Health And Medicine

Vanderbilt researchers have discovered that early inappropriate activation of the enzyme plasmin caused by severe injury is a trigger of systemic inflammatory response syndrome and resulting organ failure. Read More

About 80% of hospital admission electronic records were missing a drug prescribed to an older adult, Vanderbilt researchers found, highlighting the need for a multipronged approach to address medication discrepancies and support safe prescribing practices. Read More

H. pylori infection — a strong risk factor for stomach cancer — changes the composition of stomach lipids, which could offer new biomarkers for detecting premalignant changes, Vanderbilt researchers discovered. Read More

A new data portal called Cancer-Immu established by a team of Vanderbilt University Medical Center biostatisticians can help cancer clinicians and researchers predict which patients will respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Read More

Receptors called integrins play a critical role in maintaining the structure of the kidney, Vanderbilt researchers have discovered. Read More

The invading pathogen Salmonella, a common cause of food poisoning, can change its metabolism to overcome host resistance to its colonization. Read More

Vanderbilt researchers have revealed more of the inner-workings of a two-stage “molecular motor” in the cell membrane that enables bacteria to become resistant to drugs. Read More

New research finds that fully vaccinated patients with cancer who had breakthrough COVID-19 infections remained at high risk for hospitalization and death. Read More

There is strong evidence that the medication apixaban (Eliquis) is preferable to rivaroxaban (Xarelto) for stoke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), with both reduced rates of severe bleeding complications as well as strokes, according to study published Dec. 21 in JAMA. Read More

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have constructed a single-cell “atlas” of lung development that tracks multiple cell types over time. Read More

Two devices for placing a breathing tube during critical illness had similar success rates for intubation on the first attempt, according to a study published Dec. 8 in JAMA. Read More

The profile of immune-related gene expression and tumor-infiltrating immune cells in adrenocortical cancer suggests targets for new treatment strategies. Read More

Studies in three large population cohorts that include Asian, African American and European American people support a role for the oral microbiota — the collection of microbial species in the mouth — in gastric cancer development. Read More

Vanderbilt researchers have discovered a nanoparticle released from cells, called a “supermere,” which contains enzymes, proteins and RNA associated with multiple cancers, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease and even COVID-19. Read More

Vanderbilt researchers identified a critical role for IL-1beta signaling in leukemia cells with a certain mutation, suggesting this pathway may be a good target for novel treatments. Read More

Vanderbilt researchers suggest that to reduce treatment-related regret for men with localized prostate cancer, treatment preparation should focus on shared decision-making and aligning patient expectations with treatment toxicity. Read More

In a late-stage clinical trial, the biologic agent dupilumab reduced the rate of severe asthma attacks and improved lung function and asthma control for children ages 6 to 11 with moderate-to-severe asthma, offering a new option to these patients. Read More

New research shows the potential to identify therapeutic directions that could improve outcomes for people who stutter. Read More

Researchers in the Endocrine Neoplasia Research Laboratory at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have received national recognition for their work to discover better treatments for thyroid cancer. A paper describing their lab work was awarded first place in the Basic Science category at the 2021 Cancer Research Competition. Read More

Researchers across four health care systems, including Vanderbilt University Medical Center, have found that increased depression polygenic scores are associated with increased white blood cell count, highlighting the importance of the immune system in the etiology of depression. Read More