Researchers have identified a germline biomarker signature that can predict serious side effects in up to 3 in 10 patients undergoing anti-PD1/PDL1 therapy. The findings represent an important step toward personalizing checkpoint therapy, potentially improving patient outcomes and reducing harm.
Researchers have developed a new mouse model of Huntington's disease that recapitulates more disease-like characteristics than earlier models. The study provides new clues to the mystery surrounding genetic mutations and gives researchers a powerful tool to test new therapies.
Neuroscientists discover visual experience necessary to specify types of cells that form in brain. Researchers found that exposure to light altered the expression of genes and led to changes in cell connectivity.
A UCLA-led study found that Americans' use of common outpatient health services dipped during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for those with Medicaid or Medicare-Medicaid dual eligibility insurance. The study suggests that patients may be missing treatments for acute illnesses and delaying preventive care.
A UCLA-led study found that aducanumab's ancillary care services, such as MRIs and neurologist visits, account for nearly 20% of total Medicare costs. The estimated annual spending on the drug could increase Medicare premiums.
Researchers identified gaps in care and treatment for women with Parkinson's Disease, highlighting the need for personalized medicine and psychosocial support. The study calls for increased attention to sex and gender differences in PD management.
A UCLA-led meta-analysis of individual patient data from three cohorts found that patients receiving high-dose external beam radiation therapy alone may benefit from longer androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) durations, while those with external beam radiation therapy and brachytherapy boost may be optimally managed with shorter ADT. Th...
A recent study by UCLA Health researchers found no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 transmission through breast milk feeding. The study analyzed breastmilk samples from 110 lactating women and discovered that even when mothers had COVID-19, the virus was not present in their infants.
A new meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials found that adding androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) to definitive radiotherapy prevents one cancer from metastasizing for every 10 to 15 men treated. Prolonging adjuvant ADT also showed significant benefits, while neoadjuvant ADT was not effective beyond two months.
A new study found that aging and disease alter body temperature rhythms in mice, mirroring the disruption seen in humans. In young, healthy mice, daytime temperatures were lower than nighttime temperatures, but this difference disappeared in older, diseased animals.
UCLA researchers found that removing brain cells linked to wakefulness and addiction reduces both physical and emotional symptoms of opioid withdrawal. The study suggests that drug therapies regulating hypocretin production may be an effective treatment for opiate addiction and withdrawal.
A UCLA-led team has improved a method to kill HIV-infected cells, using natural killer cells to target and eliminate them. The approach could lead to reducing or eliminating the virus from infected individuals who rely on medication.
Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers have identified signaling mechanisms in pancreatic cancer cells that could be targeted for treatment. By inhibiting a specific protein, cancer cells' DNA can become damaged and induce programmed cell death, providing a potential new strategy for treating this aggressive form of cancer.
Researchers found that adding tomato concentrate to a mouse's diet reduced intestinal and systemic inflammation in individuals with chronic HIV. The study suggests targeting the inflamed intestine may be a novel way to prevent persistent inflammation.
A meta-analysis of seven randomized trials found that Black men with localized prostate cancer had lower recurrence, metastasis, and mortality rates compared to white men. The study challenges the common belief that Black men with prostate cancer have a worse prognosis.
Researchers developed a model of drug resistance in melanoma, revealing mechanisms involving extrachromosomal DNA amplifications and intrachromosomal chromosomal rearrangements. The study found that different forms of DNA offer 'fitness' advantages to tumor cells under varying therapeutic conditions.
A recent UCLA-led study provided indirect evidence that PSMA PET/CT improves risk-stratification and prognostic capabilities for high-risk prostate cancer patients. The study found that PSMA nomogram outperformed existing tools in predicting clinical outcomes, suggesting its significance in disease course prediction.
Researchers at UCLA have identified rare T cells capable of targeting a protein found in SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses. By adding a fragment of this protein to vaccines, they hope to create a longer-lasting immune response and increase protection against new variants. This breakthrough could lead to more effective COVID-19 vaccines.
Researchers found that a combination of natural infection and vaccination produces maximally potent antibodies against COVID-19. The study suggests that repeated exposures to the spike protein can improve the immune system's ability to produce high-quality antibodies against variants.
A study of HIV-positive black and Latino men found that methamphetamine use combined with intimate partner violence boosts inflammatory and antiviral genes, leading to immune system exhaustion. This combination may increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and other disorders.
A UCLA research team found that PD-1 blockade initially activates T cells and conventional dendritic cells in glioblastoma, but the immune microenvironment remains dominated by immunosuppressive cells. The study suggests that combining therapies targeting other checkpoint proteins and pathways may improve treatment outcomes.
A new study found that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-I) prevented major depression in older adults with insomnia, decreasing the likelihood of depression by over 50%. CBT-I was more effective than sleep education therapy in preventing depression and promoting sustained remission of insomnia.
Researchers found that a Western diet high in fat, cholesterol, and calories led to increased inflammation in mice. Targeting the mucus interface between gut bacteria and small intestine cells with peptide mimetics may prevent systemic inflammation, suggests a new UCLA study.
A new virtual histology technology may reduce the need for invasive skin biopsies, providing a biopsy-free solution for rapid diagnosis of malignant skin tumors. The technology uses deep-learning frameworks to transform images of intact skin into detailed, virtually stained images.
Researchers produce large quantities of powerful cancer-fighting iNKT cells using stem cell engineering and organoid technology, offering a potential solution for mass-producing an off-the-shelf immune cell therapy. The therapy, which uses hematopoietic stem cell-engineered iNKT cells, has been shown to be effective in killing multiple...
A UCLA study found that young adults experiencing discrimination are at a higher risk for short- and long-term behavioral and mental health problems. The study suggests that the effects of discrimination are connected to disparities in care and institutional discrimination, leading to inequities in diagnoses, treatment, and outcomes.
A new international meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials found that adding androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) to definitive radiotherapy improves metastasis-free survival by 8% and overall survival by 7%. Prolonging adjuvant ADT for 18-36 months also shows similar benefits.
Researchers have identified a unique genetic variant in the KRAS gene that affects treatment outcomes for HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer patients. Adding monoclonal antibody cetuximab may reverse poor treatment responses and improve cancer control.
A phase 2 single-institution study found that dose-equivalent preoperative radiation therapy delivered in five days rather than over the conventional five weeks produced similar benefits and treatment side effects. The study showed excellent local control rates with acceptable toxicities and wound complications.
A new UCLA Health study suggests that breastfeeding may have a positive impact on postmenopausal women's cognitive performance, potentially preventing cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease. Women who breastfed their babies performed better on cognitive tests compared to those who did not.
The UCLA Health 3 Wishes Program adapted to meet pandemic demands, with increased participation from dying patients and their families. Frontline staff fulfill small but meaningful requests, providing emotional comfort during a difficult time.
Researchers report that 90% of patients who received gene therapy between 2009 and 2012 remain disease-free, with significant immune system differences observed among those treated. The therapy is most effective in younger children, but further work is needed to achieve high levels of gene correction in all patients.
A new study from UCLA finds that a social companion robot, Robin, provides comfort to young patients during hospital visits. Children and their parents reported significant improvements in positive affect and reductions in negative affect after interacting with Robin compared to tablet-based interactions.
Researchers created a wiring diagram of critical brain circuits using mouse models, providing insights into the primary motor cortex's wiring. The study pinpoints smaller circuits that process specific functions, such as movement control and emotional input, and could reveal new treatment targets for neurodegenerative disorders.
Researchers found that mRNA COVID vaccines reduced symptomatic illness risk by 89% and 96% for Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccine recipients respectively. The vaccines' effectiveness was lower in immunocompromised individuals.
A new study found that pregnant women with kidney or liver transplants can safely undergo trial of labor without increased risk to themselves or their babies. In fact, vaginal births resulted in improved outcomes for the baby without compromising maternal health. Conversely, cesarean births were associated with higher risks of complica...
A UCLA study found that Black patients with Lyme disease are more likely to have neurological complications, such as meningitis and neuropathy, when diagnosed late. The study analyzed data from 2015-16 and found that approximately 1 in 3 Black patients had these complications, compared to less than 1 in 10 white patients.
A Phase 2 clinical trial found that levetiracetam improved cognitive function in Alzheimer's patients with epileptic activity, particularly those under 65 when symptoms began. The study demonstrated a clear benefit from the medication for this subtype of Alzheimer's disease.
Patients with dementia presenting with shortness of breath were less likely to be tested for pulmonary embolism compared to those without dementia. Clinical signs and risk factors, such as elevated heart rate, were also evaluated differently in patients with dementia.
A new oral selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD) called giredestrant has been shown to significantly reduce tumor activity in women with ER-positive and HER2-negative early breast cancers. The treatment resulted in a 80% drop in Ki67 levels, compared to a 67% reduction in patients treated with the standard care aromatase inhibitor.
The study found that treating women with HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer with trastuzumab deruxtecan significantly prolongs the length of time the disease is controlled and cancer growth is halted. Patients who received the drug had a 72% improvement in progression-free survival compared to trastuzumab emtansine.
A new PSMA PET imaging technique can detect prostate cancer lesions throughout the body, enabling more precise treatment. The study shows that 64% of patients opted for alternative treatments after scanning due to detected metastasis outside the prostate.
A new study by UCLA researchers reveals that respiratory emissions produced during labor and vaginal delivery can increase the risk of respiratory disease transmission. The findings support the recommendation of providing full PPE, including N95 masks, to healthcare workers in labor and delivery units to prevent COVID-19 transmission.
Physicians prescribed opioids more frequently to their white patients with new-onset low back pain, while prescribing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to patients of color. The study's findings suggest racial bias in pain treatment, with white patients being more likely to develop long-term opioid reliance.
A new study found that STING-activating drugs significantly alter nucleotide metabolism in pancreas cancer cells, which can be visualized using [18F]FLT PET imaging. This provides a non-invasive tool to track the effects of these drugs and fine-tune treatments for hard-to-treat cancers.
A recent study found that 26-45% of people with atrial fibrillation fail to adhere to their prescribed direct-acting oral anticoagulants due to cost and bleeding concerns. Researchers interviewed 42 adults who had stopped or reduced dosing, citing these reasons as major barriers to adherence.
Researchers at UCLA developed brain organoids that mimic human brain structure and function, allowing for the study of neurological disorders like Rett syndrome. The organoids showed organized waves of activity similar to those found in living brains and responded to treatment with an experimental drug.
Researchers found a sequential-combinatorial regimen boosts treatment efficacy for aggressive cancers by re-energizing T cells and suppressing tumor growth. The approach offers realistic chances to improve patient survival.
A new UCLA study found that even one vaping session can significantly increase cellular oxidative stress in healthy younger nonsmokers. The researchers discovered a two- to four-fold increase in oxidative stress levels after a 30-minute vaping session, highlighting the alarming effects of e-cigarettes on young people's health.
A study of 7,400 emergency department physicians found that those who recently saw patients with a pulmonary embolism were 15% more likely to test subsequent patients for the condition. The 'availability heuristic' may influence physicians' care decisions.