A quality improvement program in federally qualified community health centers improved diabetes care, reducing patients' lifetime risk of blindness, kidney disease, and coronary artery disease. The program cost less than $500 per patient each year and is projected to save the healthcare system millions.
A recent study on chimpanzee genetics reveals three distinct groups with considerable genetic variation, which has important implications for conservation efforts. The research team found that the traditional geography-based sorting of chimps into western, central, and eastern populations is supported by significant genetic differences.
The study found an unexpected link between the immune system and elevated lipids in mice, suggesting a potential new avenue for studying coronary heart disease. The researchers discovered that altering T cell expression levels significantly impacted cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
A study by the University of Chicago Medical Center found that a specialized chiropractic adjustment can lower blood pressure significantly in individuals with a misaligned Atlas vertebra and high blood pressure. The results showed a decrease equal to taking two blood-pressure drugs at once, with no change in heart rate.
A survey found that most physicians support financial incentives for better medical care, but oppose public reporting of quality assessments. Doctors worry that such programs may harm poor and non-compliant patients.
A study published in PNAS reveals that genes of human and chimpanzee underwent a rigorous two-step filtering process, with radical mutations more harshly screened. The researchers estimated that around 10-12% of genetic changes between humans and chimpanzees are adaptive, with most responsible for significant evolutionary divergence.
The study found that 86% of doctors feel obligated to present all options, but only 63% believe it's ethical to describe their objections. Male physicians and those who personally object to certain practices are less likely to refer patients to alternative providers.
US physicians tend to start treatment sooner and are more aggressive in controlling blood pressure, with 63% of patients having their blood pressure under control. However, vast room for improvement exists, with less than two-thirds of patients reaching guideline-set goals.
Despite rapid brain growth, human brain genes have slowed down evolution since the split from chimpanzees. Complexity and gene-gene interactions place constraints on brain genes, hindering change. Genes in humans evolve more slowly than in other primates or mice.
A recent genetic study reveals that humans and Neanderthals shared a common ancestor around 706,000 years ago, but the two species diverged around 370,000 years ago. The study found no evidence of genetic admixture between Neanderthals and humans, contradicting previous theories.
The University of Chicago Medical Center will focus on metastasis with a $20 million donation from the Virginia & D.K. Ludwig Fund for Cancer Research. Researchers aim to unravel what makes cancer susceptible to metastasis and develop new treatments.
Research reveals that obese patients are one-third more likely to experience cancer recurrence, while underweight patients face a doubled risk of death from non-cancer causes. The study suggests that excess weight can lead to reduced treatment efficacy due to concurrent illnesses.
Researchers found that sorafenib can prevent pulmonary hypertension development in rodents by inhibiting abnormal cellular growth and new blood vessel formation. The study suggests a potential therapeutic option for this cardiovascular disease.
Researchers at the University of Chicago have developed a vaccine that protects mice against multiple, drug-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus. The combined vaccine, based on four bacterial surface proteins, provided significant protection against five virulent strains and reduced bacterial load to undetectable levels.
Researchers have found a remarkably well-preserved fossil lamprey from the Devonian period that reveals today's lampreys as 'living fossils.' The discovery pushes back the lamprey fossil record by 35 million years and adds essential new detail to the emerging picture of early vertebrate evolution.
Two studies at ACG suggest that patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who take medications as directed incur lower medical costs compared to non-compliant patients. Compliance rates were poor overall, but improved with age and education, with the elderly and younger patients scoring poorly.
The three-dimensional structure of insulin-degrading enzyme suggests ways to develop drugs that could either speed up or slow down its activity. The researchers discovered small mutations that increased the enzyme's activity by 40-fold, providing a blueprint for developing similar effects.
A study published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research found that naltrexone significantly improved smoking cessation rates for women, with a 49% increase in success rates compared to men. The medication reduced cravings and withdrawal symptoms, leading to a higher likelihood of quitting smoking.
A study published in Annals of Surgery found that duodenal switch surgery produced greater weight loss than gastric bypass in super-obese patients, resulting in higher success rates at one and three years post-surgery. The procedure also had fewer complications and improved nutritional outcomes.
A study at the University of Chicago Medical Center found that short or poor quality sleep is associated with reduced control of blood-sugar levels in African Americans with diabetes. The research suggests that improving sleep duration and quality may be an inexpensive way to improve health outcomes for patients with type 2 diabetes.
For hematopoietic stem cells, a two-step process regulates cell fate decisions, with pioneer transcription factors triggering the first step and secondary factors activating specific genes. Understanding this circuitry is crucial for learning how to transform stem cells into therapeutically useful cells.
Researchers have developed a system that enables people with severe paralysis to generate signals in the motor cortex of their brain, which can be detected and converted into actions. Two patients, Matthew Nagle and a 55-year-old man, successfully controlled computers and even opened prosthetic hands using only their thoughts.
A new study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that middle-aged adults spend an average of 6.1 hours asleep per night, despite spending 7.5 hours in bed. The study also revealed significant racial and socioeconomic disparities in sleep duration, with African-American men sleeping only 5.1 hours a night.
Researchers found that a short nap can significantly boost physician concentration and alleviate chronic sleep deprivation. Interns who took naps reported lower levels of fatigue and improved ability to care for their patients.
A year-long treatment improved neurologic outcomes for infants and children with toxoplasmosis. Seventy-two percent of those with moderate or severe disease had normal long-term cognitive outcomes. Comprehensive screening for pregnant women and newborns is recommended to prevent this acute parasitic infection.
Researchers found that suppressing interferon-gamma can prevent damage to myelin-producing cells in the nervous system. Transgenic mice with SOCS1 gene showed reduced symptoms and cell loss compared to those without it.
A study of 2,000 US physicians found that their personal religious and spiritual characteristics influence their approach to discussing spirituality with patients. Differences in attitude and behavior reflect varying levels of religiosity among physicians.
Researchers found that starlings can learn to distinguish between two different patterns of organizing sounds used for communication, including recursive center-embedding. This ability challenges the long-held assumption that human language is uniquely complex and computational.
The newly found Tiktaalik species blurs the boundary between fish and land-living animals through its anatomy and lifestyle. The discovery provides critical early phase insights into the evolution of all limbed animals, including humans.
The guidelines aim to help physicians decide when to stop taking medications in older adults. They consider factors such as life expectancy, the time until benefits are realized, goals of care, and treatment targets.
Three research teams successfully replicated a controversial diabetes therapy, curing 32% of treated mice by manipulating the immune system. However, they were unable to regenerate beta cells from spleen-derived stem cells, leaving the source of these cells unknown.
Scientists found that changes in transcription factor genes, which control expression of other genes, played a key role in human evolution. The study suggests that rapid adaptations to changing environments, such as the use of cooked food, drove these changes.
Researchers found that serotonin levels in pacemaker cells are crucial for gasping and auto-resuscitation in babies. Disturbed serotonin levels can lead to a decrease in gasping, making it difficult for the baby to wake up and initiate movement.
Researchers found widespread evidence of evolution in all populations studied, with signals of positive selection detected in genes related to metabolism, skin pigmentation, and brain development. The study identified over 700 recently evolving genes, including the lactase gene, which enabled Europeans to digest milk into adulthood.
A University of Chicago study found that daily doses of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride were as effective as montelukast sodium in relieving hay fever symptoms without additional side effects. Pseudoephedrine was slightly more effective in reducing congestion and had a lower risk of sleep problems compared to montelukast.
A study found that African American infants with the common genetic variation Y1103 are 24 times more likely to die from SIDS than those without it. The variation affects sodium channels in cardiac muscle cells, increasing the risk of abnormal heart rhythms and sudden death.
A study at the University of Chicago Medical Center found that erectile dysfunction is a stronger predictor of significant coronary heart disease than traditional risk factors. Men with ED had reduced exercise endurance, decreased ejection fraction, and higher evidence for coronary artery blockages.
A gradient of Wnt3 counterbalances EphrinB1-EphB signaling to establish a carefully controlled pattern of nerve connections required for conveying spatial information from the eye to the brain. This balance is necessary for topographic mapping, which allows positional information to be smoothly transferred to the brain.
Researchers identify the breathing center in the medulla as the source of erratic breathing in Rett Syndrome, finding a significant decrease in norepinephrine. Adding norepinephrine can normalize breathing patterns, suggesting potential treatment options for the condition.
Research reveals that households with unrelated adults, particularly male boyfriends, pose a significant risk to young children. The study found that 21% of children who died from inflicted injuries lived in homes with an unrelated adult, compared to 1% of controls.
A study by researchers at the University of Chicago found that activating specific cells in the brain stem allows animals to suppress pain while performing essential tasks. This mechanism, known as
African American women face unique genetic challenges in breast cancer screening due to limited data on mutations. Research confirms that genetic testing models work just as well for African Americans as they do for other populations, but the spectrum of mutations is vastly different.
Bariatric surgery procedures have increased significantly since 1998, with a notable shift towards wealthier households and private insurance. Despite this growth, disparities persist in receiving bariatric surgery, particularly among men, those with public insurance, and lower-income individuals.
Researchers report a disturbing convergence of drug-resistant bacteria and virulent new strains of Staph. aureus, leading to severe illness and death in previously healthy children. The study highlights the need for better treatments and a vaccine to combat this growing threat.
Two genes, microcephalin and ASPM, linked to brain size have continued to evolve rapidly in humans over the past 37,000 and 5,800 years, respectively. These genetic variants are favored by natural selection and occur more frequently in certain populations.
A team of researchers at the University of Chicago has identified a gradient of biochemical signals, including Wnt proteins and Ryk receptor, that guide nerve growth down the spinal cord. This discovery offers new insights into how to repair or replace damaged nerves in adults.
Scientists have found that melanin, a pigment in the body, acts as a sponge to absorb and destroy free radicals that damage retinal cells. This discovery offers hope for preventing macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness.
A team of scientists has identified a key protein, LcrV, that allows Yersinia pestis to evade the host's immune response. By developing an altered version of this protein, rV10, they have created a potential plague vaccine that triggers only small amounts of IL-10 and protects against infection.
Pseudomonas bacteria can detect interferon-gamma, a chemical messenger that triggers the immune system's response. Once detected, the bacteria activate genes that transform them from harmless passengers into deadly invaders.
A new study found that inhaled nitric oxide significantly improved brain development in premature infants, with only 24% experiencing delayed mental development or disabilities compared to 46% of those who received standard treatment. The therapy has the potential to become standard for about 30,000 children a year.