Lab notes
Check out recent research developments at UF Health
Check out recent research developments at UF Health
Treating heart failure with stem cells
For the first time, UF Health cardiologists have implanted stem cells into the heart of a breast cancer survivor with heart failure in a Phase 1 clinical trial that will examine the treatment’s feasibility and safety. The researchers will study whether stem cells from healthy subjects can improve heart function in patients who have been treated with a group of chemotherapy drugs called anthracyclines. In about 3 to 5 percent of patients, the drugs cause a form of heart failure called anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy.
Exome sequencing limits
A UF researcher has found that one type of genetic test may not be able to identify a particular type of muscular dystrophy, leaving patients with this disease at risk of going undiagnosed if they receive only this assessment. While examining the efficacy of exome sequencing in identifying pathogenic mutations for limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, researchers identified mutations in multiple genes associated with muscle disease. Less than half were diagnosed using exome sequencing.
Deadly ancient strain?
A nonvirulent strain of cholera that has likely been present in Haitian aquatic environments for hundreds of years could become virulent through gene transfer with the toxigenic strain introduced by U.N. peacekeepers after the 2010 earthquake, according to scientists at UF’s Emerging Pathogens Institute. These ancient strains cannot cause cholera, but they could become virulent due to this interaction.