NCATS Archives

3d rendering white blood cells with red blood cells

A new regulator of B cell development

Oct. 8, 2019—New findings establish a role for the pro-inflammatory molecule IL-33 in the early development of antibody-producing B cells.

Study: personalized decision support affects intensive care

Oct. 3, 2019—For patients in pediatric intensive care who are at high risk for acute kidney injury (AKI), giving clinicians automated decision support during the electronic order entry process increased the rate of blood testing for AKI by 9%.

Treating C. diff: new purpose for an old drug?

Sep. 24, 2019—An inexpensive generic drug once used to prevent gastrointestinal ulcers in people taking daily NSAIDs protects against C. diff infection in mice.

Early detection of schizophrenia

Jun. 24, 2019—Inhibited temperament — a tendency to respond to novelty with wariness, fear or caution — may be a risk factor for schizophrenia that could be targeted for preventative interventions.

Cardiac dysfunction in DMD

Mar. 28, 2019—The protein MMP7 is elevated in blood from patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy who have cardiac dysfunction, suggesting that it may be a biomarker for heart disease severity.

Personalized pain management

Feb. 28, 2019—Understanding how natural brain chemicals with pain-relieving properties interact with administered opioids may guide personalized approaches for pain management.

Protein loss promotes cell migration

Feb. 28, 2019—The protein kinase STK17A plays a novel role in epithelial cells and its loss may contribute to colorectal cancer invasion and metastasis, Vanderbilt researchers report.

white pills spilling out of a prescription bottle

Pain relievers a risk for C. diff?

Jan. 17, 2019—A link between anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and C. diff infection suggests caution against overusing such drugs in patients at high risk for infection.

Breast cancer-killing RIG

Dec. 13, 2018—A compound that activates a virus-sensing receptor has potent therapeutic effects in a mouse model of breast cancer.

Probing the genetics of fibroids

Oct. 1, 2018—A new study identified multiple genetic locations associated with the size and number of uterine fibroids — common non-cancerous uterine tumors.

Fibromyalgia: More doctor visits mean fewer suicide attempts

Sep. 20, 2018—Fibromyalgia patients who regularly visit their physicians are much less likely to attempt suicide than those who do not, according to a new Vanderbilt University Medical Center study published in Arthritis Care & Research.