USC researchers have identified a protein fragment, PEP, that can increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs against tumors. By making tumor blood vessels more permeable, PEP allows for better drug uptake and increased chemotherapy efficacy.
A new study by USC researchers found that exposure to cockroaches, weed killers, pesticides, and other environmental pollutants in the first year of life are linked to an increased risk of early asthma. Daycare attendance before 4 months also contributed to this risk.
Researchers have successfully completed the first phase of a clinical trial using a microelectronic retinal prosthesis, which is intended to restore vision in patients with severe eye diseases. The device, developed by Second Sight, LLC, has shown promising results, including the ability to detect light and distinguish between objects.
A landmark study conducted by the University of Southern California found that nearly two-thirds of Latino participants with diabetes were not following American Diabetes Association guidelines for vision care, leading to higher rates of diabetic retinopathy, early macular degeneration, and glaucoma among this ethnic group.
A comprehensive five-year study tracked causes of blindness and access to eye care among the US Latino population, finding high rates of vision-related problems. The study revealed that Latinos have nearly 18% vision impairment by age 85 and older, with diabetes and cataracts being leading causes.
USC researchers have discovered the molecular mechanism behind immunoglobulin class switching, which enables antibodies to adapt to different areas of the body. The study reveals that an R-loop forms between the DNA and RNA strands, creating a stable bond that determines the cut point for DNA splicing.
A new study reveals significant differences in smoking prevalence among men and women of different immigrant statuses and countries of origin. The findings show that US-born individuals have higher smoking rates than foreign-born individuals, with notable variations within Asian/Pacific Islander groups.
Researchers found a link between African-origin genetic markers and decreased insulin sensitivity in children, suggesting a genetic basis for the disparity. The study also highlights the importance of genetic factors in understanding and preventing type 2 diabetes in black communities.
Researchers found that newly made vesicles immediately head to the cell membrane, bypassing older vesicles, which could have implications for diseases like diabetes. The study sheds light on the processing of vesicles in secretory cells and their role in secretion.
USC researchers have discovered an oral cancer drug, zebularine, that can reactivate silenced genes and reduce tumor size in mice. The study found that zebularine is effective in both intraperitoneal and oral administration routes.
A new USC study suggests that humans lost the ability to detect pheromones due to a gene essential for vomeronasal organ function. The study found that mutations in this gene occurred around 40 million years ago, leading to the disappearance of the gene and subsequent loss of vomeronasal organ function in primates.
Computer scientists Pedro Diniz and Joonseok Park are developing programming tools to automatically synthesize near-optimal chip architectures for flexible chips. Their techniques enable FPGAs to utilize available transistors more effectively for irregular applications, outperforming current processor architectures in some cases.
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.