Welcome to our Snapshot of Science for July 2024. Here's a quick look at some recent publications, press releases and stories about the Mass General Research Institute community.
In this issue, we highlight:
- 44 new studies published in high-impact journals
- 9 new research-related press releases
- 10 research spotlights
- 4 posts from the Mass General Research Institute blog
Borre ED, Ahonkhai AA, Chi KK, Osman A, Thayer K [et al.], Neilan AM
Published in Clinical Infectious Diseases on 6/24/2024 | Press Release
Bai P, Lan Y, Liu Y, Mondal P, Gomm A [et al.], Zhang C
Published in Advanced Science on 6/25/2024
Mono-methylation of lysine 27 at histone 3 confers lifelong susceptibility to stress
Torres-Berrío A, Estill M, Patel V, Ramakrishnan A, Kronman H [et al.], Nestler EJ
Published in Neuron on 6/25/2024
Thielking AM, Fitzmaurice KP, Sewpaul R, Chrysanthopoulou SA, Dike L [et al.], Reddy KP
Published in Journal of the International AIDS Society on 6/25/2024 | Research Spotlight
DeSpenza T Jr, Singh A, Allington G, Zhao S, Lee J [et al.], Luikart BW
Published in PNAS on 6/25/2024 | Research Spotlight
French JD, Haugen BR, Worden FP, Bowles DW, Gianoukakis AG [et al.], Wirth LJ
Published in Clinical Cancer Research on 6/26/2024
Fischbach AK, Satpute AB, Quigley K, Kragel PA, Chen D [et al.], Theriault JE
Published in Journal of Neuroscience on 6/26/2024
Kochis M, Bizimana C, Zitsman JL, Pratt JSA, Griggs CL
Published in Journal of Surgical Research on 6/27/2024 | Research Spotlight
Cote GM, Haddox CL, Choy E, Merriam PA, Mazzola E [et al.], George S
Published in Clinical Cancer Research on 7/1/2024
Johanns TM, Garfinkle EAR, Miller KE, Livingstone AJ, Roberts KF [et al.], Dunn GP
Published in Clinical Cancer Research on 7/1/2024
Preoperative vs Postoperative Opioid Prescriptions and Prolonged Opioid Refills Among US Youths
Sutherland TN, Rabbitts JA, Tasian GE, Neuman MD, Newcomb C, Hadland SE
Published in JAMA Network Open on 7/1/2024
Servin-Rojas M, Fong ZV, Fernandez-Del Castillo C, Lionetto G, Bolm L [et al.], Qadan M
Published in Annals of Surgery on 7/2/2024
Semantic encoding during language comprehension at single-cell resolution
Jamali M, Grannan B, Cai J, Khanna AR, Muñoz W [et al.], Williams ZM
Published in Nature on 7/3/2024 | Press Release
Allogeneic B cell immunomodulatory therapy in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Sîrbulescu RF, Nicholson K, Kawai K, Hilton OM, Sobell D [et al.], Poznansky MC.
Published in FASEB Journal on 7/5/2024 | Press Release
Piperni E, Nguyen LH, Manghi P, Kim H, Pasolli E [et al.], Asnicar F
Published in Cell on 7/8/2024 | Press Release
Ran C, Yang J, Zhu B, Zhang J, Liang SH, Shen S
Published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition on 7/9/2024
Simon TG, Singer DE, Zhang Y, Mastrorilli JM, Cervone A, DiCesare E, Lin KJ
Published in Annals of Internal Medicine on 7/9/2024
Fungal melanin suppresses airway epithelial chemokine secretion through blockade of calcium fluxing
Reedy JL, Jensen KN, Crossen AJ, Basham KJ, Ward RA [et al.], Vyas JM
Published in Nature Communications on 7/10/2024
Cote GM, Conley AP, Attia S, Van Tine BA, Seetharam M [et al.], Adams T
Published in Cancer on 7/10/2024
Jiang D, Houck KL, Murdiyarso L, Higgins H, Rhoads NM [et al.], Dong JF
Published in Blood on 7/10/2024
Heterogeneity in Antidepressant Treatment and Major Depressive Disorder Outcomes Among Clinicians
Rathnam S, Hart KL, Sharma A, Verhaak PF, McCoy TH, Doshi-Velez F, Perlis RH
Published in JAMA Psychiatry on 7/10/2024
Discovery of disease-adapted bacterial lineages in inflammatory bowel diseases
Kumbhari A, Cheng TNH, Ananthakrishnan AN, Kochar B, Burke KE [et al.], Smillie CS
Published in Cell Host Microbe on 7/10/2024
Mutant IDH1 inhibition induces dsDNA sensing to activate tumor immunity
Wu MJ, Kondo H, Kammula AV, Shi L, Xiao Y [et al.], Bardeesy N.
Published in Science on 7/12/2024 | Research Spotlight
CDKN2A/B Homozygous Deletion Sensitizes IDH-Mutant Glioma to CDK4/6 Inhibition
Nasser AM, Melamed L, Wetzel EA, Chang JC, Nagashima H [et al.], Miller JJ
Published in Clinical Cancer Research on 7/15/2024
Bardia A, Sun S, Thimmiah N, Coates JT, Wu B [et al.], Ellisen LW
Published in Clinical Cancer Research on 7/15/2024
Parikh AR, Chee BH, Tsai J, Rich TA, Price KS [et al.], Atreya CE
Published in Clinical Cancer Research on 7/15/2024
Wan G, Chen W, Khattab S, Roster K, Nguyen N [et al.], Semenov YR
Published in Lancet Oncology on 7/15/2024
Defining Levels of US Hospitals' Pediatric Capabilities
Michelson KA, Alpern ER, Remick KE, Cash RE, Kemal S [et al.], Samuels-Kalow ME
Published in JAMA Network Open on 7/15/2024
Stavely R, Rahman AA, Mueller JL, Leavitt AR, Han CY [et al.], Goldstein AM
Published in Neuron on 7/16/2024
Clapp MA, Ray A, Liang P, James KE, Ganguli I, Cohen JL
Published in JAMA Network Open on 7/16/2024 | Press Release
Pregnancy and Parenthood Among US Surgical Residents
Li RD, Janczewski LM, Eng JS, Foote DC, Wu C [et al.], Rangel EL
Published in JAMA Surgery on 7/17/2024 | Press Release
Real-world genetic testing outcomes of pan-cancer testing for mismatch repair deficiency
Chai TS, Rodgers-Fouche LH, Walls JO, Mattia AR, Chung DC
Published in Cancer on 7/18/2024
Neale I, Reddy C, Tan ZY, Li B, Nag PP [et al.], Xavier RJ
Published in Science Advances on 7/19/2024
Westlin C, Guthrie AJ, Paredes-Echeverri S, Maggio J, Finkelstein S [et al.], Perez DL
Published in J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry on 7/20/2024 | Research Spotlight
Morais A, Imai T, Jin X, Locascio JJ, Boisserand L [et al.], Ayata C
Published in Circulation Research on 7/22/2024
Click editing enables programmable genome writing using DNA polymerases and HUH endonucleases
Ferreira da Silva J, Tou CJ, King EM, Eller ML, Rufino-Ramos D [et al.], Kleinstiver BP
Published in Nature Biotechnology on 7/22/2024
Liu M, Patel VR, Sandhu S, Reisner S, Keuroghlian AS
Published in Annals of Family Medicine on 7/22/2024 | Research Spotlight
Freeburg SH, Shwartz A, Kemény LV, Smith CJ, Weeks O [et al.], Goessling W
Published in Cell Reports on 7/23/2024
Shetty NS, Gaonkar M, Patel N, Pampana A, Vekariya N [et al.], Arora P
Published in Nature Communications on 7/23/2024
Lee CY, Kim H, Degani I, Lee H, Sandoval A [et al.], Lee H
Published in Nature Communications on 7/25/2024
Heyne HO, Pajuste FD, Wanner J, Daniel Onwuchekwa JI, Mägi R [et al.], Daly MJ
Published in Nature Communications on 7/25/2024
Danielli SG, Wei Y, Dyer MA, Stewart E, Sheppard H [et al.], Langenau DM
Published in Nature Communications on 7/26/2024
Trust in Physicians and Hospitals During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a 50-State Survey of US Adults
Perlis RH, Ognyanova K, Uslu A, Lunz Trujillo K, Santillana M [et al.], Lazer D
Published in JAMA Network Open on 7/31/2024 | Press Release
Leadless Ultrasound-Based Cardiac Resynchronization System in Heart Failure. JAMA Cardiol
Singh JP, Rinaldi CA, Sanders P, Kubo SH [et al.], Walsh MN; SOLVE-CRT Investigators
Published in JAMA Cardiology on 7/31/2024
Study Discovers a 'Brain Thesaurus' That Lets Neurons Derive Meaning from Spoken Words
Featuring Ziv Williams, MD
By obtaining recordings from single neurons in the brain, researchers mapped neuronal activity that reflects how a person comprehends the meanings of different spoken word. Neuronal recordings also allowed the scientists to predict the meanings of words as they were heard in real-time during speech. This information could be used to determine what someone is listening to or thinking, which could help scientists develop brain-machine interfaces that allow individuals with speech-related conditions to communicate more effectively.
A Gut Microbe Could Hold a Key to Help People Benefit from Healthy Foods
Featuring Long Nguyen, MD, MS
In a study involving 50,000+ individuals from around the world, higher gut levels of Blastocystis, a single-celled organism commonly found in the digestive system, were linked to more favorable indicators of health. People with a healthy diet had higher levels of Blastocystis. The study, which was conducted by an international team led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital, suggests that Blastocystis may play a beneficial role in how diet impacts health.
Researchers Identify Cause of Serious Brain Bleeding Condition in Premature Newborns
Featuring Kevin Staley, MD
Scientists from Massachusetts General Hospital have found that in premature newborns with very low birth weight, salt and water transporters on immature neurons can cause brain tissue to shrink in response to a lack of oxygen. This tissue shrinkage stretches blood vessels, which can result in bleeding in the brain and life-long neurological damage. Manipulating salt and water transporters on immature neurons prevented neuronal shrinkage and blood vessel damage after brain injury in lab models.
Featuring Mark Poznansky, MD, PhD
In mice prone to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), repeated infusions of B immune cells delayed disease onset and extended survival. In an individual with ALS, repeated B cells treatments were safe and led to decreased inflammation and a modest improvement in some aspects of their function following the first dose of B cells. The study, which was conducted by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital, provides the basis for a phase I clinical trial in additional participants.
Featuring Anne Neilan, MD, MPH and Ethan Borre, MD, PhD
Tennessee plans to reject $6 million in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funding. Instead, they'll redirect state resources for HIV prevention to first responders, pregnant individuals and survivors of sex trafficking. Using a microsimulation model, a team of researchers led by Ethan Borre, MD, PhD, found that the shift in funding will harm high-risk groups while providing only minimal benefits for new priority populations.
Featuring Mark Clapp, MD, MPH and Alaka Ray, MD
In a clinical trial of women with chronic medical conditions who were pregnant or recently gave birth, researchers tested an intervention involving automated scheduling of postpartum primary care visits. They found that automated appointment scheduling and tailored messages increased women’s receipt of care and led to more blood pressure screening, weight assessment, and depression screening. The study, which was led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital, points to a simple way to improve postpartum health and well-being.
Featuring Erika Rangel, MD
In a survey-based study of US surgical residents, female residents more often experienced pregnancy/parenthood-based mistreatment than male residents. They were also more likely to suffer obstetric complications and postpartum depression than male residents’ partners. Resident mistreatment and postpartum depression (whether experienced by female residents or male residents’ partners) were associated with resident burnout and thoughts of leaving the profession.
Featuring Chi-Fu Jeffrey Yang, MD
A recent study shows that a new proposed guideline—that is the same as the USPSTF guideline but replaces the 20-pack-year requirement with a 20-year smoking duration requirement—increases the proportion of lung cancer patients who would have qualified for screening and eliminates the racial disparity in screening eligibility between Black versus white individuals.
Trust in physicians and hospitals declined over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic
Featuring Roy Perlis, MD
In surveys completed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic by U.S. adults, trust in physicians and hospitals decreased over time in every socioeconomic group. Lower trust was associated with a lower likelihood of receiving SARS-CoV-2 or influenza vaccines. Among the leading contributors to low trust were concerns about financial motives, quality of care, influence of other entities or agendas, and perception of discrimination or bias.
Strategies to Decrease Sulfide Production Could Help Children with Leigh Syndrome
Featuring Fumito Ichinose, MD, PhD
Fumito Ichinose, MD, PhD, a physician-investigator in the department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and William Thomas Green Morton Professor of Anaesthesia at Harvard Medical School, is corresponding author of a new study in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, "Exclusion of Sulfide:Quinone Oxidoreductase From Mitochondria Causes Leighlike Disease in Mice by Impairing Sulfide Metabolism".
Identifying Genetic Variants to Prevent Future Risk of Colorectal Cancer
Featuring David A. Drew, PhD
David A. Drew, PhD, Director of Biobanking, Clinical & Translational Epidemiology Unit and Division of Gastroenterology in Department of Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, is the first author of a recently published paper in Science Advances, "Two Genome-Wide Interaction Loci Modify the Association of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs with Colorectal Cancer".
Featuring Krishna Reddy, MD, MS
Krishna Reddy, MD, MS, a physician-investigator at the Medical Practice Evaluation Center and the Tobacco Research and Treatment Center at Massachusetts General Hospital and an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, is the senior author of a recently published paper in Journal of the International AIDS Society: "Tobacco Smoking, Smoking Cessation and Life Expectancy Among People with HIV on Antiretroviral Therapy in South Africa: A Simulation Modelling Study".
Featuring Kristopher Kahle, MD, PhD
Kristopher Kahle, MD, PhD, Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Nicholas T. Zervas Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at Harvard Medical School, is co-corresponding author of a new study in PNAS, "Pathogenic Variants in Autism Gene KATNAL2 Cause Hydrocephalus and Disrupt Neuronal Connectivity by Impairing Ciliary Microtubule Dynamics".
Featuring Alex Keuroghlian, MD, MPH and Michael Liu, MPhil
Alex Keuroghlian, MD, MPH, a physician investigator in the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital and an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, is the senior author of a new original investigation published in Annals of Family Medicine, "Health Care Discrimination and Care Avoidance Due to Patient-Clinician Identity Discordance Among Sexual and Gender Minority Adults". The corresponding and first author on the study is Michael Liu, MPhil, a student at Harvard Medical School.
Machine Learning Classification of Functional Neurological Disorder
Featuring David L. Perez, MD, MMSc and Christiana Westlin, PhD
David L. Perez, MD, MMSc, Founding Director of the Functional Neurological Disorder Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital and an associate professor of Neurology and Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, is senior author of a new study in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry; "Machine Learning Classification of Functional Neurological Disorder Using Structural Brain MRI Features". Christiana Westlin, PhD, a post-doctoral research fellow in Neurology and Psychiatry at Mass General, is the first author of the study.
Discovering Practice Patterns of Obesity Medication Use Among Pediatric Bariatric Surgeons
Featuring Michael Kochis, MD, EdM and Cornelia Griggs, MD
Michael Kochis, MD, EdM, a resident in the Department of Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital, is the first author of a new original investigation published in the Journal of Surgical Research, "Practice Patterns of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Agonist Use Among Pediatric Bariatric Surgeons: A National Survey". Cornelia Griggs, MD, a physician investigator at Mass General for Children, Surgical Lead of the MGH Adolescent Weight Center, and Assistant Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School, is the senior author.
More Granularity in BMI Metrics for Asian Americans Could Increase Accuracy and Equity
Featuring Fatima Stanford, MD, MPH, MPA
Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, MPH, MPA, MBA, a physician investigator in the departments of Medicine and Pediatrics at Massachusetts General Hospital and an associate professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, is senior author of a new perspective in Annals of Internal Medicine; "Asian BMI: A Race Correction in Need of Correction?"
Featuring Meng-Ju Wu, PhD, Hiroshi Kondo, PhD, Ashwin Kammula, BS, Robert Manguso, PhD, and Nabeel Bardeesy, PhD
Meng-Ju Wu, PhD, an instructor in investigation at the Krantz Center for Cancer Research in the Mass General Cancer Center and an instructor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, is co-lead author of a new study in Science, "Mutant IDHI Inhibition Induces dsDNA Sensing to Activate Tumor Immunity". Hiroshi Kondo, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at the Krantz Center for Cancer Research in the Mass General Cancer Center, is co-lead author of the study. Ashwin Kammula, BS, a Computational Associate at the Broad Institute and the Krantz Center for Cancer Research in the Mass General Cancer Center, is co-lead author of the study. Robert Manguso, PhD, an Assistant Professor at the Krantz Center for Cancer Research in the Mass General Cancer Center, an assistant professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and an Associate Member at the Broad Institute, is co-senior author of the study. Nabeel Bardeesy, PhD, an Associate Professor at the Krantz Center for Cancer Research, an associate professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and an Associate Member at the Broad Institute, is co-senior author of the study.
Programmable Genome Writing Via Click Editing with DNA Polymerases and HUH Endonucleases
Featuring Joana Ferreira da Silva, PhD and Benjamin Kleinstiver, PhD
Joana Ferreira da Silva, PhD, postdoctoral research fellow, and Connor Tou, a PhD candidate in the Center for Genomic Medicine (CGM) at Massachusetts General Hospital are co-first authors of a recently published paper in Nature Biotechnology, "Click Editing Enables Programmable Genome Writing Using DNA Polymerases and HUH Endonucleases". Benjamin Kleinstiver, PhD, an investigator in the CGM and an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, is the senior author. Kleinstiver is also a Kayden-Lambert MGH Research Scholar 2023-2028.
How Mass General Nurses Have Pioneered the Field of Nursing Since 1873
For more than a century after it was established in 1873, Mass General's School of Nursing helped to grow the field of nursing in the US.
Snapshot of Science: Mass General’s High Impact Research Publications for June 2024
New insights from Mass General researchers in the areas of cancer, rare diseases genetics, heart health and much more.
Benchmarks: Mass General Research News and Notes for July 26, 2024
Study shows disparities between male and female surgical residents in experiences of pregnancy and parenthood, the tweets of the week & more.
Congratulations to the 2024 Winners of the Claflin Distinguished Scholar Awards
The Claflin awards were established at Mass General to recognize and support women researchers during a critical time in their careers.
About the Mass General Research Institute
Research at Massachusetts General Hospital is interwoven through more than 30 different departments, centers and institutes. Our research includes fundamental, lab-based science; clinical trials to test new drugs, devices and diagnostic tools; and community and population-based research to improve health outcomes across populations and eliminate disparities in care.
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