A new study found that a deadlier subtype of metastatic prostate cancer, called t-SCNC, constitutes about 17% of resistant cases. Researchers suggest that targeted drugs already in clinical trials could be effective in treating this subtype.
A study by UCSF researchers found that hospitals adopting electronic health records (EHRs) initially experienced higher mortality rates, but these improved over time as they learned to work with the technology and adopted new capabilities. The benefits of EHR adoption were most pronounced in smaller and non-teaching hospitals.
UCSF researchers identified key genetic changes that transform benign moles into malignant melanoma, including mutations in DNA regulatory genes. They used CRISPR to recreate the steps of melanoma evolution in lab cells, revealing new biomarkers and potential targeted therapies.
Researchers found that adult stem cells in the intestines are replaced by fetal growth genes after parasite injury, enabling rapid wound repair. This discovery could lead to new treatments for internal wounds and improve understanding of mammalian body repair mechanisms.
A new study by UC San Francisco scientists reveals the brain area responsible for controlling vocal pitch in humans. The dorsal laryngeal motor cortex is found to govern the 'music' of speech, enabling flexible control over pitch fluctuations during speech.
UCSF researchers identified a critical immune cell pathway that primes the immune system for effective response to checkpoint inhibitors. The presence of specific immune cells, such as dendritic cells and natural killer cells, in tumors predicts improved response to immunotherapy and overall survival. These findings enable clinicians t...
Researchers discover a protein that shields the PI3K pathway from targeted drugs, leading to improved efficacy with combination therapy. A new study reveals that blocking this protein restores cancer-killing potential in previously ineffective therapies.
A new study in mice reveals that a 'jumping gene' plays a critical role in the first stages of embryonic development. High levels of LINE1 RNA expression are necessary to regulate gene activity and enable embryos to progress past the two-cell phase.
A study from UC San Francisco found that Prop. 47 reduced felony drug arrests by nearly 75% across California, with a significant decline in racial disparities. The measure also led to a decrease in misdemeanor drug citations and overall drug arrests.
A study found that nearly half of deaths attributed to cardiac arrest were not sudden or unexpected, and a significant portion were not arrhythmic. In San Francisco, nearly 1 in 7 deaths from apparent out-of-hospital cardiac arrests were due to hidden drug overdoses.
Researchers at UCSF improve mobility in rats with debilitating strokes by using electrical stimulation to restore brain cell activity associated with efficient movement. The study suggests potential for brain implants to treat stroke patients and offers a new alternative to physical therapy.
A new study by UCSF found that people with severe mental illness are more than twice as likely to have Type 2 diabetes. Racial minorities face even higher risks, with Hispanic patients having a 36.9% incidence rate.
A new study found that after the Affordable Care Act's expansion, Medicaid and uninsured patients had improved access to health services outside of emergency departments, leading to a decline in frequent ED use. Frequent ED users were responsible for 30.7% of visits before the legislation and 31.6% after coverage was expanded.
A new study from UCSF found that overweight and obese young adults are more likely to engage in disordered eating behaviors, such as bingeing and purging. The study also found associations between disordered eating and race and sexual orientation, with Asian/Pacific Islanders and homosexual individuals at increased risk.
A new study by UC San Francisco scientists reveals how complex articulatory movements are coordinated in the brain during fluent speech. The research found that brain regions responsible for producing speech are organized according to physical needs of the vocal tract, not just linguistic features like phonemes.
Scientists have successfully programmed cells to self-organize into multi-layered structures reminiscent of simple organisms or embryonic development. These complex cellular assemblies can repair themselves and form complex tissue-like structures, opening doors for wound repair and organ regeneration.
A nationwide study found that over half of concussion patients are lost in the healthcare system shortly after diagnosis, posing a significant risk to their health. The lack of follow-up care is particularly concerning, as it can lead to debilitating symptoms and prolonged recovery times.
A new test developed by UCSF scientists can predict a woman's risk of preterm birth with over 80 percent accuracy when taken between 15 and 20 weeks pregnant. This information enables doctors to treat women at high risk for preterm birth, potentially preventing severe complications.
A Facebook-based treatment program found that smokers are 2.5 times more likely to quit after three months compared to an online quit-smoking program. Young adults, who are often reluctant to seek help, showed high engagement and short-term abstinence rates.
A novel drug has been identified as a potential treatment for brain damage caused by exposure to cosmic rays, protecting memory function in mice. The study's findings suggest that rebooting the brain's immune system may help prevent cognitive impairments in astronauts during deep space travel.
A study by UC San Francisco found that one in six women who underwent elective egg freezing experienced regret, despite being empowered by the procedure. Women with lower egg yields and inadequate information about the process were more likely to express regret.
Researchers found that brain cells react to endogenous opioids and synthetic opioids in distinct ways, with synthetic opioids activating receptors in internal locations that endogenous opioids cannot access. This difference could contribute to the more rewarding effects of synthetic opioids, leading to addiction.
Research from UCSF found that living in better neighborhoods can reduce cortisol levels in low-income children, associated with improved physical and mental health. Access to green spaces, clean air, and quality grocery stores were key factors in this protective effect.
Researchers tracked over 350,000 veterans and found a significant link between concussion and dementia, with concussion alone doubling the risk. The study suggests that traumatic brain injury may hasten neurodegenerative conditions by inducing or accelerating abnormal protein accumulation.
Analysis of hundreds of human prostate tumors revealed that the most aggressive cancers depend on a built-in cellular stress response to put a brake on their own hot-wired physiology. Experiments showed that blocking this stress response causes treatment-resistant cancer cells to self-destruct while leaving normal cells unaffected.
A study by UCSF and Mayo Clinic found that automated breast-density evaluation is as accurate as subjective evaluation done by radiologists in predicting breast cancer risk. Women with dense breasts are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced-stage breast cancers.
A new study reveals that the tobacco industry successfully manipulated UNICEF's focus on tobacco control for children, reducing its emphasis on a tobacco-free life. The agency was influenced by big tobacco's lobbying efforts, leading to less stringent measures against tobacco use among youth.
A study led by UC San Francisco found that treating young children with azithromycin significantly reduced child mortality rates in Sub-Saharan Africa. The intervention resulted in a 13.5% lower overall child mortality rate compared to placebo-treated communities.
A new study from UCSF reveals the fetal immune system can trigger preterm labor when it mistakenly identifies the mother's cells as foreign. The researchers found activated immune cells in the cord blood of preterm infants and higher levels of inflammatory chemicals, leading to uterine contractions.
Researchers at UCSF found a 56% increased risk of Parkinson's disease among veterans with concussion compared to those without traumatic brain injury. The study followed over 300,000 veterans for an average of 4.6 years and adjusted for age, sex, and other health conditions.
Researchers have systematically mapped connections between 625 breast and ovarian cancer genes and nearly every FDA-approved chemotherapy for these cancers. The map reveals new genetic factors that determine the response of tumor cells to common classes of chemotherapy treatment.
A new study by UCSF researchers has identified two previously unrecognized genetic risks associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia. The findings suggest that these diseases share genetic similarities, but differ in their impact on brain function.
Researchers at UCSF and Stanford University sequence the genome of a mysterious skeleton, nicknamed 'Ata', revealing rare genetic mutations associated with dwarfism and bone growth disorders. The analysis highlights the power of open-source genetic data in enabling precise diagnoses.
New research from University of California - San Francisco scientists shows that the human hippocampus no longer produces new neurons after childhood. This finding presents a challenge to previous studies suggesting neurogenesis could help treat brain diseases.
A new campaign uses spoken word videos to educate young people about the link between diet, environment, and type 2 diabetes, promoting change and demanding healthier habits. The 'Bigger Picture' campaign aims to address the social determinants of health behind the rising rates of Type 2 diabetes in youth.
A new oncolytic virus has been shown to kill cancer cells by alerting the immune system, triggering a widespread immune response that kills cancer cells beyond the infected region. Researchers have found that the virus's mechanism of action involves exposing tumor proteins, which are then detected by the immune system, leading to a pow...
Researchers have identified two compounds that can safely block malaria transmission when added to existing treatment regimens, promising progress toward eliminating the disease. The study's findings suggest that these compounds can effectively prevent the spread of P. falciparum malaria, including its drug-resistant forms.
Cancer researchers have developed a new approach to target 'undruggable' cancer-causing genes by attacking the proteins they produce on the cell surface. The study reveals that antibodies against specific proteins can deliver cytotoxic or immunotherapeutic compounds to Ras-mutant cancer cells.
A scientifically based CAMBRA model, including risk assessment and aggressive preventive measures, dramatically reduces tooth decay in community dental practices. The study's findings support earlier research and have potential to transform dental care for high-risk patients at lower costs.
Researchers at UCSF have discovered that primary cilia on brain cells play a crucial role in signaling appetite control. Mutations in the MC4R gene, found in nearly all cases of severe obesity, are linked to impaired communication between neurons via primary cilia.
Researchers at UCSF have discovered monthly cycles of brain activity linked to seizures in patients with epilepsy. By analyzing data from implanted brain stimulation devices, the team identified patterns of electrical discharges known as 'brain irritability' that are associated with higher seizure risk.
Researchers found that young male songbirds can overcome their genetic predisposition to sing like their fathers with enriched early experience. The study used Bengalese finches and found that exposure to a computerized tutor or live adult males reduced the genetic contribution to complex behaviors like birdsong.
Researchers at UCSF have developed a test that can predict how patients with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia will respond to treatment, potentially identifying those who are likely to recover spontaneously. The test uses epigenetic annotations of the genome and has been validated in an additional group of patients treated in Germany.
A new tool predicts the likelihood of a child progressing to kidney failure with high accuracy, enabling better planning for transplant. The tool could reduce the need for interim dialysis and increase transplantation rates in children with kidney disease.
A national survey found that 20% of Black patients and 17% of White patients reported experiencing health care discrimination. Socio-economic status interacted with reported discrimination differently for Whites and Blacks.
A comprehensive atlas of gene expression in human brain cells reveals new insights into autism, intellectual disability, and schizophrenia. The study identifies links between neural stem cell populations and neurodevelopmental disease, opening up new avenues for research.
A new treatment aims to direct an immune response against a misshapen protein found exclusively on cancer cells, offering hope for children with deadly diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma. The protein target is a neoantigen that can be used to develop more selective and potent immunotherapies.
Finches learn to adjust their songs depending on the situation they are in, with two distinct brain regions involved in this process: one for generalizable rules and another that can override them. This study provides insights into how humans learn complex behaviors like language and movement disorders.
Scientists have identified a novel biological pathway in beige fat cells that burns excess blood glucose to produce heat, suggesting a new strategy for treating metabolic disorders. This discovery could lead to the development of anti-obesity drugs.
A study by researchers at UC San Francisco found that nearly 40% of middle-aged adults with functional impairment experience further decline or death within 10 years. Functional impairment is more common than previously thought, affecting over 1 in 5 adults before age 64.