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Perelman School of Medicine
Sensory neurons outside the brain drive autistic social behaviors
Sensory neurons outside the brain drive autistic social behaviors
A new study from Penn Medicine lends further evidence that the social behaviors tied to autism spectrum disorders (ASD) emerge from abnormal function of sensory neurons outside the brain.
Spending on charity care stalled as Medicaid expanded
Spending on charity care stalled as Medicaid expanded
A new study shows increased coverage for lower-income patients did not lead to more community benefit spending from hospitals between 2011 and 2017.
The gut shields the liver from fructose-induced damage
The gut shields the liver from fructose-induced damage
A new study shows how excessive consumption of fructose, whether via food or beverage, overwhelms gut defenses and results in the development of fatty liver.
Navigating cytokine storms
Navigating cytokine storms
Pairing their expertise, Nilam Mangalmurti of the Perelman School of Medicine and Christopher Hunter of the School of Veterinary Medicine have been working to understand the protective and harmful aspects of the immune response, including in COVID-19.
New database aims to make Alzheimer’s diagnosis easier and earlier
New database aims to make Alzheimer’s diagnosis easier and earlier
A five-minute online session will allow neural health to be tracked across time, so that doctors can make an earlier diagnosis and researchers can evaluate medications and other treatments.
The overlooked effects of fireworks
The overlooked effects of fireworks
For veterans living with post-traumatic stress disorder, fireworks and loud pyrotechnics can add stress and trigger physical reactions, as they mimic the stimuli of combat.
Long-term use of muscle relaxants has skyrocketed since 2005
Long-term use of muscle relaxants has skyrocketed since 2005
Penn Medicine researchers found the drugs were prescribed disproportionately to older adults, often concurrently with opioids, despite warnings against this dangerous combination.
High sensitivity tech offers a potential COVID-19 testing solution
High sensitivity tech offers a potential COVID-19 testing solution
A new diagnostic tool developed at Penn by Ping Wang uses highly sensitive and portable technology for rapid antigen testing.
Coping with COVID stress: From pandemic brain fog to resilience
Coping with COVID stress: From pandemic brain fog to resilience
While feelings of anxiety and concern are normal during a crisis, stress can impact people in a variety of ways. Practicing mindfulness and increasing resilience can combat the physical manifestations of anxiety.
Glowing dye may aid in eliminating cancer
Glowing dye may aid in eliminating cancer
In dogs with mammary tumors, researchers from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Perelman School of Medicine used a substance that glows under near-infrared light to illuminate cancer.
In the News
The New York Times
Who gets a vaccine first? U.S. considers race in coronavirus plans
Harald Schmidt of the Perelman School of Medicine said courts would likely strike down any vaccine prioritization model based on race and ethnicity, proposing instead an approach that considers socioeconomic status. “It’s imperative that we pay attention to how COVID has impacted the health of minorities differently; otherwise it compounds the inequalities we’ve seen,” he said.
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NBC News
How blood type may affect your coronavirus risk
Lewis Kaplan of the Perelman School of Medicine said people with a lower risk of contracting COVID-19 according to their blood type shouldn’t get overly confident. "It might mean they have less risk, but if you engage in risky behavior, we don't know just how much risk you need to incur to overwhelm whatever potential protection you might have," he said. "We have no clue."
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The New York Times
The wilderness of rare genetic diseases and the parents navigating it
Jim Wilson of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about his research at Penn’s Orphan Disease Center. “When I was practicing clinical genetics, it was limited to diagnosis and prognosis,” he said. “Now, in a limited number of diseases, there are potential treatments, if not cures.”
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BBC News
Coronavirus: Wear masks in crowded public spaces, says science body
Paul Edelstein of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about the effectiveness of face masks in preventing the spread of COVID-19. "There are people without symptoms going about their daily business who are unknowingly breathing out droplets that are carrying the virus," he said. "If they had their faces covered the majority of those droplets would be caught before they can infect other people. Wearing face coverings can help save lives and prevent disabling illnesses."
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NPR
End-of-life planning is a ‘lifetime gift’ to your loved ones
Pallavi Kumar of the Perelman School of Medicine said the most important medical decision one can make is assigning a medical proxy as part of an advance directive. "Think about the person in your life who understands you, your goals, your values, your priorities and then is able to set aside their own wishes and be a voice for you," she said.
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