For the first time, a major medical organization takes a stand on rampant overuse of opioids for treating back pain, headaches and migraines. Jianren Mao, Richard J. Kitz Professor of Anaesthesia Research at Massachusetts General Hospital, is mentioned.
Felicia Knaul, associate professor of medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, is profiled. Her work to address cancer care inequities around the world is the highlight of this article.
Researchers argue in a recent report that Yelp can serve as an indicator of food poisoning outbreaks, and point to the food types that were the source of the bug. Elaine Nsoesie, research fellow in pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital, is quoted. John Brownstein, associate professor of pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital, is mentioned.
A powerful new technology could be used to manipulate nature by changing a species gene pool through reproduction, and it has scientists proceeding with caution. Kevin Esvelt, research associate at the Wyss Institute, led the research. George Church, Robert Winthrop Professor of Genetics, is quoted.
With flu season approaching, public health officials hope a crowdsourcing app that tracks flu activity will gain additional traction. Florence Bourgeois, assistant professor of pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital, is quoted.
Obesity and inflammation in late adolescence are associated with increased risk for colon and rectal cancer in adulthood, a new study of Swedish males suggests. Andrew Chan, associate professor of medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, is quoted.
Researchers say they’ve identified a sign of early development of pancreatic cancer, a leading cause of cancer death. And, they add, their discovery might lead one day to a new test to detect the disease in its initial and more treatable stages. Brian Wolpin, assistant professor of medicine at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, is a co-leader of the study.
A drug for advanced lung cancer shrunk tumors in those with a rare genetic mutation, according to a study that may provide the first targeted treatment for these patients. Alice Shaw, associate professor of medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, led the study.
