Researchers discover JavaScript code accessing browser histories without user consent, highlighting potential for malicious activities such as phishing. Latest browsers have patched vulnerabilities, but users on outdated versions remain at risk.
Researchers used differential epistasis maps to study how genes interact in response to stress by DNA-damaging agents. The genetic network was found to completely reprogram itself, revealing functional relationships that would go undetected using other approaches.
Researchers found that anti-retroviral therapy improves household investments, education, and nutrition, while a prevention strategy focusing on girls reduces HIV prevalence and genital herpes. The 'Lazarus effect' suggests long-term treatment yields significant economic dividends and positive behavioral changes.
Researchers have described the first functioning 'lipidome' of a mouse macrophage, a white blood cell, providing new insights into how lipids interact and change over time in response to bacterial stimuli. The study sheds light on the crucial role of lipid molecules in inflammation and disease.
Exposure to arsenic in rural Bangladesh is poisonous to the nation's economy, reducing labor supply by 8 percent. The study also shows that women are working fewer hours outside the home while men are working more to compensate for the lack of healthcare access.
Researchers have identified fragile regions in mammalian genomes that are prone to genome rearrangements, disrupting genes and altering gene regulation. The new Turnover Fragile Breakage Model suggests these regions undergo a 'birth and death' process over evolutionary timescales.
Electrical engineers created a miniaturized short pulse generator that eliminates a roadblock for optical interconnects. The pulse compressor enables higher data rates and generates less heat than copper wires, critical for future computer networks.
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego discover that statins activate white blood cells' ability to kill bacteria. Statins stimulate phagocytes to release extracellular traps that ensnare and kill bacteria before they spread in the body.
UC San Diego undergraduate bioengineers develop a new microenvironment that provides all three types of cues necessary for stem cell growth and differentiation. The system uses a gelatin-like hydrogel bathed in an electrolyte solution, mimicking the natural environment to steer stem cells towards specific cell types.
Researchers are developing a manufacturing platform to produce biodegradable frames that mimic nature's fine-grained details, including vasculature. The goal is to grow replacement cardiac tissues for people who have suffered a heart attack, and create better systems for growing and studying cells in the laboratory.
Researchers discovered that connections in the spinal cord regrew spontaneously and extensively after a mild spinal cord injury in primates, restoring 60% of original connections. This finding holds significant promise for developing new treatments for patients with spinal cord injuries.
Researchers at UCSD School of Medicine created functional neurons from patients with Rett syndrome, providing a new human cellular model for studying autism spectrum disorder. The neurons featured fewer synapses, reduced spine density, and altered calcium signaling, suggesting that synaptic deficiencies may not be permanent.
Researchers discover that amyloid beta disrupts an anti-oxidant protein called catalase, causing neural damage. A new coating molecule protects catalase from amyloid's harmful effects, restoring its function and potentially treating Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers linked hundreds of approved drugs to M. tuberculosis proteins, identifying new anti-tuberculosis targets and repurposing potential. The study provides a promising computational strategy for novel drug discovery.
A new mouse model created by Japanese scientists confirms the link between mutated beta-synuclein protein and neurodegeneration in diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. The discovery establishes B-synuclein as a potential target for developing new therapies.
Researchers discovered that FoxO1, a multi-tasking protein, promotes an inflammatory response in macrophages, leading to insulin resistance and diabetes. Conversely, it generates a negative feedback loop to limit damage from excessive inflammation.
The National Resource for Network Biology (NRNB) center will provide researchers with access to advanced tools to study human systems and diseases. The center aims to develop sophisticated models of how human systems function or fail, ultimately leading to new treatments and therapies.
A new study from the University of California, San Diego, and Harvard University suggests that a specific variant of the DRD4 gene may contribute to liberal political views. Researchers found that individuals with this genetic variant were more likely to be liberal if they had an active social life in adolescence.
Researchers at UC San Diego are developing a national center for biomedical computing, iDASH, to share anonymized data and create novel algorithms. The grant aims to democratize science and bridge the computational divide between institutions.
Researchers found that BAFF interacts with c-MYC gene, promoting aggressive leukemias and lymphomas. High levels of BAFF in CLL microenvironment may lead to improved treatment options by blocking its effects or inhibiting signaling pathways.
A study by Kerri N. Boutelle found that parent-only groups are a viable method for childhood obesity treatment, achieving similar results in child weight loss and other outcomes. The approach is more cost-effective and potentially easier for families, with further research planned.
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine propose a new theory that links depression to chronic brain inflammation. According to this theory, depression is an adaptive response to stress and trauma, which can lead to neural remodeling and malfunctions.
A study published in Annals of Internal Medicine questions the foundation of placebo-controlled trials, citing a lack of standardization and regulation for placebo ingredients. The researchers found that only 10% of cases disclose the makeup of placebos, leading to potential biases in study results.
A national research team led by UC San Diego scientists created the first lipidome of human plasma, discovering hundreds more fats than previously known. The findings reveal lipids' diverse roles beyond energy storage and cell membrane building, including signaling molecules that may play a role in diseases like diabetes and cancer.
Ming T. Tsuang has been awarded the Lieber Prize for his groundbreaking research on schizophrenia, including identifying underlying causes of mental illnesses. His work aims to learn how to stop psychiatric disorders before they start.
Neil Chi, a UCSD cardiologist, has been awarded a $2.3 million NIH New Innovator Award to investigate the remarkable ability of zebrafish to regenerate their hearts. His goal is to develop regenerative therapy for humans using this process.
The partnership aims to double the number of physicians graduating from Mozambique medical schools in the next decade and improve surgical care in rural areas. The UCSD component will focus on training additional faculty and building surgical research capacity within UEM.
The Center for Aerosol Impacts on Climate and the Environment (CAICE) will use a wave tank simulator to study aerosol particles' impact on climate. Researchers will add various atmosphere-changing ingredients to measure effects of different variables, aiming to improve representation of aerosol mechanisms in global climate models.
A research team led by Kang Zhang aims to use chemicals to reprogram Muller cells into photoreceptors in the eye, potentially leading to new cell-based therapy and small molecule drugs for regenerative medicine. The goal is to restore visual function lost due to diseases such as macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa.
Researchers found that sleeping between 5-6.5 hours per night is associated with excellent survival among women, contradicting previous studies that suggested 6.5-7.5 hours. Obstructive sleep apnea did not predict increased mortality risk in older women.
Seth Field, a UC San Diego researcher, has been awarded $3.86 million to study GOLPH3's role in breast cancer. His project aims to understand the mechanism by which GOLPH3 contributes to cancer and develop new therapy targets.
The addition of immunotherapy to standard therapy increases the percentage of children with high-risk neuroblastoma who are alive and free of disease progression after two years. The new regimen, which targets a substance on tumor cells called GD2, presents a clear paradigm shift in treating this cancer.
A 40-year-long tobacco control program in California has led to significant reductions in smoking rates, resulting in lower lung cancer mortality. The study credits the state's aggressive tax on cigarettes and comprehensive tobacco control efforts.
UC San Diego researcher Maike Sander leads a team in developing replacement insulin-producing beta cells from patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells. The goal is to create a cell-based approach for treating type 1 diabetes, providing patients with insulin independence and reduced risk of hypoglycemia.
A new material, a potential ingredient for microbicides, dramatically lowers HIV infection rates by targeting the mediator between the virus and cells. The coating molecule blocks SEVI's interactions with both the virus and immune cells, preventing at least one way for HIV to attach.
A team of researchers at UC San Diego will study the impact of low oxygen levels on cells and tissue in the heart, lung, and brain. The study aims to understand molecular mechanisms that contribute to low oxygen tolerance or susceptibility in diseases such as stroke and pulmonary hypertension.
A cross-sectional study found that children exposed to a particular strain of adenovirus were significantly more likely to be obese. The researchers detected neutralizing antibodies specific to AD36 in 15% of the children, with those who tested positive weighing an average of 50 pounds more than their non-positive counterparts.
Trius will use its proprietary Focused Antisense Screening Technology (FAST) to identify antibacterial compounds from marine natural product libraries discovered by Scripps researchers. The goal is to develop novel antibiotics directed against microorganisms causing serious infections.
A new material can mark early-stage tumors using ultrasound imaging, potentially reducing the need for second surgeries and making operations more comfortable for patients. The durable material is made of porous glass spheres filled with a gas that helps it last longer.
Scientists have found a key protein regulating biological clocks also regulates glucose production in the liver, improving diabetic mice health. Altering this protein can open new treatments for obesity and type 2 diabetes.
The US Department of Energy has awarded a $1.05 million grant to the University of California - San Diego and San Diego State University to develop and execute commercialization plans for promising renewable energy technologies. The program aims to enhance university-based innovation ecosystems in the region.
Economists Krislert Samphantharak and Robert M. Townsend introduce a framework that enables researchers to create detailed accounts for households based on corporate financial accounting principles. This approach allows for more accurate data collection and comparisons across households and regions.
Researchers used the friendship paradox to study the 2009 flu epidemic among 744 students, finding that friends of central members were more likely to get sick earlier. This method can predict epidemics before they spread widely, allowing for an earlier and more effective response.
Researchers at UC San Diego identified misfolding of neuroligin-3 due to gene mutations, leading to trafficking deficiencies and abnormal neuron communications. The findings advance understanding of autism causes and may offer new drug therapies.
The San Diego Supercomputer Center and CAIDA have created a geometric map of the Internet using hyperbolic geometry, leading to more efficient routing architecture. The new approach simplifies path-finding throughout the network, increasing speed, accuracy, and resistance to damage.
Researchers have synthesized hundreds of new compounds that can specifically reduce A-beta 42 levels in the brain, a primary component of Alzheimer's disease. The compounds, called gamma-secretase modulators, were tested in mouse models and showed promising results, reducing neuritic plaques and A-beta 42 levels.
A team led by UC San Diego aims to study the genetic bases of bipolar disorder and lithium treatment through a 5-year project, expanding the NIH's Pharmacogenomics Research Network. The goal is to identify key genetic markers to personalize treatment and improve patient outcomes.
Researchers have discovered that the harmful amyloid protein in Alzheimer's disease interferes with the cellular process of breaking down proteins, leading to an accumulation of toxic debris. The study reveals a natural mechanism for getting rid of excess amyloid, which may help understand the disease.
Researchers have identified dendritic cells in zebrafish, opening up new possibilities for studying the complexities of the human immune system. The discovery provides another model for investigating the mammalian immune system, particularly with regard to humans.
A study published in Archives of General Psychiatry found that toddlers with autism spend more time examining dynamic geometric patterns than social images. This preference was observed as early as 14 months in infants at-risk for autism, and was associated with a higher risk of developing an autism spectrum disorder.