Genetically modified skin grafts have protected mice from developing diabetes, suggesting the technique may help people with the condition.

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2142679-crispr-skin-grafts-could-replace-insulin-injections-for-diabetes/

Terri Bryant was working at a cheese factory in 2000 when she injured the delicate, rubbery discs between her spinal bones. That was the start of her chronic pain. Two years later, she had back surgery and started regularly taking fentanyl, a powerful prescription opioid medication. Her pain persisted even after a second surgery in 2009.
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/608256/these-new-devices-promise-to-fight-pain-without-opioids/

“It’s a really elegant and creative design to make tough adhesives that work in wet environments,” says Mark W. Grinstaff of Boston University, who was not involved in the work.

https://cen.acs.org/articles/95/i31/Slug-mucus-inspires-possible-surgical.html

For just about his entire life, Ron Smith has been a subject of a scientific inquiry. At birth, in 1972, he was studied by scientists, and then assessed again at age three to document his physical fitness, mental health and intelligence. Every few years after that, he has returned to be poked, prodded and tested in the name of science. This year, Smith will turn 45.

https://gizmodo.com/welcome-to-the-town-that-is-trying-to-cure-aging-1794006390

In humans, developing metabolic disease, particularly type 2 diabetes, is correlated with having bacteria that penetrate the mucus lining of the colon, according to a study led by Drs. Benoit Chassaing and Andrew Gewirtz at Georgia State University.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/05/170530122341.htm

NIR BARZILAI HAS a plan. It’s a really big plan that might one day change medicine and health care as we know it. Its promise: extending our years of healthy, disease-free living by decades.

https://www.wired.com/story/this-pill-promises-to-extend-life-for-a-nickel-a-pop/

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread by ticks. It affects thousands of Americans each year, and the number of cases of tick-borne diseases is on the rise in the United States. For researchers, the hunt for a safe, effective Lyme disease vaccine continues.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/260471.php

It was a fact widely known that Margaret Thatcher could get by on only four hours’ sleep a night.

And just like the former British prime minister, some high-profile business leaders also claim to do their best work on only the briefest of shut-eye. Jack Dorsey, who is CEO of both Twitter and the payments company Square, said recently: “I don’t sleep much, but it’s enough.”

So why is it that some people can be productive and energetic despite getting less sleep than everyone else?
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/04/not-sleeping-gene-mutation-california-research/

Fungus specifically targets mosquitoes, is safe for humans and other insects

Malaria kills nearly half a million people every year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In some of the hardest-hit areas in sub-Saharan Africa, the mosquitoes that carry the malaria parasite have become resistant to traditional chemical insecticides, complicating efforts to fight the disease.

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2017-06/uom-mfe061217.php

Eradicating painful transplant procedures will help both patients and donors.

Researchers have developed a synthetic bone material which could one day replace painful and difficult bone marrow transplants.

http://www.zdnet.com/article/synthetic-cell-growing-bone-could-make-bone-marrow-transplants-a-thing-of-the-past/