March 14, 2025

Health Sciences

Ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine prescriptions during the COVID-19 pandemic soared far above pre-pandemic levels | Newswise

Ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine prescriptions during the COVID-19 pandemic soared far above pre-pandemic levels | Newswise

David Bale06 mins

U.S. outpatient prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin increased 2- to 10-fold above pre-pandemic rates, respectively, to treat COVID-19, despite strong evidence disproving their effectiveness, new UCLA-led research shows. Nearly three million COVID-related prescriptions were issued in the three and a half years between January 30, 2020 and June 30, 2023, totaling $272 million in estimated…

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Treatment strategy reprograms brain cancer cells, halting tumor growth | Newswise

Treatment strategy reprograms brain cancer cells, halting tumor growth | Newswise

David Bale09 mins

BYLINE: Denise Heady UCLA scientists have identified a potential new strategy for treating glioblastoma, the deadliest form of brain cancer, by reprogramming aggressive cancer cells into harmless ones.   The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, demonstrate that combining radiation therapy with a plant-derived compound called forskolin can force glioblastoma…

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Socioeconomically disadvantaged people still underusing emergency department services in the wake of the COVID pandemic | Newswise

Socioeconomically disadvantaged people still underusing emergency department services in the wake of the COVID pandemic | Newswise

David Bale07 mins

BYLINE: Enrique Rivero New research finds that socioeconomically disadvantaged groups may still be underusing emergency departments for potentially serious illnesses in the wake of the COVID pandemic, despite an overall rebound in emergency department use by 2022. The UCLA-led study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Health Affairs, shows that most of the rebound was driven…

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Paxlovid’s Impact on Hospitalization and Death in COVID-Vaccinated Older Adults Far Weaker Than Previously Thought | Newswise

Paxlovid’s Impact on Hospitalization and Death in COVID-Vaccinated Older Adults Far Weaker Than Previously Thought | Newswise

David Bale07 mins

Newswise — Paxlovid does not significantly reduce COVID-19 hospitalization and mortality among vaccinated older adults, according to new UCLA-led research.  The study questions the assumption that Paxlovid’s effectiveness in reducing COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths in unvaccinated adults also applies to vaccinated adults. Pfizer’s 2022 clinical trial found reduced COVID-19 hospitalization in unvaccinated middle-aged adults; while…

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Study uncovers genetic drivers of aggressive prostate cancer | Newswise

Study uncovers genetic drivers of aggressive prostate cancer | Newswise

David Bale08 mins

BYLINE: Denise Heady Scientists from UCLA, the University of Toronto and the University of Melbourne have uncovered new genetic clues that explain why some prostate cancers remain slow-growing while others become life-threatening.  The findings, published in Cancer Discovery, evaluated the roles of inherited genetic factors passed down from our parents and somatic mutations acquired during tumor…

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Study uncovers genetic drivers of aggressive prostate cancer | Newswise

Diesel Exhaust Exposure Led to Disarray in Liver Function in Mice | Newswise

David Bale03 mins

BYLINE: Kelsie Sandoval Findings Newswise — UCLA Health researchers have discovered significant changes in liver function following exposure to diesel exhaust in a controlled study involving mice. The study identified disrupted activity in 658 genes and 118 metabolites. These changes led to a higher production of triglycerides, fatty acids, and sugars, largely due to problems with…

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Even ‘Normal’ Blood Sugar Levels May Raise Heart Risk, according to UCLA Health Experts | Newswise

Even ‘Normal’ Blood Sugar Levels May Raise Heart Risk, according to UCLA Health Experts | Newswise

David Bale02 mins

Current guidelines around healthy blood glucose levels may need a re-think, according to UCLA Health experts, as research shows that patients with blood sugar levels on the higher side of “normal”  are associated with a notable increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This hasn’t received as much attention as you would think, said Gregg Fonarow, MD, a…

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Research team develops and validates novel tool designed to guide healthcare worker well-being improvement | Newswise

Research team develops and validates novel tool designed to guide healthcare worker well-being improvement | Newswise

David Bale05 mins

A UCLA-led research team has developed a new tool designed to measure the root-cause drivers of healthcare worker well-being. Going beyond traditional assessments of burnout and professional fulfillment, the tool evaluates the systemic factors that influence well-being across the healthcare workforce. The tool, called the Well-Being Influencers Survey for Healthcare (WISH), was designed by a…

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Study uncovers genetic drivers of aggressive prostate cancer | Newswise

UCLA to Lead $20.6M NIH-Funded Center to Unlock the Role of Viruses in Human Health | Newswise

David Bale011 mins

Newswise — The National Institutes of Health has awarded a $20.6 million grant over five years to establish one of five Human Virome Characterization Centers, or HVCCs, leveraging UCLA leadership and the collective expertise of interdisciplinary scientists nationwide to advance understanding of the virome’s role in human health and disease across the oral-gut-brain axis. Yvonne…

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Study uncovers genetic drivers of aggressive prostate cancer | Newswise

The latest developments on cancer research and liver transplantation outcomes are among the topics to be highlighted at the annual Academic Surgical Congress | Newswise

David Bale05 mins

The latest developments in breast lesion detection, robotic cancer resection, liver transplantation, and pancreatic cancer tumor detection are some of the topics to be covered by UCLA doctors and scientists at the 20th annual Academic Surgical Congress (ASC). More than 70 abstracts from UCLA researchers have been accepted for presentation at the annual conference, to…

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