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.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have developed a new technology called mass cytometry, which allows for simultaneous measurement of dozens of features on and in cells. This enables scientists to categorize more immune cell types than ever before and gain insights into cellular processes.
Engineered gold nanoparticles have been shown to be non-toxic when administered by two alternative routes in mice, suggesting they may be safe for human use. The particles are designed to detect cancer-lesion sites with high sensitivity and could lead to early disease detection.
The Stanford study found that only 4% of the drug's use was for hemophilia patients, while 96% was for heart surgery, trauma, and other surgical problems. The researchers warn that the drug can increase blood clot risk, leading to heart attacks and strokes.
A new point-of-care clinical trial approach is being tested, combining statistical validity with real-world applicability to compare treatments. The approach aims to deliver the best care to patients while learning from each experience, reducing costs and time involved in traditional clinical trials.
A new process developed by Stanford researchers allows people to make IVF embryo donation decisions in private, reducing conflicts of interest. The study found that donors were equally likely to give consent for embryonic stem cell research or human development studies.
Researchers have shown that an increase in the amount of donor DNA in recipient's blood is an early detectable sign of organ rejection. This finding may allow doctors to avoid high doses of medication required to combat more advanced cases of rejection.
Researchers at Stanford and Boston report effectively desensitizing milk-allergic patients using a combination of omalizumab and oral immunotherapy. The study found that 9 out of 11 children successfully completed an oral milk challenge and were able to ingest the equivalent of 8 ounces of milk or more per day.
Researchers discovered a novel regulatory role for lincRNA in determining cell protein selection and identity. The study identifies HOTTIP as a molecule that marks key genes as 'open for business,' allowing cells to maintain their characteristic patterns.
Researchers identified 510 genetic regions highly conserved among chimpanzees and other mammals but missing in humans. These deletions are linked to specific anatomical changes unique to the human lineage, including reduced tactile sensitivity and increased brain size.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have discovered a novel brain circuit that produces the opposite effect of anxiety, counteracting it instead. The discovery was made using optogenetics technology and found that stimulating this circuit enhances animals' willingness to take risks.
A large-scale international study has identified 13 new gene regions that predispose people to heart attacks, doubling the number of known genetic factors. The study's findings suggest that genetic profiling may become a routine part of clinical care in the near future.
A Stanford study finds a short-term treatment with three immune-dampening drugs allows human embryonic stem cells to survive and thrive in mice. The breakthrough may enable humans to accept transplanted stem cells intended for disease or injury treatment without powerful immunosuppressant medications.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine successfully derived neurons with symptoms of Parkinson's disease from a patient's skin cells. These neurons exhibit key features of the condition, including oxidative stress and Lewy body formation, in a short timeframe.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have cultured human cells from Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, a deadly pediatric brain tumor. The breakthrough allows for the development of new treatments and potential therapies targeting the Hedgehog signaling pathway.
A newly discovered biomarker could help doctors diagnose meniscal tears with high accuracy, avoiding unnecessary surgery and medical scans. The biomarker, a fibronectin-aggrecan complex, was found in the knee fluid of patients with painful meniscal tears but not in asymptomatic individuals.
Researchers created beating human heart cells from skin cells of patients with a severe genetic heart defect, allowing them to study and characterize the disorder at the cellular level. They also identified a promising drug to reverse the heart malfunction, which has no decent treatments currently available.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have identified genetic variations in a hormone involved in insulin secretion that occur more frequently in some human populations. These variants are associated with higher fasting levels of blood glucose and may help scientists understand the subtle changes in human metabolism, en...
A Stanford researcher's study reveals that many rheumatoid arthritis patients are not receiving recommended disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) due to high costs and health disparities. The study found that 63% of Medicare-managed care patients received any DMARD treatment, with significant variations by income level, race, ...
A new study by Stanford researchers found that many prescriptions for atypical antipsychotic medications lack strong evidence, yet these drugs can cause serious side effects like weight gain, diabetes, and heart disease. The study also identified a significant amount of off-label use, with $6 billion spent on such prescriptions in 2008.
Researchers at Stanford Medicine have discovered a gene deletion in up to one-fourth of glioblastoma cases, a type of brain cancer with poor survival prospects. The deletion contributes to tumor growth, resistance to therapy, and worsens patient outcomes.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine discovered that many cancer cells carry a protein called calreticulin (CRT), which signals circulating immune cells to engulf and digest them. This 'eat me' signal counteracts a separate 'don't eat me' signal, CD47, previously found in earlier studies.
Researchers found a strong correlation between high levels of gene expression associated with leukemia stem cells and poor outcomes in patients. The study suggests that targeting these self-renewing cells could lead to more effective treatments and improved patient survival.
A new study by Stanford University School of Medicine researchers found that expanded HIV screening and treatment could prevent up to 212,000 new infections over the next 20 years. The strategy of one-time screening for low-risk individuals and annual screening for high-risk individuals is cost-effective.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine used neuroimaging to predict reading skills improvement in teenagers with dyslexia. They found that brain activation patterns and white matter organization were key predictors, suggesting a potential new intervention approach.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have identified over 2,000 genetic regions, called enhancers, that trigger gene expression in human embryonic stem cells. These enhancers play a crucial role in regulating cell-type-specific gene expression during early development.
A new mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy suggests that muscle stem cells are key to understanding the disease's progression. The research found that mice with a similar mutation to humans experience severe muscle weakness and shortened life spans due to the inability of their muscle stem cells to keep up with ongoing damage.
A study of 10 North Carolina hospitals found no decrease in patient harm between 2002 and 2007, despite concerted efforts to improve patient safety. The study suggests that more research is needed to identify effective strategies to reduce medical errors.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have successfully transformed normal human tissue into three-dimensional cancers for the first time. The new technique allows for quick and cheap testing of anti-cancer drugs without laboratory animals, providing insights into how human cancers act in the body.
A new imaging method has been developed at Stanford to quickly and accurately locate and count the myriad connections between nerve cells in unprecedented detail. The method, array tomography, combines high-resolution photography with specialized fluorescent molecules to capture information and converts it into imagery.
A new laser system has been developed at Stanford that uses optical coherence tomography to create precise cuts in the lens capsule, increasing safety and precision. The system has undergone clinical trials with no significant adverse events.
A Stanford University School of Medicine study suggests an alternative to standard nasal sprays that use preservatives, which can cause side effects. The new method maintains sterility in the applicator bottle without chemical preservatives.
Researchers discovered that GPR124 controls the growth of blood vessels into the developing brains of mice embryos. The protein is essential for normal blood vessel development in the nervous system but can lead to abnormal hypervasculature when overexpressed.
A two-year dance class program for African-American girls in low-income neighborhoods showed benefits in cholesterol, LDL cholesterol levels, and reduced symptoms of depression. However, the program had little effect on weight loss.
A newly approved drug, dabigatran, has been found to be a cost-effective alternative to warfarin for preventing strokes in patients with atrial fibrillation. The analysis suggests that high-dose dabigatran yields an additional 0.56 quality-adjusted-life-year compared to conventional therapy with warfarin.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine found that certain cancer therapies require the presence of a specific immune cell type, T helper cells, for optimal efficacy. The study showed that disabled oncogenes were more successful in eradicating tumors in mice with intact immune systems.
A Stanford study finds that depletion of protein Perp, which hooks skin cells together, may be an early indicator of skin cancer development. The loss of Perp also promotes cancer by increasing inflammatory molecules and disrupting cell-cell adhesion.
A new Stanford University School of Medicine study reveals that intense, passionate feelings of love can significantly alter mood and impact pain perception. The research found that love-induced analgesia involves primitive aspects of the brain, activating deep structures to block pain at a spinal level.
A new Stanford study reveals that nearly 40% of patients with eating disorders also engage in self-injurious behavior, such as cutting and burning. The researchers stress the need for universal screening to catch these cases, which may be underdiagnosed due to inadequate clinical screening.
A massive international study found no association between a genetic marker and the risk of coronary artery disease. The study analyzed data from over 17,000 patients with cardiovascular disease and 40,000 others, concluding that carrying a particular variant of the KIF6 gene does not indicate a greater risk for the disease.