11.20
Perelman School of Medicine
Tall people: Your hearts are at risk
Tall people: Your hearts are at risk
The research team reveals a strong link between the genetic variants associated with height and one’s risk for arterial fibrillation, and is the among the first to demonstrate that height may be a causal—not correlated—risk factor for the condition.
Reprogramming ant ‘soldiers’
Reprogramming ant ‘soldiers’
A Penn study reveals the epigenetic pathway that controls social behavior in carpenter ants, finding that the ants reprogram up to five days after they hatch, while reprogramming was ineffective at the 10-day mark.
If you’re black and pregnant, heart disease diagnosis may come too late
If you’re black and pregnant, heart disease diagnosis may come too late
A Penn study finds black women are diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy significantly later than white women, which likely explains disparities in outcomes.
Memory recall and spatial navigation elicit similar electrical activity in brain
Memory recall and spatial navigation elicit similar electrical activity in brain
Penn neuroscientists show for the first time that low-frequency oscillations called theta waves appear in both cases, a finding that could eventually help diminish memory loss.
How does opioid exposure affect brain development in young children?
How does opioid exposure affect brain development in young children?
That’s the question Allyson Mackey and Dylan Tisdall hope to answer, through a new grant from an NIH initiative focused on addiction research.
Kill stomach cancer risk by attacking this common bacteria
Kill stomach cancer risk by attacking this common bacteria
Penn researchers are the first to assess Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric cancer risk among certain demographics and ethnic groups.
Tweets from Twitter users could predict loneliness
Tweets from Twitter users could predict loneliness
By identifying similar themes across tweets, researchers are uncovering markers that could be used to predict loneliness, something that could lead to depression, heart disease, and dementia.
Complete remission within reach for rare autoimmune disease
Complete remission within reach for rare autoimmune disease
The findings may inform use of the recent FDA-approved drug rituximab to better treat patients with pemphigus, a rare chronic autoimmune condition.
Mentoring circles support a journey through STEM
Mentoring circles support a journey through STEM
An initiative of the Biomedical Postdoctoral Council Diversity Committee has established an informal network of “mentoring circles” for postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduates in STEM, with a particular emphasis on including participants from underrepresented backgrounds.
A novel approach to treating opioid use disorder
A novel approach to treating opioid use disorder
An FDA-approved drug called exendin-4 decreased voluntary oxycodone taking and drug-seeking behavior during withdrawal in rats without reducing the relief the opioid provided.
In the News
Fast Company
How old are you really? Elysium Health will tell you—for $500
Joseph Baur of the Perelman School of Medicine said the startup Elysium Health’s claims that they can make cells behavior as though they were younger is “one of these things that is based mostly on benefits in mouse models. I think it’s a wide open question how beneficial this will ultimately turn out to be in humans.”
FULL STORY →
Today.com
Veterans with PTSD struggle to parent, but help is available
Leah Blain of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about the difficulties of parenting for veterans with PTSD. “That feeling being jumpy or on guard—you can imagine how that is going to translate with the kiddos. They have so much energy, which is wonderful, but it is a lot to process all the time if your symptoms are working all the time,” she said.
FULL STORY →
PRI/WGBH Innovation Hub
Virtual reality is having a senior moment
PIK Professor George Demiris said virtual reality has shown early promise for dementia patients, though it’s not a substitute for human contact. “We have to look at innovation and different tools to come up with new solutions to address issues of social isolation and loneliness and allow people to stay engaged and active,” he said.
FULL STORY →
Science News
People who lack olfactory bulbs shouldn’t be able to smell. But some women can
PIK Professor Jay Gottfried commented on a study that suggests some women can smell even if missing parts of the brain associated with the olfactory system. “I am not convinced that the women are indeed missing their bulbs,” he said, noting that MRIs may not adequately detect all evidence of the structures.
FULL STORY →
The Wall Street Journal
A new approach to gene therapy—Now in dogs, maybe later in humans
James Wilson of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about his efforts to develop gene therapy therapeutics for pets. “If we can show these approaches using gene therapy for cats and dogs work, then it’s going to be an easier lift to move into humans,” he said.
FULL STORY →