A study published in Science reveals that the enteric nervous system (ENS) plays a key role in maintaining gut balance and protecting against harm. Researchers mapped ENS responses to different conditions, including allergies and parasitic infections, using mouse models with fluorescent tagging systems.
Children born to mothers infected with COVID-19 while pregnant are at a higher risk of developing developmental delays, including speech difficulties and autism. The study found that males were more susceptible to adverse outcomes compared to females.
A new study led by Mass General Brigham researchers found that a home exercise program combined with standard or sham physical therapy improved knee pain for participants with osteoarthritis and meniscal tears. The addition of regular visits with a physical therapist resulted in slightly greater pain relief, suggesting the importance o...
A recent presidential proclamation increased H1-B visa fees, affecting international doctors sponsored by the program. Rural and high-poverty counties will likely face significant challenges in accessing healthcare services due to a shortage of foreign healthcare workers.
Researchers developed a biodegradable implant that slowly releases drugs to myeloid cells, waking up the immune system to fight cancer. The approach prevented tumor recurrence in over half of mice and showed promising results in human samples.
Researchers developed an ingestible capsule inspired by firefly bioluminescence to diagnose acute mesenteric ischemia, a potentially deadly but often underdiagnosed condition. The capsule generates light after activation by the small intestine's pH, which is transmitted wirelessly to diagnose the condition with 90% accuracy.
A new study by Mass General Brigham researchers found that daily step counts of 4,000 or more are associated with a 26% lower mortality risk and 27% lower cardiovascular disease risk in older women. The study suggests that even sporadic high-intensity exercise can have significant health benefits.
Stroke survivors' lived experiences reveal key factors that shape their physical and emotional wellbeing during recovery. The study highlights the importance of integrating lived experiences in stroke research to improve care models.
Researchers discovered a gain-of-function mutation in the TREM2 gene that impairs microglial function and increases risk for Alzheimer's disease. The study found that female mice with the T96K mutation had reduced microglial activity, leading to increased amyloid beta accumulation.
Researchers used five advanced LLMs to assess their logical reasoning capabilities and found that they consistently complied with requests for false medical information. Targeted training and fine-tuning improved LLMs' abilities to respond to illogical prompts accurately, but challenges remain in aligning models to every type of user.
A study by Mass General Brigham researchers found that the new definition of obesity, which includes measures of body fat distribution, increases the prevalence to 70% among US adults. Those with 'anthropometric-only obesity' have a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Researchers developed a new model to predict risk of subsequent cardiovascular events in patients with ASCVD, outperforming current guidelines. The novel scoring tools use readily available clinical factors and blood assays, enabling easier, faster clinical translation.
A multi-institutional study found that serially testing tumor samples can detect immune system activation in recurrent glioblastoma even when traditional imaging measures cannot. The researchers used multi-omic analysis and integrated data from various sources to show positive changes in the tumor microenvironment over time.
A new study led by Mass General Brigham found that a glutamate-modulating drug called memantine may improve social functioning in youth with ASD who do not have intellectual disabilities. The treatment was associated with higher rates of improvement in social behaviors and was well-tolerated.
The BEACONS initiative will pilot whole genome sequencing in existing state newborn screening systems, recruiting up to 30,000 newborns across 10 states. The study aims to provide national evidence on the feasibility and sustainability of genomic newborn screening.
Researchers found that continuous glucose monitoring metrics correlated with hemoglobin A1c in patients with diabetes, but weakened or disappeared in those with prediabetes and normal glycemic control. CGMs are useful as behavioral tools for people without diabetes, but do not directly reflect longer-term blood sugar control.
A new study by Mass General Brigham researchers shows that a non-drug wearable device can help people with substance use disorders manage stress, reduce cravings, and lower their risk of relapse in real time. The device uses heart rate variability biofeedback to prompt users to practice breathing exercises and regulate their mood.
A new study found that AI tool accurately captures details in just three minutes from a body scan, highlighting the potential of using AI to repurpose data from routine scans. Visceral adipose tissue volume and fat deposits in muscle are strongly associated with diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk.
A new study led by Mass General Brigham investigators compared the effects of repeated intravenous (IV) ketamine and intranasal (IN) esketamine in patients with treatment-resistant depression, revealing both treatments reduced symptoms but IV ketamine showed greater improvements.
Researchers identified genetic modifications that can improve the efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell treatment for multiple myeloma and other cancers. The study used CRISPR screening to pinpoint genes that influenced T cell function and survival in culture and in a preclinical model of multiple myeloma.
A new study found that cocoa extract supplements rich in flavanols decreased hsCRP levels, an inflammatory marker associated with cardiovascular disease. The results suggest cocoa extract's anti-inflammatory potential may help explain its heart-protective effects.
Mass General Brigham has identified key areas of innovation in medicine, including gene editing, immune system modulation, AI-powered care, and organ transplantation. The 'Big Ideas in Medicine' aim to transform diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease with next-generation technologies.
A study by Mass General Brigham researchers found that tirzepatide offers greater value than semaglutide for most patients with knee osteoarthritis and obesity. Bariatric surgery provides the best option from a clinical and economic perspective for eligible and willing patients.
Researchers identified a long non-coding RNA called CARMN as a surprising new treatment target for chronic limb-threatening ischemia. The study found that blocking the protein HHIP, controlled by CARMN, improves blood flow and tissue healing in patients with CLTI.
ThriveLink has been selected as the winner of the inaugural Kraft Prize, a $100,000 national prize dedicated to transforming health outcomes in communities. The organization's telephonic AI enrollment solution empowers families to verbally complete and submit applications for safety-net programs.
Researchers from Mass General Brigham developed a bespoke CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing enzyme to correct the genetic error causing multisystemic smooth muscle dysfunction syndrome, a rare condition associated with stroke and death in childhood. The therapy extended survival four-fold in mouse models of MSMDS.
A new liquid biopsy tool, HPV-DeepSeek, can identify HPV-associated head and neck cancer in asymptomatic individuals up to 10 years before diagnosis. The test uses whole-genome sequencing to detect microscopic fragments of HPV DNA in the blood.
Researchers found that neutrophil protein Relmy pokes holes in heart cells, promoting dangerous heart rhythms and cell death. The study suggests targeting immune cells may help prevent sudden cardiac death and arrhythmias.
Researchers found that older adults who eat breakfast and dinner at later times are more likely to experience physical and mental health issues, such as depression and oral health problems. Consistent meal schedules may help promote healthy aging and longevity.
Researchers analyzed data from over 90,000 patients with heart failure and obesity to show that GLP-1 medications can significantly reduce the risk of hospitalization due to heart failure and all-cause mortality. The study found a greater than 40% reduction in these outcomes compared to a placebo group.
Researchers found that women with high hsCRP levels had a significantly increased lifetime risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and major cardiovascular events. Statin therapy can help reduce risk among these individuals by 38%.
A study by Mass General Brigham researchers found that the law significantly reduced out-of-pocket costs, but high burden medical spending remained unchanged. The findings suggest that additional policy efforts are needed to reduce healthcare-related financial burden, particularly among socioeconomically disadvantaged populations.
A recent study by Mass General Brigham researchers found that adults with a history of moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injuries are at a higher risk of developing malignant brain tumors. The study evaluated data from over 75,000 people and discovered a significant association between TBI and increased tumor development.
Researchers identified a key metric, acoustic emission dose, to adjust ultrasound power and open the blood-brain barrier for delivering drugs in patients with high-grade gliomas. This allows for reliable treatment of brain cancer by bypassing the protective blood-brain barrier.
Researchers found that a Mediterranean-style diet helps reduce dementia risk and slow cognitive decline in people with high genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease. The diet has been shown to broadly influence key metabolic pathways, suggesting it could be an effective strategy for reducing the risk of cognitive decline.
Researchers found tamoxifen encourages uterine cell growth and increases risk of secondary uterine cancer in breast cancer patients. The study suggests that blocking the PIK3 pathway could reduce this risk and potentially save lives.
A simulation study by Mass General Brigham researchers found that intensive blood pressure control is cost-effective, even with typical levels of measurement error. The study suggests that targeting systolic blood pressure below 120mmHg prevents more cardiovascular events than lower targets.
Researchers found the treatment to be safe in all 29 children, with no serious adverse events. The device showed striking reductions in sleep apnea events, with over 95% of children achieving an OAHI reduction of more than 50%. This study provides hope for parents and offers implications for FDA approval and future trials.
A multi-institutional team has proposed updates to national guidelines to remove race-based assessments from lung function testing. The authors highlight the need for a more equitable evaluation system, warning against overreliance on objective cutoff-based criteria. Several healthcare systems have already shifted to race-neutral refer...
A new study by Mass General Brigham found that states with flavored e-cigarette ban policies experienced a significant decline in e-cigarette use among young adults and adults, but a slower decrease in cigarette smoking rates. This mixed impact raises concerns about the unintended consequences of flavor bans.
Researchers at Mass General Brigham found larazotide effective in treating children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a rare but serious condition. The oral drug strengthened intestinal barriers to limit SARS-CoV-2 viral particle entry, resolving symptoms and improving recovery.
A study of Medicare beneficiaries with poor-prognosis cancers found that outpatient palliative care visits doubled, mostly driven by advanced practice clinicians. However, a minority of decedents received any specialty palliative care, and access remained low for older adults, those with lower incomes, and those living in nonmetropolit...
A recent study published in JAMA Network Open found that glipizide, a commonly used type 2 diabetes medication, is associated with a 13% increase in cardiovascular risk compared to dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. The study analyzed data from nearly 50,000 patients and found that glipizide was linked to higher rates of heart ...
A new study by Mass General Brigham found that over 35% of responses from large language models contained stigmatizing language related to alcohol- and substance use-related conditions. However, targeted prompts can reduce this language substantially. The authors recommend using patient-centered language to build trust with patients.
Researchers developed an AI model that accurately differentiates patients with various neurodegenerative disorders using 3D brain imaging data. The model achieved high accuracy, particularly for vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease, by focusing on subcortical brain structures.
Researchers discovered polyglycine aggregates recruit tRNA ligase complex, causing misprocessed tRNAs and leading to neurodegeneration. The study provides a new mechanism for understanding GGC repeat disorders and potentially therapeutic targets.
The study found that USPSTF guidelines identified 89% of participants as being at moderate or high risk for PE, but only 37% of those at moderate risk were receiving recommended aspirin prophylaxis. This suggests a gap in connecting risk identification to preventative care.
A new study by Mass General Brigham investigators identified an ancient immune pathway that is activated in patients with acute chest syndrome (ACS) and serves as a key driver of the disease. Blocking this pathway with clinically approved drugs alleviated disease severity in preclinical models.
Researchers identified a protective RNA molecule that regulates autophagic flux and protects against cellular injury, inflammation, and fibrosis in kidney cells. Boosting this tRNA-Asp-GTC-3'tDR increases kidney protection with less scarring, inflammation, and injury.
Researchers have discovered a high representation of genes associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes in RNA cargo within extracellular vesicles. The study provides a roadmap for integrating EV transcript profiling with genetic approaches, which could inform the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.