An international study conducted by the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology and the Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cooperative Group reveals that age-based classifications in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) may be outdated and overly simplistic.

Vitamin B6, which is absorbed from a broad range of foods, helps bolster immune system function and neurotransmitters in the brain. But some patients with chronic conditions like diabetes might experience low concentrations of vitamin B6, leading to reduced mental and physical health function, with possible symptoms including irritability, depression, anemia, numbness or muscle twitching. Expensive blood draws are currently the only way to monitor B6 levels, but a team led by Huanyu “Larry” Cheng, the James L. Henderson, Jr. Memorial Associate Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics at Penn State, has developed a new, non-invasive approach that could allow for continuous monitoring, even at home.  

An interdisciplinary team of University of Central Florida (UCF) researchers is creating a single low-cost test to detect HIV and Hepatitis B and C simultaneously, that may be used in resource-limited settings. The university recently was awarded a $537,619 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). With quicker and more accessible results, the test has potential to save lives.