Health and medicine
September 13, 2013
Neighborhoods and UW team up to measure diesel exhaust pollution in South Seattle
The residents of the Georgetown and South Park neighborhoods in Seattle’s Duwamish Valley now know how much diesel exhaust they are exposed to. A report on findings from an air pollution study comparing these neighborhoods to Beacon Hill and Queen Anne was published today, Sept. 13.
September 12, 2013
Initial positive results reported on vaccine to treat genital herpes
The vaccine is the first to significantly reduce the frequency of viral shedding — the surfacing of herpes virus on the genitals — and appears to activate T cell immune responses to the virus.
September 11, 2013
UW engineers to make cookstoves 10 times cleaner for developing world
University of Washington engineers have received a $900,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to design a better cookstove, which researchers say will use half as much fuel and cut emissions by 90 percent.
September 10, 2013
New Sports Medicine Center at Husky Stadium is a game-changer for all athletes
This week the newest UW Medicine Sports Medicine Center opened its doors to the community at Husky Stadium. A public open house is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 19.
Two common drugs may help treat deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
A combination of interferon-alpha 2b and ribavirin, drugs routinely given for hepatitis C, may be an effective treatment for the coronovirus that causes this new disease.
September 9, 2013
Gene for most common childhood cancer identified
In children with this form of leukemia, damage to chromosome 9 removes part of a normal copy of the gene in question, and leaves the mutated copy unopposed.
Nearly half of state’s distracted drivers are texting
In our state, texting on a hand-held device diverts drivers’ attention more than any other distraction.
September 4, 2013
Pico-world dragnets: Computer-designed proteins recognize and bind small molecules
Computer-designed proteins that can recognize and interact with small biological molecules are now a reality. Scientists have succeeded in creating a protein molecule that can be programmed to unite with three different steroids.
Researchers hope to protect against another HIV-like outbreak
Researchers examining virus transmission from monkeys to humans in Bangladesh found some people are infected with multiple strains of simian foamy virus.
August 26, 2013
Microneedle patch could replace standard tuberculosis skin test
A team led by University of Washington engineers has created a patch with tiny, biodegradable needles that can penetrate the skin and precisely deliver a tuberculosis test. The researchers published their results online Aug. 26 in the journal Advanced Healthcare Materials.
August 16, 2013
UW Dentistry tackles a job for Huskies: mouth guards
The winning smiles of the UW Huskies will be protected on the football field with customized mouth guards from UW Pediatric Dentistry.
August 12, 2013
Progress made in linking some forms of epilepsy to genetics
Some epilepsy patients who have both seizures and speech abnormalities share something else in common — mutations on the same gene.
August 7, 2013
UW researchers report on genome of aggressive cervical cancer that killed Henrietta Lacks
Henrietta Lacks was the subject of bestselling book on the HeLa immortal cell line, the most used of its kind in labs around the world. The UW scientists are the first to publish under new policy, established through agreement with Lacks’ family.
August 1, 2013
Brain chemistry changes in children with autism offer clues to earlier detection and intervention
Between ages three and 10, children with autism spectrum disorder exhibit distinct brain chemical changes that differ from children with developmental delays and children with typical development.
Burnt sugar-derivative reduces muscle wasting in fly and mouse models of muscular dystrophy
A trace substance in caramelized sugar, when purified and given in appropriate doses, improves muscle regeneration in insect and animal models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
July 28, 2013
Breakthrough in detecting DNA mutations could help treat tuberculosis, cancer
Researchers have developed a new method that can look at a specific segment of DNA and pinpoint a single mutation, which could help diagnose and treat diseases such as cancer and tuberculosis.
July 23, 2013
Pain of artificial legs could be eased by real-time monitoring
University of Washington engineers have developed a device that tracks how much a person’s limb swells and shrinks when inside a prosthetic socket. The data could help doctors and patients predict how and when their limbs will swell, which could be used to build smarter sockets.
July 18, 2013
Falling from windows is serious risk for small children
A few safety measures can help those with young children at home reduce the chance of window falls.
July 16, 2013
UW Medicine hospitals rank highly in latest U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals
U.S. News publishes Best Hospitals to guide patients who need a high level of care because they face a difficult surgery, a challenging condition, or added risk because of other health problems or age.
July 15, 2013
Ecological forces structure your body’s personal mix of microbes
Researchers hope to build a predictive model of the human microbiome to study what affects this massive biological system and to design ways to manipulate the microbiome to achieve desired clinical outcomes.
July 11, 2013
Health facilities earn inclusion in Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s U.S. index
UW Medicine hospitals and the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance were Identified as National ‘Leaders in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Healthcare Equality’
July 10, 2013
Functional genomics lab to predict potential AIDS vaccines efficacy and find protection markers
Funded by the NIH at $15 million over five years, the lab will be a national resource to evaluate candidate vaccines from studies around the country.
July 9, 2013
Link between low vitamin D blood levels and heart disease varies by race
Low vitamin D levels are linked to higher risk of heart disease in whites and Chinese, but not in blacks or Hispanics. The findings underscore the importance of designing medical research that includes a diverse ethnic and racial makeup of participants.
School policies reduce student drinking – if they’re perceived to be enforced
Every middle and high school has a policy against drinking alcohol on campus, but not all students follow the rules. New research suggests students are less likely to drink if they believe their school will strictly enforce its policy.
July 3, 2013
Great ape genetic diversity catalog frames primate evolution and future conservation
A model of great ape history during the past 15 million years has been fashioned through the study of genetic variation in a large panel of humans, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans.
June 26, 2013
Pharmacy students learn TB screening
Ninety-one UW pharmacy students became certified in TB screening through collaborative training from the State Department of Public Health, the Washington State Pharmacy Association and the UW School of Pharmacy.
Dentistry names new oral surgery chair
Thomas B. Dodson of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine will become chair the UW Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Sept. 1.
June 25, 2013
UW awarded $10 million to design paper-based diagnostic medical device
The University of Washington has received nearly $10 million from the U.S. Department of Defense to continue a project aimed at building a small, paper-based device that could test for infectious diseases on-demand in areas where diagnostic capabilities are limited.
June 20, 2013
U.S. Supreme Court decision to bar gene patents opens genetic test options
The U.S. Supreme Court’s unanimous decision June 13 to bar the patenting of naturally occurring genes opens up important clinical testing options for a variety of diseases.
June 11, 2013
New tasks become as simple as waving a hand with brain-computer interfaces
University of Washington researchers have demonstrated that when humans use brain-computer interfaces, the brain behaves much like it does when completing simple motor skills such as kicking a ball or waving. Learning to control a robotic arm or a prosthetic limb could become second nature for people who are paralyzed.
June 5, 2013
Congolese rape survivors helped by cognitive processing therapy
Short-term therapy from paraprofessionals improved the mental health of Congolese women who suffered sexual violence.
A walking revolution helps older adults get and stay active
Older adults are assessing their neighborhoods to make them more amenable to a favorite physical activity: walking.
May 29, 2013
Traffic air pollution turns good cholesterol bad
Exposure to diesel exhaust undermines one of the body’s protections against heart and blood vessel disease.
May 24, 2013
‘The Return’ illustrates Native American environmental health story
“The Return,” a dreamlike account of a Native woman and her baby, is an allegory for passing environmental health values to the next generation.
May 23, 2013
Clinical trial aims to prevent type 2 diabetes through medication
The UW and the VA Puget Sound will be among the sites for the national RISE study. The researchers want to see if treating patients to preserve insulin secretion keeps diabetes from forming or slows its progression.
Depression raises diabetics’ risk of severe low blood sugar episodes
Evidence points to importance of recognizing and treating depression in people with diabetes to reduce medical complications.
May 22, 2013
Practicing medicine pharma-free in a drug rep-filled world
A rural family medicine group is an example for other community physicians seeking to wean themselves from pharmaceutical industry influence.
May 17, 2013
Youth bullying because of perceived sexual orientation widespread and damaging
Harmful effects of bullying are profound for youth struggling with identity and self-worth, and can lead to depression and thoughts of suicide.
May 14, 2013
DNA analysis unearths origins of Minoans, the first major European civilization
The maternal genetic information passed down through many generations of mitochondria is still present in modern-day residents of the Lassithi plateau of Crete.
Engineered biomaterial could improve success of medical implants
University of Washington engineers have created a synthetic substance that fully resists the body’s natural attack response to foreign objects. Medical devices such as artificial heart valves, prostheses and breast implants could be coated with this polymer to prevent the body from rejecting an implanted object.
Previous page Next page
