Research on blood and what it reveals about health. Covers blood biomarkers, occupational exposure, cell-preservation for CAR-T therapy, and blood supply.
University of Houston professors Matthew Franchek and Ralph Metcalfe receive a $2.8 million NIH grant to create a pulseless total artificial heart (TAH) with advanced control systems. The device aims to improve reliability and adjust to physiological needs, offering hope for those waiting for a heart transplant.
A new, simpler diagnostic method for detecting blood clots in the leg has been shown to be as effective as a more complex method. The study found that compression ultrasonography was highly accurate, with rates of detection equivalent to whole-leg ultrasonography.
A Mayo Clinic-led study found that the first generation of a stool DNA test detected 20% of colorectal cancer and precancerous polyps, compared to fecal blood tests. The test's limitations include sample degradation and low sensitivity, but second-generation tests improved detection rates.
A recent study by the American College of Radiology found that core needle breast biopsies are safe for patients taking anticoagulants. The study showed that lumps or bruising occurred in 34% of women taking blood thinners, compared to 26.5% of those not on medications.
Researchers identified two new genes and confirmed a third's role in increased uric acid levels, associated with up to 40-fold gout risk. Genetic testing may one day identify individuals at risk before symptoms develop.
A new study found that warfarin, commonly used to prevent blood clotting, increases the risk of brain hemorrhage and death if a hemorrhagic stroke occurs. The study showed that people taking warfarin with an INR above three had twice as much initial bleeding as those not on the drug.
A study by Dr. David Spence found that 95% of patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis can manage without surgery, benefiting from improved medical treatment and lifestyle modifications. Patients with microemboli are the exception, requiring revascularization to reduce stroke risk
Naren Vyavahare aims to extend the durability of bioprosthetic heart valves beyond 20 years through chemical linking of neomycin to tissue. Improved durability will enable surgeons to implant valves in younger patient populations with reduced risk of failure.
A study found that healthy individuals with elevated uric acid levels have a higher risk of developing kidney disease, particularly in women and those with hypertension. The researchers recommend initiating clinical trials to assess the potential of uric acid-lowering drugs for preventing kidney disease.
Researchers are developing a simple blood test to diagnose Alzheimer's disease by identifying biomarkers in the blood. The study aims to provide an early and accurate diagnosis, allowing for effective treatment to be given sooner.
Johns Hopkins researchers have successfully suppressed levels of the 'hunger hormone' ghrelin in pigs using a minimally invasive procedure. The method, called GACE, produces an effect similar to bariatric surgery by lowering appetite and promoting significant weight loss.
A new $10 million clinical trial is testing a treatment that can chew up deep vein thrombosis (DVT) clots and administer clot-busting drugs, with the goal of preventing long-term complications like post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). The trial aims to provide a safer, quicker and more effective approach to treatment.
A 35-year-old woman suffered a stroke due to a blood clot caused by a heart defect and birth control pills. She received an interventional neuroradiologist-guided catheter delivery of tPA, resulting in immediate and dramatic improvement. Her stroke score improved from 13 to 1 after treatment.
A recent study by the American Academy of Neurology found that people with migraines are more likely to develop venous thrombosis or blood clots in their veins. The research, which involved 574 participants in Italy, revealed a significant association between migraine and increased risk of blood clots.
A team of researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine has been awarded a $9.3 million grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to investigate blood lipoproteins and their role in preventing coronary heart disease. The study aims to identify molecular events regulating cholesterol transport in blood.
A multicenter clinical trial funded by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation found that continuous glucose monitoring significantly improved blood sugar control in patients with type 1 diabetes. HbA1c levels decreased by an average of 0.53% in patients aged 25 and older, while improvements were not observed in younger age groups.
The new statistical model incorporates serum sodium and MELD scores to prioritize the sickest patients, reducing mortality by 7% among those with low sodium levels. Mayo Clinic's improved tool aims to ensure timely transplants for those with advanced liver disease.
The new guidelines focus on improving diagnostic accuracy and prognostic evaluation of patients with PE. In high-risk cases, immediate thrombolytic treatment is recommended to save lives, while in low-risk cases, anticoagulants are used to prevent future episodes.
Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine have observed a non-invasive MR imaging healing mechanism for asymptomatic carotid plaque rupture. The study, published in Circulation, shows that not all plaque ruptures are symptomatic and highlights the importance of monitoring vulnerable plaques.
A 9-year study in sheep found that the likelihood of BSE transmission via blood transfusion was 36% for BSE and 43% for scrapie. Researchers warn that up to 4,000 people could be carrying vCJD in the UK, posing a risk through infected blood.
A recent study found that blood transfusions can transmit a variant of mad cow disease (vCJD) to humans with high efficiency, particularly when donors are in the later stages of infection. The research suggests that blood from BSE- and scrapie-infected sheep could be used effectively in non-human experiments to develop diagnostic tests.
A study by Baylor College of Medicine found that reducing uric acid levels in teens with high blood pressure lowered blood pressure to normal in most cases. Allopurinol, a medication typically used for gout, showed promise as a potential treatment for high blood pressure.
A new study suggests that processing red tomatoes with heat and fat can increase the absorption of lycopene, a naturally occurring pigment linked to cancer prevention. The researchers found that the bent molecular form of lycopene is more easily absorbed into the bloodstream than its linear form.
Researchers from Royal Free and University College London Medical School used Mendelian randomization to examine the association between CRP levels and type 2 diabetes risk. They found that elevated CRP levels in the blood are unlikely to cause diabetes, challenging previous research suggesting a potential causal link.
Researchers found a 26% increased risk of death among individuals with low blood levels of vitamin D. The study suggests that adequate vitamin D levels may be crucial in preventing cardiovascular disease.
Researchers at UCLA and Intrinsic LifeSciences have developed the first method to directly measure hepcidin, a hormone that regulates iron absorption. The new blood test will help clinicians diagnose conditions like anemia of chronic disease and hemochromatosis more efficiently.
A University of Georgia study reveals that common herbs and spices can inhibit tissue damage and inflammation caused by high blood sugar. The extracts of 24 herbs and spices were found to block the formation of AGE compounds, which contribute to aging and diabetes.
A study found that babies born to mothers living in the Seveso area after a 1976 chemical accident are six times more likely to have altered thyroid function. Maternal exposure to dioxins has been shown to damage the function of their babies' thyroid gland.
Researchers have discovered that hyperactive immune resistance contributes to age-dependent macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in Western countries. The study found that patients with AMD had an entire immune system hyperactive, which may lead to permanent inflammation and vision loss.
Researchers found that the apolipoprotein B100 (ApoB)/apolipoprotein A1 (Apo A1) ratio was almost twice as powerful a predictor of heart attack risk as traditional cholesterol ratios. This discovery could lead to improved cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment strategies.
Young adults with prehypertension are more likely to develop coronary artery calcium and atherosclerosis later in life. Researchers also found that low-molecular-weight heparin may prevent blood clots after knee arthroscopy, particularly for those undergoing meniscectomy.
Studies found that patients with Huntington's disease have higher levels of immune-system signaling molecules, called cytokines, in their brain tissue. This suggests that the protein produced by the Huntington's disease genetic mutation is causing an overactive immune response, leading to damage to neurons in the brain.
Researchers found that nuclear stress tests can detect diastolic dysfunction with a high specificity rate, identifying patients at risk of heart failure. The test plots out the heartbeat and measures the left ventricle filling pressure, providing a prognostic value in predicting diastolic dysfunction.
A recent study found high levels of IL-6 in affected individuals over a decade before nervous system symptoms began to manifest. This discovery challenges current understanding of the physiological basis of Huntington's disease and may lead to new early intervention strategies.
A study found that male mice are more susceptible to blood clots due to sex-specific growth hormone secretion patterns. The researchers used a mouse model of thrombosis and discovered that pulsatile GH secretion in males protects against clot formation, while continuous GH secretion in females has the opposite effect.
Researchers discovered a strong association between elevated fetuin-A levels and the development of type 2 diabetes in older adults. The study found that higher fetuin-A levels were associated with a significantly increased risk of diabetes, with the strongest association seen in the third highest quartile of fetuin-A levels.
Researchers found a protein marker for schizophrenia risk in immune cells, with alpha defensin levels significantly elevated in patients and discordant twin pairs. This discovery could lead to the development of a simple blood test to evaluate schizophrenia risk.
Researchers have created the first outline of aortic arch development and identified the role of the gene unc45a in forming AVMs. The study provides new understanding into how these congenital circulatory defects develop, shedding light on genetic and physiological factors that contribute to their formation.
A recent study published in The Lancet found that extracorporeal life support (ELS) combined with conventional CPR significantly improves survival rates in adult hospital patients who experience cardiac arrest. ELS enhances coronary blood flow and keeps heart tissue alive, leading to better 30-day and 1-year survival outcomes.
Researchers have developed a treatment using hydrogen sulfide to induce reversible metabolic hibernation, significantly improving survival rates for rats after extreme blood loss. The study found that 75% of treated rats survived at least two weeks compared to 23-14% in control groups.
A study of 3258 patients found that low blood levels of vitamin D were associated with a higher risk of death from cardiovascular causes and all causes. Individuals with lower vitamin D levels had higher rates of mortality, including those due to coronary artery disease, hypertension, and cardiovascular events.
Researchers have developed a method to classify liver toxins using gene-expression profiling of blood samples, improving the precision of compound classification. The study highlights the importance of 'phenotypic anchoring' in linking gene expression data analysis to traditional measures of toxicology.
A five-year clinical trial has shown that computer-assisted dosage of blood thinning drugs is at least as safe and reliable as those provided by expert medical professionals. The study involved over 13,000 patients and nearly 400,000 INR tests, confirming the effectiveness of computer-assisted dosage.
A long-term study has found that childhood stress can increase the risk of developing allergies, with higher levels of stress-related peptide VIP detected in children who experienced life events like moving house or parental separation. Researchers also found a link between stress and immune system regulation, but not severe illnesses ...
Researchers have identified potential biomarkers for growth hormone that could aid in detecting doping in athletes. Several proteins increased or decreased in the blood of mice treated with growth hormone, offering new possibilities for testing.
Research from the University of Pennsylvania reveals that hyponatremia is associated with worse right heart function and poorer patient outcomes in PAH patients. The study found that low serum sodium levels are linked to higher mortality rates, hospitalization rates, and severity of right heart failure.
Aortic aneurysms affect 5% of Americans, with a mortality rate of up to 80%. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University are developing a computational system to predict when ruptures will occur. The tool aims to provide physicians with a more scientific understanding of the relationship between blood flow and vascular disease.
Research suggests that low levels of vitamin D are associated with a higher risk of heart attack in men. A study of 454 men found that those with vitamin D deficiency had an increased risk compared to those with sufficient levels.
A new study from Michigan Medicine found that nearly half of heart surgery patients experience sustained high glucose levels, even without a history of diabetes. Patients with obesity, older age, and high blood sugar levels two days after surgery are most likely to need temporary insulin treatment.
Treating acute heart attacks with thrombus aspiration results in improved 1-year clinical outcomes, including lower cardiac death rates and fewer non-fatal heart attacks. This innovative approach to treatment appears to be more effective than traditional percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) alone.
A retrospective cohort study of 10,000 patients aged 65 and older found that only 20% received thromboprophylaxis to prevent life-threatening venous thrombosis after discharge. Elderly patients have a 70% lower risk of dying within 3 months if they take an anticoagulant drug.
Researchers found an avian malaria parasite in a Spotted Owl from Oregon, sparking concerns about the bird's immune health and conservation status. The study highlights the need for further research into blood-borne pathogens in wild bird populations.
A new analysis suggests that healthy postmenopausal women with normal blood cholesterol levels are at no increased short-term risk for heart attack when taking hormone therapy. Women with a low LDL to HDL ratio have an even lower risk of heart attack or death from hormone therapy.
A study funded by the National Institutes of Health found that reducing early blockages in bloodsstream access does not increase the likelihood that the access will function adequately for long-term treatments. Fistulas are the preferred type of access since they clot less often, experience fewer infections, and are less costly.
Sixteen- and 17-year-olds are more likely to experience donation-related complications such as fainting and bruising compared to older donors. Complications were found in 10.7% of donations by teens, with injuries from fainting being uncommon but severe enough to require medical care.
Researchers discovered a link between high oxidized LDL levels and increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome, which can lead to heart disease. Those with the highest levels of oxidized LDL were 3.5 times more likely to develop metabolic syndrome over five years.
A study has found a possible connection between long-term marijuana use and an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. Heavy marijuana users showed significant increases in apolipoprotein C-III levels, which may be related to the delayed breakdown of triglycerides.
A new study reveals that diet and lifestyle are not the only factors influencing blood protein levels, with genetics playing a significant role. The study identified variations in genes associated with key proteins like HDL cholesterol and interleukins, which play roles in inflammatory diseases.
A study found that low vitamin D levels and high parathyroid hormone levels are associated with depression in older adults. The researchers measured blood levels of vitamin D and parathyroid hormone and assessed symptoms of depression among 1,282 community residents.
A study found that children's blood lead concentrations at age 6 are associated with reduced IQ and gray matter volume in the prefrontal cortex, highlighting a critical period of vulnerability. Research suggests that even lower levels of lead exposure can result in measurable deficits in cognitive development and behavioral problems.