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Mass General Brigham


Artificial intelligence accurately screens heart failure patients for clinical trial eligibility

Researchers at Mass General Brigham developed a generative AI process that screens patients for clinical trial eligibility with high accuracy and reduced cost. The process, called RECTIFIER, was compared to traditional screening methods and found to be more accurate and cost-effective, with an estimated cost of $0.11 per patient.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalNEJM AI·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 17, 2024

Study demonstrates sustained reduction in child mortality following educational interventions in low-resourced countries

A study published in Frontiers of Public Health found that educational interventions, including telesimulation-based team training and customized tools, can significantly reduce child mortality rates in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in low- and middle-income countries. The interventions led to a sustained decline in mortality ...

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalFrontiers in Public Health·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 12, 2024

Research spotlight: Virtual scribes reduced physicians’ time spent on electronic health records

A new study published in JAMA Network Open found that virtual scribes can significantly reduce the time physicians spend on electronic health records. The study analyzed data from 144 physicians across specialties who used real-time or asynchronous virtual scribe services for at least three months, resulting in reduced time spent on no...

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeObservational study·DateMay 24, 2024

Research spotlight: AI enabled body composition analysis predicts outcomes for patients with lung cancer treated with immunotherapy

A recent study uses AI to analyze body composition in patients with lung cancer treated with immunotherapy, finding that changes in muscle mass and fat quality are important indicators of outcomes. The research provides a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between body composition and response to immunotherapy.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalJAMA Oncology·TypeObservational study·DateMay 23, 2024

Study reveals patients with brain injuries who died after withdrawal of life support may have recovered

Researchers analyzed data from 1,392 TBI patients and found that some who died after withdrawing life support may have survived and recovered independence. The study suggests delaying decisions on withdrawal might be beneficial for certain patients, as assumptions about poor outcomes can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalJournal of Neurotrauma·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 13, 2024

Concussion, CTE experts warn term used to describe head impacts – “subconcussion” – is misleading and dangerous

Researchers from top institutions argue that 'subconcussion' is a misleading term that should be replaced with more specific alternatives to better understand the risks of brain injuries. The authors recommend using 'nonconcussive' to describe head impacts without a concussion, highlighting the importance of accurate nomenclature for e...

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalBritish Journal of Sports Medicine·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateMay 13, 2024

Researchers identify biomarkers in blood to predict liver cancer

A new study suggests that proteins detectable in the blood could improve predictions about risk of liver cancer, potentially leading to earlier therapeutic interventions. The researchers used proteomics to develop a prediction model and identified 56 plasma proteins associated with liver cancer.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 1, 2024

Mass General Brigham researchers identify potential drivers of chronic allergic inflammation

Researchers at Mass General Brigham have identified Th2-multipotent progenitor (Th2-MPP) cells, which may play a crucial role in sustaining type 2 inflammation and contribute to disease symptoms. These findings provide potential targets for therapeutic interventions and lay the groundwork for future disease-modifying approaches.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalNature Immunology·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 30, 2024

Mass General Brigham research identifies pitfalls and opportunities for generative artificial intelligence in patient messaging systems

A study by Mass General Brigham demonstrates that large language models can help reduce physician workload and improve patient education, but also identifies limitations that may affect patient safety. The researchers emphasize the need for vigilant oversight and a measured approach to LLM implementation.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalThe Lancet Digital Health·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 24, 2024

Study finds ChatGPT shows promise as medication management tool, could help improve geriatric health care

A new study found that ChatGPT can consistently recommend deprescribing medications in patients without a history of cardiovascular disease. However, the AI model was more cautious when considering patients with cardiovascular disease and varied its responses depending on the chat session.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalJournal of Medical Systems·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 17, 2024

Case study of 4-year-old with down syndrome and sleep apnea suggests hypoglossal nerve stimulation can be effective treatment at young ages

A new case study suggests that hypoglossal nerve stimulation can improve sleep quality and cognitive development in children with Down syndrome. The procedure has shown promising results in reducing obstructive apnea-hypopnea index and improving neurocognition, offering a potential treatment option for young patients.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalPEDIATRICS·TypeCase study·DateApr 11, 2024

Study finds gunshots in American cities twice as likely at night, potentially disrupting sleep for those in earshot

A new study found that nighttime gunshots are twice as common as daytime gunshots in American cities, potentially disrupting the sleep of nearby residents due to loud sirens. Low-income neighborhoods are disproportionately affected by these sounds, with millions of person nights potentially impacted annually.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateApr 3, 2024

Preliminary clinical trial results show ‘dramatic and rapid’ regression of glioblastoma after next generation CAR-T therapy

Researchers at Mass General Cancer Center have achieved dramatic tumor regression in glioblastoma patients after receiving next generation CAR-T therapy. The treatment, known as INCIPIENT, combines two forms of therapy to target mixed cell populations within tumors.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 13, 2024

Study identifies blood biomarkers to predict risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Researchers identified six blood biomarkers associated with increased cardiovascular risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. These biomarkers improved the ability to predict arterial inflammation, an indicator of cardiovascular risk, compared to standard clinical indices.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateFeb 28, 2024

Study from 50 top scientists including Spaulding Rehabilitation researcher describes five cutting-edge advances in biomedical engineering and their applications in medicine

A consortium of 50 renowned researchers from 34 prestigious universities identifies five primary medical challenges that can be addressed with advanced biomedical engineering approaches, aiming to improve human health. The paper outlines a roadmap for groundbreaking research and funding to achieve technological and medical breakthroughs.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalIEEE Open Journal of Engineering in Medicine and Biology·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateFeb 27, 2024

Researchers use deep brain stimulation to map therapeutic targets for four brain disorders

A new study from Mass General Brigham used deep brain stimulation to identify specific brain circuits associated with different disorders, such as Parkinson's disease and obsessive compulsive disorder. The researchers were able to apply these findings to fine-tune DBS treatments and demonstrate preliminary improved results in three cases.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateFeb 22, 2024

Mass General Brigham study highlights varied risk of persistent COVID-19 infection among immunocompromised patients

Researchers found that patients with severe immunosuppression, such as those with hematologic malignancies or organ transplants, were most likely to have chronic, prolonged infections. In contrast, patients with mild immunosuppression had similar viral shedding dynamics to non-immunocompromised participants.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJan 24, 2024

Third major study finds evidence that daily multivitamin supplements improve memory and slow cognitive aging in older adults

A meta-analysis of 5,000 participants found that daily multivitamins showed benefits for memory and global cognition. The study suggests that taking a daily multivitamin can help prevent memory loss and slow down cognitive aging by the equivalent of two years compared to placebo.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJan 18, 2024

Generative artificial intelligence models effectively highlight social determinants of health in doctors’ notes

Researchers developed AI models that can extract information on social determinants of health from clinicians' notes, identifying 93.8% of patients with adverse social factors. The models were less prone to bias than generalist models, offering a potential solution to address health disparities.

SourceMass General Brigham·Journalnpj Digital Medicine·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 11, 2024

Study finds preconception stress may affect health of women undergoing fertility treatment

A new study from Mass General Brigham researchers found that women who experienced more preconception stress had higher blood sugar levels during pregnancy, a predictor of current and long-term cardiovascular health. The study also discovered that socioeconomic status was associated with preconception stress and blood glucose levels.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalJournal of the Endocrine Society·TypeObservational study·DateJan 4, 2024

Exercise-induced Pgc-1α expression inhibits fat accumulation in aged skeletal muscles

A new study found that exercise-induced Pgc-1α expression inhibits fat accumulation in aged skeletal muscles. The researchers identified Pgc-1α as a key player in FAP regulation and suggested that its upregulation leads to increased mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, inhibiting FAP fat accumulation.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalThe Journal of Physiology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateDec 18, 2023

Mass General Brigham researchers develop ‘potent and specific’ compounds to curb cancer growth

Researchers at Mass General Brigham have developed a new class of proteasome inhibitors that specifically target the β2 active site in cancer cells. The newly synthesized compounds effectively inhibit multiple myeloma cell growth and show promise for reducing therapeutic resistance and side effects when combined with existing drugs.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 11, 2023

Cocoa extract supplement found to have benefits for cognition among older adults with lower diet quality

A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that taking cocoa extract supplements containing 500 mg of flavanols daily may improve cognitive function in older adults with lower habitual diet quality. In contrast, participants with healthy dietary patterns showed no cognitive benefits.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateDec 7, 2023

Fourth dose of COVID vaccine boosts protection in patients with rheumatic disease

A new study suggests that a fourth dose of the mRNA vaccine significantly reduces risk of infection and severe COVID-19 in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases. The study found a 41% reduction in risk for infection and 65% reduction for admission/death compared to those who did not receive a fourth dose.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalThe Lancet Rheumatology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateNov 15, 2023

Researchers develop gel to deliver cancer drugs for solid tumors

A team of researchers developed a gel delivery system that overcomes challenges in intratumoral therapy. The gel contains an imaging agent and can hold a high concentration of drug for slow release. In preclinical models, the treatment induced tumor regression and improved survival in immunotherapy-resistant colon and breast cancer.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalAdvanced Healthcare Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 13, 2023

Researchers identify the mutations that drive resistance to PI3K inhibitors in breast cancer that can be overcome by next generation agents

Mutations in the PIK3CA gene lead to elevated production of the PI3Ka protein, found in approximately 40% of hormone receptor-positive breast cancers. Next-generation PI3Kalpha inhibitors targeting a different region of the mutant protein show promise in overcoming resistance.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalCancer Discovery·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 2, 2023

Researchers develop innovative technique for distinguishing tumor from normal tissue

A team of researchers has developed a new visualization tool combining high-speed cameras and fluorescent injection to distinguish tumor tissue from normal tissue across cancer types. The technique, known as fluorescence lifetime (FLT) imaging, achieved an accuracy of over 97% in distinguishing tumor tissue from healthy tissue.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 16, 2023

Antibody therapy inspired by patient case reduced tau tangles in a preclinical model of Alzheimer’s disease

A team of researchers from Mass General Brigham has developed a monoclonal antibody that reduces abnormal tau proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease in a preclinical model. The therapy, inspired by a genetic variant that provides resistance against the disease, offers an alternative approach to existing treatments.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalAlzheimer s & Dementia·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 4, 2023

Cognitive behavioral therapy eases how fibromyalgia pain is experienced by the brain

A randomized controlled trial found that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) significantly reduces fibromyalgia pain by decreasing pain-catastrophizing, a negative response that amplifies pain. CBT participants showed reduced connectivity between brain regions associated with self-awareness and emotional processing.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalArthritis & Rheumatology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateSep 20, 2023