A new study reveals that bacteriophages can have a profound impact on the dynamics of the gut microbiome, causing a cascade of effects on other species and modulating metabolite levels. This finding has significant implications for therapeutic use and understanding the potential effects of other treatments.
A recent study by Brigham and Women's Hospital researchers found four sites of DNA methylation associated with sleepiness in both African American participants from the MESA and CHS studies. Additionally, they discovered 14 such sites among only African American participants from both studies.
Patients who underwent face transplants experienced significant improvements in motor function and sensory perception, with a notable trend towards enhanced quality of life. The study's findings support the potential benefits of this surgery for patients with severe facial injuries.
A new study by Brigham and Women's Hospital found that older women who took 4,400 steps per day had significantly lower mortality rates compared to those taking 2,700 steps per day. Risk of death continued to decrease with more steps taken, leveling off at around 7,500 steps per day.
A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that nonfasting lipid levels were similar to fasting lipid levels in the same individuals, predicting cardiovascular risk just as well. The results suggest it may be unnecessary for most patients to fast before having bloodwork done to measure lipid levels.
Nearly one in 10 young adults who had a heart attack met the clinical definition for familial hypercholesterolemia. Many patients continued having elevated cholesterol levels a year after their heart attack, highlighting opportunities for more aggressive treatment.
A new study found that limiting extended-duration shifts improved sleep duration among pediatric resident physicians, with weekly sleep duration increasing nearly four hours overall. The study enrolled 302 resident physicians and used a clustered-randomized crossover clinical trial to compare two work schedules.
The Bili-ruler is a novel, low-cost device for screening neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, which affects up to 80% of newborns. It uses six color strips arranged in a stepwise gradient of increasing yellow hue and has high diagnostic accuracy, validating its use in improving early recognition and care seeking in low-resource settings.
A study by Brigham and Women's Hospital found that 77% of patients experienced at least one neurological symptom after CAR-T treatment, which were often temporary. The symptoms included encephalopathy, headache, tremor, weakness, and language dysfunction, with most effects being reversible.
Researchers found that millennial parents, despite being younger, exhibited higher rates of reckless behavior while driving compared to their older counterparts. Despite this, most parents across all age groups reported reading and writing texts while driving in the past month.
Researchers developed a drug candidate that can reverse mucosal barrier damage caused by HIV. The recombinant molecule rfhSP-D prevented HIV transmission and restored vaginal tissue integrity. This finding presents a promising approach to creating a safe and effective topical anti-HIV microbicide.
Researchers have developed a fundamentally new MRI method to track brain function activity on a time scale of 100 milliseconds, far faster than current functional MRI. This technique uses magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) to measure tissue stiffness and parallels neuronal activity.
The team tested two devices, one that can change conformation in the esophagus to exit after drug delivery and another that can reside in the stomach until intentionally triggered. The devices were inspired by design principles of transformable materials and showed promise for fast and robust response.
A new study published in Obstetrics and Gynecology found that Massachusetts' parental consent law for abortion leads to significant delays in care, increasing medical risks and constraining clinical options. The law requires a judicial bypass hearing for minors seeking abortions without parental consent.
A new study by Brigham and Women's Hospital finds that a healthy diet can significantly influence physical function in older men, with higher diet scores associated with decreased odds of physical impairment. The study suggests that specific dietary changes, such as eating more vegetables and nuts, may lower risk.
Researchers successfully transplanted hepatitis C-infected hearts and lungs, detecting no signs of the disease and good outcomes for patients treated with a short course of antivirals. The study found that nearly all patients cleared the virus within two weeks, and graft survival was comparable to non-HCV positive donors.
Researchers have developed a new therapeutic strategy that targets the MLCK1 enzyme to restore epithelial barrier function and prevent gastrointestinal disease. By preserving and restoring the gut's critical lining of cells, this approach may help break the cycle of inflammation driving chronic diseases.
Patients with closer social networks are more likely to delay seeking hospital care after a stroke, while those with more dispersed networks arrive faster. Researchers suggest targeted education and action plans can improve stroke preparedness and outcomes.
The REDUCE-IT trial found that high-dose icosapent ethyl significantly reduced the burden of first and subsequent cardiovascular events, including heart attacks, strokes, and deaths from cardiovascular causes. The study showed a 30% relative risk reduction in total cardiovascular events.
Researchers developed PB2452, a monoclonal antibody fragment that reverses ticagrelor's antiplatelet effects within five minutes and sustains reversal for over 20 hours. The study found immediate and sustained reversal of ticagrelor's effects, with no serious adverse events or infusion reactions.
The final results of MOMENTUM 3 show that the HeartMate 3 left-ventricular assist device markedly reduced re-operation due to pump malfunctions, lowering risk of bleeding events and strokes. The study found significant reductions in pump-related thrombosis, strokes and mucosal bleeding compared to the previous generation of cardiac pumps.
A recent study found that over 90% of oral medications contain at least one inactive ingredient capable of causing an adverse reaction. The most common culprits include lactose, peanut oil, and gluten. These ingredients can trigger allergic or gastrointestinal symptoms in sensitive individuals.
A multicenter study by Brigham and Women's Hospital found that hospital employees are susceptible to phishing attacks, with a high click rate of 14.2%, but also showed improvement in response rates with increasing campaigns and phishing awareness training.
A study published in JAMA Network Open found that sepsis was present in over 50% of terminal hospitalizations and accounted for 35% of all deaths. However, only one in twenty-five sepsis-associated deaths were considered moderately or highly likely preventable.
Researchers developed a blood test to predict spontaneous preterm birth, focusing on proteins found in first-trimester blood samples. The test shows promise for identifying women at increased risk of preterm delivery, particularly among first-time mothers.
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital have developed an intelligent-injector for tissue-targeting (i2T2) that detects changes in resistance to deliver medication safely and effectively. The device was tested on animal models and found to precisely deliver medication without overshoot injuries.
A new study finds that sustained smoking cessation can delay or prevent the development of seropositive RA, a more severe form of rheumatoid arthritis. Quitting smoking for good reduces risk by 37% after 30 years.
A new study found that multiple sclerosis patients with food allergies experienced a higher rate of disease activity and increased likelihood of new lesions compared to those without food allergies. The association highlights the potential role of the gut in MS immune dysregulation.
Researchers have created an oral formulation of insulin using a pill-sized device that can deliver a microinjection from within the stomach. The device, called SOMA, uses a spring and sugar disc to trigger the injection, and has shown promising results in animal trials with a marked decrease in blood glucose levels.
A recent study found substantial variability in organ donation from drug-intoxication-related deaths, with major increases reported in the Northeast, Midwest, and Southwest. The research estimates that 6.24 hearts are recovered from every 1,000 lives lost to drug intoxication.
A study found that rates of intrauterine device and implant insertions increased by 21.6% in the 30 days after the 2016 election compared to the same time period in 2015. This increase is attributed to women's concerns about losing contraceptive coverage under the Trump administration.
Patients treated at minority-serving hospitals have only about two-thirds the odds of receiving palliative care compared to those receiving care at typical hospitals. The study found that racial and ethnic minorities are less likely to receive end-of-life palliative care than their counterparts, regardless of race or ethnicity.
Researchers found a small increase of 0.14 percent in hemoglobin A1c levels after switching from analogue to human insulin, which falls within expected biological variation. The switch was not associated with serious hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic events and improved economic outcomes for patients.
A new study reveals an association between hearing loss and higher risk of subjective cognitive concerns, suggesting early stage changes in cognition. Men with mild, moderate, or severe hearing loss experienced a 30%, 42%, and 54% increased risk of cognitive decline compared to those with no hearing loss.
A new study identifies key factors involved in cell cycle arrest and illuminates a novel intracellular structure, paving the way for new therapeutic targets to treat kidney fibrosis. The research team found that blocking the formation of TASCCs reduced the severity of kidney fibrotic disease progression in preclinical models.
A study by Brigham and Women's Hospital found that patients with primary care received more high-value care, such as cancer screening and diagnostic testing, and reported a better healthcare experience. Primary care was also associated with higher rates of recommended counseling services, including smoking cessation.
A new method of using multiple microRNAs to weaken cancer cells has shown promising results in preclinical models, increasing survival in a murine model of glioblastoma by five-fold when combined with chemotherapy. The treatment strategy weakens tumor cells but does not directly kill them, making it an advantage for further treatment.
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital have discovered two new genetic targets, APEX2 and FEN1, which show promise as potential treatments for hereditary breast and ovarian cancers. The study's findings suggest that inhibiting these enzymes could complement existing Parp inhibitors and address drug resistance in BRCA-driven cancer.
A pilot study at Brigham and Women's Hospital found that an innovative home-based care-delivery program helped 81% of participants achieve blood pressure control in seven weeks. The program used Bluetooth-enabled blood pressure devices and patient navigators to facilitate rapid assessment and medication adjustments.
A longitudinal study of 2,256 participants found that moderate to high financial stress increased the risk of developing heart disease in African Americans. The study suggests a possible relationship between financial stress and heart disease, which clinicians should be aware of.
A new systematic approach has identified environmental factors that boost neurological inflammation, including an herbicide banned in Europe. Researchers found that linuron and another compound increase activity of a gene associated with inflammation.
Researchers have discovered a new population of immune cells that respond to immunotherapy treatment, as well as a critical molecular factor required for the therapy's success. The study highlights the importance of early-stage T cells and the need for further understanding of how checkpoint blockade therapies work.
A retrospective analysis found that genetic variations in the COMT gene affected whether vitamin E decreased or increased cancer risk in study participants. The results showed a significant impact of COMT variants on cancer rates among women taking vitamin E supplements.
A study of 1,736 trauma patients found that female gender and low education levels were associated with worse long-term recovery. Patient sociodemographic factors outweighed injury severity in predicting long-term outcomes.
A study by the BabySeq Project found that genomic sequencing can identify risk for childhood-onset disorders, including highly actionable conditions, in a significant percentage of newborns. The research team reported finding genetic variants associated with several heart conditions and biotinidase deficiency in infants.
Researchers found that SGM patients are more comfortable with written self-report for SOGI information collection, which improved communication and patient satisfaction. The study recommends standardized collection processes to address health inequities faced by SGM individuals.
A new study published in JAMA examined data from over 88,000 pregnancies where pregnant women took ondansetron during the first trimester. The researchers found no increased risk of cardiac malformations but a slight increase in oral clefts associated with ondansetron use.
A retrospective cohort study found acute hospitalizations among homeless individuals increased between 2007-2013, primarily for mental illness and substance use disorders. Homeless adults had longer hospital stays, lower mortality rates, but higher costs than non-homeless controls.
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital developed an automated, low-cost tool to predict ovulation using AI-powered fern pattern detection. The device achieved over 99% accuracy in detecting ovulation and non-ovulation, offering a potential solution for family planning and fertility monitoring.
The study provides new insights into targeting the human T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain containing protein-3 (hTIM-3) for treating various cancers. The high-resolution structure of hTIM-3 will help develop useful therapeutics.