Author: Leigh MacMillan
Ginseng intake and mortality
Jun. 20, 2022—Regular ginseng intake, particularly over a long duration, is associated with decreased risk of death from all causes, Vanderbilt researchers discovered in a large epidemiological study.
BMI genetics influence heart function
Jun. 16, 2022—Vanderbilt researchers have discovered that a genetic predisposition to elevated body mass index increases the risk of diastolic dysfunction — a cardiac condition that can lead to heart failure.
Pediatric acute care use by ZIP code
Jun. 7, 2022—Children with complex chronic conditions who live in low opportunity areas utilize more acute care and could benefit from hospital- and community-based interventions aimed at equitably improving child health outcomes.
Diabetes, cardiovascular drug targets
May. 24, 2022—Targeting receptors of the inflammatory lipid signaling molecule PGE2 may offer a new way to tackle both Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, Vanderbilt researchers have discovered.
Genetics and blood pressure
May. 19, 2022—Including polygenic risk scores for blood pressure may improve predictive models to identify people at risk for treatment-resistant hypertension.
Study identifies first cellular “chaperone” for zinc, sheds light on worldwide public health problem of zinc deficiency
May. 17, 2022—A team led by Vanderbilt researchers has described and characterized the first zinc metallochaperone: a protein that puts zinc into other “client” proteins.
Gene variants and transplant drug dose
May. 9, 2022—Genotyping multiple enzymes that metabolize the immunosuppressive drug tacrolimus — common used for lung transplant recipients — is important for correct dosing of the drug, Vanderbilt researchers found.
VUMC team discovers how bacterial pathogen survives without water
May. 5, 2022—Vanderbilt researchers are studying a bacterial pathogen that can survive on hospital surfaces — without water — for months, an ability that has helped it become a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections.
COVID-associated bleeding risk
May. 5, 2022—While case reports have noted acquired hemophilia after COVID-19 infection or vaccination, a new study finds no increased risk.
Studies combine genetic testing, electronic health records to find undiagnosed diseases
Apr. 28, 2022—Combining genetic testing with information from electronic health records revealed undiagnosed heart rhythm disorders and new conditions associated with inherited cancer gene mutations.
Calculating risk for uterine fibroids
Apr. 26, 2022—Vanderbilt researchers have constructed a polygenic risk score for uterine fibroids that will be useful for exploring causes of these benign tumors and identifying novel drug targets and therapies.
Molecular testing across tumor types
Apr. 25, 2022—The KRAS inhibitor sotorasib is newly approved for one kind of lung cancer; Vanderbilt researchers ask if it should be considered for another type if the tumor has the gene mutation it targets.
