A new study by UCSF researchers reveals that osteoporosis has significant economic costs for Californians, with Medicare paying for most hospital care and nursing home care being the largest expense. Early detection and prevention are critical to reducing these costs, which include indirect losses due to premature death.
The robotic microscope enables repeated analysis of cellular changes, allowing scientists to identify factors predicting cell fate and guide investigation into neurodegeneration. With the microscope, researchers can analyze 300,000 cells in just 15 minutes, reducing laborious tasks and eliminating bias.
A new journal series aims to educate physicians about individual and systems factors contributing to medical errors. The series analyzes real-life cases, including a study of 17 errors that allowed one patient to receive an invasive procedure intended for another.
Researchers have developed a photosensitive silicone intraocular lens that can be adjusted after surgery to eliminate refractive errors. The lens uses low-power light to make precise power adjustments, offering a potential alternative to LASIK surgery for severe myopia and farsightedness.
Internal documents expose tobacco industry's secret lists of control advocates and researchers, aiming to discredit them. Industry agencies also conducted clandestine research on public health groups, including secretly recording meetings.
This study estimates the direct and indirect costs of prostate cancer in California for 1998, finding that hospitalization costs account for almost three-fifths of total costs. Prostate cancer adds significant costs to patients with comorbid conditions, such as heart disease or respiratory illness.
A study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that tobacco industry youth anti-smoking programs were designed to serve the industry's political aims, rather than reducing smoking rates. The programs aimed to gather information on youth behavior and attitudes to inform marketing strategies.
A study by UCSF found that consuming excessive salt increases calcium loss, while a potassium supplement helps maintain bone density. Potassium-rich foods like bananas and spinach can be beneficial for preventing osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
UCSF researchers argue that funding HIV prevention interventions in sub-Saharan Africa is 28 times more cost-effective than treating individuals with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Implementing six proven prevention interventions can save a maximum number of lives with limited funds available, according to the study.
GenMAPP organizes gene expression results by biological process, allowing researchers to see coordinated changes in gene expression. The program uses graphical representations of biological pathways to analyze gene expression data, providing a systems approach to interpreting biological data.
A recent study published in the Pediatric Academic Societies found that low-grade cervical lesions (LSILs) tend to clear up on their own in adolescent women. The study of 187 adolescents aged 13-22 years showed that only 4% had persistent LSILs after three years, and most regressed within three months.
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.