Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center created a mouse model of autism, exhibiting poor social skills but enhanced mental abilities, akin to Rain Man's character traits. The study reveals an imbalance in inhibitory brain action and suggests focusing on this aspect for treatment.
The university's Task Force for Obesity Research will tackle key molecular pathways, develop new approaches to prevent obesity and treat associated metabolic complications. Researchers will use data from the Dallas Heart Study and provide interdisciplinary training for postdoctoral fellows.
Researchers developed a non-invasive imaging technique that detects fat buildup in the heart of pre-diabetic people. The study found that fat accumulation occurs before diabetes onset and is unrelated to blood sugar or liver fat, but correlated with stomach fat.
A recent study by UT Southwestern Medical Center found that overweight toddlers are at a higher risk of iron deficiency due to exclusive breastfeeding beyond six months without supplementation, early introduction of milk, and excessive cow's milk consumption. The study also highlights the importance of preventing iron deficiency in ear...
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have discovered a single gene that controls fat formation in various organisms, including humans. The 'adipose' gene is believed to be a high-level master switch that determines whether the body accumulates or burns fat.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found that combining radiation therapy with the drug bavituximab significantly improves the effectiveness of lung cancer treatment. The drug targets tumor blood vessels by selectively binding to exposed phospholipids, signaling white blood cells to attack and destroy them.
Researchers discovered a link between impaired brain glucose sensing and type 2 diabetes development in mice. A high-fat diet may contribute to this impairment by disrupting ATP production, leading to reduced glucose-sensing ability.
Autophagy plays a crucial role in removing dying embryonic stem cells during normal development, preventing detrimental inflammation. The study found that mouse embryos lacking autophagy genes had impaired signals for engulfment by healthy cells, leading to abnormal development.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found that dietary fats can kill transplanted pancreas cells, leading to a decline in insulin production. Limiting fat formation might make pancreatic cell transplants more effective.
A study found that morbidly obese mice can gain protection against diabetes by consuming excess calories without developing insulin resistance. The key hormone adiponectin plays a crucial role in this process, and its abundance helps store excess fat in the right places.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have developed a new eye-staining technique using Lissamine green to detect early stages of dry eye syndrome. The test reveals staining patterns that indicate the severity and progression of the condition, allowing for earlier diagnosis and more effective treatment options.
Researchers discovered that an analog of rapamycin halts production of antibodies and development of lupus in mice, suggesting a potential new approach to combating the disease. The study found that this compound improved symptoms and halted disease progression across different genetic strains of lupus-prone mice.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found that waist-to-hip ratio is a stronger indicator of cardiovascular risk than body mass index. The study suggests that measuring this ratio can help identify individuals with an increased risk of heart disease and guide more effective treatment strategies.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have developed a new treatment that effectively counters the cardiovascular effects of cocaine. The treatment successfully lowers both heart rate and blood pressure, alleviating symptoms commonly experienced by cocaine users.
Researchers found that acid reflux disease can lead to Barrett's esophagus, a condition where normal skin-like cells turn into tougher, more acid-resistant cells. This transformation may increase the risk of cancer, particularly adenocarcinoma of the esophagus.
Researchers found distinct compartments of fat in the face that age at varying rates, challenging previous theories on aging. This breakthrough offers new ways to rejuvenate the face and may hold clues to other diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and cancer.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found that hydrogen peroxide decreases the tensile strength of absorbable sutures. In contrast, cleaning with distilled water did not harm their strength. The study suggests that patients using hydrogen peroxide on such sutures may be at risk for weakened healing and hypertrophic scars.
A 30-minute video-based training session is as effective as a three- to four-hour course in teaching laypersons basic life-saving techniques. At six months after training, those who took the shorter course performed CPR and used an AED just as well or better than those who took the traditional training.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found that a drug called tetrabenazine (TBZ) prevents death of brain cells in mice genetically engineered to mimic Huntington's disease. The study sheds light on the biochemical mechanisms involved in the disease and suggests new avenues of study for preventing brain-cell death.
Dr. John McConnell receives the 2007 Eugene Fuller Triennial Prostate Award for his innovative research studies on prostate enlargement and leadership in developing a multidisciplinary program at UT Southwestern. His research findings include combining alpha-blocking drugs to effectively treat benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Autophagy, a normal process in which cells recycle proteins, may paradoxically contribute to the progression of heart disease. Mice with amplified autophagy fared worse in cardiac stress tests than those with muted responses.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have discovered why some mosquitoes are resistant to malaria, focusing on a protein called TEP1. The study found that genetic differences in TEP1 manifest in a region dubbed the 'warhead', which grabs onto malarial parasites.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have discovered how the compound beta-lapachone kills certain cancer cells, leading to a new paradigm for treating non-small cell lung cancer. Beta-lapachone interacts with an enzyme called NQO1, present in high levels in non-small cell lung cancer and other solid tumors.
Two autism-related proteins, neuroligin-1 and neuroligin-2, have been found to control the strength and balance of nerve-cell connections. The proteins increase or inhibit cell activity depending on firing frequency, impacting brain development in children.
Researchers found that a key hormone called fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) enables starving mice to alter their metabolism and induce a hibernation-like state, conserving energy. This discovery opens up new avenues for treating human obesity and metabolic disorders.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found that mice genetically engineered to lack a single enzyme in their brains are more adept at learning and quicker to adapt to changing environments. This discovery may serve as a target for treating disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, Alzheimer's disease, and drug addiction.
Researchers found that East Asians have lower levels of the EGFR protein, but those with lung cancer tend to have increased levels. This could explain why East Asians respond better to a certain type of chemotherapy.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified a novel target for developing drugs to treat human obesity and diabetes. A relative of the anti-aging gene Klotho, known as beta-Klotho, helps activate a hormone that can lower blood glucose levels in fat cells of mice.
Researchers used a high-throughput technology to screen human genes for biological activity and identified 87 genes that affect chemotherapy drug paclitaxel's sensitivity in lung-cancer cells. Blocking these genes increased cell sensitivity by up to 10,000 times.
Thirteen interdisciplinary research teams from UT Southwestern, UT Arlington, and UT Dallas have received grants totaling $1.3 million to pursue collaborative projects. The projects aim to stimulate efforts at the interface between biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, computer science, and mathematics.
Young adults who abuse amphetamines are five times more likely to have a hemorrhagic stroke than non-abusers, while cocaine abuse doubles their likelihood of having either a hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke. The study highlights the dangers of methamphetamine use among young people.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have developed a Magnetic Anchoring and Guidance System that uses magnets to attract and manipulate laparoscopic surgical tools. This new technique allows for magnetically maneuvering laparoscopic instruments inserted into the abdominal cavity through the bellybutton or throat.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified a small RNA molecule that regulates the contractility of the heart under stress. The study found that blocking this molecule might become a way to prevent or treat heart damage.
Researchers found that cellular noise can amplify cell transformation and differentiation in bacteria cells. This discovery provides a systems-level view of gene circuits, revealing a potential role for noise in driving biological processes.
Two Nobel laureates, Drs. Michael Brown and Joseph Goldstein, along with mentor Donald Seldin, will receive Research!America's Builders of Science Award for their contributions to developing UT Southwestern into a world-class research institution. The award recognizes their achievements in advancing biomedical research.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found that the Clock gene, regulating biological clocks, is involved in developing bipolar disorder in mice. The study reveals behaviors similar to humans with bipolar disorder, including hyperactivity and euphoria, which are restored by lithium treatment.
Researchers analyzed gene expression patterns in leukocytes from children with four common infections: flu, staph, strep, and E. coli. They identified infectious agents with high accuracy rates, distinguishing between viral and bacterial pneumonias.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found that C-Reactive Protein (CRP) directly induces hypertension in mice. The study, which manipulated CRP levels in mice with an engineered gene, showed a direct correlation between CRP and blood pressure elevation.
Researchers analyze gene for bitter-taste receptor, finding evidence of balancing natural selection that keeps two forms active. The study suggests PTC nontasters can perceive a different compound than tasters, potentially conferring protection from a toxic compound.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found that a supplemental therapy teaching pain coping and biofeedback skills can reduce jaw disorder pain and health-care costs. The therapy improved pain management and reduced doctor visits among study participants.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center discovered a toxin from a sea creature that blocks cancer cell division while leaving healthy cells unaffected. A synthetic form of the toxin, diazonamide, showed promise in pre-clinical trials without harmful side effects.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found a new biomarker test that can predict the recurrence of bladder cancer in patients. The test uses molecular biomarkers to identify patients who are more likely to experience cancer recurrence, allowing for personalized treatment options.
New research identifies a particular gene influencing the severity of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections, which can contribute to chronic asthma. The study suggests that different treatment strategies might be needed for asthma caused by lung infections rather than allergies, as the disease may have a distinct mechanism.
Children with sickle cell disease who experienced major complications such as pain and lung disease early in life are not at greater risk for stroke or death during later childhood, according to new research. Children hospitalized for chest problems early on are more likely to see those problems recur up to adulthood.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have developed a novel method to activate specific genes using RNA strands, which can help alleviate disease conditions. By introducing tailor-made RNA strands into cells, the researchers can nudging genes into activity, potentially treating diseases such as cancer.
A new investigation into Napoleon's cause of death reveals that he died of a very advanced case of gastric cancer stemming from an ulcer-causing bacterial infection. The analysis suggests that gastrointestinal bleeding was the likely immediate cause of death and points to a poor prognosis for patients with such advanced cancer.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center developed a new approach using an inexpensive tracing agent and ultrasound to monitor the effectiveness of cancer therapies. This non-invasive method showed significant results in controlling tumor growth and predicting treatment outcomes, offering hope for more effective treatment options.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center identified several genes whose expression is lost in lung, breast, prostate, and colon cancer. These findings could form the basis for a new early detection screen for certain cancers.
UT Southwestern researchers found that a molecular 'on/off switch' controls human immune defenses against viruses, including hepatitis C. The study reveals how the proteins RIG-I and LGP2 regulate immunity and highlights potential targets for novel therapeutics.
Avastin, an anti-angiogenic therapeutic, improves lung cancer patient survival by 20% and reduces side effects compared to conventional chemotherapy. The drug targets tumor blood vessels, enabling chemotherapy drugs to diffuse into the tumor more effectively.