Aliquots - Research Briefs

September 8, 2016

Going after the ‘heart attack gremlin’

A protein called Gremlin 2 controls the extent of inflammation after heart attack and may be a good therapeutic target.

By Sanjay Mishra
August 31, 2016

Proliferative capacity of neuroblastoma

The sphere-forming frequency of neuroblastoma cells is a measure of their proliferative capacity and could help guide treatment strategies for neuroblastoma.

By Sanjay Mishra
August 29, 2016

Nervous system’s role in hypertension

Increased activity of the “fight or flight” nervous system contributes to obesity-associated hypertension and may be a good therapeutic target for the disease.

By Leigh MacMillan
August 26, 2016

New breast cancer driver

Vanderbilt investigators have demonstrated that a certain protein complex drives tumor progression in aggressive breast cancers.

By Leigh MacMillan
chubby child playing with dog
August 25, 2016

Growth hormone for Prader-Willi

Children with Prader-Willi Syndrome who received growth hormone treatment had cognitive advantages compared to untreated patients.

By VUMC News and Communications
August 15, 2016

In search of new asthma therapies

A peptide molecule relaxes airway smooth muscle and may be a potential therapeutic for asthma that has become resistant to standard therapies.

By Leigh MacMillan
August 12, 2016

New culprit in nerve degeneration

Vanderbilt researchers have discovered that regulation of cell volume plays a role in nerve degeneration and peripheral neuropathies.
By Leigh MacMillan
August 11, 2016

Transcription factor evolution

Vanderbilt researchers have discovered a novel model of evolution for factors that control gene expression.
By Sanjay Mishra
August 4, 2016

HIV treatment and TB risk

Tuberculosis (TB) remains an important public health problem, particularly among people infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
By Bill Snyder
August 3, 2016

Fetal impact of antidepressants

Antidepressant use during pregnancy is common. Fetal exposure to the class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) is associated with the life-threatening condition PPHN (persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn), but a causal link has not been established.
By Leigh MacMillan
August 2, 2016

Refining neural circuitry

During development, neural circuits are remodeled – some synapses are eliminated and others are strengthened – to produce a mature, functional nervous system.
By Leigh MacMillan
August 1, 2016

Possible overeating antidote

The 2C-subtype of the serotonin receptor (5HT2C), which binds the neurotransmitter serotonin, plays an important role in regulating food intake and metabolism.
By Bill Snyder
July 20, 2016

Breast cancer: finding the smoking gun

A new method developed at Vanderbilt may help “inventory” all tumor-promoting genes.
By Bill Snyder