Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine used liquid biopsies to monitor changes in circulating tumor DNA and detect immune cell expansions, predicting patient responses to immunotherapies and detecting early signs of toxic side effects. The test showed significant associations with progression-free and overall survival.
A new study reveals disparities in the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease between Black and White patients. Black patients were more likely to have advanced stages of Lyme disease when clinically diagnosed, and experience a longer time before receiving antibiotic treatment.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine have identified a molecular pathway involving oxidative stress and the protein HIF-1 that contributes to both wet and dry age-related macular degeneration. Researchers found that while HIF-1 promotes blood vessel growth in retinal cells, it also protects against cell death in advanced dry AMD.
Researchers found lower levels of serotonin transporter and higher levels of amyloid-beta protein in brains of people with mild cognitive impairment, a potential target for treatments to slow or stop disease progression. Further research is needed to study the role of serotonin in disease progression.
A study of over 50 babies with HIV found that starting antiretroviral therapy within hours of birth can safely suppress HIV in the blood to undetectable levels. The treatment regimen was shown to halt the formation of hard-to-treat viral reservoirs, potentially leading to ART-free remission.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine discovered a promising experimental drug combination that reduces the size of peripheral nerve sheath tumors in mice and increases survival rates. The combination blocks glutamine metabolism and purine recycling, producing a better anti-tumor response with less toxicity.
Researchers found high levels of a repair protein in the brains of former NFL athletes up to 12 years after they stopped playing, indicating persistent brain inflammation and long-term cognitive problems. The study suggests that repeated collision sports like football may have a direct link to long-term inflammation in the brain.
A new study from Johns Hopkins Medicine finds that excess thyroid hormone levels are associated with a higher risk of cognitive disorders in older adults. The research suggests that clinicians should avoid overtreatment when prescribing thyroid hormone therapy to prevent potential negative consequences.
Researchers found that a molecule associated with the X chromosome contributes to lupus development in females. The X-inactive specific transcript (XIST) triggers an immune response that damages healthy tissue, leading to muscle and joint pain, skin rashes, and other complications.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that people with high body mass indexes (BMIs) do not pose a significant risk for postoperative complications following chest masculinization surgery. Despite this, BMI was still used to determine eligibility for the procedure in many cases.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine created a machine learning model to calculate percent necrosis in osteosarcoma patients after chemotherapy. The model achieved an 85% positive correlation with musculoskeletal pathologist results, increasing accuracy to 99% when one outlier was removed. This could help provide patients with earlier...
Researchers found changes in microglial cells, a specialized subset of immune cells, that may worsen schizophrenia risk in adolescents. The study, published in Nature Communications, suggests that THC exposure during adolescence can lead to long-lasting negative effects on brain development and function.
A brain-computer interface (BCI) has been successfully used to restore control of home devices for a patient with ALS, allowing the individual to navigate a communication board and smart devices without recalibration. The BCI device was implanted on the surface of the brain areas responsible for speech and upper limb function, enabling...
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have published a guide for prioritizing the next steps in completing the human genome catalog. The study highlights the importance of cataloging non-coding RNA genes and enhancing databases of gene variations that cause illness and disease.
A study by Johns Hopkins Children's Center investigators found that delaying surgical treatment of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in some children is associated with a higher risk of new tears in the meniscus and cartilage. Adults, on the other hand, showed no significant increase in such risk.
A phase 2 clinical trial found that serial blood tests can identify patients who benefit from additional immunotherapies, suggesting a potential early marker of treatment response. The study also showed that ctDNA analyses correlated with tumor size and survival, making it a promising strategy for guiding therapy.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine have identified a protein mutation in CD8+ T cells that can make them more effective against cancer and infections. The mutated T cells were found to be more active when stimulated, persist longer, and expand in great numbers during the initial immune response.
Researchers have made significant progress in using immunotherapies prior to surgery, leading to better biomarkers and more effective combination therapies. This approach has shown promise in various cancer types, including lung cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, melanoma, and gastrointestinal cancers.
Researchers use Listeria bacteria to break open cell organelles and study their function in relation to shape. They found that function does not always follow form, with cells recognizing and increasing efforts to remove misshapen organelles.
A nationwide study found that early treatment with plasma from recovered COVID patients can reduce the risk of developing post-COVID conditions. The research also suggests that elevated cytokine levels, particularly interleukin-6, may contribute to long COVID symptoms.
Patients with stage 1-3 non-small cell lung cancer treated with combination immunotherapy before surgery had a better major pathological response rate than those receiving single-agent therapy alone. The NeoCOAST platform trial found that targeting multiple cancer pathways through therapy may be superior to a single treatment.
Researchers developed a molecular test to identify brain tumors by analyzing genetic material in cerebrospinal fluid. The Real-CSF test correctly identified 67% of cancerous and 96% of noncancerous brain lesions, outperforming standard cytology methods.
Johns Hopkins Medicine will improve clinical trial efficiency and quality with a $24.5M grant, reducing startup time by up to 50% and enhancing participant engagement. The Trial Innovation Center will develop new methods for multicenter trials, including AI-enhanced patient screening and gamification.
A long-term study of nearly 2,400 solid organ transplant recipients found that COVID-19 vaccination significantly reduced hospitalization rates, with a 75% decrease in later omicron waves. Despite this, post-vaccination SARS-CoV-2 viral infections remain common, highlighting the importance of vaccination in high-risk populations.
A new study demonstrates that a pill inhibiting a gut enzyme can protect mice from IBD symptoms and preserve intestinal barrier function. The experimental GCPII-inhibiting drug was shown to improve stool consistency, reduce rectal bleeding and inflammation, with no apparent side effects.
A new machine-learning method, BigMHC, can accurately predict cancer-related protein fragments that may trigger an immune system response. By leveraging massive data through transfer learning, BigMHC enables scientists to develop personalized immunotherapies and vaccines by identifying the most likely to provoke an immune response.
The GEMINI blood test uses machine learning to identify cancer-causing mutations in single molecules of cell-free DNA. The test detected over 90% of lung cancers, including stage I and II cases, in a proof-of-concept study published in Nature Genetics.
A new review paper suggests scrambler therapy can yield significant relief for approximately 80-90% of patients with chronic pain. The therapy works by capturing nerve endings and replacing pain signals with signals from adjacent areas, 'scrambling' the pain signals sent to the brain.
A study published in Annals of Neurology suggests that a protein in spinal fluid can predict mild cognitive impairment and dementia years before symptoms appear. The findings may offer new targets for treating or preventing Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
Researchers found that expression of transcription factors contributes to different subtypes of colorectal cancers. The degree of DNA methylation varies across tissue types, with some cancers having high and others low frequency of methylation gains. Studying transcription factor expression may help determine overall survival in patien...
A study at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that people living with HIV who donate a kidney to others with HIV have a low risk of developing end-stage kidney disease or other kidney problems. The study, which monitored three donors for two to four years post-transplant, bolsters support for living donations from people with HIV.
A national estimate suggests that 795,000 Americans die or are permanently disabled by diagnostic error each year. The top causes of serious harm include stroke, sepsis, and pneumonia.
A new combination treatment of GVAX vaccine, nivolumab, and urelemab has shown to increase the amount of cancer-killing immune cells in tumors and appear effective when given two weeks prior to surgery. The study found a median disease-free survival of 33.51 months and a median overall survival of 35.5 months.
Researchers found that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) reduces protein levels of fibronectin by 46-52% and disrupts pathways involved in fibroid tumor cell growth. EGCG supplements may provide an easily accessible and natural way to relieve symptoms and slow fibroid growth.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have identified a new target for treating HIV infection by blocking the neutral sphingomyelinase-2 (nSMase2) enzyme. Inhibiting this enzyme can prevent HIV replication and kill infected cells, offering a promising therapeutic approach.
Researchers have identified a biomarker called CXCL-9 that can be used to diagnose acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (AIN), a condition causing inflammation of the kidneys. The biomarker can be detected via a simple urine test, potentially reducing the need for kidney biopsies.
Researchers developed a biodegradable nanoparticle that reaches dendritic cells in mice with melanoma and colon cancer, activating an immune response. The nanoparticle improves survival rates for these cancers, with half of mice surviving long-term after treatment.
The Martin/Hopkins method has been shown to accurately calculate LDL cholesterol levels in over 89% of patients, surpassing other available equations. This method is particularly beneficial for identifying patients at higher risk of heart disease and strokes.
Researchers found that deaf mice have nearly normal neural activity in the auditory system for two weeks after birth, suggesting a molecular mechanism for improved outcomes with early cochlear implants. This spontaneous activity helps train the brain to process sound before the ear canal opens.
Researchers have developed a new standard for preventing graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after stem cell transplant, showing improved efficacy and reduced side effects compared to the current gold standard. The new regimen achieved higher rates of patient survival without GVHD complications, making it a more effective option for patie...
Researchers have found a connection between high levels of cell-free mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) fragments in the blood and chronic inflammation, a known risk factor for severe aging symptoms. The study suggests that mtDNA fragments could be accurate biomarkers for predicting physical and cognitive decline with aging.
Researchers found female babies with CDH have a 32% higher risk of dying within 30 to 60 days of birth compared to males. The study, using medical records from an international registry, suggests that lower birth weights for females may be linked to the disparity in survival rates.
Researchers found that psychedelic drugs such as LSD, psilocybin, and MDMA reopen critical periods in mice, enabling them to learn from their social environment. The length of time the critical period stayed open varied among drugs, with some lasting up to four weeks.
Research from Johns Hopkins Medicine found that Black and Hispanic female breast cancer survivors have higher death rates from second cancers compared to other ethnic groups. The risk of death from a second cancer is 12% higher among non-Hispanic Black survivors and 8% higher among Hispanic survivors.
The study, published in JAMA Oncology, found that the percentage of cancer survivors reporting functional limitations has more than doubled over the past 20 years. The adjusted prevalence of functional limitation was highest among pancreatic and lung cancer survivors, while melanoma survivors had the lowest rate.
Researchers developed a method using artificial intelligence to track changes in brain synapses, enabling better understanding of how connections change with learning, aging, injury and disease. Machine learning was leveraged to enhance image quality, allowing for detection and tracking of individual synapses.
Researchers developed a method to 'tip the balance' of immune cells from bad to good, reversing MS-like symptoms in 100% of mice and achieving full recovery in 38%. The therapy uses biodegradable microparticles to deliver three key therapeutic agents, including rapamycin and a myelin peptide.
A recent study published in JAMA Neurology found that heart attacks are associated with a faster decline in cognitive function over time. The research analyzed data from six large studies and showed that individuals who had a heart attack experienced a decline in global cognition equivalent to about six to 13 years of aging.
A Johns Hopkins Medicine-led team identified protein fragments that stimulate the immune system to recognize and attack HIV. The study's technique, called reductionist cell-free antigen processing, replicates the complex events in the human immune system, enabling the identification of immunodominant epitopes.
Researchers developed an experimental drug, 32-134D, that inhibits HIF protein levels, reducing blood vessel production and leakiness in diabetic eyes. The study shows promising results in both human cell models and mice, suggesting a safer therapeutic approach for diabetic eye disease.