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  • Researchers discover gene deletion associated with brain cancer A University of Alabama at Birmingham study has identified a gene deletion in nearly 25 percent of all glioblastoma cases that is believed to be responsible for poor patient outcomes. The discovery could lead to better diagnosis and targeted treatments with drugs that are currently available. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 12/22/2010 4:30:00 PM
  • Protein offers new clue to cause and treatment for kidney diseaseUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham researchers have pinpointed a protein that compromises the kidney’s filtering ability, causing nephrotic syndrome, and demonstrated that a naturally occurring precursor of an acid in the body offers potential for treating some forms of the condition. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 12/12/2010 12:00:00 PM
  • Cognitive impact of pediatric multiple sclerosis varies by race, UAB research findsMultiple sclerosis (MS) affects some cognitive functions more severely in black children than white children, according to newly published research from an interdisciplinary team at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 12/6/2010 3:00:00 PM
  • Novel UAB technology could extend life of medical implant devicesThe long-term performance of medical implant devices, like heart valves and cardiac stents, could be enhanced substantially by new bio-coating technology recently licensed to University of Alabama at Birmingham spin-out company Endomimetics LLC through the UAB Research Foundation. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 12/6/2010 9:10:00 AM
  • Nicotine exposure in pregnant rats puts offspring at risk for learning disabilitiesExposure to nicotine during pregnancy leads to a decrease in adult stem cells and a change in synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus of the offspring, according to new research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham presented at Neuroscience 2010, the annual Society for Neuroscience meeting in San Diego in November. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 12/3/2010 11:40:00 AM
  • Celebrex may help prevent some non-melanoma skin cancersNew research shows the NSAID Celebrex may help prevent some non-melanoma skin cancers from developing in patients who have pre-cancerous actinic keratoses lesions and are at high risk for having the disease. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 11/30/2010 11:10:00 AM
  • Novel approach shows promise for cystic fibrosis, say UAB researchersAn investigational drug targeting a defective protein that causes cystic fibrosis has been shown to improve lung function in a small study of CF patients, according to findings published Nov. 18, 2010, in the New England Journal of Medicine. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 11/17/2010 5:00:00 PM
  • Experimental drug for Hodgkin’s lymphoma shows promiseAn experimental drug for Hodgkin’s lymphoma, studied at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center, showed beneficial effects in stopping tumor growth with moderate side-effects, according to findings published this month in the New England Journal of Medicine. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 11/4/2010 8:45:00 AM
  • Smoking might raise the risk of kidney disease in people with diabetesNew research published in the August issue of the American Journal of Renal Physiology shows that the nicotine in cigarette smoke might hasten kidney disease in diabetics. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 9/22/2010 9:15:00 AM
  • Cigarette smoke may contribute to lung inflammation through a new chemical pathway found by UAB researchersCigarette smoke shuts off a key enzyme in airways that regulates the body’s response to inflammation, according to findings from the University of Alabama at Birmingham published online today at Science Express. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 9/2/2010 2:00:00 PM
  • UAB Research: Half of HIV-Exposed Babies in Parts of Africa Not Receiving Available HIV Prevention DrugIn the ongoing battle to prevent mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), not all weapons are being used: Only about half of HIV-exposed infants in some African countries received a minimal dose of the prevention drug nevirapine, say researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 7/19/2010 9:10:00 AM
  • UAB Study Shows Secondary Intervention Rate After Stenting Aneurysm Less Than 10 PercentA new study by University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) researchers has found that over their 10-year experience with stenting of abdominal aortic aneurysms, less than 10 percent of patients required a secondary intervention — and, of those who did, most procedures were minimally invasive. Posted by John Bryant Hall on 7/2/2010 11:15:00 AM
  • Should Grandma Lose Weight? UAB Study Examines Body Composition in SeniorsThere may be an obesity epidemic in America, but researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) are wondering if a few extra pounds on grandma and grandpa are a bad thing. The CrossRoads trial, a collaboration between the Department of Nutrition Sciences and the Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics and Palliative Care, will examine the effect of physical activity and diet on body composition in older adults and any changes that makes on the quality of life for seniors. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 6/30/2010 9:40:00 AM
  • UAB Study Links Children’s Diabetes Risk to Mother’s Blood Sugar During PregnancyResearch from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) provides the first evidence that Type 2 diabetes in children may be linked to their mothers’ blood sugar during pregnancy. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 6/25/2010 8:45:00 AM
  • Ear Tubes Appear Safe in Children With Cochlear Implants, UAB Researchers SayChildren who are being treated for hearing loss with cochlear implants can safely have ear tubes installed to help clear up infections, say researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Posted by Andrea Reiber on 6/23/2010 11:15:00 AM
  • UAB Research Shows Link Between Early Menopause and Heart Disease Holds True Across RacesUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) research has revealed that women who experience early menopause, regardless of race, are twice as likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease as women who experience menopause in later years. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 6/21/2010 3:50:00 PM
  • UAB Study Confirms Military Spending Helps States Survive Poor EconomyStates in which defense spending is high are better equipped to withstand the effects of an economic downturn than others, according to a new study led by University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Assistant Professor of Sociology Casey Borch, Ph.D. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 6/17/2010 11:00:00 AM
  • UAB Study Confirms Link Between Depression, Abdominal ObesityA new study at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) confirms the relationship between depression and abdominal obesity, which has been linked to an increased risk for cancer and cardiovascular disease. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 6/9/2010 10:05:00 AM
  • UAB’s New Magnetic Therapy for Depression Succeeds Where Drugs FailThe University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is the first medical provider in the state to offer a new, cutting-edge treatment for depression. Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, or rTMS, is the first and only device of its kind to be cleared for the treatment of depression by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 6/8/2010 8:05:00 AM
  • Two Stroke-Prevention Procedures Equally Safe, But Should Be Chosen Based on Age, Say UAB Researchers, Colleagues A published report provides the final details on how two stroke-prevention procedures are safe and equally beneficial for men and women at risk for stroke, though their effectiveness does vary by age, say researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Public Health in collaboration with other North American stroke investigators. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 5/26/2010 4:05:00 PM
  • UAB Study Links Low Phosphorus Level to Early Death in African AIDS PatientsLow blood phosphorus levels are associated with high death rates in the initial weeks of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in AIDS patients in sub-Saharan Africa, according to new research conducted by University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) researchers at the UAB-affiliated Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIRDZ). Posted by Monica O'Brien on 5/19/2010 11:30:00 AM
  • Two Most Common Incontinence Surgical Procedures Similar in Efficacy, UAB Study ShowsUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) researchers conducting the largest randomized, clinical-equivalence trial comparing two mid-urethral sling procedures for female urinary incontinence say the two have equal efficacy – but may present different types of complications. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 5/17/2010 4:10:00 PM
  • UAB Study Examines Hearing Loss, Viagra UseResearch by a University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) professor shows an association between hearing loss and the use of the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 5/17/2010 3:00:00 PM
  • UAB Study Shows Lowering Oxygen Level for Preemies Lessens Severe Eye Damage New findings in a study led by the director of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Division of Neonatology reveal that lowering the oxygen saturation of premature babies’ blood decreased the likelihood that an infant would develop severe eye damage, but also increased the chance a neonate would die before discharge. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 5/16/2010 12:00:00 PM
  • Science Closing in on Mystery of Age-Related Memory Loss, Says UAB NeurobiologistThe world’s scientific community may be one step closer to understanding age-related memory loss, and to developing a drug that might help boost memory. In an editorial published May 7 in Science, J. David Sweatt, Ph.D., chair of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Neurobiology, says that drugs known as histone deacetylase inhibitors are showing great promise in stopping memory loss – and even in boosting the formation of memory in animal models. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 5/6/2010 1:00:00 PM
  • UAB Study Finds Combination Weight-Loss, Hypertension Drug Effective in Combating Obesity and High Blood PressureUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) researchers have found that an experimental drug that combines an appetite suppressant and a commonly used epilepsy medicine not only helped overweight and obese patients control hunger and lose weight, it also lowered patients’ blood pressure. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 5/6/2010 10:05:00 AM
  • New Drug May Treat Cystic Fibrosis, Other Diseases Caused by “Nonsense Mutations,” Says UAB Researcher Inherited diseases such as cystic fibrosis can be caused by genetic “nonsense mutations” that disrupt the way human cells make proteins. David Bedwell, Ph.D., a professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Microbiology, says scientists are now closer to producing drugs that will fix this disruption and drastically improve treatment of genetic disease. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 4/26/2010 11:05:00 AM
  • UAB Researchers Find Four Biomarkers Important in Colorectal Cancer Treatment PrognosisResearchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Pathology have discovered a set of four biomarkers that will help predict which patients are more likely to develop aggressive colorectal cancer and which are not. The findings also shed light on the genetics that result in worse colorectal cancer-treatment outcomes for African-Americans, compared with Caucasians, the researchers said. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 4/19/2010 9:25:00 AM
  • UAB Study Shows Female Medical Residents Delay Childbearing to Complete TrainingA new study by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) shows that female medical residents are more likely than their male counterparts to delay having children for fear of jeopardizing their career. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 4/14/2010 1:15:00 PM
  • DNA Testing of Blood Sample Not Effective for Identifying CMV in Newborns, Says UAB ResearchDNA analysis of dried blood samples routinely collected from newborns by a heel-stick procedure is not effective as the currently used saliva or urine culture in screening for cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, a major cause of hearing loss in children, according to a University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) study published in the April 14 issue of JAMA. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 4/13/2010 3:00:00 PM
  • UAB Study: Where Violence Occurs Matters to Kids’ Mental HealthChildren exposed to violence at home or school have greater levels of anxiety and depression than children who experience brutality only in their neighborhood, say researchers in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Psychology. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 4/7/2010 10:15:00 AM
  • Bacon or Bagels? Higher Fat at Breakfast May Be Healthier Than You Think, Says UAB ResearchThe age-old maxim “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper” may in fact be the best advice to follow to prevent metabolic syndrome, according to a new University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) study. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 3/30/2010 1:55:00 PM
  • One Step Closer to Personalized Medicine: UAB Researchers Find First Bio-Marker for MSResearchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) have found the first bio-marker for multiple sclerosis (MS) that might predict which patients will respond to a standard therapy and which will not. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 3/28/2010 12:00:00 PM
  • UAB Oncologists Report HPV Vaccine Also Protects Females From Post-Surgical Cancer Recurrence A vaccine designed to prevent cervical cancer also may protect females from post-surgical recurrence of the disease, according to researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Posted by Monica O'Brien on 3/15/2010 1:25:00 PM
  • UAB Study Shows African-Americans Have Highest Stroke Rate, Southerners More Likely to DieAfrican-Americans age 65 and younger are more than twice as likely to have a stroke compared with Caucasians in any region, and people who have a stroke are more likely to die in the South than elsewhere, according to researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Public Health. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 2/26/2010 8:55:00 AM
  • Choice Between Stroke-Prevention Procedures Should Be Influenced by Patient Age, Say UAB Researchers, ColleaguesTwo stroke-prevention procedures are safe and equally beneficial for men and women at risk for stroke, but the effectiveness does vary by age, say researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in collaboration with other North American stroke investigators. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 2/26/2010 8:50:00 AM
  • HIV Drug Given to Protect a Fetus Should Be Avoided for One Year After Childbirth, UAB Researchers Say Women given the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention drug nevirapine to protect their fetus should not use an HIV-drug regimen that contains nevirapine for at least one year after childbirth, say researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Posted by Monica O'Brien on 2/25/2010 9:10:00 AM
  • UAB-Led Study Shows Simple Steps Could Reduce Stillbirths by up to 1 MillionNew findings in a study led by the director of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Division of Neonatology show that that training birth attendants in essential newborn-care techniques reduced stillbirths by more than 30 percent – and potentially could save as many as 1 million lives worldwide each year. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 2/17/2010 4:00:00 PM
  • New UAB Research Says Heart Failure Worse When Right Ventricle Goes BadNew research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) suggests that the ability of right side of the heart to pump blood may be an indication of the risk of death to heart-failure patients whose condition is caused by low function by the left side of their heart. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 2/16/2010 8:35:00 AM
  • UAB Research Warns of Risks of Low Potassium in Heart Failure Patients With CKDNew research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) says low potassium levels produce an increased risk of death or hospitalization in patients with heart failure and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Posted by Monica O'Brien on 2/8/2010 1:55:00 PM
  • Targeted Prevention Measures Stopped Spread of H1N1 Flu at Alabama Boys Camp, UAB Doctor SaysProviding preventive Tamiflu and educating and emphasizing the need for repeated hand sanitizer use and disinfectant spray helped stop the spread of H1N1 influenza at a boys’ summer camp in northern Alabama, according the co-director of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 2/1/2010 3:00:00 PM
  • At Home on the Street: First-Person Look at Homelessness by UAB Prof, AlumMore than four years ago, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Associate Professor of Sociology Jeffrey Michael Clair, Ph.D., and UAB alumnus Jason Wasserman, Ph.D., set out to find the answer to a simple question: Why do many homeless individuals prefer living on the street to living in shelters? Posted by Andrea Reiber on 1/21/2010 9:45:00 AM
  • UAB Research Finds Consumer Behavior and Lifestyle Traits Influence Foreclosure RatesA homeowner’s station in life and personal spending beliefs and habits are important indicators of the borrower’s potential for home-mortgage default, say researchers in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Business. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 1/13/2010 11:05:00 AM
  • Young Hunters Most Likely to Be Injured Using Tree Stands, Say UAB ResearchersYoung hunters between the ages of 15 and 34 are the most likely to suffer serious injuries in tree stand-related incidents, say researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Center for Injury Sciences (CIS). The same researchers’ findings, though, suggest that such injuries are preventable. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 12/30/2009 1:45:00 PM
  • Rate of Autism Disorders Climbs to 1 Percent Among 8-Year-Olds, Say UAB, CDC ResearchersAutism and related development disorders are becoming more common, with a prevalence rate approaching 1 percent among American 8-year-olds, according to new data from researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Posted by Monica O'Brien on 12/18/2009 11:00:00 AM
  • UAB Researchers Link Calorie Intake to Cell Lifespan, Cancer DevelopmentResearchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) have discovered that restricting consumption of glucose, the most common dietary sugar, can extend the life of healthy human-lung cells and speed the death of precancerous human-lung cells, reducing cancer’s spread and growth rate. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 12/17/2009 4:00:00 PM
  • New UAB Study Finds Gender Divide in Children’s Use of Cell Phone Features It’s a given that many children will ask their parents for cell phones this Christmas. Now, a recent study by University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) sociologist Shelia Cotten, Ph.D., finds that the way the kids will use their new phones depends on their gender. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 12/17/2009 1:45:00 PM
  • Internal Body Clock Contributes to Severity of Heart Attack, Says UAB ResearchThe time of day can be an important factor in determining the amount of damage caused by a heart attack, according to University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Division of Cardiovascular Disease research published online in the journal Circulation Research. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 12/15/2009 3:05:00 PM
  • Bias Skews Obesity Findings, Says Head of UAB Nutrition and Obesity Research CenterA new study by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Public Health shows that obesity research may be misrepresented by scientists operating with particular biases on topics related to weight, nutrition and the food industry. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 12/1/2009 8:50:00 AM
  • Other Illnesses, Body Weight Do Not Explain Racial Disparities in Colon Cancer Survival, UAB Researchers SayA new study by University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) researchers shows that body-mass index (BMI) and co-existing medical conditions (co-morbidity) do not explain the decreased survival observed among African-Americans compared to Caucasians who also have colon cancer. The study is published online Nov. 23 in Cancer, a journal of the American Cancer Society. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 11/23/2009 7:00:00 AM
  • UAB Researchers Discover Antibody Receptor Identity, Propose Renaming Immune-System GeneResearchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) have uncovered the genetic identity of a cellular receptor for the immune system’s first-response antibody, a discovery that sheds new light on infection control and immune disorders. The discovery is such a crucial part of immunology that UAB researchers, in conjunction with Japanese researchers, are asking that the gene linked to this antibody receptor be renamed to better describe its role in early immune responses. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 11/17/2009 4:15:00 PM
  • Behavior Therapy Better Than Pessary for Stress Incontinence in Short TermIn the short term, behavioral therapy resulted in fewer bothersome incontinence symptoms and greater patient satisfaction than a continence pessary for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women, according to researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) who presented at the 30th annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urogynecologic Society. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 11/16/2009 9:30:00 AM
  • New UAB Study Sheds Light on Brain’s Response to Distress, Unexpected EventsIn a new study, psychologists at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) are able to see in detail for the first time how various regions of the human brain respond when people experience an unexpected or traumatic event. The study could lead to the creation of biological measures that could identify people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or identify PTSD sufferers who would benefit from specific treatments. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 11/10/2009 11:35:00 AM
  • New Alzheimer’s Drugs Show Promise, Say UAB ResearchersUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) researchers are part of an international trial, testing new drugs that show great promise in slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 11/3/2009 1:30:00 PM
  • UAB Research Could Boost Coastal Economics with Crustacean Molting on DemandUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) researchers are close to unraveling intricate cellular pathways that control molting in blue crabs. The discoveries could revolutionize the soft-shell crab industry, generating new jobs and additional profits for the U.S. fishing industry along the coastal Southeast. Posted by John Bryant Hall on 10/27/2009 2:50:00 PM
  • Triple-Combo Drug Shows Promise Against Antiviral-Resistant Swine Flu, UAB Researcher SaysAn experimental drug cocktail that includes three prescriptions now widely available offers the best hope in developing a single agent to treat drug-resistant H1N1 swine flu, says a virology researcher in the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. Posted by Andrea Davis-Hill on 10/20/2009 1:45:00 PM
  • UAB Research Finds Childbearing Increases Chance of Developing the Metabolic SyndromeChildbearing is associated directly with future development of the metabolic syndrome — abdominal obesity, high triglycerides, insulin resistance and other cardiovascular disease risk factors — and for women who have had gestational diabetes, the risk is more than twice greater, according to a study co-authored by University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) researchers published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Posted by Andrea Davis-Hill on 9/22/2009 2:20:00 PM
  • Poor Money Management May Be Early Indicator of Alzheimer’s Disease, Say UAB ResearchersInability to handle financial transactions or manage money may be an early indicator that a person with mild memory problems soon is likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, according to new research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Alzheimer’s Disease Center, part of the Department of Neurology. Posted by Andrea Davis-Hill on 9/21/2009 3:00:00 PM
  • UAB Researchers Find TB-Prevention Therapy Is Cost-Effective Option University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) researchers have found that the cost of preventive antibiotic tuberculosis (TB) therapy for patients infected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is generally less expensive than the reported cost of treating newly confirmed TB cases. Posted by John Bryant Hall on 9/9/2009 8:50:00 AM
  • UAB Researchers Find Possible Use for Kudzu, the Vine That Ate the SouthKudzu, the fast-growing vine that has gobbled up some 10 million acres in the Southeast, may prove to be a valuable dietary supplement for metabolic syndrome, a condition that affects 50 million Americans, say researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Posted by Andrea Reiber on 9/2/2009 10:05:00 AM
  • UAB Study Uncovers How Tuberculosis Agent Survives on Fatty AcidsResearchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) have discovered a key mechanism behind the survival instinct of tuberculosis. TB is the leading cause of death in the world from a single bacterial infection, and it kills 1.5 million people per year. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 9/1/2009 8:00:00 AM
  • UAB Research Shows Older Drivers Unaware of Risks From Driving and MedicationsMost older drivers are unaware of the potential impact on driving performance associated with taking medications, according to new research from the Center for Injury Sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Posted by Monica O'Brien on 8/11/2009 8:45:00 AM
  • Cloudy Summer Days Can Impair Depressed People, UAB Researchers SayA cloudy and rainy stretch of summer days can worsen moods and hamper thinking of people who are depressed, according to researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Posted by Andrea Davis-Hill on 8/6/2009 1:10:00 PM
  • New UAB Study Finds Novice Parents Overlook Many Child-Injury RisksUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Psychology researchers report that new parents identified less than half of the safety hazards in a simulated home environment, and most perceived that their children were less vulnerable to injuries than other children. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 8/4/2009 8:00:00 AM
  • Early Referral Before Biopsy of Soft Tissue Masses Leads to Better Outcome, Say UAB ResearchersPatients with a suspected benign soft tissue tumor who get an early referral to a cancer specialist have better outcomes in the event the tumor proves to be a malignant sarcoma, say investigators at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Sarcomas are cancers that develop in soft tissue, such as muscles or cartilage, and not in organs. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 7/31/2009 3:50:00 PM
  • UAB/Southern Research Scientists Discover How Flu Damages Lung TissueA protein in influenza virus that helps it multiply also damages lung epithelial cells, causing fluid buildup in the lungs, according to new research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and Southern Research Institute. Publishing online this week in the journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, the researchers say the findings give new insight into how flu attacks the lungs and provides targets for new treatments. Posted by John Bryant Hall on 7/16/2009 1:45:00 PM
  • UAB Study Reveals Bone Coupling Factor Key to Skeletal HealthResearchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) have discovered a molecular coupling factor that helps bones grow and remodel themselves to stay strong, a finding that could lead to better bone-building therapies and new osteoporosis drugs, the researchers said Posted by John Bryant Hall on 7/7/2009 3:05:00 PM
  • Atrial Fibrillation Linked to Increased Hospitalization in Heart Failure PatientsPatients with atrial fibrillation, common in those with advanced chronic heart failure, have an increased risk of hospitalization due to heart failure, according to new research from researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Posted by John Bryant Hall on 7/6/2009 11:10:00 AM
  • UAB Study Defines Safe Limit of Potassium for Heart-Failure PatientsNew research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) indicates that optimum range for serum potassium for heart-failure patients, one of the most sensitive populations to changes in potassium levels in the blood, is between 4 and 5 mEq per liter. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 6/30/2009 10:10:00 AM
  • UAB Researchers Say Moderately Reducing Carbohydrates May Help Weight LossA diet with a slight reduction from the American norm of calories from carbohydrates may help in weight loss, say University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) researchers. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 6/11/2009 1:15:00 PM
  • Look to More Than BMI for Accurate Health Picture, Says UAB ProfBeing overweight is a health concern, and using only body mass index (BMI) to determine if someone is of a healthy weight may not give an accurate picture of someone’s health, according to an advisory published today in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. University of Alabama (UAB) Professor of Preventive Medicine Cora E. Lewis, M.D., M.S.P.H., is lead author of the advisory. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 6/8/2009 2:10:00 PM
  • Cottonseed-Based Drug Shows Promise Treating Severe Brain Cancer, Say UAB ResearchersAn experimental drug derived from cottonseed shows promise in treating the recurrence of glioblastoma multiforme, widely considered the most lethal brain cancer, said researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Posted by Monica O'Brien on 5/27/2009 10:25:00 AM
  • Chronic Infection Now Clearly Tied to Immune-System ProteinThe reason deadly infections like human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C never go away is because these viruses disarm the body’s defense system. Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) have discovered that a key immunity protein must be present for this defense system to have a chance against chronic infection. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 5/14/2009 1:00:00 PM
  • UAB Expert Says City’s Poor Lack Social CapitalTo get ahead in life, you need more than "a little help from your friends", says University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Professor Mark LaGory, Ph.D. Posted by John Bryant Hall on 5/8/2009 2:15:00 PM
  • UAB Study Shows Increase in Birmingham Homeless Reporting Unmet Health Care Needs Homeless persons in Birmingham were much more likely to report inability to obtain health care when needed in 2005 compared to 1995, according to analysis of two community surveys administered 10 years apart and published May 6 in the online edition of the Journal of General Internal Medicine. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 5/7/2009 4:05:00 PM
  • UAB Study Finds Social Support Key for Religious Conversions in PrisonIt is not uncommon for prison inmates to experience religious conversions. Now a new University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) study, out in the April issue of the International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, suggests that inmates who have positive social support networks are more likely to maintain their religious conversions. Posted by John Bryant Hall on 4/30/2009 1:05:00 PM
  • UAB Study Suggests Link Between Health Literacy, HappinessA new University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) study published in the advanced online edition of the journal Social Indicators Research suggests a link between the ease with which older adults can access and understand health information and their happiness. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 4/20/2009 11:30:00 AM
  • UAB-Led Study Shows Homeless Respite Care Curbs Readmission RateMedical respite programs that offer medical, nursing and other care, as well as accommodations, for homeless persons discharged from acute hospital stays significantly reduce the likelihood a person will be readmitted to the hospital within 90 days. Posted by John Bryant Hall on 4/17/2009 9:00:00 AM
  • Study Shows Prescription Heartburn Medication Does Not Control Asthma Symptoms as ThoughtFor nearly 20 years, it was believed that severe asthma symptoms such as coughing, wheezing and breathlessness were triggered in part by acid reflux. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 4/9/2009 9:05:00 AM
  • VA/UAB Study Looks at Functional Decline in Older Patients After HospitalizationMotivation and expectation may be factors in helping older adults regain lost functional ability after hospitalization. Posted by John Bryant Hall on 4/7/2009 9:30:00 AM
  • UAB Research Shows Mood Overcomes Consumers’ Suspicions of Sales PitchesA new study shows that happy consumers are likely to overlook their suspicions of sales people. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 4/6/2009 11:05:00 AM
  • Ovarian Cancer Screening Not Catching Early DiseaseThe only available screening tests for ovarian cancer fail to catch early signs of the disease and often result in unnecessary surgery, said researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Comprehensive Cancer Center. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 4/1/2009 2:10:00 PM
  • Genetic Link Uncovered in Disparate Colon Cancer DeathA new study reveals the first-ever genetic link to the reason African-Americans are at increased risk of dying from colon cancer. Posted by John Bryant Hall on 3/31/2009 11:05:00 PM
  • Study Finds Changes in Public’s Opinion of Political Party Strengths A study by UAB political scientist Holly Brasher, Ph.D., in the latest issue of Party Politics shows historically how public perceptions about political party strengths change over time. Posted by John Bryant Hall on 3/2/2009 10:55:00 AM
  • HIV Adapts to ‘Escape’ Immune Response The HIV adapts so well to the body’s defense system that any successful AIDS vaccine must keep pace with the ever-changing immunological profile of the virus. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 2/27/2009 9:00:00 AM
  • UAB Researchers Report Breakthrough in HPV ResearchUAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) researchers have developed a new, inexpensive and efficient method for producing and studying a type of human papillomavirus (HPV) that causes cervical cancer. The process could speed understanding of how the virus functions and causes diseases, and lead to new prevention or treatment options. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 2/23/2009 4:05:00 PM
  • Women Less Likely to Have a Stroke After Mini-StrokeThat first “mini-stroke” may be more of a benign event for women than men. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 2/23/2009 9:45:00 AM
  • Proper Warfarin Dose Affected by GeneticsAn individual’s genetic makeup can have a profound effect on the required dose of warfarin, the most widely used anticoagulant drug in the world, regardless of race, ethnicity or other differences. Posted by John Bryant Hall on 2/18/2009 4:00:00 PM
  • UAB Study Says Kidney Disease Affects Dosage of Blood Thinner WarfarinUAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) researchers say patients with reduced kidney function and kidney failure require lower doses of warfarin, a popular blood thinning medication. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 2/18/2009 4:00:00 PM
  • Women’s Cancer Outcome Improved by Surgical EvaluationMany women scheduled to undergo hysterectomy for pre-cancerous cell changes actually need a more comprehensive surgery, something they should discuss with a gynecologic oncologist, say researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Posted by Monica O'Brien on 2/12/2009 9:20:00 AM
  • Study Finds the Home Can Be a Dangerous Place for TeensWhile studies have shown that the home can be one of the most dangerous places for young children, a new study finds that it can also be hazardous for teenagers. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 2/4/2009 2:25:00 PM
  • Tobacco Smoke and Alcohol Harm Liver Worse as ComboExposure to second-hand smoke and alcohol significantly raises the risk of liver disease, according to researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Posted by Monica O'Brien on 2/2/2009 3:45:00 PM
  • Weight Loss Reduces Incontinence for WomenStarting a weight-loss regimen significantly reduces urinary incontinence for women, according to researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and the University of California, San Francisco. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 1/28/2009 4:00:00 PM
  • Cell Phones Are Dangerous for Child Pedestrians, UAB Study FindsChildren who talk on cell phones while crossing streets are at a higher risk for injuries or death in a pedestrian accident, said psychologists at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in a new study that will appear in the February issue of Pediatrics. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 1/26/2009 8:15:00 AM
  • Repeat C-Section Before 39 Weeks Raises Risk of Neonatal IllnessWomen choosing repeat cesarean deliveries and having them at 37 or 38 weeks gestation, without a medical or obstetric indication, are up to two times more likely to have a baby with serious complications, including respiratory distress resulting in mechanical ventilation and NICU admission. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 1/7/2009 4:00:00 PM
  • ‘Stroke Belt’ Deaths Tied to Non-Traditional Risk FactorsSoutherners die from stroke more than in any other U.S. region, but exactly why that happens is unknown. A new report by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and the University of Vermont underscores that geographic and racial differences are not the sole reasons behind the South’s higher stroke death rate. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 1/7/2009 1:25:00 PM
  • Death Rate for Older Drivers Drops in Florida After Vision Screening Law PassedDeath rates for older drivers in Florida decreased following passage of a vision screening law for drivers age 80 and older, according to new research from UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham). Posted by Andrea Reiber on 11/10/2008 3:00:00 PM
  • New Study Finds Obese Women More Impulsive Than Other FemalesA new study in the November issue of the journal Appetite finds that obese women display significantly weaker impulse control than normal-weight women, but between obese and normal-weight men, the impulsivity levels are nearly the same. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 11/10/2008 10:55:00 AM
  • Brain Tumor Drug Derived From Herpes Virus Passes Next HurdleAn anti-brain tumor agent developed from a genetically engineered herpes simplex virus has been shown to be safe when given in two doses and injected directly into the brain of patients with malignant glioma. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 11/5/2008 10:40:00 AM
  • Crucial Hormonal Pathway to Bone Building UncoveredScientists have discovered a crucial step in hormone-triggered bone growth, a finding that could lead to new osteoporosis drugs and better bone-building therapies, according to a new study. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 10/31/2008 4:00:00 PM
  • UAB Researchers Find Clue to Antibiotic ResistanceUAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) researchers have discovered how one highly effective antibiotic finds and destroys its targeted bacteria. The findings could have great implications for combating antibiotic resistance and promoting antibiotic efficiency. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 10/22/2008 12:05:00 PM
  • UAB Research Suggests Link Between Thyroid Disorder and GlaucomaNew research from UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) says that thyroid disorder may be a risk factor for developing glaucoma. In a study posted online today in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, the researchers say people diagnosed with glaucoma are 38 percent more likely to have had a thyroid condition during their lifetime. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 10/16/2008 12:45:00 PM
  • Colon Cancer Link to Obesity UncoveredA new study reveals the first-ever genetic link between obesity and colon cancer risk, a finding that could lead to greater accuracy in testing for the disease, said a researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Posted by Ken Wallace on 9/30/2008 3:05:00 PM
  • Common Treatment to Delay Labor Decreases Preterm Infants’ Risk for Cerebral PalsyIntravenous magnesium sulfate supplementation before preterm delivery cuts the risk for handicapping cerebral palsy in half, according to research led by University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) obstetrician Dwight Rouse, M.D., and published in the Aug. 28 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 8/27/2008 4:25:00 PM
  • Positive Parenting Associated With Less Aggression in Early-Maturing Teen GirlsAdolescent girls who go through puberty early and have parents who do not nurture them, communicate with them or have knowledge of their activities appear more likely to display aggressive behavior, according to a study in the August issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. The study was led by University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) psychologist Sylvie Mrug, Ph.D. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 8/5/2008 8:35:00 AM
  • Race Alone Not a Factor in Heart FailureRace by itself is not a factor in heart failure when white and non-white patients are evenly matched on baseline variables such as age, weight, medical history and cardiac function, according to new research from UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham). The findings, published in the June issue of the Journal of Cardiac Failure, are the first to use a propensity-matched technique to look at racial disparities in heart failure. Posted by Traci Bratton on 7/8/2008 9:50:00 AM
  • Stage-For-Stage Lung Cancer Survival Similar Among RacesKnowing that advances in genetics and social sciences have demonstrated that race usually is not a biologic factor in cancer survival, researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) examined factors that might contribute to the racial disparity in lung cancer deaths and found that when given uniform staging, treatment and socio-economic status, the overall survival rates for African-American and Caucasian patients with non-small cell lung cancer were similar. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 7/2/2008 2:45:00 PM
  • Hard Work While Fatigued Affects Blood PressureWorking hard when fatigued may be admired by many Americans, but it is a virtue that could be harmful to one’s health, according to new research by psychologists at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). The research supports a theory which suggests that exhausted individuals’ cardiovascular systems are forced to work harder when they attempt to complete tasks, such as those encountered on the job or at school. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 6/26/2008 9:15:00 AM
  • Golf Cart-Related Injuries an Unappreciated Concern, Say UAB ResearchersGolf carts are becoming a popular means of transportation away from golf courses, and new research from UAB’s (University of Alabama at Birmingham) Center for Injury Sciences says injuries associated with their use may be underappreciated, suggesting the need for the implementation of safety measures. Posted by John Bryant Hall on 6/10/2008 8:15:00 AM
  • HIV Infection Stems From Few VirusesA new study reveals the genetic identity of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the version responsible for sexual transmission, in unprecedented detail. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 5/15/2008 4:40:00 PM
  • Study Confirms Link Between Mothers’ Depression, Young Children’s Injuries Infants and toddlers whose mothers are severely depressed are almost three times more likely to suffer accidental injuries than other children in the same age group, according to a new study. Posted by Traci Bratton on 5/14/2008 9:05:00 AM
  • UAB Part of International Effort to Thwart VirusesUAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) scientists were part of an international research team that discovered the unique way certain viruses invade healthy cells, opening the door to new therapies that could block those viruses. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 5/13/2008 10:35:00 AM
  • Air Pollution, Smoking Affect Latent TuberculosisA toxic gas present in air pollution and tobacco smoke plays a significant role in triggering tuberculosis infection, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Posted by Andrea Reiber on 5/12/2008 4:30:00 PM
  • Remodeling the Brain…Rehab Therapy Causes Increase in Gray MatterA rehabilitation therapy developed by a UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) neuroscientist produces changes in the structure of the brain, the first evidence of actual brain remodeling resulting from a rehabilitation therapy. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 4/17/2008 10:00:00 AM
  • Factors Other Than Age Affect Preemie SurvivalPremature infants are more likely to survive—and survive without a disability—if the baby is female, from a single birth, is of a higher birth weight, and if the mother has received steroids to help the baby’s lungs mature before birth, says research partially conducted at UAB and published in the April 17 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. The combination of factors is more important than the single issue of gestational age. Posted by Traci Bratton on 4/17/2008 9:15:00 AM
  • Experimental Drug Shows Promise in Treating One Class of Lymphoma New clinical data showed some cancer patients with recurrent lymphoma benefitted from an experimental drug called AME-133v, said a researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Posted by Monica O'Brien on 4/16/2008 9:40:00 AM
  • UAB Study Shows Drug May Fight Biliary CancersLaboratory studies by University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) researchers have shown that the drug triphendiol (NV-196) causes cell death in pancreatic and bile duct cancer cell lines, slows tumor growth and sensitizes tumors to chemotherapy treatments. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 4/14/2008 12:30:00 PM
  • Hospitalization Linked to Increased Mortality in Heart Failure PatientsPatients with heart failure are at increased risk of death if they are hospitalized for worsening heart failure symptoms, according to new research from UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham). The findings, published this month in the Journal of Cardiac Failure, suggest that a new emphasis on avoiding the need to hospitalize heart failure patients is required in medicine. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 4/10/2008 1:25:00 PM
  • Creatinine Increase in Elderly Means Increased Renal Disease, Mortality Even small increases in serum creatinine levels during hospitalization raise the risk of end stage renal disease and mortality of elderly patients over the long term... Posted by John Bryant Hall on 4/1/2008 12:40:00 PM
  • UAB Investigators Part of Exciting Cystic Fibrosis TrialA new drug for cystic fibrosis (CF) has shown promise in treating a basic manifestation of the disease, according to results released today by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. Posted by Ken Wallace on 3/27/2008 3:35:00 PM
  • HPV Vaccine Reduces Abnormal PAP Test ResultsA significant drop in abnormal Pap test results happened after girls and women were given a vaccine to prevent cervical cancer, according to a researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Posted by Andrea Reiber on 3/10/2008 5:25:00 AM
  • Mean Girls and Bullies: Research Sheds Light on School CliquesGirls who gossip and exclude others from their cliques are often labeled as popular by their classmates. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 3/7/2008 7:00:00 AM
  • Drug Fights Cystic Fibrosis BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – An experimental drug that has proven effective in treating muscular dystrophy also works for cystic fibrosis, according to researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Posted by Monica O'Brien on 2/4/2008 5:15:00 PM
  • Poxvirus Potency Uncovered in New Atomic Map BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Scientists at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and Saint Louis University used X-ray crystallography to uncover new details about the infectious potency of poxviruses, furthering the understanding of how viral infections can subvert the body’s immune system. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 2/1/2008 11:50:00 AM
  • Anthrax Cellular Entry Point Uncovered BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The long-sought-after biological “gateway” that anthrax uses to enter healthy cells has been uncovered by microbiologists at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Posted by Monica O'Brien on 1/25/2008 12:45:00 PM
  • DNA Variations Signal Lupus Risk BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Scientists have pinpointed a set of common variations in human DNA that signal a higher risk for lupus in women who carry them. Some of these variations are more common in relatives of lupus patients, which may help future studies examining whether lupus is more prevalent among certain racial and ethnic groups, according to a new study. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 1/22/2008 9:00:00 AM
  • Cell Pathway, Disease Linked To Histone Action BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) researchers have discovered a key cell-signaling pathway that regulates cell progression and switches on front-to-back body patterning in tadpoles. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 10/25/2007 5:00:00 PM
  • UAB Research Targets Genes Linked To Insulin Resistance BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - New research from UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) identifies two genes that may play a role in insulin resistance, opening a new avenue for researchers searching for treatments for type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. In findings published this week in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, the UAB team found that two genes, NR4A3 and NR4A1, seem to boost insulin sensitivity in muscle tissue. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 10/25/2007 10:30:00 AM
  • JAMA Study Shows What Works In Treating HIV-Infected African Children BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Providing HIV combination antiretroviral drug therapy is key to saving the lives of African children infected with the disease. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 10/24/2007 1:50:00 PM
  • Addicts Renting Their Cars For Drugs, UAB Study Finds BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A growing number of crack cocaine users are renting their cars in exchange for drugs, according to criminologists at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Justice Sciences. In their new study, published in the advance access edition of The British Journal of Criminology online, the researchers say these transactions, known as “rock rentals,” are becoming more prevalent. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 10/18/2007 2:30:00 PM
  • Garlic Boosts Hydrogen Sulfide To Relax Arteries BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Eating garlic is one of the best ways to lower high blood pressure and protect yourself from cardiovascular disease. A new study from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) shows this protective effect is closely linked to how much hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is produced from garlic compounds interacting with red blood cells. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 10/15/2007 4:45:00 PM
  • Medical Decision Making Impaired in Patients With Mild Cognitive ImpairmentBIRMINGHAM, Ala. - New research from UAB indicates that patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), considered a pre-cursor to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), have diminished skills in making important medical decisions compared to healthy adults. The findings, published this week in the journal Neurology, have major implications for patients, clinicians and researchers in the field of memory loss and dementia. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 10/11/2007 12:20:00 PM
  • Experimental Drug Boosts Survival in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer Patients BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – New clinical data showed an experimental drug called pertuzumab prolonged the survival time for women with recurrent ovarian cancer, a University of Alabama at Birmingham doctor said recently. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 9/27/2007 11:40:00 AM
  • Severe Heart Attack Damage Limited By Hydrogen Sulfide Administering hydrogen sulfide (H2S) directly into the heart during a simulated heart attack significantly reduces the tissue and cell damage often seen in oxygen-starved organs, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 9/18/2007 2:30:00 PM
  • Severe Heart Attack Damage Limited By Hydrogen SulfideAdministering hydrogen sulfide (H2S) directly into the heart during a simulated heart attack significantly reduces the tissue and cell damage often seen in oxygen-starved organs, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Posted by Traci Bratton on 9/18/2007 2:15:00 PM
  • Hormones Not Effective in Preventing Preterm Twin Births Progesterone therapy does not reduce the chances of preterm birth in women pregnant with twins, even though earlier studies demonstrated it reduces the chances of preterm birth in women carrying a single baby who had delivered a singleton prematurely in the past, according to University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) researchers. The study is published in the Aug. 2 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 8/1/2007 3:45:00 PM
  • Educational Level Linked To Increased Hospitalization In Heart Failure Patients Patients with heart failure are at increased risk of hospitalization if they or their spouses have a high school education or less. The study, published this month on-line in the International Journal of Cardiology, is the first to look directly at the effect of low education levels in heart failure patients. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 7/31/2007 11:05:00 AM
  • UAB Researchers Track New Pathway In Search For ALS Treatments UAB research has shed new light into possible causes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. In findings published in the July 25th issue of the Journal of Neuroscience, researchers point toward disruptions in messenger RNA that reduce a growth factor critical to the survival of motor neurons. ALS is marked by the rapid degradation and death of motor neurons. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 7/24/2007 4:00:00 PM
  • UAB Study Shows Nursing Home Residents Not Getting Regular Eye Care Two-thirds of nursing home residents in a new UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) study had no record of or reference to an eye examination in their medical charts, although more than half were visually impaired. In findings published in the July issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, UAB researchers examined 380 residents of 17 Birmingham-area nursing homes. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 7/9/2007 3:30:00 PM
  • Study Finds Computer Game Helps Autistic Children Recognize EmotionsAn interactive computer software program called FaceSay™ has been shown to improve the ability of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) to recognize faces, facial expressions and emotions, according to the results of a study conducted by psychologists at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). The study’s results were presented recently at a meeting of the Association for Psychological Science. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 6/21/2007 4:30:00 PM
  • UAB Researchers Find New Pathway To Thwart Antibiotic Resistance Researchers at UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) have new information on the structure of a key enzyme in bacteria that could lead to improved antibiotics and less antibiotic resistance. In findings published today online in two complementary papers in Nature, the research team describe the differences in an enzyme called RNA polymerase in bacterial cells as opposed to human cells. These differences provide potential new targets for drug design. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 6/20/2007 2:50:00 PM
  • UAB Researchers Find Potential Treatment For RSV A UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) professor of anesthesiology recently discovered that a drug commonly used for the treatment of arthritis also can be used to treat Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), the most common cause of lower respiratory tract infection in infants and children worldwide. The study is published in the June issue of the American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 6/11/2007 9:35:00 AM
  • Low Potassium Levels Linked To Increased Long-Term Mortality In Heart Failure Patients New research from UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) indicates that patients with heart failure who have low to low-normal serum potassium levels are at increased risk of death. The study, published this month in the European Heart Journal, is the first to look directly at the long-term effect of low potassium levels in a population of propensity-matched heart failure patients. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 6/6/2007 2:40:00 PM
  • Researchers Find Room For Improvement In Substance Beneficial To Blood Flow The recent interest in nitric oxide stems from a 1987 discovery that the body naturally produces a harmless amount of the substance, which is essential to a number of bodily functions. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 5/28/2007 4:00:00 PM
  • Sling Surgery Is More Effective for Bladder Control in WomenFor many women coughing, laughing, sneezing, running or lifting heavy objects causes urine to leak, a condition commonly known as stress urinary incontinence. Among women with incontinence, 50 to 80 percent have stress urinary incontinence. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 5/21/2007 3:55:00 PM
  • Diabetes and Heart Failure Is Double Trouble for Older WomenNew research from UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) shows that the effect of diabetes on the severity of illness and risk of death for patients with heart failure is much worse in women than men. The effect is even more pronounced in older patients, according to findings published online in Heart on May 8. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 5/9/2007 4:00:00 PM
  • UAB Researchers Uncover Worrisome Trend: Reduced Access To Medication, Treatment For Stroke Survivors UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) researchers estimate that more than 76,000 of them may not receive proper care because they are unable to afford their prescriptions. Posted by Andrea Davis-Hill on 4/24/2007 11:00:00 AM
  • UAB Study May Lead to New Therapies for Binge Eating Disorder University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) psychologists have developed an animal model for the binge eating disorder, which affects an estimated one in 20 Americans. The Sprague-Dawley rat model could lead to the identification of physiological mechanisms that distinguish different types of eating disorders and to the creation of new, targeted drug therapies. Posted by Andrea Davis-Hill on 4/17/2007 12:15:00 PM
  • UAB is Live in Antarctica Leading marine researchers from UAB are among the first U.S. teams diving into the icy Antarctic waters as the International Polar Year begins. Posted by Andrea Davis-Hill on 3/27/2007 10:35:00 AM
  • UAB Researchers Break New Ground On How Memory Works Researchers at UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) have discovered that a chemical reaction in cell DNA thought to be involved only in embryonic cell development and differentiation is also required for memory formation. Posted by Andrea Davis-Hill on 3/17/2007 3:15:00 PM
  • UAB Researchers On The Path To Building Bone UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) researchers have developed a method to increase bone density in mice, a development that might have future benefit for humans in the treatment of osteoporosis and bone fracture. Posted by Andrea Davis-Hill on 1/29/2007 5:00:00 PM
  • UAB Researchers Report Parkinson's Drug Shows PromiseResearch led by a team from UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) has shown that a dopamine agonist called rotigotine could be effective in treating symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Posted by Andrea Davis-Hill on 1/3/2007 3:00:00 PM
  • UAB Study Suggests That Body Composition Is Key Player In Controlling Cancer RisksResearch at UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) using mice suggests that body composition – whether a person is lean or obese – actually is key to reducing cancer risks. Posted by Andrea Davis-Hill on 1/1/2007 12:00:00 AM
  • Survey Shows Alabama Retailers Support Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday Seventy-two percent of retailers surveyed by the Marketing and Industrial Distribution (MKID) program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and the Alabama Retail Association support this weekend’s back-to-school sales tax holiday, the state’s first. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 8/1/2006 9:50:00 AM
  • UAB Research Says Common Heart Drug May Reduce Risk Of Hospitalization Due To Diastolic Heart Failure Digitalis, the oldest and one of the least expensive heart medications, may help reduce the risk of hospitalizations due to worsening heart failure in patients with diastolic heart failure, contrary to a widely held belief that the drug should not be used in that group of patients. The findings, published in the journal Circulation, suggest that digitalis may reduce the risk of heart failure hospitalization in the short term with no increase in mortality for those with diastolic heart failure. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 8/1/2006 9:15:00 AM
  • Study Suggests Nitric Oxide Could Aid Premature and Low Birth Weight Infants For the first time, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) researchers and colleagues have shown nitric oxide therapy to be effective in significantly lowering the risk of long-term lung and brain injury in some premature and low birth weight infants. The results are published in the July 26 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 7/26/2006 4:00:00 PM
  • Loss Of Financial Abilities Common In Alzheimer's Disease As the population ages and increasing numbers of older adults lose everyday capabilities as a result of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, physicians and other clinicians are being increasingly called upon to evaluate the financial competency of their patients, something most health professionals are not trained to do. In response, researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) have developed a 25-minute clinical interview, known as SCIFC (Structured Clinical Interview for Assessing Financial Capacity), to assess financial capacity in dementia patients. The new tool was introduced on July 19 in Madrid at the 10th International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders, presented by the Alzheimer’s Association. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 7/18/2006 9:10:00 AM
  • UAB Researchers Discover HIV-1 Originated in Wild Chimpanzees An international team of scientists, led by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), has discovered a crucial missing link in the search for the origin of HIV-1, the virus responsible for human AIDS. That missing link is the natural reservoir of the virus, which the team has found in wild-living chimpanzees in southern Cameroon. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 5/25/2006 2:45:00 PM
  • UAB, Yale Researchers Determine Two Surgical Interventions for Preemies Have About the Same Effectiveness Neither of the two emergency surgical interventions used to correct perforated necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a common and dangerous complication of prematurity, appears to significantly improve an infant’s survival and later health, according to a study by UAB researchers and colleagues in the May 25 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 5/24/2006 4:00:00 PM
  • Researchers Find Combining Two Surgical Techniques Reduces Women's Risk Of Incontinence After Prolapse Surgery The addition of four simple sutures during an abdominal surgery to correct vaginal prolapse can significantly reduce the risk of post-operative stress incontinence – a common side-effect of the surgery performed on nearly 200,000 women a year – even in women without stress incontinence symptoms prior to surgery, according to a recent New England Journal of Medicine study. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 5/3/2006 4:10:00 PM
  • Researchers Find Combining Two Surgical Techniques Reduces Women's Risk Of Incontinence After Prolapse Surgery BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The addition of four simple sutures during an abdominal surgery to correct vaginal prolapse can significantly reduce the risk of post-operative stress incontinence – a common side-effect of the surgery performed on nearly 200,000 women a year – even in women without stress incontinence symptoms prior to surgery, according to a recent New England Journal of Medicine study. Posted by Andrea Davis-Hill on 5/3/2006 4:10:00 PM
  • Glencoe Baby's Birth At UAB Very Special Due To Neck Mass Requiring 'Exit' Procedure Doctors at UAB Hospital today performed an unusual procedure on a Glencoe, Ala., baby while he was partially outside the womb during Cesarean delivery. The EXIT (ex utero intrapartum treatment ) procedure was necessary because a mass of tissue had grown partially around the fetus’s neck, threatening to keep him from breathing on his own once he was separated from his mother. This is only the third such procedure performed at UAB in the past eight years. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 5/3/2006 2:35:00 PM
  • UAB Studies Link Between Common Bacteria And Heart Disease Among African-Americans BIRMINGHAM, Ala., -- A UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) researcher is investigating a potentially significant link between a very common stomach bacteria and the incidence of heart disease among African-Americans. The bacteria, helicobacter pylori or H. pylori, is found in the lining of the stomach. Posted by Traci Bratton on 4/13/2006 11:20:00 AM
  • Homelessness Linked to Excess Hospital Visits Among HIV-Positive Persons Addictied to Alcohol BIRMINGHAM, AL — HIV-positive individuals who also are alcoholics are more likely to use the hospital during periods of homelessness, according to researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and Boston Medical Center. The study appears online in the journal BMC Health Services Research. Posted by Traci Bratton on 3/21/2006 11:10:00 AM
  • UAB Stroke Rehab Therapy Shows Continued Benefit in Two-Year Follow Up BIRMINGHAM, AL — A rehabilitation therapy designed to improve the function of the weakened or affected arm of a stroke patient has been shown to provide continued benefit for two years, according to a placebo-controlled follow-up study reported in this week’s rapid access issue of Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association. Posted by Traci Bratton on 3/2/2006 3:10:00 PM
  • Viagra/Cialis May Cause Vision Loss in Men with Heart Disease, Says UAB Study A new study from UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) indicates that men with a history of heart attack who use the popular erectile dysfunction medications Viagra (sildenafil) or Cialis (tadalafil) may be at increased risk for vision loss. Posted by Andrea Davis-Hill on 1/17/2006 12:00:00 PM
  • UAB Doctors Say New Method of Treating Ovarian Cancer Provides ‘Significant’ Survival UAB specialists concur that flooding the abdominal cavity with conventional chemotherapy, a new regimen for treating certain patients with advanced ovarian cancer, provides a “significant” survival extension and will likely become a component of standard treatment in the near future. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 1/4/2006 4:20:00 PM
  • UAB Studies Yield New Findings About Birth Defects, DiseaseFor many years scientists believed that cilia – small hair-like projections on the surface of cells – were merely nonfunctioning remnants of past evolution. But new findings by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) challenge this thought, demonstrating cilia play an essential role in the proper formation of certain tissues, such as limbs and digits, and in the development of some diseases and disorders, such as basal cell carcinoma and hydrocephalus. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 12/9/2005 4:30:00 PM
  • UAB Study Finds Religion Helps Reduce Negative Prison Behaviors A new study in the December issue of the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion finds that the practice of religion in prison reduces the likelihood of arguments and physical fights among inmates. It is the first study of religion and prison behavior using a random sample survey of inmates at a large prison facility. Posted by Crystal Sizemore on 12/1/2005 9:30:00 AM
  • New Drug Shows Promise for Patients Hospitalized with Heart Failure An experimental drug belonging to a new pharmacological class called calcium sensitizers holds promise for the 1 to 3 million Americans hospitalized annually for worsening symptoms of heart failure. Posted by Crystal Sizemore on 11/17/2005 10:45:00 AM
  • New Drug Shows Promise for Patients Hospitalized with Heart Failure An experimental drug belonging to a new pharmacological class called calcium sensitizers holds promise for the 1 to 3 million Americans hospitalized annually for worsening symptoms of heart failure Posted by Monica O'Brien on 11/17/2005 10:45:00 AM
  • UAB Study Finds Link Between Sleep Apnea and High Blood Pressure Full-night sleep studies and echocardiography may need to be incorporated into routine assessments of patients with difficult-to-treat high blood pressure, suggested UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) researcher Monique Pratt-Ubunama, M.D., during a presentation yesterday (Tuesday, November 15) at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association Posted by Crystal Sizemore on 11/16/2005 11:45:00 AM
  • UAB Study Finds Link Between Sleep Apnea and High Blood Pressure Full-night sleep studies and echocardiography may need to be incorporated into routine assessments of patients with difficult-to-treat high blood pressure, suggested UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) researcher Monique Pratt-Ubunama, M.D., during a presentation yesterday (Tuesday, November 15) at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 11/16/2005 11:45:00 AM
  • UAB Study Shows Small Modification In Surgical Technique Reduces Pain After Lung Surgery A simple variation in the standard technique used during lung surgery significantly reduces acute and chronic pain following surgery, according to a UAB study published in the October issue of The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. The technique is easy to perform, does not require additional special equipment and takes relatively little time — a major plus for speeding patient recovery. Posted by Traci Bratton on 11/2/2005 9:40:00 AM
  • UAB Develops Bioreactor to Test Blood, Tissue Samples in Space Understanding the effects of near-zero gravity on vascular function and the body’s immune response is the aim of a new piece of space hardware designed and developed by a team of UAB scientists and engineers. The first test flight for the bioreactor is set for October 13 aboard a modified Boeing 727 aircraft. Posted by Crystal Sizemore on 10/5/2005 2:30:00 PM
  • UAB Research Sheds New Light on Antibiotic Resistance Researchers at UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) have discovered how rifamycins, a family of antibiotics commonly used in clinical treatment of tuberculosis, function to destroy bacteria. The findings, published in the current issue of Cell, may help combat antibiotic resistance by allowing drug manufacturers to make changes in the molecular structure of these antibiotics, making them more effective against drug-resistant bacteria. Posted by Crystal Sizemore on 8/18/2005 12:00:00 AM
  • UAB Researchers Find Better Way to Assess, Treat and Predict Outcomes for Lung Cancer Patients UAB researchers have found a better way to predict a lung cancer patient’s chance of survival and odds of the disease’s recurrence. The technique could serve as a supplement to the current cancer-staging system and may address some of its shortcomings. Posted by Traci Bratton on 8/3/2005 12:35:00 AM
  • UAB Chosen to Participate in $300 Million Research Effort to Find an HIV Vaccine The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is one of four institutions that will make up a new virtual Center for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Immunology (CHAVI). The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, today announced it will award the consortium, led by Barton Haynes, M.D., of Duke University, more than $300 million over the next seven years. The aim is to address key roadblocks to HIV vaccine development and to design, develop and test new HIV vaccine candidates. Posted by Crystal Sizemore on 7/14/2005 1:45:00 PM
  • March 3, UAB School of Education Unveils New Counseling Lab and Clinic The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Education’s Counselor Education Program will mark a new beginning in March with the unveiling of the new Counselor Training Laboratory and Clinic during an open house event. The public is invited to attend. Call (205) 934-3701 for more details Posted by Monica O'Brien on 2/24/2005 12:50:00 PM
  • UAB Study Yields New Findings About Southerners and Stroke Contrary to longstanding belief, hypertension appears not to be the main culprit behind Southerners’ significantly increased risk of stroke when compared to the rest of the country. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 2/4/2005 9:40:00 AM
  • UAB Team: Animal Study Shows Grape Seed Extract May Protect Brain Health-food activists have long touted the value of taking grape seed extract. However, there has been little or no scientific evidence of the molecular basis for its benefits. Now, researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) report the first direct evidence that the popular dietary supplement affects specific proteins in healthy brains in ways that may protect against future age-related dementia. Posted by Andrea Davis-Hill on 12/22/2004 4:30:00 PM
  • Two Islet Cell Transplants at UAB Show Promise for Type I Diabetics Only months after University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) doctors gave two Type I diabetics transplants of insulin-producing pancreas cells from organ donors, both patients are pleased with the results — one no longer requires insulin and the other is at about 10 percent or less of her previous requirement. Posted by Andrea Davis-Hill on 11/30/2004 8:50:00 AM
  • Marchase Named Acting Vice President of Research Richard B. Marchase, Ph.D., has been named acting vice president of research at UAB, effective Aug. 1. Posted on July 22, 2004 at 4:04 p.m. BIRMINGHAM, AL — Richard B. Marchase, Ph.D., has been named acting vice president of research at UAB, effective Aug. 1. Marchase currently is senior associate dean for biomedical research at the School of Medicine, a role that he will continue to fill. In his new position, he will assume administrative oversight for research activities across the UAB campus. Marchase succeeds Sadis Matalon, Ph.D., who announced his resignation from that position in May to devote more time to his research. “We are very grateful to Dr. Matalon for his dedicated service and the many improvements he has initiated in this area, but understand his desire to refocus on his own research activities,” said UAB president Dr. Carol Z. Garrison. “We’re fortunate that Dr. Marchase is willing to take on this additional responsibility. I’m certain he’ll do an outstanding job at ensuring that our research infrastructure needs are met, and — collaboratively with the provost and the dean and vice president for medicine — planning for the future research directions and needs of the institution.” Marchase joined UAB in 1986 as an associate professor of cell biology and anatomy. He was named professor of cell biology in 1990. Later that year, he became chair of that department, a position he held until 2000 when he was named associate dean. Marchase is the principal investigator on several awards for research infrastructure from the National Institutes of Health, including $15.9 million for the construction of a biosafety facility. The NIH also supports his laboratory, which studies the effects of hyperglycemia on resuscitation and tissue viability. He is currently on the Editorial Board of SHOCK and has had similar appointments with the American Journal of Physiology: Cell and The Anatomical Record. He is a past-president of the Association of Anatomy, Cell Biology, and Neurobiology Chairpersons and serves on the steering committee of the Group on Research Advancement and Development for the Association of American Medical Colleges. He is a member of the Board and Vice-President Elect of the Federation of American Societies of Experimental Biology, a coalition of 22 societies representing 65,000 members. Marchase received his bachelor's degree in engineering physics from Cornell University and was the recipient of the Hamilton Award as the outstanding graduate in science and engineering. He received his doctorate with distinction in biophysics from Johns Hopkins University. He completed his postdoctoral training and then was named an assistant professor at Duke University. He was an initial recipient of the Presidential Young Investigator Award from the National Science Foundation. Posted by Andrea Reiber on 7/22/2004 4:05:00 PM
  • UAB Study Yields New Findings About Bacterial Meningitis Researchers at UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) have discovered a new pathway by which the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococci), the most common cause of meningitis, pneumonia and inner ear infections, enters the brain, according to a study published recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Researchers believe this finding could pave the way for the development of a new nasal vaccine to treat pneumococcal infections. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 12/2/2003 9:45:00 AM
  • Study Reveals New Findings About Blacks with Rheumatoid Arthritis Among African-Americans with early rheumatoid arthritis, a high percentage also have osteoporosis and have already experienced significant joint damage, according to preliminary results of an ongoing study by the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). “More research is needed, but findings underscore the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of the disease, especially among African-Americans,” said Dr. Larry Moreland, professor of medicine with UAB’s Division of Immunology and Rheumatology. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 11/6/2003 3:30:00 PM
  • Researchers Find Bizarre Eating Behaviors Among Binge Eaters A study published in the most recent issue of the journal Behavioral Medicine finds that some people who suffer from what is known as binge-eating disorder (BED) engage in chaotic or bizarre eating behaviors such as gorging on food straight out of cans, on food taken from trash and even on chewable medicines. In addition, researchers found that negative emotions rather than hunger from dieting were the strongest contributing factor to chaotic eating behaviors. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 6/24/2003 10:35:00 AM
  • Study Yields New Findings About Disparity in Infant Mortality Black twins are 20 percent more likely to die during infancy than white twins, according to a recent study by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Details of the study are published in the April 2003 issue of the Journal of Reproductive Medicine. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 6/24/2003 9:45:00 AM
  • Seat Belts, Not Air Bags, Still Key in Preventing Injury That air bag in the dashboard of your car may keep you alive in a devastating motor vehicle collision, but it will not provide much assistance in keeping you free from injury, and might even increase your injury risk if not used in conjunction with seat belts, according to new research from UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham). In a study published in the June issue of the Journal of Trauma, UAB researchers report that airbag deployment does not significantly reduce the risk of injury either used alone or in conjunction with seat belts. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 6/17/2003 9:00:00 AM
  • UAB-Pioneered Drug Proven Effective in Treating Drug-Resistant HIV Fuzeon (enfuvirtide), a new HIV therapy, has been shown effective in significantly reducing virus levels in patients who have developed multi-drug resistance to other HIV combination therapies, according to two studies published in the May 29 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. The UAB 1917 Clinic, one of 48 sites that participated in the studies, pioneered development and testing of the new therapy, formerly called T-20, in 1997. Dr. Michael Saag, director of the 1917 Clinic, led the initial study. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 5/28/2003 4:00:00 PM
  • Clumsy Children Not More Injury Prone Than Other Kids A new study published in the April issue of the Journal of Safety Research suggests that, contrary to popular belief, children who are clumsy are not more prone to injuries than their graceful peers. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 5/13/2003 1:15:00 PM
  • UAB Study Yields New Findings About Nature’s Defenses Against HIV Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) have discovered a novel mechanism by which HIV escapes the body’s natural defenses. The study, which examined how the virus evades HIV antibodies in humans, may have important implications for vaccine studies. Details of the study, led by Dr. George Shaw, UAB professor of medicine and Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, are published in the March 20 issue of Nature. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 3/19/2003 1:00:00 PM
  • Study Shows New Workout Technique Burns Fewer Calories Than Traditional Strength Training A new form of strength training in which weights are lifted in a slow, deliberate manner, is less effective for burning calories than traditional resistance training, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Human Studies. The study is featured in the current issue of the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 3/6/2003 3:35:00 PM
  • UAB Study Finds Evidence of Environment's Role in Evolution New findings suggest that extreme environmental stress can produce changes in how the body translates its genetic information into individual character traits. Details of the study by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) were published recently in Nature Genetics. “Findings indicate that environmental stress may play a significant role in evolution,” said Douglas Ruden, Ph.D., associate professor of environmental health sciences in the School of Public Health at UAB. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 2/20/2003 8:45:00 AM
  • UAB Scientists Discover New Piece of HIV Puzzle Scientists at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) have discovered how the building blocks of HIV adjoin to form new virus in host cells. The finding opens the door for new HIV therapies aimed at preventing the virus from developing and reproducing. “Work on a potential new drug design is already under way in the lab,” said Peter Prevelige, Ph.D., professor of microbiology at UAB and lead investigator of the study. Details of the finding are published in the January 24 issue of the Journal of Molecular Biology. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 2/19/2003 11:15:00 AM
  • UAB Study of Facial Fractures Calls for Possible Change in Air Bag Design Air bags are least protective of the very weakest bones of the face and may need to be redesigned to slow down the high-velocity safety devices or re-direct their thrust to more stable parts of the body, say University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) researchers in a study of patterns of facial fractures at UAB Hospital. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 1/21/2003 8:35:00 AM
  • Psoriasis' Constant Itch and Flaking Brings Many to UAB for New Treatment UAB is expanding services for patients who seek relief from the itching, cracking and bleeding skin caused by psoriasis. Long-suffering patients are heralding the drug infliximab (Remicade), given as an infusion in special clinics, as a major advance in treatment, according to Dr. Boni S. Elewski, professor of dermatology at UAB. Elewski participated in clinical testing of infliximab, which was approved by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration last year for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. It also is used to help with inflammatory bowel disorders. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 1/13/2003 11:20:00 AM
  • Obesity Reduces Life Span of Young Adults, According to UAB Study A young white man who is severely overweight may expect to live 13 fewer years than a non-obese young man, according to a recent study published in the January 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. “Considering a 20-year-old white male is expected to live until age 78, 13 fewer years is a 22 percent reduction in his remaining years of life,” said David B. Allison, Ph.D., professor of biostatistics in the School of Public Health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and associate director of UAB’s Clinical Nutrition Research Center. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 1/8/2003 3:00:00 PM
  • JAMA/NHLBI Study Finds Traditional Diuretics Better than Newer Medicines Less costly, traditional diuretics work better than newer medicines to treat high blood pressure and prevent some forms of heart disease, according to results from the largest hypertension clinical trial ever conducted, which will be published in two articles in the December 18 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association. Posted by Andrea Davis-Hill on 12/17/2002 9:30:00 AM
  • UAB Announces Results of First HIV Patient Care Cost AnalysisThe first comprehensive cost analysis of HIV patient care in the era of effective therapy in the United States reveals an average cost difference of more than $20,000 a year to treat patients with advanced-stage disease versus well patients with HIV. Posted by Andrea Davis-Hill on 7/10/2002 8:40:00 AM
  • Dry Snuff's Oral-Cavity Cancer Risk Higher than Moist Snuff, Chewing Tobacco Use of powdered, dry snuff carries a much higher relative risk of oral-cavity cancer than does the use of other smokeless tobacco products — moist snuff and chewing tobacco — according to University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) researchers who compiled results from studies done over the past 16 years. Posted by Andrea Davis-Hill on 6/24/2002 10:45:00 AM
  • UAB Study Marks Significant Advance in Lupus Research A study under way at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is testing the first drug designed to target and deactivate an immune system protein responsible for the overproduction of antibodies in autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Posted by Andrea Davis-Hill on 4/30/2002 2:45:00 PM
  • Eye Study Gives Children with Lazy Eye New Option Eye drops to treat the most common cause of visual impairment in children — amblyopia, or lazy eye — work as well as the standard treatment of patching, according to a study in the March issue of Archives of Ophthalmology. Posted by Andrea Davis-Hill on 3/28/2002 4:00:00 PM
  • UAB Researchers Discover Remains of Earliest Known Life on Earth team of University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) scientists, along with scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), have discovered the organic remains of life that existed on Earth 3.5 billion years ago. Posted by Andrea Davis-Hill on 3/7/2002 8:00:00 AM
  • "Gentle Venting" Makes UAB Nursery Prototype for Preventing Lung Injury In Preemies Study UAB’s gentle ventilator practices for tiny premature babies have helped establish it as one of the top neonatal units in the country, particularly in its low incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Posted by Andrea Davis-Hill on 2/27/2002 4:40:00 PM
  • UAB Creates Tool to Curb Tuberculosis Spread UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) researchers have created a systematic method that health professionals can use to help halt the spread of tuberculosis (TB), according to a paper to be published in the February 27 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Posted by Andrea Davis-Hill on 2/21/2002 11:20:00 AM
  • Low Iron Levels During Pregnancy Can Affect Children's Mental Development Iron deficiency during pregnancy, a common worldwide problem in women of childbearing age, can impede the mental and motor development of children, according to researchers from UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham). Posted by Andrea Davis-Hill on 2/21/2002 8:45:00 AM
  • Study Finds Chronic Sorrow Higher for HIV-Positive Women Than Men HIV-positive women with children are more likely than men to suffer from chronic sorrow related to their illness, fear of death, poverty and social isolation, according to a study published in the January 29th issue of the journal AIDS Patient Care and STD’s. Posted by Andrea Davis-Hill on 1/29/2002 9:30:00 AM
  • Lung Cancer Responsible for "Cancer Epidemic"The “cancer epidemic” of the past 50 years actually consisted of one disease — cancer of the lung due to cigarette smoking, according to two UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) scientists in the January 1 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 12/28/2000 8:20:00 PM
  • STD Rates Still High in Southeast Gonorrhea rates increased between 1997 and 1999, while syphilis rates continued to decline, according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Although syphilis rates in the southeast also have declined in recent years, we still have a disproportionately high rate of syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs),” says Dr. Edward Hook, professor of medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). “We are moving in the right direction, but shouldn’t be misguided by national trends. In the past, declines have been used to justify reducing efforts and funding for STD control, only to result in a resurgence of disease.” Posted by Monica O'Brien on 12/13/2000 12:55:00 PM
  • Gentle Touch Helps Premature Babies Gently touching premature babies for a few minutes a day is safe and has an immediate calming affect, according to a recent study led by Lynda Harrison, Ph.D., professor and associate dean of graduate studies at the School of Nursing at UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham). Details of the study appear in the December issue of Research in Nursing and Health. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 12/12/2000 3:15:00 PM
  • Blacks Receive Fewer Kidney Transplants Black Americans fare better now than they did seven years ago in the way donated kidneys are allocated for transplantation, but the playing field is still uneven, according to researchers at UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham). An article entitled "Renal Transplantation in Black Americans" will appear in the November 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). Posted by Monica O'Brien on 11/22/2000 11:15:00 AM
  • UAB Researchers Find Racial Differences in Heart Clogs Among Stroke Patients Surprise findings by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) indicate that white stroke patients may have a higher incidence of atherosclerotic plaques than black stroke patients. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 11/13/2000 10:00:00 AM
  • Weight Loss, Xenical May Lower Blood Pressure Results from a multicenter clinical trial headed by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) show that weight loss induced by Xenical (orlistat) can significantly reduce elevated blood pressure in overweight people. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 11/13/2000 9:45:00 AM
  • "Cooling" Sick Babies May Prevent Brain Damage Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) are “cooling” sick newborns to see if the treatment may prevent brain damage. “Preliminary data shows that slightly lowering the baby’s temperature for a few days after birth may reduce the risk of brain damage,” says Dr. Waldemar Carlo, professor of pediatrics and director of the division of neonatology at UAB. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 10/10/2000 4:20:00 PM
  • Black Farm Workers Suffer More Injuries Black farm workers are three times more likely to be hurt on the job than white or black farm owners, according to a recent study by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Details of the study will appear in the October 1 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 9/28/2000 10:20:00 AM
  • Fear and the Americans with Disabilities Act A new study in the Fall 2000 issue of Policy Studies Journal says fear may keep many employees with HIV/AIDS from asking for the “reasonable accommodations” they are entitled to receive under the Americans With Disabilities Act to perform their jobs. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 9/15/2000 10:15:00 AM
  • Teaching Hospitals Provide Better Care Teaching hospitals provide better quality of care to elderly heart attack patients than non-teaching hospitals, according to a study by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Details of the study comparing quality of care and mortality of patients in relation to teaching hospital status will be published in this week's issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 9/13/2000 8:55:00 AM
  • Researchers Deliver Genes to Spinal Cord Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) have developed a modified poliovirus, incapable of transmitting the disease, to deliver genes specifically to motor neurons in the spinal cord. “The technology may provide a new approach to treating spinal cord injuries and neurological diseases,” according to lead investigator Casey D. Morrow, Ph.D., professor of microbiology at UAB. Details of the study will be published in the September issue of Nature Biotechnology. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 8/28/2000 1:20:00 PM
  • Chest Pain Not "Golden Rule" of Heart Attacks One-third of more than 400,000 patients diagnosed with heart attacks between June 1994 and March 1998 did not experience chest pain and were twice as likely to die while in the hospital, according to results of a landmark study by researchers at UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham). Results of the study were published in the June 28 issue of the Journal of American Medical Association. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 6/27/2000 3:00:00 PM
  • Cardiologists Bolster Understanding of Heart Attacks UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) cardiologist and director of UAB's Chest Pain Center John Canto, M.D., and colleagues have recently received national attention for their landmark studies characterizing heart attack patients. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 6/22/2000 10:25:00 AM
  • Adolescents Better Equipped to Fight HIV Adolescents with HIV are able to withstand the ravages of the disease on the immune system much better than adults or younger children with the virus, according to a recent study by Dr. Craig Wilson and collaborators. Wilson is an associate professor of pediatrics with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Details of the study were published in the April 2000 issue of the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 6/6/2000 10:00:00 AM
  • Eat More, Weigh Less Lose weight by eating more? It’s not as dense an idea as it sounds. In fact, choosing foods based on energy density is gaining popularity as a way to weigh less. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 5/31/2000 8:30:00 AM
  • Mortality Linked to Hospital Volume Heart attack patients undergoing immediate coronary angioplasty are less likely to die at hospitals that routinely perform more of the procedures, according to lead author John Canto, M.D., a University of Alabama at Birmingham cardiologist and director of UAB's Chest Pain Center. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 5/25/2000 1:30:00 PM
  • Study Links Sleep Disorder and Nighttime Urinating A breakthrough study has found that sleep apnea, a common but serious sleep disorder, is the root cause of nocturia, or getting up frequently during the night to urinate. Implications of the study, conducted by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), are particularly important for older adults who are at greater risk of falling and being hurt if they must get up frequently during the night to urinate. Preliminary findings of the study were published in the December 1999 issue of Ostomy/Wound Management and the 1999 supplement to the journal Sleep. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 4/27/2000 11:50:00 AM
  • Racial Disparities Found in Heart Treatment Blacks are much less likely to receive potential life-saving therapy after the onset of chest pain, according to a study from UAB's (University of Alabama at Birmingham) Center for Outcomes and Effectiveness Research and Education that appears in this week's issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 4/12/2000 5:00:00 PM
  • War with the Sun, Vanity Gives Women an Edge If the battle of the sexes were held under the hot spring and summer sun, women would have the upper hand, according to a skin cancer specialist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Posted by Monica O'Brien on 3/29/2000 11:40:00 AM
  • New Study an Explanation for Heart Pain Women who are hospitalized with chest pain that appears to be related to the heart often are discharged without an explanation for their symptoms. Posted by Monica O'Brien on 3/23/2000 11:05:00 AM
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