2025 Article Archive
Household mold linked to inflammatory lung disease
Mold growth in homes is a significant trigger for hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), an inflammatory lung disease, according to a new study led by UT Southwestern Medical Center. Published in PLOS One, the research represents the largest study to date linking home mold exposure to HP and the first from North Texas.
Study links female sex hormones to progression of eye disease
Female sex hormones can significantly enhance the progression of the rare neurodegenerative eye disease retinitis pigmentosa (RP), according to a preclinical study by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center. The findings, published in Science Advances, may lead to therapeutics to slow progression of the disease and help clinicians assess the risk of hormone therapies for female patients with genetic markers for the disease.
Heat-related illnesses among children on the rise
Higher summer temperatures are resulting in more children seeking emergency care for heat-related illnesses, with nearly 1 in 5 needing hospitalization, according to new research from UT Southwestern Medical Center published in Academic Pediatrics.
Ridding cells of mitochondria sheds light on their function
By using a genetic technique they developed that forces cells to rid themselves of mitochondria, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers are gaining new insights into the function of these critical organelles.
Presurgical radiation may curb pancreatic cancer recurrence
Adding targeted radiation to chemotherapy prior to surgery may offer better control of pancreatic tumors – potentially reducing the rate of recurrence after treatment, according to a new study from UT Southwestern Medical Center. Published in Clinical Cancer Research, the novel study offers evidence of a more effective approach with biological insights for treating one of the most aggressive and lethal forms of cancer.
Hormone may hold key to longer life, improved metabolic health
Fat cells genetically altered to overproduce a hormone called FGF21 resulted in improved metabolic health and an extended lifespan in mice that were fed a high-fat diet, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers report. The findings, published in Cell Metabolism, could lead to new interventions that have the same positive effects in humans.
High phosphate diet impacts nervous system, induces hypertension
Diets rich in phosphate additives, commonly found in processed foods, can increase blood pressure by triggering a brain signaling pathway and overactivating the sympathetic nervous system that regulates cardiovascular function, UT Southwestern researchers discovered.
New tool sheds light on where RNA is found in cells
A new tool called PHOTON, developed by scientists at UT Southwestern Medical Center, can identify RNA molecules at their native locations within cells – providing valuable clues to where different RNA species are distributed spatially in response to various cellular cues.
Cognitive impairment common after cardiogenic shock, study shows
Many survivors of cardiogenic shock showed evidence of new cognitive impairment after leaving the hospital, according to a study led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers. The findings, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, highlight a need to screen survivors and provide referrals to neuropsychology experts, the authors said.
RNA molecular pathway steers stem cells to aid kidney development
UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have discovered an RNA pathway that appears to push stem cells to form nephrons, the functional units of kidneys. Their findings, published in Nature Communications, could lead to therapies that increase the number of nephrons in individuals at risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), the study authors say.