In 1978, during the infancy of the AIDS epidemic, reports about isolated cases of gay men suffering from a rare lung infection and an aggressive cancer began trickling in to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That same year, Rupa Patel was born in the Midwest to immigrants from rural Indian villages. While her parents […]
“This is the beginning of a new era of cancer therapy,” said Washington University oncologist Armin Ghobadi, MD, an assistant professor of medicine, who treats patients at Siteman. “With CAR-T cell therapy, we can take patients’ own cells and turn them into a powerful weapon to attack cancer. It’s a highly personalized, innovative therapy and one […]
An estimated 120 million people worldwide are infected with lymphatic filariasis, a parasitic, mosquito-borne disease that can cause major swelling and deformity of the legs, a condition known as elephantiasis. Health-care workers rely on leg measurements to assess the severity of the condition. However, measuring legs that are severely swollen often proves cumbersome and impractical. […]
Outdoor air pollution has long been linked to major health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. A new study now adds kidney disease to the list, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the Veterans Affairs (VA) St. Louis Health Care System. […]
Warfarin is a blood thinner that is commonly prescribed to patients to prevent life-threatening blood clots. Despite its longtime use, warfarin remains tricky to dose because a person’s genetic makeup influences how the drug is processed in the body. Too much warfarin can cause internal bleeding; too little warfarin fails to prevent blood clots. Now, […]
There’s good fat and bad fat in our bodies. The good fat helps burn calories, while the bad fat hoards calories, contributing to weight gain and obesity. Now, new research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has identified a way to convert bad, white fat into good, brown fat, at least in […]
Breast cancer that spreads often infiltrates bone, causing fractures and intense pain. In such cases, chemotherapy is ineffective because the environment of the bone protects the tumor, even as the drug has toxic side effects elsewhere in the body. Now, scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have developed a nanoparticle that […]
Brazil and other areas hardest hit by the Zika virus – which can cause babies to be born with abnormally small heads – are also home to dengue virus, which is spread by the same mosquito species.
A new study of children living in inner-city areas and at high risk of developing asthma suggests that exposure to certain pet and pest allergens in infancy lowers the risk of developing asthma by age 7. The research also provides evidence that the type of bacteria hitching a ride on the allergen particles is an […]
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis are recruiting volunteers for a national study that is exploring whether strategies to improve cardiovascular health also reduce the risk of dementia in those at risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
The roots of chronic itching have long remained a mystery. Meanwhile, those with the condition suffer from an unrelenting and sometimes debilitating urge to scratch. Now, new research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has identified immune signaling molecules that are essential for activating neurons in the skin to cause chronic itching.
A harmful virus that can cause devastating brain damage in babies could offer up a surprising new treatment for adult brain cancer, according to US scientists.
Washington University in St. Louis researchers have developed a test that quickly detects the presence of Zika virus in blood.
A new study shows that a particular gut microbe can prevent severe flu infections in mice, likely by breaking down naturally occurring compounds commonly found in foods such as black tea, red wine and blueberries.
A new study from the School of Medicine demonstrates how E. coli collect trace amounts of copper in the urine and harness it as a nutrient. The finding may inform new drug development for hard-to-treat urinary tract infections.
A new study shows that a type of natural sugar called trehalose triggers an important cellular housekeeping process in immune cells that helps treat atherosclerotic plaque.Read the full story on the School of Medicine’s site »
What if you carried a genetic mutation that left you nearly impervious to heart disease? What if scientists could bottle that and use it to treat everyone else? Read full story »
In 1978, during the infancy of the AIDS epidemic, reports about isolated cases of gay men suffering from a rare lung infection and an aggressive cancer began trickling in to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
A new study co-authored by Mario Castro, MD, suggests a targeted cancer drug called imatinib (Gleevec) may help some patients with severe asthma who do not respond to standard therapy. Read the full story on the School of Medicine’s site »
A new imaging technique based on light and sound produces images doctors can use to distinguish cancerous breast tissue (below the dotted blue line) from normal tissue more quickly than is currently possible. Read the full story on the School of Medicine’s site »
Jeffrey R. Millman, an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Lipid Research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has received a 2017 Career Development Award from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Antibiotic-resistant infection is a rising issue in American society and thousands of people die each year when they develop infections that no antibiotic can control.
Conference organizers invite male speakers over equally qualified women
Such treatment options are missed by genomic sequencing.