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Health Sciences
Too many donor kidneys are discarded in U.S. before transplantation
Too many donor kidneys are discarded in U.S. before transplantation
A new study finds kidneys discarded as low-quality in the U.S are similar to kidneys transplanted with acceptable outcomes in France.
How researchers scrub Twitter for health data from real humans—not bots
How researchers scrub Twitter for health data from real humans—not bots
For more than 10 years, Graciela Gonzalez-Hernandez has been studying natural language across social media to inform clinical care, carefully sifting through language to determine which voices qualify as patient experiences.
How medical schools can transform curriculums to undo racial biases
How medical schools can transform curriculums to undo racial biases
Penn Medicine researchers find that lectures and assessments misuse race, playing a role in perpetuating physician bias.
Older, nonwhite patients access telemedicine significantly less among patients overall
Older, nonwhite patients access telemedicine significantly less among patients overall
A new study out of Penn Medicine finds minorities, older populations, non-English speakers, and those with lower incomes face inequities in accessing telemedicine care.
One step closer to an at-home, rapid COVID-19 test
One step closer to an at-home, rapid COVID-19 test
The lab of César de la Fuente is working on a paper-based biosensor that could provide results in minutes. Clinical trials began Jan. 5.
Commonly used blood pressure medications are safe for COVID-19 patients
Commonly used blood pressure medications are safe for COVID-19 patients
A Penn Medicine-led trial found medications to be neither beneficial or harmful in the treatment of hospitalized patients.
A how-to guide for COVID-19 testing at Penn
A how-to guide for COVID-19 testing at Penn
With the launch of Penn Cares, Penn Today provides additional details on the new testing program, how eligible members of the Penn community can enroll, and how the testing procedure works.
How can the world allocate COVID-19 vaccines fairly?
How can the world allocate COVID-19 vaccines fairly?
It’s an ethical question many Penn experts are contemplating. One fact is certain, they say: Distribution must not exacerbate disparities and inequities in health care.
Nearly half of young drivers resume driving just weeks after a concussion
Nearly half of young drivers resume driving just weeks after a concussion
New research finds that nearly half of adolescents who sought specialty care for a concussion were back to driving when asked approximately two weeks after the injury, even though few had returned to exercise and sports.
Monitoring patients remotely brings fourfold decline in rehospitalization after joint replacements
Monitoring patients remotely brings fourfold decline in rehospitalization after joint replacements
The rate of hospital readmissions for hip and knee replacement patients declined from roughly 12% to 3% when they were enrolled in a “hovering” program.
In the News
Health.com
What is trypanophobia? How to cope with a fear of needles so you can get the COVID-19 vaccine
Thea Gallagher of the Perelman School of Medicine offered tips for overcoming fear of needles in order to get the COVID-19 vaccine, starting with just making the appointment. "More doing and less thinking is an important way to overcome your fear," she said.
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The New York Times
Why are we so afraid of fevers?
Paul Offit of the Perelman School of Medicine said treating fevers can prolong or worsen an illness because immunity works better at higher temperatures. While fever reducers can relieve uncomfortable symptoms, “You’re not supposed to feel better,” he said. “You’re supposed to stay under the covers, keep warm, and ride out the infection. We have fevers for a reason.”
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The Washington Post
Study suggests Pfizer vaccine works against virus variant
Frederic Bushman of the Perelman School of Medicine said there’s no reason to think the COVID-19 vaccines won’t work on new strains of the virus. “A mutation will change one little place, but it’s not going to disrupt binding to all of them,” he said.
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The Washington Post
You’ve seen many images from the Capitol riot. Here’s why it’s okay to take a break
Thea Gallagher of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about the effects of exposure to violent media imagery. “You don’t have to be there,” she said. “You can still be traumatized by watching things, hearing about them.”
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Philadelphia Inquirer
Could cutting or delaying doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to immunize more people make the pandemic last longer?
Steven Joffe of the Perelman School of Medicine commented on the unknown efficacy of a single dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, which was designed to be given in two doses. “Those unknowns are why some people say, ‘We should stick with what we know. By all means, do the trials to test [varied regimens], but don’t just wing it.’ Others say, ‘We are in a race against the virus.’ I’m not going to come down on one side or the other,” he said.
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