A study found that cetuximab, an Erbitux-based treatment, helped shrink tumors and extend survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who had previously failed treatment. The typical patient survived 6.6 months after treatment.
Researchers found that most imaging scans are unnecessary and can be avoided by confirming medication delivery within 24 hours of indium 111-labeled Zevalin injection. This simplifies treatment and improves patient compliance.
Researchers studied the combination of S-1, a new drug, and cisplatin in patients with advanced gastric cancer. Overall, 65% of patients responded to the chemotherapy, showing tumors shrunk in response to the drug.
A phase II clinical trial evaluated SU11248 for carcinoid and pancreatic islet cell tumors, demonstrating 80% stabilization of disease progression. The drug hinders key proteins and receptors that cancer cells rely on to thrive.
Researchers have developed a new treatment called RADPLAT, which combines radiation and cisplatin delivered directly to the tumor via tiny catheters. This approach has shown encouraging results in patients with advanced stage IV-T4 disease, with high rates of local and regional tumor control and overall survival.
Researchers found tamoxifen does not lower heart attack risk in breast cancer survivors and increases risk with radiation therapy. Tamoxifen use was linked to a doubled heart attack risk among women who also received radiation therapy, regardless of the duration or dose of the drug.
Researchers developed a recombinant fusion protein that can be orally administered, increasing white blood cell count for three days. This breakthrough uses transferrin to bind to intestinal cells and transport the protein to the bloodstream.
USC researchers successfully implanted six blind patients with a retinal prosthesis, enabling them to detect light, identify objects, and perceive motion. The device shows promise for treating degenerative eye diseases like retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration.
Researchers found that motexafin gadolinium creates oxidative stress in tumor cells, increasing metallothionein production and inhibiting thioredoxin reductase. This leads to cell death via disruption of critical enzymes needed for cell survival and replication.
Researchers at the University of Southern California found that sapphire surfaces can self-arrange carbon nanotubes into useful patterns. This phenomenon occurs only on specific surfaces, particularly vertical slices with certain crystalline orientations.
A network of non-profit groups in California is providing critical assistance to low-income consumers struggling with insurance problems, resolving 62% of issues. The Health Consumer Alliance helps consumers choose coverage, navigate public programs, and reduces costs, morbidity, and litigation
A USC study found that tobacco's harmful effects on lungs can be passed down through generations, increasing the risk of asthma in children and grandchildren. Grandmothers who smoked during pregnancy had a significant impact on their grandchild's asthma risk.
The USC High-resolution Ultrasonic Transmission Tomography (HUTT) system offers superior 3D images of soft tissue, outperforming existing commercial X-ray, ultrasound, or MRI units. The technology uses multi-band analysis with sub-millimeter ultrasonic transducers to create detailed images with improved resolution and precision.
A new University of Southern California study finds that a tsunami in the region could cause significant economic losses, with Long Beach suffering an estimated $3.6 billion in damage. The study estimates potential damage ranging from $7 billion to $42 billion, with effects felt across Southern California.
Researchers found that clear display conditions improve human vision learning, allowing for optimal training of individuals with lazy eye or related disorders. The study suggests that each eye should be trained separately in clear displays for maximum benefit.
USC researchers found that the BRCA1 gene disrupts interactions between different cell types, leading to ovarian cancer. The gene's indirect action may lead to new treatment options by targeting a biochemical mediator.
Researchers developed a system that predicted six major earthquakes along East Pacific Rise transform faults using sensor data and foreshock detection. The study suggests short-term earthquake prediction may be feasible under certain circumstances.
Dental researchers successfully grown natural tooth enamel using a protein scaffold, solving a long-standing puzzle. The discovery unlocks one mystery of enamel formation and may have long-term applications in dental science and medical-device development.
Researchers found that beta-blockers significantly reduced risk of death for patients with chronic severe mitral regurgitation and normal ejection fraction. The study also showed improved survival in patients with diastolic heart failure, a condition affecting nearly 50% of all CHF patients.
USC researchers have found that flawed hardware can be tolerable in various applications, such as graphics and accounting. They've developed simple test structures to determine attributes of erroneous performance, enabling cost-efficient testing and prediction.
The Caries Assessment and Risk Evaluation (CARE) test measures saliva's oligosaccharides to predict future cavity history with 98% confidence. The test identifies children at risk, allowing for preventive measures to be taken.
The new Pacific Rim Transdisciplinary Tobacco & Alcohol Use Research Center will investigate substance use among teenagers and analyze the impact of environmental factors on smoking-related behaviors. The center's studies aim to understand why some prevention programs work while others do not.
A study models the hospital's entire system to identify bottlenecks and high-priority strategies for improving patient flow. Engineering techniques aim to optimize triage, scheduling, and resource allocation to reduce delays and costs.
Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of BAY43-9006 alone and paired with gemcitabine in a phase II clinical trial for metastatic pancreatic carcinoma. The trial aims to add much-needed treatment options for this aggressive cancer, which affects approximately 27,000 deaths annually in the US.
Researchers from USC found evidence that progesterone signaling influences ovarian cancer risk, particularly two haplotypes (4-D and 4-E) that increase risk by almost 3.5-fold in women who carry them. The study's findings suggest that subtle changes in the progesterone receptor gene may decrease its efficiency, leading to ovarian cancer.
The Cassini spacecraft detected a massive cloud of escaping oxygen atoms on the dark side of Saturn's rings in January 2004. Scientists believe that the sudden release could be caused by a collision between ice particles and material in one of the main ring systems, or an eruption of icy slush on Enceladus.
Researchers found that a diet-restricted group of mice showed a 50% reduction in beta-amyloid plaques, a substance linked to memory loss and Alzheimer's disease. The study, conducted with collaborators at the University of South Florida, used mice with human genes altered for early onset hereditary Alzheimer's.
A USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center study reveals significant differences in survival rates between HIV-related lymphoma types, including DLCL and SNC. The research suggests that optimal therapy may differ for these sub-types of disease.
Research from the Women's Interagency HIV Study found that HIV-infected women with low platelet counts had a five-fold increased risk of dying due to any cause. The study also revealed that highly active antiretroviral therapy, such as HAART containing zidovudine, can boost platelet counts back to normal.
A team of scientists led by Michael Lieber has successfully recreated the mammalian nonhomologous DNA end joining (NHEJ) pathway in a test tube. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new cancer drugs that target this pathway, which is also essential for repairing radiation damage and maintaining immune function.
A USC study of over 1,000 children on Mauritius found a strong link between malnutrition and aggressive behavior, with malnourished kids showing a 51% increase in violent and antisocial behavior by age 17. Poor nutrition was linked to lower IQ, which in turn led to later antisocial behavior.
Researchers found that high-dose-rate brachytherapy after surgery improved limb-sparing outcomes for soft-tissue sarcoma patients. Five-year survival rates reached 83%, with significant reductions in tumor recurrence and metastasis.
A new PIM chip called Godiva, designed and prototyped at USC, has successfully integrated into a server and delivered comparable performance to the original-equipment Itanium chip. The Godiva chip uses DDR-DRAM interface and reduces electrical power consumption by one hundredth.
A study suggests chemotherapy, not tamoxifen, is linked to increased stroke risk in women with breast cancer. Chemotherapy remains a key component of treatment despite this finding.
Researchers will model the behavior of individual atoms to gain a better understanding of stress corrosion cracking in metals. The goal is to prevent damage and create more corrosion-resistant materials, leading to safer structures and potentially even improved comfort for travelers.
Researchers found that increasing dietary fiber intake leads to sharp drops in estrone and estradiol hormone levels. Higher fat intake paradoxically increased hormone levels, but dietary fiber remained a significant predictor of hormone levels when both were included.
The Department of Energy has partnered with the University of Southern California, national labs, and a private company to develop an artificial retina. The project aims to restore sight to millions of individuals worldwide who are blind or severely visually impaired due to diseases like age-related macular degeneration.
African-American men reported significantly higher sexual and urinary function five years after prostatectomy compared to non-Latino white men. However, they also experienced slightly more bother from changes in their function.
The USC Interdisciplinary Center aims to explore new directions in stroke neurorehabilitation, focusing on rehabilitation strategies for the arm and hand in people who have survived a stroke. The team will develop novel virtual environment tests and computational models to assess and rehabilitate human functional performance.
Dr. Longo's research suggests that the majority of a population dies prematurely to provide nutrients for a few individuals with acquired genetic mutations, raising the possibility of programmed human aging.
A USC study found that the brain processes rhythmic and discrete movements differently, with distinct activity patterns in different brain areas. The research has implications for movement control and rehabilitation, as well as our understanding of music's effect on human movement.
USC researchers warn that a strong earthquake could trigger a tsunami in San Pedro Bay, potentially devastating the largest container ports in the US. The study found that a magnitude 7.6 earthquake could cause waves to build to nine feet inside the harbor, threatening ships and coastal areas.
Research finds that age-related testosterone depletion promotes Alzheimer's disease in men by protecting neurons from injury and reducing beta-amyloid protein levels. The study suggests that understanding the link between testosterone loss and Alzheimer's is crucial for identifying those at risk.
A recent study published in Carcinogenesis found that specific DNA patterns enhance breast cancer protection from marine n-3 fatty acids. Women with low-activity versions of genes associated with GSTs have a lower risk of breast cancer, while high-activity versions show no benefit.
Researchers at USC have linked historical increases in human lifespan to reduced childhood exposure to infectious diseases like tuberculosis and malaria. Chronic inflammation from these early infections accelerated cardiovascular and other diseases, leading to increased longevity.
Researchers analyzed the same children's respiratory health at age 18, when lungs are almost completely mature, and found nearly five times more likely to have clinically low lung function in smoggy communities compared to low-pollution sites.
USC researchers detail process of beak formation in journal Science, identifying BMP4 as a major mediator of beak shape. The study sheds light on how different bird species develop uniquely shaped beaks reflecting their ecological niches.
A study published in Cancer Cell found that zebularine slows cancer-cell growth by up to 68%, but only 21% in normal cells. The drug works by demethylating specific genes, offering a promising new approach to cancer treatment with fewer side effects.
A new study by USC researchers reveals high levels of visual impairment and eye disease among Latinos, with nearly one in four participants having diabetes and nearly half showing signs of diabetic retinopathy. The study also found that open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension were prevalent among the Latino population.
The USC Biomechanics Research Laboratory uses high-tech biomedical modeling to analyze athlete performance, identifying areas for improvement. The lab's approach combines experimental and simulation results to develop personalized training plans for athletes.