Researchers found that women related to a patient with a hereditary breast cancer mutation but without the mutation themselves have no increased risk. The study settles a controversy and supports current practice guidelines advising non-carriers on no additional risk attributable to their family-specific BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation.
Researchers found a significant association between a specific gene variation and accelerated decline in intellectual function with aging. The 'met' version of the BDNF gene was linked to steeper declines in flight simulator scores and smaller hippocampi, a critical brain region for memory and spatial reasoning.
A Stanford University School of Medicine study found that modifying proteins in a laboratory roundworm increases the life span of both the original animal and its descendants, even when the modification is no longer present. This suggests that longevity can be inherited in a non-genetic manner over several generations.
A Stanford study found that family members of gastric-bypass patients lost an average of 8 pounds, adopted healthier habits, and increased physical activity. The 'halo effect' was observed, where accompanying the patient to pre- and post-operative visits led to significant weight loss and behavioral changes.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have identified a key molecular pathway responsible for the decrease in insulin-producing cells with age. Activating this pathway may lead to a new treatment for diabetes, and recent studies have shown promising results in mice.
A new study by Stanford researchers suggests that a novel mathematical formula can predict the success of certain cancer therapies by tracking the rate of tumor response during the first weeks of treatment. The formula, which uses advanced high-school-level math, identifies oncogene addiction in cancers, allowing for targeted therapies...
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a novel protocol that allows kidney-transplant recipients to avoid immune-suppressing drugs without compromising the health of their new kidney. The treatment involves combining targeted radiation with stem cells from the donor's blood, resulting in a successful outcome for eight patien...
A new study from Stanford University reveals that North American babies infected with toxoplasmosis in the womb are more likely to suffer severe complications, including brain calcifications, hydrocephalus, and eye disease. The study suggests that a lack of prenatal screening and treatment may be contributing to these outcomes.
A new Stanford University study found that the overall quality of a pregnant woman's diet is linked to a lower risk of two types of serious birth defects. Women who ate better before and during pregnancy had fewer infants with brain and spinal cord malformations or orofacial clefts, such as cleft lip and palate.
A Stanford study on cox-2 inhibitors may lead to new stroke treatments by increasing blood flow and enhancing recovery. The research also sheds light on why some drugs failed to live up to their promise, revealing that blocking a specific receptor can be beneficial.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have developed a new technique that allows them to pinpoint the exact DNA sequences and locations bound by regulatory RNAs. The study reveals the intricate world of gene expression and how RNA molecules control neighboring and distant genes.
Researchers used fMRI to compare brain activation patterns of poor readers with and without low IQs. Both groups showed reduced activations in left inferior parietal lobule and fusiform gyrus, indicating impaired phonological processing. This study provides biological evidence against using IQ to diagnose dyslexia.
A large study led by Stanford urologist Michael Eisenberg found that childless men are more likely to die from cardiovascular disease than fathers. The study tracked over 135,000 male members and found a 17% increase in mortality risk among childless men compared to fathers.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have identified a unique gene fusion in ovarian cancer that could enable early detection and targeted therapies. The fusion, involving genes ESRRA and C11orf20, was found in 15% of aggressive ovarian cancer cases.
Researchers at Stanford Medicine have engineered human heart cells that respond to light, using optogenetics. These light-sensitive cells could lead to a new class of pacemakers and genetically matched replacement heart cells, potentially replacing traditional electrical pacemakers and addressing tissue rejection issues.
The study improves computational tools for medical interpretation of genomes, enabling disease-risk prediction and personalized medication responses. The research involves a four-person family with a history of blood clotting, allowing for the identification of genetic variants associated with health risks.
Researchers have developed a diagnostic tool that uses brain activity patterns to give an objective physiologic assessment of pain, accurately predicting thermal pain in healthy subjects 81% of the time. The study aims to improve detection and treatment of chronic pain.
A Stanford University School of Medicine study found that only 33.3% of medical schools spent any time on LGBT health-related content during clinical training, despite the unique health risks faced by these patients. Almost all medical students are being taught to ask about sexual history, but the conversation needs to go deeper.
A new study by Stanford Medicine and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital uses a novel method to analyze brain-scan data, distinguishing children with autism from typically developing children. The findings show that gray matter in social communication and self-related brain regions has a distinct organization in people with autism.
Researchers found that substances in old mice's blood inhibit new nerve cell generation and impair cognitive function in young brains. Eotaxin, a protein attracting immune cells to areas where it has been secreted, was identified as a key factor contributing to aging-related changes.
A Stanford team cataloged the bacterial genome's essential elements, revealing 12% crucial for survival. The researchers used an efficient new method to map the genome and identify 480 protein-coding genes, 402 promoter regions, and 130 non-coding segments of unknown function.
Researchers at Stanford and UCSF have developed a novel method to grow large volumes of modified malaria parasites that no longer cause the disease, revealing how the parasite's survival depends on isopentenyl pyrophosphate. This breakthrough could speed up drug development and provide a basis for an effective vaccine against malaria.
A team of Stanford researchers has developed a sutureless method for joining blood vessels, which appears to be faster, safer, and easier than traditional suturing. The new technique uses a poloxamer gel and bioadhesive to reconnect severed blood vessels without causing inflammation or scarring.
Researchers found that interbreeding with archaic humans introduced beneficial variants of immune system genes, such as HLA-B*73, into modern human populations. These gene variants are now more common in West Asian and East Asian populations, where they provide an advantage to modern human fitness.
Researchers identified a brain-circuit defect that triggers absence seizures, the most common form of childhood epilepsy. The study showed defective signaling between the cerebral cortex and thalamus can produce absence seizures in experimental mice.
A new Stanford study found a significant correlation between narcolepsy onset and seasonal H1N1 infections, suggesting that getting vaccinated may provide protection. The study of over 900 patients in China revealed a five-to-seven month delay between flu/cold outbreaks and narcolepsy cases, with the disease most frequent in April.
Researchers used an 'opposites attract' algorithm to match drugs with diseases, finding potential benefits for lung cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. Preclinical tests confirmed the effectiveness of two existing drugs in treating these conditions.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have developed a way to remove pluripotent human embryonic stem cells from their progeny before transplanted into patients. The technique uses antibodies to recognize and bind to only pluripotent cells, eliminating the risk of teratomas.
Researchers have discovered a compound that attacks cancer cells by depriving them of glucose, a process found in most rapidly dividing cells. The team tested the compound on kidney cancer cells and found it nearly halved glucose uptake and slowed tumor growth, with minimal side effects.
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology found that low blood pressure during dialysis significantly increases the risk of blood clotting at vascular access points. Researchers discovered that patients who experienced frequent episodes of low blood pressure were twice as likely to develop a clotted ...
Researchers analyzed golf swings of 10 professionals and 5 amateurs, finding consistent rotational-biomechanic elements among pros. Key findings include highly consistent peak X-factor and free moment, essential to power generation in professional golfers.
Scientists use optogenetics to induce social-behavior deficits in mice resembling those seen in people with autism and schizophrenia. The findings lend credence to a hypothesis that an altered balance between excitatory and inhibitory nerve cells may contribute to the development of these disorders.
Researchers used optogenetics to fragment sleep in mice, finding that minimal uninterrupted sleep is crucial for memory consolidation. The study suggests that compromised sleep continuity, such as in sleep disorders like apnea, may contribute to memory impairments.
Researchers found that alpha-B-crystallin reduces brain lesion size and inflammation in mice after a stroke, even when administered 12 hours post-event. The protein acts as a brake on the immune system, lowering levels of inflammatory molecules.
Researchers found that testing every new colon cancer patient for Lynch syndrome can reduce cancer deaths at a reasonable cost. Testing multiple family members after the initial diagnosis is crucial to spreading the benefit across more relatives, according to the study.
A new study reveals that pediatric cardiologists have a lower accuracy rate when interpreting ECGs for young athletes, highlighting the need for better training and guidelines. This can lead to unnecessary exclusion of healthy young people from sport participation and potential false reassurances to families.
Researchers from Stanford University School of Medicine successfully converted skin cells into fully functional neurons using two specific gene snippets, known as microRNAs. This breakthrough finding opens up new avenues for studying neuronal development, modeling disease processes, and testing treatments.
Physicians can tailor treatment decisions by assessing the outcome of each treatment on smaller subgroups of patients, streamlining decision-making while keeping expenditures low. The approach aims to provide more accurate cost-benefit analysis for individual patients, complementing population-level analyses.
Researchers discovered that elite college basketball players who slept for 10 hours a night showed significant improvements in sprint speed and shooting accuracy. A moderate-to-high baseline level of daytime sleepiness was common among the athletes, highlighting the need to prioritize sleep over other training aspects.
A Stanford study has linked gamma-interferon, a key immune molecule, to the severity of asthma. High levels of gamma-interferon in children's blood may protect against asthma development, but severe asthmatics' lungs often have high concentrations.
A combination of calcium and vitamin D may cut the chance of melanoma in half for some women at high risk of developing this life-threatening skin cancer. The study found that women who took the calcium-vitamin D supplements developed 57 percent fewer melanomas than those who were not given the supplements.
A Stanford study reveals that tobacco companies increase advertising and lower sale prices of menthol cigarettes in neighborhoods near California high schools with larger populations of African-American students. This 'predatory' marketing pattern aims to lure young African Americans into becoming smokers.
A new study by researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine and others found that curtailing human embryonic stem cell research would negatively impact induced pluripotent stem cell research. The study refutes the idea that iPS cells can replace embryonic stem cells in research.
Researchers analyzed 35 highly-cited studies and found that fewer than half of biomarkers had statistically significant associations with disease risk in larger follow-up studies. Only one in five original studies increased a patient's relative risk for a condition by more than 1.37.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine developed a new fMRI technique that can distinguish between different mental states based on synchronized brain network activity. The study used a novel approach to capture brain activity in real-world, self-paced conditions, allowing for more accurate identification of brain states.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine successfully converted human skin cells into functional neurons in a period of four to five weeks. Adding a fourth transcription factor called NeuroD proved crucial for the transformation, generating electrical activity and integrating with mouse neurons.
Researchers at Stanford University developed a special wound dressing that significantly reduced scar tissue caused by incisions in animal tests and early clinical trials. The novel 'stress-shielding device' provides uniform compression across the wound, reducing scarring and potentially making surgical revisions more appealing.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine used undifferentiated induced pluripotent stem cells to study dyskeratosis congenita, a rare genetic disease. They found that the activity of telomerase, an enzyme critical to aging and cell renewal, is correlated with the severity of symptoms.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have separated two distinct ways in which the p53 protein works, with implications for developing treatments that mitigate radiotherapy and chemotherapy side effects. The study reveals that disabling one part of the protein could allow healthy cells to survive DNA damage without pro...
A Stanford study suggests that digestive problems early in life may increase the risk of developing depression. Researchers found that laboratory rats subjected to mild stomach irritation showed signs of anxiety and depression, including changes in behavior and stress hormone levels.