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First genetic causes of Raynaud’s phenomenon discovered

Scientists identified two genes, ADRA2A and IRX1, that predispose individuals to Raynaud's phenomenon. The genes affect the body's ability to regulate blood vessel constriction, leading to white fingers and toes in response to cold or stress. The study provides new insights into the disease and potential treatment options, including th...

SourceBIH at Charité·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 17, 2023

USC develops new preclinical system to better turn lab discoveries into effective treatments

A research team from USC Keck School of Medicine has developed a more rigorous system for conducting preclinical research on stroke treatments, identifying the strongest candidate for further study. The system uses a network of laboratories and animal models that resemble typical stroke patients to test new therapies.

SourceKeck School of Medicine of USC·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 20, 2023

Contributions to white matter injury in Alzheimer’s disease

Researchers highlight microvascular contributions to white matter injury in Alzheimer's disease, sparking calls for exploration of connections between AD, WM injury and cerebral small vessel disease. The study emphasizes the critical need to define mechanisms and diagnostic features of mixed vascular and AD neuropathological change.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalAging-US·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateSep 12, 2023

Pulmonary embolism deaths, disparities high despite advancements in care

A Michigan Medicine study found that pulmonary embolism death rates remained unchanged over the past decade, with higher mortality rates among men, Black patients, and those from rural areas. The study analyzed over 100,000 deaths related to pulmonary embolism between 2006 and 2019.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalAnnals of the American Thoracic Society·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 31, 2023

New brain cells can replace diseased and aged cells. That may help people with severe brain diseases

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have discovered a way to replace diseased and aged brain cells with new ones, which could lead to treatments for neurodegenerative diseases like Huntington's disease and multiple sclerosis. The study used humanized mice models to test the effectiveness of glial cell transplantation.

Case study reveals potentially lethal side effects of lecanemab for treatment of Alzheimer's disease

A case study published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease reveals that lecanemab can lead to therapy-induced Aβ phagocytosis and multifocal intracerebral hemorrhage, highlighting a potential risk of brain damage and death. The study suggests that better biomarkers are needed to assess the extent of cerebral amyloid angiopathy.

SourceIOS Press·JournalJournal of Alzheimer’s Disease·TypeCase study·DateMay 24, 2023

New UCI-led research shows people who live to be 90+ with superior thinking skills are resilient to Alzheimer’s pathology in their brains

A UCI-led study reveals that the oldest-old, those living up to 90 years old, exhibit similar levels of brain pathology as Alzheimer's patients but with lower levels of pathology from other neurodegenerative diseases. This finding suggests these individuals may be resistant to these age-related cognitive decline.

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalJournal of Alzheimer’s Disease·DateMay 24, 2023

Study identifies a new potential target for treating vascular disease

Researchers found that when FXR1 is absent, vascular smooth muscle cells proliferate more slowly, become senescent, and scar tissue development is reduced. This suggests that drugs targeting FXR1 may treat vascular proliferative diseases such as atherosclerosis, restenosis, hypertension, and abdominal aortic aneurysm.

SourceElsevier·JournalAmerican Journal Of Pathology·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 2, 2023

Smokeless tobacco and cigarettes confer similar adverse vascular health risks

A new study finds that smokeless tobacco products increase the risk of developing peripheral artery disease by two-fold compared to non-users. The study analyzed data from 14,344 participants and found a significant association between smokeless tobacco use and PAD, with a rate of 4.4 cases per 1,000 person years.

SourceElsevier·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMar 22, 2023

UTHealth Houston study: Caregivers trust social media more than physicians with CTE questions

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.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at Houston·JournalApplied Neuropsychology·DateFeb 6, 2023

New pediatric investigation article reviews the potential of transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement for congenital heart disorders

The procedure requires thorough pre-procedural evaluation and assessment of anatomical and hemodynamic data. Long-term results indicate that TPVR can effectively restore RVOT function, while improving survival rates and reducing the need for reintervention across age groups. Vigilant testing is recommended to avoid rare but serious com...

SourceCactus Communications·JournalPediatric Investigation·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateJan 3, 2023

Chinese Medical Journal editorial probes into the role of blood vessels in treating obesity-related disorders

Researchers explore the interactions between adipose tissues and surrounding blood vessels in connection with lipid metabolism and associated diseases. Targeting angiogenesis may provide a gateway for treating obesity, while its inhibition or promotion depends on the specific disease context.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalChinese Medical Journal·TypeLiterature review·DateNov 22, 2022

Novel bioink capable of constructing physiological blood vessels

Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital developed a novel bioink capable of constructing functional and mechanically strong blood vessels. The bioink enables bioprinting of conduits with key physiological characteristics similar to native vessels, potentially serving as vascular models for grafts in surgeries and disease studies.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 26, 2022

Improving hospital stays and outcomes for older patients with dementia through AI

Researchers developed a machine learning model to quickly recognize predictive risk factors and their importance for undesirable hospitalization outcomes. The model achieved an accuracy of 95.6% and identified modifiable risk factors that can be mitigated through clinical interventions.

SourceHouston Methodist·JournalAlzheimer s & Dementia Translational Research & Clinical Interventions·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 29, 2022

Treating aneurysms with injectable toothpaste-like biomaterials

Researchers have developed an injectable shear-thinning hydrogel that exhibits enhanced cohesive strength, resisting fragmentation even under pulsating liquid flows. The gel, similar to toothpaste, retains its structure when force is removed, making it a potential breakthrough in treating critical vascular conditions.

SourceTerasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 20, 2022

A fat molecule found to be critical for blood vessel health

Researchers at National University of Singapore have identified S1P as a potent signaling molecule crucial for maintaining blood vessel integrity and function. The study highlights the importance of S1P export from blood cells and blood vessels in preventing complications and mortality related to vascular diseases.

SourceNational University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine·JournalCell Reports·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateAug 17, 2022

Whole blood exchange could offer disease-modifying therapy for Alzheimer’s disease, study finds

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.