Researchers used a novel machine-learning technique called causal forest, which found that treating individuals with high estimated benefits provided better population health outcomes than the traditional high-risk approach. This approach targets those with high blood pressure and could lead to more effective treatment strategies.
Researchers at UCLA Health discovered that astrocytes, traditionally considered the brain's support system, are involved in obsessive-compulsive disorder-related behaviors. The study suggests that targeting both neurons and astrocytes may be effective for OCD treatment.
A study published in Cancer Cell found that prior treatments, such as CTLA-4 blockade, modify the response to anti-PD-1 checkpoint blockade therapy. The research analyzed data from over 500 patients and identified key factors associated with treatment response. This finding may help scientists create more precise future treatments.
A new UCLA study identifies sex-specific brain signatures associated with obesity in men and women, revealing differences in brain networks related to early life adversity, mental health, and sensory stimulation. The findings suggest the need for tailored interventions based on an individual's sex.
Researchers have linked higher lithium levels in drinking water to a moderately higher risk of autism spectrum disorder in offspring. The study found that mothers living in urban areas had a slightly stronger association between lithium exposure and autism risk.
Overdose mortality among people aged 65 and older has quadrupled, driven by illicit drugs like fentanyl, heroin, and synthetic opioids. Researchers call for updated Medicare coverage and harm reduction supplies to curb the trend.
Researchers discovered that 'dormant' cone photoreceptors in retinal degeneration continue to produce responses to light and drive retinal activity for vision. The study found that while cones have reduced sensitivity, ganglion cells retain their ability to respond to visual stimuli with similar spatial and temporal sensitivity.
A recent study found that the mitochondrial antioxidant MitoQ can reverse the detrimental effects of HIV and antiretroviral therapy on organs such as the brain, heart, and liver. The researchers used humanized mice infected with HIV and treated them with MitoQ for three months.
Researchers at UCLA successfully used base editing to correct a mutation causing rare immune deficiency CD3 delta SCID. The treatment corrected an average of 71% of patient stem cells and allowed them to produce fully functional T cells, suggesting long-term persistence of corrected blood stem cells.
A study published in Nature Immunology found that female mouse and human NK cells have more of a specific epigenetic regulator called UTX, which boosts anti-viral function while repressing NK cell numbers. This suggests that therapies need to be tailored to individual differences, including sex.
Researchers used PET and electron microscopy to create detailed maps of mitochondrial networks in lung tumors. They found distinct subpopulations of mitochondria organizing with organelles to support tumor cell metabolism.
A new meta-analysis found that sleeping fewer than six hours per night after COVID-19 vaccination was associated with a weakened antibody response. The study highlights the need for simple behavioral interventions like sufficient sleep to improve vaccine efficacy during the pandemic.
A new study has identified the steps by which immune cells recognize and respond to cancer cell mutations, providing insights into why some treatments work for certain patients but not others. Researchers believe their findings will lead to better, more personalized immunotherapies for patients whose immune systems currently do not app...
Researchers found that Black men have a higher mortality rate after surgery compared to other groups, with a 50% higher risk of death after elective procedures. The study suggests that structural racism, poor pre-operative care, and exposure to toxins may contribute to these disparities.
Researchers found that adding immunotherapy before surgical removal of stage III-IV melanoma significantly improved event-free survival compared to standard-of-care treatment. The study showed that neoadjuvant therapy is superior to the same therapy given in the adjuvant setting.
A new study has identified a biomarker, placental growth factor (PlGF), which is associated with cognitive impairment and dementia due to vascular brain injury. Higher levels of PlGF in the bloodstream are linked to increased risk of cognitive decline and cerebral small vessel disease.
Researchers use movie clips to study mouse brain activity, revealing novel ways to diagnose learning and memory disorders. The discovery points to new ways to tackle Alzheimer's and improve artificial intelligence.
A recent study found that breast cancer risk models can lead to vastly different recommendations for individual women, depending on the model used and threshold applied. The study highlighted the importance of considering both sensitivity and inaccurate classification when using these models.
New UCLA research finds that tobacco smoking and vaping can predispose healthy young people to increased inflammation and severe COVID-19. The study, published in Journal of Molecular Medicine, found higher levels of key proteins in plasma from smokers and vapers compared to non-smokers.
A new UCLA-led study found that many patients do not receive sufficient rehabilitation therapy after a stroke, which can lead to long-term disability. Hispanic patients were particularly affected, receiving lower amounts of physical and occupational therapy.
A new study found that financial coaching for parents of infants in a pediatric primary care setting reduced missed well-child care visit rates by half and improved vaccination receipt. The intervention, which connected parents to public benefits and cost-saving services, also increased monthly household income.
A recent study reveals that Native Americans have the highest rates of mortality from deaths of despair, including suicide, drug overdoses, and alcoholic liver disease. In contrast, white communities are often portrayed as being disproportionately affected by this phenomenon.
A new study by UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center identifies the DNA roots of resistance to targeted cancer therapy. The researchers found that a protein called DNA-PK plays a crucial role in the process of chromothripsis, which can lead to gene amplification and therapy resistance.
A Phase 3 clinical trial has shown that a four-drug chemotherapy regimen significantly increases overall survival and progression-free survival in patients with stage 4 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The study's results suggest that this more aggressive treatment approach may be considered for eligible patients.
Research reveals that commonly used antiretroviral drugs TAF and TDF directly impact mitochondria's energy production in immune cells. The study suggests a larger energy reduction when combined with other antiretrovirals, sparking concerns about potential long-term effects on human cells.
A new study found that MRI-guided radiotherapy is more effective than CT-guided therapy in reducing side effects and improving quality of life for patients with localized prostate cancer. The trial involved 154 patients, who experienced fewer toxicities and better outcomes when treated with MRI guidance.
A new classification system, MPATH-Dx Version 2.0, has been developed to simplify diagnoses of melanocytic skin lesions. The system categorizes lesions into four classes, providing guidance on treatment and surveillance for patients.
Researchers at UCLA Health have found that masks can prevent not only COVID-19 but also whooping cough, while obesity is linked to an increased risk of stroke and cognitive impairment. The institute has also designed a clinical trial to reduce the use of low-value treatments for Alzheimer's disease.
The AVID college preparatory program has been shown to have a positive effect on students' social networks, psycho-social outcomes, and health behaviors. Students who participated in the program had lower odds of using substances and associating with substance-using peers compared to those in usual school programs.
The phase 1 and phase 2 studies showed that ARV-471 was well-tolerated and could promote substantial estrogen receptor degradation in patients with advanced disease. The study has led to a randomized phase 3 trial comparing ARV-471 with a SERD in patients with ER-positive/HER2-negative advanced breast cancer.
Insulin pump use has grown over two decades but disparities persist among racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. Youth from lower-income backgrounds and minority groups are less likely to use insulin pumps.
Research suggests that long COVID patients share similar lingering negative effects on physical, mental, and social well-being with individuals who have other illnesses. The study found moderate-to-severe residual symptoms in 40% of COVID-positive participants and 54% of those who tested negative.
Researchers at UCLA Health have made significant breakthroughs in understanding deadly brain cancer and the role of housing interventions. A study found a cancer vaccine to be highly effective in treating glioblastoma multiforme, a nearly lethal brain cancer. Additionally, a survey highlighted the need for increased diversity in gastro...
Researchers found that genetic correlation estimates are confounded by cross-trait assortative mating, a phenomenon where individuals with similar traits mate more frequently. This suggests that some genetic correlations may be inflated and should be re-evaluated for disease risk prediction and therapy development.
Research on interventions to mitigate housing insecurity found low-certainty evidence of positive health outcomes, primarily for emergency rent assistance and homeownership assistance. However, existing interventions may need to be paired with other efforts to address structural determinants of health.
Researchers have successfully used CRISPR technology to substitute genes in immune cells, allowing them to focus on cancer cells while sparing normal cells. The new approach, presented at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) 2022, has shown promising results in treating patients with various solid cancers.
Researchers from UCLA have developed a strategy to identify novel treatments for cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases by exploiting sex differences in the brain. The study provides a roadmap for disentangling the contribution of sex-specific factors, which can yield treatments optimized for each sex.
A new UCLA-led study found comprehensive brain-wide changes in individuals with autism spectrum disorder, refining scientists' understanding of how the condition progresses. The study analyzed gene expression across 11 cortical regions, revealing strong evidence that RNA changes in the brain are likely the cause of ASD.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that new onset CKD rates are higher among Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Hispanic/Latino populations compared to white persons with diabetes. The rate declined from 8% in 2015-2016 to 6.4% in 2019-2020.
Researchers aim to identify electrical activity in brain consolidation and test targeted brain stimulation to strengthen memories. The study could advance understanding of neural mechanisms involved in memory formation, potentially benefiting people with Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers at UCLA have identified an animal model that shares similarities with progressive multiple sclerosis, enabling studies of disability-improving treatments. The model reveals neurodegeneration features and effects on various parts of the brain and spinal cord, holding promise for future treatment discovery.
Research from UCLA Health Sciences found that telehealth consultations following an emergency department visit were associated with 28 more repeat ED encounters and nearly 11 more return hospital admissions per 1000 patients. The findings highlight the need for careful consideration of when to use telemedicine for post-ED follow-ups.
Amino acid GABA shows promise in reducing disease severity, viral load and death rates in SARS-CoV-2-infected mice. GABA administration inhibits inflammatory actions of immune cells, potentially providing a generalizable therapy to treat COVID-19 and future novel coronaviruses.
A new analysis by UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center found that men with prostate cancer benefit from adding androgen deprivation therapy to radiation treatment. The study showed improved metastasis-free survival for patients receiving short-term ADT before or after radiation, especially in those receiving prostate-only RT.
A study found that 60% of healthcare workers tested positive for COVID with antigen tests after five days and 50% were positive after seven days. Antigen tests are a better proxy for indicating infectiousness than PCR tests.
Researchers at UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and Semel Institute identified the gene P300 as a potential therapeutic target for treatment-resistant brain cancer glioblastoma multiforme. By blocking P300, tumor cells can be prevented from recovering and growing under the hostile conditions created by radiation therapy.
A new study from UCLA found that students who attended high-performing charter schools had a 50% lower rate of alcohol use disorder compared to waitlisted students. Males in the intervention group also reported better physical health and lower obesity rates, while females did not show similar benefits.
A long-term study of over 300 breast cancer survivors found a link between chronic inflammation and cognitive problems. Higher levels of CRP were related to lower reported cognitive function, suggesting that this common test for inflammation may also indicate risk for cognitive concerns.
Researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have developed a novel, cost-effective approach to detect cancer at its early stages using cell-free DNA in blood samples. Their method, cfMethyl-seq, has shown high accuracy and potential for accurate early diagnosis of certain cancers from a single blood test.
Researchers found pre-existing differences in gut bacteria between people with and without HIV, including decreased Bacteroides species and increased Megasphaera elsdenii. These changes were present even before infection occurred, suggesting a potential link between gut microbiome and HIV susceptibility.