A study highlights the need for better diagnostic tools, alternative treatments, and prevention strategies for women with recurrent UTIs. Women report feeling frustrated with their doctors' overuse of antibiotics and lack of education on preventing UTIs.
A new blood test using a nanotech device can detect the risk of placenta accreta spectrum disorder, a potentially life-threatening condition that can occur during pregnancy. The test was found to be 79% accurate in confirming its presence and 93% accurate in ruling it out.
Scientists at UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have discovered that removing the RNA-binding protein IGF2BP3 selectively targets cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone. This finding holds promise for the development of targeted therapies for cancers with high levels of IGF2BP3.
Scientists from UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center identified TAF12 as critical to the formation of preinitiation complexes, which are necessary for gene transcription. Eliminating TAF12 destroys preinitiation complexes and drastically reduces genome-wide transcription.
Researchers found that a chemical modification called m6A may offer protection against non-alcoholic fatty liver by slowing down the accumulation of fat in the liver. The study also suggested that this modification occurs at a different rate in females than males, potentially explaining sex differences in liver fat content.
A new 'nomogram' helps predict which men with advanced metastatic prostate cancer will respond favorably to LuPSMA, a targeted therapy. The tool analyzes imaging and clinical data to stratify patients into high-risk or low-risk groups, enabling more personalized treatments.
Men with high-risk prostate cancer benefit from multimodality care, which includes hormone therapy and radiation. The study found significant differences in deaths when guideline-concordant multimodality care was not delivered.
The team's real-world results demonstrate the potential of SwabSeq to be used for population-wide testing on an unprecedented scale. The test has shown extremely high sensitivity and specificity, making it a promising solution for scaling up COVID-19 testing.
Researchers at UCLA discovered that virtual reality environments strengthen theta waves, a key brain rhythm for learning and memory, in rats. This finding could lead to new treatments for disorders like ADHD, Alzheimer's disease, and depression.
Researchers found that undamaged neurons do not change their function after a stroke, contradicting the 're-mapping' hypothesis. Surround-responsive cells, which react to neighboring whiskers, also failed to take over damaged neurons' functions.
A UCLA-led study comparing human and mouse astrocytes found that mouse cells are more resilient to oxidative stress, a key mechanism behind many neurological disorders. The findings have important implications for basic and translational research into conditions like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral scl...
The National Institutes of Health is funding a research consortium to develop methods for calculating polygenic risk scores (PRS) in people from different ancestries, particularly those with admixed ancestry. Researchers at UCLA will focus on incorporating genetic diversity into PRS to yield accurate and equitable predictions.
Researchers discovered that MAOIs can activate the immune system to shrink various types of tumors. The study found that MAOIs help block immune checkpoints and prevent tumor-associated macrophages from suppressing T cell activity.
A new study shows that tai chi mirrors the beneficial effects of conventional exercise by reducing waist circumference in middle-aged and older adults with central obesity. The 12-week intervention found significant reductions in waist circumference, body weight, and improved lipid profiles among those who practiced tai chi.
A new study found that blocking ABCB10 protein in liver cells protects against insulin resistance and fatty liver disease. Increased bilirubin content inside mitochondria driven by ABCB10 activity contributes to fatty liver disease. The findings could inspire the development of therapies targeting ABCB10 or mitochondrial bilirubin.
UCLA Health has received a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to scale healthcare innovations for COVID-19 response and recovery. The grant will support the Los Angeles Response to COVID (LA-R2C) Accelerator, aiming to address health equity through novel health technologies.
A new form of gene therapy has successfully treated 48 out of 50 children born with a rare and deadly inherited disorder. The treatment, developed by an international team, involves delivering a corrected copy of the ADA gene into stem cells, which are then returned to the child's body to produce healthy immune cells.
A team of researchers has developed a molecular catalog of cells in healthy lungs and those with cystic fibrosis, revealing new subtypes of cells and how the disease alters their composition. This discovery could help scientists identify prime targets for future genetic therapies.
A new study suggests that postmenopausal women are at increased risk of subsequent fractures after an initial bone break, regardless of the location. The study found that fractures in various parts of the body, including the arm, wrist, leg, and hip, were associated with a significant increase in risk.
A new study by UCLA researchers identified a novel combination therapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors with ATRA to potentially overcome resistance to immunotherapy in LKB1-deficient lung cancer. The therapy led to eradication of over 70% of tumors and generated durable tumor-specific immunity.
A UCLA-led study reveals that seven preventive medical services have no likely health benefit to patients and may even be harmful. These services, including asymptomatic bacteriuria screening and prostate cancer screening, are ordered over 31 million times annually at a cost of nearly $500 million per year.
Researchers developed a topical cream using BRAF inhibitor LUT014 to reduce skin rash caused by EGFR inhibitors in colorectal cancer patients. The study showed that the treatment improved skin condition and reduced severity of the rash in 6 out of 10 patients.
A new UCLA study finds that a one-time injection of an experimental stem cell therapy can repair brain damage and improve memory function in mice with conditions that replicate human strokes and dementia. The therapy, developed from glial cells, stimulates the brain's own repair processes and enhances neural connections.
A new UCLA study reveals the proportion of Black physicians in the US has changed little in 120 years, with a significant income gap between white and Black male physicians. The research highlights pay discrimination and unequal access as contributing factors to this disparity.
Research at UCLA Health Sciences suggests that elderly patients of female physicians are more likely to be vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19. The trend holds across all racial and ethnic groups studied, with Black patients being about 14 percentage points less likely to be vaccinated than white patients.
Researchers have developed a new chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell immunotherapy that targets both CD19 and CD20 proteins, achieving complete metabolic responses in four out of five patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell lymphoma. The approach minimizes treatment resistance and prevents relapse by recognizing multiple targets.
The study shows that using a truncated form of the CD4 molecule as part of a gene therapy yields superior and longer-lasting results in mouse models than previous similar therapies. The new approach to CAR T gene therapy has the potential to create lifelong protection from HIV infection by producing memory cells.
A low-calorie diet and moderate exercise program have been shown to dramatically improve survival outcomes for young people with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. After just one month of treatment, participants on the intervention had a 70% decrease in detectable cancer cells compared to those not on the regimen.
A new UCLA Health study reveals that middle-aged women's cognitive function does not improve with physical activity, despite its many health benefits. The 21-year study found no association between exercise and slower cognitive decline in three key areas: processing speed, verbal memory, and working memory.
A new study found percutaneous image guided needle based thermal ablation to be a safe and effective adjunctive therapy for local control of metastatic gynecologic cancers. Nearly 96% of patients achieved complete tumor response over 10 months, with low side effects.
The UCLA-led PREVENT project will enroll 10,000 health care personnel at 16 medical centers to study the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines among vaccinated and non-vaccinated workers. The results will help determine how effective vaccines are at preventing infection.
A UCLA team has been awarded two grants totaling $6 million to identify new ways to treat pancreatic cancer. The research aims to untangle the complexities of the disease and develop effective immunotherapeutic approaches.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, potentially avoidable hospitalizations for non-COVID conditions dropped more among white patients than Black patients. This UCLA study suggests that existing racial healthcare disparities worsened, with African Americans facing worse access to outpatient care.
A UCLA-led research team identified a chemical cocktail that enables large numbers of muscle stem cells to be produced within 10 days. The approach shows promise for improving muscle regeneration and could lead to the development of stem cell-based therapies for muscle loss or damage due to injury, age, or disease.
A new study finds that mobile stroke units (MSUs) improve patient outcomes and lessen the chance for disability by delivering care faster than standard stroke care. MSU patients received tPA treatment within 60 minutes, resulting in better outcomes and less disability.
A new UCLA study finds that women with high muscle mass and high body fat have a greater degree of protection against heart disease-related death than those with low body fat. Meanwhile, men with high muscle mass and low body fat show a significant decrease in risk, but not as pronounced as seen in women.
Researchers found that older people correctly understood basic medication information in over 70% of cases. However, when physicians failed to discuss potential side effects, patients incorrectly assumed there were none for nearly half of their prescribed medications.
Researchers have grown human stem cell-derived organoids in a lab dish that matured in sync with the timeline of human development, replicating key aspects of normal human development. The study provides a framework for assessing how well in vitro models model in vivo development and function.
Researchers at UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center found that high type I IFN signaling is present in a subset of pancreatic tumors, leading to decreased NAD and NADH levels. The combination of IFN signaling and NAMPT inhibitors showed promising results in suppressing tumor growth and reducing liver metastases in mice.
Researchers created a model to identify patients with high-risk prostate cancer who will benefit from the PSMA PET scan. The study found that patients with a Gleason score of 9 or 10 and high percent positive cores are most likely to benefit from the scan.
Despite a 2015 initiative to improve access, Mexico's poorest residents often go without painkillers, while pharmacies in poorer areas are less likely to carry them due to cost. The study also found that opioids may be diverted to the US, exacerbating its opioid epidemic.
Researchers at UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center identified a new approach combining an anti-psychotic drug, a statin and radiation to improve overall survival in mice with glioblastoma. The triple combination extended median survival 4-fold compared to radiation alone, providing hope for improved treatment options.
A study by researchers at UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center found that MRI frequently underestimates the size of prostate tumors, which can lead to undertreatment. The accuracy of treatment depends on precise measurements of both tumor size and PI-RADS score.
A study by UCLA researchers found that 74% of women who forgo breast reconstruction after a mastectomy are satisfied with their outcome. Despite support concerns, women pointed to faster recovery and body image as reasons for choosing 'going flat'.
Researchers have developed a simple, high-throughput method for transferring isolated mitochondria into mammalian cells, allowing for the study of mitochondrial DNA diseases and potential treatments. The new device, MitoPunch, enables the transfer of mitochondria into thousands of recipient cells simultaneously.
A new UCLA study suggests that our brains generate a common code to mark where other people are in relation to ourselves. The research, published in Nature, used brain electrodes to observe how patients navigated physical spaces and monitored others nearby.
A UCLA-led study uses 3D-printed models to identify possible link between COVID-19 and stroke. The researchers found that the coronavirus increases the production of a molecule called angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which affects blood vessel cells in the brain.
Scientists have developed a new combination therapy that suppresses the MAPK pathway by holding cancer-driving proteins in a death grip. The treatment has shown promise in treating aggressive subtypes of cancers with specific mutations in genes called RAS or NF1.
Researchers at UCLA have discovered a gene called PACS-1 that is overexpressed in cancer tissues, which can lead to cancer growth and spread. Higher levels of PACS-1 expression in the nucleus may indicate resistance to chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
A new UCLA-led study reveals that older patients who undergo emergency surgeries on their surgeon's birthday have a 23% higher mortality rate compared to those treated on other days. The study, published in the BMJ, suggests that surgeons may be more distracted on their birthdays than other days.