The MGH Public Affairs Office works with the Department of Medicine and is responsible for the development and dissemination of MGH and Department of Medicine-related news.
05/22/2013: Survey points out deficiencies in addictions training for medical residents
A 2012 survey of internal medicine residents at Massachusetts General Hospital found that more than half rated the training they had received in addiction and other substance use disorders as fair or poor. In response to the findings the MGH has increased residents' training in addiction medicine.
05/17/2013: Mootha named an HHMI Investigator
Vamsi Mootha, MD, of the MGH Department of Medicine and the Department of Molecular Biology, is among 27 leading biomedical researchers from across the country selected as new Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Investigators.
05/14/2013: Treatment with two osteoporosis drugs better at increasing bone density than single-drug therapy
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.
05/08/2013: Mass. General, Duke study identifies two genes that combine to cause rare syndrome
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.
05/02/2013: Gene variant appears to predict weight loss after gastric bypass
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.
05/01/2013: Study identifies genes, pathways altered during relaxation response practice
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.
04/12/2013: National Quality Forum Endorses Pediatric Symptom Checklist
The National Quality Forum endorses the Massachusetts General Hospital’s Pediatric Symptom Checklist, a screening questionnaire used by pediatricians to improve the recognition and treatment of psychosocial problems in children.
04/03/2013: Third-generation device significantly improves capture of circulating tumor cells
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.
03/27/2013: Changes in gastrointestinal microbes may produce some benefits of gastric bypass
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.
03/12/2013: Weight gain after quitting smoking does not negate health benefits
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
02/05/2013: European restrictions on working hours have 'profound' effect on medical care and education
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.
01/31/2013: Transition in cell type parallels treatment response, disease progression in breast cancer
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.
01/25/2013: Armstrong to lead Department of Medicine
Katrina Armstrong, MD, MSCE, a world-renowned investigator in the areas of medical decision-making, quality of care and cancer prevention and outcomes, has been selected as the MGH’s next physician-in-chief of the MGH Department of Medicine.
01/14/2013: Generic HIV treatment strategy could save nearly $1 billion annually but may be less effective
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.
01/14/2013: Drug overdose now the leading cause of death among homeless adults in Boston
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.
01/07/2013: Looming Malpractice
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.
12/13/2012: Intestinal immune cells play an unexpected role in immune surveillance of the bloodstream
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.
12/10/2012: Educational video helps terminal cancer patients decide whether to receive CPR
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.
11/29/2012: Defining career paths in health systems improvement
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.
10/26/2012: Hutter named first Macomber Family Endowed Scholar
Adolph M. Hutter Jr., MD, was named the inaugural Macomber Family Endowed Scholar for Cardiovascular Performance Innovation during a Sept. 24 ceremony.
10/19/2012: Ryan appointed chief of Hematology/Oncology
On Oct. 12, the Department of Medicine and the Cancer Center announced the appointment of David Ryan, MD, as the new chief of Hematology/Oncology at the MGH. Ryan, who succeeds Jose Baselga, MD, PhD, joined the MGH Cancer Center in 1998.
10/16/2012: Many options available to help smokers kick the habit
Smokers today have many options to help them quit, and those who think they have "tried it all" usually have not.
10/05/2012: NEJM editor visits the MGH
To commemorate the bicentennial of the New England Journal of Medicine and the history it shares with the MGH, Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Drazen, MD, presented “Two Hundred Years of Medical Advances” Sept. 20 at the Medical Grand Rounds in the O’Keeffe Auditorium.
10/01/2012: Study questions association between common heartburn drugs and risk of pneumonia
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.
09/30/2012: Phase III trial shows crizotinib superior to single-agent chemotherapy for ALK-positive lung cancer
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.
09/29/2012: Combination of targeted treatment drugs delays resistance in melanoma patients
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.
09/28/2012: Major NIH grants support innovative research projects
Two MGH-led research teams and one MGH investigator have received major grants from the National Institutes of Health.
08/30/2012: State tax incentives do not appear to increase the rate of living organ donation
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.
08/08/2012: Clinical trial results support strategy for reversing type 1 diabetes
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.
08/07/2012: Color-coded labels improve healthy food choices in employees from all backgrounds
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.
08/01/2012: HIV-infected T cells help transport the virus throughout the body
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.
07/23/2012: Aspirin protects against Barrett's esophagus
Aspirin use appears to reduce the risk of Barrett's esophagus, the largest known risk factor for esophageal cancer.
07/22/2012: Increased cardiovascular risk in HIV-infected patients may relate to arterial inflammation
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.
07/18/2012: Mouse with human immune system may revolutionize HIV vaccine research
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.
07/17/2012: Massachusetts General Hospital Ranked #1 in the Nation on U.S. News & World Report Honor Roll
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.
07/09/2012: Choice to use drug-eluting stents has little relation to patients' probable benefit
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.
07/01/2012: Potential treatment target identified in an animal model of pancreatic cancer
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.
06/12/2012: In the Hospital, the Noisy Hospital, the Patient Sleeps Tonight?
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.
06/10/2012: Natural HIV control may rely on sequence of T cell receptor protein
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.
06/08/2012: Department of Medicine hosts inaugural distinguished alumni lecture
When P. Roy Vagelos, MD, started his MGH medical residency as part of the class of 1954, he planned for a lifelong career focused on practicing medicine. However, while the residency dramatically strengthened his commitment to improving health care, it also led him down an unexpected professional path.
06/04/2012: Palliative Care hospital based programs are growing at a rapid pace
Palliative Care programs help with pain, symptom management and coordinating care
05/16/2012: Raising HDL not a sure route to countering heart disease
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.
04/05/2012: Big advance against cystic fibrosis
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.
04/04/2012: DNA sequencing consortium unveils patterns of mutations in autism
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.
03/25/2012: Genetics of flu susceptibility
A genetic finding could help explain why influenza becomes a life-threating disease to some people while it has only mild effects in others.
03/07/2012: Experimental drug reduces cortisol levels, improves symptoms in Cushing's disease
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.
03/07/2012: Diabetes drug halts atherosclerosis progression in HIV-infected patients
Treatment with the common diabetes drug metformin appears to prevent progression of coronary atherosclerosis in patients infected with HIV.
02/29/2012: Ragon Institute study finds HIV-specific CD4 cells that control viral levels
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.
02/29/2012: Kidney Health Q&A with Winfred W. Williams, MD, of the Mass General Transplant Center
Nephrologist Winfred W. Williams, MD, explains why the kidneys are important, what causes kidney disease and how to keep the kidneys healthy.
02/21/2012: Study finds some insulin production in long-term type 1 diabetes
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.
02/16/2012: MGH Cancer Center team identifies potential treatment target for KRAS-mutated colon cancer
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.
02/14/2012: Vitamin D treatment not found to reduce cardiovascular abnormalities in kidney disease patients
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.
01/31/2012: Mass. General study defines a new genetic subtype of lung cancer
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.
01/19/2012: Color-coding, rearranging food products improves healthy choices in hospital cafeteria
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.
01/18/2012: Novel gene mutations associated with bile duct cancer
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.
01/16/2012: Combining two anti-HER2 drugs may provide better preoperative breast cancer treatment
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.
01/11/2012: Participating in marathons, half-marathons not found to increase risk of cardiac arrest
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.
01/10/2012: How can pediatric HIV be eliminated in Zimbabwe?
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.
12/23/2011: Friendly competition brings holiday joy
The battle began brewing at the MGH in the final weeks of November.
12/19/2011: Commentary calls for greater awareness of Internet pharmacies' role in prescription drug abuse
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.
12/19/2011: What makes patients complex? Ask their primary care physicians
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.
11/15/2011: Denosumab delays development of prostate cancer bone metastasis
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.
11/10/2011: From Protestation to Presentation
Changing the understanding of Palliative Care, a patient's story
11/06/2011: Combined arterial imaging technology reveals both structural and metabolic details
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.
10/21/2011: ‘Looking back and thinking forward’
As a slideshow of black and white images from the past turned into color photographs from the present, George Thibault, MD, president of the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation and former chief resident and program director in the Department of Medicine, took to the podium to welcome many of the staff featured in the photos.
10/17/2011: Biomarker-guided heart failure treatment significantly reduces complications
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.
09/27/2011: Saw palmetto no better than placebo in relieving prostate symptoms, even at high doses
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.
09/11/2011: International study identifies new gene targets for hypertension treatment
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.
08/17/2011: Most physicians will face malpractice claims, but risk of making payment is low
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.
08/03/2011: Natural killer cells participate in immune response against HIV
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.
08/02/2011: Pilot study suggests new approach to treat preeclampsia
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.
07/19/2011: MGH ranks #2 in nation
MGH ranks #2 in 2011-2012 U.S. News & World Report "Best Hospitals" rankings
07/15/2011: Breaking down barriers
In academia, it’s a remarkable achievement for any physician to be promoted to full professor.
06/24/2011: In General 06.24.11
In General awards and honors
06/06/2011: Women's risk of heart disease after gestational diabetes differs by race
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.
05/22/2011: The Dance of the Cells: A Minuet or a Mosh?
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.
05/17/2011: Deer tick bacteria DNA in joint fluid not reliable marker of active lyme arthritis
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.
05/12/2011: Increase in Internet access parallels growth in prescription drug abuse
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.
04/22/2011: Celebrating prize-winning MGH research
The presentation of the MGH's top research prizes was a highlight of the April 13 Celebration of Science, held in conjunction with the annual Scientific Advisory Committee meeting.
04/22/2011: SAC meeting
The 64th meeting of the MGH Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) on April 14 celebrated key accomplishments of MGH investigators, past and present, and examined strategies for meeting the challenges currently facing the academic biomedical research community.
04/08/2011: SAC meeting to honor past scientific leadership, address current challenges
ALL MGHERS are invited to attend the 2011 meeting of the MGH Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), which will commemorate the hospital’s bicentennial with a look back at significant research accomplishments of MGH investigators and examine challenges facing today’s research community.
03/23/2011: Mass. General study reveals how lung cancers evolve in response to targeted treatment
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.
03/20/2011: Metabolite levels may be able to improve diabetes risk prediction
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.
03/15/2011: Current projections greatly underestimate impact of Haitian cholera epidemic
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.
03/14/2011: Tumor suppressor blocks viral growth in natural HIV controllers
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.
03/09/2011: Aspirin's ability to protect against colorectal cancer may depend on risk-associated inflammatory pathways
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.
03/06/2011: International collaborative identifies 13 new heart-disease-associated gene sites
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.
02/03/2011: Homeless people without enough to eat are more likely to be hospitalized
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.
01/28/2011: Helping hands in India
MGH Hotline 1.28.11 When Stephanie Moore, md, a cardiologist with the MGH Heart Center, made her first trip to the city of Kolkata, India, in May 2009, she witnessed the extreme poverty experienced by many of the city's sick and poor.
01/21/2011: Gardner serves in Haiti as Durant fellow
MGH Hotline 1.21.11 “You are not able to change the whole world, but you are able to give hope to one human being,” are words attributed to Albert Schweitzer, MD, PhD, a 1952 Nobel Peace Prize recipient and the inspiration for the creation of Hôpital Albert Schweitzer in Deschapelles, Haiti.
01/13/2011: Overexpression of repetitive DNA sequences discovered in common tumor cells
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.
12/10/2010: Baselga first incumbent of Chabner Chair in Hematology Oncology
MGH Hotline 12.10.10 A named chair is one of the highest honors a physician may receive in his or her lifetime.
12/09/2010: Cholera strain in Haiti matches bacteria from South Asia
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.
12/03/2010: Showcasing primary care
MGH Hotline 12.3.10
11/10/2010: Romiplostim more effective than standard care for immune thrombocytopenia
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.
11/04/2010: Small protein changes may make big difference in natural HIV control
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.
10/27/2010: New targeted lung cancer drug produces 'dramatic' symptom improvement
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.
10/18/2010: Intestinal enzyme helps maintain population of beneficial bacteria
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.
10/15/2010: New unit focuses on understanding using genomic data
MGH Hotline 10.15.10 As scientists have increased access to human genetic information, the interpretation of this information as it relates to human disease and clinical decision-making becomes more feasible.
10/10/2010: Studies provide new insights into the genetics of obesity and fat distribution
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.
09/24/2010: Disparities in heart attack treatment may begin in the emergency room
The well-documented disparities in cardiac care may begin almost as soon as patients arrive at hospital emergency rooms, Mass. General investigators find.
09/14/2010: Present imperfect: Doctors in training work even when ill
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.
09/07/2010: Quality measurement programs could shortchange physicians caring for at-risk patients
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.
08/25/2010: Targeted drug leads to rapid regression of metastatic melanoma in patients with mutated BRAF gene
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.
08/04/2010: MicroRNA molecule increases number of blood stem cells, may help improve cancer treatment
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.
08/04/2010: Sorting out the genetic and biological links between cholesterol and coronary heart disease
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.
08/04/2010: New drug shown safe, effective in treating hereditary angioedema
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.
07/16/2010: MGH residents and fellows make great save during soccer game
SPAIN MAY HAVE WON the World Cup, but a team of MGH medical residents and fellows had a victory of their own on the soccer field this summer when they helped save the life of another player.
07/14/2010: Researchers Identify Possible New Treatment for Severe Vasculitis
Investigators have made a major advance in treating people with a rare but devastating disease of blood vessels.
07/09/2010: Universal HIV testing and immediate treatment could reduce but not eliminate HIV/AIDS epidemic
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.
07/05/2010: Study finds higher STD rates among users of erectile dysfunction drugs
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.
06/09/2010: Genome-wide study identifies factors that may affect vitamin D levels
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.
06/09/2010: Heart Attacks Declined 24 Percent in Kaiser Permanente Northern California Since 2000
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.
05/26/2010: Detailed metabolic profile gives "chemical snapshot" of the effects of exercise
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.
05/14/2010: Homeless adults have significant unmet health care needs
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.
04/27/2010: Long-term anabolic steroid use may weaken heart more than previously thought
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.
04/14/2010: Novel artificial pancreas successfully controls blood sugar more than 24 hours
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.
03/16/2010: Increased radiation dose does not increase long-term side effects for prostate cancer patients
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.
03/01/2010: Adding ECG to health exams may prevent sudden cardiac death in young athletes
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.
03/01/2010: Different fat types can help or hinder obese girls' bone health
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.
02/21/2010: Common gene variant may increase risk for a type of cardiac arrhythmia
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.
01/27/2010: Workers' Compensation Patients Get Less Benefit from Back Surgery
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.
01/17/2010: New gene variants associated with glucose, insulin levels, some with diabetes risk
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.
01/08/2010: Addressing the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa
MGH Hotline 01.08.10 The MGH Division of Global Health and Human Rights, the Departments of Medicine and Emergency Medicine, and MassGeneral Hospital for Children welcomed journalist, scientist and public health consultant Helen Epstein, PhD, for a Dec. 10 discussion of her experience studying the proliferation of HIV/AIDS on the African continent.
01/07/2010: Study finds increased presence, severity of coronary artery plaques in HIV-infected men
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.
12/18/2009: Cervical Cancer Screening
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recently released new guidelines for cervical cancer screening. Dr. Marcela Del Carmen from the Obstetrics and Gynecology Service and Dr. Elizabeth Roth from the Women’s Health Associates at Mass General help put this in context.
12/02/2009: Videos can help cancer patients choose level of care they prefer
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.
11/06/2009: In memoriam: Paul C. Zamecnik, MD
MGH Hotline 11.06.09 PAUL C. ZAMECNIK, MD, a renowned senior scientist in the Department of Medicine, died Oct. 27 at his home in Boston. He was 96.
09/23/2009: Mass General raises funds to support cardiovascular research
Massachusetts General Hospital partnered with the American Heart Association during the 2009 Boston Heart Walk, an event that raises funds to support lifesaving heart and stroke research.
09/15/2009: Comprehensive cardiac CT scan may give clearer picture of significant heart disease
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.
09/04/2009: Cardiac biomarker levels strongly predict outcome of bypass surgery
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.
09/01/2009: New assessment quantifies risks and benefits of warfarin treatment for atrial fibrillation
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.
08/31/2009: Renal Associates Practice Moving - New Address
The Renal Associates practice is moving to allow for continued growth in an area that is just one-half mile from our current location.
08/21/2009: O'Connell named J.H. Kanter Prize Laureate
MGH Hotline 08.21.09 James J. O'Connell, MD, of the MGH Department of Medicine, is known throughout Boston as a physician with a heart for the homeless.
08/11/2009: Denosumab increases bone density, cuts fracture risk in prostate cancer survivors
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.
08/11/2009: Postdiagnosis aspirin use reduces risk of dying from colorectal cancer
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.
07/31/2009: Thinking outside the box
MGH Hotline 07.31.09 Who would think a simple plastic tube and a set of car parts could help save the lives of newborns around the world? For Kristian Olson, MD, MPH, of the MGH Department of Medicine and the Center for the Integration of Medicine and Innovative Technology (CIMIT) Global Health Initiative, this type of out-of-the-box thinking is nothing new.
07/27/2009: Intensive Glucose Control Halves Complications of Longstanding Type 1 Diabetes
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.
07/24/2009: Speed networking event connects women in medicine
MGH Hotline 07.24.09 In eight-minute intervals, 45 participants each greet one another, discuss their accomplishments, challenges and goals, and then move on to the next person to do the same. Although the scenario sounds like "speed dating," it actually describes the Department of Medicine’s Women in Medicine Speed Networking Event for residents, fellows and faculty.
07/22/2009: Mass. General-based research center will investigate why immune system fails to control hepatitis C
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.
07/20/2009: Study suggests earlier HIV antiviral treatment saves lives and is cost effective, even in areas of limited resources
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.
07/16/2009: Monitoring patients remotely
New wireless technology allows Heart Center clinicians to keep tabs on heart failure patients wherever they are
07/13/2009: Differences in immune response may explain why HIV-1 disease progresses faster in women than in men with same viral load
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.
06/30/2009: Biomarkers’ ability to improve prediction of cardiovascular risk is modest
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.
06/23/2009: Common ECG finding may indicate serious cardiac problems
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.
05/28/2009: Video can help patients make end-of-life decision
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.
05/19/2009: Study suggests TB screening needs to be targeted for maximum public health benefit
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.
05/15/2009: Study finds virtual doctors visits satisfactory for both patients and clinicians
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.
05/10/2009: International study identifies potential treatment targets for hypertension
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.
04/10/2009: In General
MGH Hotline 4.10.09 In General awards and honors
03/30/2009: Intestinal parasites alter immunity in cholera patients
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.
03/25/2009: Intensive summer program helps physicians build clinical research careers
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.
03/23/2009: Common gene variants influence risk factor for sudden cardiac death
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.
03/20/2009: HHS Names David Blumenthal as National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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.
03/19/2009: New Institute for Tuberculosis and HIV Research Created in South Africa
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.
03/18/2009: Study identifies human genes required for hepatitis C viral replication
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.
03/02/2009: Patient-Physician "Connectedness" Affects Quality of Care
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.
02/27/2009: MGH Durant fellows
MGH Hotline 2.27.09 As a true humanitarian, Thomas S. Durant, MD, spent his life bringing hope to some of the bleakest parts of the world. In honor of his service and compassion, the MGH Durant Fellowship in Refugee Medicine helps health care professionals bring their skills to those in critical need around the globe.
02/15/2009: Common gene variants increase risk of hypertension, finding may lead to new therapies
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.
02/08/2009: International study identifies gene variants associated with early heart attack
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.
02/06/2009: Course in community-oriented primary care
For the first time at the MGH, the Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics have come together with the MGH Combined Medicine/Pediatrics Residency Program
01/16/2009: Marcus Altfeld, MD, PhD, wins the the Doris Duke Distinguished Clinical Scholar Award
MGH Hotline 1.19.09 Marcus Altfeld, MD, PhD, associate professor of Medicine and director of the Innate Inmunity Program at the Partners AIDS Research Center, is one of six recipients of the Doris Duke Distinguished Clinical Scholar Award from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
02/04/2004: Gene transfer allows mammals to produce heart-healthy fats
Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital have found that tissues from mice transgenic for a gene usually found in the c.elegans roundworm contain omega-3 fatty acids, consumption of which has been shown to protect against heart disease.
04/01/2009: Senior HealthWISE Newsletter
View this publicaton
Community wellness, involvement, support adn education
03/01/2009: Senior HealthWISE Newsletter
View this publication
Community wellness, involvement, support and education
02/01/2009: Senior HealthWISE Newsletter
View this publication
Community wellness, involvement, support and education
01/01/2009: Senior HealthWISE Newsletter
Senior HealthWISE January 2009 Newsletter
Community wellness, involvement, support and education
11/01/2008: MGH Senior Healthwise Newsletter
View this publication
Community wellness, involvement, support and education.
11/01/2008: Neuroendocrine Clinical Center Bulletin
Volume 14, Issue 2, Fall 208
The Neuroendocrine Clinical Center Bulletin is a bi-annual publication that covers important trends in research and treatment of neuroendocrine conditions and disease.
01/01/2006: Neuroendocrine Clinical Center Bulletin
Neuroendocrine Clinical Center Bulletin | Effect of Obesity on Growth Hormone Secretion
The Mass General Neuroendocrine Clinical Center Bulletin shares the latest information for health care professionals about clinical and research topics in neuroendocrine conditions.
01/23/2013: The Morphing of MGH: Architecture Reflects Changing Patterns of Care
The Paul S. Russell, MD Museum of Medical History and Innovation Lecture Series Presents "The Morphing of MGH: Architecture Reflects Changing Patterns of Care"
09/28/2010: Brain Aneurysm Symposium
Our Vascular Center clinicians invite you to join us for a Brain Aneurysm Symposium, sponsored by Massachusetts General Hospital and the Brain Aneurysm Foundation. Learn who is at risk for developing brain aneurysms, and about treatment options and ongoing research to help patients with this difficult condition.
04/23/2010: Stoeckle Center Seminar
"Medication Safety and Transitions in Care: The Role of the PCP"
03/10/2010: Cardiology Grand Rounds
Massachusetts General Hospital Cardiology Grand Rounds take place on Wednesdays from 8:00 am to 9:00 am in the O’Keeffe Auditorium of the Blake Building. This week's Cardiology Grand Rounds speaker is Ahmed Tawakol, MD, and the topic is, "PET studies of Atherosclerosis and Inflammation."
03/03/2010: Cardiology Grand Rounds
Massachusetts General Hospital Cardiology Grand Rounds take place on Wednesdays from 8:00 am to 9:00 am in the O’Keeffe Auditorium of the Blake Building. This week's Cardiology Grand Rounds speaker is Michael S. Lauer, MD, FACC, FAHA, and the topic is, "Government Support of Comparative Effectiveness Research: One Year Later"
02/24/2010: Cardiology Grand Rounds
Massachusetts General Hospital Cardiology Grand Rounds take place on Wednesdays from 8:00 am to 9:00 am in the O’Keeffe Auditorium of the Blake Building. This week's Cardiology Grand Rounds speaker is Joseph E. Parrillo, MD, and the topic is, "Reversible Causes of Myocardial Depression: Sepsis, Ischemia, and Myocarditis."
02/17/2010: Cardiology Grand Rounds
Massachusetts General Hospital Cardiology Grand Rounds take place on Wednesdays from 8:00 am to 9:00 am in the O’Keeffe Auditorium of the Blake Building. This week's Cardiology Grand Rounds speaker is Peter Ganz, MD, and the topic is, "25 Years of Endothelial Research in Humans: Where We Have Been and Where We Are Going."
02/10/2010: Cardiology Grand Rounds
Massachusetts General Hospital Cardiology Grand Rounds take place on Wednesdays from 8:00 am to 9:00 am in the O’Keeffe Auditorium of the Blake Building. This week's Cardiology Grand Rounds speaker is Aaron Baggish, MD, and the topic is, "Exercise-Induced Cardiac Remodeling: From Bedside to Bench."
02/03/2010: Cardiology Grand Rounds
Massachusetts General Hospital Cardiology Grand Rounds take place on Wednesdays from 8:00 am to 9:00 am in the O’Keeffe Auditorium of the Blake Building. This week's Cardiology Grand Rounds speaker is Mark Creager, MD, and the topic is, “Peripheral Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease: Implications for the Cardiologist.”
01/27/2010: Cardiology Grand Rounds
Massachusetts General Hospital Cardiology Grand Rounds take place on Wednesdays from 8:00 am to 9:00 am in the O’Keeffe Auditorium of the Blake Building. This week's Cardiology Grand Rounds speaker is Valentin Fuster, MD, and the topic is to be announced.
01/20/2010: Cardiology Grand Rounds
Massachusetts General Hospital Cardiology Grand Rounds take place on Wednesdays from 8:00 am to 9:00 am in the O’Keeffe Auditorium of the Blake Building. This week's Cardiology Grand Rounds speaker is Saumya Das, MD, PhD, and the topic is, "Heart Failure and Ventricular Arrhythmias: Revisiting the Sodium Channel."
01/13/2010: Cardiology Grand Rounds
Massachusetts General Hospital Cardiology Grand Rounds take place on Wednesdays from 8:00 am to 9:00 am in the O’Keeffe Auditorium of the Blake Building. This week's Cardiology Grand Rounds speaker is Zoltan Arany, MD, PhD, and the topic is, "At the Intersection of Metabolism and Angiogenesis: New Lessons for Making Blood Vessels?"
01/06/2010: Cardiology Grand Rounds
Massachusetts General Hospital Cardiology Grand Rounds take place on Wednesdays from 8:00 am to 9:00 am in the O’Keeffe Auditorium of the Blake Building. This week's Cardiology Grand Rounds speaker is Jonathan R. Lindner, MD, and the topic is, "Molecular Imaging of Cardiovascular Phenotype: New Diagnostic Paradigms on the Horizon."
10/28/2009: Cardiology Grand Rounds
Massachusetts General Hospital Cardiology Grand Rounds take place on Wednesdays from 8:00 am to 9:00 am in the O’Keeffe Auditorium of the Blake Building. This week's Cardiology Grand Rounds speaker is Rodney Falk, MD, and the topic is, "Marching to a different rhythm: conundrums in the diagnosis and management of cardiac amyloidosis."
10/21/2009: Cardiology Grand Rounds
Massachusetts General Hospital Cardiology Grand Rounds take place on Wednesdays from 8:00 am to 9:00 am in the O’Keeffe Auditorium of the Blake Building. This week's Cardiology Grand Rounds speaker is Catherine M. Otto, MD, and the topic is, "Calcific aortic stenosis: new concepts in disease pathophysiology."
10/15/2009: On-Demand CME Program
Confronting the Epidemic of Esophageal Cancer: Innovative Screening Techniques and Treatment Strategies for Barrett's Esophagus and GERD
10/14/2009: Cardiology Grand Rounds
Massachusetts General Hospital Cardiology Grand Rounds take place on Wednesdays from 8:00 am to 9:00 am in the O’Keeffe Auditorium of the Blake Building. This week's Cardiology Grand Rounds speaker is Henry Gewirtz, MD, and the topic is an update on quantitative PET for Dx for CAD extent and location.
10/08/2009: Third Annual Care of the Patient With Vascular Disease Conference
The third annual conference dedicated to the care of vascular patients
10/07/2009: Cardiology Grand Rounds
Massachusetts General Hospital Cardiology Grand Rounds take place on Wednesdays from 8:00 am to 9:00 am in the O’Keeffe Auditorium of the Blake Building. This week's Cardiology Grand Rounds speaker is Kenneth L. Baughman, MD, and the topic is about peripartum cardiomyopathy.
10/05/2009: Heart Disease in Women - 2009 Update
Heart Disease in Women 2009 Update brings together experts in women's heart health to discuss how to best diagnose and treat this population.
09/30/2009: Cardiology Grand Rounds
Massachusetts General Hospital Cardiology Grand Rounds take place on Wednesdays from 8:00 am to 9:00 am in the O’Keeffe Auditorium of the Blake Building. This week's Cardiology Grand Rounds speaker is Mihai Gheorghiade, MD, and the topic is about acute heart failure syndromes.
03/25/2009: Schwartz Center Rounds
The Insatiable Mistress
02/12/2009: Medical Grand Rounds | The Diagnosis of Early Pancreatic Cancer
Medical Grand Rounds
01/21/2009: Schwartz Center Rounds
Schwartz Center Rounds are unique, multi-disciplinary sessions in which hospital staff explore the emotional side of caregiving.
Advanced research on coronary artery disease
In a segment produced by ABC News, Thomas Wang, MD, cardiologist at the Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center, explains some of the innovative research done on the root causes of coronary artery disease.
Talk with your doctor about peripheral artery disease
Deborah Hines, NP, encourages talking with your doctor about peripheral artery disease, a circulatory condition in which arteries narrowed by atherosclerosis reduce blood flow to the limbs, particularly to the legs and arms.
Recognize the symptoms of peripheral artery disease
Michael Jaff, DO, encourages the public to recognize the symptoms of peripheral artery disease, a circulatory condition in which arteries narrowed by atherosclerosis reduce blood flow to the limbs, particularly to the legs and arms.
Risk factors for heart disease
Risk factors for heart disease include smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, family history of heart disease and high cholesterol. Learn what you can do to overcome your risk for heart disease.
Explaining varicose veins
Julianne Stoughton, MD, explains how Mass General physicians identify varicose veins, which are enlarged veins visible through the skin, and use minimally invasive techniques to treat this condition.
Mind/Body Medicine for Cancer Patients
March 18, 2009 Palliative Care grand rounds presentation by Ann Webster PhD, Benson-Henry Institute, Mass General.
How do I know my patient is getting better?
March 11, 2009 Palliative Care ground rounds presentation by Eric Cassell MD, New York Hospital, Cornell Medical Center.
The Emerging Role of the Palliative Care Social Worker
March 4, 2009 Palliative Care grand rounds presentation by Todd Rinehart LICSW, MGH Palliative Care Service.
Easing Suffering in Children with Advanced Cancer
Feb. 25, 2009 Palliative Care ground rounds presentation by Joanne Wolfe MD, Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital.
Biographical Impact of Teenage and Adolescent Cancer: Research Findings from the UK
Jan. 28, 2009 Palliative Care grand rounds presentation by Anne Grinyer, PhD.
Providers and Variations in End-of-Life Care for Cancer Patients
Dec. 3, 2008 Palliative Care grand rounds presentation by Nancy Keating MD, MWH General Medicine and Primary Care.
Teaching as a Performing Art
Dec. 10, 2008 Palliative Care grand rounds presentation by Charles Hatem MD, HMS Professor of Medicine, Mount Auburn Hospital.
Medical Futility: Philosophy and Practice
Dec. 17, 2008 Palliative Care grand rounds presentation by Robert L. Fine MD, Director, Palliative Care Service, Baylor University Medical Center.
Jewish Law and End of Life Decision Making
Jan. 28, 2009 Palliative Care grand rounds presentation by Craig Blinderman MD, Mass General Palliative Care Service.
Palliative Care in Situations of Conflict: Lessons from Jerusalem
Feb. 18, 2009 Palliative Care grand rounds presentation by Nathan Cherny MBBS FRACP FRCP, Ben Gurion University, Jerusalem, Israel.
Isn't there anything else we can do?
April 8, 2009: Isn't there anything else we can do?: The Role of Interventional Pain Techniques in the Palliative Care Patient", Mihir Kamdar, MD, Palliative Care Fellow, MGH/DFCI
Palliating the Body's Largest Organ: Skin Issues in Palliative Care"
April 15, 2009, Palliative Care Grand rounds presentation by Lindy Landzaat, DO, Palliative Care Fellow, MGH/DFCI, Boston, MA
Hospice Medicare Policy: Change is on the Horizon
April 29, 2009 Palliative Care Grand Rounds presentation by Melissa Wachterman, MD, Palliative Care Fellow, MGH/DFCI, Boston, MA
Spirituality and Palliative Care
May 13, 2009 Palliative Care Grand Rounds presentation by James Marroquin, MD, Palliative Care Fellow, MGH/DFCI, Boston, MA
Palliative Radiation in Children and Adults
June 6, 2009 Palliative Care Grand Rounds Presentation by Vern, DO, Pedatric Palliative Care Fellow, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
Best Interest of a Child: Revisited
June 17, 2009 Palliative Care Grand Rounds presentation by Arden O'Donnell, MPH, MSW, LCSW and Ashley Atkins, CPNP, Children's Hospital, Boson, MA
“The Caregiver: Implications of Family Caregiving for Clinicians. A Personal Odyssey”
September 30, 2009 Grand Rounds presentation by Arthur M. Kleinman, MD HMS Dept of Social Medicine
“Chronic Critical Illness: Triumph of technology of failure of communication”
October 7 2009 Grand Rounds presentation by Zara Cooper, MD Brigham & Women’s Hospital Surgery Dept.
Trauma and Medical Illness (title TBA)
December 2 2009 Grand Rounds presented by Glenn N. Saxe, MD Associate Chief of Psychiatry for Research and Development Children’s Hospital
My Inherited cancer syndrome, a physician’s experience
October 14 2009 Palliative Care Grand Rounds presented by John Halporn, MD, Partners Community Healthcare, Inc
Professional Development in Medical Education
October 28 2009 Palliative Care Grand Rounds presented by David H. Roberts, MD Beth Isreal Deaconess Medical Center – Div of Pulmonary and Critical Care
Developing Community Based Palliative Care in Africa
November 4 2009 Palliative Care Grand Rounds presented by David Lee, MD Lamb Pain Foundation
Clinical Transitions and Palliative Care
November 18 2009 Palliative Care Grand Rounds presented by Terrance O’Malley, MD Medical Director for Non Acute Care Services, North End Rehabilitation and Nursing Center
Spiritual Care at the End of Life
December 16 2009 Grand Rounds presented by Traci Balboni, MD, DFCI/BWH Radiation Oncology
Narrative Intervention: What? When? And with Whom?
January 6th Grand Rounds presentation by Laurie Rosenblatt, MD, Beth Isreal Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
Developmentally Disabled Adults: the Role and Challenges of Palliative Care
February 3rd 2010, Grand Rounds presented by Julie M. Hauer, MD, Dana Farber Cancer Institute
The End-of-Life Experience of Children Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant: Parent and Provider Perspecrives and Patterns of Care
February 10, 2010 Grand Rounds presented by Christina K. Ullrich, MD, MPH-Pediatrics, DFCI/Children’s
Communicating in the MICU: Implementing and Studying a Family Meeting Practice Change
February 17, 2010 Paul Currier, MD, MGH, Pulmonary and Critical Care Unit
Integrating Palliative and Oncology Care in Advanced Lung Cancer
February 24, 2009 Grand Rounds presented by Jennifer Temel, MD, Hematology/Oncology, MGH
Palliative Care Begins at Diagnosis: A Focus on the Humanistic Aspect
March 10, 2010 Grand Rounds presented by Teresa A. Gilewski, MD, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, NY
Improving Quality at the End of Life with Videos:
March 17, 2010 Grand Rounds presented by Angelo Volandes, MD, MGH Medicine, Boston
Psychodynamics and Psychotherapy
March 24, 2010 Grand Rounds presented by David Doolittle, Psy.D, MGH Psychiatry, Boston
“Death of a Child in the ED: Where Angels Fear to Tread"
March 31, 2010 Grand Rounds presented by Patricia O’Malley, MD, MGH - Director, Pediatric Palliative Care, Boston
Tailoring End of Life Discussions to Patient’s State of Grief
April 7, 2010 Grand Rounds presented by Holly Prigerson, PhD, Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston
Deciding when CPR is not beneficial: Challenges for providers, patients, and families
April 14, 2010 Palliative Care Grand Rounds presented by James Willett, MD, MBE, MGH/DFCI, Palliative Care, Boston
Reflection in Action:Mindfulness in the Palliative Care Clinician
May 5 2010 Grand Rounds presented by Heidi Blake, MD, Fellow, MGH/DFCI Palliative Care
Care of the Self and the Other: Mindfulness Practice in Palliative Care
May 12, 2010 Grand Rounds presented by Randall H. Paulsen, MD, Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute
Integration of Palliative Care in the Liver Transplant Population: Paradox or Possibility?
May 19, 2010 Grand Rounds presented by Jamie Potosek, MD, Fellow, MGH/DFCI Palliative Care
Where the Sidewalk Ends? Helping Young Adults with Sickle Cell Disease Transition to Adult Care
May 26, 2010 Grand Rounds presented by Andrea Dimond, MD, Fellow, MGH/DFCI Palliative Care
Lidocaine, an Underutilized Therapy for Refractory Pain at the End of Life
June 2, 2010 Grand Rounds presented by Eve Block, MD, Fellow, MGH/DFCI Palliative Care
Providing Spiritual Care at the End of Life: Whose Responsibility Is It?
June 9 2010 Grand Rounds presented by Andrea Phelps, MD, Fellow, MGH/DFCI Palliative Care, Boston
Vijay Yajnik, MD, explains the role of genetics in developing colitis and Crohn's disease
Vijay Yajnik, MD, gastroenterologist at the Massachusetts General Hospital Digestive Healthcare Center, explains why inflammatory bowel disease often goes untreated and the promising new therapies that can minimize IBD's impact on daily life.
Malissa Wood, MD, explains how the symptoms of heart attack are different in women than in men
Malissa Wood, MD, Co-Director of the Corrigan Women's Heart Health Program at the Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center describes the heart attack symptoms that are unique to women, and why treatment of heart disease should be gender-specific.
Sekar Kathiresan, MD, explains what you can do to lower your risk of developing coronary artery disease
Sekar Kathiresan, MD, Director of Preventive Cardiology at the Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center says counteracting your genetic risk is within your control. Learn more about coronary artery disease, who is most at risk and about Mass General's Heart Attack Prevention Program, focused on people with a family history of the disease.
Aaron Baggish, MD, warns that even highly active people can develop heart disease
Aaron Baggish, MD, Associate Director for the Cardiovascular Performance Program at the Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center explains how heart problems are diagnosed in highly active people and how Mass General specialists help them exercise safely to reduce the risk of heart attack.
Guy Rordorf, MD, recommends an imaging test for anyone with a family history of FMD
Guy Rordorf, MD, vascular neurologist at the Massachusetts General Hospital Vascular Center, says an imaging test can detect fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD), and recommends it for those with a family history of the condition. Learn more about FMD and how it weakens artery walls and can lead to severe hypertension or stroke.
Stephanie Moore, MD, describes your risk for heart failure if you have a family history of this condition
Stephanie Moore, MD, cardiologist in the Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplant Program at the Mass General Heart Center says if a close relative suffered from heart failure, you should be screened for other health issues that can put you at higher risk. Learn more about the early signs of heart failure and the various treatments available, from medications to pacemakers to transplants.
Alice Shaw, MD, explains why patients with lung cancer can benefit from genetic testing
Alice Shaw, MD, thoracic oncologist at the Mass General Cancer Center, says patients with lung cancer can benefit from genetic testing, particularly if they are young non-smokers. Learn more about personalized treatment for lung cancer and new "smart drugs" that target a tumor's specific genetic mutation to slow the cancer's growth, and in some cases, reduce it significantly.
Frank Robinson's Story
Watch 46-year-old Frank Robinson tell the story of his life-saving experience at Mass General after a massive coronary.
Dr. Patrick Ellinor, cardiologist at the Mass General Heart Center, says you should discuss your condition with your doctor
Dr. Patrick Ellinor, cardiologist at the Mass General Heart Center, says you should discuss your condition with your doctor, since many people who could benefit from specific treatments are not aware of them.
