A Columbia University study reveals that black women with early-stage breast cancer are two times more likely to die within five years after diagnosis compared to white women. The study found that only 68% of black patients completed all prescribed chemotherapy cycles, compared to 76% of white patients.
Researchers aim to identify genes underlying Alzheimer's disease to develop drugs for treatment or prevention. The study will focus on protein amyloid production and processing, a known factor in the disease.
A recent Columbia University study found that elderly nursing home residents with diabetes are four times more likely to fall than non-diabetics. The study suggests that controlling diabetes and addressing its complications may help reduce the risk of falls.
Researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center have developed a new type of virus, called a
A study published in JAMA finds that rapid heroin detox under anesthesia can lead to death, psychosis, and increased stress. Alternative methods such as buprenorphine and clonidine are more effective and less expensive, highlighting the need for safer treatment options.
The Protein Structure Initiative aims to determine protein structures to reveal their roles in health and disease. Columbia researchers will contribute to three centers, focusing on membrane proteins and cancer-related proteins.
Researchers have created a mouse model that develops a human-like lymphoma, allowing for testing of new therapies and expansion of cancer research. The study's findings confirm that the BCL6 gene plays a key role in tumor development.
The new facility expands Columbia's laboratory space for cancer research, housing nine floors of research facilities, classrooms, and the Avon Foundation Breast Imaging Center. The center is dedicated to investigators conducting disease-specific research on various cancers.
A Columbia University/University of Iowa study reveals that inherited variations in the Factor H gene may trigger age-related macular degeneration through inflammation and immune responses. Researchers found that targeting molecules involved in immune system response could lead to powerful new therapies for treating and preventing AMD.
Researchers found a previously unknown safety circuit in the brain that contributes to feelings of security and well-being, contradicting previous theories that linked anxiety disorders only to fear. The discovery may lead to new treatments targeting sense of safety and security.
A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology shows that drug eluting stents are just as effective and safe for women as they are for men. However, female patients experience higher re-intervention rates due to smaller vessels and perceived narrower narrowing.
Researchers found that more than half of patients with heart failure have normal ejection fractions but still experience symptoms. The study suggests that conditions like anemia, obesity, and hypertension may play a role in causing heart failure.
A new study found that an atypical antipsychotic drug can prevent brain loss in patients with schizophrenia when started early. The study, led by Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman, measured brain volume and cognitive changes in 263 first-episode schizophrenia patients and 58 non-schizophrenic volunteers over a two-year period.
The SMA Foundation's donation will support the discovery and advancement of novel products to treat SMA, a genetic condition affecting 55,000 people worldwide. Key researchers at Columbia University are working on developing treatments using innovative approaches such as drug discovery and clinical trials.
A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that treatment with recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) significantly reduces bleeding in brain, decreases mortality by nearly 40%, and reduces long-term disability for patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The study showed a significant improvement in cli...
Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center discovered a protein called Ngal that can protect mice from renal failure after injection, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic tool. The study also found Ngal to be an effective marker for early diagnosis of kidney failure.
A defect in neuroligin genes disrupts neuronal connections and results in an imbalance of neuronal function, providing a possible explanation for autistic children's neurodevelopmental defects. Understanding this cellular defect is crucial towards developing therapies for autism-spectrum disorders.
A new study published in PNAS demonstrates a gene therapy technique that targets and destroys cancer cells while leaving normal cells unharmed. The technique exploits specific molecules found in cancer cells, allowing it to selectively kill tumors such as prostate, ovarian, breast, brain, and skin cancers.
A 20-year study at Columbia University Medical Center found that depression risk increases with each subsequent generation. Children from families with a two-generation history of depression are at high risk for developing anxiety disorders and experiencing more impairment as they age.
Researchers used fMRI to capture the brain's unconscious emotional processing of fearful faces, revealing activity in the amygdala and cortex. The study found that anxious individuals showed more brain activity, indicating a biological basis for unconscious emotional vigilance.
Columbia University Irving Medical Center affiliate Harlem Hospital Center will fund aggressive screening program for glaucoma, which disproportionately affects African Americans. The hospital has demonstrated an impressive job in screening the community for this devastating condition.
A recent study published in NEJM found that levodopa did not accelerate Parkinson's disease progression but may actually slow it. The multi-center trial involved 361 newly diagnosed patients and showed a clear-cut benefit of levodopa, with higher dosages producing more beneficial results.
Researchers at Columbia University have identified indoprofen as a potential therapeutic candidate for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a neurodegenerative disease affecting thousands of children worldwide. The discovery was made using a high-throughput chemical genetics approach and involves the use of a novel analysis tool called SLIMS.
Researchers found that chronic Helicobacter pylori infection leads to the death of normal stomach cells, prompting bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMDCs) to arrive and transform into cancer cells. This discovery may aid in early diagnosis and treatment targeting BMDCs.
Researchers detected distinct brain activation patterns in individuals carrying the APOE-å4 risk factor and found potential evidence of early Alzheimer's changes. The study suggests that these individuals may be compensating for damage by switching to alternate brain networks, providing insights into disease predisposition.
A new genetic study identified strong evidence for Alzheimer's genes on chromosomes 18 and 10, expanding our knowledge of the disease. The research, conducted on Hispanic families in the Dominican Republic, sheds light on the complex interaction of multiple genes that contribute to Alzheimer's.
Columbia researchers found that patients with thinner or thicker corneas need different IOP adjustments for effective glaucoma treatment. The study's linear correction scale significantly impacted treatment decisions, highlighting the importance of CCT in managing the condition.
Researchers will study 120 patients with chronic and aggressive periodontitis to identify molecular basis of disease and develop targeted therapies. The goal is to reduce risk of periodontitis and improve treatment outcomes for the leading cause of adult tooth loss.
Researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center discovered that mutant alpha-synuclein protein causes blockage in dopamine neurons, leading to their death and eventually Parkinson's disease. This finding may aid in the development of new treatments to slow or stop disease progression.
A new study found that prenatal exposure to influenza may increase the risk of schizophrenia in offspring years later, with a threefold increased risk when exposure occurred during the first half of pregnancy. The study analyzed archived sera from pregnant women and their children born between 1959-1966.
A new experimental drug has shown to completely prevent arrhythmia-related deaths in mice with the same molecular defect as people with heart failure. The drug works by patching a leak in the heart's calcium channel, which can trigger fatal arrhythmias, and has great potential for slowing the progression of heart failure.
The Kavli Institute for Brain Science at Columbia University will focus on analyzing and deciphering neural signaling in complex brain systems. Dr. Eric Kandel, a Nobel laureate, is the first director of the institute.
The Russell Berrie Foundation gift will support cellular therapy research at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, aiming to restore body tissues and cure or ameliorate diabetes. The program seeks to engineer cells to produce insulin, potentially sparing patients from daily injections and devastating complications.
Researchers at Columbia University have made significant discoveries in understanding the immune system and brain function, including the identification of key genes involved in odor recognition. Their work has provided new insight into how smell is represented in the brain.
A newly discovered protein called desmoglein 4 (DSG4) holds cells together as they change into different types of hair follicle cells. The gene's absence leads to thin, sparse hair that breaks easily in people and mice, highlighting its potential role in treating excessive or absent hair growth.
Researchers found high levels of COX-2 in dopamine neurons of Parkinson's patients, leading to cell death. Inhibiting the enzyme with a COX-2 inhibitor increased surviving neurons by up to 88%. The study suggests COX-2 inhibitors may slow disease progression and is being tested in new trials.
Columbia University's Center for Community Health Partnerships will explore ways to improve health in minority populations through community-based research and collaborations. Researchers will develop a four-year cultural competency curriculum and support training programs for medical students and minority investigators.
Researchers at Columbia University have found that astrocytes can degrade beta-amyloid proteins, a key component of Alzheimer's plaques, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for the disease. The study suggests activating astrocyte activity may be beneficial in reducing plaque buildup and improving treatment outcomes.
Dr. Salzman, a Columbia University professor, has been awarded the Charles E. Culpeper Scholarship in Medical Science from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. The award will support his research on understanding emotion and developing new treatments for psychiatric illness.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has awarded grants to ten dental schools to expand community-based education programs and increase enrollment of underrepresented minority students. The goal is to reduce gaps in dental care for underserved populations and create a more diverse dental workforce.
A new study found sertraline to be both safe and effective in treating depression among hospitalized heart patients. The trial showed a 23% reduction in life-threatening cardiovascular events, although not statistically significant, indicating potential benefits of sertraline for this population.
Dr. Scott, a Columbia University neurobiologist, has won a major career award from the Burroughs Wellcome Foundation for her research on the Drosophila gustatory system. The $500,000 award will support her work over five years, enabling her to investigate how the brain translates sensory stimuli into behavioral responses.
The new treatment guidelines emphasize the use of CD4 cell counts as a primary indicator for starting therapy, rather than plasma HIV RNA levels. The guidelines also highlight the importance of patient adherence and regular monitoring of viral load and CD4 cell counts to ensure successful treatment.
A multi-center trial shows that new drug combinations, including two protease inhibitors, can significantly lower virus counts in patients with moderately advanced immunodeficiency. The study found that 31% of patients could achieve detectable viral loads with regimens containing four or five new drugs.
Dr. Krol will work to engage pediatricians and family practitioners to advocate on behalf of Medicaid dental program improvements. She aims to incorporate oral health education into pediatric residency training programs at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center.
A new clinical trial has shown that a short-term use of a new drug can safely arrest the progression of Type 1 diabetes by targeting disease-causing T-cells. Patients who took the drug continued to produce their own insulin and needed less supplemental hormone, leading to improved metabolic control and reduced complications.
A new study by Columbia University Irving Medical Center reveals significant differences in PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) and PSAD (Prostate-Specific Antigen Density) test measurements between Caucasian and Hispanic men. The study found that while PSAD can accurately predict cancer risk in Caucasians, it is less effective in Hispanic...
Three Columbia University dental students, Ms. Gao, Mr. Zhang, and Mr. Reyes, were selected for the prestigious NIDCR summer dental student award program. They gained hands-on experience in research and received access to state-of-the-art laboratories and technologies, enabling them to undertake valuable research initiatives.
Researchers found that treating latent tuberculosis infections in non-U.S.-born residents may help decrease active disease cases. A new treatment regimen with shorter duration and fewer doses could improve compliance, but targeting only US-born populations is insufficient to solve the problem.
The American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology has released comprehensive national consensus guidelines to evaluate women with abnormal Pap tests. The guidelines recommend utilizing new technologies, including liquid-based cytology and HPV testing, to standardize care.