Health And Medicine
-
A new target for lung cancer
Xiangming Ji, Pierre Massion and colleagues have discovered that blocking the transporter protein xCT could slow the progression of non-small cell lung cancer. Read MoreAug 17, 2018
-
Risk factors for faulty rhythms
Prince Kannankeril and colleagues explored clinical and genetic factors associated with atrial tachycardia after congenital heart disease surgery in infants younger than 1 year old. Read MoreAug 17, 2018
-
Study finds behavioral changes insufficient at preventing early childhood obesity
New research by Shari Barkin shows that improving nutrition and increasing opportunities to be more active were insufficient in achieving sustained reduction in childhood obesity in poor neighborhoods. Read MoreAug 9, 2018
-
Study to explore how rising medication costs impact elderly
A team led by Stacie Dusetzina has received a grant to determine whether rising drug prices and out-of-pocket expenses are causing older Americans enrolled in Medicare Part D to delay or never fill their prescriptions. Read MoreAug 9, 2018
-
Repairs in the basement membrane
New research by Andrea Page-McCaw shows that a membrane that wraps around most animal tissues can heal within 24 hours, but does leave a scar. Read MoreAug 9, 2018
-
Genetic balancing act
David Cortez and colleagues have found that a protein called RADX helps modulate a protein called RAD51 in order to make sure exactly the correct amount of DNA repair occurs. Read MoreAug 9, 2018
-
Enzyme helps build motor that drives neuron death
The process, discovered in the axons of neurons, is implicated in Alzheimer’s, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, traumatic brain injury and other diseases or injuries to the nervous system. Read MoreAug 6, 2018
-
Vanderbilt study links gene expression, disease association data
An international team of researchers led by Eric Gamazon has integrated gene expression and disease association data to better understand the biological mechanisms of complex human diseases. Read MoreJul 27, 2018
-
Understanding deaths from post-surgical complications
Robert Freundlich and colleagues analyzed records for nearly 1.2 million patients and found that, among patients who died within 30 days of surgery, one in five had a complication independently associated with mortality. Read MoreJul 20, 2018
-
Fueling the MATE transporter
In new research, Hassane Mchaourab and colleagues have uncovered new insights into drug resistance that could lead to the development of new anti-cancer and antibacterial drugs. Read MoreJul 20, 2018
-
Novel insights on “leaky” gut
Disruption of the integrity of the intestinal lining or epithelium contributes to a “leaky” gut and is a common feature of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Yash Choksi, Christopher Williams and colleagues found that low levels of a certain protein exacerbated the condition. Read MoreJul 20, 2018
-
Study reveals opioid patients face multiple barriers to treatment
In areas of the country disproportionately affected by the opioid crisis, treatment programs are less likely to accept patients paying through insurance of any type or accept pregnant women, a new Vanderbilt study found. Read MoreJul 12, 2018
-
Team explores diabetes drug’s ability to treat RSV infection
A drug used to treat diabetes, liraglutide, may point to new therapies for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis — inflammation and obstruction of the lungs’ small airways. Read MoreJul 12, 2018
-
Legalizing same-sex marriage increased health care access for gay men: Vanderbilt study
One of the first studies to examine the health impacts of legal marriage for LGBT individuals has found gay men were more likely to receive routine medical care following marriage legalization. Read MoreJul 11, 2018
-
Mom may pass bacteria to baby in utero: Study
New findings by Jörn-Hendrik Weitkamp and colleagues provide the first account of bacterial signatures in mammalian fetal intestinal tissue. The results suggest that bacterial DNA moves from the mother’s microbiome into the fetal intestine, which may be a critical stimulus for normal mucosal immune development. Read MoreJul 5, 2018
-
SMAD4 clue to colon cancer
Chronic inflammation is a predisposing condition for colorectal cancer, the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Anna Means, Ph.D., and colleagues have now linked inflammation-driven carcinogenesis in the colon to loss of an important signaling protein called SMAD4. Read MoreJul 5, 2018
-
Scavengers “protect” HDL
Lipid molecules that bind to HDL can modify its function — and blocking that modification can protect HDL and potentially lower the risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease. Read MoreJun 29, 2018
-
New staph virulence factor
The new factor, an enzyme involved in host-pathogen interactions, may be a viable target for treating staph infections. Read MoreJun 28, 2018
-
Shared genetics may shape treatment options for certain brain disorders
Symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, including psychosis, depression and manic behavior, have both shared and distinguishing genetic factors, an international consortium led by researchers from Vanderbilt University and Virginia Commonwealth University is reporting. Read MoreJun 14, 2018
-
Novel infection fighter
A drug in use clinically to help make vaccines more effective may be a powerful new tool for fighting antibiotic-resistant infections. Read MoreJun 13, 2018