Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have identified a unique class of breast cancer cells that lead the invasion process into surrounding tissues. The team found that these 'leader cells' express a protein called K14, which is essential for their invasive behavior and may be a new target for therapy.
A Johns Hopkins study found hospitalized children are at high risk of life-threatening blood clots, particularly those with multiple medical conditions or central venous catheters. The research highlights the need for vigilant monitoring and preemptive treatment to prevent these clotting risks.
A new study by Johns Hopkins researchers found that decreased energy metabolism in heart cells is a significant independent risk factor for worsening heart failure. The study used magnetic resonance imaging to measure energy metabolism and found it was significantly lower in patients whose conditions worsened.
A small study found that inflating a balloon inside the artery after placing the stent increases patients' risk of low blood pressure, slow heart rate, stroke, or heart attack. Skipping this step may be beneficial in preventing these complications.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that erlotinib, a drug approved to treat lung cancer, substantially shrunk chordoma tumors in mice. The study offers new hope for chordoma patients who have exhausted traditional treatments and have limited financial incentives for pharmaceutical companies to develop new drugs.
A study at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that vitamin D appears to block damage-causing immune cells from migrating to the central nervous system, potentially preventing or easing symptoms of multiple sclerosis. The research suggests that vitamin D may slow a process allowing T cells to grab onto blood vessel walls.
A study at Johns Hopkins Medicine has identified genetic mutations and molecular alterations linked to higher head and neck cancer death rates in African-Americans, revealing potential targets for improved risk assessment, early detection, and targeted therapy.
Rhomboid proteases, involved in Parkinson's disease and parasite infections, are extremely slow and show no attraction to proteins, making it difficult to design drugs. These enzymes 'stop and frisk' all unstable proteins indiscriminately, allowing stable proteins to escape without injury.
Researchers found that a cancer trigger may be the cause of autoimmune disease scleroderma, which causes skin thickening and widespread organ damage. The study suggests that dampening down the immune response in scleroderma could instead be replaced by targeting the underlying cancer.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine identified a gene involved in forming brain circuitry using a powerful new technique. The discovery paves the way for faster progress toward identifying genes involved in complex mental illnesses, such as autism and schizophrenia.
A study by Johns Hopkins researchers found that patients with traumatic eye socket injuries fared equally well at half the cost when treated at a busy teaching hospital compared to other Maryland hospitals. The study's findings suggest that high-volume care and standardized protocols can lead to significant cost savings.
Researchers discovered a modified pacemaker-like enzyme, GSK-3 beta, that mimics CRT's biological effects on heart muscle cells. This breakthrough could lead to new treatments for heart failure patients who don't qualify for traditional CRT therapy.
Researchers found a protein, Sprouty-2, that causes loss of function in immune cells combatting HIV, but disabling it restored their ability to fight the virus. Disabling both Sprouty-2 and PD-1 in exhausted T cells reversed exhaustion completely.
New research suggests that childhood exercise can improve leptin sensitivity and reduce fat deposits, potentially staving off some bad effects of maternal obesity. Exercise as early as adolescence has been shown to have a persistent effect on the satiety centers of the brain, even years later.
Scientists found two human proteins, UPF1 and PCNA, that interact with a jumping gene called L1. The study reveals how these interactions affect the movement of L1 within the human genome, providing new insights into the regulation of this volatile DNA segment.
A Johns Hopkins-led study found a possible link between orthostatic hypotension and atrial fibrillation, increasing the risk by 40% over two decades. The condition is often asymptomatic and can lead to stroke, heart failure, and dementia if left untreated.
A study published in the European Heart Journal found that ultrafast CT scanners can accurately detect heart blockages without the need for invasive procedures. The research involved 381 patients across 16 hospitals and showed that 91% of those with no blockages would not require invasive treatment.
Researchers developed a new system using 180 factors to calculate LDL cholesterol, providing a more accurate assessment for high-risk patients. The Friedewald equation underestimates LDL levels in nearly one out of four samples, leading to potential false reassurance and inadequate treatment.
A new study by Johns Hopkins Medicine found that higher levels of physical fitness lower the risk of having heart attacks and increase survival in those with coronary artery disease. The study included over 9,800 adults with coronary artery disease and showed a 75% lower risk of dying from any cause among the fittest patients.
Researchers found that deleting a single gene in yeast cells leads to compensatory mutations in another gene, which could affect genetic analysis in cancer and other fields. This discovery suggests that genomes are highly interconnected and that removing one part can cause another part to warp elsewhere.
Researchers found that regulatory T-cells express high levels of the enzyme ALDH and are resistant to cyclophosphamide, allowing them to protect patients from graft-versus-host disease. This discovery may lead to new therapies to prevent or treat cancer relapse after a transplant.
Researchers developed a statistical model that can identify individuals with mild cognitive impairment who are at risk of developing dementia, enabling earlier diagnosis and treatment. The model takes into account various factors such as age, sex, race, and education to provide a more accurate prognosis.
The US has much higher medical costs and worse outcomes than other developed countries. A new study suggests that the increasing prices of drugs, medical devices, and hospital costs are driving the high healthcare costs in the country. Meanwhile, patients are further removed from understanding the true cost of their care.
Scientists have found a critical mechanism to keep newborn neurons alive, which may help understand underlying causes of diseases like Alzheimer's and mental illness. The discovery suggests that parvalbumin-expressing interneurons release GABA, a chemical signal that promotes the survival of new brain cells.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine discovered that exemestane not only inhibits estrogen production but also protects cells from UV radiation, inflammation, and oxidative damage. The drug may have applications beyond breast cancer treatment.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is active in many difficult-to-treat pediatric brain tumors, offering a potential new target for treatment. Blocking this pathway with an experimental drug reduced tumor growth by up to 73% in laboratory studies.
Stroke patients treated at hospitals with neurology residency programs are significantly more likely to receive life-saving clot-busting drugs than those seen at other teaching or non-teaching hospitals. The findings suggest that having a neurologist on hand 24/7 increases the chances of better outcomes and improves treatment adherence.
The American Journal of Public Health special issue examines the complexities of including minority populations in research, discussing topics such as recruitment, community engagement, and training. Guest editors aim to shift the approach towards a more inclusive and protective research enterprise.
A new study by Johns Hopkins Medicine found that young and middle-aged women with type 2 diabetes are at a significantly increased risk of coronary artery disease, comparable to men's risk. The study analyzed data from over 10,000 participants and suggests distinct genetic and hormonal factors may contribute to the higher risk.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have discovered that the gene SRPX2 is necessary for vocalizations and synapse formation in mice. The study adds to scientific understanding of how language develops and how synapses are formed.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have identified a critical gene that guides the separation of two types of motion-sensing cells in the retina, shedding light on cellular layering and its implications for brain function.
Researchers discovered that abnormal citrullination in rheumatoid joints is linked to pore-forming pathways in cell membranes. These pathways, called perforin and complement, are normally used by the immune system to fight pathogens, but their disruption produces enzyme-activating imbalances of calcium ions.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have identified DNA sequence changes associated with schizophrenia symptoms, including delusions. Additionally, they discovered 'jumping genes' in colon cancer cells that could be used as biomarkers to monitor disease progression.
Researchers have developed a new testing strategy that can estimate levels of essential vitamins and minerals without directly testing each nutritional factor. This approach uses protein levels in the bloodstream as proxies for nutrient levels, enabling rapid detection of population-wide deficiencies and potential remediation efforts.
Researchers found a 60-fold increase in dormant HIV proviruses, potentially making it harder to find a cure. The latent reservoir is thought to contain functional proviruses that can reactivate and resume infection if antiretroviral therapy is stopped or interrupted.
A simple blood test detecting epigenetic alterations may reveal the earliest signs of pancreatic cancer, a disease with nearly always fatal outcomes. The test's sensitivity and specificity are 97% and 85%, respectively, offering a promising step towards reducing mortality from this cancer.
The Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics has launched a new two-year postdoctoral fellowship program in bioethics, funded by the Hecht-Levi Foundation. The program aims to support at least 10 promising young scholars in their research and career development.
A Johns Hopkins study reveals that doctors-in-training often neglect basic bedside manners, such as introducing themselves and sitting down to talk with patients. The research highlights the importance of courteous communication in improving medical recovery and patient satisfaction.
A 3-year-old Mississippi child born with HIV continues to show no signs of active infection 18 months after stopping treatment. The case suggests that prompt antiviral therapy may help infants clear the virus and achieve long-term remission, potentially paving the way for a sterilizing HIV cure.
A Hopkins-led study finds that low vitamin D levels are associated with an increased risk of anemia in children. The research, which analyzed blood samples from over 10,400 kids, suggests that vitamin D's effects on red blood cell production and immune inflammation may play a role in the link between the two conditions.
Scientists discovered that cellular projections are initiated by a network of message-relaying proteins inside the cell, even in random movement. The findings have implications for understanding and manipulating biological processes, including cancer metastasis.
Researchers discovered that individual molecular muscles within cells respond differently to various forces, shedding light on how cells 'feel' their environment. A computer model predicts cell behavior in response to altered levels of these molecules, with implications for understanding cellular disorders like cancer and neurodegenera...
A study of 69,000 Medicare patients shows that vertebrae cement injections (augmentation) can improve survival rates by 77.8% at one year and 59.9% at three years compared to conservative management.
Researchers have developed a new therapy that targets the C9ORF72 gene mutation causing dementia and ALS. The stem cell-based approach manipulates brain cells in test tube studies, discovering compounds that counteract the genetic glitch.
A Johns Hopkins-led analysis suggests that taking certain blood pressure medications may reduce the risk of dementia due to Alzheimer's disease by at least 50 percent. The study found that diuretics and ACE inhibitors were associated with a reduced risk in people over 75 with normal cognition.
Researchers measured levels of proteins in cerebrospinal fluid to predict cognitive impairment, identifying biomarkers that signal potential development of Alzheimer's disease up to five years before symptom onset. The study offers a potential tool for guiding earlier use of treatments and testing new drugs.
A Johns Hopkins-led study of over 3,000 family caregivers suggests they have a nine-month life expectancy extension over six years. Contrary to long-standing conventional wisdom, caregiving is not associated with increased health risk but rather provides benefits.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine developed flattened football-shaped artificial particles that mimic immune cells, outperforming traditional basketball-shaped particles. These particles activated T-cells more effectively, leading to improved tumor reduction and increased survival rates in mice.
Researchers have found that combining gene therapy with an extra boost of stem cells leads to faster healing of burns and greater blood flow to the site of the wound. The study uses elderly mice as a model to understand why older people with burns fail to heal well and how to potentially harness the body's own bone marrow stem cells to...
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have identified a defect in cell communication as the likely cause of systemic sclerosis, a disease affecting approximately 100,000 people in the US. They also developed treatment strategies using compounds that target the immune response and fibrosis.