Researchers found that excessive antioxidants can lead to pathological changes in hearts, causing enlarged hearts and diastolic dysfunction. Chronic antioxidant consumption without knowing one's redox state might result in reductive stress, which can induce pathology and slowly damage the heart.
A new study found that an individualized mosaic of microbial strains is transmitted from the maternal gut to the infant gut during birth, influencing the infant's metabolic disease susceptibility. Researchers used a 'fingerprint' method to track mothers' microbial strains inherited by infants.
Researchers at UAB will screen the Scripps Calibr repurposed library of compounds to determine if any licensed drugs have activity against Sars-Cov-2. The goal is to identify potential medicines through collaborations with leading virology labs and testing in cellular and animal models.
Researchers at UAB create novel boron-rich boron-carbide material with 37% the hardness of cubic diamond, showing promise for applications under extreme conditions. The new material has a chemical formula B50C2, chemically stable and acting as an insulator.
A direct link has been found between the anti-apoptotic BCL2-family protein MCL1 and the cell-cycle checkpoint protein P18, showing that MCL1 can initiate cell proliferation via the CDK4/6-RB pathway.
Research led by Andries Steyn found that Mtb bacteria induce increased hydrogen sulfide production in human macrophages, increasing pathogenesis and virulence. The study suggests that targeting hydrogen sulfide production may be useful for managing tuberculosis and other microbial infections.
Researchers found that manipulating cellular metabolism can modulate the balance between pathogenic Th17 and regulatory T cells in chronic autoimmune disorders. A mouse model showed that inhibition of mitochondrial OXPHOS delays disease onset and reduces severity, promoting the generation of suppressive Treg cells.
Research suggests that beta cells produce signals that aid their own demise in Type 1 diabetes, leading to increased inflammation and damage. The study found that the absence of a specific enzyme enhances anti-inflammatory responses, while its overexpression promotes inflammatory ones.
Researchers found that the influenza NS1 protein can bind to the cell's RIG-I protein, quelling the alarm that activates the cellular innate immunity defense against infection. This newly described mechanism increases viral survival and highlights the need for better vaccines and antivirals.
Researchers identified coronary microvascular dysfunction as a precursor to later heart disease and possible death in patients with chronic kidney disease. The study found that CMD was associated with abnormal mechanics of the left ventricle and clinical risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes.
Researchers found that human fetal lung microbiomes show changes in diversity during fetal development, with some taxonomic overlap between the placental and lung microbiomes. The study suggests that maternal-fetal microbial DNA transfer may play a role in normal lung and immune system development.
Scientists discovered a key mechanism underlying Alzheimer's pathology, revealing how amyloid-beta oligomers hijack norepinephrine signaling to activate GSK3-beta and hyper-phosphorylate tau protein. This rewiring of the alpha-2A adrenergic receptor may explain the failure of previous clinical trials targeting amyloid protein buildup.
Researchers used a genomics tool to analyze twins' gut microbial strains before and after separating. They found that certain strains remained stable over time, even after years of living apart. The study suggests the possibility of shared microbes between non-cohabitating twins for decades.
Researchers found that implanted neurostimulators can record brain data during anxiety attacks, guiding therapy changes to reduce negative symptoms caused by seizures. Five patients with epilepsy showed improvements in treating neuropsychiatric comorbidities through data analysis and counseling.
A metabolic inhibitor called OSI-027 induces catastrophic macropinocytosis in human cancer cells, reducing tumor growth when combined with chemotherapy. The study suggests that targeting the mTOR pathway may be an effective approach to treat drug-resistant cancers.
Researchers have found that disrupting normal microbial development in the intestine can lead to severe infections in newborns. Giving specific protective bacteria before infection may prevent deadly infections, suggesting a potential treatment for premature infants.
Researchers found that germ-free mouse lungs developed better under high oxygen conditions than non-germ-free mice, with decreased inflammation and improved lung function. This discovery may help develop therapeutic interventions for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in premature infants.
Researchers found that mice lacking an inflammation resolution sensor developed spontaneous obesity, heart disease, and shortened lifespan, indicating impaired inflammation resolution. This study sheds light on the sensor's integrative role in managing cardiometabolic health and inflammation-resolution processes.
A study suggests that monocyte-derived macrophages can induce lung fibrosis without prior alveolar epithelial cell injury. The research found increased flux through the mevalonate pathway in bronchoalveolar cells from IPF patients, which exacerbates fibrosis.
Researchers have discovered two potassium channels, TREK-1 and TRAAK, at the Nodes of Ranvier that enable rapid sensory and motor reactions in mammals. The channels allow for high-frequency nerve impulses with speeds up to 200 meters per second, essential for survival in a predator-prey world.
Researchers have identified HIPK2 as a novel regulator of heart failure progression. The kinase was found to play a critical role in maintaining cardiac function, with its deletion leading to progressive deterioration and apoptosis in heart muscle cells.
Researchers tracked the disruption of gut microbes after antibiotics, finding that some individuals experienced long-term changes to their microbiome. The study used bioinformatic tools to analyze fecal samples from 30 young adults who received single or triple antibiotic treatments.
Researchers validate the hypothesis that IgG autoantibodies are crucial to IgA nephropathy's pathogenic immunodeposits. The study found co-localization of IgA1 and IgG in glomerular deposits, confirming their role in disease progression.
A preclinical study shows that IL-6 protects T follicular helper cells from deleterious effects of IL-2 by interrupting a feedback loop, allowing them to receive sustained T-cell receptor stimulation. This finding has important therapeutic implications for autoimmune diseases like lupus and may lead to better treatment options.
Researchers have identified microRNA-204 as a biomarker for early beta cell death in Type 1 diabetes, which can identify disease onset in children and adults with recent-onset Type 1 diabetes. Serum miR-204 levels were found to be elevated in individuals with Type 1 diabetes and inversely correlated with remaining beta-cell function.
Studies in mouse models reveal that deficiencies in ADAMTS13 and complement activation contribute to thrombotic microangiopathy, a potentially deadly condition. The findings may lead to the development of novel treatment strategies for patients with refractory thrombotic microangiopathy.
Researchers have discovered new members of a protein complex that maintains functional beta cells in the pancreas, crucial for regulating blood glucose levels. The study reveals the complex's association with enzymes RNF20 and RNF40, which play a key role in gene expression and insulin release.
Researchers at UAB aim to understand the biological changes underlying major depressive disorder by studying RNA chemical modifications. They will analyze postmortem brain tissue for changes in mRNA methylation and its impact on gene expression.
Scientists at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have successfully produced and purified two rare medical isotopes, Sc-43 and Sc-47, which can be used for visualizing and destroying solid tumors. The team's innovative approach uses a combination of particle accelerators and purification techniques to overcome production challenges.
Researchers aim to decipher the mechanisms that govern the regenerative capacity of large neonatal mammalian hearts and manipulate them to remuscularize the heart after muscle death. The study may lead to novel techniques for pediatric and adult heart disease interventions, addressing the fundamental problem of heart failure.
A new method has been developed to improve the quality of stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes, which can be used to treat heart attacks. The approach, tested in a mouse heart attack model, doubled the engraftment rate of injected cells, showing promise for repairing damaged heart tissue.
Researchers mapped distinct bone marrow niche populations and their differentiation paths for the production of bone, fat and cartilage. The study identified seven distinct cell states in two branching pathways and showed how transcription factors influence fate decisions to specific bone marrow lineages.
Researchers have discovered a brain protein mutation associated with autism that alters behavior in mice, mimicking human autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The study suggests a potential mechanism underlying some of the altered behaviors observed in ASD.
A team of researchers has identified a tissue-specific non-coding RNA called NEAT1 that regulates memory formation in the hippocampus region of the brain. Increasing NEAT1 levels in younger mice impaired learning and memory, while decreasing NEAT1 levels improved cognitive function.
Researchers analyzed data from a large, multi-ethnic sample and found that the 0.70 threshold provided discrimination of COPD-related hospitalization and mortality comparable to other fixed thresholds. The study supports the continued use of FEV1/FVC <0.70 to identify individuals at risk of clinically significant COPD.
Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have identified LIMK1, a serine/threonine kinase, as a promising target for interventions against Alzheimer's disease. The enzyme is linked to the degradation of dendritic spines, which may play a role in dementia progression.
The UAB clinic has achieved rapid accessibility and improved seizure control for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) and responsive neurostimulation (RNS) therapies have shown promise, with 12-11 out of 27-16 patients experiencing a 60% reduction in seizures.
Research reveals SIRT1's crucial role in maintaining regenerative potential of CML leukemic stem cells and promoting leukemia development. The study suggests targeting persistent leukemic stem cells with kinase-independent metabolic alterations.
Researchers found that approximately 50 percent of hospitalizations for both TAVI and surgical aortic valve replacement were associated with the development of new atrial fibrillation. Hospitalizations with new atrial fibrillation had higher odds of in-hospital stroke and in-hospital death compared to those without, highlighting the ne...
A recent study by Dr. Ganesh Halade and colleagues found that lipoxygenase deficiency delays heart failure progression and improves survival in mice. The researchers discovered that epoxyeicosatrienoic acids facilitate cardiac healing after a heart attack, reducing diabetes risk biomarkers and altering plasma metabolic signaling.
Researchers have discovered that inhibiting two key proteins, ATM and ATR, can reduce BK polyomavirus levels in infected cells. This finding may provide an opportunity to use existing cancer drugs to combat the virus without reducing immunosuppressing drugs, which are needed to prevent transplant rejection.
In a mouse model of atypical EAE, researchers found that dysregulated neutrophils cause damage and exhibit hyper-activated phenotypes, producing excessive reactive oxygen species. Neutralizing treatments reduced disease severity, highlighting the detrimental role of neutrophils in autoimmune neuroinflammation.
Researchers have found that smokers with COPD have significant unmet mental health care needs, particularly anxiety and depressive symptoms. These symptoms can impact many COPD-related outcomes, including hospital readmissions and exacerbations.
Researchers have detailed the role of T-bet, a key transcription factor, in transforming B cells into antibody-secreting cells. The study found that T-bet acts through a distinct mechanism, repressing inflammatory genes in B cells to facilitate their differentiation.
Researchers have identified four hallmarks of cancer metastasis: motility, modulation of the microenvironment, plasticity, and ability to colonize. This understanding could lead to the development of new therapeutic interventions for this complex process, which is responsible for up to 90% of cancer deaths.
Dr. Bradley Yoder receives the prestigious prize for his significant research on polycystic kidney disease, recognizing his work on primary cilium function and its role in cyst development. The award aims to stimulate research towards a treatment and cure for PKD.
The study aims to explore the differences between B cells and antibody-secreting cells in accessible and inaccessible tissues, which may impact autoimmunity, transplant rejection, and resistance to infections. The researchers will analyze tissue samples from 90-100 donors over five years.
Scientists identify CXCL12-expressing mesenchymal stromal cell niches as a strategy to target and eliminate treatment-resistant leukemic stem cells in chronic myelogenous leukemia. The study reveals that these niche interactions control quiescence of leukemic stem cells.
Researchers at University of Alabama at Birmingham discovered androgen receptor imports into mitochondria, where it regulates multiple mitochondrial processes. This finding may lead to new treatment targets for castration-resistant prostate cancer.
Researchers discovered that exosomes carry heart-specific microRNAs from the bloodstream to progenitor cells in the bone marrow, triggering a repair response. This signals can improve cell-based cardiovascular repair after heart attacks.