Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have developed a holographic video system with potential applications in medical visualization, such as improved diagnosis of ailments like heart disease. The technology also has military uses, including heads-up displays for helmets and coordinating battlefield information.
A study by UT Southwestern researchers found that the Clock gene regulates reward responses to cocaine and dopamine pathways. The study suggests a link between disrupted circadian rhythms and the tendency to abuse drugs.
Researchers at UT Southwestern discovered that microRNA miR-1 targets the mRNA of the gene Hand2, a key regulator of heart formation. This fine-tuning allows proper heart muscle development and may aid in understanding congenital heart disease.
African-American patients have a higher rate of increased heart weight, or left-ventricular hypertrophy, than whites regardless of their differences in body fat and overall body composition. Elevated blood pressure is the best indicator of why African-Americans in the study had a higher rate of left-ventricular hypertrophy.
A new study published in the Journal of Immunology reveals that allergic eye disease can significantly increase the risk of corneal transplant rejection. Researchers found that mice with ocular allergies experienced a dramatic increase in graft rejection, with all grafts rejected in affected mice.
Researchers discovered an antibody compound that effectively targets and destroys blood vessels within cancerous tumors, reducing tumor growth by 93% when combined with docetaxel. This promising treatment approach may offer a new solution to treating breast cancer patients with limited effectiveness from traditional therapies.
New guidelines suggest that bystanders performing CPR should focus on continuous chest compressions, even if they're not familiar with mouth-to-mouth procedures. This approach aims to increase the chances of saving lives by making CPR more accessible and easier to perform.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have discovered a novel anti-leukemia drug, PD166326, that is nearly 100 times more potent than the current treatment, Gleevec. The study shows the new drug effectively inhibits mutated enzyme activity and reduces white blood cell count in mice with leukemia.
The study identifies the BptA protein as essential for Borrelia burgdorfei's survival in ticks and potentially offers a new target for Lyme disease eradication. Without this protein, bacteria were unable to utilize blood from tick feeding, resulting in a significant decrease in bacterial levels.
Researchers used a new brain-mapping technique to study the neural connections involved in sleep regulation. The study found that neurons producing orexin, which helps keep animals awake, receive inhibitory signals from sleep-active neurons and reinforcing signals from wakefulness-activated neurons.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center discovered that prolonged neural activity in the brain's arousal centers triggers the release of adenosine, leading to feelings of drowsiness. Caffeine works by blocking this process, allowing people to stay awake.
A new study has shed light on the process of alternative splicing, which allows one gene to produce multiple proteins. Researchers discovered that tandem repeats between exons are highly correlated with the process, enabling them to predict genes that can re-arrange and potentially leading to disease.
Researchers found that many runners dilute their sodium levels during long races due to excessive water intake. The study recommends individualized fluid-replacement consumption for all competing athletes to prevent hyponatremia, a potentially life-threatening condition.
Researchers discovered that LXRs regulate SREBP-1c, a key protein in fat metabolism, allowing animals to store fat when fed high-fat diets with cholesterol. The study also found that LXR's role is crucial in the biochemical pathway that regulates fat storage, suggesting a new target for obesity and heart disease treatments.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have developed a new gene therapy technique that uses homologous recombination to replace mutated genes in human immune cells, restoring both gene function and protein production. This approach has shown promising results in treating severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID) and may a...
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found that deleting the Pcsk9 gene in mice increased LDL receptors and lowered LDL cholesterol levels. This discovery suggests new drugs targeting PCSK9 may be effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, particularly for individuals unable to take statins.
A new study found that the ENPP1 gene variant is associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The variant, which affects insulin action, was more common in people with type 2 diabetes and those at high risk for the disease, regardless of ethnicity.
A recent study published in Cell Metabolism discovered a novel link between a molecule called apoptosis inhibitor of macrophage (AIM) and the development of atherosclerosis. AIM, which typically protects infection-fighting cells, was found to promote plaque buildup inside arteries when its function is suppressed.
Researchers have identified a gene mutation in Complement Factor H as a key factor in the development of age-related macular degeneration. This complex disease affects millions of Americans, with family history being a significant risk factor.
A recent study found that indoor allergen levels vary significantly across the country, with cockroach allergens exacerbating asthma symptoms in inner-city children. Exposure to dust mite allergens was not found to have a significant impact on asthma symptoms.
A new study found that cholesterol plays a crucial role in regulating cell signals by interacting with the oxysterol binding protein (OSBP), which controls the deactivation of ERK. This mechanism helps maintain proper levels of active ERK, preventing cancer growth.
Mutations in the EGFR gene are more common in people with lung cancer who never smoked, and these mutations may predict a dramatic response to certain drugs. The study's findings suggest two distinct molecular pathways involved in lung cancer formation, one affecting smokers and the other non-smokers.
Researchers at UT Southwestern will investigate the consequences of space radiation exposure on human health, with a focus on lung cancer and its prevention. The $9.8 million grant will enable the development of new cell systems and animal models to study high-energy particles in space.
Researchers at UT Southwestern have identified a protein called HIF-2a, which may help treat premature blindness caused by retinopathy of prematurity. The study found that controlling this protein could prevent or treat ROP before it happens, offering new hope for premature babies.
New research by UT Southwestern scientists reveals complexity in organization of synaptic vesicles within individual synapses, challenging long-held assumptions about neurotransmitter release. Two distinct types of synaptic vesicles are found to be responsible for spontaneous and activity-dependent release, which may aid in understandi...
Researchers discover how hepatitis C virus (HCV) replicates unchecked despite the presence of immune defenses triggered by the RIG-I protein. HCV produces a viral protease that disrupts the signaling pathway, allowing it to continue replication. Protease inhibitors show promise in treating HCV and possibly other viral infections
The UT Southwestern Medical Center has begun using telemedicine for periodic checkups with Choctaw Nation patients in Oklahoma. This allows doctors to assess disease progression and medication side effects remotely, reducing travel time and increasing convenience.
Researchers at UT Southwestern have discovered that aconitase, an enzyme involved in energy production, plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the mitochondrial genome. This finding reveals a new function for the enzyme, independent of its metabolic activity.
Researchers developed a model linking Huntington's disease mutation to cell death, revealing calcium signaling as a key defect. A new drug, enoxaparin, prevented inappropriate calcium release and cell death in mouse neurons carrying the mutant huntingtin gene.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center successfully implemented Universal Newborn Hearing Screening, reducing the number of false positives and increasing follow-up rates. Rescreening infants four hours after birth improved outcomes, while providing outpatient retesting encouraged parents to return for further evaluation.
A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that exercising moderately intense aerobics for 30-35 minutes per day reduced depressive symptoms by an average of 47% after 12 weeks. The study included 80 adults with mild to moderate depression and showed similar results to antidepressant medications.
Researchers find that adult stem cells are maintained by local environment signals that block gene expression, preventing differentiation. The microenvironment captures cells and prevents them from becoming other types of cells.
Current cardiology guidelines suggest clopidogrel as an alternative to low-dose aspirin, but recent research indicates it may impair ulcer healing and increase bleeding rates. Patients at high-risk for gastrointestinal complications should consider a combination of aspirin and stomach ulcer medications.
A team of researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center has discovered the biochemical mechanism by which insects detect pheromones. They found that a specific protein, called an olfactory binding protein, is essential for translating pheromone signals into behavioral responses.
Researchers found that urinary calcium levels play a significant role in the formation of both calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate stones. The studies suggest that patients with elevated intestinal calcium absorption and urinary calcium levels may need to limit their calcium intake to prevent kidney stone formation.
A recent study by UT Southwestern Medical Center found that one-third of long-term disease-free breast cancer patients have circulating tumor cells (CTCs), which are often associated with a higher risk of recurrence. However, the presence of CTCs in these patients after 20 years post-mastectomy is notable due to their low risk of recur...
UT Southwestern researchers developed a gene-based vaccine to stimulate immune systems against amyloid protein, reducing plaque buildup and cognitive loss in mice. The study aims to create a safe and effective Alzheimer's vaccine that can prevent or slow disease progression.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified a gene family involved in determining the potential for acquiring lupus, a debilitating autoimmune disease that affects more than one million Americans. The study found that genetic susceptibility to lupus results from an imbalance between genes that increase and suppress th...
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center propose a new theory explaining the rapid evolution of species and their physical variations. They found that tandem repeat sequences in genetic code can lead to significant morphological changes, driving evolutionary changes and variability in appearance among individual members of a species.
Researchers develop gene therapy to treat XP, a devastating disease causing cancerous lesions on exposed skin. The treatment restores DNA repair mechanism, preventing cancerous growth and sunburn-like symptoms in mice.
Researchers traced how SIV spreads through the mouth, digestive tract, and lymph nodes after oral infection, identifying key tissues and organs infected. The findings may lead to a better understanding of early infection and the development of an effective HIV vaccine.
Researchers discovered that Thymosin beta-4 prevents cell death after a heart attack and limits scar tissue formation in mice. The protein promotes survival and migration of heart muscle cells, which could lead to new treatments for heart disease in humans.
Scientists have identified a crucial role of HDAC4 in regulating bone formation, and its disruption can lead to developmental defects. The discovery opens new possibilities for designing drugs to control bone growth and may help prevent osteoporosis.
A new study published in Gastroenterology found that generic anti-inflammatory drug etodolac reduces rates of gastrointestinal complication by more than 60% compared to naproxen, resulting in fewer hospitalizations and cost savings. This significant finding has led the Pharmacy Benefits Management Strategic Healthcare Group for the Vet...
African-American Heart Failure Trial (A-HeFT) reveals a 43% decrease in one-year mortality rates among patients taking the combined treatment, and significant improvements in overall survival and quality of life. The study suggests that BiDil can slow heart failure progression and reduce death rates in this population.
A new transport molecule called NaBC1 has been discovered, allowing boron to enter human cells. The protein is specific for borate and plays a crucial role in controlling cell growth and bone mineralization.
The NIH has funded two new bioinformatics resources at UT Southwestern to improve drug discovery and vaccine development. The BioHealthBase will focus on understanding how microbes establish infections, while the ImmPort system will integrate data from different biomedical research areas to identify disease-causing genes and proteins.
A single protein, ChREBP, activates genes in liver cells to convert sugar into fat, a process crucial for energy storage. Researchers found that ChREBP directly binds to DNA of fat-formation genes, increasing expression of enzymes.
Babies who received reconstituted blood during heart surgery had shorter ICU stays (70.5 hours vs 97 hours) and spent less time on mechanical ventilation (36.3 hours vs 53 hours). The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, puts to rest a decades-long debate and could save patients and blood banks money.
Researchers at UT Southwestern will examine the behavioral, metabolic, and molecular mechanisms that cause obesity and related disorders, with a focus on the brain and liver. The team aims to develop state-of-the-art research programs and translate scientific findings to humans.