Internal Medicine | Penn Today

Microscopic view of Staphylococcus aureus.

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.

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.

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.

A DIY colorectal cancer screening kit

At-home screening kits are found to be effective, with roughly a quarter of patients overdue for screenings mailing the completed kits back within two months.

Study: Safe to transplant hepatitis C-infected hearts, lungs

Peter Reese of the Perelman School of Medicine commented on a recent study about the safety and efficacy of pairing hepatitis C-infected organ transplants with fast, preventative treatments to block recipients from contracting the infection. The combination may work “because maybe the virus hasn’t had the chance to establish itself,” said Reese.

illustration of heart using x-ray imagery

Hep C-infected organs may be viable option for patients awaiting a heart transplant

Successfully treating the virus post-transplant has the potential for expanding the use of HCV-infected organs, including hearts, to broaden the donor pool for those on a transplant waitlist.

What’s overlooked can be fatal

New research shows that spontaneous coronary artery dissection is not only far more common than was previously thought, but that patients may benefit most from conservative treatment that allows the body to heal on its own.

Immune profiling: A new opportunity for drug development

Immunologists, oncologists, and infectious disease specialists are thinking about the immune system in a new way based on its integral and ubiquitous ties to human health, amassing data on its role in gastroenterology, neurology, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic disease.

Why gene editing may hold the promise of a herpes cure

Sita Awasthi of the Perelman School of Medicine discussed the challenges researchers face in pursuing a cure for herpes. In spite of advances in CRISPR technology, Awasthi emphasizes the continued need for a preventive vaccine.

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