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Mass General Brigham


Mass General Brigham experts develop laboratory toolkit for patients with viral hemorrhagic fevers such as Marburg virus disease

The toolkit provides a base plan for collecting, processing, and reporting laboratory test results from VHF suspects, as well as guidance on infection prevention and control. It aims to bolster local preparedness efforts by offering scalable resources for healthcare facilities to develop practical action plans for isolation and initial...

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalInfection Control·DateOct 25, 2024

Study of former NFL players finds 1 in 3 believe they have CTE

A new study of nearly 2,000 former NFL players shows that about one-third believe they have chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a condition linked to repeated head trauma. Players who believed they had CTE reported more cognitive problems and higher rates of treatable conditions such as depression and low testosterone.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalJAMA Neurology·TypeObservational study·DateSep 23, 2024

Clinical trial successfully repurposes cancer drug for hereditary bleeding disorder

A clinical trial found that an oral cancer drug reduced nosebleed severity and improved quality of life in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). The PATH-HHT study showed significant improvements in disease manifestations, including severe nosebleeds and chronic gastrointestinal bleeding.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateSep 18, 2024

Black women have a higher risk of dying from all types of breast cancer, meta-analysis reveals

A meta-analysis by Mass General Brigham researchers found that Black women face higher mortality rates from breast cancer across all tumor subtypes, attributed to socioeconomic inequality, delayed diagnosis, and inadequate access to timely quality treatment. This disparity is not limited to hormone-positive tumors, with differences als...

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·TypeMeta-analysis·DateSep 17, 2024

Generative AI model study shows no racial or sex differences in opioid recommendations for treating pain

A new study from Mass General Brigham researchers found that large language models demonstrated no racial or gender discrimination in opioid treatment recommendations. The results suggest that these AI models have the potential to reduce bias and improve health equity in pain management, which is a critical area where disparities exist.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalPain·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 16, 2024

Obesity may increase susceptibility to contracting COVID-19

A new study by Mass General Brigham has found that obesity may be an important risk factor for infection from the virus that causes COVID-19. Individuals with obesity were 34% more likely to become COVID positive after reported exposure than those without obesity, indicating a possible link between obesity and increased transmission risk.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalPNAS Nexus·TypeObservational study·DateSep 4, 2024

AI tool offers more accurate detection of immune-related adverse events in cancer patients

A Mass General Brigham-led study found that a large language model improves the accuracy of immune-related adverse event detection, identifying additional cases not picked up by manual adjudication. The model demonstrated excellent specificity and sensitivity, opening up opportunities for collaboration among institutions.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 3, 2024

International study detects consciousness in unresponsive patients

A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that brain scans can detect consciousness in some unresponsive patients with severe brain injury. The study, co-led by Mass General Brigham, discovered that 25% of participants with severe brain injury who appeared unresponsive responded to instructions covertly.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateAug 14, 2024

Research spotlight: Generative AI “drift” and “nondeterminism” inconsistences are important considerations in healthcare applications

A Mass General Brigham study highlights inconsistencies in generative AI that can affect patient safety if not addressed. The researchers found 'drift' (model performance changes over time) and 'nondeterminism' (inconsistent results between runs) in their tests, emphasizing the need for repeated testing and monitoring.

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalNEJM AI·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 12, 2024

Study finds regular aspirin use associated with greatest reduction in colorectal cancer among those most at risk

A study published in JAMA Oncology found that regular aspirin use significantly lowers the risk of colorectal cancer in individuals with higher lifestyle-related risk factors. The benefits were most pronounced among those with unhealthiest lifestyles, where treating 78 patients with aspirin would prevent one case of colorectal cancer o...

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalJAMA Oncology·TypeObservational study·DateAug 1, 2024

Research spotlight: Machine learning helps identify patients at varying levels of risk for opioid use disorder

A study published in JMIR Medical Informatics found that machine learning can accurately classify patients into differing levels of opioid use disorder (OUD) risk, demonstrating substantial agreement with clinicians' reviews. The research suggests that this technology can enhance personalized and safer care for patients early in opioid...

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalJMIR Medical Informatics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 8, 2024

Rapid test of cerebrospinal fluid decreases time to diagnosis for brain tumors

Researchers developed a rapid genotyping test for patients with central nervous system lesions, detecting key mutations associated with brain cancers in samples taken during a lumbar puncture. The test eliminated the need for surgical brain biopsies in seven cases and significantly accelerated time to treatment, from an average of 12 d...

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalBlood·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 17, 2024

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