The University Hospital Magdeburg (UMMD), in collaboration with the Helios Fachklinik Vogelsang-Gommern, has for the first time treated two female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) using CAR T-cell therapy within the scope of clinical studies. This establishes UMMD as one of the first study centers in Germany to research this innovative approach for treating severe autoimmune diseases in controlled clinical trials. CAR T-cell therapy uses genetically modified T-cells that specifically eliminate disease-causing immune cells. This method, originally established in cancer therapy, shows promising results in autoimmune diseases. The studies are based on pioneering work in which the team of Prof. Dr. med. Dimitrios Mougiakakos, Director of the Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Cell Therapy, was significantly involved. The treatments took place in a specially equipped CAR T-cell therapy unit, supported by interdisciplinary collaboration between the departments of Hematology, Rheumatology, and Transfusion Medicine. The execution of these early studies marks the establishment of UMMD as an official study center… 

Since 2022, the German chemical and pharmaceutical industry has been facing significant economic problems, leading to noticeable job cuts. The sector, one of the most important pillars of the German economy, is struggling with high energy prices, weak demand, and global competitive disadvantages, forcing staff reductions in many areas. In 2023, the chemical-pharmaceutical industry employed around 479,500 people, a slight decrease compared to approximately 515,000 employees in 2022. This decline reflects the tense situation, exacerbated by several factors. High energy and raw material costs, particularly since the start of the energy crisis in 2022, have driven up production costs. Many companies, especially in energy-intensive chemical production, had to curb their output, which directly impacted employment figures. For instance, the pure chemical industry recorded a 3 percent decrease in production in 2023, while the pharmaceutical sector achieved moderate growth of 2 percent. A prominent example of job cuts is the world's largest chemical group… 

Researchers at Kyoto University have uncovered the central role of the cytokine IGFL2 (Insulin-like Growth Factor-like Family Member 2) in regulating inflammation in the joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a groundbreaking study published on August 1, 2025, in Science Immunology. This discovery, based on single-cell RNA sequencing of over 58,000 T helper cells, shows that IGFL2, a molecule found exclusively in primates, is strongly correlated with disease severity and could serve as both a diagnostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target. Rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic autoimmune disease affecting approximately 18 million people worldwide, causes pain, swelling, and progressive joint damage through a misguided immune system attack on the synovial tissue. Despite available therapies aimed at reducing inflammation and preserving joint function, up to 30 percent of patients do not respond adequately to treatments. The Kyoto study, led by Assistant Professor Akinori… 

A groundbreaking review in Nano-Micro Letters, led by Prof. Xuhui Xu from Guangzhou University, outlines a technology roadmap for metal halide perovskite (MHP) scintillators. This promises to revolutionize X-ray imaging in medical diagnostics, security screening, and industrial inspections with unprecedented light yields, ultra-fast response times, and flexible designs. The paper highlights the extraordinary advances of MHP scintillators. Lead-free Rb2CuBr3 single crystals achieve a light yield of 91,056 photons per MeV—more than three times that of commercial CsI:Tl scintillators. CsPbBr3 nanocrystal films offer a photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) exceeding 95 percent even at high dose rates, enabling extremely low-dose radiation imaging. Furthermore, 2D BM2PbBr4 crystals with a decay time of 0.97 nanoseconds set new standards for time-of-flight PET and megahertz CT, with a coincidence time resolution of approximately 65 picoseconds. Another breakthrough includes flexible scintillators like Cs3Cu2I5@Polymer, which can be bent 90 degrees without breaking and offer a resolution of 17…