ethnically diverse cohorts. They identified 235 metabolites associated with future risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D). By integrating genetic and modifiable lifestyle factors, their findings provide insights into T2D mechanisms and could improve risk prediction and inform precision prevention.

Nature Medicine, Published online: 13 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41591-025-04164-x

MK-7762 is a new oxazolidinone antitubercular agent that is structurally similar to linezolid, and demonstrated in vivo efficacy, lesion penetration and limited toxicity compared to linezolid, indicating it could be used in broad tuberculosis regimens.

Nature Medicine, Published online: 13 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41591-025-04157-w

In this multicenter phase 1 trial of patients with advanced solid tumors resistant to anti-PD-1 therapy, treatment with the anti-latent TGFβ1 antibody linavonkibart with or without pembrolizumab was safe, and encouraging clinical response rates were associated with T cell infiltration and immune activation.

Nature Medicine, Published online: 13 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41591-025-04173-w

In a randomized controlled trial that included 97 participants, 69% patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) allocated to a fasting-mimicking diet (FMD) achieved clinical response, and over 60% reached remission, outperforming the control group. The FMD also reduced markers of intestinal inflammation, suggesting this dietary intervention could serve as adjunctive treatment for CD.

Nature Medicine, Published online: 13 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41591-025-04146-z

A study uses plasma proteome analysis to illuminate systemic effects of feminizing gender-affirming hormone therapy; more research like this will inform better healthcare for transgender people and could hold insights into sex-specific immune regulation.

The idea of getting an electric vehicle (EV) isn’t as enticing as it was just a few years ago. Not only did the $7,500 tax credit available for EV buyers expire in September 2025, but policies in the Trump administration’s tax and spending bill passed last summer removed fines on automakers who violated fuel-economy regulations. As a result, the focus on all-EV lineups from companies like Ford was largely abandoned. That doesn’t mean you’re resigned to buying an internal combustion engine (ICE) car, though—EV battery technology continues to get better, cheaper, and more durable, and car manufacturers are poised to offer a wider variety of hybrid models in the coming years.

Nature Medicine, Published online: 12 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41591-025-04126-3

Including data from 1,047 patients across 19 inflammatory diseases, a new atlas presents a comprehensive model of inflammation in circulating immune cells.

Nature Medicine, Published online: 09 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s41591-025-04134-3

A protein biomarker, the NOTCH3 extracellular domain, identifies individuals with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension, correlates with disease progression, improves mortality risk prediction and provides a readily implementable, noninvasive blood test for this disease.