News Archive - Scott LaFee

How SARS-CoV-2 Went from Single Cases to Overwhelming Continents

Early detection and intervention stanched the first known introductions of the SARS-CoV-2 virus into North America and Europe, validating the effectiveness of quick, comprehensive testing and contact tracing, but inadequate public health measures allowed the virus to take hold.

How Loss of Single Gene Fuels Deadly Childhood Brain Cancer

UC San Diego researchers describe how the functional loss of a single gene negatively impacts neural development and promotes the growth of a particularly deadly form of pediatric brain cancer.

Common Class of Drugs Linked to Increased Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease

UC San Diego researchers report that a class of drugs used for a broad array of conditions, from allergies and colds to hypertension and urinary incontinence, may be associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline, particularly in older adults at greater risk for Alzheimer’s disease.

UC San Diego Joins Second Major National Clinical Trial for Novel Coronavirus

UC San Diego Health will be part of the Phase III national AstraZeneca clinical trial that will recruit up to 30,000 participants at multiple sites across the country to assess the safety and efficacy of a vaccine to prevent COVID-19.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease Linked to an Immune Cell Run Amok

Researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine report that the lasting nature of inflammatory bowel disease may be due to a type of long-lived immune cell that can provoke persistent, damaging inflammation in the intestinal tract.

Excessive Fructose Consumption May Cause a Leaky Gut, Leading to Fatty Liver Disease

Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine report that fructose only adversely affects the liver after it reaches the intestines, where the sugar disrupts the epithelial barrier protecting internal organs from bacterial toxins in the gut.

Is COVID-19 Transmitted Through Breast Milk? Study Suggests Not Likely

A recent study by researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine suggests transmission of COVID-19 through breast milk is not likely. The infectious virus was not detected in 64 samples of breast milk tested.

Is COVID-19 Transmitted Through Breast Milk? Study Suggests Not Likely

A recent study by researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine suggests transmission of COVID-19 through breast milk is not likely. The infectious virus was not detected in 64 samples of breast milk tested.

Implanted Neural Stem Cell Grafts Show Functionality in Spinal Cord Injuries

Researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine report successfully implanting specialized grafts of neural stem cells directly into spinal cord injuries in mice, then documenting how the grafts grew and filled the injury sites, mimicking the animals’ existing neuronal network.

Imitation May Be a Sincere Form of Treatment

The National Institutes of Health will soon launch a Phase II clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of potential new therapeutics for COVID-19, including the use of investigational synthetic monoclonal antibodies. Davey Smith of UC San Diego is the protocol chair and answers questions.