Timely treatment after stroke is crucial, UCLA researchers report

2013-06-18T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

For years, the mantra of neurologists treating stroke victims has been "time equals brain." That's because getting a patient to the emergency room quickly to receive a drug that dissolves the stroke-causing blood clot can make a significant difference in how much brain tissue is saved or lost.

But specific information has been limited on just how the timing of giving the intravenous drug — known as a tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA — influences...

New alternative to surgery lets doctors remove suspicious polyps, keep colon intact

2013-06-17T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

Millions of people each year have polyps successfully removed during colonoscopies. But when a suspicious polyp is bigger than a marble or in a hard-to-reach location, patients are referred for surgery to remove a portion of their colon — even if doctors aren't sure whether the polyp is cancerous or not.

Since only 15 percent of all polyps turn out to be malignant, many patients are unnecessarily subjected to the risks of this major surgery. Now...

Hormone therapy for endometrial cancer targets connective tissue, not tumor cells

2013-06-13T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

Dr. Sanaz Memarzadeh

Deanna...

Antihistamines may increase pregnancy risks for women with severe morning sickness

2013-06-12T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

Women with a severe form of morning sickness who take antihistamines to help them sleep through their debilitating nausea are significantly more likely to experience premature births or have low–birth-weight babies, a UCLA study has found.

The findings, the first to link antihistamine use to adverse pregnancy outcomes, are important because babies born at 37 weeks or earlier often are hospitalized longer than full-term babies, can experience problems...

Hyundai Hope on Wheels awards grant to Children's Discovery and Innovation Institute at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA

2013-06-11T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

Dr. Vivan Chang

Hyundai Hope on Wheels and Los Angeles-area Hyundai dealers have awarded a...

Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA rated among nation's top pediatric hospitals by U.S. News

2013-06-11T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA has been recognized as one of the nation's best pediatric hospitals by U.S. News & World Report and is among a select group of hospitals to be ranked in all 10 of the specialty areas reviewed in the magazine's 2013–14 "Best Children's Hospitals" survey.

Nationally, the hospital was recognized for excellence in the following categories:

Santa Monica Shooting Victims Taken to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica

2013-06-09T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

Updated June 9, 2013 at 12:00 pm

Marcela Franco, age 26, who was in critical condition in the intensive care unit, died this morning. The family requests privacy at this time.

The other patient, Debra Fine, was discharged home in good condition Saturday evening.

No spokespersons from UCLA are available for interviews and no press briefings are scheduled.

People with type-O negative, type-O positive and type-AB blood are encouraged to...

UCLA earns elite ranking on survey of state physician groups' patient-care capabilities

2013-06-07T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

The UCLA Medical Group has earned a four-star ranking, the highest achievement possible, in the California Association of Physician Groups' (CAPG) seventh annual Standards of Excellence survey.

The survey is a voluntary, critical self-assessment for the CAPG's 150 medical group members in California. It tallies the "tools" required for health care systems to deliver a better patient...

Fat chance: Scientists unexpectedly discover stress-resistant stem cells in adipose tissue

2013-06-05T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

These pluripotent cells, isolated from fat tissue removed during liposuction, expressed many embryonic stem cell markers and were able to differentiate into muscle, bone, fat, cardiac, neuronal and liver...

Bladder cancer recurrence and mortality could decline with better treatment compliance

2013-06-04T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

Researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center led by Dr. Karim Chamie have found that more intense surveillance and treatment of bladder cancer in the first two years after diagnosis could reduce the number of patients whose cancer returns after treatment and lower the disease's death rate. The study was published online ahead of press today in the journal Cancer.

Based on the team's previous...

Common gene known to cause inherited autism now linked to specific behaviors

2013-06-03T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

The genetic malady known as Fragile X syndrome is the most common cause of inherited autism and intellectual disability. Brain scientists know the gene defect that causes the syndrome and understand the damage it does in misshaping the brain's synapses — the connections between neurons. But how this abnormal...

New cancer drug shows promise for treating advanced melanoma

2013-06-02T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

Researchers from UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center report that a new drug in preliminary tests has shown promising results with very manageable side effects for treating patients with melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

The results were presented at the 2013 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology today in Chicago by Dr. Antoni Ribas, professor of medicine in the UCLA division of hematology-oncology, who led the research....

Simple screening test at UCLA catches newborn's hidden heart condition

2013-05-31T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

Baby Gaël Villegas

Before he was discharged from the hospital, baby Gaël Villegas received the standard panel of newborn screenings to check for genetic and metabolic...

UCLA-led team may have found key to cause of Cushing disease

2013-05-30T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

UCLA RESEARCH ALERT

FINDINGS:

Cushing disease is a life-threatening disorder most commonly triggered by tumors, often benign, in the pituitary glands, resulting in excess production of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH). The condition is...

Take 15 minutes to learn lifesaving Hands-Only CPR

2013-05-30T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

Take a 15-minute work break Tuesday to save a life.

The UCLA Center for Prehospital Care and Campus Emergency Medical Services will be offering free Hands-Only CPR training Tuesday, June 4, in Bruin Plaza between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in honor of National CPR Week. A second CPR training location will also be available at the same time...

Healthy lifestyle choices mean fewer memory complaints, poll by UCLA and Gallup finds

2013-05-29T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

Dr. Gary Small

Research has shown that healthy behaviors are associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia, but less is known about the potential link between positive lifestyle...

Californians with 'medical home' more likely to get flu shots, preventive treatment

2013-05-29T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

Too many cooks may spoil a recipe, and too many doctors may give you the flu.

That's the takeaway from a new study by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research that found that Californians who jump from provider to provider rather than seeing a regular doctor who coordinates their care may be less likely to get the kind of preventive treatment that...

Are children who take Ritalin for ADHD at greater risk of future drug abuse?

2013-05-29T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

Steve S. Lee

UCLA research has shown that that children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder are far more likely than other kids...

Children's Discovery and Innovation Institute at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA receives award to study delivery of behavioral health services using telehealth

2013-05-28T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

Dr. Tumaini R....

Death rates decline for advanced heart failure patients, but outcomes are still not ideal

2013-05-23T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

UCLA researchers examining outcomes for advanced heart-failure patients over the past two decades have found that, coinciding with the increased availability and use of new therapies, overall mortality has decreased and sudden cardiac death, caused by the rapid onset of severe abnormal heart rhythms, has declined.

However, the team found that even today, with these significant improvements, one-third of patients don't survive more than three years after being...

UCLA live-tweets surgery to implant brain pacemaker while patient strums guitar

2013-05-23T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

A team of UCLA Health brain specialists implanted a brain pacemaker in a 39-year-old man on Thursday. It was the 500th such procedure the team had completed, but the first time the group had invited followers to observe the procedure on Twitter. Updates with Instagram photos and short video clips were posted using the hashtag #UCLAORLive.

The procedure stimulates an area of the brain and implants a...

UCLA Health System takes steps in anticipation of strike

2013-05-21T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

UCLA Health has taken numerous steps to protect patient safety in anticipation of a strike expected to begin at 4 a.m. on Tuesday, May 21.

In anticipation that hundreds of AFSCME and UPTE employees would not come to work, the UCLA Health postponed twenty-five percent of the surgeries scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. In addition, the patient census, which is normally at or above 100 percent of capacity, has been lowered to about 80 percent. Approximately 550 replacement...

Founder of UCLA TIES for Families honored for career dedicated to fostering and adoption of children

2013-05-20T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

Susan Edelstein

Susan Edelstein, the...

No-treatment approach may be best choice for older prostate cancer patients

2013-05-20T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

Older prostate cancer patients with other underlying health conditions should think twice before committing to surgery or radiation therapy for their cancer, according to a multi-center study led by researchers from the UCLA Department of Urology.

The study reports 14-year survival outcomes for 3,000 men diagnosed with prostate cancer between 1994 and 1995. The results suggest that older patients with low- or intermediate-risk prostate cancer who have at least...

Latest news on planned strike by patient-care workers unions at UC, UCLA

2013-05-17T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) union, which represents more than 12,500 University of California patient care employees, has asked its members to strike at UC medical centers May 21–22. AFSCME-represented service workers and members of the University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE) union, which represents about 3,300 UC health care professionals, are expected to hold sympathy...

Brain rewires itself after damage or injury, life scientists discover

2013-05-15T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

When the brain's primary "learning center" is damaged, complex new neural circuits arise to compensate for the lost function, say life scientists from UCLA and Australia who have pinpointed the regions of the brain involved in creating those alternate pathways — often far from...

Jekyll into Hyde: Breathing auto emissions turns HDL cholesterol from 'good' to 'bad'

2013-05-15T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

Dr. Jesus Araujo

Academic researchers have found that breathing motor vehicle emissions triggers a change in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol,...

Chancellor Block comments on Laboratory of Neuro Imaging

2013-05-10T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

Chancellor Gene Block issued this statement on May 9, 2013.

UCLA’s Laboratory of Neuro Imaging (LONI) has been an international pioneer in enhancing the understanding of human brain structure and function, generating numerous breakthroughs with important applications for diagnosing and treating Alzheimer’s, psychiatric disorders, drug addiction and other conditions. Faculty affiliated with LONI also have played a vital role in training...

UCLA stem cell researchers move toward treatment for rare genetic nerve disease

2013-05-10T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

Led by Dr. Peiyee Lee and Dr. Richard Gatti, researchers at the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA have used induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells to advance disease-in-a-dish modeling of a rare genetic disorder, ataxia telangiectasia (A-T).

Their discovery shows the positive effects of drugs that may lead to effective new treatments for the neurodegenerative disease. iPS cells are made from patients' skin cells,...

Two UCLA faculty elected to National Academy of Sciences

2013-05-09T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

Two professors from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA have been elected by their peers to the prestigious National Academy of Sciences in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.

Election to the academy is considered one of the highest honors presented to scientists in the U.S.; its membership includes Albert Einstein, Robert Oppenheimer, Thomas Edison, Orville Wright and...

Study finds that bacteria organize according to 'rich-get-richer' principle

2013-05-09T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

Like people attracted to cities, bacteria use established trails and organize into large colonies, following a rich-get-richer principle, according to a new Nature study.

Bacteria on a...

Mobile app developed at UCLA helps women choose birth control method

2013-05-08T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

A new, free iPad application developed at UCLA helps women navigate through the sometimes confusing process of selecting a birth control method using medically accurate information. The easy-to-use app highlights the most effective types of birth...

UCLA Health System statement in response to AFSCME strike announcement

2013-05-08T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

Tuesday, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) union announced it is asking the UC patient care and service employees it represents at UCLA Health hospitals and clinics to strike.

It is very disappointing that AFSCME is threatening services to patients as a tactic in negotiations that are mainly about pension benefits — our patients are not bargaining chips.

The first priority at UCLA...

Researchers discover possible trigger for spread of head and neck cancer cells

2013-05-07T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

UCLA RESEARCH ALERT

FINDINGS:
Very little has been known about the epigenetic events — developmental and environmental factors affecting genes — that occur prior to the invasive growth of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas and their spread to other parts of the body, or metastasis.

However, researchers from the UCLA...

For adolescents, Subway food may not be much healthier than McDonald's, UCLA study finds

2013-05-07T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

Subway may promote itself as the "healthy" fast food restaurant, but it might not be a much healthier alternative than McDonald's for adolescents, according to new UCLA research.

In a study published May 6 in the Journal of Adolescent Health, the researchers found that adolescents who purchased Subway meals consumed nearly as many calories as they did at McDonald's. Meals from both restaurants are likely to contribute toward overeating and obesity, according to the...

'Instant recess' at UCLA honors legacy of Antronette (Toni) Yancey

2013-05-07T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

Chancellor Gene Block and UCLA staff members gathered today for 10 minutes of exercise to honor Dr. Antronette (Toni) Yancey, a professor at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and advocate for health equity and proponent of "Instant Recess." She

WALL-E, meet EVA: 'Robo-doc' navigates on its own, frees doctors to focus on the critically ill

2013-05-06T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

Boosting 'cellular garbage disposal' can delay the aging process, UCLA biologists report

2013-05-06T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

In this image, fewer protein aggregates (green) accumlate in the aged fly brain...

Many plastic surgeons view social media as important tool for promoting their practice

2013-05-03T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

Social media has revolutionized the way in which people and businesses interact, and it is taking on a growing role in the health care industry. A new UCLA study looking at the use of social media among plastic surgeons has found that roughly half of these specialists use social media tools.

Plastic surgeons have been leaders among medical specialists in the development of interactive websites to promote their practices and educate patients, said...

UCLA study shows that individual brain cells track where we are and how we move

2013-05-02T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

Leaving the house in the morning may seem simple, but with every move we make, our brains are working feverishly to create maps of the outside world that allow us to navigate and to remember where we are.

Take one step out the front door, and an individual brain cell fires. Pass by your rose bush on the way to the car, another specific neuron fires. And so it goes. Ultimately, the brain constructs its own pinpoint geographical chart that is far more precise...

UCLA, partners get $11M to develop stroke-prevention programs for minority populations

2013-05-01T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

Dr. Barbara Vickrey

UCLA researchers and their partners across Los Angeles County have been awarded an $11 million...

Teen girls less successful than boys at quitting meth in UCLA pilot research study

2013-04-30T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

Methamphetamine
(Photo courtesy of U.S.
Department of Justice)

A UCLA-led study of adolescents receiving treatment for...

Do you obsess over your appearance? Your brain might be wired abnormally

2013-04-29T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

BDD Brain
BDD brain (r) and healthy...

UCLA's Blum Center hosts event on improving health, reducing poverty in Latin America

2013-04-29T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

WHAT:

The newly formed UCLA Blum Center on Poverty and Health in Latin America, a multidisciplinary institute at UCLA that partners with other organizations to conduct research, develop training...

Newly formed UCLA center to tackle problems of poverty and health in Latin America

2013-04-26T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

UCLA has formed the UCLA Blum Center on Poverty and Health in Latin America, where faculty and students from multiple disciplines will work with other institutions to conduct research, develop training programs and promote innovative policy solutions aimed at addressing key social and health-related issues in the region.

"As a public university, UCLA has a duty to address the world's challenges, and...

UCLA receives major federal contract to study potential new autism drugs

2013-04-23T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

Dr. James McCracken

UCLA has been awarded a $9 million contract by...

Thomas J. Coates Receives 2013 Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award

2013-04-23T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

Thomas J. Coates, director of the Center for World Health and a member of the UCLA AIDS Institute, was presented with the 2013 Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award for his pioneering research on HIV-related volunteer testing and counseling.

He received the award from the James F. and Sarah T. Fries Foundation April...

Method makes it easier to separate useful stem cells from 'problem' ones for therapies

2013-04-22T00:00:00.0000000-07:00

Pluripotent stem cells can turn, or differentiate, into any cell type in the body, such as nerve, muscle or bone, but inevitably some of these stem cells fail to differentiate and end up mixed in with their newly...

UCLAhealth.org Health News

The Boston Marathon

School of Nursing clinic fights spread of TB on L.A.'s skid row

Timely treatment after stroke is crucial, UCLA researchers report

After-school exercise and nutrition programs can help reduce childhood obesity

New alternative to surgery lets doctors remove suspicious polyps, keep colon intact

UCLA pediatric neurosurgeon named co-editor-in-chief of journal Epilepsia

Hormone therapy for endometrial cancer targets connective tissue, not tumor cells

Antihistamines may increase pregnancy risks for women with severe morning sickness

Hyundai Hope on Wheels awards grant to Children's Discovery and Innovation Institute at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA

Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA rated among nation's top pediatric hospitals by U.S. News

Santa Monica Shooting Victims Taken to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica

UCLA earns elite ranking on survey of state physician groups' patient-care capabilities

Fat chance: Scientists unexpectedly discover stress-resistant stem cells in adipose tissue

Bladder cancer recurrence and mortality could decline with better treatment compliance

Common gene known to cause inherited autism now linked to specific behaviors

New cancer drug shows promise for treating advanced melanoma

Simple screening test at UCLA catches newborn's hidden heart condition

UCLA-led team may have found key to cause of Cushing disease

Take 15 minutes to learn lifesaving Hands-Only CPR

Take a 15-minute work break Tuesday to save a life.

Healthy lifestyle choices mean fewer memory complaints, poll by UCLA and Gallup finds

Californians with 'medical home' more likely to get flu shots, preventive treatment

Are children who take Ritalin for ADHD at greater risk of future drug abuse?

Children's Discovery and Innovation Institute at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA receives award to study delivery of behavioral health services using telehealth

Death rates decline for advanced heart failure patients, but outcomes are still not ideal

UCLA live-tweets surgery to implant brain pacemaker while patient strums guitar

UCLA Health System takes steps in anticipation of strike

Founder of UCLA TIES for Families honored for career dedicated to fostering and adoption of children

No-treatment approach may be best choice for older prostate cancer patients

Latest news on planned strike by patient-care workers unions at UC, UCLA

Brain rewires itself after damage or injury, life scientists discover

Jekyll into Hyde: Breathing auto emissions turns HDL cholesterol from 'good' to 'bad'

Chancellor Block comments on Laboratory of Neuro Imaging

UCLA stem cell researchers move toward treatment for rare genetic nerve disease

Two UCLA faculty elected to National Academy of Sciences

Study finds that bacteria organize according to 'rich-get-richer' principle

Mobile app developed at UCLA helps women choose birth control method

UCLA Health System statement in response to AFSCME strike announcement

Researchers discover possible trigger for spread of head and neck cancer cells

For adolescents, Subway food may not be much healthier than McDonald's, UCLA study finds

'Instant recess' at UCLA honors legacy of Antronette (Toni) Yancey

WALL-E, meet EVA: 'Robo-doc' navigates on its own, frees doctors to focus on the critically ill

Boosting 'cellular garbage disposal' can delay the aging process, UCLA biologists report

Many plastic surgeons view social media as important tool for promoting their practice

UCLA study shows that individual brain cells track where we are and how we move

UCLA, partners get $11M to develop stroke-prevention programs for minority populations

Teen girls less successful than boys at quitting meth in UCLA pilot research study

Do you obsess over your appearance? Your brain might be wired abnormally

UCLA's Blum Center hosts event on improving health, reducing poverty in Latin America

Newly formed UCLA center to tackle problems of poverty and health in Latin America

UCLA receives major federal contract to study potential new autism drugs

Thomas J. Coates Receives 2013 Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award

Method makes it easier to separate useful stem cells from 'problem' ones for therapies