Researchers found that brain activity while resting can reveal a person's empathic disposition, potentially helping health care professionals better assess those with autism or schizophrenia. The study used functional magnetic resonance imaging to analyze brain scans and machine learning algorithms to predict participants' empathy levels.
Researchers identified a molecule that maintains a healthy balance of airway basal stem cells and mature mucociliary cells, potentially leading to new treatments for lung cancer. The compound, Wnt Inhibitor Compound 1 (WIC1), has been shown to limit the proliferation of basal stem cells and restore balance in human cells.
A long-term UCLA-led study of Armenian earthquake survivors found that early psychotherapy significantly improved depression and PTSD symptoms in adolescents, with benefits continuing into adulthood. Factors such as social support and chronic medical illnesses also played a role in the development of PTSD and depression.
Research suggests that taking acetaminophen with a tendency to forgive can reduce social pain by influencing pain signaling in the brain. Forgiveness also lessens feelings of stress and anger following experiences of social exclusion. The combination may provide an antidote to the emotional and physical pains of rejection.
Researchers at UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center found a condensed five-day radiation regimen to be as effective as traditional five-week treatment in treating soft tissue sarcoma. The new approach showed lower wound complication rates and improved cancer control without increasing side effects.
A UCLA-led study found that the Foxp1 gene controls growth of the embryonic brain and is involved in timing of neuron production. The research revealed that both too much and too little Foxp1 affects neural stem cell replication and formation of specific neurons.
APG-157, a plant-based drug containing curcumin, was shown to reduce inflammation and attract immune cells to tumor tissues in patients with oral and oropharyngeal cancers. The treatment also decreased Bacteroides species and had no adverse effects.
UCLA researchers have made a breakthrough in developing lab-grown eggs and sperm for infertility treatment. They discovered that human stem cells can be coaxed into forming germ cells, which are the precursors to egg and sperm cells. The study could pave the way for generating healthy eggs and sperm in a laboratory setting.
A cold plasma patch has been developed to deliver immune checkpoint inhibitors and cold plasma directly to tumors, boosting the immune response and killing cancer cells. The patch significantly prolonged survival and inhibited tumor growth in mice with melanoma.
A UCLA-led study found that six blood proteins can be used to gauge a person's risk for cerebral small vessel disease, which affects an estimated 11 million older adults in the U.S. The test correlates with white matter changes in the brain and provides a more quantitative scale for evaluating the disease.
A study suggests that combining NKTR-214 with adoptive cell therapy may produce a stronger immune response against advanced melanoma, increasing the number of anti-tumor immune cells and their lifespan. This approach could be effective for more patients with advanced solid tumors.
Chronic exposure to interleukin-1-beta promotes lung cancer metastasis by altering gene expression, enabling cancer cells to adopt a phenotype that facilitates distance organ colonization. The study provides new insights into the role of chronic inflammation in tumor progression and metastasis.
Researchers at UCLA and international partners have successfully treated nine patients with X-linked chronic granulomatous disease (X-CGD) using a stem cell gene therapy. Six patients are now in remission and have stopped other treatments, with no complications reported.
A UCLA-led study used machine learning to analyze before-and-after photos of 100 female patients who underwent rhinoplasty, finding that the procedure can make women appear up to 3 years younger. The study estimated a person's age by cropping and extracting features from photographs.
A new study uses an interactive voice application with AI to monitor patients' mental health, offering personalized analysis and finding accuracy comparable to physician assessments. The application, MyCoachConnect, analyzed patients' speech patterns and found unique changes over time, helping track mental states.
A UCLA-led study found that family-focused therapy can delay new and recurring bipolar symptoms in children and teens. The treatment, which involves teaching patients and families better communication skills, resulted in 77% of adolescents recovering from initial symptoms within four years.
A UCLA-led study identified neuropeptide Y as a clear predictor of death in patients with stable heart failure. Patients with higher levels are 10 times more likely to die within one to three years.
Patient visits to primary care physicians increased by 3.6% after Medicaid expansion, but ER department visits remained unchanged. The study found that factors such as data quality and state policies may limit the accuracy of findings.
A team led by Dr. Brigitte Gomperts developed a 'scar in a dish' model that accurately replicates progressive scarring in human organs, enabling the identification of a drug candidate that halted or reversed fibrosis in animal models.
Researchers at UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center found that inhibiting PAK4 gene overcomes resistance to anti-PD-1 therapy in preclinical models. Biopsies from patients with melanoma showed high expression of PAK4, correlating with suppressed immune cell infiltration into tumors.
Chronic inflammation is linked to 50% of all deaths worldwide, causing heart disease, cancer, diabetes and more. Identifying new biomarkers for early diagnosis and better treatment can help reduce chronic disease and improve health.
Scientists at UCLA have discovered a key protein that enables human blood stem cells to self-renew in laboratory conditions. Activating this protein, MLLT3, increases the number of blood stem cells by at least twelvefold, opening up new possibilities for treating blood disorders.
Scientists at UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center developed a new high-throughput screening system that identifies selective inhibitors of metabolic pathways. The approach revealed multiple kinase inhibitors block nucleotide metabolism and its targets.
The UCLA prostate cancer program has been awarded an $8.7 million SPORE grant to develop new approaches for improving diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of prostate cancer. The grant will fund three translational research projects to find better ways to treat men with advanced stages of the disease.
Researchers at UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center identified a new biomarker tracking mitochondrial activity in lung tumors using noninvasive imaging. This level of activity may predict favorable response to complex I inhibitor and inform treatment decisions for individuals with lung cancer.
Researchers found that fashion models and women from the general population shared similar body image concerns, with thighs and tummies being top areas of focus. The app Somatomap showed promise in helping doctors diagnose and treat eating disorders and body dysmorphic disorders.
A study found that nearly 98% of people prescribed apixaban, a common anticoagulant, use over-the-counter products, which can cause dangerous internal bleeding. Many patients lack knowledge of these interactions, highlighting the need for education and further research.
New research reveals creatine powers CD8 T cells' fight against cancer by storing and distributing energy. Creatine supplementation enhances existing immunotherapies, including PD-1/PD-L1 blockade therapy, leading to significant tumor eradication rates.
A study led by UCLA researchers found that suppressing the mutation in astrocytes can stop the progression of Huntington's disease in mice and repair some of the damage. The findings suggest that impaired astrocytes play a role in many neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's and ALS.
Researchers at UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center are launching a pioneering chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell immunotherapy trial targeting CD19 and CD20 proteins on B-cell lymphoma and leukemia. The goal is to minimize resistance and increase life expectancy for patients diagnosed with these cancers.
A new study finds that obtaining a second opinion from board-certified dermatopathologists improves the accuracy of diagnosing melanoma, reducing misclassification rates. The study's findings suggest that expert second opinions provide value in improving diagnostic reliability, especially for complex cases.
Researchers at UCLA have identified a molecular process controlling nerve growth, which could inform therapies accelerating peripheral nerve recovery. The study shows that manipulating this process can increase nerve regeneration rate by 15% in mice.
A study by UCLA researchers found that adding ribociclib to standard hormone therapy significantly improves overall survival in postmenopausal women with advanced hormone-receptor positive/HER2- breast cancer. The combination treatment demonstrated a 28% reduction in risk of death and improved progression-free survival.
Researchers at UCLA have identified a new drug delivery pathway that uses reengineered fat cells to deliver chemotherapy drugs directly to tumors, suppressing growth and preventing recurrence. The approach could also be applied to other lipid metabolism-related diseases.
Researchers at UCLA developed a therapy that permanently boosts the body's ability to produce invariant natural killer T cells (iNKT cells), which attack human tumors. The treatment, engineered from hematopoietic stem cells, effectively suppressed tumor growth in mice with multiple myeloma and melanoma.
A UCLA-led study found that using 3D virtual reality models before kidney tumor surgeries resulted in shorter operating times, less blood loss during surgery, and a shorter hospital stay. The technology provides surgeons with better visualization of patient anatomy, allowing for more precise surgical planning.
UCLA Health has been awarded a federal grant to create a regional hub for medical technology and digital health innovation. The Biodesign Hub will focus on developing healthcare technology, leveraging Silicon Beach's startup activity, and advancing patient care.
Researchers have developed a drug that speeds up blood stem cell regeneration after exposure to radiation, accelerating the recovery of cancer patients. The new compound, DJ009, lifts molecular 'brakes' on blood stem cells, enabling them to recover faster and reducing the risk of infections.
Researchers at UCLA have developed a nanoscale capsule that breaks through the blood-brain barrier, allowing it to reach and treat cancer that has spread to the central nervous system. In mouse studies, this capsule delivered cancer-fighting drugs effectively eliminating B-cell lymphoma tumors.
A comprehensive dementia care program staffed by nurse practitioners significantly reduced patients' behavioral problems and depression, as well as lower the distress of caregivers. The study's findings suggest that such programs are a promising approach toward improving the psychological health of patients and caregivers.
A Veterans Health Administration program significantly improved access to mental health and primary care services for veterans with behavioral health needs. The initiative resulted in 11% more mental health visits, 40% more primary care visits, and a 9% higher average annual cost per patient.
A new AI system developed at UCLA has shown promising results in accurately reading biopsies and diagnosing breast cancer. The system outperformed human pathologists in distinguishing between ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and atypia, a type of abnormal cell associated with higher breast cancer risk.
As people age, the prostate grows, leading to an increased risk for prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia. A new UCLA study found that older mice have more luminal progenitor cells, which can generate new prostate tissue, helping explain why the prostate tends to grow with age.
Researchers used ultra-sensitive technology to characterize and identify neoantigens driving antitumor responses in a patient with metastatic melanoma. The study reveals new ways to guide the design of personalized adoptive T cell therapies, increasing the number of patients who will benefit from immunotherapy.
Researchers discovered that giving antibiotics to mice and humans before a liver transplant led to improved liver function after surgery. The treatment inhibited bacteria causing inflammation, reducing organ rejection and accelerating cell removal, resulting in better outcomes for patients.
A new study found that half of participants with well-managed HIV retain HIV DNA in their cerebrospinal fluid, associated with cognitive deficits. Researchers also noted a link between HIV DNA and poorer performance on neurocognitive tests.
A new biomarker in urine helps detect aggressive prostate cancer, improving detection accuracy and reducing unnecessary treatments. The noninvasive test was found to accurately identify high-risk individuals and achieved similar accuracy as invasive tissue-based tests.
Research found that brain activity in pairs of mice synchronizes during social behavior, with individual cells responding to self and social partner behaviors. The level of synchronization predicted the amount of interaction between the animals.
Researchers at UCLA Health Sciences have developed a more effective method for detecting prostate cancer by combining biopsy strategies. The new approach, which includes MRI-guided biopsy, increased the rate of cancer detection to up to 33% compared to traditional methods.
A UCLA-led research team has pinpointed a three-drug combination that can effectively treat advanced melanoma. The approach shows promise for extending the lives of people with BRAF V600E mutated melanoma, with progression-free survival lasting an average of 16 months.