The Science & Technology desk gathers a weekly digest with impactful and interesting research publications and developments at Stanford. Read the latest in this week’s Research Roundup.

Implicating cells in psychiatric disorders

The typical periodic table of elements focuses on two main metrics: the number of protons an element has and its chemical properties.

In a Stanford-led study published in Nature on Jan. 20, researchers used a “periodic table” of cell types to detect cells implicated in psychiatric disorders. A novel method of detection, this new “periodic table” relied on two metrics of organization: imaging analysis and new cell types. 

The study focused on schizophrenia, a psychiatric disorder that affects less than 0.5% of the global population. Laramie E. Duncan, a senior author of the study and assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, told Stanford Medicine that identifying psychiatric disorders stems from understanding the fundamental causes at the cellular level.

“A key step forward in understanding why people develop these disorders is to identify some of the precise cell types in the brain that contribute to them,” Duncan said to Stanford Medicine.

For the first database of genes, the researchers utilized a large genome-wide association study (GWAS), which identified hundreds of genes potentially associated with schizophrenia. 

The second database provided information on cell gene activity. While all cells have the same genome (set of genes), differentiated cells — specialized cells like nerve cells (neurons) — express certain genes more than others. The researchers hoped to see if certain gene activity would be comparable to the “schizophrenia-associated genes” identified previously. 

In the study, the researchers found that exactly 109 different cell types matched in relation to schizophrenia. Two important cell types of schizophrenia, for example, had similar functions in inhibiting activity in the cerebral cortex. 

Now, the researchers are closer to establishing a more personalized approach to helping individuals with psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia.

“We know exactly which cell types to study further in the lab, we have new targets for drugs and we are using genetic information from individual patients to predict what medicine a person should take,” Duncan said.

AI tools for understanding lab tests

Physicians typically order lab tests for patients to identify vital health information and inform potential diagnoses. However, this numerical data can often be difficult for non-medical professionals to understand. Stanford Medicine physicians have now developed an AI tool that interprets lab tests for patients.

The technology not only helps patients better understand their health, it also reduces the administrative workload of physicians, providing more time for patient interaction. 

The AI tool utilizes a large language model (LLM) through Anthropic’s Claude 3.5 Sonnet model. 

Aditya Bhasin, the vice president of software design and development at Stanford Healthcare, stressed that the AI will still be under review from physicians to ensure its interpretation accuracy.

“By generating draft responses for our physicians, we not only assist them with that workload, but also provide timely, comprehensive comments to help patients understand their specific results,” Bhasin told Stanford Medicine. 

Several models were evaluated under the fair, useful and reliable models (FURM) assessment that Stanford Medicine employs to ensure that the least number of potential biases or issues. 

Microbial communities affected by rising sea levels

Microbes are key to preserving ocean health. Through numerous chemical processes, they break down excess substances, from excess nitrogen to wastewater. However, in a Stanford-led study published on Dec. 22, researchers found that microbes struggle to maintain these vital processes when confronted with higher sea levels. 

Over a two-week period at Stinson Beach, researchers collected samples and analyzed microbial DNA. The results indicated that although the microbes were relatively unaffected by changes in the tide, experiencing overwhelming quantities of water dampened their ability to break down excess substances. 

Study author and former Stanford civil and environmental engineering postdoc Katie Langenfield emphasized that frequent damage to the microbial community can have long-lasting consequences. 

“The microbial community’s resilience under typical conditions is encouraging, but disturbances like wave overtopping highlight their vulnerability to climate change,” Langenfield told the Stanford Report.

This study has wide implications for ocean health and marine life. A rise in sea level induces a change in the chemistry and microbial composition of groundwater, interfering with purification. The researchers suggest that these underlying systems should be taken into account in the development of scientific and policy recommendations to mitigate rises in sea level.