Researchers at University of California San Diego have discovered the transformation process of healthy stem cells to cancer stem cells in oral cancer. By activating YAP and HPV oncogenes, normal stem cells are reprogrammed into cancer cells, leading to early-stage tumor initiation.
The Lancet Commission, led by Eliah Aronoff-Spencer, aims to strengthen communities against pandemics, climate change, and other global challenges. The commission will conduct three phases of work, including planning, fact-finding, and collaborative simulation, to produce a future-oriented report with policy recommendations.
A new clinical trial found that a self-guided family-based treatment approach is as effective as traditional clinician-led approaches in helping children with obesity. This approach requires fewer contact hours, is more flexible, and significantly reduces costs.
Scientists from University of California San Diego use thermal release to extract water molecules from lunar rocks, revealing origin as either moon itself or comet impacts. The study provides valuable clues for NASA's Artemis program and future human settlements on the moon and Mars.
Researchers found that households with reported in-home cannabis smoking had a child with detectable cannabis biomarker levels five times higher than those without in-home smoking. Reducing in-home cannabis smoking could substantially reduce children's exposure to toxic chemicals.
Researchers propose several key features to optimize sparsity, massive parallelism, and hierarchical structure in neural representation for neuromorphic systems. The goal is to achieve energy efficiency and compactness while retaining information at high fidelity.
Researchers at UC San Diego developed CASTER to analyze entire genomes for species relationships and evolutionary histories across the genome. This approach provides scalable and interpretable outputs, unlocking discoveries on how evolution has shaped present-day genomes and the tree of life organization.
Researchers have created a detailed structural map of GABA A receptors in the human brain, revealing how they assemble and interact with drugs. The study provides new insights into treating epilepsy, anxiety, depression, and insomnia, and paves the way for customized therapies.
A team of researchers at the University of California - San Diego has made a groundbreaking discovery by showing that infrared radiation can lower the temperature needed for dehydration by up to 14 degrees Celsius. This is achieved through radiative energy transport, which had been overlooked until now.
A new study reveals a link between genetic mutations and epigenetic modifications, challenging the current anti-aging strategies based on epigenetic clock theory. The research found that mutations can cause a cascade of epigenetic changes across the genome, making it harder to reverse aging than previously thought.
Bioelectronic medicine is advancing with non-invasive techniques offering distinct advantages over pharmaceutical treatments. Closed-loop systems could provide individualized medicine, while bioelectronic devices may use the body's own system to tamp down inflammation.
A new AI-driven approach allows for the reconstruction of heart muscle cell signals with high accuracy, providing insights into cellular communication and response to drugs. This noninvasive method could dramatically reduce drug development time and cost, enabling personalized medicine.
Researchers developed a method to produce strigolactones using microbial cell factories, amplifying production by over 125 times. This allows for the study of these scarce plant molecules in greater depth, offering insights into sustainable agricultural practices and plant development.
A partnership between Kick It California and local 211 information and referral agencies resulted in over 55,000 new referrals for tobacco cessation services among low-income tobacco users. The study found that 211 participants were more likely to be female, LGBTQ, Black or multiracial, younger, less educated, and Medicaid-insured.
A new strategy enhances pharmaceutical production in Chinese hamster ovary cells by knocking out a gene circuit responsible for producing lactic acid. The approach improves growth rates and significantly increases protein yield, overcoming a decades-old challenge in biomanufacturing.
The Community and Household Acute Respiratory Illness Monitoring (CHARM) Network will track how respiratory illnesses spread over time, assess immune responses, and study household transmission. UC San Diego will enroll 2,000 individuals and serve as the centralized data hub, providing insights to inform public health responses.
Researchers at the University of California - San Diego uncovered the 'method of last resort' mechanism used by diazotrophs to protect their nitrogenase enzyme from oxygen damage. This complex process involves a protein called FeSII, which binds to the nitrogenase and halts ammonia production when oxygen levels increase.
Research suggests ketamine use is increasing among US adults, linked to depression and sociodemographic factors. Expansion of prevention outreach and education on polydrug use harms are recommended.
Researchers found significant functional variations between rodent and human PD-1 due to evolutionary divergence. The study reveals a unique motif present in most mammals but missing in rodents, leading to uniquely weaker rodent PD-1.
Researchers at University of California San Diego have identified MICAL2 enzyme as a promising target for pancreatic cancer treatment. The study found that excessive production of the enzyme promotes tumor growth and spread in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas.
Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have discovered that fatty liver disease can lead to liver cancer through DNA damage in liver cells. The study suggests that developing new drugs to prevent or reverse DNA damage could be a promising approach for preventing liver cancer.
Researchers developed SMART, a new software package simulating complex cell-signaling networks with realistic 3D shapes and interactions. This tool helps advance understanding of cellular behavior and drives development of new treatments for human diseases.
A quality improvement project using Lean methodology at UC San Diego Health reduced unnecessary work hours for surgical residents by 10.2%, improving resident well-being and faculty perception of preparedness. The study's framework can be replicated to support other residency programs in optimizing resident and institutional outcomes.
A Phase I clinical trial demonstrated long-term safety and feasibility of neural stem cell transplantation for treating chronic spinal cord injuries. Two patients showed durable evidence of neurological improvement with increased motor and sensory scores.
UC San Diego researchers identified the key reason for vaccine failures against Staphylococcus aureus: overabundance of interleukin-10 (IL-10) in B cells and helper T cells. Blocking IL-10 restores vaccine efficacy, suggesting a potential solution to combat this deadly bacterium.
A new study reveals that social risks like food insecurity and housing instability impede patients' ability to receive routine cancer screenings, even when they have access to healthcare. The research highlights the need for health providers to take a more holistic approach to patient care to address these challenges.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has granted funding to develop educational programs for Native American youth, addressing increased risk of dangerous driving behaviors. Online courses are also being adapted to improve older driver safety, focusing on impaired driving and distracted driving prevention.
UC San Diego Health has been recognized as a High Performing Hospital for maternity care by U.S. News & World Report for the third consecutive year, providing highly reliable maternity care to expectant parents and newborns. The hospital also excels in breastfeeding support, with nearly 90% of babies fed exclusively breast milk.
A new study from UC San Diego reveals that dogs trained on soundboards can make deliberate two-word button combinations to express their needs and desires. The research found that these sequences are not random but rather reflect specific requests, such as accessing the outdoors or obtaining treats.
Researchers created a comprehensive map of blood cell changes from fetal development to old age, finding that leukemia cells can reflect young or old blood cell production. Patients with leukemia whose cells resemble young blood cells have a worse prognosis.
A multinational study of 14 countries found that having a personal social media account was linked to higher total sedentary time in both males and females. Adolescents who reported less recreational screen time lived in walkable neighborhoods and had better perceptions of safety.
Large language models like GPT-4 can analyze gene sets with high accuracy, identifying common functions and providing detailed narratives to support their findings. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize functional genomics research by synthesizing complex information and generating new testable hypotheses.
A new study reveals crisis pregnancy centers in the US make misleading and dangerous claims, including promoting unproven abortion pill reversal treatments. The study found that 90% of CPCs advertised medical services, while 30% promoted 'abortion pill reversal,' which lacks FDA approval.
A new AI model, Spherical DYffusion, can predict climate patterns over 100 years in just 25 hours, making it 25 times faster than the state of the art. The model uses generative AI and physics data to achieve this breakthrough, reducing the need for supercomputers.
Researchers analyzed hundreds of malaria parasite genomes to identify genetic variants associated with drug resistance. The study's findings can help scientists predict antimalarial drug resistance and prioritize experimental treatments.
A new study warns that climate change's impact on water resources will significantly increase the cost of achieving zero-emission grids by 2050. The required investments in generation and transmission infrastructure are expected to be massive, with up to 139 gigawatts of power capacity needed in the Western United States.
A new gene drive technology, known as e-Drive, has been developed to reverse insecticide resistance in pests by replacing mutant genes with native ones. The system is designed to spread and then disappear, leaving only a population of insects susceptible to pesticides.
A clinical trial found that cetuximab was more effective than durvalumab in treating advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head or neck, with a higher probability of being alive and free of disease at two years. Cetuximab's efficacy was similar whether or not the cancer was associated with HPV.
A team of researchers at the University of California San Diego has developed a clinically validated, wearable ultrasound patch for continuous and noninvasive blood pressure monitoring. The device offers precise, real-time readings of blood pressure deep within the body, providing detailed trends in blood pressure fluctuations.
A new study reveals that Latino Facebook and Instagram users are significantly more vulnerable to political misinformation when consuming news in Spanish, compared to those using English. The research found a strong link between Spanish-language social media consumption and less informed election knowledge among Latinos.
Scientists have discovered a weakness in antibiotic-resistant bacteria that can be exploited to stop the spread of this public health crisis. By understanding the link between magnesium limitation and ribosome variants, researchers may develop novel drug-free approaches to combat antibiotic resistance.
A new optical biosensor can detect the monkeypox virus within two minutes, allowing for rapid diagnosis and treatment. The technology has the potential to curb the spread of mpox and prepare for future pandemics, especially in countries with sparse healthcare resources.
Scientists have discovered a plausible explanation for the development of early Earth protocells. The researchers found that a spontaneous reaction between two simple molecules could form lipids and create membrane vesicles, paving the way for the emergence of life. This breakthrough provides new insights into the origin of life on Earth.
A new study found that artificial light significantly disrupts the circadian rhythms of honey bees, leading to impaired behaviors and reduced sleep periods. This poses a threat to their essential role as pollinators, supporting ecosystem stability and global food security.
A recent study found that online e-cigarette retailers are not consistently adhering to laws aimed at preventing the sale of vaping products to minors. The researchers analyzed 16 attempted purchases and found that 73% were processed and 67% were delivered, with many violating age verification and shipping regulations.
A team of researchers at the University of California San Diego has identified a key pathway leading to neurodegeneration in early stages of ALS. The study suggests that targeting this pathway may prevent or slow disease progression, offering new hope for therapies.
Topological insulators, a new type of quantum material, are explained using dance. The researchers created a grid with blue and red tape on the floor, and then choreographed a dance based on Hamiltonian rules in quantum mechanics.
Researchers at UC San Diego have developed battery-free RFID sensors that enable real-time sensing and tracking of environmental parameters like temperature and humidity. These sensors have the potential to revolutionize various industries such as agriculture, athletics, and occupancy detection.
Researchers developed a wearable ultrasound device that tracks muscle function without invasive procedures, offering high-resolution imaging and wireless monitoring capabilities. The technology has potential applications in respiratory health and human-machine interfaces.
The $1 trillion investment in climate change mitigation depends on state and local government spending. Local jurisdictions must adopt an experimental attitude to design policies that incentivize consumers and businesses to produce and use more renewable energy. Evaluation of program outcomes is crucial for decarbonization.