Author Archives: Rocio Gallegos, MD

Breakthroughs in the Treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Researchers have developed a light-activatable prodrug nanomedicine for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) therapy. Through the intravenous injection of the nanomedicine and application of light irradiation to diseased eyes, anti-angiogenic and photodynamic combination therapy can be activated, offering a minimally invasive alternative for the treatment of AMD and other ocular disorders characterized by abnormal blood vessel […]

New Findings Reveal Important Insights into Age-Related Nonresolving Inflammation

Aging is associated with chronic, nonresolving inflammation, or “inflammaging,” that can lead to tissue dysfunction. The resolution of inflammation is an active process that is governed by numerous factors, such as specialized proresolving lipid mediators (SPMs). Recent studies suggest that inflammaging may persist due to an impairment in inflammation-resolution programs and that treatment with SPMs, […]

Scientists Work to Bring Tissue Regeneration to Replace Root Canal Treatment

Want to avoid a root canal? In the future, you might be able to opt for tissue regeneration instead. ADA Forsyth scientists are testing a novel technology to treat endodontic diseases (diseases of the soft tissue or pulp in your teeth) more effectively. The study, “RvE1 Promotes Axin2+Cell Regeneration and Reduces Bacterial Invasion,” which appeared […]

Paving the Way to More Effective and Safe Treatment for Acute Pulmonary Embolism

The BASHIRâ„¢ Endovascular Catheter (THROMBOLEX, Inc.), recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is paving the way to more effective and safe treatment for acute pulmonary embolism.  The new study further showed a correlation between decreased numbers of blockages in the small lung arteries and functional recovery of the right ventricle of […]

Loss of Auditory Nerve Fibers Uncovered in Individuals with Tinnitus

A new study from Mass Eye and Ear investigators shows that individuals who report tinnitus, which present as a ringing in the ears in more than one out of ten adults worldwide, are experiencing auditory nerve loss that is not picked up by conventional hearing tests.  “Beyond the nuisance of having persistent ringing or other […]

New Insights into Treatments for Kidney Stone Prevention

Kidney stones affect nearly 10% of the global population. For more than three decades, thiazide diuretics, a common medication used for high blood pressure, have been the standard of care for kidney stone prevention because they reduce the excretion of urinary calcium. However, recent clinical trials have raised doubts about their efficacy in preventing kidney […]

Evaluating Immunotherapy for Toddlers Allergic to Peanuts

A three-year clinical trial funded by the National Institutes of Health and Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) has shown that the sublingual immunotherapy, or SLIT, is safe in peanut-allergic children ages 1 to 4, with a greater likelihood of desensitization and remission the earlier the treatment began. The study included peanut-allergic 1 to 4 […]

Understanding the Associations Between Nutrient Intake and Healthy Aging in Humans

The answer to a relatively concise question — how does what we eat affect how we age — is unavoidably complex, according to a new study. While most analyses had been concerned with the effects of a single nutrient on a single outcome, a conventional, unidimensional approach to understanding the effects of diet on health […]

Stem Cells Can Repair Parkinson’s-Damaged Circuits in Mouse Brains

In a new study University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers demonstrated a proof-of-concept stem cell treatment in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease. They found that neurons derived from stem cells can integrate well into the correct regions of the brain, connect with native neurons and restore motor functions. The key is identity. By carefully tracking the […]

Nanoparticles for Optimized Cancer Therapy

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest types of cancers in humans. It is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the western world. The early stages of the disease often progress without symptoms, so diagnosis is usually very late. Another problem: Advanced tumors — and their metastases — cannot be completely removed. Innovative […]