3/8
School of Veterinary Medicine
5.5 million-year-old fossil turtle species sheds light on invasive modern relatives
A University of Pennsylvania paleontologist has described a 5.5 million-year-old fossil species of turtle from eastern Tennessee. It represents a new species of the genus Trachemys, commonly known as sliders, which are frequently kept as pets today.
Low-calorie diet enhances intestinal regeneration after injury
Dramatic calorie restriction, diets reduced by 40 percent of a normal calorie total, have long been known to extend health span, the duration of disease-free aging, in animal studies, and even to extend life span in most animal species examined.
Study uncovers therapeutic targets for aggressive triple-negative breast cancers
As part of a breast-cancer diagnosis, doctors analyze the tumor to determine which therapies might best attack the malignancy. But for patients whose cancer is triple-negative — that is, lacking receptors for estrogen, progesterone and Her2 — the options for treatment dwindle. Triple-negative cancers, or TNBC, also tend to be more aggressive than other cancer subtypes.
Penn-led Team Uncovers the Physiology Behind the Hour-long Mating Call of Midshipman Fish
According to the Guinness World Records, the longest any person has held a continuous vocal note is just shy of two minutes. That’s quite an achievement.Compared to the Pacific midshipman fish, however, the endurance of the human vocal cord is no match. Midshipman fish can generate a mating call that emits continuously from their bodies for a full hour.
Commonalities in Late Stages of Different Inherited Blinding Diseases Suggest Targets for Therapy
Gene therapy holds promise for treating a variety of diseases, including some inherited blinding conditions. But for a gene therapy to be effective, one must know the precise gene responsible for a given individual’s disorder and develop a tailored treatment.
FDA Approves Gene Therapy for Inherited Blindness Developed by Penn and CHOP
In a historic move, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved a gene therapy initially developed by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) for the treatment of a rare, inherited form of retinal blindness.
Four Penn Professors Among 2017 Class of AAAS Fellows
Four members of the University of Pennsylvania faculty have been named Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Election as an AAAS Fellow is an honor bestowed upon members of AAAS, the world’s largest general scientific society, by their peers.
Opioid Epidemic
Opioid drug misuse and addiction are epidemic in the United States. Every day, 90 people lose their lives to opioid overdose and the economic burden of the crisis has climbed to an estimated $80 billion a year. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are spearheading multi-faceted solutions to address the problem.
Penn Senior Barbara Biney Is Unlocking the Genetic Secrets of Heartworm-resistant Mosquitoes
By Erica AndersenCertain mosquitoes don’t get heartworm, and Barbara Biney was keen to find out why.
Taking Blood Using ‘Push-Pull’ Method Gets Accurate Results With Fewer Pokes, Penn Study Shows
A new study by University of Pennsylvania veterinary researchers has found that blood samples collected from an intravenous catheter using a special “mixing” technique are as accurate as those collected via venipuncture, in which a needle is used to access the vein directly.
In the News
Huffington Post
Thirteen subtle changes veterinarians would never ignore in their cats
Kaitlyn Krebs of the School of Veterinary Medicine says that cats can indicate illness through behavioral changes such as hiding or spending time in unusual places.
FULL STORY →
WESA Radio (Pittsburgh)
Migratory birds mainly responsible for bird flu outbreak, experts tell Pa. lawmakers
Louise Moncla of the School of Veterinary Medicine says that avian flu viruses are being spread far geographically because of wild migratory birds.
FULL STORY →
The New York Times
Why do women live longer than men?
Montserrat Anguera of the School of Veterinary Medicine says that epigenetic factors like climate or chronic stress may also play a role in life span, widening or shrinking the disparities between men and women.
FULL STORY →
WHYY (Philadelphia)
Are cats at risk of bird flu? What pet owners can do to protect their cats
Stephen Cole of the School of Veterinary Medicine says that avian flu is risky and fairly fatal for cats, though the number of documented feline cases has so far been low.
FULL STORY →
Science Alert
New strain of bird flu in Nevada reveals a concerning mutation
Louise Moncla of the School of Veterinary Medicine says that cows may be more broadly susceptible to bird flu viruses than initially thought.
FULL STORY →