Researchers recorded seizure-like activity in the hippocampus of two patients with Alzheimer's disease, which may contribute to cognitive symptoms. The findings suggest that targeting this dysfunction could lead to new treatments to reduce symptoms or alter the course of the disease.
A study published in Health Affairs found that Partners Pioneer ACO's care management program reduced avoidable hospitalizations and emergency department visits among patients with elevated but modifiable risks. The program achieved a $101 per participant monthly reduction in Medicare spending, a 6% decline.
Researchers have developed a means of non-invasively tracking nanodiamonds with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), opening up new applications in disease diagnosis and therapy. The technique uses the Overhauser effect to boost the weak magnetic resonance signal of diamond, allowing for high-contrast imaging over indefinite periods.
A Massachusetts General Hospital research team found that oral doses of intestinal alkaline phosphatase prevented the development of fatty liver in mouse models of binge drinking and chronic alcohol consumption. The study also provided evidence of an expanded role of the liver's stellate cells in alcoholic liver disease.
A recent study has discovered that macrophages are essential for the normal functioning of the heart, helping conduct electric signals that coordinate heartbeat. The findings suggest that changes in macrophage numbers or properties may contribute to heart rhythm abnormalities.
Scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital have established a direct link between increased intestinal permeability and chronic inflammatory diseases. The study provides evidence that zonulin-dependent modulation of small-intestinal permeability enhances antigen trafficking, leading to the development of an inflammatory disease.
A study found that pretreatment HIV levels and immune activation are linked to persistent inflammation during treatment, contradicting previous results. The research suggests that diagnosing HIV early may prevent elevated immune activation, leading to health problems like heart disease.
A study published in Psychiatry Research Neuroimaging found that the reward system in women's brains is larger than in nonalcoholic women and smaller in alcoholic women than in nonalcoholic men. The study also showed a negative association between sobriety time and ventricle size, suggesting recovery from alcoholism.
Researchers identified urinary biomarkers that distinguish between children with Down syndrome who have and don't have obstructive sleep apnea. The study found significant differences in biomarker signatures between all participants with Down syndrome and typically developing children, regardless of OSA presence or absence.
A new collagen-targeting PET probe, Ga-CBP8, has shown promise in diagnosing and staging pulmonary fibrosis, as well as monitoring treatment response. The probe can differentiate between stable disease and progressive fibrosis, allowing for more effective treatment planning.
A study at Massachusetts General Hospital found that two major types of brain tumors, astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas, may originate from the same type of neural progenitor cells. The analysis revealed differences in gene mutation patterns and tumor microenvironments between the two subtypes.
A new software package, Causative Classification of Stroke (CCS), provides evidence-based, automated support for diagnosing the cause of ischemic stroke. CCS was validated in a study involving 1,816 patients and showed better correlations between clinical and imaging features than conventional systems.
A new study has found that U.S. youth infected with HIV around the time of their birth are at higher risk for experiencing serious health problems, poor control of the HIV virus, or death as they age. The study highlights the need to strengthen services for these patients, taking into account their developmentally specific needs.
Researchers at Mass General Hospital identified novel resistance mechanisms in patients with liver tumors receiving FGFR inhibitor treatment. The study found that different mutations within individual patients and across multiple samples could confer resistance, highlighting the need for more effective treatments.
A study of over 25,600 patients found that long-term dual antiplatelet therapy increases mortality risk, especially after bleeding events. Ischemic events also pose a significant threat to patient lives.
A phase 2 clinical trial of sacituzumab govitecan, an antibody-drug conjugate targeting Trop-2, achieved a response in 21 participants with advanced triple-negative breast cancer. The responses were early and durable, lasting up to 20 months, with improved overall survival.
A study found that children who don't get enough sleep between 3-7 years old are more likely to have attention, emotional control, and peer relationship issues. The research also showed a higher risk of poor neurobehavioral function at age 7.
A study from Massachusetts General Hospital found that a widely adopted blood transfusion practice may not benefit patients without traumatic injuries and may even be harmful. The practice, which involves giving patients more plasma than red blood cells during massive transfusions, was previously studied only in trauma patients.
Researchers developed two approaches to increase penicillin and cephalosporin use in hospitalized patients with penicillin allergy. Skin testing significantly increased favorable prescriptions, while a computerized guideline also improved antibiotic prescribing rates.
A study published in Science Immunology reveals that a variant of the SP140 protein, an essential epigenetic reader protein, is lacking in patients with Crohn's disease. This deficiency triggers intestinal inflammation and impairs the immune system's response to microbial signals. The researchers found that patients with reduced SP140 ...
A gene variant that produces red hair and fair skin in humans and mice has been found to contribute to the association between melanoma and Parkinson's disease. The study shows that mice carrying this variant have reduced dopamine production and increased sensitivity to toxins, making them more susceptible to neurodegeneration.
A new study reveals that acupuncture improves carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms by rewiring the primary somatosensory cortex in the brain. Real acupuncture at the affected hand led to measurable improvements in outcomes and long-term symptom relief, while sham acupuncture had no physiologic effects.
A personalized strategy involving frequent CA125 blood tests and ultrasound examinations could improve the chance of detecting tumors at early stages. This approach reduced the risk of diagnosis with advanced cancer in high-risk women who chose to delay recommended preventive surgery.
A clinical trial has demonstrated that a monoclonal antibody, lanadelumab, significantly reduces HAE attacks without serious side effects. The study found strong efficacy in participants receiving high doses of the treatment.
A team of researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital has identified a mechanism controlling the growth of medulloblastoma, the most common pediatric brain tumor. The study found that OTX2 is a critical factor regulating gene expression programs in Group 3 medulloblastoma, and its suppression can reduce tumor growth and survival.
A global study confirms that vitamin D supplementation reduces the risk of acute respiratory infections by cutting it in half for individuals with severe vitamin D deficiency. Regular supplementation also offers benefits, whereas occasional high doses show no significant impact.
Researchers found that genetic predisposition to abdominal adiposity significantly increases the incidence of type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease, as well as cardiovascular risk factors. The study suggests that using genetics to determine the effects of body shape on cardiometabolic outcomes could lead to new prevention strategies.
A Massachusetts General Hospital study found that women cardiologists are less likely to be full professors than their male counterparts, even after adjusting for factors such as age and research productivity. The disparity persists across different medical schools and specialties.
A new approach to analyze brainwaves during sleep using multitaper spectral analysis provides objective and high-resolution depictions of brainwave activity. This technique offers a paradigm shift allowing clinicians to move away from subjective sleep staging and harness the wealth of objective information contained within EEG data.
A new mathematical model reveals that metronomic chemotherapy's benefits rely on the normalization of tumor blood vessels, improving drug delivery and immune cell activity. The approach aims to alleviate abnormal tumor blood vessel structure and function, reducing proliferation of stem-like cancer cells.
Leaders of seven major US academic medical centers warn that travel restrictions from Muslim-majority countries are harming patient care and biomedical research. The restrictions have led to delays in visa processing, affecting over 100 personnel at Boston-based Partners HealthCare.
A study by the NRG Oncology Radiation Therapy Oncology Group found that adding antiandrogen therapy to radiation therapy can reduce the incidence of metastasis, death from prostate cancer, and overall deaths in patients with recurrent prostate cancer. The study showed a significant improvement in survival rates for patients treated wit...
Researchers found a naturally occurring hormone, Mullerian Inhibiting Substance (MIS), can halt the development of ovarian follicles, protecting them from chemotherapy-induced damage. This reversible contraceptive method preserves the ovarian reserve and could be applied to modern fertility treatments.
A new assessment tool combines parental questionnaires and inexpensive diagnostic procedures to rule out obstructive sleep apnea in children with Down syndrome. The tool showed high accuracy in identifying participants without moderate to severe OSA, potentially reducing the need for sleep studies.
Researchers have developed a novel PET radiatracer called Neuroflux to quantify olfactory sensory neurons, improving measurements of olfactory health. The study found decreased signals in young animal models before cognitive symptoms onset, demonstrating the vulnerability of olfactory neurons.
Researchers used imaging technology to track immune cells in living animals and identified a molecule required for their entry into the joint, which sets off inflammation. This discovery could lead to new treatments for inflammatory arthritis.
A new digital assay using circulating tumor cells (CTCs) has been developed to detect liver cancer, showing high specificity and sensitivity. The test can identify HCC in patients with a positive score, even when other methods like AFP screening are negative.
Public health experts praise the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's new rule mandating smoke-free policies in federally funded public housing authorities. The authors highlight challenges, such as infrastructure and community support, and suggest strategies to ease the transition and encourage compliance.
Researchers found an altered blood-brain barrier and increased intestinal permeability in individuals with autism, supporting the hypothesis that impaired barriers contribute to ASD. The study also revealed reduced expression of barrier-forming cellular components and higher expression of molecules increasing intestinal permeability in...
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have found that tumor necrosis factor receptor type II (TNFR2) may be a major target for immuno-oncology treatments. The team's findings suggest that blocking TNFR2 could restore the ability of a patient's immune system to attack tumors, while also directly killing cancer cells.
Massachusetts General Hospital investigators identified a protein called G3BP2 that helps maintain aggressive tumor-initiating cells in breast cancer. Compounds like C108 can reduce the survival of these cells and slow tumor growth.
A study by MGH and ISSMS investigators has linked brain activity to cardiovascular disease, identifying a pathway from the amygdala through inflammation to cardiovascular events. Elevated amygdalar activity was strongly associated with increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
A Massachusetts General Hospital study found that almost one-third of Californians enrolling in individual insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) potentially missed opportunities to receive financial assistance. Enrollees who received certified enrollment counselor assistance were less likely to choose ineligible plans.
A team led by Massachusetts General Hospital has identified gene mutations associated with a rare congenital condition involving the absence of a nose, often accompanied by defects in eye and reproductive systems. The SMCHD1 gene was previously linked to muscular dystrophy, but not craniofacial abnormalities.
A study found that women with diverse vaginal bacterial communities were four times more likely to acquire HIV than those with Lactobacillus-dominant microbiomes. The researchers identified specific high-risk bacteria associated with increased HIV acquisition risk and a direct link between these bacteria and HIV susceptibility.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital developed a new monoclonal antibody that binds to CD11b/CD18 receptor molecules, preventing ischemia/reperfusion injury and halting fibrotic kidney failure. The treatment has shown promise in cynomolgus monkeys and may also be useful in treating heart attack, stroke, and organ transplants.
A study by Massachusetts General Hospital found that women with a history of acute kidney injury have a higher risk of adverse outcomes during pregnancy, including preeclampsia and preterm delivery. Despite normal kidney function before pregnancy, these women were more likely to develop complications.
A study found that around two-thirds of women with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa will eventually recover from their eating disorders. Recovery tends to happen more quickly for those with bulimia, while anorexia recovery takes longer on average.
Researchers identified five genes that, when inactivated, protected cells from HIV infection without affecting cellular survival. The genes target human proteins essential for HIV replication and viral entry into CD4 T cells.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital discovered a combination of calcipotriol and fluorouracil can rapidly clear actinic keratosis lesions by activating the immune system, achieving an 88% reduction in facial lesions. The treatment's effectiveness was compared to standard treatments, which elicit unpleasant side effects.