A study by Brigham and Women's Hospital found that patients with limited English proficiency are more likely to rate video health care visits as worse than in-person appointments, despite having access to telehealth services. The study highlights the need for designing telehealth platforms that better serve marginalized populations.
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital found an association between appendix removal and a decreased risk of colorectal cancer positive for the bacterium Fusobacterium nucleatum. The study involved large prospective cohort studies and analyzed data from over 139,000 participants.
The Women's Health Initiative study found that hormone therapy is beneficial for treating moderate-to-severe hot flashes and night sweats in early menopause, while a low-fat dietary pattern may reduce breast cancer mortality. Calcium and vitamin D supplements do not support fracture prevention for all postmenopausal women.
A new study suggests that stimulating specific areas of the brain can affect heart rate in individuals with depressive disorders. The researchers found high accuracy in identifying optimal treatment spots using heart rate measurements during brain stimulation.
A study by Brigham and Women's Hospital reveals racial disparities in COVID-19 testing delays among healthcare personnel. Non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic HCP of other races experienced significantly delayed testing, with higher likelihoods among those without graduate degrees.
A new study from Brigham and Women's Hospital suggests that PET brain scans can detect hidden inflammation in MS patients who are being treated with highly-effective treatments. The findings indicate that smoldering inflammation may linger in patients, driving disease progression and symptoms.
A study of over 7,500 US adults found that higher abdominal obesity, measured by waist circumference-to-height ratio, was associated with a higher risk of fecal incontinence. The researchers suggest that this may be due to increased intra-abdominal pressure and visceral fat-related inflammation.
Researchers found that revascularization treatment significantly improves the quality of life for patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia, a severe form of peripheral artery disease. The study revealed diminished quality of life among these patients, but revascularization restored sufficient blood flow and improved wellbeing.
Researchers have developed a statistical method called SCENT to establish links between regulatory elements and genes, pinpointing probable causal gene loci for common and rare diseases. The study applied SCENT to multimodal single-cell datasets from various human tissues, discovering insights into DNA regulation in specific cell types.
A new study found that a remote team focused on education and medication management can improve guideline-directed-medical-therapy adherence in patients with type 2 diabetes. Patients who received education simultaneously with medication management demonstrated a higher rate of medication uptake.
An experimental treatment further lowers triglyceride levels in patients with moderate to severe hypertriglyceridemia, reducing risk of heart attack and stroke by up to 53%.
A new study using spatial transcriptomics has generated a unique spatial atlas of intestinal cells in both healthy and inflamed states. The research reveals the evolution of cell populations during inflammation, particularly highlighting the significance of fibroblasts in response to gut inflammation.
Researchers found that doctors can confidently skip 50% of biopsies by combining MRI-based prostate imaging reporting and data system scores with prostate-specific antigen density testing. The study suggests that this approach can decrease patient harm and healthcare costs associated with unnecessary biopsies.
A new study by Brigham researchers found that patients frequently turn to Twitter for contraception guidance, with a small fraction coming from health professionals. The study suggests opportunities for healthcare professionals to use social media to share accurate information and improve patient outcomes.
Researchers created a risk prediction model using patient data from six major US cancer centers. The model found that patients with high blood pressure, diabetes, and lower magnesium levels were at highest risk of moderate-to-severe kidney injury. The tool can help clinicians and patients make informed decisions about cisplatin treatment.
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital discovered that astrocytes, non-immune cells, can develop aspects of immune memory. This epigenetic memory promotes CNS pathology in autoimmune inflammation, including chronic neurologic disorders like multiple sclerosis.
A recent study reveals significant differences in intimate partner violence injury patterns across age groups, with adolescents experiencing a higher incidence of sexual assault and unique fracture patterns. Healthcare providers can use these findings to detect IPV in previously overlooked age groups, potentially preventing the cycle o...
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital developed a sprayable adhesive hydrogel product to address GI wound management limitations. The material promotes rapid wound healing, provides tissue protection, and minimizes complications under harsh conditions.
According to a new study published in JAMA, at least 1 in 5 US state Medicaid programs cover one or more anti-obesity medications. The high cost of these medications has raised concerns about affordability, but the trend shows an increase in recent years.
A new study found that MERRICAL, a long non-coding RNA sequence, is involved in recruiting macrophages to the arterial wall and promotes atherosclerosis progression. Reducing MERRICAL expression levels using inhibitors significantly reduced atherosclerosis and aortic lesion formation.
A recent study from Brigham and Women's Hospital found that a glycan biomarker of IgG is an important predictor for cardiovascular diseases. The research team discovered that the sugar coatings on IgG were directly related to the risk of a CVD event, most likely through inflammatory effects.
New research suggests that direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are less effective and safer in certain patient scenarios, such as those with mechanical heart valves or thrombotic antiphospholipid syndrome. DOACs should not be the standard treatment for all patients who need to treat or prevent blood clots.
Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital propose innovative solutions to address the global blood crisis, including civilian walking blood banks and intraoperative auto-transfusion. These short-term strategies aim to increase access to blood transfusion in rural settings, where millions of people lack basic medical care.
Researchers developed a new epigenetic clock that predicts biological age from DNA structure, distinguishing between genetic differences that slow and accelerate aging. The model, called CausAge, includes only damaging or protective changes, allowing for more accurate evaluation of anti-aging interventions.
A new study proposes a framework for standardizing biomarkers of aging, which could help translate them into clinically actionable tools. The framework suggests using multi-omic approaches and considering associations with other health factors to improve predictive performance and reliability.
A cohort study of older adults found that those who followed recommended exercise guidelines before the pandemic had significantly lower odds of being infected or hospitalized from COVID-19. Physical activity was associated with a 10% lower risk of infection and 27% lower risk of hospitalization.
Researchers have developed a new gene mapping technique that reveals how genetic alterations in cells lining blood vessels contribute to coronary artery disease. The technique, called Variant-to-Gene-to-Program (V2G2P), identifies biological mechanisms driving CAD risk by linking genetic variants to gene expression and function.
Participation in a primary care-based housing program was associated with reduced outpatient visits, improved physical and mental health, and increased feelings of connection to healthcare clinics. The study found that integrated support from the program's care team led to better health outcomes and more stable housing solutions.
Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital and MIT unveiled a new microscopy technology called decrowding expansion pathology (dExPath) that provides novel insights into brain cancer development. The technology enables scientists to study neurological diseases at a never-before-achieved nanoscale level on conventional clinical samples.
A low-cost, DIY device using a coin-vibrating motor has been developed to rapidly generate uniform tumor spheroids. These 3D tumor models exhibit clinically typical responses to chemotherapy and can help overcome limitations of traditional cell cultures.
Researchers found that buprenorphine was associated with a slightly lower risk of malformations overall compared to methadone, with an 18% reduction in relative risk. Both therapies are strongly recommended over untreated opioid use disorder during pregnancy.
Researchers developed a porous, chitosan-based material that rapidly absorbs blood and activates clotting mechanisms, halting bleeding within minutes. The 'hemostat' offers a more effective alternative to traditional compression methods, which can take over two hours to stop bleeding.
Researchers identified a new PD-1 immune checkpoint mechanism promoting merkel cell carcinoma growth. MCC cells express PD-1 and its receptor binding accelerates tumor growth via mTOR pathway activation.
Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital found that anti-HIV drugs can prevent liver abscess formation during Escherichia coli infections by blocking reverse transcription. This mechanism could lead to a new way of treating and preventing deleterious consequences following bloodstream infections.
A new study from Brigham and Women's Hospital found that 23% of patients experienced diagnostic errors, resulting in harm to 17% of cases. The most common causes were errors in assessing patients or ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests.
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital found nearly 6,000 additional US patients could benefit from immunotherapy treatment due to mismatch repair deficiency. Next-generation sequencing revealed previously missed cases, improving patient outcomes.
A study by Mass General Brigham found that daily learning tests can detect Alzheimer's disease-related changes in memory among cognitively normal older adults. The test, called BRANCH, was completed over seven days on a smartphone, revealing diminished learning curves associated with elevated amyloid levels.
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital have developed a pill-size device called VIBE that creates the sensation of fullness by stimulating vagal nerve receptors when it comes into contact with gastric fluid. The device reduced food intake by an average of 31% in swine, and its effects were sustained for 30 minutes.
A new study found that daily toothbrushing among hospitalized patients is associated with lower rates of hospital-acquired pneumonia and ICU mortality. The study, which analyzed data from over 2,700 patients, also showed that toothbrushing was linked to shorter durations of mechanical ventilation and ICU length of stay.
A team of researchers analyzed GPT-4's performance in four clinical decision support scenarios, finding that the model exaggerated known demographic prevalence differences in 89% of diseases. GPT-4 also produced significantly different responses by gender or race/ethnicity for 23% of cases, reflecting known biases in medical literature.
Researchers developed a framework to identify genetic contributors to disease by applying stress tests to human blood cells. This study found links between blood-response characteristics and subsets of common diseases.
Researchers analyzed over 24 million assault-related injuries and found that 40% resulted in anoxia, with IPV accounting for 30-40% of neck contusions. The study aims to raise awareness of strangulation among medical providers and advocate for comprehensive screening in IPV patients.
A study found that individuals who perceive climate change as a health threat are more likely to endorse interest in cancer screening. Those with greater awareness of climate change impacts may also be more overall health conscious, driving their interest in preventive healthcare measures.
Researchers found that statin therapy reduced mortality and disease risk among people with chronic kidney disease and frailty, regardless of age-related health conditions. The studies provide additional context to the debate about initiating statin use in people at high risk for heart disease.
A study by Brigham researchers found that individuals with darker skin tones and more severe acne face greater stigma in social and professional settings. Participants were less likely to want to be friends or post photos with those having severe acne, particularly if they had a darker skin tone.
Researchers identified cell-type-specific genetic risk scores associated with distinct stages of Alzheimer's disease progression, including amyloid-β accumulation and tau tangle formation. Astrocyte-specific risk contributed to earlier stages, while microglia-specific risk played a role in later phases.
A randomized clinical trial found that tonsil and adenoid removal surgery improved sleep quality, reduced snoring, and behavioral problems in children with mild sleep apnea. However, the surgery did not impact neurodevelopmental functioning.
Transplanting older organs from donors accelerates aging in younger recipients, leading to impaired physical capacity and cognitive decline. Senolytic treatments have shown promise in reducing these effects by inhibiting senescence-associated factors.
A new study uses a large language model to identify patients with postpartum hemorrhage, achieving 95% accuracy and identifying 47% more cases than standard methods. The tool has great promise for helping clinicians predict subpopulations at higher risk of the condition.
A study by Brigham investigators found that genetic changes in microglia contribute to neuroinflammation, a key factor in Alzheimer's disease progression. Lower levels of INPP5D gene led to increased inflammation and risk for AD.