Snapshot of Science for January 2020

Welcome to our Snapshot of Science for January 2020

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:

28 new studies published in high impact journals, along with 16 summaries submitted by the research teams
9 new research-related press releases from the Mass General Public Affairs office
7 posts from the Mass General Research Institute blog

Publications

CLOSURE OF AUTOMOTIVE PLANTS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED DEATH FROM OPIOID OVERDOSE
Association Between Automotive Assembly Plant Closures and Opioid Overdose Mortality in the United States: A Difference-in-Differences Analysis
Venkataramani AS, Bair EF, O'Brien RL, Tsai AC.
Published in JAMA Internal Medicine on December 30, 2019 | *Summary available

T-CELL CONTACT MAINTAINED BY TENSION WITHIN THE CELL
Cytoskeletal Tension Actively Sustains the Migratory T-Cell Synaptic Contact
Kumari S, Mak M, Poh YC, Tohme M, Watson N [et al.], Irvine DJ.
Published in The EMBO Journal on January 2, 2020

RECURRING FUSION IN TUMORS OF THE OVARY
Identification of Recurrent FHL2-GLI2 Oncogenic Fusion in Sclerosing Stromal Tumors of the Ovary
Kim SH, Da Cruz Paula A, Basili T, Dopeso H, Bi R [et al.], Oliva E.
Published in Nature Communications on January 2, 2020

MEDITERRANEAN DIET MAY LOWER RISK OF CROHN'S DISEASE
Adherence to a Mediterranean Diet is Associated with a Lower Risk of Later-Onset Crohn's Disease: Results from Two Large Prospective Cohort Studies
Khalili H, Håkansson N, Chan SS, Chen Y, Lochhead P [et al.], Wolk A.
Published in Gut on January 3, 2020 | *Summary available

PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTION FOR CAREGIVERS OF STEM CELL TRANSPLANTEES
Multimodal Psychosocial Intervention for Family Caregivers of Patients Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Randomized Clinical Trial
El-Jawahri A, Jacobs JM, Nelson AM, Traeger L, Greer JA [et al.], Temel JS.
Published in Cancer on January 3, 2020 | *Summary available

TMZ SENSITIVITY AND BASE EXCISION REPAIR IN GLIOBLASTOMA
Restoration of Temozolomide Sensitivity by Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors in Mismatch Repair Deficient Glioblastoma is Independent of Base Excision Repair
Higuchi F, Nagashima H, Ning J, Koerner MVA, Wakimoto H, Cahill DP.
Published in Clinical Cancer Research on January 3, 2020 | *Summary available

EFFECTS OF SYMPTOM MONITORING OF ADVANCED CANCER VARY WITH AGE
Differential Effects of an Electronic Symptom Monitoring Intervention Based on the Age of Patients with Advanced Cancer
Nipp RD, Horick NK, Deal AM, Rogak LJ, Fuh C [et al.], El-Jawahri A.
Published in Annals of Oncology on January 6, 2020

POSTPARTUM T-CELL RESTORATION AND HEP-C CONTROL
CD4+ T Cell Restoration and Control of Hepatitis C Virus Replication After Childbirth
Coss SL, Torres-Cornejo A, Prasad MR, Moore-Clingenpeel M, Grakoui A [et al.], Honegger JR.
Published in Journal of Clinical Investigation on January 6, 2020

T-CELL FUNCTION AND PHENOTYPE IN HEP-C OUTCOMES
Hepatitis C Virus–Specific CD4+ T Cell Phenotype and Function in Different Infection Outcomes
Chen DY, Wolski D, Aneja J, Matsubara L, Robilotti B [et al.], Lauer GM.
Published in Journal of Clinical Investigation on January 6, 2020

FLUOROMETRIC IMAGING FOR ARTHRITIS
Fluorometric Imaging for Early Diagnosis and Prognosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Lee JH, Jung SY, Park GK, Bao K, Hyun H [et al.], Choi HS.
Published in Advanced Science on January 7, 2020 | *Summary available

PALLIATIVE CARE FOLLOWING ACUTE HEART ATTACK
Palliative Care Use in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction
Elgendy IY, Elbadawi A, Sardar P, Kolte D, Omer MA [et al.], Bhatt DL.
Published in Journal of the American College of Cardiology on January 7, 2020

CLINICAL OUTCOME PREDICTION IN DYSPNEA PATIENTS
Exercise Pulmonary Hypertension Predicts Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Dyspnea on Effort
Ho JE, Zern EK, Lau ES, Wooster L, Bailey CS [et al.], Lewis GD.
Published in Journal of the American College of Cardiology on January 7, 2020 | *Summary available

GENETICS, EXERCISE,AND OBESITY ON CORONARY ARTERY RISK IN YOUNG ADULTS
Polygenic Risk, Fitness, and Obesity in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study
Murthy VL, Xia R, Baldridge AS, Carnethon MR, Sidney S [et al.], Shah RV.
Published in JAMA Cardiology on January 8, 2020

MICROSCOPIC COLITIS & IBD RISK
Microscopic Colitis and Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in a Nationwide Cohort Study
Khalili H, Burke KE, Roelstraete B, Sachs MC, Olén O, Ludvigsson JF.
Published in Gastroenterology on January 8, 2020

HOST DEPENDENCY FACTORS OF FLU VIRUS
Genome-Wide CRISPR Screen Identifies Host Dependency Factors for Influenza A Virus Infection
Li B, Clohisey SM, Chia BS, Wang BS, Cui A [et al.], Hacohen N.
Published in Nature Communications on January 9, 2020 | *Summary available

BEHAVIOR OF TRAMETINIB IN PATIENTS WITH SPECIFIC GENETIC MUTATION
Trametinib Activity in Patients with Solid Tumors and Lymphomas Harboring BRAF Non-V600 Mutations or Fusions: Results from NCI-MATCH (EAY131)
Johnson DB, Zhao F, Noel MS, Riely GJ, Mitchell EP [et al.], Flaherty KT.
Published in Clinical Cancer Research on January 10, 2020

MECHANISMS OF MITOCHONDRIAL INNER-MEMBRANE FUSION
Two Forms of Opa1 Cooperate to Complete Fusion of the Mitochondrial Inner-Membrane
Ge Y, Shi X, Boopathy S, McDonald J, Smith AW, Chao LH.
Published in eLife on January 10, 2020 | *Summary available

EXOME SEQUENCING FOR GENETIC SCHIZOPHRENIA RISK
Exome Sequencing in Schizophrenia-Affected Parent-Offspring Trios Reveals Risk Conferred by Protein-Coding de Novo Mutations
Howrigan DP, Rose SA, Samocha KE, Fromer M, Cerrato F [et al.], Neale BM.
Published in Nature Neuroscience on January 13, 2020 | *Summary available

RESPONSE TO THERAPY IN GI CANCERS PREDICTED BY CIRCULATING TUMOR DNA
Serial ctDNA Monitoring to Predict Response to Systemic Therapy in Metastatic Gastrointestinal Cancers
Parikh AR, Mojtahed A, Schneider JL, Kanter K, Van Seventer EE [et al.], Corcoran RB.
Published in Clinical Cancer Research on January 15, 2020

PREGNANCY AND STROKE
Acute Stroke During Pregnancy and Puerperium
Elgendy IY, Gad MM, Mahmoud AN, Keeley EC, Pepine CJ.
Published in Journal of the American College of Cardiology on January 21, 2020 | *Summary available

BACTERIAL COMMUNITIES AND COLORECTAL CANCER
Association Between Sulfur-Metabolizing Bacterial Communities in Stool and Risk of Distal Colorectal Cancer in Men
Nguyen LH, Ma W, Wang DD, Cao Y, Mallick H [et al.], Chan AT.
Published in Gastroenterology on January 20, 2020 | *Summary available

GUT MICROBES INFLUENCE EARLY LYMPHOCYTE DEVELOPMENT
Intestinal Microbes Influence Development of Thymic Lymphocytes in Early Life
Ennamorati M, Vasudevan C, Clerkin K, Halvorsen S, Verma S [et al.], Jain N.
Published in PNAS on January 21, 2020 | *Summary available

USING COPPER TO REDESIGN PET TRACERS
An Atom-Economical Design of PET Tracer for Imaging avß3 Integrin via Utilizing the Three-in-One Function of Copper
Yang J, Yang J, Wang H, Wang J, Xiong J [et al.], Ran C.
Published in Chemical Communications on January 21, 2020

INHIBITING THROMBOSIS WHILE MAINTAINING HEMOSTASIS
Structure-Guided Design of Pure Orthosteric Inhibitors of aIIbß3 that Prevent Thrombosis but Preserve Hemostasis
Adair BD, Alonso JL, van Agthoven J, Hayes V, Ahn HS [et al.], Arnaout MA.
Published in Nature Communications on January 21, 2020 | *Summary available

THE ADULT HIPPOCAMPUS' ROLE IN COMMUNICATION
Communication, Cross Talk, and Signal Integration in the Adult Hippocampal Neurogenic Niche
Vicidomini C, Guo N, Sahay A.
Published in Neuron on January 22, 2020 | *Summary available

IMPLICATIONS OF A HEPARIN SHORTAGE
Running Thin: Implications of a Heparin Shortage
McCarthy CP, Vaduganathan M, Solomon E, Sakhuja R, Piazza G [et al.], Patel NK.
Published in the Lancet on January 23, 2020 | *Summary available

EXOME SEQUENCING AND ASD NEUROBIOLOGY
Large-Scale Exome Sequencing Study Implicates Both Developmental and Functional Changes in the Neurobiology of Autism
Satterstrom FK, Kosmicki JA, Wang J, Breen MS, De Rubeis S [et al.], Buxbaum JD.
Published in Cell on January 23, 2020

RISK OF SUICIDAL IDEATION IN PUBERTY-SUPPRESSED TRANS YOUTH
Pubertal Suppression for Transgender Youth and Risk of Suicidal Ideation
Turban JL, King D, Carswell JM, Keuroghlian AS.
Published in Pediatrics on January 23, 2020 | *Summary available

Summaries

This research study found that after U.S. automotive assembly plans close, opioid overdose deaths increase in the county during the time period directly following the closure. Five years after a county experienced a plant closure, the rate of opioid overdose deaths in the affected county was greater by 85% compared with counties that did not experience a plant closure at the same time point. The largest increases in opioid overdose deaths were observed among non-Hispanic white men. Overall, the findings lend support to the view that the U.S. opioid overdose crisis may be associated, in part, with the same structural changes to the U.S. economy that since the 1980s have been responsible for worsening overall mortality among adults with less than a college degree.

(Summary submitted by Alexander Tsai, MD, PhD, Department of Psychiatry)

MEDITERRANEAN DIET MAY LOWER RISK OF CROHN'S DISEASE
Adherence to a Mediterranean Diet is Associated with a Lower Risk of Later-Onset Crohn's Disease: Results From Two Large Prospective Cohort Studies
Khalili H, Håkansson N, Chan SS, Chen Y, Lochhead P [et al.], Wolk A.
Published in Gut on January 3, 2020

We used two large prospective cohorts to study the relationship between adherence to a Mediterranean diet and risk of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Our data demonstrated that individuals that were most adherent to a Mediterranean diet had nearly a 60% reduction in risk of Crohn’s disease. We did not find a relationship between adherence to a Mediterranean diet and risk of ulcerative colitis. In our studied population, nearly 12% of cases of Crohn’s disease could have been prevented by following a Mediterranean diet. Our findings further highlight the importance of continued research focusing on the benefits of the Mediterranean diet among individuals at risk of developing Crohn’s disease.

(Summary submitted by Hamed Khalili, MD, MPH, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Digestive Healthcare Center)

Family and friend “caregivers” of patients undergoing stem cell transplant experience substantial burden and are at risk for depression, anxiety, and impaired quality of life (QOL). We developed and tested a six-session program (BMT-CARE), based in cognitive-behavioral therapy and delivered by psychologists and social workers, to teach coping skills and promote stress management. In a randomized controlled trial comparing BMT-CARE to usual care alone (one meeting with social work), caregivers assigned to the BMT-CARE program reported improved quality of life, coping skills, and confidence in caregiving, as well as reduced depression, anxiety, and caregiving burden. Caregivers can feasibly participate in BMT-CARE during the transplant process and, in doing so, may experience improved mood and QOL.

(Summary submitted by Jamie Jacobs, PhD, Cancer Center, Department of Psychiatry)

As malignant brain tumors, gliomas are most-often treated with the alkylating chemotherapy temozolomide (TMZ), which has been shown to extend survival. These tumors then frequently sustain mutations in mismatch repair (MMR) genes, most commonly MSH6, which make them resistant to this treatment. Here, we show that Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) can restore TMZ cytotoxicity even in MMR-deficient gliomas. Thus, PARPi restoration of TMZ chemosensitivity in MSH6-inactivated glioma represents a promising strategy to overcome acquired chemoresistance caused by MMR deficiency.

(Summary submitted by Daniel Cahill, MD, Cancer Center, Department of Neurosurgery)

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a serious and progressive autoimmune disease that results in chronic inflammation with permanent disability of multiple joints. Molecular imaging in clinical practice has focused on the synovial joint tissue in the early stages of RA, since joint destruction is typically irreversible. In a recent Advanced Science paper, the Choi laboratory demonstrated for the first time accurate and quantitative imaging of RA using a fluorometric near-infrared imaging method. Combined with targeted contrast agents for bone and cartilage, authors could obtain separate, but simultaneous tissue-specific images of synovitis, cartilage destruction, and bone resorption. This strategy further allows quantitative bioimaging of articular tissue in response to the progressive course of RA.

(Summary submitted by Hak Soo Choi, PhD, Department of Radiology, Gordon Center for Medical Imaging)

Pulmonary hypertension is a highly morbid condition defined by elevation in the blood pressure in the lungs in a state of rest. Our study shows that in a broad population of individuals with shortness of breath during exertion, elevation in pulmonary pressures relative to blood flow in the lungs during exercise was closely associated with functional capacity and future cardiovascular event-free survival. Our work expands the definition of pulmonary hypertension and will hopefully catalyze future work to determine if exercise PH detection facilitates earlier administration of effective therapeutic interventions for his morbid condition.

(Summary submitted by Gregory Lewis, MD, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology)

The influenza A virus (IAV) poses a major public health threat. Like most viruses, IAV has a relatively small genome of its own, and relies on its host’s machinery to replicate. Using CRISPR-Cas9 screens to systematically disable genes in human cells, a team led by Bo Li, Nir Hacohen, and colleagues has identified 121 host genes required for IAV to complete its life cycle — some of which could inform new therapeutic targets. The team further reports on associated mechanistic discoveries and a new analytical approach that incorporates their findings into the existing evidence base for influenza dependencies.

(Summary submitted by Nir Hacohen, PhD, Cancer Center, Center for Cancer Research)

MECHANISMS OF MITOCHONDRIAL INNER-MEMBRANE FORMATION
Two Forms of Opa1 Cooperate to Complete Fusion of the Mitochondrial Inner-Membrane
Ge Y, Shi X, Boopathy S, McDonald J, Smith AW, Chao LH.
Published in eLife on January 10, 2020

Membrane compartments are special cellular ‘rooms’ for chemistry. Cells merge these 'rooms' in a reaction called membrane fusion. We studied this reaction in mitochondria, an important energetic and metabolic compartment. Neurodegenerative conditions, such as dominant optic atrophy, occur when membrane fusion does not work properly. Dr. Yifan Ge and our team studied this reaction using a reconstitution approach that allows for precise dissection of each step in a biochemical process. We discovered the efficiency and speed of the last step in fusion, pore opening, is controlled by relative amounts of two forms of the inner-membrane fusion protein, Opa1.

(Summary submitted by Luke Chao, PhD, Department of Molecular Biology)

We evaluated DNA sequence from 2,772 parent-child trios to see if genes with a de novo mutation (i.e., not seen in parents) associate with a schizophrenia diagnosis in the child. Across all genes, the de novo mutation rate in cases is only slightly above the 2,216 control trios, and no single gene associates with schizophrenia risk. We do, however, find an increased proportion of de novo mutations in brain expressed and evolutionarily constrained genes. We highlight 16 genes with two or more protein-truncating mutations, a 3.15-fold higher rate than modeled expectations, indicating that larger studies will discover individual risk genes for schizophrenia.

(Summary submitted by Daniel Howrigan, PhD, Broad Institute, Analytical and Translational Genetics Unit)

Acute stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. In the recent years, there has been an increase in the incidence of maternal mortality rates in the United States, and cardiovascular disease is a leading cause. This study evaluated the national trends of acute stroke among pregnant and post-partum women. We found that the rates of acute stroke during pregnancy have not changed or might be rising. We also found that the prevalence most risk factors for acute stroke have been increasing. Although, acute stroke is associated with high maternal mortality, reassuringly the rates of maternal mortality rates are decreasing.

(Summary submitted by Islam Elgendy, MD, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology)

Evidence supports a critical relationship between foods we eat, gut bacteria, and how each influence colorectal cancer (CRC). Prior research has shown that both diet and the presence of select sulfur-metabolizing bacteria influence risk of CRC. Sulfur-metabolizing bacteria are microbes able to process dietary sulfur, generating carcinogenic hydrogen sulfide. We were able to show that a diet rich in processed meats and low in vegetables and legumes increase these bacteria in the gut, and in collaboration with a 25-person team from the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, we linked long-term intake of this “sulfur microbial diet” to long-term risk of certain forms of CRC.

(Summary submitted by Andrew Chan, MD, Cancer Center, Digestive Health Center)

Effective communication between mucosal immune cells and microbes is essential to build healthy microbial communities and promote mucosal immunity. In this study, we report that gut microbes and microbial antigens also regulate the development of innate lymphocytes in the thymus of infant mice. Migratory plasmacytoid dendritic cells are one conveyor of microbial information from the colon to developing thymic cells. Disrupting this “entero-thymic” communication in early life negatively impacts disease susceptibility in adulthood. Our studies identify an early life time window during which developing immune cells are receptive to microbial programming.

(Summary submitted by Nitya Jain, PhD, Department of Pediatrics, Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center)

Current drugs targeting the platelet integrin receptor aIIbß3 are efficacious anti-thrombotics but are associated with life-threatening bleeding risk that is causally linked to paradoxical drug-induced activating shapeshifts in aIIbß3. Here, we developed high affinity peptide and small molecule antagonists that do not induce the pathologic shapeshifts in aIIbß3. These “pure” antagonists were as effective as existing anti-thrombotics in preventing thrombosis in animal models, predictive of clinical efficacy. In contrast to existing anti-thrombotics, however, the novel pure antagonists did not cause bleeding. These agents may provide safer alternatives for preventing blood clots in patients after heart attacks or during cardiac procedures.

(Summary submitted by M. Amin Arnaout, Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology)

Vicidomini, Guo, and Sahay offer a framework for thinking about how the niche sustains adult hippocampal neurogenesis by supporting communication, cross talk, and signal integration.

(Summary submitted by Amar Sahay, PhD, Center for Regenerative Medicine)

Heparin is the most widely used anticoagulant (blood thinner), often used to treat heart attacks and blood clots, as well as for various cardiac surgeries. Unfortunately manufacturing disturbances have resulted in unpredictable supply of heparin over the past year, with significant geographic variation across the United States. The global supply of heparin has been further threatened by an outbreak of African Swine Fever in China. It is clear we need more durable and reliable sources of heparin and other anticoagulants. In our viewpoint published in the Lancet, we discuss the role that clinicians, hospitals, manufacturers, and the community at large can play in ensuring a more reliable supply of anticoagulants in the future to ensure patient safety is preserved.

(Summary submitted by Cian McCarthy, MD, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology)

Transgender adolescents often experience a worsening of dysphoria when they go through puberty due to their bodies developing physically in a way that is incongruent with their gender identity. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs (puberty blockers) are often prescribed for these adolescents to ameliorate this distress. Analyzing data from a survey of over 20,000 transgender adults in the U.S., researchers found that those who accessed pubertal suppression had a lower odds of lifetime suicidal ideation when compared with transgender adults who desired pubertal suppression but did not access it (adjusted odds ratio = 0.3; 95% confidence interval = 0.2–0.6).

(Summary submitted by Jack Turban, MD, Department of Psychiatry)

Press Releases

Simple, Inexpensive Technique is Almost 86% Effective in Preventing Maternal Death from Hemorrhaging
Featuring Thomas Burke, MD, FACEP, FRSM

Advanced interventions to stop postpartum hemorrhage require extensive training and/or high-tech equipment. A simple, inexpensive alternative, the uterine balloon tamponade (UBT), has been available since the early 1980s. Two studies — published in 2013 and 2019 — brought into question the effectiveness of UBT, but a paper published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology “really puts a nail in that coffin.”

Study Reveals Insights on Hidden Sexual-Arousal Disorder
Featuring Anne Louise Oaklander, MD, PhD

Results from a new study by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital indicate that pervasive genital arousal disorder (PGAD) can be caused by altered firing of nerves that carry sensations from the genitalia or by damage to the lowest parts of the spinal cord. The study also found that neurological treatments benefit many patients.

Massachusetts General Hospital Performs First-of-its-Kind Heart Transplant in New England
Featuring David D'Alessandro, MD

A team of surgeons and specialists at Massachusetts General Hospital announced an achievement in transplant surgery, having recently performed the largest number of adult heart transplants in the country using what are known as Donation after Circulatory Death (DCD) donor hearts. The five transplants also include the first surgery of this kind for the New England region.

New Experimental Therapy May Offer Hope for Rare Genetic Disorders, as Well as More Common Diseases
Featuring Vamsi Mootha, MD

Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have developed a new way to alleviate problems caused by dysfunctional mitochondria, which are the “powerhouses” that produce energy in cells. Their discovery, reported in the journal Nature Biotechnology on January 13, could lead to a new treatment for rare diseases caused by “broken” mitochondria, ...

‘Coolsculpting’ Inventors Develop New Non-Surgical Method for Targeting Fat
Featuring Lilit Garibyan, MD, PhD

How cool is this: the Massachusetts General Hospital laboratory that invented cryolipolisis or “Coolsculpting,” a popular non-surgical method for reducing fat under the skin, is developing a new form of the technology that can selectively reduce fat almost anywhere in the body using a safe, injectable ice solution or “slurry.”

ALS Association Makes Multi-Year Commitment to HEALEY ALS Platform Trial
Featuring Merit Cudkowicz, MD, MSc

The ALS Association today announced a $3 million commitment to the first platform trial for ALS, taking place at the Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Mass General in collaboration with the Barrow Neurological Institute and the Northeast ALS Consortium (NEALS).

Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Mass General Receives “May Proceed” Notice for Three Drugs in First ALS Platform Trial
Featuring Merit Cudkowicz, MD, MSc, and Sabrina Paganoni, MD, PhD

The Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Mass General has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to proceed with administering three proposed drug regimens in the HEALEY ALS Platform Trial – the first trial of its kind for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Insights from New Study May Lead to Safer Drugs
Featuring Amin Arnaout, MD

A team led by investigators at Mass General has developed a method to design drugs that efficiently block rather than activate integrins thus avoiding adverse outcomes.

Mass General Researchers Uncover a Novel Communication between Intestinal Microbes and Developing Immune Cells in the Thymus

Researchers at the Mucosal and Immunology Biology Research Center at Mass General now report that gut microbes regulate the development of specialized immune cells in the thymus that play a critical role in mucosal tolerance.

Blog Posts

Want to Be a Better Science Communicator in 2020? Check Out These Tips

We encourage everyone involved in science —from investigators to postdocs to lab technicians and more — to work on their science communication skills.

Could Smartphones Give Surgeons A Better Sense of What Postoperative Recovery Looks Like?

Researchers are hoping that data on patient activity levels post-surgery that is collected via smartphones will help them better understand what the recovery process looks like.

Could Yoga One Day Be Prescribed as a Depression Treatment? Five Questions to Consider
Featuring Maren Nyer, PhD

There’s promising evidence that yoga could work well as a complementary therapy for depression, but some key questions remain.

Why Teeth Intrigue Us: A Q&A with Members of the Dunn Lab
Featuring Erin Dunn, ScD

For a bit now, the Dunn lab has been leading efforts to study teeth. They are curious about the stories they might tell about a person’s life experiences and future risk for brain health problems, like depression.

Teeth as Tools to Measure Early Life Adversity and Future Mental Health Risk
Featuring Erin Dunn, ScD, MPH

Recent research by the Dunn lab has suggested that the timing of adversities in life matters. There appear to be “sensitive periods” during development when exposure to adversity may have more potent and long-lasting impacts.

The STRONG Study: Uncovering the Impact of Early Life Experiences Using Teeth
Featuring Erin Dunn, ScD, MPH

In this study, the Dunn lab is specifically interested in better understanding how the Boston Marathon bombings and manhunt in 2013 affected mothers in Boston and around the world, and how these events might be recorded in children’s teeth.

Mass General Researchers Featured in Four of Altmetric’s Top 100 Publications of 2019

Congratulations to the four Mass General research teams whose publications were featured in the Altmetric Top 100 for 2019.

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Snapshot of Science for January 2020