http://www.massgeneral.org/news Subscribe to news releases covering breaking news and recent headlines at Massachusetts General Hospital en-gb Copyright � Massachusets General Hospital 2008 Developer Fusion RSS Feed Generator v1.0 Bart Mburu Mon, 20 May 2013 03:07:13 GMT 20 MassGeneralNewsReleaseshttp://feedburner.google.com http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1590 A new study finds that women with chronic physical disabilities are about as likely as nondisabled women to say they are currently pregnant, after age and other sociodemographic factors are taken into account. Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1589 A New England Journal of Medicine study finds that, while primary care physicians and nurse practitioners agree that nurse practitioners "should be able to practice to the full extent of their education and training," they significantly disagree about some proposed changes to the scope of nurse practitioners' responsibilities. Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1588 A combination of two FDA-approved osteoporosis drugs with different mechanisms of action was found to increase bone density better than treatment with either drug alone in a small clinical trial. Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1587 The Massachusetts General Hospital has again attained Magnet® recognition as part of the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program®. This voluntary credentialing program for hospitals recognizes excellence in nursing. This credential is the highest honor an organization can receive for professional nursing practice. Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1586 Researchers from MGH and Duke University have identified genetic mutations that appear to underlie a rare but devastating syndrome combining reproductive failure with cerebellar ataxia – a lack of muscle coordination – and dementia. Wed, 08 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1585 A handheld diagnostic device that MGH investigators first developed to diagnose cancer has been adapted to rapidly diagnose tuberculosis and other important infectious bacteria. Sun, 05 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1584 MGH researchers have identified a gene variant that helps predict how much weight an individual will lose after gastric bypass surgery, a finding with the potential both to guide treatment planning and to facilitate the development of new therapeutic approaches to treating obesity and related conditions like diabetes. Thu, 02 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1583 A new study from investigators at the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind/Body Medicine at MGH and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center finds that elicitation of the relaxation response produces immediate changes in the expression of genes involved in immune function, energy metabolism and insulin secretion. Wed, 01 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1582 MGH investigators have determined that one of the recently identified genes contributing to the risk of late-onset Alzheimer's disease regulates the clearance of the toxic amyloid beta (A-beta) protein that accumulates in the brains of patients with the disease. Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1581 Three projects led by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators have been named among the Clinical Research Forum's Top 10 Clinical Research Achievements of 2012. Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1580 A team led by MGH researchers has identified a genetic signature that may reflect the risk of tumor recurrence or spread in men surgically treated for prostate cancer. If confirmed, the genetic risk index also may help distinguish tumors that require aggressive treatment from those that can safely be monitored. Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1579 Bioengineered rat kidneys developed by Massachusetts General Hospital investigators successfully produced urine both in a laboratory apparatus and after being transplanted into living animals. Sun, 14 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1578 The MGH Neurological Clinical Research Institute and Prize4Life, an organization dedicated to accelerating discovery of treatments and a cure for ALS, received a Best Practices Award at the 2013 Bio-IT World Conference & Expo for their creation of PRO-ACT ,the largest database of information from ALS clinical trials and patient care. Fri, 12 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1577 A new study published in the May issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine finds that Google searches for information across all major mental illnesses and problems followed seasonal patterns, suggesting mental illness may be more strongly linked with seasonal patterns than previously thought. Tue, 09 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1575 Feeding an intestinal enzyme to mice kept on a high-fat diet appears to prevent the development of metabolic syndrome – a group of symptoms associated with type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and fatty liver – and to reduce symptoms in mice that already had the condition. Mon, 08 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1576 GDC-0032, a potent, next-generation PI3 kinase inhibitor, demonstrated early signs of efficacy for patients with cancers driven by mutations in the PI3 kinase alpha gene, according to first in-human results presented at the AACR Annual Meeting 2013. Sun, 07 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1573 A new system for isolating rare circulating tumor cells – living solid tumor cells found at low levels in the bloodstream – shows significant improvement over previously developed devices and does not require prior identification of tumor-specific target molecules. Wed, 03 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1574 The initial clinical trial of a novel approach to treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis – blocking production of a mutant protein that causes an inherited form of the progressive neurodegenerative disease – may be a first step towards a new era in the treatment of such disorders. Wed, 03 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1572 Changes in the microbial population of the gastrointestinal tract may underlie some of the benefits of gastric bypass surgery, reports a team of researchers from MGH and Harvard University. The investigators also found that post-bypass alterations in the microbial population of mice can induce weight loss in animals that did not have surgery. Wed, 27 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1571 Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) has received a top honor from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) for its commitment to improving its quality of care to stroke patients. The “2013 Stroke Collaborative Reaching for Excellence (SCORE) Defect-Free Care Award” recognizes the MGH for providing defect-free care to more than 80 percent of patients admitted with stroke over the course of a year Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1561 An analysis of data from the Framingham Offspring Study confirms that the health benefits of quitting smoking far exceed any negative effects of weight gained after smoking cessation Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1562 Study finds that most of a group of young patients seen at Mass General for chronic, unexplained pain had test results indicating small-fiber polyneuropathy, a condition not previously reported in children. Mon, 11 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1560 A multi-institutional study has revealed that BRAF-positive metastatic malignant melanomas develop resistance to treatment with drugs targeting the BRAF/MEK growth pathway through a major change in metabolism. The findings suggest a strategy to improve the effectiveness of currently available targeted therapies. Fri, 08 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1559 Adding the dietary supplements folate and vitamin B12 to treatment with antipsychotic medication improved a core symptom component of schizophrenia in a study of more than 100 patients. Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1558 MGH investigators have identified specific EEG signatures that indicate when patients lose and regain consciousness under the general anesthetic drug propofol. The findings should lead to better ways of monitoring awareness and tracking other aspects of the brain states of patients under anesthesia. Tue, 05 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1557 A multi-institutional team led by MGH researchers has identified a molecular pathway that appears to be essential for the growth and spread of medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor in children. Thu, 28 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1555 MGH researchers have identified what may be a major factor behind the increased risk of two adverse outcomes in IVF pregnancies – extremely high estrogen levels at the time of embryo transfer. They describe a protocol that reduced the risk of infants born small for their gestational age and the risk of preeclampsia in a small group of patients. Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1553 A search for genes that change their levels of expression in response to starvation has uncovered potential clues to the mechanism behind the health benefits of omega fatty acids. MGH researchers report that omega-6 fatty acids may activate a cellular renewal process called autophagy, which may be deficient in several important diseases of aging. Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1554 Chemicals secreted by "good" bacteria that typically live in the intestines of babies could reduce the frequency and severity of a common and often-lethal disease of premature infants. Wed, 13 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1552 Existing mouse models do not appear to accurately reproduce the human genomic response to serious traumatic injury, including major burns. Mon, 11 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1551 Differences in the physical connections of the brain are at the root of what make people think and behave differently from one another. Researchers reporting in the February 6 issue of Neuron shed new light on the details of this phenomenon, mapping the exact brain regions where individual differences occur. Wed, 06 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1549 The underlying medical conditions facing young adults who undergo computed tomography (CT) exams represent a significantly greater health risk than that of radiation-induced cancer from CT. Tue, 05 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1550 In the February 6 issue of JAMA, investigators from MGH and Harvard Medical School describe what is known about the impact on medical care and resident training of the European Working Time Directive and its implications for postgraduate medical education in the U.S. Tue, 05 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1548 A process that normally occurs in developing embryos – the changing of one basic cell type into another – has also been suspected of playing a role in cancer metastasis. Now a study from MGH Cancer Center researchers has associated this process, called epithelial-mesenchymal transition, with disease progression and treatment response in breast cancer patients. Thu, 31 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1546 In a novel investigation in which physicians underwent brain scans while they believed they were actually treating patients, researchers have provided the first scientific evidence indicating that doctors truly can feel their patients’ pain – and can also experience their relief following treatment. Tue, 29 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1547 An analysis of the medical records of more than 38,000 patients by MGH investigators clarifies the contribution of citalopram and other antidepressants to lengthening of the QT interval, an aspect of the heart's electrical activity that – when prolonged – may increase the risk of dangerous arrhythmias. Tue, 29 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1543 The Center for Celiac Research, under the leadership of Alessio Fasano, MD, has moved from Baltimore to Massachusetts General Hospital for Children (MGHfC) in Boston. Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1544 Two studies in mice suggest that several factors may combine to induce impairments in learning and memory, accompanied by the inflammation of brain tissue, in young mammals receiving general anesthesia and that the offspring of animals that received general anesthesia during pregnancy may show the same effects. Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1545 Investigators at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and MGH have developed a new imaging method that promises to provide fast, accurate images of the human airway to enhance research into new treatments and medications for diseases such as cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Wed, 23 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1542 In patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, cardiopulmonary resuscitation with advanced airway management was a significant predictor of poor neurological outcome compared with conventional bag-valve-mask ventilation. Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1539 Replacing the combination of brand-name, antiretroviral drugs currently recommended for control of HIV infection with soon-to-be-available generic medications could save the U.S. health care system almost $1 billion a year but may diminish the effectiveness of HIV treatment. Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1540 Investigators from MGH and the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program compared rates and causes of death among those served by BHCHP between 2003 to 2008 with data from a 1997 study and found that, while drug overdose had replaced HIV as the leading cause of death, overall mortality rates had not changed. Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1541 A new study finds that local functional connectivity of the brain – the extent to which activity within a small brain region appears to be coordinated – is reduced in individuals with autism spectrum disorders. It had been believed that local connectivity was increased in the brains of autistic individuals while long-range connectivity was reduced. Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1538 Researchers at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital have developed an imaging system enclosed in a capsule about the size of a multivitamin pill that creates detailed, microscopic images of the esophageal wall. Sun, 13 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1536 More than a third of U.S. physicians responding to a national survey indicated they often or sometimes prescribed brand-name drugs when appropriate generic substitutes were available simply because patients requested the brand-name drug. Respondents who had marketing relationships with industry were more likely to fulfill such requests. Mon, 07 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1537 The length of time it takes to resolve a malpractice claim places stress on patients, physicians and the legal system. The time spent with open claims may be even more distressing for physicians than the financial costs of the claims. Mon, 07 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1535 The lifetime risks of cancer from medical radiation may be overemphasized relative to more immediate health risks, according to a new study. Tue, 18 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1534 A study by MGH researchers adds further support to the possibility that increasing levels of urate may protect against Parkinson's disease. The investigators report that mice with a genetic mutation increasing urate levels were protected against Parkinson's-like neurodegeneration, while the damage was worse in animals with abnormally low urate. Mon, 17 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1533 A type of immune cell found in the small intestine plays a previously unsuspected role in monitoring antigens circulating in the bloodstream. Disruption of the newly discovered regulatory system may lead to the development of autoimmune disorders, inflammatory bowel disease or food allergies. Thu, 13 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1532 Patients with terminal cancer who viewed a brief video demonstrating cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) were less likely than patients who only listened to a verbal description of the procedure to indicate a preference for receiving CPR in the event of an in-hospital cardiac arrest. Mon, 10 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1530 A protein known to regulate how cells process glucose also appears to be a tumor suppressor, adding to the potential that therapies directed at cellular metabolism may help suppress tumor growth. Thu, 06 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1531 Researchers using novel approaches and methodologies of identifying genes that contribute to the development of autism have found evidence that disturbances in several immune-system-related pathways contribute to development of autism spectrum disorders. Thu, 06 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1529 A new study finds differences in how participation in Alcoholics Anonymous helps men and women maintain sobriety. For men, avoiding companions and situations that encourage drinking had more powerful effects, while increased confidence in the ability to avoid drinking in response to feelings of sadness or depression was more important for women. Wed, 05 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1526 Treatment with a novel agent that inhibits the activity of SIRT2, an enzyme that regulates many important cellular functions, reduced neurological damage, slowed the loss of motor function and extended survival in two animal models of Huntington's disease. Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1527 Training the next generation of experts dedicated to improving the quality of the U.S. health care system will require a new framework for career development, according to three physicians writing in the January 2013 issue of Academic Medicine. Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1528 Visceral, or deep belly, obesity is a risk factor for bone loss and decreased bone strength in men, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. Wed, 28 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1525 A study by MGH researchers finds that many of the primary care physicians likely to be asked to care for patients newly insured under the Affordable Care Act may be not be accepting new patients. Strategies designed to increase and support these "safety-net" physicians could help ensure that newly covered patients have access to primary care. Mon, 26 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1524 The addition of three-dimensional breast imaging—a technology called tomosynthesis—to standard digital mammography significantly increases radiologists' diagnostic accuracy while reducing false positive recall rates, according to the results of a multi-center study. Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1523 Researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) announced the launch of EDMaps.org, a national emergency room locator which provides the most accurate and up-to-date information on emergency departments in the United States. Mon, 19 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1522 Researchers using a new approach to identifying genes associated with depression have found that variants in a group of genes involved in transmission of signals by the neurotransmitter glutamate appear to increase the risk of depression. Tue, 13 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1520 A new study has found that participating in an 8-week meditation training program can have measurable effects on how the brain functions even when someone is not actively meditating. The researchers also found differences in those effects based on the specific type of meditation practiced. Mon, 12 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1521 MassGeneral Hospital for Children study suggests that parents may not recognize the dangers of smoking in their cars with a child present. Mon, 12 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1519 A novel miniature diagnostic platform using nuclear magnetic resonance technology is capable of detecting minuscule cell particles known as microvesicles in a drop of blood. Detecting microvesicles shed by cancer cells could prove a simple means for diagnosing cancer or monitoring treatment response. Sun, 11 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1515 Investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital and Massachusetts Institute of Technology have identified for the first time a pattern of brain activity that appears to signal exactly when patients lose consciousness under general anesthesia. Mon, 05 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1518 A study of smokers admitted to a large urban teaching hospital in Massachusetts found that 18.4 percent reported smoking during their hospitalization. Mon, 05 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1514 Adding an angiogenesis inhibitor to treatment with a HER2-inhibiting drug could improve outcomes for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer who develop brain metastases. Thu, 01 Nov 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1513 The elevated risk of melanoma among people with red hair and fair skin may be caused by more than just a lack of natural protection against ultraviolet radiation. Resarchers at the MGH Cutaneous Biology Research Center and Cancer Center have found that the type of skin pigment predominantly found in red-haired, fair-skinned individuals may itself contribute to the development of melanoma. Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1517 A study by researchers from the Broad Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital and dozens of other organizations identifies new genes associated with inflammatory bowel disease, many appear to be associated with the immune response against both pathogenic and harmless microbes. Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1516 Patients undergoing treatment for prostate cancer using proton beam therapy reported a higher quality of life in early follow-up with similar QOL scores at two years compared to two other forms of radiation therapy. Sun, 28 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1512 The Angelman Syndrome Clinic, one of only two in the country, will work to reduce the frequency and severity of Angelman syndrome symptoms, particularly seizures, and to develop dietary regimens for individuals that further assist in the reduction of symptoms. Tue, 23 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1511 Understanding who is most susceptible to Alzheimer's disease and developing early detection models, effective therapies and possibly a cure, is the goal of the largest single private scientific grant ever invested in Alzheimer's Whole Genome Sequencing focused on families afflicted with the disease. Thu, 18 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1509 Smokers today have many options to help them quit, and those who think they have "tried it all" usually have not. Tue, 16 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1510 MGH researchers have found that medications currently used to immobilize patients during surgery can increase the risk of postoperative respiratory complications. Tue, 16 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1508 A study of sports programs at three major universities finds that the way the injury commonly called concussion is usually diagnosed – largely based on athletes' subjective symptoms – varies greatly and may not be the best way to determine who is at risk for future problems. Wed, 10 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1506 Studies associating the use of popular anti-heartburn medications with an increased incidence of pneumonia may not have found a true cause-and-effect relationship. A new report also outlines a strategy for determining when the results of such observational studies may have been distorted by unmeasured factors. Mon, 01 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1507 The results of a new phase III trial show that crizotinib, a targeted therapy, is a more effective treatment than standard chemotherapy for patients with advanced, ALK-positive lung cancer. Sun, 30 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1505 Combined treatment with two drugs targeting different points in the same growth-factor pathway delayed the development of treatment resistance in patients with BRAF-positive metastatic malignant melanoma. Sat, 29 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1504 Is aging inevitable? What factors make older tissues less able to maintain and repair themselves? A new study from MGH investigators and collaborators at King's College London describes how muscle repair is impaired during aging and a strategy that may rejuvenate aging tissue by manipulating the environment of muscle stem cells. Wed, 26 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1503 An MGH research team has identified factors that contribute to solid stress within tumors, suggesting possible ways to alleviate it, and has developed a simple way to measure such pressures. Thu, 20 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1502 Slow-wave sleep, or ‘deep sleep’, is intimately involved in the complex control of the onset of puberty, according to a recent stud. Thu, 13 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1500 With the discovery that the unconscious mind plays a key role in the placebo effect, researchers have identified a novel mechanism that helps explain the power of placebos and nocebos. Mon, 10 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1501 Nearly 5 percent of pregnant women are prescribed drugs to treat high blood pressure, including some drugs that aren’t considered safe for mothers or their babies. Mon, 10 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1498 The policies that several states have adopted giving tax deductions or credits to living organ donors do not appear to have increased donation rates, finds a study in the August issue of the American Journal of Transplantation. Thu, 30 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1499 Patients with uncontrolled renovascular hypertension saw a significant improvement in their blood pressure with renal artery stent deployment. Thu, 30 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1497 A study conducted in Mongolian schoolchildren, all of whom had low blood levels of vitamin D at the start of the study, found that vitamin D supplementation cut the risk of respiratory infections in half. Mon, 20 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1496 Two papers that will appear in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, both receiving advance online release, may help identify gene variants that contribute to the risks of developing obsessive-compulsive disorder or Tourette syndrome. Tue, 14 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1495 A phase I clinical trial has confirmed that use of a generic vaccine to raise levels of an immune system modulator can cause the death of autoimmune cells targeting the insulin-secreting cells of the pancreas and temporarily restore insulin secretion in human patients with type 1 diabetes. Wed, 08 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1494 A program designed to encourage more healthful food choices through simple color-coded labels and the positioning of items in display cases was equally successful across all categories of employees in the MGH cafeteria. Tue, 07 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1493 Specially designed comprehensive behavioral therapy is more effective than sessions offering patient support and education in helping adults with Tourette syndrome manage their tics – sudden, repetitive motions or vocalizations – according to a new study. Mon, 06 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1491 A new study has discovered one more way that HIV exploits the immune system. Not only does the virus infect and destroy CD4 T cells – which normally direct and support the infection-fighting activities of other immune cells – the virus also appears to use those cells to travel through the body and infect other CD4 T cells. Wed, 01 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1492 New Down syndrome program offers multiple clinics each week tailored to meet the unique medical and psychosocial needs of patients of all ages. Wed, 01 Aug 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1490 New, less invasive treatment using a flexible bracelet of magnetic beads may bring relief with fewer side effects than traditional surgery Tue, 31 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1488 Researchers have shown for the first time that they can control the behavior of monkeys by using pulses of blue light to very specifically activate particular brain cells. Thu, 26 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1489 A compelling new genetic study tracing the origins of immature egg cells, or 'oocytes', from the embryonic period throughout adulthood adds new information to a growing controversy. Thu, 26 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1487 Incorporating coronary CT angiography into the initial evaluation of low-risk patients coming to hospital emergency departments with chest pain appears to reduce the time patients spend in the hospital without incurring additional costs or exposing patients to significant risks. Wed, 25 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1486 Aspirin use appears to reduce the risk of Barrett's esophagus, the largest known risk factor for esophageal cancer. Mon, 23 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1485 The elevated risk of cardiovascular disease seen in patients infected with HIV appears to be associated with increased inflammation within the arteries, according to a study in a special issue of JAMA published in conjunction with the International AIDS Conference. Sun, 22 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1484 Researchers from the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard report that a mouse model with a human immune system accurately reflects the human immune response to HIV infection and has the potential to reduce significantly the time and costs required to test candidate vaccines. Wed, 18 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1483 Massachusetts General Hospital has moved into the number one spot on the 2012-13 U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Hospitals” list. Tue, 17 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1482 A new study finds that the use of drug-eluting stents after angioplasty bears little relationship to patients' predicted risk of restenosis (reblockage) of the treated coronary artery, the situation the devices are designed to prevent. Mon, 09 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1481 New research by a team from the Broad Institute, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Massachusetts General Hospital suggests that how cancer evade drug treatment may depend on the interplay between tumor cells and their healthy counterparts. Wed, 04 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1480 Detailed analysis of genes expressed in circulating tumor cells – cells that break off from solid tumors and travel through the bloodstream – has identified a potential treatment target in metastatic pancreatic cancer. Sun, 01 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1479 A heart attack doesn't just damage heart muscle tissue by cutting off its blood supply, it also sets off an inflammatory cascade that worsens underlying atherosclerosis, actively increasing the risk for a future heart attack, a new study finds. Wed, 27 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1478 Magnetic fields generated by microscopic devices implanted into the brain may be able to modulate brain-cell activity and reduce symptoms of several neurological disorders. Tue, 26 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1477 A study from MGH researchers finds that a structure deep within the brain, believed to play an important role in regulating conscious control of goal-directed behavior, helps to optimize responses to changing conditions by predicting how difficult upcoming tasks will be. Sun, 24 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1476 According to a new study by researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital, MGH and Cambridge Health Alliance, certain noises in a common hospital setting can disrupt sleep and negatively affect brain activity and cardiovascular function. Tue, 12 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1475 Researchers at the Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital have identified a portion of the brain responsible for determining how far away a sound originates, a process not relying solely on how loud the sound is. Mon, 11 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1474 The rare ability of some individuals to control HIV infection with their immune system alone appears to depend – at least partially – on specific qualities of the immune system's killer T cells and not on how many of those cells are produced. Sun, 10 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1472 An analysis of records from the 200-year history of Massachusetts General Hospital reveals trends in the value of health care since the early 19th century. Wed, 06 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1471 This state-of-the-art facility combines the most advanced 3-D biomechanical imaging technology with the clinical expertise of Massachusetts General Hospital. Mon, 04 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1473 Researchers from the Broad Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital have produced the first large-scale atlas of cancer metabolism, which points to a key role for the smallest amino acid, glycine, in cancer cell proliferation. Thu, 24 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1469 Use of the antioxidant urate to protect against the neurodegeneration caused by Parkinson's disease appears to rely on more than urate's ability to protect against oxidative damage. Wed, 23 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1467 MGH surgeons have developed a new technique for reconstructing the larynx after surgery for advanced cancer. The approach uses cryopreserved aortas from deceased donors to replace removed larynx tissue and allows some patients to avoid a permanent tracheotomy and maintain voice and swallowing function. Mon, 21 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1468 A study involving 27 orthopedic surgery residents suggests that surgical residents are often fatigued during their awake time, according to a report in the May issue of Archives of Surgery, a JAMA Network publication. Mon, 21 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1463 The "2012 Run-Walk to Home Base Presented By New Balance"starts and ends at Fenway Park, with a timed finish at the iconic Green Monster and “photo finish” crossing home plate. Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1465 A new study in Nature reports that two people with tetraplegia were able to reach for and grasp objects in three-dimensional space using robotic arms that they controlled directly with brain activity. Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1466 A new paper published online in The Lancet challenges the assumption that raising a person’s HDL — the so-called “good cholesterol” — will necessarily lower the risk of a heart attack. Wed, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1464 A study from Massachusetts General Hospital researchers suggests that specific populations of tumor cells have different roles in the process by which tumors make new copies of themselves and grow. Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1462 A CT-scan-based form of virtual colonoscopy that does not require laxative preparation appears to be as effective as standard colonoscopy in identifying the intestinal polyps most likely to become cancerous. Mon, 14 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1461 Resident physicians' participation in a brief training program designed to increase empathy with their patients produced significant improvement in how patients perceived their interactions with the residents. Mon, 07 May 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1460 A new approach to investigating hard-to-find chromosomal abnormalities has identified 33 genes associated with autism and related disorders, 22 for the first time. Several of these genes also appear to be altered in different ways in individuals with psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia. Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1459 An assessment of 12-step meetings and recommended activities has found that attendance, participation, and finding a sponsor promote greater abstinence among adolescents. Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1458 Two MGH-based research teams, along with a group from the University of California at San Diego, have discovered that animals have a previously unknown system for detecting and responding to pathogens and toxins. Thu, 12 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1456 Combining two strategies designed to improve the results of cancer treatment – antiangiogenesis drugs and nanomedicines – may only be successful if the smallest nanomedicines are used. Mon, 09 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1457 Development of a new way to make a powerful tool for altering gene sequences should greatly increase the ability of researchers to knock out or otherwise alter the expression of any gene they are studying. Mon, 09 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1453 MGH researchers have taken a critical step in making possible the discovery in the relatively near future of a drug to control cystic fibrosis, a fatal lung disease that claims about 500 lives each year, with 1,000 new cases diagnosed annually. Thu, 05 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1454 The ability of the commonly used stimulant methylphenidate (Ritalin) to speed recovery from general anesthesia appears to apply both to the inhaled gas isoflurane, as previously reported, and to the intravenous drug propofol. Thu, 05 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1452 A consortium led by researchers from the Broad Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital and six other organizations has taken a step toward addressing the genetic component of autism by searching for mutations in the fraction of the human genome that codes for proteins. Wed, 04 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1450 Vascular surgeons at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) treated the first patient in New England in the Ventana U.S. Clinical Trial last week. MGH is one of 25 sites in the U.S. chosen to participate in this prospective, multicenter research study approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Ventana™ Fenestrated System for the endovascular repair of juxtarenal (JAA) and pararenal (PAA) aortic aneurysms. Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1451 A small study from MGH researchers found that online virtual communities may be an effective way to train patients in meditation and other mind/body techniques. The ability to learn and practice approaches that elicit the relaxation response in a virtual environment could help surmount several barriers that can restrict participation. Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1447 An MGH research team has discovered a remarkably simple organizational structure in the brains of humans and other primates, finding that the pathways carrying neural signals through the brain are arranged not in a disorganized tangle but in a curved, three-dimensional grid Thu, 29 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1449 In the largest study of its kind, researchers have profiled genetic changes in cancer with drug sensitivity in order to develop a personalized approach to cancer treatments. Wed, 28 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1448 A genetic finding could help explain why influenza becomes a life-threating disease to some people while it has only mild effects in others. Sun, 25 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1455 Taking vitamin E supplements does not increase or decrease heart failure risk among women, according to a study led by MGH physician Claudia Chae, MD. Tue, 20 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1446 Mutations in HIV that develop during the first few weeks of infection may play a critical role in undermining a successful early immune response, a finding that reveals the importance of vaccines targeting regions of the virus that are less likely to mutate. Thu, 08 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1444 A new investigational drug significantly reduced urinary cortisol levels and improved symptoms of Cushing's disease in the largest clinical study of this endocrine disorder ever conducted. Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1445 Treatment with the common diabetes drug metformin appears to prevent progression of coronary atherosclerosis in patients infected with HIV. Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1443 The association of the inhaled anesthetic isoflurane with Alzheimer's-disease-like changes in mammalian brains may by caused by the drug's effects on mitochondria, the structures in which most cellular energy is produced. Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1442 A subpopulation of the immune cells targeted by HIV may play an important role in controlling viral loads after initial infection, potentially helping to determine how quickly infection will progress. Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1441 MGH researchers have isolated egg-producing stem cells from the ovaries of reproductive age women and shown these cells can produce what appear to be normal egg cells or oocytes. Sun, 26 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1440 Massachusetts General Hospital research has found that insulin production may persist for decades after the onset of type 1 diabetes. Beta cell functioning also appears to be preserved in some patients years after apparent loss of pancreatic function. Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1439 Researchers from the MGH Cancer Center have identified a new potential strategy for treating colon tumors driven by mutations in the KRAS gene, which usually resist both conventional and targeted treatments. Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1438 Almost a year's treatment with a vitamin D compound did not alleviate key structural and functional cardiovascular abnormalities in patients with kidney disease and cardiac enlargement. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1437 A distinctive pattern of brain activity associated with conditions including deep anesthesia, coma and congenital brain disorders appears to represent the brain's shift into a protective, low-activity state in response to reduced metabolic energy. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1435 A significant minority of physicians responding to a national survey disagreed with or admitted not upholding accepted standards of professionalism for open and honest communication with patients. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1436 A series of 14 free, live, on-line trainings for primary care, VA, community mental health, and other providers begins Thursday, February 23, 2012. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1434 Researchers at MassGeneral Hospital for Children, The Jackson Laboratory and other institutes have uncovered 27 new candidate genes for congenital diaphragmatic hernia, a common and often deadly birth defect. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1433 The initial assessment of a blood test to help diagnose major depressive disorder indicates it may become a useful clinical tool. A team including MGH researchers reports that analyzing levels of nine biomarkers accurately distinguished patients diagnosed with depression from control participants without significant false-positive results. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1432 MGH Cancer Center investigators have defined the role of a recently identified gene abnormality – rearrangements in the ROS1 gene – in non-small-cell lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. They also show that these tumors can be treated with crizotinib and describe the remarkable response of one patient to such treatment. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1431 A simple program involving color-coded food labeling and adjusting the way food items are positioned in display cases was successful in encouraging more healthful food choices in a large hospital cafeteria. Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1430 Investigators at the MGH Cancer Center have identified a new genetic signature associated with bile duct cancer, a usually deadly tumor for which effective treatment currently is limited. Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1429 Using two drugs that inhibit the growth factor HER2 for preoperative treatment of early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer appears to have better results than treatment with a single agent. Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1428 MGH investigators have developed a novel strategy to protect the liver from drug-induced injury and improve associated drug safety. The team reports that inhibition of a type of cell-to-cell communication can protect against the damage caused by liver-toxic drugs such as acetaminophen. Sun, 15 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1427 Investigators in the MGH Center for Systems Biology have discovered a previously unknown type of immune cell, a B cell that can produce the important growth factor GM-CSF, which stimulates many other immune cells. They also found that these novel cells may help protect against the overwhelming, life-threatening immune reaction known as sepsis. Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1426 A new study finds that participating in these races actually is associated with a relatively low risk of cardiac arrest, compared to other forms of athletics. The study also identifies bystander-initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation as a key factor in patient survival. Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1425 Eliminating new infant HIV infections in Zimbabwe will require not only improved access to antiretroviral medications but also support to help HIV-infected mothers continue taking their medication and safely reduce or eliminate breastfeeding, according to study led by MGH investigators. Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1423 In a commentary in the December 20 Annals of Internal Medicine, investigators from MGH, the University of Southern California, and the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University describe the probable contribution of Internet pharmacies to prescription drug abuse and outline potential strategies for addressing the problem. Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1424 Being able to define and measure patient complexity has important implications for how care is organized, how physicians and health care systems are paid, and how resources are allocated. A study by MGH researchers finds that primary care physicians define patient complexity using more factors than are used in common approaches. Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1422 Treatment that increases brain levels of an important regulatory enzyme may slow the loss of brain cells that characterizes Huntington's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Sun, 18 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1421 3rd Annual Run-Walk benefits Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans and Families Affected by Combat Stress and Traumatic Brain Injury Sat, 10 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1420 Serious traumatic injuries, including major burns, set off a "genomic storm" in human immune cells, altering around 80 percent of the cells' normal gene expression patterns. Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1419 A small percentage of the deadly brain tumors called glioblastomas, which usually resist treatment with drugs targeting mutations in cell-growth genes, appears to contain extra copies of two or three of these genes at the same time. The surprising discovery has major implications for the understanding of tumor biology and for targeted cancer therapies. Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1418 In a new study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, growth hormone replacement for six months was found to increase bone formation in abdominally obese women. Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1417 Neuron transplants have repaired brain circuitry and substantially normalized function in mice with a brain disorder, an advance indicating that key areas of the mammalian brain are more reparable than was widely believed. Thu, 24 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1416 Treatment with dexpramipexole – a novel drug believed to prevent dysfunction of mitochondria, the subcellular structures that provide most of a cell's energy – appears to slow symptom progression in the neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also called Lou Gehrig's disease. Sun, 20 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1415 An international clinical trial has found that treatment with a drug that suppresses the normal breakdown of bone can delay the development of bone metastases in men with prostate cancer. Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1414 A major international study has identified a novel gene mutation that appears to increase the risk of both inherited and sporadic cases of malignant melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. The identified mutation occurs in the gene encoding MITF, a transcription factor that induces the production of several important proteins in melanocytes, the cells in which melanoma originates. Sun, 13 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1413 A new device that combines two microimaging technologies can reveal both the detailed anatomy of arterial linings and biological activities that, in coronary arteries, could indicate the risk of heart attacks or the formation of clots in arterial stents. Sun, 06 Nov 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1412 The Association of American Medical Colleges, representing medical schools and teaching hospitals and health systems, has awarded MGH its 2011 Spencer Foreman Award for Outstanding Community Service. (Scroll down for video). Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1411 Adding regular testing for blood levels of a biomarker of cardiac distress to standard care for the most common form of heart failure may significantly reduce the incidence of cardiovascular complications, a new MGH study finds. Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1410 MGH researchers – along with collaborators from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals – have found a way to block, in an animal model, the damaging inflammation that contributes to many disease conditions. Sun, 09 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1409 Investigators at the MGH Center for Regenerative Medicine and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute have found that Sox2 – one of the transcription factors used in the conversion of adult stem cells into induced pluripotent stem cells – is expressed in many adult tissues where it had not been previously observed. Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1408 In the October issue of Health Affairs, Lisa Iezzoni, MD, director of the Mongan Institute for Health Policy at MGH, analyzes available information on disparities affecting people with disabilities and highlights barriers that continue to restrict their access to health services. Wed, 05 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1407 In a new research paper BWH and MGH researchers identify a transcriptional biomarker that may assist in the monitoring of Huntington's disease activity and in the evaluation of new medications. Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1404 Long-term administration of the dietary supplement saw palmetto, even at three times the usual dose, did not reduce symptoms of prostate enlargement significantly better than placebo in a large group of middle-aged men. Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1403 Administration of the commonly used stimulant drug methylphenidate was able to speed recovery from general anesthesia in an animal study conducted at MGH. The report is the first demonstration in mammals of what could be a safe and effective way to induce arousal from general anesthesia. Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1402 Christopher J. McDougle, MD has been named director of the Lurie Center for Autism at Massachusetts General Hospital and MassGeneral Hospital for Children. Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1401 Among the many ways that participation in Alcoholics Anonymous helps its members stay sober, two appear to be most important – spending more time with individuals who support efforts towards sobriety and increased confidence in the ability to maintain abstinence in social situations. Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1400 A new report from MGH scientists and colleagues around the world finds that common variants in 28 regions of DNA are associated with blood pressure in human patients. Most of the identified regions were completely unsuspected, and several may lead to a totally new class of hypertension drugs. Sun, 11 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1399 Children who live in households where they are exposed to tobacco smoke miss more days of school than do children living in smoke-free homes. A report from MGH investigators also finds such children have higher rates of respiratory illnesses caused by second-hand smoke and details the probable economic costs of increased their school absences. Mon, 05 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1398 A novel imaging probe developed by MGH investigators may make it possible to diagnose accurately a dangerous infection of the heart valves Sun, 21 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1397 While most U.S. physicians will face a malpractice lawsuit at some time in their careers, a new study finds, the vast majority of those suits will not result in payment to a plaintiff. The report provides the most comprehensive analysis of the risk of malpractice claims by specialty in more than two decades. Wed, 17 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1396 MGH investigators suggest that – since strains and sprains, which account for over a third of lower extremity injuries treated at emergency departments, are not life-threatening – telephone triage and scheduled care appointments might be a better use of precious emergency healthcare resources. Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1395 A new study shows for the first time that natural killer cells, which are part of the body's first-line defence against infection, can contribute to the immune response against HIV. The findings may help develop new preventive or treatment strategies. Wed, 03 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1394 A novel therapy that reduces elevated blood levels of a potentially toxic protein in women with preeclampsia, a dangerous complication of pregnancy, may someday address the therapeutic dilemma posed by the condition – balancing life-threatening risks to the mother with the dangers that early delivery poses to an immature fetus. Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1392 New tool is designed to help pediatricians and other clinicians identify and address the signs of deployment-related stress among children and families. Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1389 On Sunday, July 17, The MGH Center for Global Health will deploy 6 clinicians to Hospital Albert Schweitzer in Deschapelles, Haiti, in response to resurging cases of cholera. Thu, 14 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1390 Scientists at the Broad Institute and MGH have discovered a novel compound that selectively blocks the ability of cancer cells to block the oxidative stress produced by rapid tumor growth, killing cancer cells more effectively than a currently used chemotherapy drug. Wed, 13 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1391 Short-term hormone therapy given in combination with radiation therapy for men with early-stage prostate cancer increases their chance of living longer and not dying from the disease, compared with patients who receive the same radiation therapy alone. Wed, 13 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1388 A multi-institutional research team has found that details of a family history of cancer – which can affect recommendations for screening examinations such as colonoscopies and mammograms – frequently change in adults aged 30 to 50. Tue, 12 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1387 Researchers at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at MGH have developed a one-micrometer-resolution version of the intravascular imaging technology optical coherence tomography that can reveal cellular and subcellular features of coronary artery disease. Sun, 10 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1386 A $1.1 million competitive national grant from the McCormick Foundation and Major League Baseball will be used to support the Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program to expand access to care for veterans with traumatic brain injury or combat stress and support services for their families. Fri, 08 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1385 A strategy that has been shown to reduce age-related health problems in several animal studies may also combat a major cause of age-associated infertility and birth defects. Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1384 MGH researchers have discovered the first of an entirely new class of antiangiogenesis drugs – agents that interfere with the development of blood vessels. The compound, derived from a South American tree, uses a novel mechanism to block blood vessel formation. Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1383 Mass General Imaging - Worcester now introduces 3D mammography technology that promises to improve breast cancer detection. Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1380 Promising results of a Phase I clinical trial of the generic drug BCG to treat advanced type I diabetes are being announced today at the American Diabetes Association scientific sessions. An MGH research team is describing the apparent reproduction in human patients of a mechanism that reversed type 1 diabetes in a mouse model. Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1381 A comprehensive appraisal of management options for patients with low-back disorders was released today by the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, based within the MGH Institute for Technology Assessment. Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1379 MGH investigators may have found the mechanism behind a previously reported link between the rare genetic condition Gaucher disease and the common neurodegenerative disorder Parkinson's disease. Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1378 In a new finding that may allow vaccine designers to sidestep HIV's rapid mutation rate, researchers at the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard have identified sections of an HIV protein where mutations would actually undermine the virus’ fitness – its ability to survive and reproduce. Tue, 21 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1376 Many of the nation’s top experts in mental health care for veterans gather in Boston to assist community-based healthcare professionals to effectively identify and treat returning veterans who suffer from psychological and physical wounds of deployment. Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1377 Clergy members and spiritual leaders of all denominations are invited to attend an innovative symposium that focuses on understanding and guiding the recovery of veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as their families. Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1375 Celebrating 200 years of medical innovation and advancement, Massachusetts General Hospital designates June 20-24, 2011, Lunder Dedication Week, to highlight the opening of the new 14-floor building that will expand clinical space at the heart of the main campus. Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1374 New England-area motorcycle enthusiasts are kick starting their bikes and riding in the first Ride for Our Heroes on Saturday September 24. Ride for Our Heroes supports the Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program’s services for veterans and families affected by combat stress and traumatic brain injury. Tue, 14 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1373 Two investigators at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital have developed a living laser, in which a single cell genetically engineered to express green fluorescent protein is used to amplify photons into nanosecond-long pulses of laser light Sun, 12 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1372 New research finds that gestational diabetes, or pregnancy-related diabetes, may not raise the risk of heart disease independent of other cardiovascular risk factors except in certain high-risk populations. Mon, 06 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1371 Young female athletes who have stopped menstruating have a weakening in the quality of their bone structure that may predispose them to breaking a bone, despite getting plenty of weight-bearing exercise, a new study finds. Sun, 05 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1370 Estrogen therapy improves low bone density in teenage girls with anorexia nervosa when given as a patch or at an oral dose close to the form or amount the body makes naturally. Sat, 04 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1369 The authors of a New England Journal of Medicine Perspective article link the U.S. “epidemic of mass incarceration” to inadequate treatment of addiction and mental illness. Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1367 An analysis of more than 10 years of data confirms that ADHD alone significantly increases the risk of future cigarette smoking and substance abuse in both boys and girls. Tue, 31 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1366 First-of-its-kind Webster Center for Advanced Research and Education in Radiation devoted to achieving the lowest radiation dose for every patient. Availability of CT exam protocols gives radiology practitioners worldwide access to more than a decade’s worth of clinical expertise on reducing radiation exposure Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1368 The physical forces that guide how cells manage to get from place to place inside the living body are poorly understood. Now scientists have for the first time devised a way to measure these forces during collective cellular migration. Sun, 22 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1365 New research shows that PCR testing for Borrelia burgdorferi DNA—the spirochetal bacteria transmitted by deer ticks—in joint fluid may confirm the diagnosis of Lyme arthritis, but is not a reliable indicator for active joint infection in patients whose arthritis persists. Tue, 17 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1363 Increasing access to rogue online pharmacies that dispense medications without a doctor's prescription may be an important factor behind the rapid increase in the abuse of prescription drugs. Thu, 12 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1364 According to a new study released online today, a majority of Americans, including most African Americans, stand together in support of banning menthol in cigarettes just as other cigarette flavorings have now been banned by the FDA. Thu, 12 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1361 Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may be an exception to the rule that being overweight is a health hazard. In a retrospective study of over 400 ALS patients, MGH researchers found that those who were mildly obese survived longer than patients who were normal weight, underweight or even overweight. Wed, 11 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1360 Researchers at the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard have found that – as HIV proteins are broken down within cells, a process that should help label infected cells for destruction – the stability of resulting protein segments varies greatly, variations that may change how well cells are recognized by the immune system. Mon, 09 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1359 A subgroup of adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) also exhibit excessive emotional reactions to everyday occurrences, and this combination of ADHD and emotional reactivity appears to run in families, an MGH study finds. Thu, 05 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1358 Study led by MGHfC investigator Jonathan Winickoff, MD, MPH, finds that children of parents who smoke are often exposed to tobacco in their parent's cars. Sun, 01 May 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1357 The positive effects of mindfulness meditation on pain and working memory may result from an improved ability to regulate a crucial brain wave called the alpha rhythm, which is thought to "turn down the volume" on distracting information. Thu, 21 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1356 According to a new study, severely obese adolescents are no more likely to be depressed than normal weight peers. The study, which has been released online in the Journal of Adolescent Health, did find that white adolescents may be somewhat more vulnerable to psychological effects of obesity. Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1355 Subtle differences in brain anatomy among older individuals with normal cognitive skills may be able to predict both the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease in the following decade and how quickly symptoms of dementia would develop. Wed, 13 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1354 In addition to crossing home plate, runners will be able to win terrific prizes including Green Monster tickets, New Balance gift cards and autographed Red Sox jerseys. Mon, 04 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1352 Researchers using two brain-imaging technologies have found that apparently normal older individuals with brain deposits of amyloid beta – the primary constituent of the plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients – also had changes in brain structure similar to those seen in Alzheimer's patients. Wed, 30 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1350 The first study to examine the activity of hundreds of individual human brain cells during seizures has found that seizures begin with extremely diverse neuronal activity, contrary to the classic view that they are characterized by massively synchronized activity. Sun, 27 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1351 An investigational implanted system being developed to translate brain signals toward control of assistive devices has allowed a woman with paralysis to accurately control a computer cursor at 2.7 years after implantation, providing a key demonstration that neural activity can be read out and converted into action for an unprecedented length of time. Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1348 A detailed analysis of lung tumors that became resistant to targeted therapy drugs has revealed two previously unreported resistance mechanisms. The report also describes how the cellular nature of some tumors can change in response to treatment and finds how resistance-conferring mutations can disappear after treatment is discontinued. Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1349 Genes make up only a tiny percentage of the human genome, but the rest may hold vital clues about the genetic origins of disease. Using a new mapping strategy, a research team has begun to assign meaning to the regions beyond our genes and has revealed how minute changes in these regions might be connected to common diseases. Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1346 A new study, to be published in the April 2011 issue of Pediatrics, shows that 60 percent of parents -- smoking and non-smoking -- indicate that they would like their children tested for tobacco smoke exposure during pediatric visits. Mon, 21 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1347 Measuring the levels of small molecules in the blood may be able to identify individuals at elevated risk of developing type 2 diabetes as much as a decade before symptoms of the disorder appear. Sun, 20 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1345 Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) today celebrates the launch of its new history book, Something in the Ether: A Bicentennial History of Massachusetts General Hospital, 1811-2011, by local author Webster Bull and his daughter, Martha Bull. The 527-page hardcover volume commemorates 200 years of medicine, capturing the spirit of the nation’s third oldest general hospital as conveyed through work of some of the most captivating, colorful and inspiring characters in health care, past and present. Fri, 18 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1343 A new mathematical model of the Haitian cholera epidemic, based on current knowledge about the transmission and course of the disease, finds that current projections regarding the size and extent of the epidemic may greatly underestimate the eventual number of cases. Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1344 Elevated levels of p21, a protein best known as a cancer fighter, may be involved in the ability of a few individuals to control HIV infection with their immune system alone. Mon, 14 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1342 The reduced risk of colorectal cancer associated with taking aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be limited to individuals already at risk because of elevations in a specific inflammatory factor in the blood. Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1340 The Breast Imaging Program at Massachusetts General Hospital today welcomes its first patient to undergo three-dimensional breast tomosynthesis screening. Also known as 3D mammography, this technology promises to improve cancer detection and reduce false positives. Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1341 An MGHfC study published in the March 2011 Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine shows that Massachusetts' new court-ordered mental health screening and intervention program led to more children being identified as behaviorally and emotionally at risk. Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1339 An international research collaboration has identified 13 new gene sites associated with the risk of coronary artery disease and validated 10 sites found in previous studies. Several of the novel sites discovered do not appear to relate to known risk factors, suggesting previously unsuspected mechanisms for cardiovascular disease. Sun, 06 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1338 Dr. Young-Min Kwon honored with Kappa Delta Investigator Award for outstanding research in Orthopaedic surgery. Fri, 04 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1337 A new study finds that a brain rhythm considered the hallmark of wakefulness not only persists inconspicuously during sleep but also signifies an individual's vulnerability to disturbance by the outside world. Thu, 03 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1336 A strategy developed by MGH researchers to shield the ovaries of female mammals from the damaging effects of radiation and chemotherapy has passed an important milestone with the report that brief pretreatment with an FDA-approved drug preserved the fertility of female rhesus monkeys exposed to potentially lethal doses of radiation. Tue, 22 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1335 An MGH study has identified a new role for an important enzyme in preparing lung tissue for the development of metastases. The findings may help development of strategies to slow or halt the process. Wed, 16 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1334 The MGH research team that previously discovered tumor-associated RNA in tiny membrane-enclosed sacs released into the bloodstream by cancer cells has now found that these microvesicles also contain segments of tumor DNA, including so-called "jumping genes" that copy and insert themselves into other areas of the genome. Thu, 10 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1333 Homeless people who do not get enough to eat use hospitals and emergency rooms at very high rates, according to a new study from MGH and Boston Health Care for the Homeless. Thu, 03 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1332 Low doses of an inexpensive, FDA-approved hypertension medication may improve the results of nanotherapeutic approaches to cancer treatment. Wed, 02 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1331 Massachusetts General Hospital investigators have developed a novel system for delivery of growth factors to chronic wounds such as pressure sores and diabetic foot ulcers. Wed, 26 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1329 Participating in an 8-week mindfulness meditation program appears to make measurable changes in brain regions associated with memory, sense of self, empathy and stress. Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1330 The use of CT scanning to evaluate abdominal pain in emergency departments can help physicians arrive at a diagnosis quickly and decisively. Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1328 The Massachusetts General Hospital Bipolar Clinic and Research Program is launching a 10-site nationwide trial evaluating the real-world advantages and disadvantages of second generation mood stabilizing medications compared to lithium. Tue, 18 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1327 MGH Cancer Center researchers have discovered a previously unknown feature of common tumor cells – massive overexpression of satellite repeats, which are DNA sequences that do not code for proteins. The findings may improve understanding of tumor development and provide a new cancer biomarker. Thu, 13 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1326 A computer decision model suggests that for patients with a history of bleeding within the brain, the risk of recurrence associated with statin treatment may outweigh the benefit of the drug in preventing cardiovascular disease, according to a report posted online today that will appear in the May print issue of Archives of Neurology. Mon, 10 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1324 MGH has entered into a collaborative agreement with Veridex LLC to establish a center of excellence in research on circulating tumor cell technologies. Mon, 03 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1322 January 1, 2011, marks the start on Mass General's bicentennial anniversary. Find out how the hospital is celebrating this momentous milestone. Wed, 29 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1323 Emery Brown, MD, PhD, author of a New England Journal of Medicine review article, lays out a conceptual framework for understanding general anesthesia by discussing its relation to sleep and coma. Wed, 29 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1320 Vitamin D levels of newborn babies appear to predict their risk of respiratory infections during infancy and the occurrence of wheezing during early childhood, but not the risk of developing asthma. Mon, 27 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1321 Scientists have discovered that the amygdala, a small almond shaped structure deep within the temporal lobe, is important to a rich and varied social life among humans. Mon, 27 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1319 Thousands of fans who participate in the annual run will be able to experience the thrill of crossing home plate at Fenway Park while raising funds to support clinical treatment for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Wed, 22 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1325 A comparative analysis found wide disparities in the results of four common measures of hospital-wide mortality rates, with competing methods yielding both higher- and lower-than-expected rates for the same hospitals during the same year. Wed, 22 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1317 The 2011 Warren Triennial Prize – the top scientific award presented by the MGH – will be awarded to Shinya Yamanaka, MD, PhD, and Rudolf Jaenisch, MD, pioneers in developing methods to reprogram adult cells into pluripotent cells with the developmental potential of embryonic stem cells. Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1318 A new study shows that, as attendance at AA meetings increases, so do the participants' spiritual beliefs, especially in those individuals who had low spirituality at the beginning of the study. Tue, 14 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1316 A new study from MassGeneral Hospital for Children and the University of Rochester Medical Center shows significant evidence of tobacco smoke exposure in the blood of children who live in multi-unit housing. Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1315 A team led by MGH researchers has developed a faster way to engineer synthetic enzymes that target specific DNA sequences for inactivation, repair or alteration. Sun, 12 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1314 A team of researchers has determined that the strain of cholera erupting in Haiti matches bacterial samples from South Asia and not those from Latin America. The scientists conclude that the bacteria introduced into Haiti most likely came from an infected human, contaminated food or other item from outside of Latin America. Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1313 Among patients with depression, the presence of symptoms associated with bipolar disorder does not appear to be associated with treatment resistance, according to a study from MGH investigators. However, many patients with depression also report psychotic-like symptoms, such as hearing voices or believing they are being spied on or plotted against, and those patients are less likely to respond to treatment. Mon, 06 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1312 As part of the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation's season-long "Kick Cancer" initiative, and in partnership with Mass General Hospital, the Patriots will promote colorectal cancer awareness at the December 6 Monday night matchup at Gillette Stadium versus the New York Jets. Thu, 02 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1311 A new study from MGH Cancer Center researchers finds that circulating tumor cells bring along from the original tumor site noncancerous cells that facilitate the development of metastases. Wed, 01 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1309 MGH President Peter L. Slavin appointed chair of a council representing the interests of major teaching hospitals in the United States and Canada. Tue, 30 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1310 A study presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America found that having too much internal abdominal fat may have a damaging effect on bone health. Tue, 30 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1307 A new study will measure the ability of probiotic bacteria GanedenBC30 (Bacillus coagulans GB1-30, 6086) to help people diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and major depressive disorder (MDD). Tue, 23 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1308 A systematic review of the use of Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography for patients with suspected coronary artery disease found that the technology has high diagnostic accuracy but was unable to determine its effectiveness in supporting clinical decision-making or improving patient outcomes. Mon, 22 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1305 A treatment model designed to accommodate the beliefs and concerns of Chinese immigrants increased the percentage of depressed patients entering treatment nearly sevenfold. Thu, 18 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1306 With backing from a consortium of New England state health policy leaders, the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review - the based at the MGH Institute for Technology Assessment - will spearhead the formation of a New England Healthcare Advisory Council to provide objective, independent guidance on the application of medical evidence to clinical practice and payer policy decisions across New England. Thu, 18 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1303 An MGH physician-researcher and a Harvard University mathematician have collaborated to develop a mathematical model reflecting how red blood cells change during their four-month lifespan. The model uses data from routine blood tests and may be able to predict the development of anemia. Fri, 12 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1302 MGH celebrates 100 years of comprehensive pediatric services, 50 years of pediatric surgery, and a decade as Mass General Hospital for Children. Thu, 11 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1304 A new study finds that an FDA-approved drug to treat the rare autoimmune disorder immune thromobocytopenia (ITP) is more effective than earlier medical therapies in helping patients avoid surgical treatment and significantly improving their quality of life. Wed, 10 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1300 By combining optical and x-ray imaging, radiologists may be better able to distinguish cancer from benign lesions in the breast, according to an MGH study. Tue, 09 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1299 A new survey finds that, while the number of physicians who report having relationships with pharmaceutical manufacturers or other industrial companies has dropped in recent years, the vast majority of them still maintain such relationships. Mon, 08 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1297 Broadening the Response: The Role of Academic Medical Centers in Global Health, will bring together the foremost global health leaders and policy makers to discuss how best to build, strengthen and expand on global partnerships. Mon, 08 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1298 President Obama today named 85 researchers as recipients of the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers, the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their independent research careers. Fri, 05 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1296 Tiny variants in a protein that alerts the immune system to the presence of infection may underlie the rare ability of some individuals to control HIV infection without the need for medications. Thu, 04 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1295 International travel is the primary way many infections traverse the world. Despite these potential risks, a recent study conducted by the Division of Infectious Diseases found that 46 percent of travelers to resource-limited countries did not seek health advice or vaccinations prior to departure. Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1293 The 2005 ethics rules that govern relationships between researchers within the National Institutes of Health and pharmaceutical, biotechnology and other industrial companies have significantly reduced the prevalence of such collaborations without affecting standard measures of research productivity. Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1294 Millions of Medicare recipients have been forcibly reassigned to different prescription drug plans because Part D reimbursements to insurance companies covering low-income patients are lower than the actual costs incurred, according to a study from the Mongan Institute for Health Policy at MGH. Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1292 A clinical trial of a potential new targeted treatment drug has provided powerful evidence that it can halt or reverse the growth of lung tumors characterized by alterations in the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene. Wed, 27 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1290 The Employers Action Coalition on Healthcare and the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, part of the Massachusetts General Hospital’s Institute for Technology Assessment, are launching a new website designed to give patients recently diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer objective information about treatment choices. Mon, 18 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1291 An enzyme that keeps intestinal bacteria out of the bloodstream may also play an important role in maintaining the normal microbial population of the gastrointestinal system. Mon, 18 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1288 A new educational collaboration between Maine and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) seeks to expand the range of health care education programs, materials and opportunities available to providers, patients, families and veterans throughout the state of Maine. Fri, 15 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1289 Massachusetts General Hospital today formally launched the largest fundraising campaign in its history and the most ambitious capital campaign ever among health care institutions in New England. Fri, 15 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1287 Discovery of a molecular switch that turns off the natural process of skin pigmentation may lead to a novel way of protecting the skin – activating the tanning process without exposure to cancer-causing UV radiation. Thu, 14 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1286 A redesigned version of the CTC-Chip – a microchip-based device for capturing rare circulating tumor cells (CTCs) – appears to be more effective and should be easier to manufacture than the original. Called the HB-(herringbone) Chip, the new device also may provide more comprehensive and easily accessible data from captured tumor cells. Tue, 12 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1285 An international consortium has made significant inroads into uncovering the genetic basis of obesity by identifying 18 new gene sites associated with overall obesity and 13 that affect fat distribution. The studies include data from nearly a quarter of a million participants, the largest genetic investigation of human traits to date. Sun, 10 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1283 A comprehensive appraisal of the management options for the irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation, prepared by the MGH-based Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, details the comparative clinical effectiveness and value of several strategies for restoring rhythm control and preventing stroke. Thu, 30 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1282 Nearly 70,000 fans pack the stands at Gillette Stadium for every Patriots home game and, statistically, far too many of them will develop cancer in their lifetimes. With support from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital – the founding hospitals of Partners HealthCare – and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation has launched Kick Cancer, a season-long initiative to increase cancer awareness among Patriots fans. Mon, 27 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1280 The well-documented disparities in cardiac care may begin almost as soon as patients arrive at hospital emergency rooms, Mass. General investigators find. Fri, 24 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1281 The National Institutes of Health has awarded grants totaling $40 million to map the human brain's connections in high resolution. Better understanding of such connectivity promises improved diagnosis and treatment of brain disorders. Wed, 15 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1279 Researchers report that three out of five resident physicians responding to a survey came to work in the previous year while sick, possibly exposing their patients and colleagues to suboptimal performance and, in many cases, communicable disease. Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1278 Evaluating the quality of care delivered by individual physicians without accounting for such factors as their patients' socioeconomic status or insurance coverage risks undervaluing the work of those caring for a higher proportion of vulnerable patients. Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1277 The Massachusetts General Hospital School Psychiatry Program announces the creation of an educational curriculum to help teachers train their students' brains. Doctors say such efforts could curb bullying by helping students develop core social and emotional skills. Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1276 A team led by MGH scientists has developed a new microfluidic tool for quickly and accurately isolating neutrophils – the most abundant type of white blood cell – from small blood samples, an accomplishment that could provide information essential to better understanding the immune system's response to traumatic injury. Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1274 Use of an experimental targeted drug to treat metastatic melanoma tumors with a specific genetic signature was successful in more than 80 percent of patients in a phase 1 clinical trial. Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1275 A team of researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Massachusetts General Hospital report that the antioxident naringenin seems to mimic the actions of other drugs including the anti-diabetic rosiglitazone. Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1273 Adding cognitive behavioral therapy – an approach that teaches skills for handling life challenges and revising negative thought patterns – to pharmaceutical treatment for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder significantly improved symptom control in adult patients. Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1272 Integrating palliative care early in the treatment of patients with advanced lung cancer not only improved their mood and quality of life, it also extended their lives. Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1271 A protein known to be involved in a rare hereditary cancer syndrome may have a role in the regulation of liver stem cells and the development of liver cancer. Thu, 12 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1270 People who have trouble sleeping in noisy environments often resort to strategies like earplugs or noise-canceling headphones that muffle the sound, but a new study from MGH investigators may lead to ways to block disturbing sounds within the brain. Mon, 09 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1267 MGH investigators have identified a new mechanism that controls the number of the stem cells that give rise to all blood and immune system cells, an advance that may improve treatment of blood system cancers. Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1268 Two papers in the current issue of Nature describe 95 gene variations that contribute to cholesterol and triglyceride levels and reveal the unexpected role of a metabolic pathway in lipid metabolism. Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1269 Clinical trials from two international research teams have shown that icatibant, a new drug that blocks the action of an inflammatory protein known as bradykinin, is safe and effective in treating acute attacks of hereditary angioedema, a potentially life-threatening condition. Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1266 A recent study from researchers at Mass. General and University of Michigan provides the first direct evidence of linkage between elevated intrinsic (resting-state) brain connectivity and spontaneous pain intensity in patients with fibromyalgia. Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1265 Computed tomographic colonography, also known as virtual colonoscopy, is not cost-effective if reimbursed at the same rate as colonoscopy, according to a study from the Institute for Technology Assessment at MGH. Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1264 Investigators at the Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Regenerative Medicine have confirmed that induced pluripotent stem cells retain some characteristics of the cells from which they were derived, something that could both assist and impede potential clinical and research uses. Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1262 Massachusetts General Hospital ranks third on the U.S. News & World Report annual 2010-11 Honor Roll of America’s Best Hospitals. Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1263 The largest study to correlate genetics with response to cancer drugs releases its first results today. The researchers behind the study, based at the MGH Cancer Center and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, describe the responses of 350 cancer samples to 18 anticancer therapeutics. Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1261 Investigators have made a major advance in treating people with a rare but devastating disease of blood vessels. Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1260 More than one-third of surveyed U.S. physicians did not agree that physicians should always report colleagues who are incompetent or impaired by conditions such as substance abuse or mental health disorders. Many also felt unprepared to report or otherwise deal with impaired or incompetent colleagues. Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1259 Implementing universal HIV testing and immediate antiretroviral treatment for infected individuals could have a major impact on the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Washington, DC but not halt the epidemic, which a previous report had projected. Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1258 An analysis of insurance records of more than 1.4 million U.S. men over 40 found that those who used ED drugs were more likely to have sexually transmitted diseases than were non-users. Mon, 05 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1255 MGH investigators have found that an enzyme with several important roles in energy metabolism also helps to turn off the body's generation of fats and cholesterol under conditions of fasting. The findings could lead to new approaches to treating conditions involving elevated cholesterol and lipid levels. Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1254 MGH and the Iacocca Foundation announce today the completion of the Phase I BCG clinical trial in type 1 diabetes, as well as the submission of all safety reports to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the MGH data safety monitoring boards. Mon, 28 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1248 FindER uses the iPhone’s global positioning system to quickly direct patients to emergency rooms anywhere within the United States. Mon, 28 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1253 The July issue of Radiology contains an editorial by MGH radiologist Daniel B. Kopans, MD, challenging the recent United States Preventive Services Task Force recommendations for mammography screening and asserting that the task force ignored important scientific evidence when making its recommendations. Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1252 In an effort to protect children from harmful tobacco smoke exposure, health and medical professionals are pushing for a ban on smoking in public housing in a report appearing in this week’s New England Journal of Medicine. Wed, 16 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1250 A multi-institutional research team has found that rare variants in the gene coding an enzyme that controls the activity of a key immune cell occur more frequently in individuals with autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes. Wed, 16 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1251 Combined targeted therapy against the BRAF/MAPK pathway with immunotherapy shows promise as a new therapeutic approach for the treatment of melanoma, according to results of a preclinical study by MGH researchers. Tue, 15 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1256 Mass General researchers unveiled a non-invasive ultrasound technique to help detect heart muscle damage in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1257 Researchers found that heart and circulation ultrasounds are an important tool in assessing the risk of heart disease in women who are obese or have metabolic syndrome. Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1249 A team led by researchers from the Center for Engineering in Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital has developed a technique that someday may allow growth of transplantable replacement livers. Sun, 13 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1245 An international research consortium has identified four common gene variants that are associated with blood levels of vitamin D and with an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency. Wed, 09 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1246 Heart attacks declined by 24 percent within a large, ethnically diverse, community-based population since 2000, and the relative incidence of serious heart attacks that do permanent damage declined by 62 percent, according to a study in the current issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Wed, 09 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1243 Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Regenerative Medicine and Harvard Stem Cell Institute have a developed a new type of human pluripotent stem cell that can be manipulated more readily than currently available stem cells. The new cells could be used as better disease models and eventually to repair disease-associated mutations. Tue, 08 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1242 A detailed analysis of the epigenetics – factors controlling when and where genes are expressed – of Wilms tumor reveals striking similarities to stem cells normally found in fetal kidneys. These findings by MGH Cancer Center researchers reveal new cellular pathways critical for Wilms tumor development that may apply to other pediatric cancers. Thu, 03 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1240 Using a system that analyzes blood samples with unprecedented detail, a team led by MGH researchers has developed the first "chemical snapshot" of the metabolic effects of exercise. Wed, 26 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1241 In a study appearing in the journal PLoS ONE, MGH scientists describe finding mathematical patterns underlying the way individuals unconsciously distribute their preferences regarding approaching or avoiding objects in their environment. Wed, 26 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1239 A new rule preventing medical support staff from completing orders for outpatient imaging exams that were likely to be negative resulted in a marked decrease in low-yield exams for patients, according to a study appearing in the June issue of Radiology. Tue, 25 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1238 Fans Race to Help Wounded Veterans at Fenway Park in Run to Home Base presented by New Balance Fri, 21 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1237 In the most comprehensive study to date, neurologists have clearly identified significant differences in the ways that Alzheimer’s disease (AD) affects patients with and without the apolipoprotein E ε4 gene, a known genetic risk factor for the neurodegenerative disease. Mon, 17 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1236 The vast majority of homeless adults surveyed in a national study had trouble accessing at least one type of needed health care service in the preceding year, according to what may be the first broad-based national study of factors related to unmet health needs among homeless people. Fri, 14 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1235 MGH researchers have identified tiny segments of RNA that may play an important role in the body's regulation of cholesterol and lipids. Thu, 13 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1232 Seven out of every ten pregnant women in the United States are not getting enough Vitamin D according to a study from researchers at the University of Colorado Denver and MGH. Tue, 11 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1233 Proton pump inhibitors, medications that suppress acid in the stomach, appear to be associated with fractures in postmenopausal women and bacterial infections in many patients. Mon, 10 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1231 Researchers from the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard discover how a genetic factor increases the immune system's ability to control HIV. Wed, 05 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1230 Local company teams up with Mass General and Red Sox Foundation to support veterans. Tue, 04 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1234 A lack of attention to workspace ergonomics could be to blame for radiologists' musculoskeletal symptoms, including lower back pain, wrist pain, shoulder pain, neck pain, and headaches, according to a study to be presented at the American Roentgen Ray Society 2010 Annual Meeting. Mon, 03 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1228 Long-term anabolic steroid use may weaken the heart more than previously thought and may increase the risk of heart failure, according to a study led by MGH investigator Aaron Baggish, MD. Tue, 27 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1227 MGH investigator Eric Campbell comments on study finding that patients, research participants and journal readers believe financial relationships between medicine and industry should be disclosed. Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1226 Investigators from the MGH Center for Regenerative Medicine and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute have found that an important cluster of genes is inactivated in induced pluripotent stem cells — cells generated from adult tissue that have many characteristics of embryonic stem cells — that do not have the full development potential of embryonic stem cells. Sun, 25 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1225 Follow-up visits conducted via a secure Web site may result in similar clinical outcomes as in-person visits among patients with acne, according to a report from investigators at the Massachusetts General Hospital/Partners HealthCare Center for Connected Health. Mon, 19 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1224 Cancer is a multifaceted disease that requires multiple approaches to diagnosis and management. At the American Association for Cancer Research 101st Annual Meeting 2010, scientists and clinicians will present more than 6,300 abstracts dealing with innovative aspects of biology, technology and emerging therapies. Sun, 18 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1223 An artificial pancreas system that closely mimics the body's blood sugar control mechanism was able to maintain near-normal glucose levels without causing hypoglycemia in a small group of patients. Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1222 The implementation of electronic health record systems may not be enough to significantly improve health quality and reduce costs. Tue, 06 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1221 The ability of cancer cells to resist treatment with either targeted drug therapies or traditional chemotherapy may, in some cases, result from a transient state of reversible drug "tolerance." Thu, 01 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1219 Women conducting research in the life sciences continue to receive lower levels of compensation than their male counterparts, even at the upper levels of academic and professional accomplishment, according to a study conducted by the Mongan Institute for Health Policy at Massachusetts General Hospital. Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1220 Technical improvements to a microchip-based device for detecting and analyzing tumor cells in the bloodstream are revealing cellular differences that may reflect a tumor's aggressiveness and long-term response to treatment. Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1218 Mass General researchers are spearheading an international effort to study optical coherence tomography (OCT), an imaging technology that could help doctors identify the vulnerable coronary plaques that cause heart attacks. Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1217 Blacks hospitalized with the most common type of stroke are less likely than white or Hispanic patients to receive evidence-based stroke care, according to a new study in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1216 A new study by Harvard researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital indicates that “good” cells can become cancerous because of exposure to a “bad” environment within the body — similarly to the way a “good boy” may turn to crime when exposed to the pressures of life in a crime-ridden neighborhood. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1215 Boosting the radiation dose given to prostate cancer patients to a level that cut recurrence in half did not increase the severity of side effects reported by patients up to a decade later. Patients also found the impact of continuing side effects on their quality of life to be less bothersome than would be expected, based on earlier studies. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1213 Amyloid-beta protein – the primary constituent of the plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients – may be part of the body's first-line system to defend against infection. In their report in the March 3 issue of PLoS One, a team led by MGH researchers describe their evidence that amyloid-beta protein is an antimicrobial peptide. Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1214 Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital are seeking recently diagnosed Parkinson's disease (PD) patients to participate in a clinical trial investigating whether inosine taken to raise the body’s level of urate — a naturally occurring antioxidant — can be used to slow the progress of PD. Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1211 A new study by researchers at the MGH Heart Center found the addition of electrocardiogram testing to the standard medical history and physical examination for young athletes may better identify key cardiovascular abnormalities responsible for sports-related sudden death. Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1212 According to a new study accepted for publication in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, obese teenage girls with a greater ratio of visceral fat (fat around internal organs) to subcutaneous fat (fat found just beneath the skin) are likely to have lower bone density than peers with a lower ratio of visceral to subcutaneous fat. Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1210 Proton beam radiation therapy shows encouraging results for patients with locally advanced sinonasal malignancies, according to a study led by Annie Chan, MD, a radiation oncologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1208 Annual breast cancer screening with both mammography and magnetic resonance imaging is likely to be a cost-effective way to improve life expectancy in women with an increased risk of breast cancer. Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1209 A study published in the March 2010 issue of the journal Anesthesiology gives researchers new insights in how to better understand and control a severe side effect of hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers, often referred to as "artificial blood." Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1207 An international research team has identified a common gene variant associated with a form of the irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation that is seen in younger individuals with no other heart disease. Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1205 A new study confirms that rates of obesity and other chronic health problems have risen in American children in recent years, but it also shows that many children's conditions will improve or resolve over time. Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1206 This May, some 3,500 Red Sox fans will be able to know the thrill of running across home plate at America’s Most Beloved Ballpark, while at the same time raising funds to support services for local veterans with deployment-related stress disorders and traumatic brain injuries. Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1204 Drugs that target the way cells convert nutrients into energy could offer new approaches to treating a range of conditions including heart attack and stroke. Using a new way to screen for potential drugs, a team of researchers has identified several FDA-approved agents that can shift cellular energy metabolism processes in animals. Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1203 In a study to be presented today at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting, researchers will unveil findings that show it is not cost effective to screen for spinal muscular atrophy, the most common genetic cause of infant mortality and the second most common inherited autosomal recessive disorder. Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1202 Dr. Michael R. Jaff named chairman and moderator of a task force aimed at increasing awareness of peripheral artery disease. Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1201 Whether or not children receive regular dental care is strongly associated with their parents' history of seeking dental care. A new report to appear in the journal Pediatrics, which has been released online, is the first to analyze the relationship between parents' and childrens' dental visits in a nationally represntative sample. Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1200 One of many reasons that attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings helps people with alcohol use disorders stay sober appears to be alleviation of depression. A team of researchers has found that study participants who attended AA meetings more frequently had fewer symptoms of depression – along with less drinking – than did those with less AA participation. Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1197 Magnetic resonance spectroscopy – which analyzes the biochemistry rather than the structure of tissues – may someday be able both to pinpoint the precise location of prostate cancer and to determine the tumor's aggressiveness, information that could help guide treatment planning. Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1198 Surgery provides better results than nonsurgical treatment for most patients with back pain related to a herniated disk - but not for those receiving workers' compensation for work-related injuries, according to a study in the journal Spine. Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1196 A study investigating how a cellular enzyme affects blood glucose levels in mice provides clues to pathways that may be involved in processes including the regulation of longevity and the proliferation of tumor cells. Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1195 Even when their tumors are shrinking in response to therapy, some non-small cell lung cancer patients have a scattering of cancer cells that are undeterred by the drug, causing the tumor to resume its growth. Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1194 A major international study with leadership from MGH researchers has identified 10 new gene variants associated with blood sugar or insulin levels. Two of these novel variants and three that earlier studies associated with glucose levels were also found to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. Sun, 17 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1193 Changing the words used to describe someone struggling with alcoholism or drug addiction may significantly alter the attitudes of health care professionals, even those who specialize in addiction treatment. Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1192 A Massachusetts General Hospital study has found that relatively young men with longstanding HIV infection and minimal cardiac risk factors had significantly more coronary atherosclerotic plaques - some involving serious arterial blockage - than did uninfected men with similar cardiovascular risk. Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1191 A comprehensive appraisal of the management and treatment options for low-risk prostate cancer found that the rates of survival and tumor recurrence are similar among the most common treatment approaches, although costs can vary considerably. Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1190 Researchers have identified a small family of flu-fighting proteins that somehow increases natural resistance to viral infection. The proteins block most virus particles from infecting the cell at the earliest stage in the virus lifecycle. Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1189 Scientists have developed a new web-based tool that may better predict whether a person will suffer a second stroke within 90 days of a first stroke. Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1188 People who have smaller fingers have a finer sense of touch, according to new research in the Dec. 16 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. This finding explains why women tend to have better tactile acuity than men, because women on average have smaller fingers. Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1186 Women participating in the Women's Health Initiative study who reported taking an antidepressant drug had a small but statistically significant increase in the risk of stroke and of death compared with participants not taking antidepressants. Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1187 A team of researchers led by Daniel Haber, MD, PhD, director of the MGH Cancer Center, recently announced that they have revealed a unique molecular mechanism that might control the growth of cancer cells. Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1185 A multi-institutional study has identified a potential personalized treatment target for the most common form of ovarian cancer. Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1184 Patients with terminal brain cancer who watched a brief video illustrating options for end-of-life care were significantly more likely to indicate a preference for comfort measures only than were patients who listened to a verbal description of treatment choices. Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1183 People tackling the daunting task of trying to quit smoking could find help through a novel approach being tested at MGH. Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1182 A survey of patients had who experienced some sort of adverse event during their hospitalization found that, although caregivers discussed the event with patients less than half the time, those patients to whom the adverse event had been disclosed rated the quality of their care higher than did patients whose caregivers did not address the problem. Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1181 Depression and other emotional symptoms in survivors of torture and other traumatic experiences may be exacerbated by the effects of head injuries, according to a study from the Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma, based at Massachusetts General Hospital. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1180 While more than half the academic life science researchers responding to a 2007 survey indicated having some relationship with industrial entities, the prevalence of such relationships – particularly direct funding for research studies – appears to be dropping. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1179 Intensive lifestyle changes aimed at modest weight loss reduced the rate of developing type 2 diabetes by 34 percent compared with placebo in people at high risk for the disease, researchers conclude based on 10 years of data. Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1178 More than half the internists responding to a survey indicated they rarely or never discussed sexual problems with their patients who had survived cancer. Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1177 A report from a team of Massachusetts General Hospital physicians calls into question the longstanding belief that pulmonary embolism – the life-threatening blockage of a major blood vessel in the lungs – is caused in trauma patients by a blood clot traveling from vessels deep within the legs or lower torso. Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1176 A team of Harvard Stem Cell Institute scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital and collaborators at Harvard’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences has taken a giant step toward the possibility of using human stem cells to repair damaged hearts. Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1175 By examining data from a 20-year-old clinical trial, a research team based at the MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Harvard School of Public Health, has found evidence supporting the findings of their 2008 study – that elevated levels of the antioxidant urate may slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease. Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1173 Two teams led by Massachusetts General Hospital researchers, also members of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, are among 18 groups receiving National Heart Lung and Blood Institute grants for the development of stem-cell based tools and treatments to understand and treat cardiovascular and blood disorders. The Progenitor Cell Biology Consortium will consist of nine research hubs, each involving multidiscplinary teams from two academic medical centers. Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1174 In one of the first studies of its kind, an international team of researchers has uncovered a single-letter change in the genetic code that is associated with autism. Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1172 Prestigious prize honors Mass General scientist for role in discovery of telomerase, enzyme that protects chromosome tips Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1170 A new study by researchers at the University of Colorado Denver and Massachusetts General Hospital shows vitamin D plays a vital role in reducing the risk of death associated with older age. Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1169 The Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital today will announce a multifaceted initiative aimed at helping veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq who are affected by post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1167 A team of researchers led by Massachusetts General Hospital radiologists has developed a computed-tomography-based protocol that identifies both narrowing of coronary arteries and areas of myocardial ischemia - restricted blood flow to heart muscle tissue - giving a better indication of clinically significant coronary artery disease. Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1171 The Red Sox great is officially partnering his David Ortiz Children’s Fund with Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) to serve critically ill children in New England and the northeast. Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1166 A study led by MassGeneral Hospital for Children investigators is providing new insight into the mechanism of neonatal seizures, which have features very different from seizures in older children and adults. Wed, 09 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1165 Levels of a biomarker used in the diagnosis of heart attacks are almost universally elevated in patients who have undergone coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG) and, when markedly elevated, powerfully predict the risk of complications. Fri, 04 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1168 Scientists have deciphered a key molecular circuit that enables the body to distinguish viruses from bacteria and other microbes, providing a deep view of how immune cells in mammals fend off different pathogens. The research offers a practical approach for unraveling the circuits that underpin other important biological systems. Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1164 A team led by Massachusetts General Hospital researchers has developed an innovative way to culture liver cells for drug toxicity screening. Wed, 02 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1162 Warfarin therapy for patients with atrial fibrillation - the most common type of significant heart rhythm disorder - appears to be most beneficial for the oldest patients, those who have had a prior stroke and for patients with multiple risk factors for stroke. Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1163 A study from the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute for Health Policy gives the first detailed look at the types of research currently being conducted within U.S. academic medical centers - medical schools and their affiliated hospitals. Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1161 The blood thinner warfarin can prevent strokes in most individuals with abnormal heart rhythms but may have the opposite effect in kidney disease patients on dialysis, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology. Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1160 Twitter, the increasingly popular social networking tool that was at first merely a convenient way to stay in touch with friends and family, is emerging as a potentially valuable means of real-time, health care communication. Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1159 The National Institutes of Health has renewed for five years - and $18.1 million - the funding for the Harvard University Center for AIDS Research (Harvard CFAR). Harvard is one of only 20 NIH CFAR sites in the U.S. and first received the designation in 2004. Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1157 Twice-yearly treatment with denosumab, a new targeted therapy to stop bone loss, increased bone density and prevented spinal fractures in men receiving androgen-deprivation therapy for prostate cancer. Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1158 Regular use of aspirin after colorectal cancer diagnosis may reduce the risk of cancer death, report investigators from Massachusetts General Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1156 Mass. General researchers discovered an unexpected reservoir of the immune cells called monocytes in the spleen and showed that these cells are essential to recovery of cardiac tissue in an animal heart attack model. Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1155 Near-normal control of glucose beginning as soon as possible after diagnosis would greatly improve the long-term prognosis of type 1 diabetes, concludes a study published in the July 27, 2009, issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, which updates information about the clinical course of type 1 diabetes. Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1153 Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1154 Mass. General investigator Joseph Tucker, MD, is among recipients of NIH Early Career Scientist fellowships. Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1152 A research consortium based at Massachusetts General Hospital has been awarded $15 million from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to investigate how the hepatitis C virus resists suppression and clearance by the immune system. Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1151 Early initiation of lifesaving antiretroviral therapies should be the standard of care for all HIV-infected patients, even those in countries with limited medical and financial resources, according to a study led by researchers at MGH and the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, South Africa. Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1150 A Massachusetts General Hospital-based research team has identified how a chromosomal abnormality known to be associated with acute lymphoblastic leukemia – the most common cancer in children – initiates the disease process. Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1149 A research team based at the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard has found a gender-based difference in the response of a first-line immune cell to HIV that may explain why the infection usually progresses faster in women than in men with the same viral loads. Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1148 Treatment with the angiogenesis inhibitor bevacizumab improved hearing and alleviated other symptoms in patients with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2). The study by researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) represents the first report of a successful NF2 treatment not involving surgery or radiation. Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1146 An international research consortium has discovered that many common genetic variants contribute to a person’s risk of schizophrenia and are also involved in bipolar disorder. Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1147 Harvard Stem Cell Institute researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have identified the earliest master human heart stem cell from human embryonic stem cells - ISL1+ progenitors - that give rise to a family of cells that form the essential portions of the human heart. Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1144 Measurement of known biomarkers of cardiovascular disease slightly improves the ability to predict future heart attack or stroke in healthy individuals, but not enough to change preventive therapies. Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1145 A new study finds that a particular strain of the bacteria that causes Lyme disease may be more virulent, leading to increased inflammation in joints that persists after antibiotic treatment. Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1142 A report in Cancer Research highlights a new biomarker that may be useful in identifying patients with recurrent glioblastoma who would respond better to antiangiogenesis therapy. Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1140 A common electrocardiogram finding that has largely been considered insignificant may actually signal an increased risk of atrial fibrillation, the future need for a permanent pacemaker and an increased risk for premature death. Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1141 Patients admitted to hospital with coronary artery disease are twice as likely to quit smoking after receiving intensive smoking cessation support compared to minimal support. Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1143 As many as half of all men taking the antidepressant medication paroxetine (trade names Seroxat, Paxil) may have increased sperm DNA fragmentation — a predictor of compromised fertility. The study also found that the changes are reversible with normal levels of sperm returning after discontinuation of the drug. Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1139 Scientists at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) have initiated the BrainGate2 pilot clinical trial to expand restorative neurotechnology research for some patients with paralysis. Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1137 MGH researchers have found that certain genetic mutations known to extend the lifespan of the C. elegans roundworm induce 'mortal' somatic cells to express some of the genes that allow the 'immortality' of reproductive germline cells. Sun, 07 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1136 Joren C. Madsen, MD, D.Phil, director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Transplant Center, was inducted president of the American Society of Transplantation during the 2009 American Transplant Congress. Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1135 A new study uncovers a gene expression signature that reliably identifies cancer cells whose survival is dependent on a common signaling pathway, even when the cells contain multiple other genetic abnormalities. The study from MGH Cancer Center researchers identifies critical molecular vulnerabilities, thereby revealing promising therapeutic targets for a common and notoriously treatment resistant cancer. Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1134 Viewing a video showing a patient with advanced dementia interacting with family and caregivers may help elderly patients plan for end-of-life care, according to a study led by MGH researchers. Thu, 28 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1133 Alzheimer’s disease researcher Rudolph Tanzi, PhD, of Massachusetts General Hospital adds another distinction to his scientific career when he joins Aerosmith’s Joe Perry and other rock celebrities in a designer menswear photo shoot as a “Rock Star of Science” in the June issue of GQ Magazine. Tue, 26 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1131 Analyzing MRI studies of the brain with software developed at the Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at Mass. General Hospital may allow diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and of mild cognitive impairment, a lesser form of dementia that precedes the development of Alzheimer's by several years. Thu, 21 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1132 Although a test for gene mutations known to significantly increase the risk of hereditary breast or ovarian cancer has been available for more than a decade, a new study finds that few women with family histories of these cancers are even discussing genetic testing with their physicians or other health care providers. Thu, 21 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1130 New estimates of the likelihood that a latent case of tuberculosis will become active have resulted in a roughly 50 percent increase over previous estimates of the number of people needed to be screened to prevent an active infection. Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1129 Overall prognosis for gallbladder cancer appears to be improving, although many patients still have incurable disease and poor survival rates. Mon, 18 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1128 Someday, even doctor visits could be among the conveniences offered via the Internet. In a comparison of desktop videoconferencing to conventional face-to-face general medical evaluations, patients found virtual visits similar to face-to-face visits on most measures. This study suggests that both patients and physicians could benefit if virtual visits were used as an alternative method of accessing primary care services. Fri, 15 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1126 Improving the environment in which rats are reared can significantly strengthen the physiological process of wound healing, according to a report in the open-access journal PLoS ONE. MGH researchers found that giving rats living in isolation the opportunity to build nests led to faster and more complete healing of burn injuries. Tue, 12 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1125 Scientists from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), as part of a major international research collaboration, have associated common variants in eight regions of DNA with blood pressure levels in human patients. Six of the identified regions have not previously been implicated in blood pressure regulation. Sun, 10 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1124 High-quality videoconferencing can increase patient access to stroke specialists; and a transient ischemic attack, once known as a “mini” or “warning” stroke, should be treated with the same urgency as a full-blown stroke, according to two separate statements published today in Stroke. Fri, 08 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1123 Researchers at the University of Minnesota and Massachusetts General Hospital have used a genome engineering tool they developed to make a model crop plant herbicide-resistant without significant changes to its DNA. Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1122 Diffusion weighted MR can accurately identify benign from malignant pelvic lymph nodes in patients with gynecologic malignancy, according to an MGH study. Thu, 23 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1121 A simple and inexpensive method of assessing pain, developed by Massachusetts General Hospital researchers, is better than currently used techniques for distinguishing neuropathic pain – pain caused by damage to the nervous system – from other types of chronic back pain. Mon, 06 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1120 A team of researchers from the Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Engineering in Medicine has found the first evidence of cell-to-cell communication by amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, rather than by known protein signaling agents such as growth factors or cytokines. Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1119 A new study has identified a potential strategy for removing the abnormal protein that causes Huntington’s disease from brain cells, which could slow the progression of the devastating neurological disorder. Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1117 The beneficial effects of anti-angiogenesis drugs in the treatment of the deadly brain tumors called glioblastomas appear to result primarily from reduction of edema – the swelling of brain tissue – and not from any direct anti-tumor effect. Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1118 Results of the study from a collaborative team led by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh suggest that parasitic infection could reduce the immune response to cholera, which may compromise the effectiveness of cholera vaccines. Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1127 Two MGH investigators – Bradley E. Bernstein, MD, PhD, and Konrad Hochedlinger, PhD – are among 50 receipients of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Early Career Scientist Awards. Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1115 Graduates of the Program in Clinical Effectiveness, which has trained almost 1,900 physicians to be clinical investigators since 1986, have achieved significant success in receiving grant support from the National Institutes of Health and other funders, along with other accomplishments considered key to establishing a research career. Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1116 At a time of heightened concern about conflicts of interest posed by relationships between academic medical researchers and commercial firms, a new study finds that a significant number of academic institutions do not have clear policies covering the industrial relationships of members of Institutional Review Boards, committees charged with ensuring that clinical studies uphold patient rights and follow ethical guidelines. Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1111 A new study has identified several common genetic variants related to a risk factor for sudden cardiac death. The report receiving early online release in the journal Nature Genetics identifies variants in genes, some known and some newly discovered, that influence the QT interval measured on the electrocardiogram (EKG) performed routinely in doctors’ offices. Mon, 23 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1113 The Department of Health and Human Services today announced the selection of David Blumenthal, M.D., M.P.P. as the Obama Administration’s choice for National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1114 A groundbreaking partnership between the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa will establish an international research center focused on the worldwide effort to control the devastating co-epidemic of tuberculosis and HIV. Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1112 Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers are investigating a new way to block reproduction of the hepatitis C virus – targeting not the virus itself but the human genes the virus exploits in its life cycle. Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1108 Most women responding to a survey conducted at MGH clinics indicated they would be willing to be vaccinated against the human papillomavirus and to have their daughters and even sons vaccinated in order to prevent cancer in their children. The report also found that Latino women are just as likely, if not more so, to accept HPV vaccine as non-Latinos. Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1107 A new study finds that patients who are connected to a specific primary care physician are more likely to receive guideline-consistent care than those who are connected to a practice but not a physician. Mon, 02 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1105 The impact of the amyloid plaques that appear in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease may extend beyond the deposits’ effects on neurons– the cells that transmit electrochemical signals throughout the nervous system. Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1106 A collaborative research effort spanning nearly a decade between researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and King’s College London has identified a novel gene for inherited amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease). Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1104 HIV is evolving rapidly to escape the human immune system, an international study has shown. The findings demonstrate the challenge of developing an HIV vaccine that keeps pace with the changing nature of the virus. Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1103 Vitamin D may be an important way to arm the immune system against disorders like the common cold, report investigators from the University of Colorado Denver (UC Denver) School of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Children’s Hospital Boston. Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1109 Although many people affected by the economic downturn could benefit from mental health treatment and services, two factors typically discourage them from seeking help: the stigma often associated with mental health conditions, and the feeling of not knowing how to find the right mental health care providers, information, and services. A web site (www.moodandanxiety.org) recently re-launched by Massachusetts General Hospital’s Department of Psychiatry addresses both of these issues. Wed, 18 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1102 A new study has identified the first common gene variants associated with an increased incidence of hypertension – a significant risk factor for heart attack, stroke and kidney failure. Sun, 15 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1101 Some patients who suffer a stroke as a result of a blockage in an artery in the brain may benefit from a clot-busting drug nine or more hours after the onset of symptoms. Mon, 09 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1100 The largest study ever completed of genetic factors associated with heart attacks has identified nine genetic regions - three not previously described - that appear to increase the risk for early-onset myocardial infarction. Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1099 Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1098 The MGH Cancer Center has added pencil-beam scanning to the radiation therapy modalities offered at the hospital’s Burr Proton Therapy Center. Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1097 Online support communities appear to offer both a valuable educational resource and a source of psychological and social support for individuals with psoriasis, according to a report from the Center for Connected Health at Partners HealthCare System. Mon, 19 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1095 A new mathematical model of the physiological regulation of body weight suggests a potential mechanism underlying the difficulty of losing weight, one that includes aspects of two competing hypotheses of weight regulation. Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1096 A group of hospitals in eight cities around the globe has successfully demonstrated that the use of a simple surgical checklist during major operations can lower the incidence of deaths and complications by more than one third. Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1093 Mass. General researchers and the colleagues add to understanding of the role of the protein COX2 in pain associated with inflammation. Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1091 Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1089 An international research team has compiled the first catalogue of tissue-specific pathologies underlying hundreds of inherited diseases. Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1082 The number of physicians with board certification in emergency medicine is unlikely to meet the staffing needs of U.S. emergency departments in the foreseeable future, if ever; according to a study from a research team based at Massachusetts General Hospital Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1083 Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1086 Treating prostate cancer patients with drugs that block hormonal activity does not appear to increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease, according to a study led by MGH researchers Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1088 In the first detailed analysis of deaths during expeditions to the summit of Mt. Everest, a research team led by MGH investigators has conducted found that most deaths occur during descents from the summit in the so-called “death zone” above 8,000 meters and identified factors associated with a greater risk of death. Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1090 Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1084 Sun, 07 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1087 MGH investigators have found a subpopulation of hematopoietic stem cells, the source of all blood and immune system cells, that reproduce much more slowly than previously anticipated. Use of these slow-cycling cells may improve the outcome of stem-cell transplants for the treatment of leukemia and other bone-marrow-based diseases. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1077 MGH scientists have used a novel, hand-operated robotic device and functional MRI to track the rehabilitation of chronic stroke patients, showing that the brain can continue to regain function even six months or more after a stroke. Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1075 A team of cancer researchers from several Boston academic medical centers has discovered a potential treatment for tumors driven by mutations in the K-Ras gene, which have resisted previous targeted therapy approaches. Sun, 30 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1076 Scientists have created a new mouse model that may help researchers explain how a rare disease causes otherwise supple soft tissue and joints to turn into bone. Sun, 30 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1074 Lining the upper portion of the small intestine with an impermeable sleeve led to both weight loss and restoration of normal glucose metabolism in an animal model of obesity-induced diabetes. Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1073 Screening for a panel of gene variants associated with the risk for type 2 diabetes can identify adults at risk for the disorder but is not significantly better than assessment based on traditional risk factors. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1072 For the first time researchers are getting a detailed look at the interior of human coronary arteries, using an optical imaging technique developed at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1080 MGH researchers have found that tiny membrane-covered sacs released from glioblastoma cells contain molecules that may help guide treatment of the deadly brain tumor. Sun, 16 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1070 For the first time researchers have shown that a commonly used anesthetic can produce changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease in the brains of living mammals, confirming previous laboratory studies. Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1069 A collaborative study led by investigators from MGH is giving what may be the first look at how interactions between genes underlie a key symptom of schizophrenia, impaired working memory. Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1068 The largest such study ever published finds that, while about 40 percent of women surveyed report having sexual problems, only 12 percent indicate that those issues are a source of significant personal distress Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1067 The first family-based genome-wide association study in Alzheimer’s disease has identified the sites of four novel genes that may significantly influence risk for the most common late-onset form of the devastating neurological disorder. Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1066 The diabetes medication metformin may be associated with a lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease, according to a meta-analysis of previously published studies in the October 27 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1065 Young people with ADHD are not only at increased risk of starting to smoke cigarettes, they also tend to become more seriously addicted to tobacco and more vulnerable to environmental factors such as having friends or parents who smoke. Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1064 MGH researchers have used gene therapy to restore useful vision to mice with degeneration of the light-sensing retinal rods and cones, a common cause of human blindness. Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1063 A brain imaging study carried out at MGH reveals abnormalities in the cerebral cortex – the outer surface of the brain – of cocaine addicts that appear to correlate with dysfunction in areas responsible for attention and for reward-based decision-making. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1062 MGH researchers have found that treatment with stimulant drugs does not increase and appears to significantly decrease the risk that girls with ADHD will begin smoking cigarettes or using alcohol or drugs. Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1060 Since 1989, Thomson Reuters has developed a list of likely winners in medicine, chemistry, physics, and economics. Those chosen are named Thomson Reuters Scientific Laureates. Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1061 In response to new concerns about a study supporting the use of CT screening to detect early-stage lung cancer in smokers and other people at risk, the Editor-in-Chief of "The Oncologist" has called for an independent audit of the research data. Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1059 MGH researchers report that women with vulvar carcinoma whose tumors have extra copies of the EGFR gene are at increased risk of dying from their cancer, information that could indentify patients who should be treated with targeted therapy drugs. Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1058 MGH researchers are investigating a new approach to gene therapy for brain tumors – delivering a cancer-fighting gene to normal brain tissue around the tumor to keep it from spreading. Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1057 A significant percentage of resident physicians report that patient handoffs – transfer of responsibility for a hospitalized patient from one resident to another – contributed to incidents in which harm was done to patients. Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1054 The National Institutes of Health announced today that it has increased its support of high-impact research with 2008 NIH Director's Pioneer and New Innovator Awards to 47 scientists, many of whom are in the early stages of their careers. Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1055 Treatment with Alzheimer’s disease drugs can significantly slow the rate at which the disorder advances, and therapy with two different classes of drugs is even better at helping patients maintain their ability to perform daily activities. Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1056 Treating cancer patients with proton therapy instead of standard photon radiation decreases the risk of developing a secondary cancer by two-fold Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1053 Cathy E. Minehan, managing director of Arlington Advisory Partners, today was named chair of the Massachusetts General Hospital Board of Trustees, succeeding Edward P. Lawrence, Esq. Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1052 There may be no such thing as a 'safe' tan based on ultraviolet (UV) radiation, according to a series of papers published in the October issue of Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research. Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1051 An online personal health record system that allowed people with diabetes to check their lab results and get guidance about medication proved to be of only limited use in improving their health outcomes, researchers found. Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1050 MGH investigator Gary Ruvkun, PhD, is one of three co-recipients of the 2008 Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research. The scientists are being honored for discovering that tiny molecules of RNA can control the activity of critical genes in animals and plants. Sat, 13 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1049 Two investigators who helped to uncover a previously unsuspected world of tiny RNA molecules will be recognized next month by Massachusetts General Hospital with its highest award for research. Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1048 Someday doctors may be able to use a blood test to confirm within minutes, instead of hours, if a patient is having a heart attack, allowing more rapid treatment that could limit damage to heart muscle. Tue, 09 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1047 As antiviral treatment for HIV infection allows patients to live longer, many will be confronted with additional health challenges. A new study shows for the first time that one of these may be significantly increased risk of bone fractures. Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1046 In experiments using blood cells from human patients with diabetes and other autoimmune disorders, MGH researchers have confirmed the mechanism behind a potential new therapy for type 1 diabetes Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1044 MGH investigators have found that infusions of a particular bone marrow stem cell appeared to protect gastrointestinal tissue from autoimmune attack in a mouse model. Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1042 Brachytherapy, also called seed implants, may be a more beneficial treatment than surgery or external beam radiation therapy for overweight or obese prostate cancer patients. Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1043 The Prostate Cancer Foundation today announced 19 Young Investigators Awards for 2008. Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1045 In the first study of its kind, researchers find both patients and physicians react positively to real-time, virtual check-ups using videoconferencing technology. Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1041 The largest genetic analysis of its kind to date for bipolar disorder has implicated machinery involved in the balance of sodium and calcium in brain cells. Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1038 Harvard Stem Cell Institute researcher George Q. Daley, has with HSCI colleagues Chad Cowan and Konrad Hochedlinger of Massachusetts General Hospital produced a robust new collection of disease-specific stem cell lines, all of which were developed using the new induced pluripotent stem cell technique. Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1036 A team of MGH researchers has used brain imaging, genetics and experimental psychology techniques to identify a connection between brain reward circuitry, a behavioral measurement of preference and a gene variant that appears to influence both. Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1037 A new study suggests that monitoring levels of a hormone called fibroblast growth factor 23 may provide information crucial to the treatment of patients with kidney failure. Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1034 Low-dose growth hormone treatment reduced abdominal fat deposits and improved blood pressure and triglyceride levels but also appeared to increase blood sugar levels in a group of patients with HIV lipodystrophy. Sun, 03 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1035 The, Clinical Effort Against Secondhand Smoke Exposure (CEASE) program aims to teach pediatricians to help parents quit smoking and establish and enforce no-smoking rules in the home and car. Fri, 01 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1039 MGH today announced plans to greatly expand its HIV/AIDS clinical and research efforts in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa – often considered the epicenter of the AIDS epidemic – and establish a state-of-the-art academic and research facility in Uganda. Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1032 Using an advanced imaging technique that reveals how brain cells are functioning, researchers from the MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease have found that levels of intracellular calcium are significantly elevated in neurons close to plaques in the brains of an Alzheimer’s mouse model. Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1033 A multinational group of investigators has discovered that people suffering from schizophrenia are far more likely to carry rare chromosomal structural changes of all types, particularly those that have the potential to alter gene function. Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1031 A multi-institutional team led by MGH investigators has developed a powerful new tool for genomic research and medicine – a robust method for generating synthetic enzymes that can target particular DNA sequences for inactivation or repair. Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1030 When individuals infected with HIV become infected with a second strain of the virus, the two viral strains can exchange genetic information, creating a third, recombinant strain of the virus. Now a study from the Partners AIDS Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital shows that how and where viral strains swap DNA may be determined by the immune response against the original infecting strain. Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1028 A study by a group of Massachusetts researchers finds that surveying patients about their experiences can add important information to hospital efforts to improve patient safety. Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1029 Research has implicated a half-dozen new genes in autism and strongly supports the idea that autism stems from disruptions in the brain's ability to form new connections in response to experience. Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1020 An MGH-developed, microchip-based device that detects and analyzes tumor cells in the bloodstream can be used to determine the genetic signature of lung tumors, facilitating targeted therapies and monitoring genetic changes that occur during therapy. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1019 A new study finds that eliciting the relaxation response – a physiologic state of deep rest – influences the activation patterns of genes associated with the body’s response to stress. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1027 People who suffer from severe depression following a heart attack might be more likely to experience cardiac complications while hospitalized, according to a new study. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1040 CIMIT is pleased to announce that six bright and promising medical professionals have been named recipients of the Young Clinician Award for 2008. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1018 An international consortium of Crohn’s disease researchers has combined data from three independent studies to identify 21 new genetic variants associated with the inflammatory bowel disorder, bringing the total number of risk factors to 32. Sun, 29 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1026 Antiretroviral medications have dramatically reduced the overall death rate among patients with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but those same patients may now face an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1025 Despite the promises it offers health care and quality improvement, only a small minority of U.S. physicians have embraced electronic health records (EHR) as a routine part of practice, says a study in the June 19 online edition of the New England Journal of Medicine. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1024 Researchers from MGH have found a way to predict which teenage female athletes will stop menstruating, an important risk factor for bone thinning, according to a preliminary study. Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1023 Screening for lung cancer with computed tomography (CT) may help reduce lung cancer deaths in current and former smokers, but it won't protect them from other causes of death associated with smoking. Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1022 An MGH research team has found that the sort of very simple membrane that may have been present on primitive cells can easily allow small molecules – including the building blocks of RNA and DNA – to pass thorough. Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1017 An MGH study - the largest and first controlled such investigation - supports previous reports that adolescents with bipolar disorder are at increased risk for smoking and substance abuse. Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://www.massgeneral.org/about/pressrelease.aspx?id=1021 New findings from research conducted by Harvard-affiliated scientists are providing important clues into how genes work to impair various aspects of attention, memory and perception -- the behaviors associated with many psychiatric illnesses, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression. Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT