A study by Johns Hopkins researchers found that black senior citizens are 26% more likely to undergo riskier surgery and spend more time in the hospital recovering from intestinal surgery. Despite equal health insurance coverage, black patients experience higher mortality rates and greater healthcare costs.
A national study led by Johns Hopkins cardiologist Thomas Aversano found that nonemergency angioplasty can be performed safely at hospitals without cardiac surgery backup, with low rates of complications and death. The study compared over 18,500 patients who underwent heart artery-opening angioplasty or stenting at hospitals with or wi...
A new study by Johns Hopkins researchers found that nearly 30 million Americans have severe hearing loss, with prevalence doubling every decade. The finding suggests that many more people than previously thought are affected by this condition, which has significant consequences for cognitive decline and physical functioning.
A Johns Hopkins study reveals racial disparities in pediatric heart transplant patient outcomes, with white patients more likely to survive a decade after surgery. The analysis of 2,721 transplants found that children who received their hearts from younger donors and were transplanted later had better long-term survival rates.
A combination epigenetic therapy has shown positive effects in a small clinical trial of late-stage lung cancer patients. The treatment increased median survival by two months and showed complete or near-complete responses in some patients. Researchers believe the therapy may reprogram gene expression to prevent cancer growth.
Research at Johns Hopkins Medicine reveals that Bacteroides fragilis causes colon inflammation and increases activity of a gene called spermine oxidase (SMO), leading to DNA damage and tumor formation. A compound blocking SMO enzyme activity prevented DNA damage in cells.
A new technique developed by Johns Hopkins surgeons allows for the removal of skull base tumors without traditional incisions, resulting in faster recovery times and reduced complications. The procedure uses a natural opening above the jawbone and beneath the cheekbone to access the tumor site.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have developed a new breast cancer therapy that delivers anticancer drugs directly into the breast ducts via the nipple. The treatment has shown no major side effects in human patients and has been effective in animal models, with some drugs even preventing tumors from forming.
Researchers from Johns Hopkins have quantified a cell's decision-making ability, finding it to be only two possible choices. Cells can overcome their individual limitations by forming multicellular organisms, which enables them to transfer information and make decisions together.
Researchers analyzed medical records of 717 children and 1,368 young adults diagnosed with melanoma. Children were found to have a higher risk of metastases in lymph nodes compared to adults. Survival rates did not differ significantly by age among those with metastatic melanoma.
Medical benefits of infant male circumcision are clear, with substantial protection against certain STIs. Experts counter misinformation on circumcision's effects on sexual satisfaction and performance. They defend parental rights to make informed decisions about their children's health.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins found that interactive video games safely enhance physical therapy for ICU patients, boosting their interest in therapy and motivation to do more. The study suggests that video game therapy activities can improve muscle weakness and balance in critically ill adults.
A survey of radiation oncologists and healthcare professionals reveals that fears of getting into trouble and embarrassment are the primary barriers to using online error-reporting systems. Despite this, most respondents recognize the value of reporting errors and near-misses for improving care and patient safety.
A protocol developed by Johns Hopkins cardiologists has enabled patients with implanted cardiac devices to safely undergo MRI scans. With appropriate precautions and careful patient monitoring, the risk of device malfunction is very low.
Researchers tested a combination of oral drug sorafenib and microbead chemotherapy directly into tumors in advanced liver cancer patients. The treatment showed promise with no increased side effects compared to existing therapies.
Researchers found evidence of large-scale dynamic DNA demethylation in non-dividing brain cells, challenging scientific dogma. This discovery has major implications for understanding learning, memory, and mood regulation, as well as potential new treatments for depression and neurodegenerative disorders.
A single high dose of psilocybin has been shown to induce significant and lasting changes in personality, particularly openness, in nearly 60% of participants. The study found that these changes were comparable in magnitude to those observed over decades of life experiences.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine have corrected the genetic alteration causing sickle cell disease by using a patient's own stem cells. The team found four working iPS cell lines containing correct copies of the hemoglobin gene and successfully converted them into immature red blood cells.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that oxaliplatin, a widely used chemotherapy drug for colorectal cancer, causes permanent nerve damage in some patients. A new study suggests using simple skin biopsies to track nerve cell degeneration and develop new treatments to prevent or slow the damage.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins have modified HIV to trigger an immune response, a major hurdle in vaccine development. The altered virus activates the adaptive immune system's response against HIV, negating its immunosuppressive properties.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have found a way to halt life-threatening arrhythmia using lower amplitude, high-frequency alternating current. This approach may prove less painful for patients and could lead to a new device that replaces painful defibrillator shocks.
Researchers found that kibra protein is essential for regulating brain circuitry and learning, leading to impaired memory in mice lacking the protein. The study suggests that kibra plays a crucial role in shaping brain connections during learning and memory formation.
A Johns Hopkins team discovered that MRI's strong magnet pushes on fluid in the inner ear's balance organ, leading to vertigo. This finding may affect results of functional MRI studies and could lead to a non-invasive method for diagnosing balance disorders.
A study by Johns Hopkins researchers found a significant rise in serious prostate biopsy complications requiring hospitalization among Medicare beneficiaries. Hospital admission rates were two-fold higher among those who underwent a biopsy compared to controls, with infection-related complications on the rise since 2000.
A new genetic mutation has been discovered in the C9ORF72 gene, responsible for over a third of familial ALS cases. The repeated DNA sequence causes toxic RNA buildup, leading to motor neuron demise and disease progression.
Three Johns Hopkins researchers, including Andrew Feinberg, Gyanu Lamichhane, and Thomas Hartung, have received NIH Director's Awards for their groundbreaking work in epigenetics, tuberculosis, and toxicological testing. Their research aims to revolutionize cancer treatment, develop new antibiotics, and improve human health.
A study published in Neurology has shown that spinal digital subtraction angiography is safe and effective, ruling out misdiagnosis of inflammation and transverse myelitis. The procedure, considered the gold standard for vascular disorders near the spine, was found to have no reported cases of stroke or kidney damage in 302 patients.
Researchers engineered a computer-designed yeast chromosome with an inducible evolution system, allowing them to rapidly introduce genetic changes. This allows for the custom design of organisms that can grow better in adverse environments or produce more ethanol.
Researchers have discovered the fossil of a newborn nodosaur, the youngest known species, in Maryland. The discovery sheds light on the development of limbs and skulls early in a dinosaur's life, as well as dinosaur parenting and reproductive biology.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that a widely used pacemaker for heart failure works by raising regulator of G-protein-signaling proteins in the heart. This helps restore balance between two proteins, allowing the heart muscle to respond to hormones like adrenaline more effectively.
Researchers identified 29 DNA sequence variations linked to blood pressure, suggesting a complex genetic regulatory mechanism. The study pooled data from over 200,000 people worldwide and found common genetic variants in individuals of Asian and African ancestry.
A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine found that medical students' unconscious biases towards race and social class do not directly affect their treatment decisions. Despite this, the researchers argue that training and experience may be reinforcing negative stereotypes, highlighting the need for interventions to address racial bias in hea...
Researchers discovered a molecular mechanism allowing signals from target cells to support neuron survival. Activated protein Rac plays a crucial role in long-range signaling and retrograde transport of neuronal survival signals.
A Johns Hopkins Children's Center study of over 3,000 hospitalized children reveals that those colonized with MRSA but not sick are at significant risk for developing full-blown infections. The study found nearly six times more likelihood of invasive MRSA infections among carriers compared to noncarriers.
A new Johns Hopkins study reveals that uninsured trauma patients are 60% more likely to seek follow-up care in the emergency department (ED) for minor medical needs. This is despite having access to free follow-up appointments. Patients living in poor neighborhoods and those with Medicaid or Medicare are also more likely to use the ED.
A Johns Hopkins study suggests that temporary emergency department staff are more likely to be involved in medication errors that harm patients. The research found that temporary workers' unfamiliarity with hospital systems, protocols, and procedures increases the risk of serious medical errors.
A study of over 2,000 people found that high levels of coronary calcium were a better predictor of heart attack and stroke risk than C-reactive protein. The research suggests that statin medication may be unnecessary for some individuals with normal LDL cholesterol levels and low C-reactive protein levels.
Biomedical education leaders propose a new model that breaks down silos between disciplines, teaching students to work across fields and study organisms at multiple levels. The new framework includes hands-on training and skills courses to help students tackle fundamental biological questions.
The Johns Hopkins Wound Center and the Evidence-based Practice Center are conducting an evidence-based review of wound care to determine what is known and unknown about it. This study aims to inform health care providers and patients about effective state-of-the-art wound care treatments, ultimately improving outcomes for six million p...
Researchers found a protein in mitochondria involved in energy regulation decreases with age, but is increased by losartan treatment, leading to lowered blood pressure and cellular energy usage. This discovery may lead to new treatments for mitochondrial-specific diseases like diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and frailty.
According to a commentary in JAMA, the individual mandate would strengthen the patient-physician relationship, increase access to health insurance coverage, and stabilize insurance premiums. This could lead to reduced costs and increased life expectancy for patients.
A new Johns Hopkins research published in JAMA finds that younger black patients on kidney dialysis face a higher risk of death compared to equally sick white counterparts. The study highlights a long-standing racial disparity in outcomes for African-American patients with end-stage kidney disease.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University discovered that the shape of jaw bones in human populations is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. The study used archaeological jaw bones from two different regions to determine how much of the mandible's shape is plastic, a response to diet, and how much is genetic.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center have created a comprehensive map of genetic mutations in oligodendroglioma, the second-most common form of brain cancer. The study reveals that CIC and FUBP1 genes are critical in tumor development and may hold the key to attacking this cancer.
Researchers found that combining six common quality assurance measures can prevent more than 90% of potential patient-harming incidents. A checklist of relatively low-tech measures and use of film-based radiation-dose measurements were key to safety.
Researchers launch pioneering study to create human platelet cells from stem cells to study inherited blood clotting abnormalities and genetic variations affecting platelet function. The goal is to develop a new approach to generating blood cells for patients in need of chronic infusions.
A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine found that methamphetamine use fuels HIV infection risk among teenage boys and young men who have sex with men. Nearly one-third of meth users reported sex with an HIV-infected person, highlighting the need for HIV prevention programs to factor in substance abuse.
Researchers developed a liquid composite material that can restore damaged soft tissue relatively safely and durably. The material, composed of biological and synthetic molecules, was tested in rats and humans, showing promise in facial reconstruction, particularly for soldiers' blast injuries.
A Johns Hopkins study found that indoor air cleaners can greatly reduce household air pollution and lower daytime asthma symptoms. However, they did not counter all ill effects of second-hand smoke. The researchers recommend using air cleaners as a temporary tool to achieve a smoke-free environment.
A new national transplant policy has sliced in half the racial disparities that have long characterized the allocation of lifesaving organs. The researchers attribute the drop to a 2003 decision by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) to change the relative priority given to tissue matching.