10.20
Michele W. Berger
Senior Science News Officer
mwberger@upenn.edu
Medicine
Racial disparities in avoidable hospitalizations for Medicare beneficiaries
Racial disparities in avoidable hospitalizations for Medicare beneficiaries
A new Medical Care study by LDI Fellow Norma Coe and colleagues reveals racial disparities in avoidable hospitalizations that are even greater than in traditional Medicare.
Genetic disease CDKL5 deficiency disorder could be treatable after childhood
Genetic disease CDKL5 deficiency disorder could be treatable after childhood
The study finds that the CDKL5 gene, which plays an important role in proper brain development during childhood, is also active in adulthood, and that gene therapy may help adult patients.
Mandates likely work to increase vaccine uptake
Mandates likely work to increase vaccine uptake
Rather than causing a backlash, vaccination requirements will succeed at getting more people inoculated, according to research from PIK Professor Dolores Albarracín and colleagues at Penn.
Novel gene therapy platform speeds search for ways to cure blindness
Novel gene therapy platform speeds search for ways to cure blindness
A newly developed single-cell RNA sequencing technique enables researchers to quickly identify an optimal vector for delivering therapeutic genetic material to treat vision disorders, and perhaps other genetic conditions.
National Academy of Medicine welcomes two new members from Penn
National Academy of Medicine welcomes two new members from Penn
The Perelman School of Medicine’s Marylyn D. Ritchie and PIK Professor Sarah A. Tishkoff are among 100 new members to be elected this year to the Academy, one of the highest honors in health and medicine.
How consumers describe racism in health care
How consumers describe racism in health care
A team of researchers looked at Yelp reviews of hospitals that highlighted racist experiences.
General anesthesia just as safe as spinal anesthesia after broken hip surgery
General anesthesia just as safe as spinal anesthesia after broken hip surgery
Challenging common beliefs, Penn research shows patterns of recovery to be similar for patients who received spinal anesthesia and those who got general anesthesia.
Geographic disparities in lower extremity amputation rates
Geographic disparities in lower extremity amputation rates
A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association shows that peripheral artery disease affects Black people and those of low socioeconomic status, and the U.S. health system is missing opportunities to slow or stop the progression.
Five things to know about the upcoming flu season
Five things to know about the upcoming flu season
Thanks to COVID prevention measures, last year’s flu season was among the mildest in years. Penn experts explain why this year may be different and how to prepare.
Cancer care in Penn Medicine’s Pavilion: Reimagined, revitalized, and inclusive
Cancer care in Penn Medicine’s Pavilion: Reimagined, revitalized, and inclusive
The Pavilion is designed to bring research and clinical care together, while connecting patients and their families with their medical teams in innovative ways.
Media Contact
In the News
Fortune
Same vaccines, but different fatality rates: Why are some COVID outbreaks worse than others?
John Wherry of the Perelman School of Medicine said, “We’ve learned more in the last year and a half about human immunology and human vaccine responses than we probably learned in the previous several decades.”
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WHYY (Philadelphia)
Yelp reviews may provide key insights into patient experiences with racism
Jason Tong and Anietie Andy of the Perelman School of Medicine studied Yelp reviews of hospitals to better understand racial disparities in health care. “Racism within health care can be pervasive and can occur in a variety of both clinical and nonclinical spaces,” said Tong. “Hopefully [we] can create a composite metric of racism that can be used for targeted quality improvement initiatives for hospitals.”
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Wired
Why does asthma get worse at night?
Garret FitzGerald of the Perelman School of Medicine weighed in on a study that linked the circadian system to nighttime asthma symptoms. “This work highlights the value of small, carefully conducted studies,” and could inform future treatments, he said.
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The Washington Post
How to seek care for non-COVID health issues during the pandemic, and why you shouldn’t delay
Keith Hemmert of the Perelman School of Medicine is quoted on how to dramatically lower your risk of contracting COVID when visiting the emergency room.
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Wisconsin Public Radio
New studies find evidence of ‘superhuman’ immunity to COVID-19 in some individuals
John Wherry of the Perelman School of Medicine comments on the speed of antibody evolution happening in people who are just vaccinated and in those who have already been infected.
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Philadelphia Inquirer
The coming crisis in dementia care and why PA is woefully unprepared
Joel Streim and Alison Lynn of the Perelman School of Medicine comment on how and why Pennsylvania is in a perilous position with dementia care.
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