Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered increased immune cell activity in Merkel cell carcinoma tumors, which could help predict treatment response in patients and inform the development of new targeted therapies, according to findings published in the journal Cancer Discovery.
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More NewsNorthwestern Medicine scientists have developed a new, more precise method to target proteins implicated in certain types of cancer, according to a study published in Nature Chemical Biology.
Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered that mitochondria are not necessary for the proliferation of immune cells called microglia, but do help them respond to demyelinating injury, according to a study published in Nature Metabolism.
Three Feinberg medical students have been named 2024-2025 Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellows, a program to support fellows’ design and implementation of innovative projects to address the health needs of underserved Chicago communities.
Feinberg has again been recognized among the best medical schools in the nation, ranking in tier one of research-oriented institutions, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings.
Proteomic analysis of blood samples from pregnant individuals did not improve risk prediction of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy compared to current methods, underscoring the demand for more accurate prediction tools, according to findings published in JAMA Cardiology.
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More Media CoverageSudden death from epilepsy can occur when having an intense seizure. A seizure can be so strong that you don’t wake up afterwards. Fortunately, that is extremely rare and happens infrequently. “To keep it in perspective– most patients with epilepsy are otherwise healthy. You know, it affects you in your best years of life often,” said Stephen Schuele, MD, MPH, chief of epilepsy and clinical neurophysiology in the department of neurology and professor of neurology and physical medicine and rehabilitation at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. According to Schuele, it’s important to look at the course of seizures in a broad context. “I look at it in the broad context of education. You know, when you have your patient coming with the first seizure, they have– many of them have questions which fill a full hour. And I think that that is correct, you know? If I would have my first seizure, I would have an hour of questions for you. So I think if you create a culture of education and being open for questions of your patients, I think that’s probably the most important aspect to actually lead into discussing SUDEP as well.”
For the more than 310,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer every year, no matter how well the treatment goes, there is always a lingering fear. Could the disease come back, even years later? And what if it comes back in the other breast? Could they protect themselves today by having a double mastectomy? A study has concluded that there is no survival advantage to having the other breast removed. The finding that a double mastectomy is not protective against death for many breast cancers seems counterintuitive, Dr. Narod admitted. An accompanying editorial, by Seema Ahsan Khan, MD, a breast cancer surgeon at Northwestern University, and Masha Kocherginsky, PhD, a biostatistician also at Northwestern, called it a conundrum. Dr. Khan says she too counsels women that a double mastectomy is not a cure-all. But, she said, there are reasons some women choose to have one anyway. Other women who are having one breast removed and reconstructed choose the same for the second breast for cosmetic reasons. “The decisions are complex,” she said. “I have always advised women that a second cancer may occur in the future,” she said. “But if it occurs there is still a good chance of survival.”
The use of GLP-1 medications like semaglutide for weight loss has increased twofold over the past decade, but declined in use among type 2 diabetics, according to a new study, and the researchers warn the resulting and ongoing drug shortage may limit diabetics’ access to the drugs. Adverse side effects may also be causing a decline in GLP-1 use among type 2 diabetics. Metformin is considered the go-to drug for glucose management in type 2 diabetics, but many patients take second-line drugs—type 2 diabetes drugs that aren’t insulin—like GLP-1s to assist with treatment, according to a study by Northwestern Medicine. Almost 40% of patients taking second-line diabetes drugs stop treatment, but this number is even higher (50%) among those taking GLP-1s. The researchers believe this may be due to gastrointestinal side effects—like vomiting, nausea and diarrhea—associated with GLP-1s. Other than side effects, the high cost of the drugs is also a leading cause of discontinuation, according to a separate study by the American Diabetes Association.
A siesta is a short nap in the early afternoon, typically after lunch. While those of us programmed to overschedule our lives may see daytime napping as lazy, it’s actually an effective tool in maintaining longer and more productive days. It’s been a traditional practice in many cultures for centuries, especially in Spain and Latin America, where people take a break during the hottest part of the day to rest and recharge. An afternoon nap has many health benefits. These can include “improvements in energy, alertness, productivity and cognitive function, as well as reductions in fatigue, errors and risk for accidents,” says Keith C. Summa, MD, PhD, a sleep researcher and assistant professor at Northwestern Medicine Feinberg School of Medicine. Part of the basis for siestas and afternoon naps goes back to our body’s natural 24-hour, or circadian, rhythm in body temperature. “Body temperature is at its lowest in the middle of the night during sleep and then begins to rise in anticipation of waking up as well as throughout the morning. In the midafternoon, there is a dip when the body temperature decreases for a short period of time before rising again until peaking in the evening. It then begins to fall in the early night,” says Summa. Decreasing body temperature helps us fall asleep. So, siestas and afternoon naps take advantage of this normal rhythm by allowing a person to take a daytime rest when the body is most receptive to its benefits.