The study found that the c-Myc protein has a key cancer-preventing mechanism, causing cell death, but also triggers the growth of invasive tumors when another oncoprotein is activated. Suppressing this mechanism can lead to rapid tumor regression and collapse of blood vessels.
A UCSF study shows that 80% of patients taking etanercept experience significant relief from ankylosing spondylitis symptoms. The drug reduces spinal inflammation and slows disease progression, offering a new therapeutic option for the chronic inflammatory arthritis.
A small percentage of homeless individuals in San Francisco account for the majority of emergency department visits. These high users often have substance abuse and mental health problems, and are more likely to be younger, female, and Medicaid-insured.
Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a preventable condition characterized by decay of primary teeth, affecting underserved and poor communities. UCSF researchers found a significant association between ECC and low cariogenic bacterial levels, lack of dental insurance, and family income.
Researchers have discovered that a single genetic mutation can disrupt at least two other genes, leading to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The study found that the mutated gene affects the expression of two contractile proteins necessary for heart contraction. This new understanding may lead to future gene therapy strategies.
A new UCSF study found that older men with higher testosterone levels performed better on tests of cognition, including concentration, memory, and attention. However, the researchers emphasize that the study only examined natural testosterone levels and did not prove the benefits of testosterone supplements for cognitive health.
Researchers discover immune proteins that viruses once exploited have evolved to call in attacks against their former exploiters. This finding suggests that the immune system may be turning the tables on pathogens, and could lead to new strategies for fighting viral infections.
Scientists have found a potential mechanism for obesity resistance in mice lacking the fat-making enzyme DGAT1. These mice are more sensitive to leptin and insulin, leading to lower tissue triglyceride levels and increased sensitivity to insulin, resulting in weight loss despite high-fat diets.
A UCSF study found high levels of HCV infection among young low-income women in San Francisco, with injection drug use and HSV-2 co-infection contributing to transmission. The study also highlights the need for public health efforts beyond needle exchange programs to address non-needle drug use and sexually transmitted diseases.
Researchers found that managed care is associated with improved integration of inpatient and outpatient care, leading to lower hospitalization rates for chronic conditions. The study analyzed California trends and found a strong association between patient access ratings and reduced hospital admissions.
Researchers found high levels of prions in skeletal muscle of mice, which may lead to transmission in cattle. The team suggests investigating the distribution of prions in the muscles of animals with prion diseases to improve diagnostic tools and disease understanding.
A UCSF study found that high cholesterol levels are associated with poorer cognitive performance in elderly women. Using statins to lower cholesterol levels was linked to improved cognitive skills, suggesting a potential benefit for preventing Alzheimer's disease.
A new study has found that cocaine use is associated with an increased risk of aortic dissection, a potentially fatal condition. The research, led by UCSF cardiology fellow Priscilla Hsue, highlights the importance of healthcare providers being aware of this potential risk factor and recognizing early signs of the condition.
Researchers have determined the mechanism that draws immune system's B cells toward T cells, needed to launch an antibody response after exposure to foreign antigen. The discovery highlights the role of chemokine receptors in guiding B cell movement, which may underlie a range of cellular movements in embryonic development.
Late-stage prostate cancer unresponsive to hormone therapy due to hypermethylation of estrogen receptor genes. A new study suggests that demethylating agents could restore effectiveness of hormone therapy by reversing methylation.
A UCSF study found that radiologists who interpreted a high volume of mammograms were more accurate in detecting cancer. High volume readers had higher sensitivity and accuracy rates compared to low volume readers, suggesting that fewer biopsies are needed to find cancers.
Researchers found that HIV protein Vpr halts infected T cells from dividing, allowing the virus to replicate efficiently. The study uses a new laboratory technique to detect infected cells, providing a potential window into patient outcomes and treatment options.
A multi-site study led by UCSF investigators shows comparable survival rates and graft function for HIV-infected patients receiving kidney and liver transplants. The study found that nearly 90% of kidney grafts and 84% of liver grafts were functioning within a year post-transplant.
A study of 741 police officers found that those who experienced intense fear, horror, or helplessness during traumatic incidents had a higher risk of developing PTSD symptoms. Insomnia was also prevalent among the officers, with nearly half suffering from sleep disturbances typical of insomnia clinics.
UCSF scientists have demonstrated in animals how morphine's potent painkilling powers can be sustained without increasing dosages. By pairing morphine with an opioid that facilitates endocytosis, they showed that the natural cellular process can arrest the pattern of tolerance to morphine.
The hospitalist model of inpatient care has achieved many attributes of other medical specialties and is expected to become the dominant model. Studies have shown significant decreases in hospital costs and lengths of stay, with no negative impact on quality measures.
Researchers found that proliferating germline stem cells, which divide continuously, affect aging by influencing a steroid hormone. The discovery suggests that these stem cells are master control cells controlling both reproduction and aging.
Researchers discovered an alternate folding mechanism that protects some proteases from breakdown by other proteases, making them highly resistant to degradation. This novel strategy, involving a pro-region catalyst, allows for exceptional stability and rigidity in the folded state.
A study by UCSF scientists has found that Chinese-American smokers metabolize nicotine more slowly than Latinos and Caucasians, leading to lower lung cancer rates. This slower metabolism helps explain why they smoke fewer cigarettes and are less likely to develop lung cancer.
A new study finds that raloxifene, an osteoporosis medication, reduces breast cancer risk by 76% in postmenopausal women with high estrogen levels. Women with low estrogen levels receive no reduction in risk.
A new UCSF study reveals that the KSHV epidemic in San Francisco gay men occurred before the HIV epidemic, and was linked to oral intercourse. The study found a steady prevalence of KSHV infection among gay men from 1978 to 1995, despite a significant decline in unprotected anal intercourse.
Recent research from San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center suggests a closer connection between HIV and Alzheimer's disease. The study found that immune cell markers of AIDS dementia remain even after treatment with anti-retroviral drug cocktails, similar to those elevated in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
A UCSF study suggests that with effective programs, including anti-tobacco media campaigns and community-based efforts, the US can reduce its adult smoking rate from 23-26% to 15% by 2010. This goal is within reach due to successful large-scale tobacco control initiatives in states like California.
A new non-invasive technique using modified breast pumps to collect breast fluid samples shows promise in predicting breast cancer risk. Women with normal cells in their fluid are 30% more likely to develop cancer, while those with abnormal cells are twice as likely.
A new UCSF study found that many cancer patients are not taking around-the-clock and as-needed pain medicines as prescribed by their physicians. This results in inadequate pain relief, with only 29.2% of patients receiving both long-acting and short-acting opioids.
Researchers genetically engineered mice to overexpress the HIF-1α gene in skin cells, resulting in a 70% increase in capillaries and normal-like blood vessels. The study suggests that HIF-1α harnesses VEGF expression in a way that could be beneficial therapeutically for conditions like ischemic tissue and recalcitrant wounds.
A recent study by the San Francisco VA Medical Center found that two-thirds of elderly people who are eligible for nursing home care receive it at home, often from family members. This type of in-home care is estimated to save the government billions of dollars annually.
Researchers found that a chemical signal from the nervous system can redirect immune actions, affecting conditions like arthritis and asthma. The discovery suggests potential for developing drugs to regulate the immune response and improve defenses.
A recent study has found that women with a particular gene sequence are at a higher risk of developing cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. The study, conducted by researchers at UCSF and Axys Pharmaceuticals, followed over 2,800 women for seven years and found that those with the high-risk polymorphism were 30-40% more likely...
A systematic study confirms the potential of pharmacogenomics to improve drug therapies by selecting treatments based on a patient's genetic profile. However, the practice faces significant challenges, including inadequate training, funding, and concerns about racial inequities.
Researchers discovered that parasitic worms develop normally into adults when in contact with specific immune cells in their host's liver, producing fewer eggs if disconnected. This adaptation allows the worms to thrive by exploiting their host's immune response.
Researchers found that aspirin is not cost-effective addition to national strategy for reducing death from colorectal cancer. Screening methods, such as flexible sigmoidoscopy and yearly fecal occult blood testing, remain highly effective and cost-efficient options.
The tobacco industry, led by Philip Morris, employed a sophisticated public relations campaign to shape scientific standards and prevent increased smoking restrictions. The 'sound science' movement was used to promote arbitrary thresholds for identifying health risk from secondhand smoke, ignoring comprehensive assessments of risk.
Researchers at Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology found that HIV's Vpr gene causes the formation of nuclear herniations, disrupting cell division. This disruption enables virus production to increase severalfold, improving HIV's ability to grow and infect new cells.
Researchers found four characteristics independently associated with recent overdoses in a San Francisco Bay Area population: homelessness, lengthy prison sentences, and sex work. Targeted interventions to decrease overdose risk are urgently needed, according to the study's lead author.
Researchers at Gladstone Institute discover HIV can infect naïve T cells, explaining how T-cell numbers diminish and leave the body susceptible to opportunistic infections. Infected naïve cells die, eliminating immune system's ability to respond to opportunistic infections characteristic of AIDS.
A UCSF study found that patients with substance abuse-related medical conditions benefit from integrated medical and addiction treatment, leading to improved abstinence rates and reduced inpatient use. The two-year study showed no significant differences in total abstinence rates between the integrated and independent care groups.
Researchers discovered two plant-derived chemicals that reduce damage from simulated strokes in cultured mouse brain cells. These PARG inhibitors could lead to a new class of stroke drugs, targeting the enzyme Poly-ADP-Ribose Glycohydrolase.
The UCSF Center for Addressing Disparities in Children's Oral Health will investigate causes and preventive measures for early childhood caries, focusing on racial and ethnic minorities. The center aims to improve oral health among young children through data-driven projects and interventions.
A UCSF study found that significant reductions in heart disease risk factors have saved over 430,000 deaths annually, with population-wide dietary changes and widespread use of medications being cost-effective.
A recent study by UCSF researchers reveals a significant shortage of dentists in California's rural and underserved communities. The study found that two-thirds of communities without dentists are rural and at least 20% of California communities face a dentist shortage, exacerbating oral health disparities.
Researchers argue that the cervix is a 'hot spot' for HIV infection and that physical barrier devices like the diaphragm could increase HIV prevention. The diaphragm's ability to block fluid transport may enhance the effectiveness of microbicides in killing HIV on contact.
Researchers have discovered a new mechanism that triggers blood cell adhesion in sickle cell disease, with P-selectin playing a key role. Inhibiting P-selectin has shown promise in reducing adhesion and potentially preventing pain crises and organ failure.
A UCSF/Harvard study analyzed 13,693 government inspections of nursing homes and found that for-profit facilities were cited for deficient care 46.5% more frequently than non-profits. For-profit homes had significantly lower staff-to-patient ratios, leading to concerns about the impact on patient care.
Researchers at the Gladstone Institute have discovered a new pathway that regulates the activity of NF-kB, a protein controlling key inflammatory and immune responses. The study reveals how acetylation and deacetylation control NF-kB's ability to trigger biological processes.