Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have discovered that type I interferons can block the development of T helper 2 cells, which drive asthma and allergies. This finding offers new hope for treating allergic asthma patients by targeting this pathway.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found that older adults prescribed thiazide diuretics are at a greater risk for developing metabolic-related adverse events. The study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, suggests that these risks are common and warrant closer monitoring.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found that blocking NMDA receptors with ketamine can elicit rapid antidepressant effects in patients with treatment-resistant depression. The study suggests that this fundamental difference between ketamine and memantine could lead to a new class of drugs with fewer side effects.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found that orexin proteins play a crucial role in both promoting and blocking bone formation. This dual regulation may provide new targets for treating osteoporosis, particularly by inhibiting orexin receptor 1 or activating orexin receptor 2.
Cancer cells utilize a protein called Aiolos, which allows them to acquire blood cell characteristics and spread throughout the body. Researchers have discovered how this mechanism works, offering hope for future treatments.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center discovered a critical role for microRNA cluster miR-143 and miR-145 in regulating wound healing in the intestine, which may lead to potential treatments for chronic digestive diseases like ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
A research team at UT Southwestern Medical Center has identified the triggering mechanism of an atypical metabolic pathway that allows certain cancerous tumors to thrive. The discovery could provide a future target for drugs that would attack tumors relying on this reverse pathway for sustenance and growth.
A newly discovered gene called Samd4 plays a critical role in regulating metabolism, with abnormal distribution of fat and diminished insulin responses observed in the lean 'Supermodel' mouse. The study provides new potential avenues for research into diseases such as diabetes and obesity.
A review of 47 studies involving over 15,000 patients found that liver cancer screening using ultrasound scans and blood tests significantly improved three-year survival rates for people with cirrhosis. Cirrhosis patients who received screening were more likely to receive curative treatment rather than palliative care.
Two UT Southwestern doctors have received grants to test the effectiveness of itraconazole on lung cancer pathways and growth. The researchers aim to disrupt communication between tumor cells and their surrounding environment, slowing cancer growth.
New research by UT Southwestern Medical Center discovered that high levels of oxygen in the postnatal environment result in cell cycle arrest of cardiomyocytes, making it impossible for adult hearts to regenerate. The study's findings have significant implications for cardiovascular medicine and may lead to new therapeutic approaches.
Researchers have identified a new mechanism by which ghrelin works to limit depression, as well as a potentially powerful neuroprotective drug called P7C3 that may provide greater anti-depressant effects.
A study by UT Southwestern Medical Center found that popular web information on colorectal cancer screening materials are written beyond the recommended sixth-grade reading level and fail to address key risks and barriers. Only half of the sites discussed colorectal cancer risk in the general population, while only a quarter specifical...
UT Southwestern Medical Center received a $3.24 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to bolster its clinical cancer research and provide patients with access to cancer research trials. The center will expand its offerings of experimental cancer treatments, more than doubling adult participation in clinical trials.
UT Southwestern researchers found that blocking critical DNA repair mechanisms can slow down tumor growth and increase survival in glioblastoma patients. The study used a drug called NVP-BEZ235, which combined with radiation therapy significantly delayed tumor growth in mice, up to 60 days.
Researchers developed a predictive tool that analyzes gene expression changes to predict patient survival. The tool, based on mouse studies, has shown promise in predicting treatment risk for early-stage breast cancer and certain lung cancers.
Dr. Tu's research identified a unique nutritional pathway in mammalian cells crucial to cancer cell growth, which he hopes will lead to new treatments for human disease. He received the award for his work expanding our understanding of metabolism's role in cellular processes.
Researchers discovered that the p53 gene is hyperactive in stem cells when cellular damage is present, but not in other cells. This finding suggests that p53's tumor suppression ability may have evolved from its original role in regulating stem cell growth.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center are investigating the role of genetic variations, infection, inflammation, fetal lung development, and cervical ripening in triggering preterm labor. The study aims to identify women at risk of preterm labor and develop new treatments to prevent it.
A new study by UT Southwestern Medical Center found that people with an inherited mutated gene have a high chance of getting lung cancer, even without smoking. Women and those who have never smoked are mostly affected, with a one-in-three chance of developing the disease.
A UT Southwestern Medical Center study identified phosphatidic acids as a new potential therapeutic target for controlling high blood sugar in type 2 diabetes. Inhibiting or reducing production of phosphatidic acids may help regulate glucose levels.
Dr. Roger Unger has been awarded the 2014 Rolf Luft Award for his groundbreaking research on glucagon, which he identified as a key hormone balancing insulin regulation of blood sugar. His work revealed diabetes is a bihormonal disease with insufficiency of insulin and excess glucagon.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have discovered a new pathway linking two major biological processes that occur after a heart attack, leading to potential cardioprotection. The study identifies the activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) and the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway as key events in this process.
Scientists have successfully studied protein synthesis in adult stem cells, finding that precise protein production is essential to their function. The discovery opens up new avenues of cellular biology and may lead to a better understanding of diseases associated with protein synthesis mutations.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified a key protein target for shutting down the growth of prostate cancer cells. ERG protein is transformed into cancer cells by an enzyme called USP9X, but a molecule called WP1130 can block this process.
The US FDA has approved metreleptin as a treatment for generalized lipodystrophy, a condition characterized by near-complete absence of fat tissue. Leptin replacement therapy has been shown to control severe insulin resistance and lower triglyceride levels in patients with severe generalized lipodystrophy.
Scientists at UT Southwestern Medical Center successfully generate new neurons from adult astrocytes in mice, offering hope for repairing traumatic brain injury or spinal cord damage. The two-step approach uses a transcription factor to reprogram scar-forming astrocytes into neurons, which then mature and persist for months.
The Center will conduct high-quality research on patient-centered outcomes and comparative-effectiveness research, focusing on underserved populations. It aims to inform decision-making by assessing the benefits and harms of different interventions.
A recent study published in the Journal of Investigative Medicine found that gastric banding patients often fail to meet daily nutrient requirements despite supplements and counseling. To maintain health after bariatric surgery, patients are advised to consume more protein-rich foods, include fatty fish, and limit processed foods.
A study at UT Southwestern Medical Center found elevated levels of DDT metabolite DDE in patients with Alzheimer's, suggesting a link between DDT exposure and the disease. The study suggests that early biomarkers could help predict Alzheimer's development due to DDT exposure.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found that estrogen increases proliferation of blood-forming stem cells in females, leading to increased red blood cell production. This discovery raises possibilities for treating blood cancers and reducing chemotherapy toxicity by considering estrogen levels.
Dr. Beth Levine received the 2014 Stanley J. Korsmeyer Award for her groundbreaking work on autophagy, a housecleaning process in which cells destroy damaged proteins and organelles. Her research has revealed crucial roles of autophagy in health and disease, including its potential to prevent cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
A UT Southwestern Medical Center study found that blocking immune system molecule interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and matching major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genotypes can improve corneal transplant acceptance rates in mice. The strategy enhances long-term graft survival, almost guaranteeing success.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center identified BRD4 as a potential therapeutic target for MPNST, a rare and aggressive type of soft-tissue cancer. Inhibiting BRD4 caused cancer cells to die in a mouse model, providing new hope for patients with this incurable disease.
Researchers identified a gene called Cyfip2 involved in the response to cocaine by comparing closely related mouse strains. The study suggests a potential link between this gene and human cocaine addiction, although further research is needed.
Dr. Richard Bruick receives the 2014 Edith and Peter O'Donnell Award for his work on cellular responses to maintain oxygen and iron homeostasis. His research has the potential to improve treatments for anemia, renal cancers, and iron overload disorders.
The hospital achieved excellence through strategies such as reducing overhead paging and establishing daily hospital huddles to prioritize patient needs. UT Southwestern's neurology and neurosurgery programs are nationally ranked.
Researchers identify genes that promote stem cell self-renewal and tissue repair, opening up possibilities for metabolic drugs to enhance regeneration. A network of RNA-binding proteins regulates stem cell function and tissue growth during fetal development.
Researchers found that disrupting the circadian clock in mice increases susceptibility to inflammatory disease by controlling the development of key immune cells called interleukin-17-producing CD4+ T helper cells. This discovery could lead to new ways to regulate the immune response and prevent autoimmune diseases.
Researchers at UT Southwestern have found that a cholesterol metabolite called 27-hydroxycholesterol promotes tumor growth in estrogen-receptor positive breast cancers. The discovery may explain why endocrine-based therapies are often unsuccessful, providing a new target for therapy.
The National Institutes of Health has awarded UT Southwestern Medical Center a $28.6 million Clinical and Translational Science Award to promote rapid translation of basic laboratory findings into patient care. The award will enable the institution to expand clinical research and disseminate new knowledge effectively.
Researchers at UT Southwestern have developed a new type of antibiotic called PPMO that successfully killed a multidrug-resistant germ common to health care settings. The technology targets specific genes essential for bacterial reproduction and offers promise against the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center discovered that the Cdk5 protein is overexpressed in medullary thyroid cancer cells and can fuel their growth. This finding has implications for neuroendocrine cancers, including lung and pancreatic cancer, and could lead to new treatments.
Dr. Südhof's pioneering work on synaptic transmission has led to a better understanding of brain function under normal and pathologic conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease. He was recognized for his discoveries of key information about cellular transport systems, alongside Dr. James E. Rothman and Randy W. Schekman.
A conservative approach to removing lymph nodes during breast cancer surgery is associated with less harm and similar results to more radical procedures. The study found that avoiding axillary surgery can reduce complications and morbidity in patients.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center discovered that brown fat cells are generated through new cell formation rather than converting white fat cells. This finding could lead to therapeutic strategies to activate precursor cells to produce more brown fat cells for weight management and related diseases.
A recent study published in Cell Reports identified a protein called RIP1 as a key regulator of cell division and death in glioblastoma cells. The researchers found that switching off RIP1 can inhibit the growth of these aggressive brain tumors, offering new hope for treatment options.
UT Southwestern researchers discover that a protein overactivity sabotages cellular recycling, leading to heightened cancer growth and chemotherapy resistance. Autophagy inhibition may worsen chemotherapy outcomes for patients with specific cancer mutations, according to the study published in Cell.
A study led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers found that total tumor measurements greater than 3 inches predict shorter survival times in advanced lung cancer patients. Patients with larger tumors live an average of 9.5 months, compared to 12.6 months for those with smaller tumors.
The UT Southwestern Geriatrics section has received a $1 million four-year grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation to enhance interprofessional education and patient safety. The grant will support a curriculum that incorporates virtual and face-to-face experiences, as well as faculty development and training.