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Study Identifies 39 Genetic Mutations Associated With Heart Failure

In a new study co-led by investigators at the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and Brigham and Women's Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, a global team of scientists conducted one of the largest genetic association studies on heart failure to date.

25 Aug 2023

Study describes why COVID-19 subvariants accelerated the pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has killed nearly 7 million people worldwide (1.1 million in the United States) and severely harmed many millions more, though vaccines and antiviral treatments measurably reduced the potential loss of life and health.

23 Mar 2023

Newly discovered genetic mutation may be a root cause of severe cases of childhood glaucoma

An international team of scientists led by Mass Eye and Ear, a member of Mass General Brigham, and Boston Children's Hospital, has discovered a new genetic mutation that may be a root cause of severe cases of childhood glaucoma, a devastating condition that runs in families and can rob children of their vision by 3 years of age.

30 Jan 2023

Active immune cells provide great protection against ischemic stroke

According to research published today in the Journal of Clinical Investigation by neurologists and immunologists at the University of Pittsburgh, a special subgroup of white blood cells provides mice with quick-acting and long-lasting protection against ischemic stroke.

From University of Pittsburgh 3 Aug 2022

Study reveals genetic architecture of COVID-19 risk factors and disease complications

According to a recent study of information from the Veterans Affairs Million Veteran Program, there are genetic correlations between COVID-19 severity and specific medical disorders that are established risk factors for severe COVID-19.

3 May 2022

Unusual partners aid new blood vessel development

Insufficient oxygen to an area like the heart or legs, called hypoxia, is a cue to our bodies to make more blood vessels, and scientists have found some unusual partners are key to making that happen.

9 Mar 2022

An Interview with The Million Veteran Program (MVP)

In this interview, we speak to Dr. Sumitra Muralidhar, the Program Director for VA’s Million Veteran Program (MVP) about the program and its aims for veterans.

28 Jan 2022

Columbia researchers develop new blood test to measure the pace of biological aging

Researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health have developed a new blood test to measure the pace of biological aging. Based on an analysis of chemical tags on the DNA contained in white blood cells, called DNA methylation marks, the new test is named DunedinPACE, after the Dunedin Birth Cohort used to develop it.

19 Jan 2022

Researchers identify toxic senescent cells in the brain as potential target for Alzheimer’s treatment

For the first time, scientists have identified a rare population of potentially toxic senescent cells in human brains that can serve as a target for a new Alzheimer's disease treatment.

13 Dec 2021

Study finds several common genetic loci associated with dilated cardiomyopathy in U.S. veterans

A genome-wide association study has identified several common genetic loci (genetic locations) associated with dilated cardiomyopathy in U.S. veterans of European and African ancestry, according to preliminary research to be presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2021.

9 Nov 2021

Researchers upend the models of cancer metabolism

Tumors consume glucose at high rates, but a team of Vanderbilt researchers has discovered that cancer cells themselves are not the culprit, upending models of cancer metabolism that have been developed and refined over the last 100 years.

From Vanderbilt University 8 Apr 2021

Scientists identify specific genes associated with post-traumatic stress disorder

A research team has found 18 specific, fixed positions on chromosomes (called loci) that seem to be linked to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

29 Jan 2021

Enzyme SSH1 impairs disposal of damaged tau and mitochondria leaking toxins

In a healthy brain, the multistep waste clearance process known as autophagy routinely removes and degrades damaged cell components - including malformed proteins like tau and toxic mitochondria.

13 Oct 2020

Dried plum diet prevents bone loss associated with spinal cord injury

Findings from a new study among mice show a diet high in dried plum (prunes) completely prevents bone loss associated with spinal cord injury (SCI), while also restoring some of the bone lost following SCI.

7 Oct 2020

Supercomputer analyses point to a new pathway for COVID-19 inflammatory response

Analyses of lung fluid cells from COVID-19 patients conducted on a supercomputer point to patterns that may explain the body's response to SARS-CoV-2.

29 Jul 2020

uEXPLORER TB-PET/CT scanner captures complete picture of systemic inflammatory arthritis

For the first time, physicians can examine the systemic burden of inflammatory arthritis simultaneously across all joints and organ systems, using the high-sensitivity, high-resolution uEXPLORER total-body positron emission tomography/computed tomography (TB-PET/CT) scanner.

14 Jul 2020

Study identifies brain cells that control sugar intake and cravings

New research has identified the specific brain cells that control how much sugar you eat and how much you crave sweet tasting food.

13 Jul 2020

CU scientists identify key role of brain's immune cells during development

Researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine have identified how specific brain cells interacting during development could be related to neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases, including some that occur later in life.

10 Jul 2020

Study uncovers new genetic variants linked to type-2 diabetes

After examining the genes of more than 200,000 people all over the world who have type-2 diabetes, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and the Veterans Health Administration's Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center found hundreds of genetic variants never before linked to the disease.

24 Jun 2020

Softening cell's nucleus can help the body to efficiently repair injuries

By softening a cell's nucleus so that it can squeeze its way through dense connective tissues, a group of researchers believe they've demonstrated a new way to help the body efficiently repair injuries.

23 Jun 2020