MD Anderson Research Highlights for August 7, 2024

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Research Highlights showcases the latest breakthroughs in cancer care, research and prevention. These advances are made possible through seamless collaboration between MD Anderson’s world-leading clinicians and scientists, bringing discoveries from the lab to the clinic and back. Recent developments at MD Anderson include insights into evolutionary cellular adaptations to environmental stressors, potential targets to overcome trouble swallowing in head and neck cancer patients treated with radiation therapy, a promising chemotherapy-free combination treatment for patients with a subset of acute lymphocytic leukemia, a single-cell atlas for stomach cancer metastasis, encouraging results of a PARP inhibitor on patients with advanced cancers and specific DNA damage repair mutations, and a liquid biopsy signature that could improve early pancreatic cancer detection.

Easy and Fast “Cat Urine Test Kit” for Early Detection of Kidney Disease, Gallstones, and Cystitis

Researchers from Chula Faculty of Science invented an easy-to-use “Cat Urine Test Kit” to screen for the risk of kidney disease, gallstones, and cystitis in cats. The test kit provides fast and accurate results, so cats can be treated promptly.

University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center and AstraZeneca Partner to Enhance Community-Based Lung Cancer Screening and Detection for Marylanders at High Risk

With only a small percentage of Marylanders at high risk for lung cancer getting the recommended annual screening, the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMGCCC) today launched a new statewide effort to increase annual screenings.

‘Curved’ Walking and a Depth Camera: New Tool Detects Early Cognitive Decline

Gait impairments often are prevalent in the early stages of cognitive decline. Researchers quantitatively compared straight walking and curved walking – a more natural yet complex activity – in healthy older adults and adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). A depth camera detected and tracked 25 joints of body movement and signals were processed to extract 50 gait markers. Intriguingly, curved walking illuminated notable disparities between the study groups.

Residents of Rural ‘Glades’ Take a ‘Leap of Faith’ to Combat Dementia

Compared to urban dwellers, racially/ethnically diverse older adults face up to an 80 percent greater risk of cognitive impairment in older age, and 2.5 times potentially preventable Alzheimer’s-related (ADRD) hospitalizations.

EMBARGOED – UTHealth Houston study: Artificial intelligence software improves endovascular thrombectomy treatment times for stroke patients

The implementation of artificial intelligence-powered large vessel occlusion (LVO) detection software for acute stroke triage can improve endovascular thrombectomy treatment times, according to new research from UTHealth Houston.

King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital Doctors Suggest Ways to Prevent Glaucoma through Early Detection

The Excellence Center for Glaucoma, Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, and Thai Glaucoma Society encourage all of us to realize the significance of glaucoma as it is the world’s number 1 cause of irreversible blindness. In Thailand, over 2 million people are affected by glaucoma.

Study: Seizures can be predicted more than 30 minutes before onset in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy

Seizures can be predicted more than 30 minutes before onset in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy, opening the door to a therapy using electrodes that could be activated to prevent seizures from happening, according to new research from UTHealth Houston.

World Cancer Day is February 4th. Ochsner Health oncologist available to stress the importance of cancer screenings and early detection.

It is well known that early detection is key to navigating a cancer diagnosis. As we all continue to work our way toward post-pandemic times, there is still significant concern that many have pushed off these vital screenings. February 4th…

American Society of Nephrology Statement on U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Draft Research Plan on Screening for Kidney Diseases

The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) is encouraged by the recent U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) announcement to solicit comment on USPSTF’s draft research plan on screening for kidney diseases. This development follows more than a decade of advocacy in support of more kidney health screening by ASN and other stakeholders dedicated to intervening earlier to slow or stop the progression of kidney diseases.

New blood test can detect ‘toxic’ protein years before Alzheimer’s symptoms emerge, study shows

Researchers can detect small “toxic” aggregates of a particular protein in the blood of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and in individuals who showed no signs of cognitive impairment at the time the blood sample was taken, but who developed it at a later date.

Lung Cancer Screening Dramatically Increases Long-term Survival Rate

Diagnosing early-stage lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography (CT) screening drastically improves the survival rate of cancer patients over a 20-year period, according to a large-scale international study being presented by Mount Sinai researchers at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.

MD Anderson celebrates World Cancer Research Day

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center again supports World Cancer Research Day, Sept. 24, and its goals to highlight the importance of cancer research, to promote scientific collaboration and to reduce the global burden of cancer through improved prevention, early detection, treatment and survivorship strategies.

Cedars-Sinai Team Pioneers Liver Cancer Blood Test

Cedars-Sinai Cancer investigators have created a blood test that uses a technology made commonly available during the COVID-19 pandemic to detect the most common form of liver cancer—at an early enough stage that cure is possible. Their work was published online in the peer-reviewed journal Hepatology.

Study of promising Alzheimer’s marker in blood prompts warning about brain-boosting supplements

Elevated levels of an enzyme called PHGDH in the blood of older adults could be an early warning sign of Alzheimer’s disease. Research led by UC San Diego has consistently found high levels of PHGDH expression in brain tissue and blood samples of older adults with different stages of the disease.

Unusual visual examination of objects may indicate later autism diagnosis in infants

Unusual visual inspection of objects in infants may precede the development of the social symptoms characteristic of autism syndrome disorder, a UC Davis Health study has found.

How the Pandemic Has Exacerbated Rates of Skin Cancer

With summer approaching and more and more people getting vaccinated for COVID-19, many San Diegans eagerly anticipate the season best known for outdoor activities. But with more time in the sun comes the need for sun-safe practices. During the pandemic,…

Study finds risk of leukemia higher than expected in children with Down syndrome

The risk of childhood leukemia among kids with Down syndrome is higher than predicted, according to a new study led by UC Davis and UC San Francisco researchers. Early diagnosis remains critical.

Older Adults with Dementia Exhibit Financial “Symptoms” Up To Six Years Before Diagnosis

A new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Federal Reserve Board of Governors found that Medicare beneficiaries who go on to be diagnosed with dementia are more likely to miss payments on bills as early as six years before a clinical diagnosis.

Southwest Virginia Residents Leading Region’s Cancer Prevention Efforts

More than 30 Southwest Virginia residents on the University of Virginia Cancer Center Without Walls Community Advisory Board have set four regional priorities for cancer prevention and early detection. Their areas of focus are helping residents quit tobacco use, screenings for lung and colorectal cancer, along with efforts to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes several cancers.

Ovarian Cancer Screening Study Focuses on Early Detection in Women at Low Risk

Atlantic Health System is enrolling women in a landmark study that uses a simple blood test for the CA-125 protein to screen women who are at low risk for ovarian cancer. The purpose of the clinical trial is to help determine whether this test can catch ovarian cancer early in women who would not normally be screened for it. Atlantic Health System hospitals are the only centers in the New York metro region to participate in the study, and have the third highest enrollment numbers in the nation.

COVID-19 Impacted Breast Cancer Screening, Health Disparities Continue

UC San Diego Health experts available to discuss these and related topics during Breast Cancer Awareness Month  Mammography is the most effective tool for screening breast cancer, using X-rays to identify abnormalities in breast tissues. Although health care facilities saw…