Research from Harvard Medical School found that physicians' past prescribing patterns are a stronger predictor of chosen medication than patient characteristics. Habits play a significant role in clinical decision-making, even among well-intentioned doctors.
A study led by Harvard Medical School investigators found that a brain-based immune protein called inflammasome NLRP3 plays a crucial role in regulating sleep. The researchers discovered that the inflammasome recruits a sleep-inducing molecule to trigger somnolence following sleep deprivation and exposure to bacterial toxins.
Scientists at Harvard Medical School have developed a new gene-delivery therapy that successfully restores partial hearing and balance in mice born with genetic hearing loss. The treatment uses a modified adeno-associated virus (AAV) wrapped in protective bubbles to penetrate hair cells, which are notoriously difficult to treat.
A new study led by Harvard Medical School researchers found that an alternative payment model improved the quality of care for low-income patients, with significant gains observed in lower socioeconomic status areas. The program, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts' Alternative Quality Contract, pays providers a lump sum to cover a...
Emerging reproductive technologies like IVG hold promise for treating infertility and diseases, but also raise scientific, legal, and ethical challenges. The authors call for proactively addressing these concerns to ensure the technology is developed responsibly.
A study found a 64% spike in genetic tests for breast cancer following Angelina Jolie's op-ed piece, but no uptick in mastectomy rates. The tests did not lead to additional breast cancer diagnoses, suggesting overtesting among low-risk groups.
Researchers uncover molecular chain of events that disrupts regulatory mechanism regulating cell behavior and controls tumor formation in rhabdoid tumors. The loss of SMARCB1 leads to the deactivation of regular enhancers while keeping others active, resulting in cancerous cell growth.
A new study from Harvard Medical School found that patients who receive care from primary care doctors with lower-than-average office visit prices can spend, on average, $690 less per year. The savings are not driven by fewer services or less care, but rather by lower prices for almost every other outpatient service.
A new color-based labeling technique allows researchers to track the development and behavior of individual blood stem cells. The study reveals that these cells have a scripted set of responses and cannot make just any blood cell type.
Researchers have mapped the developmental stages of mouse heart cells, revealing previously unknown cell types and insights into congenital heart defects. The study's findings provide a temporal and spatial atlas of heart cell populations, paving the way for understanding human cardiovascular system development.
A study found that a gene regulating bone growth is highly active in the brains of humans and nonhuman primates, but not in mice. The researchers believe this gene may play a role in brain maturation and cognitive function.
A Harvard Medical School study has found that mice navigate mazes by weighing all available cues before making a decision, suggesting a more complex process than previously thought. The researchers used virtual-reality maze experiments and injected mice with a virus to visualize neuronal activity in real-time.
A new study led by Harvard Medical School researchers found that human physicians vastly outperform digital diagnosticians in clinical diagnosis. Physicians made a correct diagnosis more than twice as often as commonly used symptom-checker apps, with an accuracy rate of 72% compared to 34%. The study suggests that computer-based algori...
Scientists have developed a new model to gauge blood sugar averages in diabetes, taking into account the age of red blood cells. This approach reduces the error rate of the A1C test, which can lead to inaccurate diagnoses and treatments.
Researchers created a device called MEGA plate to observe bacteria adapting to increasing antibiotic doses, revealing key insights into the spread of resistance. The study provides a powerful visualization of bacterial movement and evolution.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School found that selectively overexpressing a transcription factor, Klf9, in older neurons increased the survival of new neurons and improved pattern separation. This led to more precise and stronger memories in mice with increased neurogenesis, particularly in middle age and aging.
Researchers discovered that RIPK1 damages neuronal axons by disrupting myelin production, leading to axonal degeneration and hallmark ALS symptoms. The findings suggest that inhibiting RIPK1 activity may halt the progression of ALS and provide new therapeutic options.
A Harvard Medical School study reveals genetic tests may have disproportionately misdiagnosed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in black Americans due to racially biased methodologies. The findings highlight the importance of using diverse control populations to ensure accurate test results.
Researchers found that even with the docking stations destroyed, neurons still emitted signals when demand was low and transmitted robust signals when triggers were present. The study suggests the presence of mechanisms maintaining partial communication in the nervous system.
Harvard Medical School scientists have identified a new family of proteins that virtually all bacteria use to build and maintain their cell walls. The discovery of this new family, called SEDS proteins, reveals potential targets for much-needed therapies that target the cell wall as a way to kill harmful bacteria.
A simple phone checklist can help detect telltale changes in health status of people receiving nonmedical home care, according to a pilot study. Changes in clinical status occur relatively common, with 2% of caregiver shifts and 2% of recipients affected.
A study by Harvard Medical School researchers found that implementing electronic health record (EHR) systems has no significant impact on patient outcomes, including inpatient mortality and adverse events. The study analyzed data from 17 hospitals that went live with new EHR systems within a single day.
A Harvard-led research team conducted the first large-scale genome-wide analysis of ancient human remains from the Near East, illuminating population dynamics and genetic identities of world's first farmers. The study reveals three genetically distinct farming populations living in the Near East at the dawn of agriculture.
Harvard Stem Cell Institute researchers found that bone marrow transplantation extended the lifespan of mice with a common ALS-causing gene mutation by 43 days. The study suggests that the gene operates at a crossroads between disease and autoimmunity, and may hold key to developing therapies for specific subpopulations of ALS patients.
A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that US hospitals have significantly varying rates of opioid prescribing, with some discharging up to 20% of patients with new prescriptions. Short-term prescriptions can lead to long-term use and potentially abuse.
A new study by Harvard Medical School researchers found that black male physicians earn significantly lower median incomes ($188,230) compared to white male physicians ($253,042), with a 35% pay gap. Additionally, female physicians of both races earn less than their male peers, highlighting income disparities in medicine.
Researchers have developed a non-toxic transplantation procedure using antibodies to target blood stem cells, making it potentially safer and more effective than current methods. The new treatment removes nearly all blood stem cells, offering hope for patients with blood disorders like sickle cell anemia.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School discover a novel logic for mammalian olfaction that defies the traditional one-to-one correspondence between odors and receptors. The 'olfactory necklace' system uses a different class of chemoreceptors to detect carbon dioxide and other molecules, triggering innate behaviors such as avoidance.
The use of telemedicine is on the rise among rural Medicare beneficiaries, with over 40,000 people receiving visits in 2013. Disabled beneficiaries with mental illness were the most likely to receive these services, indicating potential for improved health care access and quality for vulnerable populations.
A study published in JAMA found that providing patients with online tools to search for healthcare prices did not lead to lower spending. Researchers compared over 445,000 employees who used the tool to those who didn't and found no significant reduction in outpatient spending.
Researchers found that curing hepatitis C virus (HCV) could spare approximately 10,500 livers from being transplanted into HCV-infected patients over a twenty-year period. This would also lead to an estimated 7,300 livers being transplanted into liver disease patients without HCV.
A new study from Harvard Medical School found that corporate churning in nursing homes is linked to lower quality of care. The research, led by David Grabowski, measured the impact of ownership changes on nursing home quality and found that transactions were often associated with existing quality problems.
Accountable care organizations that joined the Medicare Shared Savings Program achieved modest savings while maintaining or improving quality of patient care. Independent primary care groups participating in the program achieved significantly greater savings than hospital-integrated groups.
Researchers have identified a molecular marker in normal breast tissue that can predict a woman's risk of developing breast cancer. The study found that women with higher levels of the marker were five times more likely to develop cancer.
TeamStudy, an iPhone research app built using ResearchKit, allows former NFL players and the public to engage in the study of athlete health. The app enables researchers to capture data from participants across the nation, providing insights into everyday experiences of former NFL players.
Five scientists, including Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier, received the Warren Alpert Foundation Prize for their work on CRISPR, a powerful tool for rapidly determining gene function and democratizing gene editing. The discovery has enormous potential for developing new therapies, including treatments for genetic diseases.
Harvard researchers have identified a disrupted signaling pathway that, when corrected, can ameliorate symptoms of Rett syndrome in mice. The findings may lead to the discovery of compounds or drugs that can benefit children affected by the disease.
A study published in Nature suggests that aging does not have a single molecular cause but is rather a systemic process. Researchers found a statistical regularity in how genetic and environmental factors affect the life span of Caenorhabditis elegans worms, revealing an unexpected uniformity among life span distributions.
Harvard Medical School scientists developed a computational technique to analyze mouse movements, organizing them into distinct pose sequences with their own syllables and grammar. This breakthrough solves the problem of objectively studying complex animal behavior without human observers.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School found that elected leaders live 2.7 years less and face a 23% greater risk of death compared to runners-up. This suggests the stress of governing accelerates mortality for politicians.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School have identified a gene, CAF1, that erases a cell's memory, making it more susceptible to reprogramming and making the process quicker and more efficient. This discovery enables the production of stem cells and may provide a general key to facilitate cellular reprogramming.
A recent study found that a reform model aimed at improving coordinated care for individuals with mental health diagnoses has yet to deliver desired results. The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Alternative Quality Contract, which began in 2009, was designed to encourage high-value care and improve quality coordination, but its ...
Researchers identify common genetic link between heart and neurodevelopmental diseases in children, shedding light on shared causes of cardiac and extra-cardiac abnormalities. The study reveals de novo mutations in genes involved in heart and brain development, suggesting potential for early testing to identify high-risk newborns.
Researchers analyzed ancient human DNA to understand genetic changes during farming's introduction in Europe. They found variants associated with height, lactose digestion and immune function, supporting the idea that early farmers adapted to their new diet.
Scientists have characterized six major molecular subtypes of serotonergic neurons in mice, revealing distinct expression patterns of hundreds of genes. These subtypes modulate different behaviors and vary in developmental lineage, anatomical distribution, and electrical firing properties.
A new study published in The BMJ found that higher-spending physicians face significantly fewer malpractice claims, with malpractice rates ranging from 1.6% to 4.1% per physician-year across specialties. This suggests that increased spending may signal defensive practice and reduce errors or liability.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School have found that some human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) are genetically identical to human embryonic stem cells (ES cells), suggesting they may be used interchangeably.
A recent study by Harvard Medical School researchers found that hospital-physician integration leads to higher prices for outpatient care, increasing health care spending by $75 per patient annually, without affecting the use of healthcare services.
A study of Medicare patients found that those transported by basic life support ambulances had better survival rates than those transported by advanced life support ambulances. This is despite ALS ambulances being dispatched preferentially for life-threatening conditions.
A study published in Psychological Medicine suggests that predictive analytics can pinpoint soldiers at highest violence risk for preventive interventions. The model, developed from administrative data, identifies 5% of soldiers as having the highest predicted risk, accounting for a significant proportion of violent crimes.