Posts by: Marisa Wexler, MS

Marisa Wexler, MS

Marisa holds an MS in Cellular and Molecular Pathology from the University of Pittsburgh, where she studied novel genetic drivers of ovarian cancer. She specializes in cancer biology, immunology, and genetics. Marisa began working with BioNews in 2018, and has written about science and health for SelfHacked and the Genetics Society of America. She also writes/composes musicals and coaches the University of Pittsburgh fencing club.

November 2, 2020November 2, 2020

NORD Hosting ‘RareLaunch’ Workshops to Help Start Rare Disease Non-profits

News, syndicated

The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)’s RareLaunch training program will host two days of free virtual workshops in December, with the aim of empowering leaders to start non-profit ... Read more

October 19, 2020October 19, 2020

Telehealth ‘Helpful’ Alternative to In-person Care, Rare Disease Patients Say

News, syndicated

A majority of rare disease patients using telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic thought the experience positive, and many would like the option of continuing its use in future appointments, a ... Read more

October 14, 2020October 14, 2020

ANCA Patients With Kidney Inflammation at High Risk for VTE Blood Clots

News

People with kidney inflammation due to ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) have a high incidence of venous thromboembolism or VTE, a potentially dangerous type of blood clot, a new study shows. ... Read more

September 30, 2020September 30, 2020

Plasma Exchange Shows Little Benefit in AAV Treatment, Meta-analysis Finds

News

Adding plasma exchange to immune-suppressing treatment does not significantly improve clinical outcomes in people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), a new meta-analysis indicates. The analysis, “The role of plasma exchange ... Read more

September 10, 2020September 10, 2020

AAV Carries High Healthcare Costs, Italian Study Finds

News

ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) carries high healthcare costs for therapies and hospitalizations to treat the disease itself and related infections, a study in Italy has found. The study, “Healthcare and ... Read more

September 3, 2020September 3, 2020

Muscle Biopsies Could Be Useful in AAV Diagnosis, Study Asserts

News

Muscle biopsies could be used to diagnose ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), a new study indicates. The finding suggests that such biopsies are most informative in females or in people with ... Read more

August 17, 2020August 17, 2020

Extracellular Vesicles of Neutrophils May Be Blood Biomarkers for AAV

News

Extracellular vesicles, or the tiny membrane-bound particles that are released from cells, could be used as a blood biomarker of disease activity in people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), a new ... Read more

August 13, 2020August 13, 2020

Complement System Overactive in AAV Patients With Active Disease, Study Finds

News

The complement system, a part of the immune system, is overactive in people with active ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), but achieving remission appears to lower most of its components to ... Read more

July 30, 2020July 30, 2020

ANCA Status, B-cell Levels After Rituximab Treatment Predict Relapses, Study Finds

News

The presence of detectable ANCA antibodies and B-cells after initial treatment with rituximab — used to induce remission in people with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) — predicts a greater risk ... Read more

July 27, 2020July 27, 2020

Complement System Activation May Be Linked to Kidney Disease in AAV Patients

News

The complement system, a component of the immune system, is overactive in people with necrotizing glomerulonephritis, or inflammation in the tiny blood vessels of the kidneys, caused by ANCA-associated ... Read more