Health and Medicine
Stem cells take heart
Feb. 20, 2012—Signaling pathway discoveries suggest ways to induce stem cells to become cardiac muscle cells, which could be useful for regenerating damaged heart muscle.
Memory intact in early psychosis
Feb. 16, 2012—Brain deficits are not present in the early stages of schizophrenia, suggesting it may be possible to delay or prevent the development of brain abnormalities.
On the tail of RSV infection mechanism
Feb. 15, 2012—New details about the life cycle of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) could aid the development of therapies to combat this leading cause of serious illness in infants and the elderly.
Opinion: Scientific research is essential to state’s economic health
Feb. 10, 2012—In this Tennessean opinion piece, Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs Jeff Balser discusses the impact scientific research has in Tennessee and the critical importance of continued federal investment in this research.
Matchmaker for clinical studies
Feb. 8, 2012—ResearchMatch.org is a web-based registry that is connecting participants and researchers for clinical studies.
Tool finds connections in genome data
Feb. 8, 2012—A new analytical tool points to genes that act together to increase disease risk.
Treatment window for genetic disorder
Feb. 1, 2012—Treatment with a drug used to prevent organ rejection partially reverses the course of tuberous sclerosis, research in mice suggests.
Drugs reverse lung cancer cell changes
Feb. 1, 2012—Drugs that target “epigenetic” changes may help treat or slow the progression of lung cancer.
Investigators seek clues to resistance to melanoma drug
Jan. 26, 2012—Investigators at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and several other centers may be one step closer to finding out why some melanoma patients relapse after treatment with a promising new drug.
Protein repairs esophageal DNA damage
Jan. 25, 2012—A protein involved in repairing DNA damage associated with gastric reflux may play a tumor suppressor role in the esophagus and could represent a target for therapies to combat esophageal cancer.
Alcohol’s molecular mediators
Jan. 23, 2012—Therapeutic agents focusing on the brain region involved in stress-induced relapse may be effective in preventing relapse in patients with alcohol use disorders.
Studies shed new light on how nitric oxide is produced
Jan. 20, 2012—The discovery of a previously unrecognized and pivotal role of enzyme ASL in nitric oxide production could potentially lead to new therapies for babies with pulmonary hypertension.
