Discoveries & Impact

Approximately 90,000 people receive hematopoietic stem cell transplants worldwide annually. These patients are immunocompromised and highly vulnerable to infections, including with multidrug-resistant organisms. Because penicillin and related beta-lactam antibiotics are used as the preferred therapy for many infections, patients who are labeled as having a penicillin allergy are at risk for inferior treatment and related clinical consequences.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is the narrowing of blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart to the arms, hands, legs, and feet. Often associated with poor outcomes such as amputation, cardiac arrest, and mortality, PAD remains a significant disorder globally with limited understanding of risk factors for its development and severity. Recent studies have identified microvasculature health as important to the pathogenesis and outcomes of PAD.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common form of liver cancer in adults. Hepatitis C infection is a known cause of hepatocellular carcinoma because the virus causes chronic inflammation and scarring of the liver, known as cirrhosis. Newer anti-viral drugs offer highly effective cures for hepatitis C, leading to stabilization of hepatitis C-related liver disease and decreased rates of hepatocellular carcinoma. Although new infections can occur at any age, the “baby boomer” generation born between 1945-1965 represents the largest population affected by hepatitis C in the United States. Yale's new research looked at whether ongoing liver cancer screening for individuals who achieved hepatitis C cure improves their overall survival rates.

A new case report written by Yale physicians describes a patient who presented to the hospital with a rare condition known as warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia (wAIHA). This condition arises when the body creates antibodies that target and ultimately destroy its own red blood cells.

About 30% of patients with cystic fibrosis report liver abnormalities and 10% of these patients go on to experience severe liver disease. Traditionally, cystic fibrosis-related liver disease was thought to be caused primarily by defective bile secretion due to the dysfunctional CFTR protein, which limited treatment options. Yale’s recent study led by Romina Fiorotto, PhD, and Mario Strazzabosco, MD, PhD, has identified a connection between the gut microbiome and the development of liver disease in cystic fibrosis patients.

The immune system is known for its role in defending the body from potential pathogens; however, recent research at Yale reveals it may also play a significant part in managing our metabolism. A team of Yale researchers, led by Li Wen, MD, PhD, professor of medicine (endocrinology), investigated how immune system dysfunction may impact the development of obesity.

The American Heart Association (AHA) recently published a scientific statement reviewing the current clinical data surrounding renal denervation as a therapeutic option for hypertension. The statement, co-authored by Carlos Mena-Hurtado, MD, associate professor of medicine (cardiovascular medicine), concludes that renal denervation is an effective treatment for many patients with a favorable immediate safety profile.

A new study led by Yale researchers uncovers a new cellular process that links the metabolism of vitamin B5 to the ability of fungi to detoxify drugs. These findings represent a significant leap in our understanding of fungal resistance mechanisms and herald new treatment possibilities for combating resilient fungal strains, with far-reaching implications for patients worldwide.

Patients with respiratory failure who require invasive mechanical ventilation for extended periods of time may require a tracheostomy, a ventilatory mechanism through the trachea. Acute myocardial infarction patients require an antiplatelet regimen to thin the blood and prohibit clumping in the arteries. This antiplatelet regimen often cannot be stopped and may increase the risk of bleeding from tracheostomy.