Health And Medicine

  • Digital illustration of heart in an x-ray of a human chest

    Nature’s “recycler” could reduce heart disease risk: study

    Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have identified potential new targets for the prevention of atherosclerosis through the enhancement of autophagy, a natural process for recycling damaged cellular material. Read More

    Jul 8, 2021

  • coronavirus

    Study finds genetic risk factors for severe COVID-19 illness

    A massive worldwide collaboration including researchers from Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) has identified several genetic factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19 illness. Read More

    Jul 8, 2021

  • COVID ICU

    Delirium and mortality reexamined

    A multicenter study of ICU patients found that in the hospital, delirium was associated with a nearly three-fold increase in risk of death the following day, but after discharge there was no association between delirium and mortality. Read More

    Jul 8, 2021

  • Vanderbilt University

    Genetics of hydrocephalus

    Fluid build-up in the brain — hydrocephalus — increases pressure and risk for brain damage; Vanderbilt researchers have now identified genes and signaling pathways associated with the condition. Read More

    Jul 8, 2021

  • Vanderbilt University

    Treating metastatic prostate cancer

    An indirect comparative effectiveness study using published data suggests that the targeted therapy olaparib should be re-evaluated for treating metastatic prostate cancer. Read More

    Jun 22, 2021

  • Vanderbilt University

    Dexmedetomidine and delirium

    The sedative dexmedetomidine, when administered during or after heart surgery, is associated with postoperative delirium and adverse outcomes. Read More

    Jun 21, 2021

  • coronavirus

    COVID-19 complication underdiagnosed

    A mysterious inflammatory syndrome linked to COVID-19 infection and first identified in children also occurs in adults, Vanderbilt researchers report. Read More

    Jun 17, 2021

  • Digital illustration of heart in an x-ray of a human chest

    Heat for hypertension in autonomic failure

    Heat therapy could offer a novel nonpharmacologic approach for treating the overnight hypertension that affects patients with autonomic failure. Read More

    May 25, 2021

  • Hantavirus

    Therapeutic antibodies for hantavirus

    Vanderbilt Vaccine Center researchers have isolated monoclonal antibodies against hantaviruses, an emerging source of human disease with pandemic potential. Read More

    May 24, 2021

  • x-ray of chest with lungs highlighted in red

    New clue to lung scarring

    Vanderbilt neonatology team pinpoints signaling pathways involved in the progressive lung fibrosis that occurs in rare genetic diseases. Read More

    May 20, 2021

  • Vanderbilt University

    Beta cell regeneration

    Vanderbilt researchers dissected the complex microenvironment of the pancreatic islet to discover the signals that drive beta cell regeneration — as a possible treatment for diabetes. Read More

    May 20, 2021

  • Four slender young white women jogging in the park

    People at high genetic risk for colorectal cancer benefit more from lifestyle changes

    People with a high polygenic risk score for colorectal cancer could benefit more at preventing the disease by leading healthy lifestyles than those at lower genetic risk, according to a study by Vanderbilt researchers published in the April issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Read More

    May 13, 2021

  • coronavirus

    VUMC to lead national study to treat severe COVID complications

    The Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (VICTR) has been awarded a major federal grant to lead a national trial of treatments targeting the Renin Angiotensin Aldosterone System (RAAS) in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Read More

    May 6, 2021

  • conceptual illustration of brain with tangled scribbles running through it

    New strategy to treat brain bleeding

    Vasorelaxing peptides could offer a promising therapeutic strategy for reducing the neurological deficits caused by subarachnoid hemorrhage-induced cerebral blood vessel constriction. Read More

    May 4, 2021

  • Vanderbilt University

    Strength in numbers

    Voluntary data sharing across a region’s health systems and ambulatory care practices is important for measuring and improving health care quality and safety, Vanderbilt researchers report. Read More

    May 3, 2021

  • Vanderbilt University

    New therapeutic strategy for leukemia syndrome

    Using primary cells from patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, Vanderbilt researchers found synergistic inhibition of cell viability and proliferation, suggesting a new treatment strategy. Read More

    Apr 20, 2021

  • Close up of Senior citizen female holding bottles of prescription medicine.

    VUMC aids national effort to repurpose drugs for COVID-19

    Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) has been named Data Coordinating Center (DCC) for a nationwide platform of studies aimed at “repurposing” existing drugs to treat mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19. Read More

    Apr 19, 2021

  • electronic medical record ehr emr

    COVID data, by hook or by crook

    A switch to paper forms during the COVID-19 pandemic might have hobbled research, but using software with a novel user interface made it possible to accurately extract information from scanned forms. Read More

    Apr 19, 2021

  • Human kidney cross section on scientific background. 3d illustration

    New insights into kidney development

    Integrin-linked kinase, a central component of a complex that coordinates cell signaling involved in migration, proliferation and cell death, plays a role in kidney development and epithelial cell function. Read More

    Apr 15, 2021

  • Digital illustration of heart in an x-ray of a human chest

    Arrhythmia culprit: supertrafficking ion channel

    Charles Sanders, PhD, and colleagues show how a “supertrafficking” mutant potassium channel contributes to heart rhythm abnormalities. Read More

    Apr 15, 2021