USC researchers have successfully used gene therapy to prompt mouse cells to produce human collagen, a crucial step towards treating patients with dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new treatments for this debilitating skin condition, which causes blisters and permanent scars.
A Keck School of Medicine study finds that black and Hispanic children are more insulin-resistant, but their bodies cope differently with resistance. Insulin resistance can worsen over time, leading to type 2 diabetes.
Researchers at USC's ISI Polymorphic Robotics Laboratory have developed modular robot units programmed with
The center aims to develop effective teen drug-abuse prevention programs by integrating theories and methods from diverse areas, including neurobiology, epidemiology, and social network analysis. Researchers will train investigators to incorporate approaches used by researchers in other disciplines.
Researchers use novel genetic approach to study feather formation in chickens, revealing that barbs form first and fuse to create rachides. This discovery sheds new light on dinosaur evolution and has implications for understanding human development and organ formation.
The USC consortium has received a $15 million NCI grant to determine the causes of colon cancer. The registry, which now consists of over 8,000 families, will focus on genetic factors, gene-environment interactions, and launching prevention trials.
A study of nearly 133,500 female California teachers found a 51% higher rate of breast cancer and 72% greater risk of endometrial cancer compared to comparable women. Researchers believe lifestyle and environmental factors may contribute to the increased risk.
USC researchers are testing a prototype 'e-textile' that can detect faint sounds, specifically distant vehicle movements on future battlefields. The fabric functions as a supersensitive detection array and can be deployed in various ways, such as a parachute or camouflage net.
A study found that vitamin E supplements did not slow the progression of atherosclerosis in healthy individuals, despite reducing oxidized LDL cholesterol levels. The research suggests that antioxidant therapy may be beneficial for specific groups, such as younger individuals or those with high-risk profiles.
A study by University of Southern California researchers found that Asian-American women who consumed soy on a weekly basis during their teen years and adulthood had about half the risk of developing breast cancer. The risk was also lowered for those who ate soy regularly during adolescence but consumed little during adulthood.
A USC study found that preventive occupational therapy significantly improves quality of life and reduces medical costs for seniors. The study involved three groups of culturally diverse adults over 60, with the intervention group showing marked improvements in physical and emotional well-being without increasing healthcare costs.
Children with a common genetic variant exposed to maternal cigarette smoke in utero are more likely to experience respiratory problems, including asthma and wheezing. Researchers identified a link between the GSTM1 null genotype and increased risk of respiratory symptoms.
A study by researchers at the University of Southern California found that obesity and weight gain in Hispanic women are associated with a nearly two-fold increased risk of breast cancer. The risk was elevated regardless of menopausal status, and particularly among those who gained substantial weight after age 18.
The US Marine Corps has begun using a new software system called ANT to schedule fighter air operations, reducing the time spent on planning from hours to minutes. The system balances various factors, including maintenance requirements and resource constraints, to create efficient schedules for aircraft carriers.
A new study confirmed air pollution is associated with slower lung function growth in children, compared to areas with cleaner air. Lung function growth was found to be about 11% lower in the most polluted community.
Researchers found that abnormal E-cadherin presence in cervical lesions can prevent abnormal cells from being collected during testing. This could explain why four in 10 Pap smear results come back negative despite biopsy findings showing abnormalities.
A study by E. Todd Schroeder and colleagues found that androgen therapy increased muscle mass, strength, and power in older men, improving their ability to perform daily activities. The findings suggest that supplemental androgen therapy might benefit older men prone to losing muscle mass due to sarcopenia.
Researchers found that early treatment with insulin-resistant drugs saves about 30% more beta cells than late intervention, preventing type 2 diabetes. The study suggests that lessening the workload on beta cells can prevent or slow disease onset.
Researchers developed a transdermal HRT patch that increased androgen levels, leading to higher libido and greater sexual satisfaction in postmenopausal women. The study suggests a potential new treatment approach for female sexual dysfunction, building on preliminary research showing testosterone supplements can enhance sex drive.
A recent study by the University of Southern California reveals that breast cancer incidence rates have increased significantly among Asian-American women, particularly those of Japanese descent. The study found that breast cancer rates for Japanese and Filipino women were about double those for Chinese and Korean women.
USC researchers propose lipid peroxidation as a mechanism for renal cell carcinoma, uniting known risk factors such as obesity and high blood pressure. The process creates DNA damage that can lead to cancer mutations, increasing kidney cancer risk.
Researchers at USC's Doheny Retina Institute have made significant progress with a permanent retinal prosthesis, designed to restore vision to patients with retinitis pigmentosa and macular degeneration. The device has been implanted in the first patient as part of an FDA-approved trial.
Researchers at USC found a significant correlation between decreased sperm count and motility and increased ozone levels in the air, especially in Southern California. The study analyzed over 8,000 sperm samples from men in Los Angeles and Northern California and suggests that air pollution may be affecting male fertility.
Researchers found a genetic connection between permanent hair dye use and bladder cancer risk, particularly among women with certain slow genes. The study suggests that exposure to hair dyes increases the risk of bladder cancer, likely due to the presence of carcinogenic arylamines.
A recent study published by researchers at the University of Southern California found that polyphenols in tea may be associated with a lower risk of gastric and esophageal cancer. The study followed 18,244 men aged 45-64 in Shanghai, China, and found that those who consumed more tea had a 50% lower risk of developing these cancers.
A team of USC researchers has identified the key role of a previously unknown protein, Artemis, in repairing double-stranded DNA breaks. They found that oxygen causes chromosomal breaks due to oxidative free radicals, leading to genetic information loss.
A new study links mothers' attitudes toward their child's eating habits with their child's obesity risk. Researchers found that mothers who pressure their children to finish everything on their plate have healthier, leaner children, while those who worry about their child's weight tend to have fatter kids.
Research suggests that air pollution from vehicle emissions may cause new cases of asthma in children who participate in team sports, especially in communities with high ozone levels. This is contrary to conventional wisdom that air pollution worsens existing asthma but does not trigger it.
Children who move away from polluted areas exhibit increased lung function growth compared to those staying in Los Angeles, while pollution levels affect growth rates differently. The study supports earlier findings that air quality impacts children's lung health.
Researchers at USC have discovered an increase in BACE enzymes in patients with inclusion-body myositis (IBM), a crippling muscle disease. The findings suggest that cholesterol may play a role in the production of toxic amyloid-ß protein, which could lead to new treatment options for both IBM and Alzheimer's disease.
A randomized controlled trial found that unopposed estrogen therapy reduced atherosclerosis progression by .0017 millimeters per year in postmenopausal women. The study also showed that cholesterol-lowering drugs had a similar effect when combined with estrogen, suggesting potential benefits for cardiovascular health in women at risk.
Researchers at USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center developed a test that analyzes tumor tissue to predict response to oxaliplatin and 5-FU chemotherapy. Patients with low ERCC1 and TS expression survived longer than those with high levels, indicating the potential for more effective treatment customization.
A study published in The Lancet found that HIV-positive women can shed the virus in their genital tracts even when their blood levels are low, posing a risk of transmission to others. The researchers analyzed samples from 311 HIV-positive women and found that about a third had HIV-1 shedding in their genital region.
Researchers discovered that insulin sensitivity decreases by 32% among pubertal teens, while those who haven't started puberty experience increased sensitivity. The study suggests that changes during puberty contribute to lowered insulin sensitivity, with potential implications for preventing type 2 diabetes.
Researchers discovered that VEGF promotes the growth and survival of malignant tumor cells, affecting a wide range of cancers. The study found that inhibiting VEGF's effects can slow or halt tumor growth and is expected to improve treatment outcomes for some patients.
Researchers aim to identify and evaluate variations in 95 genes involved in cancer treatment, using DNA tests to predict a drug's effect on an individual. The goal is to tailor chemotherapy to each patient, improving treatment outcomes.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has funded a virtual collaborative research network called NEESgrid. This initiative aims to improve seismic design and hazard mitigation by providing researchers with access to cutting-edge computational tools and experimental equipment, enabling them to share data and resources.
The grant aims to continue research into breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer's genetic basis using the Hawaii/Los Angeles Multiethnic Cohort Study. The expanded funding will enable the collection of blood samples from over 215,000 participants, providing insights into cancer risks and susceptibilities.
A USC neuroscientist re-analyzed data from the Viking landers, finding a distinct biological rhythm in the soil that suggests the presence of life. The signal has a precise circadian rhythm of 24.66 hours, entrained to temperature fluctuations on Mars.
Researchers found that raloxifene stimulates cell growth in ovarian adenocarcinoma cells with estrogen receptors, increasing the risk of recurrence. The study suggests caution for women with a history of breast cancer and estrogen receptor-positive ovarian cancer.
A USC study found that administering a drug to lower insulin resistance in women at high risk for type 2 diabetes successfully prevents or stalls its onset. The study tested whether reducing the demands on beta cells could prevent diabetes in Latinas with recent gestational diabetes.
A USC study found that teenagers and young adults with type 1 diabetes have a higher risk of atherosclerosis, or plaque buildup in their arteries. The study suggests that physicians should monitor lipid levels in these patients, even at an early age, to prevent cardiovascular problems.
A USC-developed nutrition and exercise program has been shown to significantly reduce weight gain in children, increase fruit and vegetable consumption, and enhance physical activity. The Kids N Fitness program is effective in promoting healthy eating habits and regular exercise among obese children.
A study from the University of Southern California found that regular use of permanent hair dyes increases the risk of bladder cancer in women. Women who use permanent dyes at least once a month for one year or longer have twice the risk of bladder cancer as non-users, with increased risks observed in frequent users over 15 years.
A new national collaborative network for advanced earthquake engineering research and experimentation is being developed, enabling engineers to pool their experience and perform experiments and simulations on a larger scale. The network will also improve the design of infrastructure to withstand earthquakes and tsunamis.
Researchers at USC's Information Sciences Institute have developed an AI system called 'elves' to manage their daily lives, using GPS tracking and automated scheduling. The system has shown success in handling the team's professional lives over an extended period.
Researchers at the University of Southern California are developing modular robotic units called CONRO, which can autonomously seek and find each other to form a unified system. The units can perform various tasks, such as clearing debris or carrying medicine to people trapped in rubble.
The National Science Foundation awarded the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign a $300,000 grant to lead a national partnership in planning and designing the NEESgrid, a virtual laboratory for earthquake engineering. This grant could potentially lead to a $10 million integration grant.
Researchers at the University of Southern California have discovered a unique nuclear DNA structure that helps elucidate the process of immunoglobulin class switching. This finding may provide insights into B cell cancer, such as Burkitt's lymphoma.
Researchers found that local communication, such as talking to neighbors, is crucial for a sense of community. The study also highlights the importance of strategic community organizations and media in building a stronger sense of belonging.