Health & Behavior

Research

The Latest

Underappreciated Cause of Bowel Obstruction Should Be Included in Surgical Assessments

Each year, more than 10 million Americans seek medical attention, often in emergency situations, for symptoms of intestinal blockages. Researchers at the University California, San Diego School of Medicine have identified an abnormal form of small bowel twisting (or volvulus) that may cause these painful obstructions. In contrast to other causes of bowel obstruction that are treated with bowel rest, these require immediate surgical care.

Molecular Homing Beacon Redirects Human Antibodies to Fight Pathogenic Bacteria

With the threat of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens growing, new ideas to treat infections are sorely needed. Researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences report preliminary success testing an entirely novel approach — tagging bacteria with a molecular “homing beacon” that attracts pre-existing antibodies to attack the pathogens.

UC San Diego and El Centro Regional Medical Center Sign Management Services Agreement

UC San Diego Health System and the City of El Centro have entered into a long-term management services agreement on behalf of El Centro Regional Medical Center (ECRMC), the city-owned hospital, with the goal of enhancing the delivery of high-quality health care to patients in the Imperial Valley.

John Wooley: In Memoriam

Dr. John Wooley, the long-time associate vice chancellor for research and professor of pharmacology at the University of California, San Diego, passed away in April after a long battle with cancer.

The Media is the Message: How Stem Cells Grow Depends On What They Grow Up In

Human pluripotent stem cells possess the ability to grow into almost any kind of cell, which has made them dynamic tools for studying early human development and disease, but much depends upon what they grow up in. Writing in the May 4 online issue of the journal Scientific Reports, researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine used a powerful statistical tool called “design of experiments” to determine the optimal cell culture formula to grow and produce hPSCs.

Patients with Gastrointestinal Tumors at Higher Risk of Other Cancers

Researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine conducted the first population-based study that characterizes the association and temporal relationship between gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) and other cancers. The results, published by Cancer on April 30, indicate that one in 5.8 patients with GIST will develop additional malignancies before and after their diagnosis.