Researchers found four Ly6 genes are overexpressed in various cancers, leading to poorer survival rates and drug resistance. The study uses big data analysis to identify novel targets for new drugs.
A new study in mice shows that repetitive mild concussions can cause mounting damage and brain inflammation, even with extended rest periods. The findings support the importance of adequate rest after a concussion to allow for neural network rebalancing and repair.
Researchers found that an FDA-approved blood pressure drug reduced cell damage linked to Alzheimer's disease. The study supports the potential effect of other Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) for early treatment.
Research teams confirm biennial mammography for women aged 50-74 offers favorable balance of benefits to harm. Screening frequency impacts mortality and false positives, with biennial screening reducing breast cancer deaths by 25.8%.
A Georgetown University Medical Center researcher is leading a multi-institutional effort to investigate the causes of rising drug-resistant malaria parasites. The study aims to understand molecular mechanisms responsible for this increasing resistance and develop new therapies.
A recent study by Georgetown University researchers reveals that wheelchair users are approximately 36% more likely to die in road traffic collisions. The majority of fatal crashes occurred at intersections with poor pedestrian infrastructure, indicating the need for improved accessibility and safety measures.
A study at Georgetown University Medical Center found that HIV+ individuals over 50 years old showed cognitive impairments, even if they scored 'cognitively normal' in standard tests. Brain scans revealed deficits in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex region, a key executive area.
Researchers found that increased grey matter volume in the right hemisphere relates to better-than-expected speech abilities in stroke survivors. The study suggests a new direction in treatment for post-stroke language disorders.
Patients prefer receiving test results through password-protected websites or portals, with non-HIV STI and genetic test results being highly preferred. Only half of participants signed up for available patient portals, highlighting a need for improved doctor-patient communication.
A study published at Neuroscience 2015 found that magnetically stimulating a specific part of the brain can affect arm movements in patients with severely disabling post-stroke arm impairment. The research suggests that repeated stimulation of the unaffected side of the brain may help teach it to control the impaired arm.
A small phase I clinical trial found that an FDA-approved leukemia drug improved cognition, motor skills, and non-motor function in patients with Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia. The drug, nilotinib, also reduced toxic proteins linked to disease progression.
Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center have discovered a compound that effectively controls the growth of EWS-FLI1-driven cancer cells in mice. The study found that YK-4-279 significantly reduced leukemia cell numbers and improved mouse health, suggesting potential as a therapeutic agent for various cancers.
Researchers have discovered that brain malfunctions in key areas, such as the nucleus accumbens and ventromedial prefrontal cortex, contribute to the development of tinnitus and chronic pain. These findings hold promise for developing targeted therapies for these debilitating disorders.
A new animal study reveals that traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects the body as well as the brain, leading to chronic inflammation, nerve cell death, and reduced blood flow. Treatment with hypertension drugs blocks the production of proteins related to inflammation, potentially healing the brain.
Researchers found that high-dose resveratrol stabilized a biomarker associated with Alzheimer's disease progression. The study, involving 119 participants, also showed that resveratrol was safe and well-tolerated, but its effects on brain volume were unclear.
The Georgetown-Howard Universities Center for Clinical and Translational Science has received a $27 million grant to facilitate clinical trials in the Washington D.C. area, benefiting over four million residents. The award supports clinical researchers, training programs, and community engagement initiatives.
The Passages Project aims to foster social norms supporting healthy behaviors, like equal rights in family planning. Researchers will develop and test scalable approaches to promote collective change through media, advocacy, and community campaigns.
A national clinical trial involving two effective drug combinations will be compared in a new study. The trial, led by Dr. Michael B. Atkins at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, aims to determine the best sequencing of treatment regimens for patients with melanoma.
A study by Georgetown University Medical Center researchers found that acupuncture blunts activity in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, reducing production of stress hormones. This mechanism is similar to that of antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs, which exert their therapeutic effects on these same pathways.
Waldman will lead research on STAG2, a gene commonly mutated in human cancer, aiming to understand its role in Ewing sarcoma and develop new therapies. The $250k grant from Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation Innovation Grant will support Waldman's two-year project.
A new study found that bilingual individuals have more gray matter in the brain's executive control region, which is involved in tasks such as attention, inhibition, and short-term memory. This 'bilingual advantage' was observed in Spanish-English bilinguals but not in ASL-English bilinguals.
Researchers aim to understand how reading interventions impact math skills in children with combined reading and math disabilities. They will use fMRI methods to examine brain activity during reading and math tasks.
A Georgetown University Medical Center professor argues that visual and narrative arts can improve medical care by honing observational skills. Arts-based teaching tools and visual thinking strategies have become essential components of clinical practice, enhancing patient understanding and diagnosis.
Ezrin regulates osteosarcoma's spread by acting as an air traffic controller, coordinating multiple functions within cancer cells and allowing them to survive stress conditions. Researchers have developed molecules that block ezrin's function, preventing osteosarcoma spread in mouse models.
The Macy Foundation has awarded a grant to create a comprehensive curriculum on refugee health education at Georgetown University Medical Center. The curriculum will focus on culturally competent care for patients from around the world, addressing key issues such as cultural practices, risks and conditions affecting refugees.
A new study examines the impact of remoteness on health care access in rural Liberia, highlighting strategies to close disparities. Strategies include shifting care to lowest level providers and training community health workers.
A new study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that messages with images depicting the harsh realities of melanoma are more powerful than text-only warnings in persuading young women to reconsider indoor tanning. Loss-framed messages emphasizing the risks of indoor tanning were more effective in decreasing intenti...
Experts say state regulations targeting indoor tanning could drive national policies to reduce skin cancer cases and associated costs. The US Food and Drug Administration has implemented class II device rules for tanning machines, but critics argue these standards are insufficient.
A phase 1b study has shown impressive response rates of 60-75% in patients with untreated non-small cell lung cancer treated with chemotherapy and an anti-PD-L1 agent. The combination therapy was well-tolerated, with no unexpected toxicities.
A team of neuroscientists found that misfolded a-synuclein can activate microglia, leading to chronic inflammation. They also identified specific receptors on microglial cells that respond to the protein and tested drugs to reduce inflammation.
Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center found that menthol, often used as a flavoring, has a significant pharmacologic effect when combined with nicotine. The study revealed that menthol slows or prevents the recovery of sensitivity after the first insult, placing receptors in a desensitized state.
Researchers found that bats, like humans, use hemispheric specialization for sound processing, with left brain better for fast sounds and right for slow ones. This discovery opens new avenues for studying bat brains to understand human language disorders and improve computer speech recognition.
The District of Columbia Center for AIDS Research brings together six institutions to combat the HIV epidemic in Washington D.C. Georgetown University Medical Center plays a key role, with its Women's Interagency HIV Study and clinical and population sciences core providing critical services.
Researchers identified specific genetic markers in African American women with triple negative breast cancer, associated with improved survival rates. The study suggests that these molecular differences may hold the key to improving treatment outcomes for this high-risk population.
Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center found that maternal stress can increase the risk of fetal neuroblastoma in mice. The study showed that even non-stressed handling of the animals led to a faster development of cancer, suggesting that prenatal stress may exacerbate genetic mutations that promote tumor growth.
Researchers have discovered a damaged DNA lesion that may serve as an early biomarker for liver cancer. Polyphenon E, a green tea extract, also shows promise in suppressing the lesion and preventing tumor development.
A comprehensive analysis confirms biennial mammography screening offers a favorable balance of benefits to harm for women ages 50-74 with an average risk of developing breast cancer. Screening strategies, including starting age and interval between exams, are analyzed to determine the optimal approach.
A common nerve protein, neuropeptide Y (NPY), is elevated in the blood of patients with aggressive neuroblastomas, associated with adverse prognostic factors and worse survival rates. NPY may serve as a potential prognostic marker and therapeutic target for this pediatric cancer.
Researchers found that long-time consumption of soyfoods boosts immune response against breast tumors, reducing cancer recurrence. Genistein in soyfoods activates anti-tumor immune responses and reduces immunosuppressive mechanisms.
African-American women with ER+ breast cancer experience poorer outcomes due to increased activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway, reducing sensitivity to tamoxifen treatment. Strategies targeting this pathway could improve therapy effectiveness.
A study of facial rejuvenation surgery finds that women who undergo certain procedures are perceived as more likeable, attractive and feminine. The study suggests that facial appearance plays a role in social perception, rooted in evolution, and may impact personality traits such as extroversion and trustworthiness.
A Georgetown University Medical Center study found that brain neurons learn words quickly by tuning to recognize complete words as visual objects, not parts of them. The 'visual word form area' in the left side of the visual cortex remembers how whole words look, facilitating fast reading and helping people with reading difficulties.
Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center have discovered a cellular pathway that controls organ size, which is also related to cancer cell behavior. High-density cells activated the 'Hippo' molecular pathway, while low-density cells did not engage with it, leading to differences in invasion and growth.
Researchers deciphered the signaling pathways associated with immortal cells, which work in parallel to suppress terminal differentiation. The discovery enables the use of purified proteins to reduce contamination and accelerate clinical application.
The Georgetown Consensus Group recommends policies to increase female animal models and balance male/female cell use in preclinical studies. The NIH is urged to correct the over-reliance on male cells and animals, which obscures key sex differences.
Research proposes that a brain system called declarative memory compensates for autism, OCD, and dyslexia by providing strategies to overcome learning difficulties. This compensation allows individuals to learn scripts for social situations and control tics and compulsions.
Researchers found that cochlear implant users can synchronize body movement to music with a strong beat, similar to hearing individuals. The study suggests that using music compositions emphasizing beats may improve cochlear implant users' understanding and use of spoken language, as well as their enjoyment of music.
A team of scientists from Georgetown University and Virginia Tech developed a mathematical model to understand breast cancer cell decisions, revealing a key molecular component that determines resistance to antiestrogen therapy. The study found that interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF1) promotes resistance to antiestrogens.
Researchers are calling for clinical trials to determine if widespread hepatitis C screening would result in greater benefit or harm. The authors argue that exposing individuals without symptoms to treatment could outweigh benefits for those destined to develop end-stage disease.
A phase II clinical trial has demonstrated that sunitinib, an FDA-approved drug, provides unprecedented antitumor activity in thymic carcinoma, a rare and aggressive tumor of the thymus gland. The study found that disease control was achieved in over 90% of patients who had failed chemotherapy.