Women with PTSD may have increased health risk

UCSF researchers found that women who have post-traumatic stress disorder are more likely age faster, and they have a higher risk for diseases than men.

Chemical widely used in antibacterial hand soaps may impair muscle function

An antibacterial chemical in hand soap and other common hygiene products seems to weaken skeletal muscles in both humans and animals, according to a UC Davis study.

Breast feeding has its advantages

A UC Riverside scientist sheds light on the cellular and biological mechanisms behind the stronger immune systems of breastfed children.

Too much fructose sets up metabolic trouble

A UC Davis study explains how fructose is a major factor in metabolic syndrome, which can increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Global health fellows announced

The UC Global Health Institute announced new fellowship recipients from four UC campuses. Funded by the Fogarty International Center at the NIH, fellows will conduct research in various parts of the world.

Lack of sleep weakens vaccine effectiveness

A UCSF study shows that people who get less than six hours of sleep don't have the adequate response to the standard three-dose hepatitis B vaccine. The study is the first real-world look at the link between sleep duration and immune response to vaccines.

UC shares $93 million in stem cell grants

UC Davis, UC Irvine and UCLA received or shared new grants from the state's stem cell agency. This money will help speed up therapies for patients suffering from diseases, including Huntington's, osteoporosis, melanoma and spinal cord injury.

Promising melanoma treatment in trial

Researchers at UCSF are testing a procedure called electroimmunotherapy, which sends electric forces deep into the skin to eliminate melanoma tumors. A trial patient loses 4 of 6 of his lumps.

A new method to treat diabetes

Biologists at UC San Diego have discovered a new chemical that offers a new and promising direction for the development of drugs to treat metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes.

FDA aims to track food-borne bacteria's genetic codes

The FDA is teaming up with UC Davis scientists to pinpoint the genetic codes of 100,000 types of lethal food-borne bacteria so the agency can more quickly stop deadly contamination outbreaks.

Recession's bite: nearly 4 million Californians struggled to put food on table during downturn

An estimated 3.8 million California adults, particularly those with children and low-income Latinos, could not afford to put adequate food on the table during the recent recession, according to a UCLA report.

Revolutionary project will obtain entire genome sequences in fight against Alzheimer's

UCLA's Laboratory of Neuro Imaging will organize, archive and disseminate the genomic data, providing scientists with further tools to investigate the devastating disease.

Study uncovers new tools for targeting genes linked to autism

UCLA research could help scientists zero in on genes that offer future therapeutic targets for the disorder.

Study links key dementia protein, brain trauma

The mysterious proteins called prions, which build up in the human brain to cause Alzheimer's and other dementias, are also linked to post-traumatic stress disorder in combat veterans and in the brain damage of athletes like football players who have suffered repeated concussions, UCSF researchers report.

Researchers create mosquitoes incapable of transmitting malaria

Mosquitoes bred to be unable to infect people with the malaria parasite are an attractive approach to helping curb one of the world's most pressing public health issues, according to UC Irvine scientists.

Sleep deprivation drives up anxiety, study shows

Not getting enough shuteye can amplify the brain's anticipatory reactions, upping overall anxiety levels, according to UC Berkeley researchers.

No link between medical marijuana outlets and crime, new study finds

A common perception, supported by law enforcement, that medical marijuana dispensaries boost the crime rate in areas where they're located may not be accurate, according to UCLA researchers.

Type of stem cell may contribute to heart disease

UC Berkeley scientists have discovered a type of stem cell that appears to lie dormant in blood vessel walls for decades before waking up and causing the arterial hardening and clogging that are associated with deadly strokes and heart attacks.

Optical tweezers help researchers uncover key mechanics in cellular communication

By using a laser microbeam technology, UC Irvine and UCLA researchers have uncovered fundamental properties of a key molecular signaling system involved with development, cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Synthetic platelets built to treat bleeding

UC Santa Barbara scientists have created synthetic platelets, the blood components that prevent excessive bleeding and heal wounds.

Open-fire cooking may affect child cognitive development

Children exposed to open-fire cooking in developing countries experience difficulty with memory, problem-solving and social skills, according to researchers at the UC Riverside.

Fever in pregnancy ups risk of developmental delay, autism

A provocative new UC Davis study suggests untreated maternal fever during pregnancy increases the chance that the child will be developmentally delayed or autistic.

UC receives $36 million in stem cell grants

Twelve UC scientists received $36.7 million in grants from the state's stem cell agency to support projects that are in the initial stages of identifying drugs or cell types that could become disease therapies.

Researchers develop new genetic method to pinpoint individuals' geographic origin

A UCLA and Tel Aviv University team designed an approach that allows researchers to infer the geographic origins of individuals, and even their parents, using only their genetic data.

Study shows high-fructose diet sabotages learning, memory

A new UCLA rat study is the first to show how a diet steadily high in fructose slows the brain, hampering memory and learning, and how omega-3 fatty acids can counteract the disruption.

California considers DNA privacy law

UC scientists are voicing concerns about a bill, dubbed the Genetic Information Privacy Act, which if passed, could have a costly and damaging effect on research.

Many kids exposed to smoke despite parents' claims

More than half of kids who were part of a UCSF study tested positive for secondhand smoke exposure, even though only a handful of their parents admitted to lighting up.

Cardiovascular safety concerns over smoking-cessation drug misleading

A UCSF study, funded by UC's Tobacco-Related Diseases Research Program, challenges an earlier report and finds that a popular antismoking drug may be safe after all.

Scientists identify brain circuitry associated with addictive, depressive behaviors

UCSF researchers have determined how specific circuitry in the brain controls not only body movement, but also motivation and learning, providing new insight into neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease and psychiatric disorders such as addiction and depression.

College students admit to distracted driving

Almost 80 percent of college students admit to using a cell phone while driving, and about half send or receive text messages, according to a UC San Diego study.

Marijuana use higher in young adult smokers than previously reported

Half of young adult tobacco smokers also have smoked marijuana in the last 30 days, according to a UCSF study, indicating a greater prevalence of marijuana and tobacco co-use among smokers age 18-25 than previously reported.

California to test HIV-prevention pill

The California HIV-AIDS Research Program at the UC Office of the President awarded $11.8 million in grants for prevention pill studies and efforts to get about 3,000 HIV-infected people in Southern California into treatment and keep them there.

'Text therapy' may ease isolation

Text messaging often gets a bad rap for contributing to poor spelling and high-risk behavior such as reckless driving. But a UC Berkeley study has found an upside to texting, especially for people who feel stressed out, isolated, and alone.

International team uncovers new genes that shape brain size, intelligence

A UCLA-launched partnership identifies genes that boost or lessen the risk of brain atrophy, mental illness and Alzheimer's disease.

UC Berkeley leads $4 million program to train slum health researchers

With a $4 million NIH award, UC Berkeley and three partner institutions are establishing a new program to train researchers who can tackle global health challenges specific to slum dwellings.

Autism: scientist zero in on rare chromosome defect

A UCSF study is one of the first in which autism researchers are narrowing their focus into one of the few known causes of the disorder.

Tobacco plants turn into living vaccine factories

A UC Davis graduate student has formed a startup to turn tobacco plants into cheap biological factories for churning out bioengineered proteins for human or animal vaccines.

Making it easier to access data

UCSF researchers have created a network and service to accelerate the use of large, public data sets in conducting studies of health and health care.

Alzheimer's disease spreads through linked nerve cells, brain imaging studies suggest

A UCSF finding raises hopes to use MRI to predict progression of Alzheimer's and forms of dementia.

More trans fat consumption linked to greater aggression

Might the 'Twinkie defense' have a scientific foundation after all? UC San Diego researchers have shown that consumption of dietary trans fatty acids is associated with irritability and aggression.

Sex-deprived male fruit flies drink more

In experiments seeking to understand the root causes of human addiction, UCSF scientists have discovered that male fruit flies turn to alcohol when female flies reject their sexual advances.

More seniors likely to find that memory doesn't serve

UC Irvine scientists are searching for solutions or modifications to a pending crush of memory impaired seniors.

Cocoa may help diabetes, heart failure

Patients with advanced heart failure and type 2 diabetes showed improvement after three months of consuming epicatechin enriched cocoa, UC San Diego researchers found.

Engineers create cell phone-based sensor for detection of E. coli

UCLA researchers have developed a sensing platform that can detect the presence of the bacterium that causes a large number of hospitalizations and deaths every year.

New study reveals gene expression networks underlying age-related macular degeneration

A UC Santa Barbara study can identify people with one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide.

Go on, count your blessings

Sonja Lyubomirsky of UC Riverside has identified some key attributes in the inherently happy and well adjusted, and finds that imparting those approaches to others can help even some depressed people.

New studies of air pollution reveal a hidden danger to hearts and lungs

A subset of fine atmospheric particles, which kill an estimated 50,000 Americans each year, may be more dangerous than previously thought, according to a UC Irvine study.

New brain connections form in clusters during learning

A UC Santa Cruz study reveals details of how brain circuits are rewired during the formation of new motor memories.

Scientists eavesdrop inside the mind

In a small study that might sound like science fiction, UC Berkeley researchers could predict what people were hearing based on their brain activity.

New master's program to foster biomedical, clinical research

The UC Irvine School of Medicine has kicked off an innovative program that will prepare emerging doctors and scientists to turn basic and clinical research into improved patient care.

Team uncovers how immune cells move against invaders

A UCSF discovery offers insights that could lead to strategies for treating conditions from spinal cord injury to cancer.

Stem cell study may show advance

A treatment for eye diseases that is derived from human embryonic stem cells might have improved the vision of two patients, bolstering the beleaguered field, UCLA researchers reported.

'Open-source' robotic surgery platform going to top medical research labs

Robotics experts at UC Santa Cruz and the University of Washington have completed a set of seven advanced robotic surgery systems for use by major medical research laboratories throughout the U.S.

Interactive tools to assess the likelihood of death

UCSF researchers have identified 16 assessment scales with 'moderate' to 'very good' abilities to determine the likelihood of death within six months to five years in various older populations.

Tax on sugary drinks could prevent heart disease

Scientists from UCSF said applying a levy on sweetened beverages would prevent nearly 100,000 cases of heart disease and 8,000 strokes over the next decade. They estimated this would save 26,000 lives.

Sexual satisfaction highest in oldest, youngest women, study says

A woman's sexual satisfaction does not require high levels of sexual desire, and in fact, does not require sexual activity at all, according to a UC San Diego study.

Tobacco company misrepresented danger from cigarettes, study finds

A new UCSF study shows that Philip Morris USA manipulated data on the effects of additives in cigarettes, obscuring actual toxicity levels and increasing the risk of heart, cancer and other diseases for smokers.

With depression, helping others may in turn help you

Random acts of kindness can snowball into more positive mood overall, according a UC Riverside study.

Time's people who mattered: Dr. Robert Grant

A UCSF researcher pushed to test the potential of antiviral drugs as a way to protect healthy, uninfected people from acquiring the virus.

UC Davis Olive Center is a research leader

The center opened in 2008 to "do for olives and olive oil what UC Davis did for wine."

Babies may benefit from moms' lasting melancholy

Infants generally thrive physically and mentally if the emotional condition of their mothers, whether healthy or depressed, remains stable before and after birth, say UC Irvine researchers.

The threat to cancer research centers

The director of the UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center is among research leaders calling on lawmakers to preserve funding for cancer and biomedical research.

Decoding the brain's cacophony

A profile of UC Santa Barbara neuroscientist Michael Gazzaniga, known for his studies, and stories, about the brain's split personality.

Vitamin E no panacea for prostate cancer

UC San Diego researchers discuss a study that found supplements actually boost risk of disease, although the reasons are unclear.

Solar suitcase saves lives in poor nations

An obstetrician and UC Berkeley doctoral student developed a solar suitcase for health practitioners in rural areas where there is no electricity.

Cellphone becomes medical image device

UC Davis researchers have turned an iPhone into a high-quality medical imaging device that could transform medicine in developing countries.

Could taking birth control pills make women's memory more like men's?

A new study by a UC Irvine graduate student in neurobiology and behavior shows that taking birth control pills can affect women's memory.

Scientists man bioterror front lines post-9/11 with sensors to warn of deadly germs

Tom Slezak, of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and other government researchers created an airborne pathogen early warning system that is now deployed in about 30 cities across the country.

A remnant from algae in malaria parasite may prove its weakness

UCSF scientists may have found a critical weakness in the parasite that causes malaria. The discovery provides a promising target for new therapies.

Mitchel Berger, UCSF brain surgeon, tops in nation

A neurosurgeon who first dreamed of becoming a professional football player, is a pioneer in brain mapping, a technique that saves the lives and health of brain tumor patients.

Scientist creates a drivable version of classic video game

A UC Irvine researcher has created a gaming therapy system, which combines an electric golf cart and an arcade-style video game, for people such as quadriplegics.

Mom pregnancy stress might make your cells age faster

A UC Irvine study discovered that children born to mothers who are stressed during pregnancy may become adults with prematurely aged cells.

Washing away good and bad luck

Experiments by UC Riverside researchers showed risk taking depends on whether participants recalled a past episode of good or bad luck and whether they washed their hands before engaging in a risky decision making task.

When the ringing won't stop, clear your mind

A UCSF study tested the effectiveness of meditation for tinnitus sufferers. Previous studies of the technique with those with chronic pain have documented significant improvements in quality of life.

Lab tests safety, potency of medical marijuana

Two UC Davis researchers, who believe in the therapeutic effects of cannabis, are on a mission to make sure pot is pure.

Anti-oxidants ease Gulf War Syndrome, study finds

A UC San Diego study is the first research that offers potential relief for the tens of thousands sufferers of Gulf War illness.

Stem cell gamble

After years of controversy, a therapy based on human embryonic stem cells is finally being tested in humans, and Hans Keirstead of UC Irvine follows the clinical trial closely.

In heart of Amazon, a natural lab to study diseases

Amy Morrison of UC Davis leads a medical research unit studying the spread of dengue fever, a mosquito-borne disease.

Drugs show promise slowing advanced melanoma

UCLA researchers tested and helped develop two new drugs that have been found to prolong the lives of people with the deadly skin cancer.

Giant leap for treating spinal cord injuries

A man paralyzed from the waist down has regained several abilities as a result of an experimental treatment developed at UCLA and the University of Louisville.

River project promises clarity, security for California water resources

Researchers at UC Merced are installing wireless sensors across the American River to monitor the water level. This will help pinpoint how fast the snow is melting and when the meltwater will arrive in the reservoirs each spring.

A deadly virus identified in snakes

UCSF scientists have uncovered the possible cause of a mysterious disease that causes bacterial infections, neurological problems, anorexia and withering in snakes.

Overcrowded ERs lead to even bigger problems

A UCSF study found that California hospitals in areas with large minority populations are plagued with overcrowding, which has become a major problem in the health system.

Embryonic blood vessels can do more

Stem cell researchers at UCLA have discovered that the thin layer of cells lining the interior of blood vessels can serve as a source for heart muscle cells, which one day may lead to a new way of treating heart attacks and repairing damaged cells.

Pet therapy without the pet

Oncologists at UC Irvine are studying whether robotic stuffed animals can help reduce stress and anxiety in chemotherapy patients. The cuddly robots obey commands, and they're hypoallergenic, too.

A new way to understand PTSD

Recent improvements in imaging technologies offer a detailed look of the brain. A UCSF psychiatrist hopes these tools will help scientists better understand the cause of conditions such as post traumatic stress and sleep disorders.

Teen brains show early signs of cigarette addiction

A UCSF study, has found that teenagers have a lower level for nicotine addiction than is commonly believed. It shows that people who begin smoking in their early teens are more likely to become lifelong smokers.

Pink and painful

Researchers at UC San Diego have new insight on the science behind the sunburn. Their study pinpoints the factors that trigger sunburn, which is a protective mechanism preventing damaged cells from turning into skin cancer.

California pot research backs therapeutic claims

California's famed Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research, headquartered at UC San Diego, has now all but completed the most comprehensive studies into the efficacy of pot. But its state funding is gone.

Patients trust doctors but consult the Internet

Patients look up their illnesses online to become better informed and prepared to play an active role in their care, not because they mistrust their doctors, a UC Davis study suggests.

Social networking evaluated to improve diabetes management

Researchers at the UC San Diego School of Medicine are evaluating a new social media tool to treat patients with type I and II diabetes.

Cigarettes made from tobacco with less nicotine may help smokers quit

Smokers can begin loosening the tight grip of nicotine addiction by smoking low-nicotine cigarettes, without lighting up any more than they usually do, according to UCSF research.

Proposed drug may reverse Huntington's disease symptoms

With a single drug treatment, researchers at UC San Diego can silence the mutated gene responsible for Huntington's disease, slowing and partially reversing progression of the fatal neurodegenerative disorder in animal models.

Hot water, not pee, eases jellyfish stings

There's a lot of folklore on how to treat a jellyfish sting, but UC San Diego researchers suggest your best bets may be hot water and topical painkillers, at least in North American waters

Nine of 10 Californians under 65 will be covered under Affordable Care Act, finds study

Between 1.8 million and 2.7 million previously uninsured Californians will gain coverage by 2019, when the law's effect is fully realized, according to a UCLA and UC Berkeley joint study.

Greater use of imaging tests raises radiation fear

Use of CT scans, MRIs and other forms of advanced medical imaging has skyrocketed in recent years, according to a UCSF study.

Taking the sting out of jellyfish isn't easy

If you're stung by a jellyfish how do you treat the pain? Some emergency room docs at the UC San Diego Medical Center pored over all the scientific papers they could find to come up with answers.

Prostate cancer drug so effective trial stopped

A new drug for advanced prostate cancer patients has proved so effective that researchers stopped the clinical trial early to give all patients a chance to receive the life-extending medication, according to a UCSF-led study.

Light-induced delivery of nitric oxide eradicates drug-resistant bacteria

Researchers at UC Santa Cruz have developed a novel approach for eradicating drug-resistant bacteria from wounds and skin infections, using light to trigger the controlled release of nitric oxide.

Research lends insight into controlling cells, addressing diseases

A UC Merced biophysicist has found that a cell's nanomotor can be activated by a cellular cue often lacking in people suffering from neurodegeneration.

As obesity rates rise, cases of kidney stones double

The number of Americans suffering from kidney stones has almost doubled since 1994, UCLA researchers report, and the obesity epidemic is the most likely reason why.

Researchers make bone health discovery

Osteoporosis patients are among those who could benefit from the findings of a UC Merced study showing how bone health could affect the immune system.

New TB test promises to be cheap and fast

Biomedical engineers at UC Davis have developed a microfluidic chip to test for latent tuberculosis.

Bone density may affect immune system

UC Merced researchers shed light on how bone density may change a person's immune system, a finding that could impact how scientists try to combat bone-related disease, such as osteoporosis.

New malaria vaccine made from algae

Researchers at UC San Diego have genetically engineered algae to prepare a vaccine which can prevent the transmission of the parasite that causes malaria.

Plastic trash altering ocean habitats, study shows

A 100-fold upsurge in human-produced plastic garbage in the ocean is altering habitats in the marine environment, according to a new study led by a graduate student researcher at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego.

Game on! Researchers use online crowd-sourcing to diagnose malaria

UCLA researchers have created a crowd-sourced online gaming system in which players distinguish malaria-infected red blood cells from healthy ones by viewing digital images obtained from microscopes.

Cancer genome data center raises hope for cures

UC Santa Cruz researchers unveiled a major weapon in the war against cancer: the nation's first catalog of cancer genomes, which hold the clues to the disease's deadly secrets.

New avocado rootstocks are high-performing and disease-tolerant

Rootstocks can help control Hytophthora root rot, UC Riverside scientists found.

Soft drinks: public enemy No 1. in obesity fight?

A UC Davis nutritional biologist found that blood chemistry was out of whack in volunteers who drank a concoction with 500 calories of added sugar.

Modest alcohol use lowers risk and severity of some liver disease

People with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease who consume alcohol in modest amounts are half as likely to develop hepatitis as non-drinkers with the same condition, report UC San Diego scientists.

Researchers decipher 'selective hearing'

A UCSF neurosurgeon and an electrical engineer say they now understand how the 'cocktail party' effect works, a finding that resolves a mystery that has plagued psychologists for more than a century.

Mom's pregnancy weight may increase risk of autism, developmental disorders

A mother's weight and metabolic conditions during pregnancy are not just potentially harmful to herself. New UC Davis research suggests these factors can play a key role in her child's development as well.

UCSF artificial kidney project tapped for accelerated FDA program

An effort to create an implantable artificial kidney for dialysis patients has been selected as one of the first projects to undergo more timely and collaborative review at the FDA.

Meditation improves emotional behaviors in teachers, study finds

A novel UCSF study, in collaboration with Buddhists, found that schoolteachers who underwent a short but intensive program of meditation were less depressed, anxious or stressed and more compassionate and aware of others' feelings.

Eating a small amount of chocolate could actually help you lose weight

Although chocolate contains more calories than many other foods, those who eat it regularly have less body fat than those who don't, a UC San Diego study shows.

Study finds genes possibly linked to autism

UC San Diego researchers inched closer to the root causes of autism, identifying genes that appear to go haywire before a child is born, preventing the brain from developing normally.

Introducing birth control in mosquitoes

A grant to a UC Riverside scientist can greatly help control population of disease spreading mosquitoes.

Study uncovers how salmonella avoids the body's immune response

UC Irvine researchers have discovered how salmonella, a bacterium found in contaminated raw foods that causes major gastrointestinal distress in humans, thrives in the digestive tract despite the immune system's best efforts to destroy it.

Report: nitrate contamination spreading

Nitrate contamination of drinking water is a pervasive problem in California's agricultural heartland and is bound to intensify in the coming years, according to a UC Davis study.

Turning cartilage to bone could replace grafts

UCSF scientists aren't only studying techniques for improving bone grafting, they're looking at ways to replace bone grafts with cartilage transplants.

Teaching fat cells to burn calories

In the war against obesity, one's own fat cells may seem an unlikely ally, but new research from the UCSF suggests ordinary fat cells can be reengineered to burn calories.

Anticipation of stressful situations accelerates cellular aging

The ability to anticipate future events allows us to plan and exert control over our lives, but it may also contribute to stress related increased risk for the diseases of aging, according to a UCSF study.

Center pinpoints cancer therapies

The UC Davis Cancer Center has a pioneering program that works with genetically designed mice to test drugs individually for each patient.

Researchers develop injectable hydrogel for cardiac tissue repair

UC San Diego scientists developed and tested a new hyydrogel meant to repair tissue damage after a heart attack.

Electric shocks to brain may boost memory

Ever wish you could give yourself memory a jolt? A UCLA study shows it may be possible.

Tax check-off for cancer research

Supporting cancer research is easy, especially if you're about to complete your California tax form.

Health care costs decrease over time when low-income uninsured are provided coverage

Enrollment of uninsured patients in a program with benefits comparable to those offered under the Affordable Care Act of 2010 resulted in significant healthcare cost savings, a UC Irvine study finds.

Tax and regulate sugar like alcohol and tobacco, urge scientists

Sugar is as toxic to the liver as alcohol and is at the root of obesity and certain types of liver disease, say a group of UCSF researchers.

Lifelong brain-stimulating habits linked to lower Alzheimer's protein levels

A new study led by UC Berkeley researchers provides even more reason for people to read a book or do a puzzle, and to make such activities a lifetime habit.

UCSD launches major study of Parkinson's

Scientists at the UC San Diego School of Medicine helped launch a landmark international clinical study to identify early symptoms and better understand the neurodegenerative disease.

How the brain routes traffic for maximum alertness

A new UC Davis study shows how the brain reconfigures its connections to minimize distractions and take best advantage of our knowledge of situations.

Research bought, then paid for

A UC Berkeley professor argues in a New York Times piece that the government should require free access to all published scientific results that were obtained with funds from taxpayers. A bill before Congress would prevent the NIH from requiring that all publications be freely available through the National Library of Medicine website.

New swine, drug-resistant flu strains tracked

UCSF infectious disease experts are on the alert for new strains of the virus, including another swine flu that's popped up in parts of the United States and a drug-resistant flu circulating in the Southern Hemisphere.

Can robots take over rehab?

At a UC Irvine research center, machines that help people regain use of damage limbs are no longer the stuff of science fiction.

Open source licensing defuses copyright law threat to medicine

Enforcing copyright law could potentially interfere with patient care, stifle innovation and discourage research, but using open source licensing instead can prevent the problem, according to a UCSF researcher.

Whale-sized computer debuts at UCSD

A $20 million machine called Gordon was built at the San Diego Supercomputer Center to enable scholars from across the nation to rapidly store and analyze some of the largest databases ever created.

The unspoken diagnosis: old age

A UCSF palliative care specialist suggests that doctors broach the subject of probable life expectancy with their very old patients.

Pot, narcotics OK to treat pain, study finds

Inhaled marijuana appears to be a safe and effective treatment for chronic pain when used in addition to narcotics like morphine and oxycodone, according to a UCSF study that is the first to look at the combined effects of the two classes of drugs in humans.

Bush meat: when conservation and child nutrition collide

A UC Berkeley showed that children in Madagascar who ate more wildlife were less likely to suffer from iron deficiency anemia than other kids.

Super memory, obsessive behavior: Do they share brain space?

Memory researchers at UC Irvine are developing a large collection of remarkable research subjects, who themselves maintain a remarkably large collection of memories.

Autistic children may have too many brain cells

The brains of autistic children have far more neurons in the prefrontal cortex than the brains of kids without autism, finds a UC San Diego study that could advance research into the disorder.

UC Merced developing avatar care for aging baby boomers

Graduate students are creating a software program that uses avatars to provide physical therapy to the elderly.

Obesity worse for blood pressure of teen girls

Obesity has a greater impact on the blood pressure of teenage girls than on teenage boys, suggests a UC Merced study.

Slight rise in blood pressure carries risk

A review of studies by UC San Diego scientists suggests that young and middle-aged people with slightly elevated blood pressure are nonetheless at much greater risk for stroke than those in the normal range.

Tobacco companies knew of radiation in cigarettes

Tobacco companies knew that cigarettes contained a substance called polonium-210, but hid that knowledge from the public for over four decades, a UCLA study of historical documents revealed.

BPA, methylparaben block breast cancer drugs

The studies funded by the UC-administered California Breast Cancer Research Program looked at the fundamental mechanisms of how normal breast cells behave when exposed to BPA or methylparaben.

Heart failure program has reduced readmissions by 30 percent

A UCSF program gives patients plenty of information and support to help them after they are discharged. Originally for heart failure patients 65 and older, the program is being expanded to all cardiology patients as well as to neurology patients.

Doctors, patients assess effectiveness of medical marijuana

Igor Grant of UC San Diego and Donald Abrams are among scientists interviewed by PBS about the therapeutic effects of marijuana.

Radiation from Japan spiked on west coast in March

A spike in radioactive sulfur from the damaged Japanese nuclear plant was detected in California in late March, but UC San Diego researchers say it posed no threat to health.

How chocolate can help your workout

A UC San Diego study in mice suggests that the primary nutritional ingredient in cacao may have positive effects on skeletal and cardiac muscles, resulting in greater endurance.

Race reemerges in debate over personalized medicine

A UCSF researcher, who studies biological variations among races, weighs in on debate about whether race has scientific validity in modern DNA-based medicine.

Study links male infertility to a missing protein

UC Davis scientists have found a potential cause for a number of otherwise unexplained cases of male infertility: the absence of a protein that coats sperm and allows them to reach an egg more easily.

Novel virus jumped from monkeys to humans

A novel version of a virus responsible for many illnesses in humans and animals has managed to jump from one species and spark infection in another, according to UCSF researchers.

An affliction of the cornea gets a closer look

A corneal transplant by UCLA surgeons has allowed a teenager to easily read, drive and see detail well enough to pursue her new passion: photography.

Scientists warn chemicals may be altering breast development

Exposure to chemicals early in life may raise the risks of breast cancer and lactation problems later in life, according to studies funded by the California Breast Cancer Research Program, which is administered by UC.

Driving while buzzed: no amount of alcohol is safe

A study by two UC San Diego sociologists found that drivers who consumed even a single drink before getting behind the wheel were more likely than sober drivers to get into car crashes.

New viruses found in bees may help explain mysterious deaths

UCSF researchers have identified four new viruses that infect healthy honeybees, potential clues that may help them better understand why colonies are dying.

Drifting pesticides may endanger people in nearby workplaces

People who work near fields sprayed with pesticides face an increased risk for Parkinson's disease, a UCLA study has found.

Month child conceived, autism risk linked

A UC Davis study of 6.6 million California children found children conceived in winter had a greater risk of autism.

Anti-aging cosmetics give skin 'ion overload'

Scientists, including from UC Davis, discovered a mechanism that plays a role in skin physiology and temperature sensitivity. It could lead to better anti-aging cosmetics.

An easy way to solve loneliness

As people age, they are more prone to loneliness, which can take a huge physical toll. A UCLA study shows that meditation can reduce loneliness and strengthen the body's immune system

Researchers determine costs of gene expression

Bioengineers at UC San Diego made a major advance in developing a method of modeling an organism's metabolism and gene expression. This research opens up a slew of questions and ideas about the cellular impacts of gene expression and data.

A treatment for kidney disease in the making

UC Santa Barbara scientists have found a drug that may be effective in treating common kidney disease. The new drug is still being tested, but it shows promise in the laboratory.

UC Health: Innovation Profile

UCSF's Wendy Anderson is a champion of palliative care, focusing on quality of life for seriously ill patients and their families.

Chemical allows mice to regain vision

UC Berkeley scientists have discovered a chemical that temporarily allows blind mice to see. They hope that this chemical compound will help people with the most common forms of acquired blindness.

A new way to break down bacteria 'castles'

Using a stop-action imaging microscope, UC Berkeley researchers described in detail for first time the 'castles' of bacteria that are often the causes of fatal infections

Leading scientists issuing research road map to get AIDS cure

At the start of the International AIDS Conference, a UCSF scientist and others discuss a number of different leads that just might solve and treat the epidemic.

The first of these things is not like the others

When faced with a snap decision, people will reliably pick the first option they're given, according to UC Berkeley researchers.

Discovery opens door to attacking biofilms that cause chronic infections

A clever new imaging technique discovered at UC Berkeley reveals a possible plan of attack for many bacterial diseases that form biofilms that make them resistant to antibiotics.

Restoring vision

Two UC Irvine ophthalmologists are the first in Orange County to implant a miniature telescope in the eyes of patients with end-stage age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness among older Americans.

Researchers find increase in Lyme disease mirrors drop in red fox numbers

A continued increase of Lyme disease in the U.S., once linked to a recovering deer population, may instead be explained by a decline of the red fox, UC Santa Cruz researchers suggest.

UC Health: Innovation Profile

UC San Diego's Greg Maynard is on the front lines of quality improvement. His target: stopping blood clots, a common, potentially fatal, and often preventable, problem.

Why dissonant music can strike an emotional chord

The Screaming Marmots aren't a rock band, but shrieks of the large rodents are telling UCLA scientists something about the animal nature of some music.

Scientists reprogram skin cells into brain cells

Research by scientists at the UCSF-affiliated Gladstone Institutes offers new hope in the fight against many neurological conditions because a transformation of skins cells offer models for testing drugs for devastating neurodegenerative conditions.

A virus that helps charge your cellphone

Scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory say they have created a virus that generates electricity. It's a first step toward using genetically engineered viruses to build devices that convert the body's motion into electricity.

UCSF advances fight against cystic fibrosis

At UCSF, aggressive treatment has produced striking results over the past decade.

Most job injury costs not paid by workers' comp

Workers' compensation insurance is not used nearly as much as it should be to cover the multi-billion-dollar price tag for workplace illnesses and injuries in the U.S., finds a UC Davis study.

Building molecular 'cages' to fight disease

UCLA biochemists have designed specialized proteins that assemble themselves to form tiny molecular cages hundreds of times smaller than a single cell.

UCTV spotlights health innovation center

What are the best ways to make health care safer, smarter and a more positive experience for patients and their families? UCTV will air talks from the first UC Center for Health Quality and Innovation colloquium beginning June 5.

Nuisance seaweed found to produce compounds with biomedical potential

A seaweed considered a threat to the healthy growth of coral reefs in Hawaii may possess the ability to produce substances that could one day treat human diseases, a new study led by scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego has revealed.

People with rheumatoid arthritis feel better after 6 weeks of Iyengar-style yoga

Young patients with rheumatoid arthritis may feel better after practicing yoga for just six weeks, a UCLA study shows.

Chronic pain is relieved by cell transplantation in lab study

A new study by UCSF scientists shows how a cell therapy might one day be used not only to quell some common types of persistent and difficult-to-treat pain, but also to cure the conditions that give rise to them.

Parents are happier people

Psychologists from UC Riverside find that parents experience greater happiness and meaning in life than nonparents.

Military marriages stay strong in face of challenges

Despite being tested by long hours and frequent relocations and separations, military marriages are no more likely to end in divorce than civilian marriages, a UCLA study shows.

Email 'vacations' decrease stress, increase concentration

Being cut off from work email significantly reduces stress and allows employees to focus far better, according to a new study by UC Irvine and U.S. Army researchers.

Researchers combat global disease with a cell phone, Google Maps and a lot of ingenuity

UCLA scientists developed a cell phone-based platform that lets health workers accurately read diagnostic tests in the field and chart the spread of diseases worldwide.

Which ads are winners? Your brain knows better than you do

Advertisers and public health officials may be able to access hidden wisdom in the brain to more effectively sell their products and promote health and safety, UCLA neuroscientists report in the first study to use brain data to predict how large populations will respond to advertisements.

Hospital bills for appendix removal may range from cost of a refrigerator to cost of house

A UCSF study found huge disparities in patients' bills. Researchers say the results aren't unique to California and illustrate a broken system.

Crowd-sourcing expands power of brain research

UCLA scientists are part of the largest collaborative study of the brain to date. Using imaging technology at more than 100 centers worldwide, they have for the first time zeroed in on genes play a role in intelligence and memory.

UC Riverside recognized for environmental efforts

The new School of Medicine Research Building at UC Riverside has received LEED Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Initiative will test HIV prevention pill in California

The California HIV/AIDS Research Program of UC has awarded grants totaling $11.8 million to three teams of investigators to test a potential HIV prevention pill among high-risk HIV-uninfected people in California.

Researchers detect 'hypervirulent'' salmonella bacteria

A recent discovery has given UC Santa Barbara researchers a means to potentially prevent food poisoning outbreaks from powerful salmonella bacteria strains.

What 23 years of e-mail may say about you

Larry Smarr, a computer science professor at UC San Diego, who also directs the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology, wears one wireless sensor to monitor the calories he burns and another to see how well he sleeps.

Chronic stress spawns protein aggregates linked to Alzheimer's

A UC San Diego study in mice may explain strong link between people prone to stress and development of sporadic Alzheimer's disease, which accounts for up to 95 percent of all Alzheimer's cases in humans.

Is sugar toxic?

A UCSF pediatric endocrinologist believes the high amount of sugar in the American diet, much of it in processed foods, is killing us.

Rise in childhood obesity rates in California is slowing, study finds

A UC Davis study has found that the rise in childhood obesity rates in California is slowing, which researchers think may be the outcome of improved nutrition and physical fitness programs in the state's public schools.

Researchers discover protein critical for tissue regeneration

UC Merced scientists show that a protein found in humans stops regeneration when disabled in planaria, providing a potential strategy for preventing the growth of cancer cells.

Tobacco smoke affects early human embryonic development

UCSF scientists have gained insight into how second-hand tobacco smoke damages the earliest stages of human embryonic development.

Why bilinguals are smarter

A commentary in the New York Times cites a recent study UC San Diego that found that individuals with a higher degree of bilingualism were more resistant than others to the onset of dementia and other symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

Treating neurological disorders with music therapy

PBS NewsHour highlights efforts at UCSF to harness and understand the impact of music therapy on the brain.

UC San Diego among first in nation to treat brain cancer with novel viral vector

A directly injected viral vector is designed to spread through brain cancer cells and kill them while leaving healthy cells unharmed.

Gases drawn into smog particles stay there, study reveals

A finding by UC Irvine researchers could explain why air pollution models underestimate organic aerosols.

Brain exercises might ward off Alzheimer's

Researchers have long believed that cognitive activity could help strengthen the brain's defenses against the devastating neurological disease. But a new UC Berkeley study shows for the first time how that might work.

Moms with migraines twice as likely to have baby with colic

A UCSF study suggests colic might just be an early sign that a baby will grow up to have migraines.

Babies' colic linked to mothers' migraines

A UCSF study has shown that mothers who suffer migraine headaches are more than twice as likely to have babies with colic than mothers without a history of migraines.

Boosting cigarette tax could bolster California economy by $2 billion

A June 5 ballot initiative designed to boost the tax on cigarettes by $1 a pack could create 12,000 new permanent jobs right away and add nearly $2 billion in economic activity in the Golden State annually, according to a UCSF study.

New lung cancer test predicts survival

In the two largest clinical studies ever conducted on the molecular genetics of lung cancer, a team led by UCSF scientists has demonstrated a test can predict the likelihood of death from early lung cancer more accurately than conventional methods.

Tiny amounts of alcohol dramatically extend a worm's life, but why?

The surprising and still inexplicable UCLA study findings have intriguing implications for human longevity, the researchers say.

Teardrops could enable early detection of cancer

UC Irvine scientists have established the existence of a disease fighting protein in human teardrops.

Iron intake in teen years can impact brain in later life

UCLA researchers found that in addition to causing cognitive problems, a lack of iron early in life can affect the brain's physical structure as well.

Endorphin study may help refine alcohol treatment

UCSF and UC Berkeley scientists have for the first time found evidence that liquor triggers the release of pleasure inducing endorphins in the brain, and heavy drinkers are especially influenced by those endorphins.

Comprehensive primary care reduces death risk

High quality primary care that centers on the patient and offers extended hours reduces the risk of death, according to a new national study conducted at UC Davis.

Traumatic stress linked to biological indicator

A study of Bay Area and New York police academy recruits by researchers, including at UCSF, is considered one of the first and largest studies to look at biological stress indicators before and after traumatic events.

Chinese herbal medicine may provide novel treatment for alcohol abuse

UCLA researchers have identified how a component of an ancient Chinese herbal anti-hangover medicine counteracts acute alcohol intoxication and withdrawal symptoms.

Robotic surgery with one small incision, U.S. first

A UC San Diego surgeon is the first in the U.S. to remove a diseased gallbladder through a patient's belly button with the aid of a new FDA-approved da Vinci Si Surgical System.

Computers implanted in brain could help paralyzed

It sounds like science fiction, but scientists, including at UC Berkeley and UCSF, are getting tantalizingly close to building the mind-controlled prosthetic arms, computer cursors and mechanical wheelchairs of the future

Noisy Christmas toys risk damaging toddlers' hearing, report warns

The noise of some of the most popular Christmas toys can be as loud as a chainsaw and risk permanently damaging the hearing of young children, finds a UC Irvine study.

Treatment as prevention: How the new way to control HIV came to be

UCSF and UCLA researchers discuss keys to managing the disease for the foreseeable future. Using treatment as prevention in healthy people may be an important way to do that.

Trojan horse attack on cancer

A UC San Diego researcher is trying to engineer an advance in nanomedicine, an emerging field in which scientists work at the molecular scale to do such things as create drug delivery systems.

Geron to halt stem cell work

A leading UCSF stem cell scientist comments on a significant setback, particularly to patients who are hoping for the rapid translation of stem cell research into therapies.

People eat more fast food as income rises

Consumption of fast food becomes more common as earnings increase from low to middle incomes, suggests a UC Davis study.

Steroids given to preemies may harm their brains

Steroids given to premature babies to help them breathe and maintain normal blood pressure may impair the development of a part of their brains, a UCSF study shows.

Study suggests annual mammograms unnecessary

More than half of women who are screened annually for breast cancer will get a false positive result within 10 years of their first mammogram, according to a UCSF study that throws more fuel on the controversy over when, and how often, women should be tested.

Air pollution tied to premature births

Pregnant women who live in areas with high levels of air pollution caused by heavy traffic could be at increased risk for premature births, according to a UCLA study.

Scientists see movies in the mind

UC Berkeley researchers were able to reconstruct YouTube videos from viewers' brain activity. It is a feat that might one day offer a glimpse into our dreams, memories and even fantasies.

Many reluctant to tell docs about depression

A UC Davis study of more than 1,000 California adults found that 43 percent had at least some misgivings about telling their primary care doctor about any depression symptoms.

Portable microscope detects bacteria using holograms

A handheld device, developed by UCLA researchers, uses a laser instead of lenses to identify bugs in water, food or blood. Scientists hope the technology will improve health care in areas that lack sophisticated diagnostic equipment.

Good sex equals good living

A satisfying sex life is closely linked with a high quality of life all the way into our 80s, according to researchers at UC San Diego.

Fat disrupts sugar sensors causing type 2 diabetes

UC Santa Barbara researchers have identified how a high-fat diet can trigger type 2 diabetes, in experiments on mice and human tissue.

Four factors that may shrink your brain

Diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking cigarettes and being overweight or obese were associated with a more rapid decline in brain volume, a UC Davis study found.

New device reduces seizures, no surgery required

An experimental device that delivers electrical pulses to the forehead can help control epileptic seizures, say UCLA scientists.

Seven ways to slow down Alzheimer's

At least half of all cases of the disease can be linked to seven major risk factors, and controlling them could sharply reduce the risk of developing the devastating illness, according to UCSF researchers.

Heart disease, stroke linked to income

A UCSF found that developing countries tend to suffer more death and disability by stroke than heart disease, opposite the situation in the U.S. and other countries with higher national incomes.

New study shows surprising cause for autism

Environmental factors play a more important role in causing autism than previously assumed and, surprisingly, an even larger role than genetics, according to a new study out of UCSF and Stanford.

Brains of vets with PTSD can change as they age

UCSF researchers at the VA Medical Center in San Francisco find that combat veterans with post traumatic stress disorder are also more likely to have dementia and cardiac problems as they get older.

First patients picked for stem cell vision trials

Two patients with different forms of vision loss will soon start treatments made from embryonic stem cells as Advanced Cell Technology kicks off clinical trials at UCLA.

A clinical drug trial via phone, computer

UCSF researchers oversee a study in which patients participate from their homes using computers and smartphones rather than visiting a clinic.

Doctors' use of telemedicine researched by UC Merced students

A top concern for physicians about telemedicine is the risk of jeopardizing the quality of patients' care, the students found.

Blood test offers clues to longevity

Tests made possible by Nobel Prize-winning UC researchers also open debate about what genetic tests should be offered to the public.