Publications

multistate outbreak of listeriosis--united states, 1998.	since early august 1998, 40 illnesses caused by a single strain of listeria monocytogenes (lm) have been identified in 10 states: ohio (13 cases); new york; tennessee, massachusetts, and west virginia (three each); michigan (two); and connecticut, oregon, vermont, and georgia (one each). dates of illness onset or lm isolation ranged from august 2 through december 2. all lm isolates from these cases are serotype 4b and share an unusual pattern when subtyped either by pulsed-field gel electrophore ...	1998	9883769
on human perfection.		1999	10091555
a comparison of health care offerings as perceived by employers.	this empirical study examines the health care coverage climate of 130 large and medium sized companies in new england. human resource managers and/or benefits managers were asked to compare the plans that they currently offer their employees on a number of points. the primary focus was in the area of cost and cost containment. an attempt is made to identify the cost containment trends that are now a very high priority among employers.	1991	10110433
computer assisted neonatal parenteral nutrition order formatting.	neonatal parenteral nutrition solutions are a vital part of the treatment regimen for premature infants. protocols that dictate the formulation of these expensive intravenous solutions must assure absolute safety for the neonate. the procedure for the initiation, calculation, and compounding of parenteral nutrition solutions involves both physician and pharmacist. simplified physician ordering forms with printed guidelines for solution ingredients assists in error free ingredient prescribing. ph ...	1990	10113379
the practical zealot. interview by joe flower.	in 1987, ellen gaucher took an unusual trip. as senior associate director of the university of michigan's sprawling 11,000-employee medical center, she was invited to a conference about a movement that was rapidly growing in the word of business--total quality. the occasion was the organizational conference of the national demonstration project on quality improvement in health care, led by the harvard community health plan in boston. gaucher was skeptical at first. total quality seemed a great w ...	1992	10116129
achieving a multicultural service orientation. adaptive models in service delivery and race and culture training.	human beings cannot be tossed together under the assumption that well-intentioned care will create a harmonious union. a multicultural service orientation does not eliminate all problems, but it does help reduce the likelihood of racial and cultural conflict between caregiver and client.	1992	10117714
hospice for aged persons without cancer: the experience of the hampshire county (ma) hospice.	hospice is an option for patients with terminal illness of all types. the advent of the medicare hospice benefit has led to a rise in numbers of hospice programs as well as hospice expenditure. terminal care provided through hospice has a demonstrable cost advantage over conventional terminal care. this difference may dissipate as medicare hospice expenditure continues to rise. an individual hospice program can define its mission within broad guidelines. a program electing to serve all terminall ...	1994	10134383
new england medical center integrates data into human resources decisions.		1992	10135793
human resources executives help employees balance professional and family needs.		1992	10135818
new england medical center creates new community service role for human resources.		1993	10135853
developing people: a strategy for competitive advantage.	this article will provide vital insights, acquired in a recent study with eight manufacturing companies, to guide the development of a human resource development strategy. this study was a pilot for a larger study, planned for the fall of 1995 with 50 manufacturing companies randomly chosen from the directory of massachusetts high technology companies.	1995	10142101
the perfect fit. computerized patient scheduling requires the right mix of software, hardware, and human components.	as the arena of care widens beyond the hospital and begins to rely on moving patients around a scattered and diverse healthcare system, managers and clinicians will need a well-orchestrated method of keeping track of it all. for providers such as lahey clinical medical center, computerized patient scheduling is the key to a seamless system.	1996	10157463
it's not the goal ... it's the journey.	his first real odyssey began 18 years ago in alaska. the goal was ecuador. he got as far as the panama canal. traveling man john glaser, now vice president of information systems at boston's brigham and women's hospital, learned long ago that the actual goal sometimes matters less than what happens along the way.	1994	10161109
team work. blueprint builds effective ergonomic program.		1996	10162745
an ergonomics system aimed at preventing back injuries in health care.		1995	10172576
how to organize and implement health care ergonomics teams.	using a systems approach to safety and health management through a comprehensive ergonomic program addresses workplace processes, operations and conditions as interdependent systems in order to identify and eliminate or reduce all types of ergonomic hazards to employees. this document examines the way one health care facility improved its ergonomic program using this approach, from early data collection to implementation of the new plan. by creating several teams with different areas of concern, ...	1996	10172694
teaming up for ergonomics? this facility shows you how.		1997	10172988
smoking policies and practices in a state-supported residential system for people with mental retardation.	smoking policies and smoking practices of residents and employees in a state-supported residential system were investigated. smoking policies existed in almost every agency, although state- and vendor-operated programs had vastly different policies. state-operated programs prohibited employees from smoking in residences and restricted residents who smoked to designated areas. one third of vendor-operated agencies allowed residents and staff members to smoke in designated areas, whereas one quart ...	1999	10207576
from the centers for disease control and prevention. mass treatment of humans who drank unpasteurized milk from rabid cows--massachusetts, 1996-1998.		1999	10217041
mass treatment of humans who drank unpasteurized milk from rabid cows--massachusetts, 1996-1998.	rabies is a viral zoonosis that is usually transmitted by the bite of an infected mammal. however, in massachusetts, two incidents have been reported since 1996 of potential mass exposures to rabies through drinking unpasteurized milk. this report presents the investigations of these two incidents.	1999	10220255
medical outcomes trust conference presents dramatic advances in patient-based outcomes assessment and potential applications in accreditation.	background: at its fourth annual state-of-the-art health outcomes conference, november 2, 1998, the medical outcomes trust (boston) convened experts to review advances in outcomes assessment technology and potential applications in clinical trials, clinical practice, and accreditation. keynote address: "future directions in health status assessment" identified what needs to happen next in order to put patient-defined outcomes into the databases used in medical decision making. advances include a ...	1999	10228912
spotlight on the staff. human relations.		1977	10235938
breastfeeding: volunteer counselors enter an age-old scenario.		1979	10240736
boston md leads drive to help jewish physicians leave russia.		1979	10240768
u and the 4 r's: uniform reporting, rate review and regulation.		1978	10243290
psychological impact of medical equipment on patients.	this study involves the analysis of interviews with patients who are using complex medical machines. in particular, personal interviews were conducted with twenty-six patients who have undergone cardiac catheterization, ten patients utilizing a cardiac monitor, and ten people currently receiving renal dialysis treatments. the variables selected for this study fit into five general categories: 1) environment; 2) patient's personal anxiety; 3) staff interaction; 4) approach to machine; and 5) mach ...	1980	10248692
community health centers after fifteen years.		1980	10249733
the new professional--the human services worker--a survey of training needs.		1980	10250866
social justice programs target discrimination, employment.		1983	10258663
recognizing the human potential.		1984	10265322
design of a new medical record department: a case study.		1985	10274703
the neurological information network.	the neurological information network (nin) of the national institute of neurological and communicative disorders and stroke (nincds) was a loosely structured assemblage of a variety of information-transfer activities that existed for approximately 20 years, starting in the early 1960s. these activities included the neurosciences research program at the massachusetts institute of technology, the parkinson's disease information center at columbia university, the brain information service at ucla, ...	1987	10280918
recent medical malpractice reform measures in eight key states.	over the course of the past quarter century, technological developments in medical science have made it possible for physicians to save the lives and preserve the health of countless patients. unfortunately, it must be remembered that medicine is still as much an art as it is a science. as such, due to this human element, there is always the risk of occasional errors or failures in treatment. when these problems occur in bunches, the stage is set for a medical malpractice crisis. in an attempt t ...	1988	10287858
judges at the bedside: the case of joseph saikewicz.		1978	10289106
a child's fight for life: parents vs. doctors.		1978	10289142
focus on: new england medical center medical engineering department.	the new england medical center can be traced back to 1796 when the boston dispensary opened the first hmo. now, the center complex covers four city blocks, offers 47 medical residency programs, has over $20 million in funded research, and includes a medical school, dental school, and the human nutrition research center. the medical engineering department began in 1971 as a joint venture between the center and tufts university. operated on a "fee-for-service" basis, the department consists of nin ...	1988	10290856
hospital payment coalition formed.		1984	10299721
hhs antics trying courts' patience.		1988	10302777
developing a successful recruitment/retention plan for hospital pharmacy personnel.	due to various external factors, recruitment through traditional methods, such as newspaper ads, failed to produce the pool of applicants for hospital pharmacy staff positions it had in the past. as a result of this and other factors specific to university hospital, the number of staff pharmacists decreased from 11 to four full-time equivalents (ftes). the number of technicians dropped to the point where per diem nurses had to be hired to help make iv admixtures. through some short-term measures ...	1988	10302944
the dissenting opinions: biting the hands that won't feed.	the three dissenting opinions in brophy focus on concerns about the majority's decision to allow the withdrawal of food and water from a comatose patient. according to justice joseph nolan, who disagrees that food and liquids should be considered medical treatment, the decision "affronts logic, ethics, and the dignity of the human person." justice neil lynch, basing his argument on the state's interest in preserving life, says that the decision flouts the common law prohibition of suicide. justi ...	1986	10311790
corporate compliance: critical to organizational success.	operation restore trust (ort) has focused increased governmental attention on health care fraud and abuse activities, making it more costly to be noncompliant, and thus has led to significant behavioral changes within the health care industry. initially five states (california, florida, illinois, new york, & texas) were included in the 1997 ort pilot program. this has been expanded to include arizona, colorado, georgia, louisiana, massachusetts, missouri, new jersey, ohio, pennsylvania, tennesse ...	1999	10335217
the role of anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody in the pathogenesis of human glomerulonephritis.		1999	10361879
gaining and sustaining minority participation in longitudinal research projects.	african-americans are often not enthusiastic about participating in alzheimer disease research due to past exploitation from medical and public health studies. to assure adequate representation from the african-american community, and to investigate the health needs of this population, strategies to recognize the problems and address the issues have been developed. the recruitment approach used existing connections in an urban community using culturally sensitive strategies. these strategies rec ...	1999	10369515
conducting research with urban elders: issues of recruitment, data collection, and home visits.	the national institutes of health 1994 guidelines require inclusion of minorities in research. people seeking grants need to be aware of techniques for recruitment of minority populations. the boston university alzheimer's disease center addresses difficult recruitment issues that arise from a skeptical minority population. the approach uses home visits to circumvent many of the barriers to recruitment and retention of participants in research studies.	1999	10369516
trends in hiv-related sexual risk behaviors among high school students--selected u.s. cities, 1991-1997.	despite recent decreases in sexual risk behaviors among high school students nationwide, human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) infection was the seventh leading cause of death among persons aged 15-24 years in the united states during 1997. to determine whether the prevalence of hiv-related sexual risk behaviors among high school students also has decreased in certain urban areas heavily affected by the epidemic, cdc analyzed data from youth risk behavior surveys (yrbs) conducted in 1991, 1993, 199 ...	1999	10372501
the predictive value of endometrial stripe thickness in patients with suspected ectopic pregnancy who have an empty uterus at ultrasonography.	prior research suggests that, in patients with empty uteri at ultrasonography, endometrial stripe thickness may be predictive of ectopic pregnancy or the likelihood of obtaining chorionic villi after a dilatation and evacuation procedure (d+e). however, it is unclear whether the predictive value of endometrial stripe thickness is confined to patients with low beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hcg) values.	1999	10386677
dermatologic manifestations in hiv-infected patients: a primary care perspective.	to document the prevalence of dermatologic manifestations in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) on presentation to primary medical care.	1999	10405693
maternal pregnancy hormone levels in an area with a high incidence (boston, usa) and in an area with a low incidence (shanghai, china) of breast cancer.	characteristics probably associated with the fetal hormonal milieu have recently been shown to increase (birth size indicators, prematurity, neonatal jaundice) or decrease (pregnancy toxaemia) breast cancer risk in the female offspring. however, it is unknown whether differences in pregnancy hormone levels may contribute to the marked geographical variation in breast cancer incidence. we have compared, in a highly standardized manner, pregnancy hormone levels in a population with high incidence ...	1999	10408685
a 15-year experience with varicella infections in a pediatric burn unit.	because of their well described global immunosuppression, varicella infection may be hazardous in burned children. it is therefore important to prevent cross-infections within pediatric burn units. we describe a 15-year experience with varicella in a pediatric burn unit, focusing on the morbidity associated with the infection and measures that have been effective in the prevention of cross-infection. we found that varicella infection in acutely burned children is associated with pneumonitis, but ...	1999	10431985
elevated plasma eotaxin levels in patients with acute asthma.	the eosinophil chemotactic and activating effects of eotaxin and the known association of eosinophils with asthma suggest that eotaxin expression is increased during asthma exacerbations.	1999	10518822
annual summary of vital statistics--1998.	most vital statistics indicators of the health of americans were stable or showed modest improvements between 1997 and 1998. the preliminary birth rate in 1998 was 14.6 births per 1000 population, up slightly from the record low reported for 1997 (14.5). the fertility rate, births per 1000 women aged 15 to 44 years, increased 1% to 65.6 in 1998, compared with 65.0 in 1997. the 1998 increases, although modest, were the first since 1990, halting the steady decline in the number of births and birth ...	1999	10585972
toward the incrimination of epidemic vectors of eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus in massachusetts: abundance of mosquito populations at epidemic foci.	putative epidemic/epizootic eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus (eee) vector populations were compared at 15 recent (1982-90) human and horse case sites in bristol and plymouth counties in southeastern massachusetts. carbon dioxide-baited american biophysics corporation light traps were used for trapping adult mosquitoes to estimate biting risk in these foci of known transmission. population data suggest that coquillettidia perturbans, aedes canadensis, and culex salinarius are more likely ve ...	1999	10612612
rabies surveillance in the united states during 1998.	during 1998, 49 states, the district of columbia, and puerto rico reported 7,961 cases of rabies in nonhuman animals and 1 case in a human being to the centers for disease control and prevention, a decrease of 6.5% from 8,509 cases in nonhuman animals and 4 cases in human beings reported in 1997. more than 92% (7,358 cases) were in wild animals, whereas > 7.5% (603 cases) were in domestic species (compared with 93% in wild animals and 7% in domestic species in 1997). decreases were evident in al ...	1999	10613210
tradition of basic and applied pigment cell research in marseilles.	melanogenesis, thyroid hormones and catecholamines synthesis share the same amino acid, free l-tyrosine for melanogenesis and catecholamines synthesis, l-tyrosine residues for thyroid hormones synthesis. the author describes basic and applied research on melanogenesis and thyroid hormones metabolism in biochemistry laboratory, school of medicine, marseilles since his arrival in 1962. he gives a short review of his participation in these two areas during his career in marseilles, yaoundé and bost ...	1999	10643992
research. studies at harvard.		2000	10712756
youth perceptions of comprehensive adolescent health services through the boston happens program.	the boston happens (hiv adolescent provider and peer education network for services) program is a collaborative network of care made up of 8 organizations that serve youth and provide coordinated care for human immunodeficiency virus (hiv)-positive, homeless, and at-risk youth aged 12 to 24 years. learning youth perceptions about the program is essential to determine if the program is meeting their needs.	2000	10736140
human rights and psychiatry: report on a teaching model.		2000	10749392
the jim interview. edward m. kennedy, united states senator.	senator edward m. kennedy has represented massachusetts in the united states senate for thirty-six years. he was first elected in 1962 to finish the term of his brother, president john f. kennedy. since then, he has been elected to six full terms, and he is now the third most senior member of the senate. the efforts to bring quality health care to every american is a battle that kennedy has been waging ever since he arrived in the senate. recent achievements include the health insurance portabil ...	2000	10822894
differential narrow focusing of immunodominant human immunodeficiency virus gag-specific cytotoxic t-lymphocyte responses in infected african and caucasoid adults and children.	cytotoxic t-lymphocyte (ctl) activity plays a central role in control of viral replication and in determining outcome in cases of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (hiv-1) infection. incorporation of important ctl epitope sequences into candidate vaccines is, therefore, vital. most ctl studies have focused upon small numbers of adult caucasoid subjects infected with clade-b virus, whereas the global epidemic is most severe in sub-saharan african populations and predominantly involves clade-c i ...	2000	10823876
surgeon scientist.	the origins and development of the renal transplant program at the peter bent brigham hospital (now the brigham and women's hospital) from the late 1940s to the present are reviewed. the program was initiated as a effort to understand hypertension as a cause of renal failure. the initial transplants were unmodified allogeneic grafts placed in the thigh, followed by extensive laboratory experiments on dogs. this research culminated with the first successful human transplant of a kidney between id ...	2000	10833241
health of children adopted from china.	since 1989, american parents have adopted 18 846 chinese children. this study assesses the health and developmental status of these children after their arrival in the united states.	2000	10835089
physical and sexual abuse in women infected with the human immunodeficiency virus: increased illness and health care utilization.	a history of physical or sexual abuse is associated with increased health care utilization and possibly an increase in illness based largely on self-reported data.	2000	10847259
nitrogen and amino acid requirements: : the massachusetts institute of technology amino acid requirement pattern.	we review the current international recommendations concerning the protein (nitrogen) and amino acid requirements of healthy individuals, from infancy to the later years of adult life and describe the changes in the recommendations for protein that have been made, since those issued in 1985 by food and agriculture organization/world health organization/united nations university (fao/who/unu), by the international dietary energy consultative group. the current international requirements for the s ...	2000	10867061
pumps for peanuts: leveling the field in the neonatal intensive care unit.		2000	10879339
inhibitors of hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme a reductase and risk of fracture among older women.	inhibitors of hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme a reductase (statins) increase new bone formation in rodents and in human cells in vitro. statin use is associated with increased bone mineral density of the femoral neck. we undertook a population-based case-control study at six health-maintenance organisations in the usa to investigate further the relation between statin use and fracture risk among older women.	2000	10881890
the social geography of aids and hepatitis risk: qualitative approaches for assessing local differences in sterile-syringe access among injection drug users.	while significant gains have been achieved in understanding and reducing aids and hepatitis risks among injection drug users (idus), it is necessary to move beyond individual-level characteristics to gain a fuller understanding of the impact of social context on risk. in this study, 6 qualitative methods were used in combination with more traditional epidemiologic survey approaches and laboratory bioassay procedures to examine neighborhood differences in access to sterile syringes among idus in ...	2000	10897181
hiv-risk practices among homeless and low-income housed mothers.	knowledge of human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) and its risk behaviors have not been systematically studied in homeless mothers. the identification of the factors associated with hiv-risk practices will guide interventions for low-income housed and homeless women.	1999	10907622
predictors of change in the functional status of children with human immunodeficiency virus infection.	the purpose of this study was to identify important clinical predictors of change in the functional status of children with perinatally acquired human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) infection.	2000	10920180
further trials stopped by ohrp. office for human research protections.		2000	10973291
prevalence of hypogonadism among men with weight loss related to human immunodeficiency virus infection who were receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy.	previous studies have indicated that there is a significant prevalence (50%) of hypogonadism among men with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (aids)-associated wasting, and for these patients testosterone administration has been shown to increase lean body mass and improve quality of life. however, the prevalence of hypogonadism is not known among men with weight loss related to human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) infection who are receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (haart). from 199 ...	2000	11073758
particle concentrations in urban microenvironments.	although ambient particulate matter has been associated with a range of health outcomes, the health risks for individuals depend in part on their daily activities. information about particle mass concentrations and size distributions in indoor and outdoor microenvironments can help identify high-risk individuals and the significant contributors to personal exposure. to address these issues in an urban setting, we measured particle count concentrations in four size ranges and particulate matter ( ...	2000	11102296
update: west nile virus activity--eastern united states, 2000.	data reported to cdc through the west nile virus (wnv) surveillance system have shown an increase in the geographic range of wnv activity in 2000 compared with 1999, the first year that wnv was reported in the western hemisphere. in response to this occurrence of wnv, 17 states along the atlantic and gulf coasts, new york city, and the district of columbia conducted wnv surveillance, which included monitoring mosquitoes, sentinel chicken flocks, wild birds, and potentially susceptible mammals (e ...	2000	11105767
rabies surveillance in the united states during 1999.	during 1999, 49 states, the district of columbia, and puerto rico reported 7,067 cases of rabies in nonhuman animals to the centers for disease control and prevention, a decrease of 11.2% from 7,961 cases in nonhuman animals and 1 case in a human being reported in 1998. more than 91% (6,466 cases) were in wild animals, whereas 8.5% (601 cases) were in domestic species (compared with 92.4% in wild animals and 7.6% in domestic species in 1998). no cases of rabies were reported in human beings in 1 ...	2000	11132881
emergence of domestically acquired ceftriaxone-resistant salmonella infections associated with ampc beta-lactamase.	ceftriaxone, an expanded-spectrum cephalosporin, is an antimicrobial agent commonly used to treat severe salmonella infections, especially in children. ceftriaxone-resistant salmonella infections have recently been reported in the united states, but the extent of the problem is unknown.	2000	11135779
building a better human.		2000	11147306
babesiosis.	a case of human babesiosis is presented. this case emphasizes the need to consider tick-borne disease in anyone who presents with prolonged and undulating fevers, chills, headache, myalgias, and arthralgias. this holds true particularly in areas endemic for tick-borne diseases, even in the absence of a history of tick bite. these symptoms, associated with signs of intravascular hemolysis, thrombocytopenia, and renal insufficiency in a patient who resides in, or with recent travel to, the northea ...	2001	11165832
switching doctors: predictors of voluntary disenrollment from a primary physician's practice.	our objective was to evaluate 8 interpersonal and structural features of care as predictors of patients' voluntary disenrollment from their primary care physician's practice.	2001	11219560
evolution of depressive symptoms in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients entering primary care.	our purpose was to examine among hiv-infected patients a) characteristics associated with depressive symptoms at initial primary care presentation and b) factors associated with improvement in depressive symptoms. we interviewed hiv-infected patients at initial presentation and reassessed them 6 months later. at baseline and follow-up, we collected data on depressive symptoms (ces-d) and other characteristics. using multiple linear regression, we examined associations between ces-d score and bas ...	2001	11225690
bach1, a novel helicase-like protein, interacts directly with brca1 and contributes to its dna repair function.	brca1 interacts in vivo with a novel protein, bach1, a member of the deah helicase family. bach1 binds directly to the brct repeats of brca1. a bach1 derivative, bearing a mutation in a residue that was essential for catalytic function in other helicases, interfered with normal double-strand break repair in a manner that was dependent on its brca1 binding function. thus, bach1/brca1 complex formation contributes to a key brca1 activity. in addition, germline bach1 mutations affecting the helicas ...	2001	11301010
john m. kinney international awards. looking back: a human reason for studying the effects of glutamine in patients with aids.		2001	11312061
tufts man of the century, dr. j. murray gavel.		2000	11324041
enzootic transmission of deer tick virus in new england and wisconsin sites.	to determine whether rodents that are intensely exposed to the deer tick-transmitted agents of lyme disease, human granulocytic ehrlichiosis, and human babesiosis are also exposed to deer tick virus (dtv), we assayed serum samples from white-footed mice (peromyscus leucopus) and meadow voles (microtus pennsylvanicus) in sites densely infested by deer ticks. to conduct serosurveys, we developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa) and western blot assay by cloning, expressing, and purifyi ...	2000	11357992
an investigation of why eligible patients do not receive haart.	treatment with highly active antiretroviral therapy (haart) decreases morbidity and mortality for persons with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (hiv/aids) and reduces costs of care. yet many patients for whom haart is indicated do not receive it. this study investigated the reasons why certain patients of a community health center with hiv/aids did not receive haart between 1997 and 1998. medical record reviews were performed to determine which patients for whom ha ...	2001	11359660
a mobile hiv education and testing program: bringing services to hard-to-reach populations.	few programs exist that offer a range of human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) services to multiple populations (i.e., substance abusers, individuals on probation, sex workers and their clients, court-mandated perpetrators of domestic violence) in multiple settings (i.e., courts, methadone maintenance clinics, residential and outpatient substance abuse treatment programs). the purpose of this article is to describe a model mobile hiv program, highlighting its flexibility in providing services to cl ...	1998	11362065
boston: important trial of treatment vaccine, cd4 over 500.	a trial at beth israel hospital of boston is seeking eighteen volunteers for a new hiv treatment vaccine. the vaccine is a peptide found in hiv, is chemically synthesized, is not from live hiv, and appears to be safe. the 68-week placebo-controlled study is called hiv lipopeptide immunotherapeutic in hiv-1 seropositive human subjects. the study requires volunteers to have cd4 counts over 500, no antiretroviral use for six months prior to entering the study, no use of immunosuppressive agents, no ...	1995	11362626
court upholds voiding of insurance policy based on fraud.	a federal appeals court has determined that an insurer acted properly in refusing to pay life insurance benefits to the survivor of a man with aids who fraudulently obtained the insurance. the eleventh u.s. circuit court of appeals said the late anthony c. fioretti fraudulently obtained the policy from massachusetts general life insurance company in 1986 when he applied for an $1.9 million policy. to qualify for the coverage, fioretti used an hiv-negative individual to pass an hiv-antibody test. ...	1995	11362709
court lets stand ruling on condoms, insurance and azt.	in three aids-related cases, the u.s. supreme court has let the decisions stand. the three cases are: curtis v. school committee of falmouth, allowing the availability of condoms in a massachusetts public school; fioretti v. massachusetts general life insurance co., invalidating a life insurance policy issued to a man with aids who used a stand-in to pass an hiv-antibody test to qualify for coverage; and barr laboratories v. burroughs wellcome co., preventing generic drug manufacturers from ente ...	1996	11363161
lawsuit filed.	social service providers at a boston center for haitian immigrants filed a suit in a u.s. district court against the federal government. the suit claims that auditors from the inspector general's office in the u.s. department of health and human services demanded the names of clients with aids. the auditors explained that this process, conducted to determine whether agencies are properly spending ryan white care act funds, is appropriate and routine. attorneys for the social service providers co ...	1996	11363287
doctor withheld prenatal care to woman with hiv, suit says.	when vickie lesley's routine hiv test came back positive, her obstetrician/gynecologist said she must transfer to a high-risk clinic for her prenatal care. lesley filed suit against dr. hee man chie for discontinuing treatment and for refusing to provide azt. the refusal to provide prenatal care violates the americans with disabilities act (ada), the rehabilitation act, and chapter 272, section 98 of the massachusetts public accommodations law. under the statute, a doctor may not automatically t ...	1997	11364309
court sees no basis to void policy issued to man with hiv.	the massachusetts supreme judicial court found that protective life insurance company cannot rescind a policy if it failed to detect fraud within a two-year contestability period. the court ruled that the insurer should have exercised reasonable diligence when conducting the medical exam of dennis j. sullivan one year after he tested positive for hiv-antibodies. sullivan lied about his health on the insurance application and omitted the names of the doctors who had been treating him for hiv. sul ...	1997	11364602
annual colposcopies and pap smears recommended for women with hiv.	a new study presented by annekathryn goodman of massachusetts general hospital indicates that hiv positive women should receive annual colposcopies, along with pap smears, to detect abnormal cell growth early. the recommendation is due to the fact that hiv positive women are more likely to have false-negative pap smears than hiv negative women. in a related development, the fda approved a new dna-based blood test to detect human papillomavirus, which is associated with cervical and anal cancer. ...	1999	11366700
criminal exposure.	in august, an hiv-positive man plead guilty to sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy. the sleeping boy awoke to find james muise sexually assaulting him, while watching a pornographic video. muise plead guilty to the assault with intent to rape a child. in addition, muise received three counts of indecent assault and battery on a child, and exposure of pornographic material to a minor. muise will remain on probation for five years, although the prosecution had recommended sentencing muise to fou ...	1999	11366904
developing leadership in healthcare administration: a competency assessment tool.	despite the many graduate programs that specialize in health administration, healthcare leaders and practitioners have expressed concern about the quality of preparation of health administration graduates. the purpose of this study was to facilitate one part of an integrated approach to leadership development that spans academic and practitioner settings. the approach was to design a competency assessment tool for early careerists who have two to five years of postgraduate experience and who asp ...	2001	11372221
managing health care variability to achieve quality care.	while much has been written about variation and health care, one area that has received little attention is variation within hospitals related to the operations management--which can lead to wasted money and human resources. two boston researchers who have been studying this area say that addressing these variations--and using techniques found in other major industries across the country--could give hospitals a new tool in addressing patient safety issues, nursing shortages, cost containment, an ...	2001	11400326
mastering the value chain. an interview with mark levin of millennium pharmaceuticals. interview by david champion.	as today's business leaders are all too aware, a new scientific or technological break-through can quickly transform an industry's competitive landscape. the upheaval is often traumatic for the companies involved, forcing them to rethink their strategies and redefine their boundaries. but an industry in flux also creates vast opportunities. to seize them, companies must see how the current upheavals will affect the future distribution of profits--and then reinvent themselves to capitalize on the ...	2001	11408971
uv doses of americans.	the uv doses of americans were never measured, but are needed for assessing the risks of uv-related health effects. we calculated these doses using a novel approach. the environmental protection agency's (epa) national human activity pattern survey (nhaps) recorded the activity profiles of 9386 americans over 24 months to assess their exposure to environmental pollutants, one of which is uv radiation. nhaps used randomized telephone interviews to get their previous day's minute-by-minute activit ...	2001	11421067
association of the ala54-thr polymorphism in the intestinal fatty acid-binding protein with 2-h postchallenge insulin levels in the framingham offspring study.	to investigate the association of variants of the intestinal fatty acid-binding protein gene (fabp2) with fasting and postchallenge glucose and insulin levels, hba(1c), and prevalence of type 2 diabetes in a separate sample of men and women.	2001	11423496
management of patients with chronic renal insufficiency in the northeastern united states.	comorbid conditions that develop during chronic renal insufficiency (cri) contribute to the high morbidity and mortality among patients with end-stage renal disease (esrd). thus, appropriate management during cri may lead to improved esrd outcomes. a retrospective cohort study was performed to describe the management of patients with cri. a total of 602 patients with cri (creatinine > or =1.5 mg/dl for women and > or =2.0 mg/dl for men) were seen between october 1994 and september 1998 at five n ...	2001	11423579
robley evans and what physics can do for medicine.	when asked, in 1936 by j. howard means, chief of medicine at massachusetts general hospital, whether radioiodine could be produced for thyroid studies, karl t. compton, president of the massachusetts institute of technology, referred the question to robley evans of the physics department. in response, evans formed a team from the fields of physics and medicine that produced 128i for animal studies and, subsequently on a cyclotron dedicated to medical purposes, 130i for human uptake measurements ...	2001	11471483
baby-friendly hospital initiative improves breastfeeding initiation rates in a us hospital setting.	breastfeeding initiation rates were compared at boston medical center before (1995), during (1998), and after (1999) baby-friendly policies were in place. boston medical center, an inner-city teaching hospital that provides care primarily to poor, minority, and immigrant families, achieved baby-friendly status in 1999.	2001	11533335