A new study found that a virtual smoking cessation treatment program nearly doubled quit rates for cancer patients who currently smoke. The program, delivered at community oncology care settings, was both cost-effective and satisfying for patients. Participants who completed more sessions had a higher likelihood of quitting.
New research has identified genetic mutations involved in congenital cerebral ventriculomegaly, a condition where brain fluid-filled ventricles swell due to hydrocephalus. The study links CCV to neurodevelopmental disorders and positions it as an early neuroimaging correlate of autism risk.
A cohort study of nearly 20,000 NFL players revealed that players are dying of dementia and Parkinson’s disease at much higher rates than the general population. The study found a fourfold increase in neurodegenerative mortality among NFL players compared to the general population.
Researchers propose a new standard, Human Fidelity, to measure the alignment of implantable brain devices with stakeholders' needs and expectations. The study identified five domains where gaps between devices and stakeholders exist, including Access and Uptake, Invasiveness, and Patient-Centered Outcomes.
A new study found that BCG vaccines can modify Alzheimer's biomarkers in non-Alzheimer's participants, suggesting a potential biological explanation for the observed link between BCG vaccination and lower disease risk. The vaccine also promoted increased immune responses in healthy participants without Alzheimer's pathology.
A team of researchers has identified a distinct blood protein pattern that can accurately diagnose pediatric inflammatory bowel disease and differentiate between its two main forms. The discovery, using proteomics technology, showed high accuracy in identifying IBD and distinguishing ulcerative colitis from Crohn's disease.
Researchers developed BRIDGE, a multilingual benchmark that assesses large language models' understanding of clinical patient-care text. The benchmark reveals significant gaps in LLM performance on real-world clinical tasks, particularly in nuanced clinical language.
A new study found that HPV-DeepSeek, an ultrasensitive blood test, can identify patients with HPV-associated head and neck cancer who may benefit from additional treatments. The test detected circulating tumor DNA in 98.1% of patients at diagnosis, significantly improving detection rates compared to existing methods.
A study published in Neuroepidemiology found that individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) are at a higher risk of dying from brain cancer compared to the general population. The research, which analyzed data from over 20,000 TBI patients, revealed that those with severe TBI were nearly 14 times more likely to die from brain cancer.
Researchers found that statin use was associated with a 24% lower risk of developing frailty in older adults. The study suggests that statins may offer an opportunity to reduce the risk of frailty and help people preserve their health and independence as they age.
A new oral GLP-1 medication, elecoglipron, has been shown to significantly reduce blood glucose levels and bodyweight in adults with type 2 diabetes. The study found that up to 89.6% of participants achieved an HbA1c level of 7%, while 72.3% experienced at least 5% weight reduction.
Researchers found dapagliflozin significantly reduces risk of heart failure hospitalization in individuals carrying a cardiomyopathy genetic variant. The study, published in Nature Medicine, highlights the potential for incorporating genetic screening into heart failure prevention strategies.
Researchers have developed custom 4D-printed implants that expand slowly and steadily, reducing the need for repeated injections and surgeries. The devices were tested in rabbits and showed promising results, including improved skin adaptation, reduced complications, and increased precision in reconstructive surgery.
Researchers analyzed data from the HEALing Communities Study to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of community-based interventions for reducing opioid overdose and non-overdose deaths. They found that a combined strategy of improving treatment initiation, retention, and naloxone distribution could reduce opioid overdose deaths by 15-40% ...
A new study published in JAMA Network Open found that approximately 16% of patients with COVID-19 developed long COVID, translating to over 18 million Americans. The study used a novel AI algorithm to identify cases undetected by existing diagnostic systems.
Researchers from Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute presented various studies on cancer treatments, including the efficacy of lung cancer drug neladalkib and a psychosocial digital app for patients with multiple myeloma. An electronic frailty index was also used to identify high-risk older adults receiving CAR-T cell therapy.
A new study found irisin reduces clinical symptoms and neuron loss in a mouse model of MS. Irisin also protects neurons from inflammation-driven neurodegeneration.
A new study published in JAMA Network Open found that patients with low-risk pancreatic cystic lesions have a high risk of developing pancreatic cancer. The study highlights the need for long-term personalized surveillance strategies for these patients, which could enable earlier detection and treatment of the disease.
Researchers found a significant association between fatty liver disease and increased cardiovascular risk, including nearly twice the rate of cardiovascular events. Patients with hepatic steatosis had a higher amount of noncalcified, rupture-prone coronary plaque.
A recent study found significant increases in amputation rates among both opioid- and non-opioid-related hospitalizations between 2016 and 2022. Opioid-related amputations were more common at higher anatomical levels, highlighting the need for earlier intervention to prevent severe harm.
A new AI model, ECG2Stroke, can predict the risk of a stroke up to 10 years into the future using only electrocardiogram (ECG) data and a patient's age and sex. The model was trained on over 200,000 patients and showed accuracy in predicting cardioembolic strokes, which are preventable with blood thinners.
A randomized controlled trial conducted by Mass General Brigham researchers found that a parental support package significantly reduced burnout in child-bearing physician trainees. The package included wearable breast pumps, digital perinatal care access, and faculty mentorship.
A randomized clinical trial found that testosterone treatment significantly improved sexual activity, sexual desire, and quality of life scores in men after prostate cancer surgery. The treatment also improved body composition and aerobic performance without increasing the risk of biochemical recurrence.
Researchers at Mass General Brigham found that advanced footwear technology improves running performance in elite distance runners, but also causes subtle changes in running mechanics linked to bone stress injuries. Rotating shoes and gradually adapting to AFT may help reduce potential injury risk while optimizing performance.
Researchers at Mass General Brigham developed an ultrasensitive test to detect abnormal clumps of TDP-43 protein in cerebrospinal fluid, a biomarker for specific form of dementia called FTLD-TDP. The test shows promise in diagnosing patients with the correct pathology and tracking disease progression.
Researchers developed a new polygenic risk score (PRS) that estimates a person's inherited risk for eight common cardiovascular conditions. The test combines information from many genetic variants and evaluates a person's risk for coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, type 2 diabetes, and more.
A new study suggests that an AI tool analyzing facial changes can serve as a prognostic biomarker for cancer prognosis. The researchers found that patients with higher biological aging rates had lower chances of survival, and the effect was strongest when photos were taken over longer intervals.
Researchers found that a newer stool-based screening test, FIT-DNA, increased completion rates among participants from community health centers. However, follow-up colonoscopy tests remained low, highlighting the need for continued support and access to diagnostic services.
Researchers identified 16 clinical laboratory markers linked to PTSD, including cholesterol and glucose levels, liver indicators, and red and white blood cell counts. These biomarkers may reveal the physical impact of PTSD on the body, supporting timely interventions to mitigate chronic disease risk.
Researchers found that a blood test for the biomarker pTau217 can predict the progression of Alzheimer's disease in cognitively healthy adults, detecting early signals years before symptoms appear. The study's findings may help push back the clock to enable simpler and earlier disease prediction.
A study of 21 large language models found that they excel at accurate final diagnoses but falter at differential diagnoses, highlighting the need for human oversight in healthcare. The researchers developed a novel measure, PrIME-LLM, to evaluate AI's clinical competency across different stages of reasoning.
A team of researchers from Mass General Brigham found that sialylated CD43 forms a glyco-immune barrier restraining anti-leukemic immunity. This suggests therapies targeting CD43 could be promising for treating AML and potentially a broader range of cancers.
A phase 2 clinical trial shows that mezagitamab can effectively increase platelet counts in patients with immune thrombocytopenia, improving quality of life. The investigational medication has a rapid effect, normalizing platelet counts in 48 hours.
A new study by Mass General Brigham reveals that long-term exposure to excess weight is a stronger predictor of cardiovascular disease risk than BMI at a single point in time. Younger individuals with high cumulative exposure to excess weight are particularly at increased risk.
The new guidelines introduce five clinical categories to capture PE severity, emphasizing follow-up care and treatment considerations. Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, PE remains a serious condition with substantial risk, highlighting the need for continued research and improvement.
A preclinical study found that short-term high-fat diet exposure rapidly depletes critical gut immune cells called ILC3s, leading to intestinal permeability and inflammation. The loss of these cells compromises intestinal barrier function and may contribute to chronic diseases linked to inflammation.
A randomized trial tested HabitWorks, a smartphone app offering personalized exercises to target interpretation bias. Participants reported significant improvements in interpretation bias, functioning, and overall mental health symptom severity.
A phase 1/2 clinical study found that pralsetinib improved durable responses with manageable safety profiles in patients with advanced or metastatic RET fusion-positive non-small cell lung cancer. The overall response rate was 78% and median duration of response was longer in patients with the CCDC6-RET fusion gene.
A multi-site study found that AI scribes reduced electronic health record usage by 3% and clinical documentation time by 10%, with primary care physicians experiencing the greatest reductions. The technology also showed a slight increase in productivity, measured as 0.5 additional patient visits per week.
A clinical trial found that intensive cholesterol-lowering therapy reduced the risk of cardiovascular events by 31% in high-risk patients with diabetes. The treatment, evolocumab, lowered LDL-C levels by approximately 60%, and was well-tolerated.
A recent study found that prescriptions for direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for hepatitis C increased rapidly after their introduction but declined sharply over time. As a result, many curable patients remain untreated, with treatment levels below national elimination targets.
A study using UK Biobank data identified five clear risk factors for PSP, including depression, delirium, gut problems, heavy drinking, and being overweight. Early detection may enable timely clinical trial enrollment for new treatments.
A new study describes an implantable brain-computer interface (iBCI) typing neuroprosthesis that can restore communication with speed and accuracy for people with paralysis. Two clinical trial participants, one with ALS and the other with a spinal cord injury, used the device to communicate rapidly and accurately, with a word error rat...
PrimeC, a combination of celecoxib and ciprofloxacin, targets neuroinflammation, iron accumulation, and abnormal microRNA activity in ALS. The PARADIGM study shows improved functional outcomes and reduced ALS-related complications with PrimeC treatment.
Researchers developed a comprehensive genetic risk calculator for metabolic disease by integrating genetic data from hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. The polygenic risk score outperformed existing disease-prediction models and predicted downstream morbidity and clinical interventions, particularly in non-European populations.
Researchers developed predictive AI models that identified patients at risk of intimate partner violence from their medical records, years before they enrolled in care. The models achieved high accuracy and could detect IPV up to four years before patients sought care.
A phase 3 clinical trial by Mass General Brigham reveals romiplostim's ability to prevent chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia, allowing full-dose chemotherapy delivery. The medication boosts bone marrow's resistance to chemotherapy, reducing the risk of life-threatening bleeding and improving cancer treatment outcomes.
A large randomized trial found that high-dose vitamin D3 did not reduce COVID-19 infection severity, but may impact long COVID outcomes. Researchers observed a promising signal that vitamin D supplementation could reduce long COVID symptoms, warranting further research in larger populations.
A new approach, called INSTALL, enables non-toxic DNA integration in multiple human cell types and successfully inserts large genetic payloads in mice, offering a promising solution for genetic therapies. The study's findings have the potential to broaden the applicability of genome editing therapies.
A daily multivitamin may slow biological aging in older adults, with benefits seen in those with accelerated biological age. The study found slowing in all five epigenetic clocks, including those predictive of mortality, equating to about four months less biological aging over two years.