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Internal Medicine

A cohort study comes of age
illustration of kidneys

A cohort study comes of age

For nearly two decades, a major national study of kidney disease led and coordinated at Penn has defined key risk factors in an all-too-common silent epidemic.

Steve Graff

Keeping parasites from sticking to mosquito guts could block disease transmission
Glowing green, dozens of small ovals represent parasites in a microscopic image

Mosquitoes infected with the parasite Crithidia fasciculata may offer a valuable model for studying other parasite diseases, according to a study led by Penn Vet’s Michael Povelones and Penn State Brandywine’s Megan Povelones. Here, a microscopic image shows the hindgut of Aedes aegypti mosquito infected with Crithidia expressing green fluorescent protein. (Image: Michael Povelones)

Keeping parasites from sticking to mosquito guts could block disease transmission

Researchers at the School of Veterinary Medicine show how a new model for studying the way parasites known as kinetoplastids adhere to mosquitoes’ insides could illuminate strategies for curbing diseases.

Katherine Unger Baillie

A new drug target for chemically induced Parkinson’s disease
Grid of multiple brain scans

Findings from Penn Vet suggest a potential new target for treating Parkinson's, an enzyme that wreaks its damage on dopamine-producing neurons.

A new drug target for chemically induced Parkinson’s disease

An enzyme that modifies chemicals formed in the body by alcohol, tobacco, and certain foods may be a new target for treating Parkinson’s disease. The altered compounds may play a role in triggering the onset or advancing the progression of the neurodegenerative condition.

Katherine Unger Baillie

Novel model for studying intestinal parasite could advance vaccine development
Fluorescent microscopic images shows a section of intestine with blue, green, and red labels.

A section of intestine from an infected mouse shows Cryptosporidium tyzzeri parasites in red. The Penn Vet-led team is the first to sequence, study, and manipulate a naturally occurring mouse Cryptosporidium. (Image: Muthugapatti Kandasamy, Adam Sateriale, and Boris Striepen)

Novel model for studying intestinal parasite could advance vaccine development

The intestinal parasite Cryptosporidium causes frequent outbreaks in the U.S., and has been historically difficult to study. A novel model of infection from Penn Vet serves as a new tool to pursue a vaccine.

Katherine Unger Baillie

How to quell a cytokine storm
rendering of cells and a virus

How to quell a cytokine storm

An international team finds new ways to dampen an overactive immune system, and can influence new drug targets for lupus and other autoimmune disorders.

Penn Today Staff

We’re only as good as our microbiomes are happy
Colorful sketch of microorganisms

We’re only as good as our microbiomes are happy

Understanding the microbiome, the collection of bacteria, viruses, and fungi in the gut, is helping to sort out the intricacies of diet, chronobiology, cancer treatment, and more.

Penn Today Staff

Certain strains of bacteria associated with diabetic wounds that do not heal
Microscopic view of Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus bacteria 

Certain strains of bacteria associated with diabetic wounds that do not heal

A new study finds that whether a wound like a diabetic foot ulcer heals or progresses to a worse outcome, including infection or even amputation, may depend on the microbiome within that wound.

Penn Today Staff

App predicts risk of developing hernia following abdominal surgery
person with IV holding a cellphone

App predicts risk of developing hernia following abdominal surgery

A Penn-developed app can predict the likelihood that a patient will develop an incisional hernia following abdominal surgery, utilizing electronic health records to identify the most common risk factors for patients.

Penn Today Staff

What is syphilis, and why are rates rising?
U.S. News & World Report

What is syphilis, and why are rates rising?

Amy Forrestel of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about the symptoms, spread, and long-term effects of syphilis. If left untreated, the sexually transmitted infection “can wreak a lot of havoc” on the body, said Forrestel.