Researchers discovered a process called neuritosis, where damaged mitochondria lead to neuronal disconnection and death in neurodegenerative diseases. This discovery opens new targets for therapy, as preserving mitochondrial health may prevent disease progression.
US diplomats experienced sudden-onset symptoms including dizziness and cognitive impairment after exposure to a high-frequency noise at the Havana embassy. Researchers found an inner ear abnormality and evidence of cognitive dysfunction in affected individuals, with symptoms persisting even after treatment.
A new study has found that Rift Valley fever virus can cause high rates of stillbirth in pregnant rats and human tissue, with the virus evading the mother-child barrier more efficiently than other vertically transmitted viruses. The research aims to develop vaccines to prevent the virus from causing miscarriage and birth defects.
A new study found racial disparities in the use of oral anticoagulants among Black patients with atrial fibrillation. Compared to white and Hispanic patients, Black patients had lower odds of receiving oral anticoagulants, particularly newer versions.
Research from the University of Pittsburgh suggests that Klotho protein can rejuvenate muscle healing in old mice. By raising Klotho levels or mitigating its deficiency, researchers were able to restore functional levels of muscle regeneration in aged skeletal muscle.
A new analysis by University of Pittsburgh researchers identifies barriers that make it difficult for transgender women to re-enter their communities after incarceration. Key findings include the importance of social support and access to trans-inclusive resources such as career services, healthcare, and transportation.
A new study found a clear negative correlation between climate factors and alcohol consumption, with colder regions and areas with less sunlight experiencing higher drinking rates. Climate is also tied to binge drinking and the prevalence of alcoholic liver disease, which claims many lives in patients with prolonged excessive alcohol use.
A new study found that nearly half of black teenagers surveyed reported losing a friend or family member to murder, associated with higher suicide attempts. The research highlights the ripple effects of traumatic loss on young people and communities.
A genetic test called ThyroSeq has been shown to reliably distinguish between benign and cancerous thyroid nodules using a small sample of cells. The test correctly identified cancerous nodules as positive 94% of the time and detected benign nodules as negative 82% of the time, preventing unnecessary diagnostic surgeries.
A Phase III clinical trial shows that combining immunotherapy with chemotherapy improves progression-free and overall survival for patients with triple-negative breast cancer. The study's results establish a new standard of care in PD-L1+ patients and provide hope for those diagnosed with this aggressive form of breast cancer.
A study by the University of Pittsburgh found that nearly a quarter of JUUL's Twitter followers are under 18, retweeting and amplifying the brand's messages to vulnerable populations. This is concerning as e-cigarette marketing can lead to nicotine addiction and increased tobacco smoking among young adults.
A new study from the University of Pittsburgh has identified arterial stiffness as a key risk factor for dementia in older adults. The researchers found that individuals with high arterial stiffness readings were 60% more likely to develop dementia over a 15-year period.
A study by University of Pittsburgh researchers found that measuring percentage of weight regained after bariatric surgery can help predict serious health problems. The rate of weight regain was highest in the first year following maximum weight loss, indicating early detection and treatment may be crucial.
A study found that Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery patients experience higher peak alcohol concentrations and slower alcohol elimination compared to pre-surgery. This suggests a steady increase in alcohol consumption among post-surgery patients, highlighting the need for improved screening tools.
A national analysis found a significant increase in unhealthy days among sexual minorities in Indiana following the passage of a Religious Freedom Restoration Act. This rise was not seen in neighboring states or heterosexual populations, suggesting the law's impact on public health.
A team of University of Pittsburgh and UPMC researchers has received $8 million in NIH funding to expand their groundbreaking brain-computer interface (BCI) research, with the goal of restoring hand function via a robotic arm. The new funding will support critical next steps in their research.
A new study by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine suggests that experiences of sexual harassment and sexual assault could have a significant impact on the physical and mental health of midlife women. Women who were younger or more financially stressed were more likely to be harassed, and both sexual harassme...
Two University of Pittsburgh faculty members, Peter Strick and Warren Ruder, have been awarded $6 million NIH Director's Transformative Research Awards for innovative research in brain-body connection and antibiotic resistance. Their work aims to revolutionize biomedical research and address significant medical challenges.
A new study suggests that organs affected by autoimmune disease can actively fight back by exhausting immune cells that cause damage. The research found that these cells exhibit characteristics similar to those used by cancer cells to evade the immune system.
A University of Pittsburgh analysis found death rates from drug overdoses have been growing exponentially for at least 15 years, suggesting a long-term process driving the epidemic. The study suggests that prevention efforts must address deeper factors beyond specific drugs to be successful.
Children awaiting livers from deceased donors face significant disadvantages due to the scoring system, which significantly underestimates their risk of death compared to adults. The Pediatric End-stage Liver Disease (PELD) score is incompatible with the Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score used for adults.
A new program, Skills TO Manage Pain (STOMP), aims to address the unique needs of people living with HIV and chronic pain. The NIH-funded trial will evaluate the effectiveness of peer-led group sessions and sponsorship in managing pain.
Scientists discovered that neural stem cells in spinal cords are the limiting factor for tail regeneration. Unlike salamanders, lizard neural stem cells cannot produce diverse cell types needed for bony vertebrae development. This finding may aid understanding of why humans can't regenerate their tails.
Researchers found that marine mammals lost the functional Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) gene, which protects land-dwelling mammals from pesticides. This loss may have allowed marine mammals to adapt to a marine environment, but also makes them vulnerable to organophosphate poisoning.
A new mobile application called Painimation uses animations to assess and monitor pain better than traditional measurement tools. The study found that over 80% of patients enjoyed using the app and it provided similar or more information about pain type and cause than existing questionnaires.
A national clinical trial found that prehospital plasma transfusion can reduce mortality in traumatically injured patients with severe bleeding. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed a 9.8% increase in survival rates among patients who received two units of plasma during air medical transport.
Researchers have discovered a new link between gene LLRK2 and Parkinson's disease, suggesting that therapies currently being developed for a small group of patients may benefit everyone with the disease. The study also found that LRRK2 plays a key role in clearing excess alpha-synuclein, a protein associated with Parkinson's.
A new analysis shows that completing a sepsis protocol within an hour of detection significantly increases survival rates in children, with completion of all elements required to reduce mortality. The study supports New York's Rory's Regulations mandate and encourages expansion to other states.
A study of 1,138 postmenopausal women found that higher HDL cholesterol did not lower cardiovascular disease risk, but rather masked a significant heart disease risk. Small HDL particles were beneficial for these women, while large particles increased risk.
A new study by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health found that potentially 70,000 opioid-related overdose deaths were not included in national estimates since 1999. Incomplete death certificate reporting hampers efforts to understand the opioid epidemic's magnitude.
Researchers found that a fight-or-flight response can trigger the overproduction of white blood cells, leading to inflammation and increased risk of heart attacks in people with diabetes. Beta 2 blockers may help reduce this risk by limiting the proliferation of inflammatory myeloid cells.
A new study from the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy found that concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine use increases the risk of opioid-related overdose by five-fold compared to opioid-only use. The risk decreases after 180 days of concurrent use, but is still elevated compared to opioid-only use.
Researchers found exponential growth in pediatric Lyme disease cases from 2003 to 2013 in western Pennsylvania, shifting from rural to non-rural areas. Children with Lyme disease were more likely to be seen by primary care providers for late-stage symptoms such as arthritis.
A new University of Pittsburgh analysis found that negative social media experiences carry more weight than positive interactions in predicting depressive symptoms. While positive experiences were not strongly related, negative ones were consistently associated with higher symptoms.
A recent study by the University of Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech found that mucus and airway secretions protect the flu virus when it becomes airborne, regardless of humidity levels. The study refutes previous findings that suggested the virus degrades and is inactivated at higher humidity levels.
A randomized trial found that a team approach involving intensive emotional support and frequent family meetings improved patient-centered care in ICUs, reducing hospitalization costs by 28% and lengths of stay by over three days.
A new study found that a procalcitonin biomarker test had little impact on reducing antibiotic use for patients with suspected lower respiratory tract infections. The trial involved 1,656 adult patients and showed that physicians already commonly withheld antibiotics based on clinical signs alone.
A new University of Pittsburgh analysis discovered that hookah smoking accounted for over half of the tobacco smoke volume consumed by young adult smokers in the US. In contrast, those who smoked tobacco only using a hookah had lower but still substantial toxicant exposures compared to those who used both hookahs and cigarettes.
A recent study found that hepatitis C cases among infants are increasing due to the opioid epidemic, with a significant proportion remaining undiagnosed. The study suggests that improved screening and testing protocols are needed to address this growing public health concern.
A study analyzing extensive death records data from 1990 to 2014 found that years of life lost declined by 28% among blacks, primarily due to decreasing heart disease, HIV, and cancer mortality. This improvement is attributed to public health interventions.
A new study published in JAMA Dermatology reveals that dermatologists are more accurate than Physician Assistants (PAs) in diagnosing early stage skin cancers. For every suspected case of melanoma, PAs needed to biopsy over 39 pigmented lesions compared to just 25 for dermatologists.
The Pittsburgh Atlas creates hundreds of regional referral regions to coordinate emergency and trauma care in the US, respecting geopolitical borders. The framework allows states and groups of counties to implement quality improvement programs accountable to regional performance measures.
Researchers found that new mothers attended 92.7% of their babies' appointments, creating a significant window to discuss maternal health. The IMPLICIT ICC model screened for tobacco use, depression, contraception use, and multivitamin use, with notable intervention rates.
A study published in Nature Microbiology reveals how reovirus hijacks the host cell's TRiC protein to assemble new viruses, shedding light on a poorly understood process. This discovery could lead to new therapeutics and contribute to understanding protein-misfolding diseases like Alzheimer's and Huntington's.
Research from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine discovered that preventing T-cell exhaustion with targeted therapies enhances immunotherapy outcomes. Activating a protein called 41BB on the surface of T-cells improves energy reserves and prolongs their ability to attack cancer cells.
Critically ill patients who experience long periods of hypoxic, septic or sedative-associated delirium are more likely to have long-term cognitive impairment. Duration of delirium is a key indicator of cognitive decline, with longer periods predicting worse outcomes.
A new blood test, T2Candida Panel, detects candidemia with high accuracy, reducing time to diagnosis by nearly two days. The test shows promise in speeding up treatment and potentially improving patient survival rates.
A six-year study found that cognitive enhancement therapy (CET) significantly improved neurocognitive function in adults with autism, particularly in attention and social understanding. In contrast, enriched supportive therapy (EST) showed slower but still significant improvements in social cognition.
Researchers at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center have identified a new genetic change in the estrogen receptor that contributes to therapy resistance in ER-positive breast cancer. The presence of ESR1 fusion proteins in treatment-resistant breast cancer may lead to improved treatments for this form of the disease.
A new study suggests that analyzing street drugs can serve as an early warning system for the opioid crisis. The University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health has developed a method to quickly analyze stamp bags, which contain mixtures of illicit drugs, to detect fentanyl and other high-lethality substances.