Terence M. Keane, a renowned expert on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), has received the Distinguished Scientific Contributions to Clinical Psychology Award from the American Psychological Association. His work focuses on developing new therapies and treatments for PTSD, which affects approximately 7.7 million adults in the US.
Researchers will study tuberculosis in India, examining co-morbidities such as smoking and malnutrition that increase risk of developing the disease. The joint program aims to identify new diagnostic biomarkers for early detection and targeted interventions.
A study highlights the importance of physicians recognizing mothers' use of herbal supplements while breastfeeding. Research suggests that there is a lack of scientific evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of herbal supplements during lactation.
Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) has failed to show significant improvements in short-term morbidity and mortality compared to traditional on-pump CABG surgery, according to a recent study published in Circulation. The technique may be abandoned unless surgeons can demonstrate comparable outcomes.
A new statistical framework called Pathoscope can accurately discriminate between closely related strains of the same species with little coverage of the pathogenic genome. The method also determines the complete composition of known pathogenic and benign organisms in a biological sample.
Researchers at Boston University's National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories have generated a map of the cellular circuitry of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, shedding light on its ability to survive inactive in the human body for decades and resist treatment. The study provides new insight into the bacterium's survival mechanisms...
Researcher Thomas Perls warns of Gerovital H3's resurgence in the US due to unregulated internet marketing. Despite FDA ban in 1982, some clinics are now advertising the drug for anti-aging benefits.
A weekly yoga class provided similar lower back pain relief as twice weekly classes in a study of predominantly low-income adults. The results suggest that attending a medically appropriate weekly yoga class could benefit patients interested in trying yoga for lower back pain.
Anurag Singh, PhD, has received a $100,000 ALA Lung Cancer Discovery Grant to study targeted therapies for drug-resistant lung cancers. He aims to develop strategies to block KRAS protein function and improve treatment outcomes.
The First-HD study examines the efficacy and safety of SD-809, a novel drug for treating chorea associated with Huntington Disease. The trial aims to test the tolerability of the drug in patients who have not previously taken tetrabenazine.
Researchers discovered a novel pathway to enhance NMDA receptor function using pregnenolone sulfate, increasing functional receptors on cell surface within minutes. This finding suggests potential treatments not only for schizophrenia but also age-related memory and learning issues.
A novel approach to create human red blood cells and platelets in vitro has been identified by researchers at Boston University School of Medicine. This finding could potentially reduce the need for blood donations, speed up research on therapies to treat diseases such as sickle cell disease.
A BUSM study found that low-income and minority parents are more receptive to HPV vaccination, while white, middle-class parents defer vaccination. Vaccination can reduce health disparities in cervical cancer rates if girls are vaccinated before sexual experimentation.
A Boston University School of Medicine study found that a mind-body class elective increased self-regulation and self-compassion among medical students, while decreasing perceived stress. The course, which combined mindfulness meditation and yoga, helped students better manage stress and feel more empowered to connect with patients.
A virtual patient advocate named Gabby delivers preconception care to African-American women through interactive conversations online. The pilot study found that 83% of identified risks were addressed or resolved by the users, resulting in improved pregnancy outcomes.
Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine found that UVA induces progerin protein, accelerating skin aging, linked to genetic and environmental factors. Long-term exposure to UVA rays, particularly from tanning beds, accelerates photoaging by causing alternative splicing of the LaminA gene pre-mRNA.
A Patient Centered Medical Home model is proposed to assess and promote health by incorporating social determinants of health into clinical guidelines. The model aims to reduce socioeconomic disparities in healthcare for all patients.
Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine discovered that eating mushrooms containing Vitamin D2 can increase and maintain vitamin D levels comparable to taking supplements. The study found that ingesting mushroom powder containing Vitamin D2 was as effective in raising and maintaining healthy adults' vitamin D status.
Researchers from BUSM have developed a genetic signature for COPD from airway cells, providing a new way to study the disease and monitor patient response to treatments. This approach has shown consistent gene-expression changes in both airway and lung tissue cells in individuals with COPD.
Researchers used MRI to measure endothelial sheer stress (ESS) in atherosclerotic plaques, identifying high-risk plaques prone to disruption. The study found that low ESS was associated with unstable plaques, highlighting the importance of hemodynamics in atherosclerosis progression.
Elizabeth Shenk, a BU Biomedical Engineering and Pharmacology Training Program student, received the Research Scholar Award from the Joanna M. Nicolay Melanoma Foundation. The $10,000 grant supports her research on determining which melanomas are likely to metastasize using a three-dimensional engineered platform.
A new study led by Boston University School of Public Health researchers found that the chemical TDCPP was present in 99% of dust samples from participants' homes, vehicles and offices. The office environment was the strongest predictor of metabolized TDCPP in urine, with lower concentrations in newer buildings.
Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine have identified a new chemical class of compounds that can block genetically diverse viruses from replicating. These indoline alkaloid-type compounds effectively inhibited a number of viruses, including Ebola, by limiting RNA production in cell culture.
A new study from Boston University School of Medicine identified significant problems with laboratory test naming conventions, leading to increased medical costs and delayed diagnosis. Researchers propose using search engine-like technologies to guide clinicians towards the most appropriate tests, improving patient safety and outcomes.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that vitamin D supplements improved gene expression related to cancer, autoimmune diseases, and cardiovascular disease. The researchers observed significant alterations in the activity of 291 genes, with biologic functions associated with 160 biologic pathways linked to these diseases.
Physician experts suggest adopting a 'user-led' innovation strategy, which prioritizes clinician and patient input, to rapidly address healthcare issues. This approach involves clinicians identifying problems, developing solutions, and testing them on a small scale before scaling up with feedback from patients.
A study conducted at Boston Medical Center found that IVC filters are often left in place indefinitely due to low retrieval rates and inconsistent anticoagulant use. A new multi-disciplinary team approach has been implemented to track and retrieve filters, resulting in successful removals of 10 out of 36 eligible filters.
The article highlights how cultural norms influence parenting behaviors, with Western cultures emphasizing autonomy and many Asian, African, and Latino cultures valuing interdependence. Pediatricians can benefit from understanding these differences to provide culturally sensitive guidance and support.
The Boston University School of Medicine has launched a safe opioid prescribing education program, funded by the first of its kind $1.8 million grant from manufacturers of extended release/long-acting opioid analgesics. The program is designed to train healthcare providers on how to safely manage patients with chronic pain using opioids.
A study from Boston University School of Medicine reveals that B cells secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines promoting insulin resistance and directly regulating inflammatory T cells. This discovery supports the exploration of FDA-approved B cell depletion drugs as novel agents to prevent obesity-associated inflammation and type 2 diabetes.
Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine have identified a specific group of cells in the brainstem critical for emotional memory processing during REM sleep. The activation of phasic pontine waves is linked to the development of long-term retention of fear extinction memory, making it a potential target for new treatments.
Clinical guidelines suggest monitoring patients closely for harm using urine drug testing, pill counts, and prescription data. Careful management balances pain relief with the risk of addiction and overdose.
Researchers at BUSM found that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can relieve pain for people with painful diabetic neuropathies. CBT, a psychological treatment approach, was compared to treatment as usual in a study of veterans with type II diabetes.
The study identified seven new loci near genes that are associated with increased risk of age-related macular degeneration. The analysis included data from over 17,000 people with advanced AMD and 60,000 without, revealing a variety of biological functions implicated in the disease.
A study published in The Journal of Immunology found that inhibiting a group of proteins can decrease inflammatory responses associated with diseases like obesity, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and sepsis. This suggests that targeting these proteins could be a potential treatment for various diseases.
Researchers at BUSM propose a new epigenetic hypothesis linked to tumor production and suggest epigenetic drug treatments could be beneficial in treating cancers. They explore the role of DNA methylation and demethylation enzymes in regulating gene expression, suggesting potential therapeutic targets.
A new study found that a commonly used breast cancer risk prediction model developed for African Americans tends to underestimate risk in certain subgroups, particularly those who first gave birth at an older age. The researchers conclude that a better risk model is needed for estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer, a subtype disprop...
Research from Boston University School of Medicine found that alcohol consumption is a major contributor to cancer deaths and years of potential life lost in the US. The study showed that reducing alcohol consumption can be an effective cancer prevention strategy.
Research reveals that marijuana use among Russian HIV-infected individuals with risky drinking habits is associated with increased sharing of needles, multiple sexual partners, and unprotected sex. This finding may help clinicians identify those at higher risk of transmitting HIV.
Researchers found that African-American women with pre-pregnancy obesity and excess weight gain during pregnancy are more likely to have macrosomia, or newborns weighing over 4,000 grams. This increased risk is linked to energy accumulation by the fetus from increased maternal glucose concentrations and insulin resistance.
A study found that overdose education and naloxone distribution programs in Massachusetts led to a significant reduction in opioid overdose death rates. The programs educated people at risk of overdose and provided them with naloxone rescue kits, which are safe and effective antidotes for reversing life-threatening opioid overdose effe...
A BUSM study found that low-income and minority parents/guardians are inclined to accept HPV vaccination for boys with the aim of protecting them from cancer and other diseases. However, racial/ethnic differences emerged in attitudes regarding school-entry mandates.
Researchers at BUSM demonstrate that tissues derived from patient-specific induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are not rejected when transplanted back into genetically identical recipients. The study finds that differentiated iPS cells can mature into various cell types, including neuronal, hepatocyte, and endothelial cells, without i...
A new study found a strong association between childhood abuse and an increased risk of uterine fibroids in adulthood among African-American women. Women who experienced physical or sexual abuse before age 11 had a higher incidence of fibroids, with the risk increasing with severity.
Barbara Gilchrest, a renowned dermatologist at Boston University School of Medicine, has been elected as a 2012 Charter Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. She is being honored for her prolific spirit of innovation in creating outstanding inventions that have improved quality of life and economic development.
A new study by Boston University School of Medicine found that African-American women who suffered abuse before age 11 had a greater likelihood of developing adult-onset asthma. The study followed 28,456 women and found an increased incidence of asthma among those who experienced physical abuse during childhood.
A recent study at Boston University School of Medicine describes 68 cases of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) among deceased athletes and military veterans. The research, the largest case series to date, found that CTE can only be diagnosed postmortem but may not progress in all individuals.
Health-care providers can help reduce intimate partner violence (IPV) by screening and referring patients to resources. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that 35.6% of women are raped or stalked by intimate partners, with significant annual healthcare costs.
A study found that heavily indebted medical students choosing primary care face significant financial challenges. To mitigate these issues, they must consider alternative repayment strategies or lifestyle adjustments, such as living in a more affordable area or opting for an extended repayment plan.
This study analyzed data from over 1.3 million middle-aged women in the UK, finding that moderate alcohol consumption was associated with a lower risk of lymphoid malignancies. Smoking, on the other hand, was linked to an increased risk of these cancers.