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2018 Research Highlights - Promising Medical Advances
NIH findings with potential for enhancing human health include vaccines against HIV, anthrax, and plague, a wearable ultrasound patch to track blood p...
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2018 Research Highlights - Insights From the Lab
Noteworthy NIH advances in basic research include new insights into cancer, identification of a human skeletal stem cell, and an experimental male con...
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2018 Research Highlights - Clinical Advances
NIH accomplishments in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of human disease include progress on preventing opioid overdoses, an antibody combinat...
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October 23, 2018 Edition
How gentle touch can turn painful after injury
Researchers identified a gene that’s needed for gentle touch to turn painful after an injury. The study uncovers a possible target for treatments to relieve pain caused by skin injuries.
Probiotic bacteria block harmful microbe
Researchers identified how Bacillus bacteria, which are used in many probiotic formulations, can prevent the growth of harmful Staphylococcus aureus, or “staph,” bacteria.
Delayed pushing doesn't help during labor
Women who pushed earlier during labor were as likely to have a vaginal birth as those who delayed, and had fewer complications. The finding may change recommendations made to many women.
October 16, 2018 Edition
Antibody combination suppresses HIV
In an early trial, a combination of two antibodies suppressed blood levels of HIV for months after treatment in some people.
Wearable ultrasound patch tracks blood pressure
Researchers engineered a blood pressure sensor that uses ultrasound technology and can be worn as a flexible skin patch.
Antibody combination suppresses HIV
In an early trial, a combination of two antibodies suppressed blood levels of HIV for months after treatment in some people.
October 2, 2018 Edition
Gut communicates directly with brain
The discovery of direct neural connections between the gut and the brain in mice could lead to a better understanding of appetite and gut health.
Senescent cells linked to brain disease in mice
Eliminating old or damaged cells that have stopped dividing reduced signs of brain disease in mice—an important clue for developing treatments for neurodegenerative brain diseases.
Human skeletal stem cell identified
Researchers discovered a self-renewing human skeletal stem cell. This study may one day lead to ways to restore bone, cartilage, and supportive tissues for organs.
September 25, 2018 Edition
Most tumors in body share important mutations
Primary and metastatic tumors within an individual all likely rely on the same mutations to grow and spread, suggesting that precision treatments could be chosen based on a single sample.
Exercise and new nerve cell growth in Alzheimer's disease
In a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, access to exercise stimulated the growth of new nerve cells in the brain and reduced memory problems. The findings pave the way for studies in people.
Daily aspirin shows no benefit for healthy older adults
A large clinical trial found that a daily low-dose aspirin doesn’t have the same benefits for healthy older adults as it does for those who’ve had a heart attack or stroke.
September 18, 2018 Edition
Fasting increases health and lifespan in male mice
Long periods of fasting between meals helped male mice live longer and healthier lives, regardless of the content of their diets.
Regrowing neurons across scarred spinal tissue
Researchers stimulated neurons to regrow across scarred spinal tissue in rodents.
Machine learning predicts risk of aneurysm
Researchers used machine learning to develop a method of predicting which people are at risk of developing an abdominal aneurysm.
September 11, 2018 Edition
Predicting response to immunotherapy
Studies show progress in learning to predict which patients are most likely to respond to certain cancer treatments known as immune checkpoint therapies.
Device improves survival after sudden cardiac arrest
A device for supplying oxygen after sudden cardiac arrest outside of a hospital improved survival compared with a more common but invasive and difficult procedure.
Regenerating light-sensing eye cells in mice
Researchers restored some vision in mice with congenital blindness by changing supportive cells in the retina called Müller glia into light-sensing cells.
August 28, 2018 Edition
Responsive parenting affects childhood weight
Teaching first-time mothers how to respond to their infant’s body cues reduced the child’s weight by age 3 compared with a control group.
Learning about fatal opioid overdoses changes prescribing behavior
Notifying clinicians that one of their patients died of an opioid overdose reduced the number and doses of opioid medications prescribed in the following months.
Exploring induced labor for full-term pregnancy
A large study found that, for healthy women, inducing labor at full term rather than waiting for natural labor doesn’t increase the risk of major complications for newborns.
August 14, 2018 Edition
Dairy fatty acids not linked to death in older adults
A study of older adults found that long-term exposure to dairy fats wasn’t associated with overall risk of death or death from cardiovascular disease.
How drugs could repair damage from multiple sclerosis
Drugs that help repair the nerve cell lining that’s damaged in multiple sclerosis were found to target certain enzymes. The finding could help researchers develop new treatments for multiple sclerosis.
Impaired brain drainage in aging and Alzheimer's
Researchers gained insights into how the waste clearing vessels in the brain change as mice age. The results suggests a possible way to combat the cognitive decline seen in aging and age-related diseases.
July 31, 2018 Edition
Early family experience affects later romantic relationships
Children who grow up in a positive family climate are better equipped to have a healthy romantic relationship as a young adult.
How night shifts disrupt metabolism
The rhythms of certain metabolic pathways can become shifted by even a few days of being awake at night and asleep during the day. Further research is needed to explore how this finding may play a role in health risks observed in people who work at n...
Editing T cell genomes without viruses
Researchers developed a way to genetically modify T cells using a jolt of electricity instead of a virus. This method may help expand the medical potential of gene editing.