A BU School of Medicine researcher has identified a small molecule that selectively kills ALT-positive cancer cells, offering a potential therapeutic approach to deadly forms of human cancer. The discovery targets the ALT pathway, frequently reactivated in aggressive cancers such as osteosarcoma and glioblastoma.
Researchers at Boston Medical Center have been awarded a $1.04 million grant to expand an education-based pilot program improving communication between pediatric physicians and their patients about the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. The intervention has shown significant increases in HPV vaccination rates among pilots.
Researchers developed a simple tool to predict an individual's five-year risk of requiring mechanical ventilation. The scoring system uses factors such as age, gender, diabetes, and hospitalization history to estimate the probability of needing life support.
A new tool has been developed to identify unstable atherosclerotic plaques at greatest risk of rupture, a major contributor to heart attacks and strokes. The tool uses fluorescent probes to detect the severity of plaques and shows high sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing high-risk plaques from stable ones.
A $3.5 million grant will fund a five-year study to evaluate the efficacy of virtual world and classroom groups in teaching diabetes self-management skills to minority women with type 2 diabetes. The study aims to increase physical activity levels and measure technological development milestones.
A study found that women who were told their babies might be large had higher odds of perinatal interventions, despite only a fraction actually having excessive birth weights. The association raises questions about how much information clinicians should communicate to women about fetal size.
Patients with light-chain (AL) amyloidosis treated with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation have the greatest success for long-term survival. Nearly one-third of patients achieved up to 20-year survival after treatment.
Microglia facilitate the spread of tau fibrils between neurons by releasing exosomes, which could lead to a novel therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease. Pharmacologic depletion and inhibition of exosome production suppress tau spread, restoring neural excitation.
A primary care-based program has been shown to lower patients' substance dependence and encourage treatment engagement. The program's success was attributed to medication-assisted treatment, such as buprenorphine, and addressing underlying depression.
Boston Medical Center (BMC) has significantly reduced the average wait time for pediatric patients experiencing severe pain from sickle cell disease from 56 minutes to 23 minutes. The hospital's quality improvement initiative also improved care by reducing the time to administer pain medication and increase patient-controlled analgesics.
A new classification system for gout has been developed to standardize its diagnosis and treatment. The system uses evidence-based criteria and has been validated by comparing it to existing published criteria, outperforming them in performance.
A new study published in Patient Education and Counseling found that patients of minority race/ethnicity groups receive less information from their doctors about treatment rationale and scientific research. The study emphasizes the importance of consistent physician-patient communication to ensure equal care for all patients.
A retrospective case series found specific epidural steroid injections to be effective in treating short-term pain from lumbar spinal stenosis. The study contradicts a previous NEJM study and suggests future trials using interlaminar injection with long-acting steroids.
Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine have discovered a new protein, TMIGD1, that protects kidney epithelial cells from injury. Increasing expression of this protein can reduce cell death and potentially prevent kidney failure. The findings could lead to the development of therapeutic agents that target these cells.
Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine have discovered a genetic mutation in melanoma cancer cells that may predispose humans to developing the disease. The study highlights the importance of protein complex APC/C and its interactions with Cdh1 and PAX3, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for melanoma treatment.
Researchers found that a gene linked to PTSD severity predicts increased symptoms and thinner brain cortex in veterans returning from conflict. The study suggests a possible genetic blood test to identify at-risk individuals.
A Boston Medical Center model integrating nurse care managers into primary care increased physician waivers by 375% and patients' treatment access, particularly among African-American and Hispanic populations. The program has successfully treated over 8,000 Massachusetts patients with opioid dependence.
A Boston University School of Medicine program educates clinicians on safe opioid prescribing, resulting in improved knowledge, attitudes, and clinical practice. The program has empowered clinicians to make informed decisions about opioids for chronic pain sufferers.
Researchers discovered that genetic variations in opioid receptors are associated with more severe neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) in newborn babies. These variations can help identify infants at risk of requiring medication to curb NAS symptoms, enabling tailored treatment plans and improved outcomes.
In response to the growing opioid crisis, pharmacists in Massachusetts and Rhode Island are distributing naloxone rescue kits without a prescription, slowing epidemic rates. This pharmacy-based model is being evaluated at hundreds of pharmacies to determine its impact on overdose death rates.
A review of research on sleep in PTSD and TBI found that sleep-focused interventions can improve treatment outcomes in veterans. Sleep difficulty is a primary symptom of both conditions and can persist after resolution of symptoms.
Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine find no evidence of association between Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and cancer incidence. The large population sample analyzed various cancer diagnoses among people with PTSD compared to the general population, showing no strong associations even among select groups.
A study led by Boston University School of Medicine researchers found that educating medical residents about transgender identity improved their knowledge and willingness to assist with hormonal therapy. The intervention increased residents' willingness to provide care for transgender patients from 5% to 76% for female-to-male patients...
A study by researchers at Boston University School of Medicine found that former NFL players who started playing tackle football before age 12 had a higher risk of altered brain development compared to those who started later. The study used advanced imaging techniques to examine brain structure in these players.
A $1.3 million grant from AHRQ supports a demonstration project to track and analyze data on pharmacies' naloxone rescue kit distribution to develop best practices for a national program. The study aims to increase naloxone distribution in Massachusetts and Rhode Island to combat opioid addiction and overdose.
Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine have identified a new molecule named IL13RA2 as a potential marker for metastatic basal-like breast cancer (BLBC). The discovery suggests that targeting this molecule could slow tumor growth and spread, offering a glimmer of hope for patients with this aggressive form of breast cancer.
A recent study by Boston University School of Medicine researchers found that liver activation is essential for maintaining adequate immune responses in the lungs against bacterial pneumonia. The study used a model system to demonstrate how a lack of liver response increases susceptibility to pneumonia.
Researchers found that high blood pressure at a younger age can affect cognitive performance many years later. Participants with high blood pressure scored more poorly on tests of attention and executive function, highlighting the importance of managing factors that impact brain aging.
Researchers Neil Ganem and Anurag Singh at Boston University School of Medicine are developing new strategies to inhibit the growth of chromosomally unstable cancer cells expressing oncogenic BRAF. They have identified two major types of NRAS networks in melanoma, which may be targeted with selective anti-cancer agents.
A new study by Boston University researchers found that states with more restrictive alcohol policies and regulations have lower rates of self-reported drunk driving. The study also suggests that laws targeting binge drinking are equally effective in preventing drunk driving as those specifically targeting impaired driving.
The Vietnam Ministry of Health recognized Boston University School of Medicine for advancing hospital nutrition in Vietnam through education, clinical service, and research. A three-prong approach led by Carine Lenders and Elizabeth Henry improved outcomes and educated medical professionals about the importance of nutrition.
Researchers found significant decreases in skin scarring and expression of molecular markers after treating SSc patients with fresolimumab. The study suggests that targeting TGF-beta may provide a major treatment advance for scarring-mediated organ dysfunction.
A Boston University School of Medicine researcher has been awarded a four-year, $1.6 million NIH grant to investigate how immunity to pneumonia develops and protects certain individuals. The study aims to understand the role of resident memory T cells in preventing pneumonia and identify who is most likely to get the disease.
Researchers found that finasteride treatment led to a marked decline in erectile function and testosterone levels, while tamsulosin therapy showed no adverse effects. The study highlights the need for careful consideration of sexual side effects when treating benign prostate enlargement with 5α reductase inhibitors.
A new study found that US states with stronger alcohol policies have lower rates of youth overall drinking and binge drinking. The study suggests that these policies are effective in reducing adult binge drinking, which has a significant impact on youth drinking rates.
The report, authored by David Rosenbloom, recommends using mobile technology, such as geotargeting, to address heavy drinking on campuses. It also suggests developing credible messaging to discourage excessive drinking through web/mobile design and programming.
A new genomic test has been validated for detecting lung cancer with high sensitivity, allowing physicians to identify patients at low probability of having the disease. This test can spare patients from costly and risky procedures, improving diagnosis and patient anxiety.
Two Boston University medical students, Joseph Park and Jacqueline Estevez, have been selected to conduct full-time biomedical research in the Medical Research Fellows Program. They will receive mentored research training from top biomedical scientists, focusing on Vibrio parahaemolyticus and cytokine profiles for liver cancer treatment.
A new study published in Annals of Family Medicine found that more than half of patients who report 'weekend-only' drug use expand their use to weekdays. Primary care clinicians should monitor these patients, as weekend-only users are less likely to increase frequency and severity of use compared to those with non-weekend-only use.
A large study by Boston University School of Medicine researchers found no evidence of an association between Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and cancer incidence. This contradicts plausible theories suggesting a link between stress and cancer, but is consistent with previous population-based studies.
A study found that repetitive head injuries can lead to the build-up of beta-amyloid in the brain, increasing the risk of dementia. Boxers were most affected, with four times more likelihood of developing beta-amyloid deposits and worse disease outcomes.
Researchers found a positive association between cardiorespiratory fitness and white matter structural integrity in the brains of older adults. Exercise, particularly walking, was identified as a potentially effective strategy for delaying cognitive decline and improving quality of life.
Researchers discovered structural brain abnormalities in white matter among those experiencing loss of consciousness due to mTBI, linked to decreased verbal memory performance. The study highlights the importance of diffusion tensor imaging in detecting subtle white matter changes associated with mild TBI.
The BMC protocol provides a set of predetermined guidelines for processing and preserving forensic evidence in surgical specimens after a terrorist attack. Key findings include the importance of identifying a team to handle all surgical specimens, obtaining labeled photographs and x-rays, and storing forensic evidence securely.
A new study found a 19% drop in prescription opioid supply and a 20% decrease in overdose rates following the introduction of abuse-deterrent OxyContin and propoxyphene's removal from the market. The drop was partially offset by an increase in heroin overdose deaths.
Local physician Jeffrey H. Samet recommends retiring the term opioid substitution therapy due to its unintended adverse consequences, suggesting the use of opioid agonist treatment instead. This change in terminology could have broad and substantial impact on patient care for opioid use disorders.
A study published in Western Journal of Emergency Medicine found that emergency departments can provide a promising venue for addressing opioid deaths through education on overdose prevention and naloxone rescue kit distribution. The program reached a high-risk population, equipped them with kits, and encouraged witness intervention.
Researchers have created a disease signature for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which may lead to new treatments. The study found that liver cells derived from AAT deficient iPSCs are more sensitive to drugs that cause liver toxicity than normal cells.
A new study found that Massachusetts health reform did not decrease preventable hospitalizations or close the racial gap in such rates, contrary to expectations. Access to outpatient care remained limited due to high copays and financial barriers.
A study by Boston Medical Center researchers finds that new Hepatitis C treatments are highly effective but only cost-effective for patients with advanced liver disease or those who have previously failed treatment. The therapy's wholesale cost of $85,000 per course is prohibitively expensive for healthier patients.