Recent studies from Stanford University School of Medicine have found that small portions of amyloid-forming proteins can alleviate symptoms in mice with multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. The research suggests a radical new idea: full-length, amyloid-forming proteins may be produced by the body as protective forces.
A team of Stanford University bioengineers has created a biological transistor made from genetic material that can compute inside living cells, recording exposure to external stimuli or environmental factors. The transcriptor enables amplifying genetic logic, allowing engineers to monitor environments and improve cellular therapeutics.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have devised a way to mimic the spatially oriented signaling that cells normally experience. They found that the location of a "divide now" signal on the membrane of a human embryonic stem cell governs where in that cell the plane of division occurs.
Researchers create a new imaging technique using nanoparticles to track stem cells in real-time, allowing for better initial placement and optimization of therapeutic approaches. The technique enables precise guidance and monitoring of stem cells, potentially improving regenerative medicine treatments.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have identified a new way to block the Hedgehog pathway in skin cancers, which become resistant to treatment. The discovery offers a promising new approach for treating basal cell carcinoma and potentially improving patient outcomes.
A large epidemiological study found that increased sugar availability was linked to higher diabetes rates, independent of obesity. The researchers analyzed data from 175 countries and found a 1% increase in diabetes prevalence for every additional 150 calories of sugar per person per day.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have identified a group of progenitor cells in the inner ear that can become sensory hair cells and supporting cells. These findings may lead to new ways to treat hearing loss and deafness, and could potentially aid patients with damaged or impaired sensory hair cells.
A study found that healthy menopausal women with an Alzheimer's risk factor showed accelerated biological aging, but hormone therapy reversed this effect. The research used telomere length as a measure of biological aging and found that estrogen therapy protected against this aging process.
Researchers found that healthy adults acquire a memory of microbes they've never encountered before, which could explain childhood vulnerability and vaccination effectiveness. This discovery challenges the long-held assumption that immune memory only develops upon exposure.
Researchers discovered a specific B lymphocyte marker that indicates the onset of cGVHD, a devastating syndrome where the patient's tissues are attacked by transplanted immune cells. This easily measured marker could help guide new therapies to mitigate or prevent cGVHD, which affects half of all bone marrow transplant procedures.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have discovered an antibody that can inhibit the growth of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) cells resistant to other treatments. The antibody targets KIT receptor mutations, stimulating immune cells to kill rogue cells.
Scientists at Stanford University School of Medicine have discovered that tuberculosis bacteria can infiltrate and settle in mesenchymal stem cells in the bone marrow. This finding raises the possibility that other infectious agents may employ similar tactics, providing a new potential target for treatment. The research suggests that u...
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have engineered key immune cells to resist HIV infection by inactivating a receptor gene and inserting additional anti-HIV genes. The new approach, known as 'stacking,' provides multiple layers of protection against the virus and could potentially replace drug treatment.
Researchers found a protective association between beta carotene and type-2 diabetes risk in individuals carrying a common genetic predisposition. In contrast, gamma tocopherol was linked to an increased risk of the disease. The study suggests that protein SLC30A4 may play a crucial role in insulin regulation.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy affects heart muscle thickness and can lead to arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death. Stanford researchers used stem cells to study the molecular basis of the condition, finding that calcium processing is a key factor in its development.
A national drug shortage has been linked to a higher rate of relapse among children and teenagers with Hodgkin lymphoma. The study found that estimated two-year cancer-free survival fell from 88% to 75% after the drug cyclophosphamide was substituted for mechlorethamine.
A Stanford study identifies proteins in the blood that can accurately detect lymphedema, offering hope for early diagnosis and treatment. The biomarker panel shows high accuracy in distinguishing patients with lymphedema from healthy individuals.
Researchers have developed a computer algorithm that accurately predicts lower back pain in patients 76% of the time using brain scans. The study suggests structural changes in gray matter are associated with chronic lower back pain and may reflect pathology within the brain.
Scientists have discovered that a specific region of the brain, the ventral tegmental area, plays a key role in both inducing and relieving depression-like symptoms. By controlling this region with light stimulation, researchers were able to reverse depressed states in mice, providing new hope for future treatments.
A new clinical study from Stanford University School of Medicine and Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute found that pre-diabetic patients respond to self-directed lifestyle interventions, such as a take-home DVD, with similar effectiveness to coach-led programs. The study offers a practical way for primary care physicians t...
A large-scale international study identified 15 new genetic regions associated with coronary artery disease, revealing a link between inflammation and plaque buildup in heart vessels. The research, which analyzed data from over 190,000 participants, provides insights into the molecular pathways causing the deadly disease.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have identified a master regulator of epidermal differentiation, a complex process in skin development. The newly discovered molecule, TINCR, plays a unique role in directing precursor cells down specific developmental pathways by binding to and stabilizing messenger RNAs.
Stanford researchers use a new animal model to study the early course of urogenital schistosomiasis, a chronic disease affecting 112 million people worldwide. They found that continuous waves of egg deposition are what's generating chronic disease, and that killing the worms can halt the cycle.
Scientists at Stanford Medicine have found a way to let the body direct differentiation of transplanted stem cells without forced manipulation. This breakthrough could speed FDA approval and enable new therapies using pluripotent stem cells.
A Stanford/Yale study reveals that induced-pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) are not as genetically unstable as previously thought. The research found that the perceived changes in iPS cell genetic makeup were actually accurate reflections of existing, but previously undetected, genetic variations among human cells. This discovery is ...
Researchers used optogenetics to map the neural mechanisms underlying motivation, revealing multiple switches that control behavioral patterns. They identified key regions in the brain stem and prefrontal cortex involved in motivation, shedding light on the causes of depression and psychomotor retardation.
Researchers characterized a drug about to enter clinical development by using mouse models with humanized livers, accurately predicting significant aspects of its behavior in humans. The findings hold huge implications for drug development, hinting that the drug could be both safe and effective in treating hepatitis C
A study found that women who mastered weight-maintenance skills before embarking on a diet shed the same number of pounds as those who started immediately. These 'maintenance-first' women had regained only 3 pounds on average a year later, compared to the average 7-pound gain for immediate dieters.
Researchers used baker's yeast to identify a chink in the armor of Lou Gehrig's disease, discovering that blocking Dbr1 function can stop protein clumping and allow cells to live normally. The findings suggest therapeutic approaches aimed at blocking Dbr1 should be explored.
A team of scientists at Stanford University and the University of Bern have discovered a mechanism for destroying key allergy-inducing complexes using a new inhibitor called DARPin E2-79. This discovery could lead to rapid and potent interventions for acute allergic reactions, including anaphylactic shock.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have devised an efficient and safer way to make induced pluripotent stem cells by using just proteins that encode genes. The study identifies a critical component in how these cells transform, which could pave the way for their use in humans.
A recent study from Stanford University School of Medicine found that increased use of colonoscopy screening may be responsible for the significant decrease in colorectal cancer incidence over the past decade. The study analyzed data from over 2 million patients and found a correlation between Medicare's extension of colonoscopy covera...
A study found that at-risk teenagers, who cycle through the juvenile justice system, have a favorable attitude towards accessing their health records online. The researchers propose implementing online health records for these teens to address inconsistent healthcare and improve access to medical information.
Scientists at Stanford University School of Medicine found that neural stem cells secrete substances that activate microglia, boosting their numbers and strength. This new understanding could improve brain function and lead to the development of therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.
A study published in Archives of General Psychiatry found that highly hypnotizable individuals have greater activity in executive-control and salience networks, indicating a neural trait underlying hypnotizability. This advance enables scientists to better understand the mechanisms of hypnosis and its potential for clinical applications.
Researchers found that usually only three members of the group participate in the 'conversations', which help explain the group's ability to work together. The study also indicates how this behavior uses rumbles in a structured way to transmit signals, avoiding mass chaos at watering holes.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine discovered that blocking the action of a specific protein called DUSP6 can restore an important class of immune cells' response to vaccines. This finding holds long-term therapeutic ramifications and could potentially counter aging's effects on the immune system.
Researchers at Stanford University have developed Bi-Fi, a biological internet that allows cells to communicate using DNA strands. This system increases the complexity and amount of data that can be transmitted between cells, paving the way for greater control over biological functions and potential applications in biosynthetic factories.
Research identifies distinct microbial communities in healthy and cystic fibrosis patient lungs, suggesting beneficial microbes contribute to health. The findings suggest a potential new approach to treating cystic fibrosis, including probiotic therapies.
Researchers identified a molecular basis of coat patterning in mammals, revealing that a single gene mutation causes striped tabbies to have blotchy coats. The study used DNA samples from feral cats, captive cheetahs, and domestic cats to uncover the role of a protease called Taqpep.
A study found that 40% of teenage gonorrhea and chlamydia patients experience recurrent infections within a year, highlighting the need for better education on treating sexual partners. California's pediatricians-in-training lack knowledge on expedited partner therapy, which helps prevent re-infected cases.
The Stanford study analyzed 237 studies comparing organic and conventional foods, finding no significant difference in health benefits or nutrient content. Organic produce had a lower risk of pesticide contamination, but pesticide levels were generally within safe limits.
A Stanford University study analyzing existing research on organic and conventional foods found limited evidence of health benefits for organic food. The review did show that consumption of organic foods can reduce pesticide exposure, but also noted that the differences were not clinically significant.
Researchers found that nerve cells in the posterior medial cortex (PMC) are strongly activated during recall tasks but suppressed when performing mathematical calculations. This study provides new insights into the brain's introspective activities and highlights the importance of the PMC region.
Patients with stable coronary artery disease who have at least one narrowed blood vessel benefit from early stent placement, reducing hospitalization and urgent revascularization needs. The study used fractional flow reserve to identify eligible patients, which significantly reduces the risk of adverse events.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine and Intel Corp. developed a grid-like array of short pieces of disease-associated proteins on silicon chips to identify patients with lupus. The technology has the potential to improve diagnoses, assess therapies, and design more-effective drugs.
Researchers unexpectedly found that inhibiting protein breakdown delays neurodegeneration and increases longevity in mice. Blocking proteasome activity restored key biochemical characteristics necessary for nerve cell function. The findings pose a challenge to current beliefs about neurodegenerative disorders.
Telomerase is recruited to chromosome ends through interaction with protein TPP1. The researchers identified the exact region of TPP1 where telomerase binds and found that blocking this interaction prevents telomerase from reaching telomeres, causing cells to stop dividing.
Researchers at Stanford Medicine discovered that A-beta, a molecule linked to Alzheimer's disease, reverses paralysis and inflammation in mouse models of multiple sclerosis. The findings suggest potential new treatments for the autoimmune disease.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have identified several gene mutations responsible for the most common childhood brain tumor, medulloblastoma. The study suggests that these tumors can be categorized into genetically distinct groups with different prognoses and resistance to standard treatments.