A UCI-led study has identified key molecular mechanisms underlying complex traits and diseases, providing new insights into the role of genetic variation and environmental factors. The research reveals that specific molecular features associated with phenotypic variations contribute substantially to disease risk.
Researchers at UCI tracked 22,896 patients with COVID-19, analyzing medicine usage rates of 10 different medicines. The study found that dexamethasone increased in usage from 1.4% to 67.5%, while hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin saw significant declines.
A UCI study shows that human-sourced greenhouse gas and aerosol pollution is lengthening and intensifying droughts globally. Drought hotspots in the Americas, Africa, and Asia have seen significant shifts due to anthropogenic forcing.
A new study finds that low serum levels of the sugar N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) are associated with progressive disability and neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis. The study suggests that GlcNAc deficiency may promote disease progression, providing potential avenues for identifying patients at risk.
New research suggests that the Arctic's increasing plant biomass is not enough to absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide, as most of it is released through fires and timber harvests. The study estimates that only 430 million metric tons of biomass have accumulated over 31 years, with much of it being lost due to wildfires.
Researchers at UCI found that soil microbes can evolve in response to climate change, changing genetic diversity in 18 months. This rapid evolution has implications for how soil ecosystems respond to future climate conditions.
Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have developed a new genetically engineered mouse model that mimics the most common form of late-onset Alzheimer's disease. The model, which embodies the remaining 95% of cases, holds promise for understanding causes of the disease and developing new treatments.
Researchers analyzed California wildfire data from 2000-2019, finding the annual burn season has lengthened and the yearly peak shifted from August to July, fueled by climate change and human-caused ignitions. Small fires account for most incidents, but large fires have deadly consequences.
Researchers at UCI used phytoplankton genome analysis to create a high-resolution map of nutrient stress in the world's oceans. The study found regions of elevated phosphorus stress, widespread adaptation to nitrogen stress, and previously unknown areas of iron stress.
Researchers at UC Irvine discover the interaction between stromal progenitors and ILC2s that promotes muscle eosinophilia and fibrosis-associated gene expression. This finding could lead to the development of new treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a fatal muscle disease.
Adriana Darielle Mejía Briscoe, a University of California, Irvine professor of ecology & evolutionary biology, has been awarded a 2021 Guggenheim Fellowship. She will conduct field research on the impacts of climate change on butterflies' visual and thermal adaptations.
Researchers aim to characterize sIBM disease progression and explore biomarkers associated with the disease to design more effective clinical trials. The study will enroll 150 subjects and investigate differences in disease phenotype and disease progression, including muscle pathology.
A study published in Nature Climate Change predicts a significant increase in Arctic lightning strikes by the end of the century. This rise in lightning will drive both wildfires and further warming above the Arctic Circle.
A UCI-led team will screen 100,000 children across Orange County for the study, aiming to identify markers that predict resilience and deliver targeted interventions to those most at need. The goal is to ameliorate health disparities and improve access, care, and outcomes for families affected by adverse childhood experiences.
Researchers have discovered that plants influence how their bacterial and fungal neighbors react to climate change. The study found that simulated drought affected both bacteria and fungi in grassland and scrubland, while nitrogen addition had a lesser impact on bacteria, but more significant effects on the overall microbial diversity.
A two-week dietary intervention increased fiber intake, altering gut microbial composition and short-chain fatty acids production. Researchers found a significant increase in Bifidobacterium abundance despite no detectable shift in fatty acid levels.
Engineers developed a new class of mechanical metamaterials that delocalize deformations to prevent failure. The materials feature a 25-fold enhancement in deformability and an orders-of-magnitude increase in energy absorption.
A new study from the University of California, Irvine shows that compounds in both green and black tea relax blood vessels by activating ion channel proteins in the blood vessel wall. The discovery helps explain the antihypertensive properties of tea and could lead to the design of new blood pressure-lowering medications.
CellChat enables the decoding of signaling molecules that transmit information between cells, providing insights into cellular communication patterns. The tool can be used to compare communication networks in different states of an organ and uncover molecular drivers in various diseases.
A new radioactive bone cement has been developed as an alternative to conventional radiation therapy for treating spinal tumors. The cement can be injected into the spine to directly irradiate tumors without harming the spinal cord, promising to eliminate side effects and limit treatment options.
A new study reveals that nearly every cell has its own clock, which controls various aspects of homeostasis and organ function. Disruption of the clock can lead to diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease, highlighting the importance of tuning our internal time with the environment.
Researchers found that an enriched diet and companionship can reduce pain in mice with sickle cell disease by increasing serotonin levels. Duloxetine, an antidepressant boosting serotonin, also showed similar pain-reducing effects.
Global land-use greenhouse gas emissions from 1961 to 2017 have increased, jeopardizing the Paris climate agreement's goals. Poorer countries in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa experienced the most pronounced surge in these emissions.
Researchers have developed a new method, Cell Heterogeneity-Adjusted cLonal Methylation (CHALM), that improves the prediction of gene expression from DNA methylation data. This method has been shown to identify more reliable biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, potentially leading to better early detection.
Researchers found that 74 glaciers in deep valleys accounted for nearly half of Greenland's total ice loss between 1992 and 2017. Warming coastal waters accelerate undercutting, a process where warm water melts the ice from below, causing glaciers to break apart more quickly.
A study published in Nature Climate Change finds that climate change will alter the position of the Earth's tropical rain belt, with a northward shift expected in the Eastern Hemisphere and a southward shift in the Western Hemisphere. This shift may lead to increased drought stress in some regions and intensified flooding in others.
A new deep-learning framework predicts gene regulation at the single-cell level, enabling the study of transcription factor binding. This breakthrough has the potential to advance disease understanding and treatment, particularly in cancer research.
Researchers at UCI used advanced electron microscopy to study phonons near defects in cubic silicon carbide, a material used in electronic devices. The team's findings could improve thermal properties and provide insights into defect structures.
A UCI study links pharmacy deserts in Los Angeles County to social determinants of health, such as poverty and crime rates. The study found that communities with limited pharmacy access often have higher rates of Latino and Black residents, lower vehicle ownership, and greater poverty.
Researchers at UCI have discovered a way to control the hierarchical assembly and optical properties of reflectin, a protein that gives squids and octopuses their color-changing abilities. This breakthrough could lead to innovations in optics, electronics, and medicine.
A UCI and UCSD study found that patients using automated kiosks in their workplaces had better prescription pickup rates without sacrificing pharmacist instruction. The kiosk saved the pharmacy $12,000 annually by increasing patient adherence to prescribed medications.
Researchers propose a new class of epidemiological models based on the use of fractional exponents to accurately predict disease spread and transmission. The study found that these models provide substantially different predictions compared to previous models, especially in early phases of an epidemic.
A new prediction algorithm called DORGE has identified novel tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes by integrating comprehensive genetic and epigenetic data. The study found that the algorithm successfully predicted both known and novel cancer driver genes, including dual-functional genes involved in protein-protein interaction networks.
Researchers at University of California have made a major advance in controlling malaria parasites by developing a new CRISPR-based gene drive system. The system successfully overcomes the issue of resistance in female mosquitoes, which was a significant challenge in previous attempts.
Researchers at UCI and CHUV/UNIL have developed a new cancer treatment that uses ultra-high dose rate radiation therapy to eliminate brain tumors without causing significant side effects. This breakthrough technique, known as FLASH-RT, has shown promising results in mice and has the potential to be used for a range of cancer types.
A multi-institutional team led by UCI researchers will expand research on biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease in adults with Down syndrome. The five-year, $109M grant aims to improve the quality of life of aging individuals with Down syndrome through advancing prevention and treatment strategies.
The diabolical ironclad beetle's survival depends on its ability to convincingly play dead and an exoskeleton with a tough, crush-resistant structure. Researchers found that the beetle's elytra consists of layers of chitin and protein matrix, which contribute to its enhanced toughness.
A UCI-led study demonstrates the therapeutic potential of base editing for treating inherited ocular diseases, restoring visual function to near-normal levels. The new CRISPR technology overcomes previous barriers, enabling precise and predictable correction of point mutations.
Researchers at UCI will examine molecular 4D nucleome changes in the human hippocampus during aging, with a focus on physical activity's effects. The team aims to produce multi-omics cell atlases to understand chromatin organization and function in brain aging.
The study found that transportation emissions decreased by 19.2% and aviation pollution plummeted by 37.4% due to reduced human mobility. The largest decline was seen in the US, with a 13% drop in CO2 emissions.
Researchers at the University of California, Irvine discovered that skin cells communicate with each other through protein signals to stop growing and prevent cancer. This finding could lead to new treatment options and potentially prevent melanomas from developing in the first place.
An international team of researchers confirms human-sourced nitrous oxide emissions are responsible for the 20% increase since the Industrial Revolution. The study finds that agriculture is a significant contributor to these emissions, making it challenging to mitigate their impacts and meet international climate goals.
Researchers discovered that N-acetylglucosamine activates myelin stem cells to promote primary myelination and myelin repair. The study suggests that N-acetylglucosamine deficiency may contribute to disease severity in multiple sclerosis patients.
Researchers have developed a low-cost, miniaturized biochip that uses machine learning and microfluidics technology to analyze cancer cells at the single-cell level. The device enables precise characterization of various cancer types and study cellular heterogeneity, potentially improving cancer treatment drugs.
A new study published in Current Biology reveals that subanesthetic ketamine is effective in treating adult amblyopia, also known as 'lazy eye', by reactivating brain plasticity. The treatment promotes functional recovery of visual acuity defects resulting from the condition.
Researchers found significant lung injury from e-cigarette devices with nickel-chromium alloy heating elements, even without nicotine or other additives. The switch in devices occurred when the team's original eC device went off market, revealing severe respiratory distress and lung lesions.
Researchers discovered how regulatory T cells limit damage in the spinal cord and prevent autoimmunity, enabling partial recovery from paralysis. The study highlights Th17 and Treg cell interactions and provides insights into MS pathophysiology.
A US study finds that experiencing multiple stressors during the pandemic is linked to rising acute stress and depressive symptoms. The research suggests prioritizing mental health services for those most in need and limiting exposure to pandemic-related news.
Researchers have eliminated dark matter candidates as the origin of excess gamma rays detected in the Milky Way's galaxy center through extensive modeling exercises. The study puts strongest constraints yet on dark matter properties, ruling out weakly interacting massive particles up to very high-mass particles.
Scientists have discovered a connection between the end of the Green Sahara and a previously unknown megadrought in Southeast Asia, which lasted over 1,000 years and affected human settlement patterns. The drought, linked to changes in the Saharan vegetation, led to reduced monsoon moisture across the region.