Scientists have identified a spectrum of genetic alterations, including some that may be clinically actionable and others that could improve diagnostics and screening for patients. The study's findings suggest targeted therapies and immunotherapies could be effective treatments for mesothelioma.
A study from Brigham and Women's Hospital found that monthly monitoring and support from pain specialists increased PCP confidence in prescribing opioids, improved patient compliance, and enhanced communication between practitioners. The research highlights the benefits of careful monitoring and pain management support within primary c...
A new study from Brigham and Women's Hospital found that circadian misalignment increases blood pressure and inflammatory markers in healthy adults. Researchers measured these factors in 14 participants during two eight-day stays in the sleep laboratory, one with circadian alignment and the other with misalignment.
Researchers identify subset of first-degree relatives at higher MS risk; study to map events leading from health to disease. The Genes and Environment in Multiple Sclerosis (GEMS) project aims to develop interventions to block MS onset.
A set of risk factors can predict the magnitude of survival benefit offered by radiation therapy following breast cancer surgery. Radiation therapy provides a significant survival benefit for patients with more aggressive cancer, particularly those with higher prognostic scores.
A randomized controlled study published in Annals of Internal Medicine found that providing information about coronary artery disease risk to patients undergoing genetic testing for Alzheimer's disease improved health behaviors and reduced distress. The study suggests that the disclosure of secondary findings from genomic testing can h...
A recent study published in Circulation found that cangrelor reduces the odds of major adverse cardiovascular events by 35 percent and stent thrombosis by 61 percent in women compared to standard therapy. The research provides important reassurance on the safety and efficacy of blood thinners in women.
Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital re-evaluate guidelines for testing and treating toenail fungus, finding that confirmatory testing may no longer be necessary for certain therapies. The study suggests that blanket recommendations should be replaced with tailored recommendations based on specific treatments.
New research from Brigham and Women's Hospital found that nearly 40% of shift workers who participated in a test drive after a night shift were involved in a near-crash event. The study demonstrated an increased risk of drowsy driving related motor vehicle crashes, especially during the daytime commute.
Cancer cells use nanoscale bridges to communicate with healthy cells, leading to metastasis. Researchers discovered that disrupting these bridges can prevent cancer cell spread using pharmacological agents.
A new research study published in JAMA found that 28.8% of resident physicians screen positive for depression during their residency, highlighting an important issue in graduate medical education.
A new gene therapy platform uses a hydrogel and self-assembled nanoparticles to deliver microRNAs that suppress tumor tissue, increasing dosage at the site while reducing systemic side effects. The approach has shown promising results in shrinking tumors by nearly 90% in pre-clinical models.
A new study from Brigham and Women's Hospital found that sacubitril-valsartan can extend life expectancy by one to two years for heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction. The therapy, currently used as standard care, was shown to improve overall survival by 16% and reduce hospitalization rates.
A fruit fly model of Alexander disease has been developed to study astrocyte dysfunction and its role in neurodegeneration. Nitric oxide has been identified as a critical mediator in the process.
A nationwide study found that women with type 2 diabetes are most susceptible to the adverse cardiovascular risks posed by long-term air pollution exposure. The researchers discovered a significant increase in cardiovascular disease risk, particularly among women over 70, obese, and living in polluted regions.
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital found that a full night of sleep significantly improved participants' ability to correctly identify the name associated with a face. The study suggests that sleep after new learning activities may help improve memory, regardless of age.
A new study found that damage control resuscitation (DCR) practices originating in military settings have been widely adapted in civilian trauma care. The majority of responding Trauma Medical Directors reported routine use of a 1:1:1 blood product ratio, which increases patient survival rates.
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital have developed a new approach to predict which tumors will be most responsive to therapeutic nanoparticles. They use an FDA-approved magnetic nanoparticle and MRI to identify tumors with high or low EPR, a physiological condition that allows nanoparticles to accumulate faster.
A new study by Brigham and Women's Hospital found that minority patients with acute abdominal pain are less likely to receive analgesic medications, with black patients experiencing the greatest undertreatment. The study also found disparities in hospital waiting times and admission rates among minority groups.
PSA testing has declined dramatically in middle-aged men after a 2012 recommendation against routine screening, according to a new study. The biggest declines were seen in men ages 50-54 and 60-64 years old.
Researchers found that rheumatoid arthritis significantly increases participants' overall risk of death, especially due to respiratory or cardiovascular causes. Seropositive RA was associated with a nearly three-fold increased risk of respiratory mortality compared to seronegative RA.
Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital found that low-fat interventions were no more successful than higher-fat interventions in achieving and maintaining weight loss for periods longer than one year. Low-carbohydrate weight loss interventions resulted in greater weight loss compared to low-fat diets.
Scientists at Brigham and Women's Hospital have developed a method to create kidney structures from adult stem cells, which could be used to study diseases such as chronic kidney disease and test new therapies. These kidney structures can model the development of kidney abnormalities and susceptibility to drug toxicity.
Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital discovered specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) in human breast milk that resolve inflammation, stimulate immune response, and heal wounds. These findings suggest a critical role for SPMs in infant development and immune system maturation.
Research found that sleep apnea in women is associated with higher blood levels of troponin, a marker for early heart injury, and increased risk of heart failure, coronary heart disease, and death. Women with moderate to severe sleep apnea were more than 30% likely to experience adverse heart problems.
Researchers found that people with a common genetic variant in MTNR1B may be more at risk for developing type 2 diabetes when taking melatonin close to mealtimes. The study suggests that genetics can impact blood sugar control, highlighting the need for caution when taking melatonin near meal times.
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital have found a link between genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and key immune cells, paving the way for new diagnostic tools and treatments. The study suggests that higher levels of TREM2 may be associated with increased risk of Alzheimer's disease.
The Matchmaker Exchange platform harnesses collective data from across rare disease repositories to uncover similar symptoms and genetic profiles. By protecting patient data privacy while connecting databases through APIs, researchers can identify the genetic causes of rare diseases more efficiently.
A long-term follow-up study found that men with comorbidity and a prior heart attack who received androgen deprivation therapy had a higher risk of fatal heart attacks. The study suggests that treatment with radiation therapy alone may be a safer option for these patients.
A new study found that a Medicare payment model reduced the number of low-value services used by patients, with a 4.5% reduction in spending on these services. Providers targeted low-value services to lower spending, and those who previously used more of these services saw the greatest reductions.
A study published in Cell suggests that melatonin levels correlate with MS symptom severity, particularly during the fall and winter months. Researchers found that melatonin has a protective effect on immune cells, dampening the immune response and reducing disease progression.
Researchers found that ezetimibe, when added to a statin, significantly reduced the risk of future ischemic stroke, heart attack, and cardiovascular death in patients with diabetes who had an acute coronary syndrome. Ezetimibe also lowered LDL-cholesterol levels by 43mg/dL after one year.
Researchers found nearly 40% of type 2 diabetes patients with stable heart disease had abnormal troponin levels, indicating ongoing heart injury. Coronary revascularization did not lower troponin levels or reduce risk in these patients.
Researchers develop a targeted hydrogel that binds to inflamed tissue, releasing medicine slowly over time. The gel reduces inflammation and minimizes systemic side effects in preclinical models of IBD.
A three-year clinical trial found no link between testosterone administration and atherosclerosis progression, sexual function, or quality of life in older men. The study suggests that testosterone should not be used indiscriminately by men, as it may not provide benefits for these outcomes.
A new web-based patient-centered toolkit (PCTK) has been shown to improve patient-provider communication, enabling patients to engage in understanding their plan of care. The PCTK facilitated patient-generated messages and provided access to educational content specific to a patient's condition.
Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital have developed a technique to grow large numbers of muscle cells in the lab, offering a better model for studying muscle diseases like muscular dystrophy. The new method involves mimicking early developmental cues to drive cells to grow into functional muscle fibers.
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital have developed a new technique to analyze specific hormones in tissue, allowing surgeons to distinguish tumor from normal gland. The technique, called MALDI MSI, can determine hormone composition in under 30 minutes, potentially improving surgical precision.
A team of bioengineers at Brigham and Women's Hospital developed a new protein-based gel that mimics the properties of elastic tissue when exposed to light. The gel can be controlled in its swelling and strength, making it suitable for various applications such as regenerating cells or creating a barrier over wounds.
A hospital-wide clinical improvement initiative implemented across all departments at BWH significantly reduced the 30-day readmission rate of patients at risk for DASH by nine percent. The program, which included standardized assessment tools and care management guidelines, improved patient outcomes and quality of life.
MyApnea.Org is a virtual community portal that recruits patients, caregivers, and at-risk individuals to collaborate on sleep apnea research and improve diagnosis and treatment. Members have access to tools and can suggest research ideas to be voted on by the community.
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital found that lixisenatide did not increase risk of cardiovascular events in a large, double-blind trial involving over 6,000 type 2 diabetes patients. The study's results provide reassurance for healthcare providers about the cardiovascular safety of this widely prescribed glucose-lowering drug.
Research from Brigham and Women's Hospital found that stricter driver licensing laws in Massachusetts led to a 40% reduction in fatal crashes among 16-17 year old drivers. Police-reported crashes decreased by 19%, with nighttime crashes dropping by 29%.
New research from Brigham and Women's Hospital found that individual physicians are the strongest predictor of whether a patient will be referred to hospice care. Patients with poor-prognosis cancer diagnoses were more likely to enroll in hospice if seen by a physician in the top 10% of hospice use.
The new VirScan test detects evidence of past viral infections in a person's blood, revealing the vast array of viruses that can infect humans. This method has implications for understanding immunity and potentially identifying correlations between viral exposure and disease risk.
Research from Brigham and Women's Hospital suggests that breast surgery for low-grade DCIS does not significantly change patient survival rates. For high- and intermediate-grade DCIS, however, surgery improves survival rates compared to non-surgery groups.
A large cohort study found a modest increase in risk of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) associated with maternal antidepressant use late in pregnancy. The absolute risk was small, and no significant association was found with non-SSRI antidepressants.
ClinGen aims to standardize genetic variant interpretation, resolving differences between labs and clinicians. The program uses ClinVar, a database of over 170,000 variant submissions, and has formed expert working groups to interpret gene-disease relationships and improve clinical decision-making.
A study at Brigham and Women's Hospital discovered a genetic variant, SLC9A9, associated with patients' likelihood of responding to interferon-beta treatment. The variant may also play a role in regulating immune cells involved in inflammatory diseases like MS.
A new study by Brigham and Women's Hospital found that emergency physicians prescribe opioids with caution, aligning with short-term use goals and limiting prescriptions to 3-5 days. The majority of opioid prescriptions had a low pill count and were immediate-release formulations.