What causes poor outcomes in patients with advanced peripheral artery disease who develop a complication called chronic limb threatening ischemia (CLTI), which has a high risk of limb amputation due to the restriction of blood flow to the extremities? Researchers screened for factors in skeletal muscle samples from patients with CLTI to identify those that were different compared to controls. Surprisingly, it wasn't growth factors that emerged as different, but a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) called CARMN – and it wasn't expressed in endothelial cells, only in vascular smooth muscle cells.

In 2018 the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) awarded a five-year, $2.9 million R01 grant to a TTUHSC research team in Amarillo to help uncover and develop much needed therapies for the treatment of ischemic stroke. Due to their high level of productivity and potential to create new medications for stroke injury, NINDS recently awarded a new $3 million competitive renewal that extends the grant for an additional five years to 2030.

A new study from MUSC Hollings Cancer Center reveals that women who have survived cervical cancer face a significantly higher long-term risk of developing anal cancer. Using data from more than 85,000 cervical cancer patients tracked over two decades, researchers found that survivors had nearly twice the risk of anal cancer compared to the general population. The risk was especially high among women ages 65 to 74 who were more than 15 years past their cervical cancer diagnosis, surpassing the threshold for recommending routine screening. 

Currently, anal cancer screening is only recommended for certain high-risk groups, and women with a history of cervical cancer are not included. This study highlights the need to update screening guidelines and expand access to specialized screening tools. The researchers hope the findings raise awareness among patients and providers, ensuring that women who have already faced one cancer are better protected from developing another.