Researchers developed a computational framework called DANDELION to identify disease-driving genes in complex diseases like asthma. The study found that protein palmitoylation plays a key role in driving the disease, revealing a potential new target for future therapies.
A new prediction model developed by McGill University researchers can identify younger women at higher heart disease risk years before traditional screenings. The model takes into account pregnancy complications such as hypertension and gestational diabetes to estimate future risk.
A new study found that childhood adversity, especially forced childhood migration, is associated with higher cardiometabolic risk and accelerated biological aging in later life. Forced migration was linked to elevated diabetes risk, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension, as well as signs of accelerated biological aging.
The DIVINE cohort database contains clinical information from 5,813 COVID-19 patients, including characteristics, risk factors, treatments, and outcomes. The data can be used to study disease progression, identify associated factors, and validate predictive models.
A WVU study found that pregnant women who spend more time sitting are at a greater risk of developing gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. Sitting for over 10 hours a day was associated with twice as many adverse pregnancy outcomes as shorter periods of sitting.
A new R package, 'flowchart', facilitates the generation of flowcharts directly from study data, streamlining a laborious process. The tool allows researchers to create clear, publication-ready diagrams in just a few steps within a fully reproducible workflow.
A study compares five DNA foundation language models across 57 diverse datasets to identify their strengths and weaknesses in predicting gene expression, identifying genomic components, and detecting harmful mutations. The findings highlight the importance of selecting appropriate models based on specific genomic tasks.
Researchers analyzed COVID-19 mortality among 5,813 patients in five Catalan hospitals. Patients without a ceiling of care had higher mortality during the first wave, but this decreased significantly over subsequent waves.
A new meta-analysis found that symptom provocation before repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) treatment may enhance clinical response for depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and nicotine dependence. rTMS was nearly twice as effective when symptom provocation was used compared to when it wasn't.
The Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) of Stand Up To Cancer has been strengthened by the addition of three new members: Drs. Armstrong, Dahlberg, and Philipson. The new experts bring critical knowledge in pediatric oncology, biostatistics, and healthcare economics to complement existing expertise.
A new study in Nature identifies strategies for tying brain function and structure to behavior and health, improving the reliability of brain-wide association studies. By strategically selecting participants and collecting multiple scans, researchers can obtain more dependable results with fewer participants.
A study led by WVU epidemiologist Bethany Barone Gibbs found that alternating sitting and standing at work reduces sedentary behavior but has no effect on lowering blood pressure. Prolonged static standing may even have negative effects on cardiovascular health due to a physiological mechanism called the muscle pump.
Researchers will examine cognitive and psychomotor functions to compare effects of CBD on driving performance between men and women. The five-year study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the substance's influence.
Researchers at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute analyzed gamma-delta T-cell receptor landscape across 11,000 tumors, providing insights into their role in patient outcomes and treatment efficacy. The study's findings suggest that diversity and clonality of gamma-delta T cells can significantly impact patient survival.
The new center, funded by a $4.2 million NIH grant, will build research capacity and catalyze climate and health solutions. It aims to promote climate justice through community engagement and develop evidence-based policies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on human health.
A new study found that Americans from minority groups, current smokers, and those with lower education or income levels are more likely to be exposed to tobacco content on streaming services. The research revealed an estimated 12.4% of American adults were exposed to tobacco promotion on these platforms.
A recent study found a significant association between body mass index (BMI) trajectories in middle adulthood and the risk of bone fractures in late adulthood. Maintaining a stable BMI throughout adulthood may reduce fracture risk later in life, according to researchers.
A Rutgers University study of over 31 million hospital records found that infertility treatment patients were twice as likely to be hospitalized with heart disease in the year after delivery. The study suggests that early postpartum checkups are crucial for patients undergoing infertility treatment.
Stella Self and her team will reduce costs and improve accuracy in vector-borne disease surveillance by employing multiple surveillance strategies, including active and passive approaches.
A new R package, REDCapDM, enhances efficiency and reliability in managing research data collected through the popular REDCap platform. The tool provides functions for importing, transforming, identifying discrepancies, and managing data, simplifying the clinical data management process while ensuring quality and reliability.
A new study by Rutgers Health and other universities found that the US maternal death rate is likely being overestimated due to flawed surveillance methods. The true rate is estimated to be around 10 deaths per 100,000 live births, nearly half of the CDC's reported figure.
Researchers found that forearms and calves have a greater diversity of beneficial microbes, potentially leading to healthier skin. The study suggests that changing cleaning habits can shift the balance of skin microbiome, affecting overall health.
Researchers have been awarded $600K each to lead projects improving healthcare access for underserved populations, including Black women and rural/minority communities. These projects will use innovative strategies such as at-home blood pressure monitoring and telemedicine-assisted testing to address health disparities.
A new study published in BMJ Oncology has found that relatively short-term use of immunosuppressant medications to control inflammatory diseases is not associated with an increased risk of developing cancer. The research included over 10,000 participants and tracked their cancer incidence for an average of 10 years.
Researchers at Rutgers University analyzed urine samples from pregnant women to understand how the placenta regulates cadmium exposure. They found that as cadmium levels increased, free testosterone levels decreased, suggesting a link between cadmium and fetal brain development.
The study identified two genes, SOX9 and KLF5, that contribute to the development of hidradenitis suppurativa. These genes play a role in hair follicle and epidermal development, respectively, and their mutations may lead to improper development of hair follicles and inflammation.
A Michigan State University study found that women with endometriosis have higher cadmium levels in their urine compared to those without the diagnosis. The researchers analyzed data from over 41,000 participants and found a significant link between urinary cadmium concentrations and endometriosis prevalence.
A large genome-wide association study identified novel PSA-associated variants and developed a polygenic score to correct for genetic variations in PSA levels. This approach improved biopsy referral decisions, reducing unnecessary procedures while detecting more aggressive tumors.
A nationwide study of nearly 10,000 adults identifies 12 hallmarks of long COVID, including debilitating fatigue, loss of smell or taste, and gastrointestinal symptoms. The findings provide a new scoring system for clinicians to define and investigate treatments for patients with long COVID.
Researchers found bivalent boosters to be 67% effective in preventing hospitalization and death, with effectiveness waning after four weeks. The boosters also reduced the risk of infection and death against newer omicron strains.
A team of biostatisticians created a framework to evaluate the congruence and discordance of laboratory animals with specific human diseases. The tool removes bias from scientific interpretation of animal data for human conditions, revealing that some models mimic biological mechanisms well while others poorly.
The National Cancer Institute awards $10.5 million to USC's Division of Biostatistics to develop statistical methods for uncovering new risk factors associated with cancer by integrating large volumes of health, genomic, and exposure data. The project aims to provide new insights into complex biological processes and discoveries of nov...
A genetic variant associated with low levels of HDL 'good' cholesterol and high triglycerides has been identified in Polynesian people. This discovery provides new insights into the genetic causes of high cholesterol and may lead to the development of more effective treatment options.
A Rutgers study found community-based groups more effective than health-care organizations in raising awareness of at-home testing availability and increasing its completion rates. The research suggests that partnerships between CBOs and HCOs are crucial to strengthen health outcomes.
Researchers highlight the importance of sustained blood pressure control in reducing fatal cardiovascular events. The study found that intensive blood pressure management was beneficial during the SPRINT trial but lost its effects after two years without continued treatment.
Researchers at UTHealth Houston will create a coordinating unit for biostatistics, informatics, and engagement to advance knowledge about human brain neurons. The project aims to produce an open-access digital brain cell reference atlas to improve understanding of neurological functions and disorders.
The Florida Summer Institute in Biostatistics and Data Science recruits students from underrepresented groups, providing a rigorous quantitative education. The program introduces college students to statistical methods and applications in biomedical research, highlighting health disparities and social drivers of health.
A West Virginia University study explores the link between pregnancy, sedentary behavior, and cardiovascular disease risk in women. The research aims to investigate whether physical activity can reduce or eliminate this accelerated risk development in women.
A recent study on adult e-cigarette use highlights the need for a more nuanced public health approach. While e-cigarettes pose risks, they also offer potential benefits for cessation of combustible cigarette smoking. Researchers suggest balancing concerns with evidence-based strategies to promote e-cigarette use as a tool for quitting.
A WVU researcher has developed new statistical methods for assessing airborne exposure to oil spill workers, allowing for more accurate estimates and consideration of undetectable levels. This research has significant implications for understanding the health effects of oil spills on workers.
A study using the nation's largest COVID-19 data resource found that the vaccine protects most cancer patients from getting COVID, but those with certain types of cancer have a higher risk of breakthrough infections. The research also highlights the importance of continued vaccination efforts to protect cancer patients.
Researchers at West Virginia University are using machine learning and geographic information systems to identify areas with low COVID-vaccine uptake. They aim to pinpoint counties with increased risk of outbreaks, predict where testing is most crucial, and develop targeted interventions to increase testing rates. By acknowledging comm...
A national study found that states with higher labor underutilization, non-Hispanic white populations, and opioid prescriptions had higher SIM rates. States with centralized medicolegal death investigation systems detected more SIM cases due to toxicologic testing.
A new method, ONEST, was developed to assess the performance of diagnostic tests with multiple observers. The method helps determine if adding more observers causes agreement to plateau, indicating an unreliable test or a minimum number needed for stable estimation.
Cancer-Immu, a new data portal, helps predict patient response to immunotherapies by integrating large-scale omics data and clinical phenotypes. The portal covers 16 cancer types and detects 182 genes with mutations significantly associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
According to a new study funded by NIH, adults with HIV are making progress toward the global target of 95% viral suppression, but children and adolescents are not. The researchers estimated that among adults, 79% were virally suppressed after one year of treatment, while among children and adolescents, only 64% reached this milestone.
May Wong, Professor of Dental Public Health at the University of Hong Kong, was awarded the IADR Distinguished Scientist H. Trendly Dean Memorial Award for her significant contributions to dental research. Her work focuses on biostatistics, oral epidemiology, and clinical trials.
A study found that adequate levels of five antioxidants may reduce infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) strains associated with cervical cancer. Lower levels of serum albumin and four dietary antioxidants were linked to a higher risk of HPV infection, suggesting a potential nutritional strategy for prevention.
Research from Michigan State University identifies four distinct waves of the 1918 flu virus, similar to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study reveals that a spike in cases may occur late 2021 or early 2022 due to remaining susceptible individuals and lack of vaccination.
Researchers have developed a new statistical method called Sum-Share that exponentially increases the ability to discover genetic insights. The method uses summary-level data from multiple sites to generate significant insights, outperforming existing methods in detecting genetic variations associated with cardiovascular conditions.
A new NIH grant will support advanced statistical models for analyzing large-scale metabolomics data sources, aiming to better understand the links between metabolic action and chronic health conditions.
The new risk calculator estimates mortality risk for individuals and communities, considering sociodemographic info and medical history. The tool will help public health authorities prioritize vaccination for high-risk groups, such as those with preexisting conditions or from vulnerable ethnic backgrounds.
Depressed children and teenagers have a significantly higher risk of premature death, self-harm, and suffering from other diseases later in life. The study found that depression was associated with 66 out of 69 examined medical conditions, including sleep disorders, type 2 diabetes, and kidney disease.
An AI model developed at Duke University successfully identified patients with Alzheimer's disease from retinal images, suggesting its potential as a predictive tool. The study provides proof-of-concept for machine learning analysis of certain types of retinal images to detect the neurological disease in symptomatic individuals.
Researchers at University of California - San Diego found a connection between gut bacteria diversity and active vitamin D levels in older men. The study suggests that microbiome diversity is closely associated with active vitamin D, while the precursor form has no significant link.
A new study found that Black patients are less likely to have their treatment for high blood pressure intensified, despite having more missed clinic appointments. This racial disparity may account for a significant contributor to poor health outcomes among Black Americans.
A new report from UCSF links climate change to a significant increase in global cancer rates, particularly lung, skin, and gastrointestinal cancers. The study highlights the need for urgent action to mitigate climate change and reduce air pollution to prevent cancer cases and deaths.
Researchers found that extreme concentrations of serum uric acid (SUA) are associated with reduced patient survival and lifespan, particularly in men. The study suggests high SUA levels may be linked to serious chronic medical conditions such as kidney failure, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.
McGill University professors have created an online COVID-19 vaccine tracker providing real-time updates on vaccine progress and characteristics. The tracker helps manage expectations about vaccine availability and promotes transparency in the regulatory process.
A study by Duke researchers found that transcription factors tend to bind strongly to mismatched sections of DNA, which can lead to the accumulation of mutations in regulatory regions. This binding is thought to be energetically favorable due to the lower energy required to distort mismatched DNA.