A UTHealth Houston study found caregivers of people at high risk of CTE are more likely to seek information from social media than physicians. The study also showed that participants reported 77% of online CTE information is probably true, with league-sponsored websites and healthcare providers being the least credible sources.
According to a UTHealth Houston survey, breakthrough COVID-19 infections occurred in 7.5% of vaccinated Texans, with higher odds associated with Hispanic ethnicity, larger household size, and multiple comorbidities. The study also found that healthcare workers had higher reports of breakthrough infections.
A cluster randomized controlled trial found that Texas Sprouts, a gardening, nutrition, and cooking intervention, improved glucose control and reduced bad cholesterol in high-risk youth. The results showed a 0.02% reduction in mean blood sugar levels and a 6.4 mg/dL reduction in bad cholesterol.
A study published in JAMA found that patient satisfaction with their physicians is associated with the likelihood of following through with metabolic or bariatric surgery. The research suggests that high-quality care and strong patient-physician relationships are crucial for successful surgery completion.
Dr. Jayaraman's team will analyze glutamate receptors involved in learning and memory processes, shedding light on pathologies of learning disabilities, epilepsy, and other neurological issues.
A new PET imaging method is more effective than angiograms in determining the need for coronary stents or bypass surgery, according to UTHealth Houston researchers. The study confirms that PET threshold of severity at which stents and bypass surgery improve survival compared to medical treatment alone.
A study by UTHealth Houston reveals a unique fibrotic gene signature in non-resolvable COVID-19 patients, who experience prolonged pulmonary effects following infection. Lung transplantation is often required for survival due to the rapid progression of damage to lung tissue.
Researchers found a significant increase in Kaposi's sarcoma incidence among young Black men in the South, with rates jumping by 3.3% per year. The study suggests that HIV infection and social determinants like poverty and lack of access to medical care contribute to this disparity.
McCullough's research advances the field of cardiovascular science, with a primary focus on sex differences in stroke. Her work has led to significant discoveries about cell death pathways during ischemic insults.
A substantial proportion of ethnically diverse children from low-resource backgrounds with severe COVID-19 illness are reporting long-term complications. The study found that pediatric patients with private health insurance were 66% less likely to report long COVID symptoms versus those with government insurance.
Researchers have identified a key enzyme in muscle that contributes to cancer-induced muscle wasting. Targeting this enzyme, UBR2, may help preserve muscle mass and function in cancer patients. The study's findings offer new hope for the treatment of cancer cachexia, a complication affecting 60% of all cancer patients.
A method combining local health department data and hospital records identifies new COVID-19 outbreak waves, helping inform public health strategies. Researchers detected two large waves in Harris County, with the second taking longer to spread, highlighting the importance of continuous monitoring and community collaboration.
A UTHealth Houston study found regional disparities in cancer screening rates tied to social vulnerability, with lower rates in more vulnerable counties. The study analyzed 3,141 US counties and discovered significant differences in breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screenings.
Researchers at UTHealth Houston will create a coordinating unit for biostatistics, informatics, and engagement to advance knowledge about human brain neurons. The project aims to produce an open-access digital brain cell reference atlas to improve understanding of neurological functions and disorders.
A study by researchers from UTHealth Houston and the University of Miami found that adolescents with severe obesity who underwent bariatric surgery before age 22 lost significant weight and experienced complete remission of comorbidities such as diabetes, asthma, and elevated lipids. The study's results show that these young patients c...
A recent study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that cancer and chemotherapy do not appear to increase the risk of stillbirth among adolescent and young adult women who later become pregnant. The study included data from 11,696 deliveries to over 8,400 women diagnosed with cancer between 1995 and 2015.
A newly developed agonistic antibody targeting TREM2 reduced amyloid burden and alleviated cognitive decline in mice with Alzheimer's disease. The study suggests that increasing TREM2 activation could have therapeutic effects such as improved cognition.
A new study identified five socio-economic and health risk profiles among mothers of young children that may lead to food insecurity. The study found that these risk profiles can help pediatricians identify families at risk for food insecurity, who may be reluctant to disclose their struggles due to fear of child removal.
Researchers from UTHealth School of Public Health found that gig workers' insecure income contributes to poor health outcomes, including a sicker workforce and higher unreimbursed healthcare costs. The study suggests COVID-era gig workers will experience greater increases in poor overall health and psychological distress.
A study published in Molecular Psychiatry reveals that deep brain stimulation (DBS) to the superolateral branch of the medial forebrain bundle can alter metabolic brain changes over 12 months, making it a strong potential therapy for treatment-resistant depression. The results showed that 8 out of 10 patients experienced significant sy...
A new study by researchers at UTHealth Houston found that children infected with COVID-19, but not hospitalized, can still develop long COVID symptoms up to three months past infection. The study also identified risk factors for long COVID in children, including unvaccination and obesity.
A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that people with high genetic risk for stroke can reduce their risk by 30-45% by adopting a healthy cardiovascular lifestyle. The study followed 11,568 adults over 28 years and showed that modifying lifestyle risk factors can offset genetic risk.
A multi-site trial found OP-101 to be effective in reducing inflammatory markers and markers of neurological injury, with improved outcomes for patients. The study showed a significant reduction in the composite outcome of mechanical ventilation or death at 30 and 60 days after treatment.
A new study from UTHealth Houston found that whole blood exchange treatments decreased amyloid plaque formation in mice with Alzheimer's disease-causing amyloid precursor proteins. This approach has the advantage of treating the disease in the circulation instead of the brain, potentially bypassing the blood-brain barrier.
A large multicenter trial found no difference in intubation requirement between awake prone positioning and standard positioning for COVID-19 patients. The study included 400 patients who required oxygen therapy, but the prone positioning strategy did not significantly reduce the risk of intubation or mortality.
A study found that younger U.S. adults are less likely to be screened for colorectal cancer despite being eligible under new guidelines, with greater disparities observed across race, ethnicity, income, education, and insurance coverage. Screening participation increased over time but was smallest among individuals age 50-54.
A new study from UTHealth Houston found that flu vaccination was associated with a 40% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease in US adults over a four-year period. The study analyzed a large sample of patients and found that consistent flu vaccination every year had the strongest protective effect.
A Phase II study published in Frontiers in Oncology found that daily use of AHCC supplementation may help most patients eliminate their HPV infection and decrease the risk of HPV-related cancers. The study showed that 14 of 22 patients (63.6%) became HPV-negative, suggesting a potential treatment option for persistent HPV infections.
A new study led by UTHealth Houston found that patients with recent cancer diagnoses had a higher risk of death and hospitalization, but those with cancer more than one year ago were not significantly associated with increased mortality. The research also confirmed racial disparities in COVID-19 outcomes among cancer patients.
UTHealth Houston's UTMOVE fellowship program has been chosen by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research to train a new generation of movement disorder specialists. The two-year program will provide fellows with comprehensive training in diagnosing and treating Parkinson's disease, as well as opportunities for research an...
A team of UTHealth Houston researchers has been awarded a $2.85 million NIH grant to study a new technique assessing cerebrospinal fluid in babies with hydrocephalus, which affects 400,000 newborns globally each year.
A new study found that valbenazine, a VMAT2 inhibitor, is safe and effective in treating chorea in patients with Huntington's disease. Chorea is a common symptom of the disease, causing involuntary and irregular movements.
A five-year, $13 million grant will investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms of prion transmission in CWD. The researchers aim to understand the inter-species transmission potential of the disease and its ability to spread from animals to humans.
A new wireless implant has the potential to treat neuropathic pain resistant to medical therapy, offering a minimally invasive alternative to surgery. The device uses bioelectronic therapy to stimulate peripheral nerves from within blood vessels, providing precise placement and predictable outcomes.
H. Alex Choi receives NIH grant to develop protein biomarkers for delayed cerebral ischemia, a complication after subarachnoid hemorrhage that affects approximately 50,000 Americans annually. The goal is to predict which patients will worsen and identify biological processes causing worsening patients.
Children previously infected with COVID-19 develop long-lasting natural circulating antibodies that provide immunity. The study's findings suggest that these antibodies can last for at least seven months and do not differ by age, weight, or severity of symptoms.
A new study found that cervical cancer incidence is increasing in low-income US counties, while plateauing in high-income counties. The study analyzed data from 2000 to 2018 and estimated trends by county-level household income and smoking prevalence.
Researchers at UTHealth Houston found online focus groups reduced barriers to participation, while maintaining high-quality data collection. The study also revealed a cost-effective alternative to in-person focus groups, with reduced resources needed.
A culinary medicine curriculum significantly improved biometric and diet-related behavioral outcomes among low-income patients with type 2 diabetes. Participants showed reduced glycosylated hemoglobin levels and increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, suggesting a positive impact on diabetes management.
Researchers found that adhering to Life's Simple 7 guidelines significantly lowers the risk of coronary heart disease regardless of genetic predisposition. Individuals with high polygenic risk saw the greatest benefits from a healthy lifestyle, with a reduced lifetime risk and extended years lived free of coronary heart disease.
Rates of cervical cancer screening have dropped in the US, with significant disparities found across sociodemographic groups. The study highlights the need for targeted campaigns to address lack of knowledge as the primary reason for not receiving timely screenings.
A new national study found that oropharyngeal cancer incidence is increasing rapidly across the US, particularly among men and in the Midwest and Southeast. The study also reported a significant increase in large tumor diagnoses and mortality rates over the last decade.
A landmark study found that convalescent plasma was safe and effective in treating early COVID-19 patients, particularly those with weakened immune systems. The trial showed improved outcomes in patients given high-titer plasma during the first quarter of the pandemic.
Cluster headaches are extremely painful and occur in cyclical patterns. The study found that pediatric-onset cluster headache affects 27.5% of survey participants but only 15.2% were diagnosed before age 18.
A $3.1 million NIH grant will fund a trial testing multidisciplinary telehealth intervention to reduce racial disparities in blood pressure control and stroke recurrence among adult stroke survivors. The study aims to identify social determinants of health that impact outcomes and explore ways to address them.
A secondary analysis found a bi-directional relationship between mother's mental health symptoms and child's mental health symptoms, with parental stress as the mediating factor. The study suggests that lowering parental stress is vital for families where mothers and children exhibit symptoms of anxiety and depression.
A five-year study aims to identify hormone responses in a population of Mexican Americans with prediabetes, Type 2 diabetes, and obesity. The research uses genetic data and physiologic testing to guide optimal treatments for diabetes, prediabetes, and related diseases.
A study by the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston found that individuals with cancer living in economically or medically underserved areas have a nearly twice the risk of suicide mortality compared to the general population. Mental distress from financial hardship worsened during cancer survivorship among those living...
The research team aims to understand the mechanisms that contribute to long-term consequences of COVID-19 infection, particularly in women who may be disproportionally affected by chronic symptoms. They plan to leverage a biorepository and longitudinal study to assess the impact of acute and chronic inflammation on brain injury and neu...
The UTHealth-CPRIT Innovation in Cancer Prevention Research Training Program aims to increase cancer prevention scientists from underrepresented minority groups. The program provides a systematic method to teach career skills, problem-solving skills, team science, and transdisciplinary communication.