SAN DIEGO -- Women who have a particular gene sequence are at a higher risk of developing cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease, according to a study from researchers at UCSF and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (SFVAMC).

At a time when harmful drug reactions are thought to rank just after strokes as a leading cause of death in the U.S., the potential benefits of tailoring drugs to a patient's genetic makeup have been confirmed in a systematic study led by University of California, San Francisco scientists.

Tiny parasitic worms that infect 250 million people worldwide and cause the debilitating disease schistosomiasis can thrive undetected in the blood for years. New research shows that the worms not only evade immune defenses but actively use molecules of the immune system to grow and reproduce.

A UCSF study of the migration patterns of underrepresented minority Californians in medicine found that those who attend medical schools in the state are more likely to enter residency programs in California and remain in the state to practice.

Some animal studies have shown that aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have an anti-tumor effect in the colon. Also, some studies in people suggest that these drugs may decrease the risk of colorectal cancer.

Researchers at the Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology have found that an HIV gene called Vpr causes the membrane surrounding the nucleus-the nuclear envelope-to form herniations that project and retract much like solar flares radiating from the surface of the sun.

For doctors in developing countries of Africa and Asia, finding the latest information on HIV/AIDS is nearly impossible because of sluggish and unreliable Internet connections. A new CD-ROM produced by UCSF's HIV InSite may help to bridge the information gap.

Drug users who inject heroin after completing 21-day methadone programs or after release from jail or prison may have a high risk of overdose, according to UCSF researchers.

The statewide California Poison Control System (CPCS) urges parents to follow these Halloween safety precautions to assure that kids enjoy the fun of trick-or-treating without running into holiday hazards...

Researchers at the Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology and co-authors have found that naive T cells, are susceptible to the bullets of HIV infection even before they step onto the battlefield.