Health And Medicine
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“Ultra-potent” antibody against COVID-19 variants isolated at VUMC
A technology developed at Vanderbilt has led to the discovery of an “ultra-potent” monoclonal antibody against multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, including the delta variant. Read MoreSep 22, 2021
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What you need to know: Why Vanderbilt is conducting asymptomatic COVID-19 testing
Pam Jones, associate vice chancellor for health and wellness and co-commander of the university’s Public Health Central Command Center, discusses asymptomatic COVID-19 testing on campus, the goal of which is to detect and forecast possible infection trends and provide early warning signs of outbreak. Read MoreSep 20, 2021
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Research Snapshot: True behavior of the ‘pleasure molecule’ will reshape how we treat psychiatric diseases and addiction
Discovery shows that dopamine is not a reward molecule at all, calling for revision of textbook facts regarding the hormone’s role in the brain. Est. reading time: 3.5 mins. Read MoreSep 15, 2021
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Watch: The science and law behind medical marijuana, CBD and Delta 8
The School of Medicine Basic Sciences' monthly Lab-to-Table Conversation will discuss the science of marijuana and the current legal context for its use on Thursday, Sept. 23, beginning at noon CT. Read MoreSep 14, 2021
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White matter and schizophrenia
Patients with schizophrenia have functional changes in the white matter of the brain, Vanderbilt researchers have discovered, which may contribute to impaired working memory and processing speed. Read MoreSep 2, 2021
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Rheumatoid arthritis drug combined with standard of care may help reduce mortality for hospitalized COVID-19 patients
Hospitalized patients with COVID-19 who received the rheumatoid arthritis drug baricitinib, in combination with the standard of care including corticosteroids, died less often than those receiving only the standard of care, according to a study released this week. Read MoreSep 2, 2021
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Discovery offers insight for development of cancer therapies targeting mutant p53
The tumor suppressor protein p53 is mutated in more than half of all human cancers. Several drugs that potentially can restore mutant p53 to its normal cancer-killing function are in clinical investigation. Read MoreSep 2, 2021
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Ask an Expert: Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe for pregnant women?
Alexandra Speros, instructor in clinical nursing, midwifery and primary care, explains the latest expert guidance that encourages pregnant women to get the vaccine at any stage of their pregnancy. Read MoreAug 30, 2021
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Research Snapshot: Novel finding shows that brain cells conduct antidepressant action even in the absence of activity
Even in the absence of brain activity, nerve cells can turn on gene expression that is important for antidepressant effects. This novel finding from Lisa Monteggia gives researchers a more fundamental understanding of the brain’s mechanistic function for better therapeutics. Est. reading time: 2.5 mins. Read MoreAug 30, 2021
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Ask an Expert: Who does the vaccine protect?
Thomas Talbot, professor of medicine and chief hospital epidemiologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, reminds us the reasons to get vaccinated. Read MoreAug 24, 2021
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Ask an Expert: Is data about deaths after vaccination valid?
Thomas Talbot, professor of medicine and chief hospital epidemiologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, explains how signals on deaths after COVID-19 is collected and interpreted. Read MoreAug 24, 2021
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Ask an Expert: What do we know about the third dose option of the COVID-19 vaccine?
Thomas Talbot, professor of medicine and chief hospital epidemiologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, shares information about the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, applicable to people with moderate to severe immunocompromise. Read MoreAug 24, 2021
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Ask an Expert: What do we know about booster shots?
Thomas Talbot, professor of medicine and chief hospital epidemiologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, shares what we know about COVID-19 booster shots. Read MoreAug 24, 2021
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Research Snapshot: Development of a new framework and tool for multi-drug synergy and combination
MuSyC is a technique to help researchers devise new combinations of drugs. An open-source analysis tool, it holds the promise speed such discoveries around the world. Read MoreAug 24, 2021
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COVID-19 antibody ‘cocktail’ discovered at VUMC protects chronically ill: study
A monoclonal antibody cocktail against the COVID-19 virus discovered at VUMC is the first non-vaccine modified to demonstrate the prevention of COVID-19 in a clinical trial of more than 5,000 participants. The antibody treatment could afford up to 12 months of protection from COVID-19, and preliminary laboratory findings also suggest that it can neutralize the delta variant. Read MoreAug 20, 2021
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Churchwell, Creech, Wilkins among NBJ award winners
Three leaders of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center community are among the winners of the Nashville Business Journal’s 2021 Health Care Innovation awards. Read MoreAug 19, 2021
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Team isolates antibodies that target alphaviruses
A multi-institutional team led by researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center has isolated monoclonal antibodies that prevent infection by alphaviruses, including the often-lethal Eastern equine encephalitis virus. Read MoreAug 19, 2021
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Research Snapshot: Mosquito larvae are surprisingly complex
L.J. Zwiebel and his lab show that mosquito larvae, the age group targeted for most control programs, are far more sophisticated than previously thought. Est. reading time: 2 mins. Read MoreAug 17, 2021
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Shared antibodies may push COVID variants: study
Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have found that people recovering from COVID-19 and those vaccinated against the causative virus, SARS-CoV-2, produce identical clones, or groups, of antibody-producing white blood cells. Read MoreAug 12, 2021
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Study reveals missing link between high-fat diet, microbiota and heart disease
A high-fat diet disrupts the biology of the gut’s inner lining and its microbial communities — and promotes the production of a metabolite that may contribute to heart disease, according to a study published Aug. 13 in the journal Science. Read MoreAug 12, 2021