A new UCLA Health study found that adding genetic testing to the evaluation of pediatric patients with neurodevelopmental disorders led to more individualized care, including changes in medication, referrals to clinical trials or specialists, and surveillance for potential medical issues.
A new blood-based biomarker, placental growth factor (PlGF), has been identified as a potential tool for detecting early brain changes associated with cognitive impairment and dementia. Elevated PlGF levels were found to be linked to increased vascular permeability, leading to white matter injury and subsequent cognitive decline.
A new study found significant disparities in the use of obesity-management medications among different racial and ethnic groups. People of Asian, Black, and Hispanic descent were significantly less likely to use these medications compared to whites, even after adjusting for income, education, health insurance coverage, and clinical need.
Worsening heat waves exacerbate symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and dementia due to impaired sweating and blood flow. Doctors can take proactive steps by regularly screening for social isolation, providing resources, and utilizing telemedicine to monitor high-risk patients.
A new study found that a low omega-6, high omega-3 diet with fish oil supplements significantly reduced prostate cancer cell proliferation in men. The findings suggest that dietary changes could potentially delay or prevent the need for more aggressive treatments.
Researchers at UCLA Health presented several breakthroughs at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, including improved survival rates for advanced breast cancer patients who receive trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd), a novel ADC. Additionally, new genomic testing and circulating tumor DNA analysis may help identify high-risk patients a...
Dr. Aditya Bardia's appointment as Editor-in-Chief of Breast Cancer Research and Treatment reflects his expertise in targeted therapies and innovative research. He aims to foster innovation and disseminate knowledge benefiting patients and the scientific community through this journal.
Dr. Christopher Seet has received a $2.9 million R37 MERIT Award from the National Cancer Institute to develop innovative T cell therapies for cancer. The grant will support research into iPSC-derived T cells, which can be engineered for enhanced tumor-fighting capabilities.
A new framework developed by UCLA researchers suggests that genetic data from large libraries of sequenced human genomes can improve the predictive power of genetics in determining how well a patient will respond to commonly prescribed medications and the severity of any side effects. The study, which analyzed data from over 342,000 pe...
A review paper suggests that MDMA-assisted therapy can benefit military personnel with traumatic brain injuries, improving emotional and cognitive challenges. The drug may facilitate social connections, increased self-esteem, and neural plasticity, leading to improved treatment outcomes.
A wearable electrical nerve stimulation device has been shown to provide significant relief from long COVID symptoms such as pain and fatigue. Researchers found that the high-dose TENS group experienced notable improvements in pain relief and walking ability.
A new study from UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center introduces a combined genetic and functional profiling approach to predict how glioblastoma will respond to therapy. The approach helps identify new ways to target and treat the tumors more effectively, including using an experimental drug called ABBV-155.
A new UCLA study categorizes people with chronic liver disease into four unique risk groups based on barriers to outpatient care, increasing the likelihood of hospitalization. The study highlights the need for interventions aimed at reducing avoidable hospitalizations among the highest-risk individuals.
Researchers at UCLA discovered that protein netrin1 limits BMP signaling to specific regions of the spinal cord, crucial for sensory neuron development. This finding reshapes our understanding of complex spinal circuits and could inform future therapeutic strategies for spinal cord repair.
Patients receiving MRI-guided SBRT experienced significantly fewer urinary and bowel side effects compared to CT-guided treatment. MRI guidance also correlated with improved scores on specific quality-of-life measures, including bowel function and sexual health.
Researchers at UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have shown that combining pembrolizumab, an immunotherapy drug, with standard chemotherapy can improve treatment outcomes for patients with advanced small cell bladder cancer and small cell/neuroendocrine prostate cancer. The study found that the combination treatment resul...
A new initiative, CAL-PALS, aims to expand access to life-saving lung cancer screening for marginalized groups in Los Angeles County. The program will engage physicians and staff to create system-level changes increasing access to high-quality services.
A new study by UCLA Health reveals that standard medical record surveillance methods miss youth with suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, boys, and Black and Hispanic youths. Machine learning algorithms improved detection rates when incorporating additional data from visit notes.
Researchers at UCLA Health found an association between childhood attention problems and increased psychosis risk, with genetic variants acting as a middleman. The study used data from over 10,000 children to explore the relationship between attention span variability and psychotic-like symptoms.
Researchers at UCLA have identified the protein GPNMB as a critical regulator in the heart's healing process after a heart attack. GPNMB promotes heart repair by binding to receptor GPR39, triggering a cascade of signals that limit scarring and improve cardiac function.
Scientists at UCLA have engineered an experimental therapy that shows promise in enhancing heart repair following a heart attack, preventing the onset of heart failure. The new single-dose therapy targets the protein ENPP1, which is responsible for increasing inflammation and scar tissue formation.
The UCLA Urology department has been awarded $6 million to continue the IMPACT program, providing comprehensive prostate cancer treatment for underinsured and uninsured Californians. The program has helped over 2,300 men receive treatment services since its inception.
A new study suggests that introducing a smaller vial size for the Alzheimer's drug lecanemab could reduce waste by 74% and save Medicare up to $336 million per year. This is due to the high amount of unused medication being discarded, with each patient often receiving a dose lower than the available vial sizes.
A new study found that motor delay and low muscle tone were common signs of an underlying genetic diagnosis in children with neurodevelopment disorders. The research suggests that these early neurodevelopmental symptoms can benefit both patients' families and doctors by identifying the need for genetic testing.
A UCLA-led study has mapped DNA modification in the developing human brain, shedding light on how gene regulation evolves and shapes lifelong mental health. The research provides new insights into early brain development and its connection to neuropsychiatric conditions like schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder.
A new study found that common breast cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, can increase expression of aging markers in breast cancer survivors. The study suggests that these treatments can have a more extensive impact on the body than previously thought, leading to accelerated biological aging.
A study by researchers at UCLA found that Black, Hispanic, and American Indian adolescents are more likely to be tested for drugs and alcohol than white adolescents at pediatric trauma centers. The study suggests that clinician biases may contribute to these disparities.
A new non-invasive imaging technique has been shown to accurately detect clear-cell renal cell carcinoma, the most common form of kidney cancer. The technique uses a monoclonal antibody drug that targets the protein CA9, highly expressed in up to 95% of clear cell kidney cancers.
Researchers created a Comorbid Operative Risk Evaluation (CORE) score to better predict post-surgery mortality. The model accounts for pre-existing chronic illnesses and aims to improve analysis of surgical outcomes using large databases.
A global study highlights the life-saving impact of Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy (GDMT) in heart failure patients, particularly those with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The study estimates that optimal implementation could save over 1 million lives per year, with significant regional disparities to address.
A new study aims to increase follow-up care for patients who receive abnormal stool-based fecal immunochemical tests, focusing on improving coordination between primary and specialty clinics. The goal is to improve colorectal cancer screening processes in underserved populations, increasing survival and reducing mortality.
The new framework, called SLIViT, has been developed by UCLA researchers and achieved accurate disease risk biomarkers detection from medical scans. It consistently achieves better performance compared to domain-specific state-of-the-art models.
Researchers found that heart transplant recipients from most deprived areas had a higher risk of dying within five years and experiencing organ failure compared to those from less deprived areas. Treatment at high-quality hospitals did not translate into better outcomes.
UCLA investigators presented data on chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer, MRI-guided radiotherapy for prostate cancer, and symptom self-reporting during treatment. Researchers developed a predictive model to identify patients most likely to respond to chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer.
A new study has found that baseline testosterone, age, and duration of ADT are key predictors of testosterone recovery. The researchers developed a nomogram to estimate recovery times based on patient-specific characteristics, providing valuable insights for improving patient outcomes.
A landmark study found specific types of brain cells fired in a way that mirrored the order and structure of a person's experience. The brain retains these unique firing patterns after the experience is concluded and can rapidly replay them while at rest.
Dr. Roger Lo has been awarded a $2 million NIH grant to investigate ways to prevent drug resistance in melanoma treatment and improve the effectiveness of MAPK inhibitors. The team aims to target genetic instability and immune evasion to stabilize the melanoma genome and make it more vulnerable to immune attacks.
Researchers at UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center developed a biobank of 294 samples from 126 patients with 25 different subtypes of bone and soft tissue sarcoma. The team created tumor organoids that retained key characteristics of the original tumors, which were then subjected to high-throughput drug screening. They iden...
A new study found that childhood trauma can have specific consequences for biological health and risk of developing 20 major diseases later in life. The study's findings differ by sex and type of stressor, highlighting the need for a precision medicine approach based on patients' sex and specific stress profile.
A UCLA-led research team has identified degeneration-associated molecular markers shared by several forms of dementia. The study also found cell type-specific changes that underlie each condition, highlighting potential new therapeutic targets.
A study by Min Deng and colleagues at UCLA identified two key dysregulated pathways in acne-affected skin: the GRN-SORT1 axis in TREM2 macrophages and the IL-13-IL-13RA1 axis in keratinocytes. These findings suggest modulating these pathways through gene therapy could lead to new acne treatments.
A new UCLA-led study found that Chinese American immigrants' cardiovascular health increases with length of residence and varies by US location. Participants who resided in Chicago showed lower mortality levels from heart disease compared to those in Los Angeles.
A UCLA-led study has identified a protective role for the asporin protein in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), suggesting potential new ways to treat this incurable disease. Asporin was found to inhibit pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation and a key signaling pathway that occurs with PAH.
A new study by UCLA investigators found that Manuka honey contains compounds that can help reduce tumor growth in preclinical models. The research suggests that Manuka honey could potentially be developed into a natural supplement or standalone treatment for ER-positive breast cancer, which accounts for most breast cancer cases.
A UCLA researcher identified a compound that effectively jumpstarts the brain's memory circuitry, restoring cognitive functions in mice with Alzheimer's disease symptoms. The molecule, DDL-920, works by targeting specific neurons to enhance gamma oscillations, which are critical for memory and cognition.
Researchers at UCLA Health found that reducing inflammation may not influence the extent of liver fibrosis in MAFLD. The study suggests that other pathways could be more effective in targeting fibrosis and improving outcomes for patients.
Researchers at UCLA Health Sciences identified three distinct patient preference-based profiles among men with low-risk prostate cancer. Despite differences in preferences, physician recommendations played a crucial role in determining treatment choices. The study highlights the need for better integrating patient preferences into trea...
A recent paper surveys advances in diabetes pathogenesis and treatment, highlighting the role of genes, environmental factors, and social determinants. The study suggests that understanding these dynamics is key to developing targeted interventions to reduce diabetes risk and manage its complications.
A new study led by UCLA found a 3% to 4% prevalence of ME/CFS-like illness among participants who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection, similar to those who tested negative. The research suggests COVID-19 may not be the primary cause of ME/CFS.
Researchers found specific gene variants associated with behavioral health outcomes after a stroke. The study suggests that genetic differences may predict stroke recovery trajectory, enabling personalized medicine approaches for individualized treatment.