11/15
Meredith Mann
meredith.mann@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Medicine
Philadelphia artist Odili Odita’s Pavilion mural is a ‘kaleidoscope landscape’
Philadelphia artist Odili Odita’s Pavilion mural is a ‘kaleidoscope landscape’
The mural, titled “Field and Sky” spans two floors of the Pavilion, with rich bright colors evocative of nature to generate the idea of being in different stages of daylight.
Red blood cells play much larger role in immune system via DNA-binding
Red blood cells play much larger role in immune system via DNA-binding
Penn Medicine researchers have uncovered mechanism of how red blood cells detect and bind DNA, opening a new area of research for treatment of inflammatory diseases.
Yelp star ratings may reveal county-level death rate disparities
Yelp star ratings may reveal county-level death rate disparities
A one-star disparity on health care facility Yelp reviews could indicate a 60-death-per-year difference between some United States counties where those facilities are located.
Penn Libraries acquires the personal papers of historian and activist Elizabeth Fee
Penn Libraries acquires the personal papers of historian and activist Elizabeth Fee
The papers of the pioneering historian and health advocate, who died in 2018, adds to the Libraries’ growing collection of materials charting the history of public health activism.
A hub for zoonotic disease research
A hub for zoonotic disease research
The new Institute for Infectious and Zoonotic Diseases, launched by the School of Veterinary Medicine, leans on Penn’s strengths in immunology and infectious disease to prepare for emerging threats to animal and human health.
Four facts about the COVID-19 boosters
Four facts about the COVID-19 boosters
The FDA and CDC endorsed boosters of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines just a month after the agencies did the same for a Pfizer/BioNTech booster. Here’s what’s known today about these shots.
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.
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In the News
The Washington Post
The latest skincare trend: Beef fat. Yes, beef fat
Bruce Brod of the Perelman School of Medicine says that there’s no evidence to show beef tallow is better than conventional moisturizers.
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CBS Philadelphia
Philadelphia doctors and scientists encourage young women to pursue STEM careers at Penn event
The STEM Goes Red event hosted at Penn Medicine showed young Philadelphia women in high school how to program miniature computers, with remarks from Helene Glassberg of the Perelman School of Medicine.
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ScienceFriday.com
CAR-T cell therapies show promise for autoimmune diseases
Daniel Baker, a Ph.D. student in Carl June’s lab at the Perelman School of Medicine, discusses the results of a study on donor CAR-T cell therapy.
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AARP.org
Fifteen things to know about the two new Alzheimer’s drugs
Jason Karlawish of the Perelman School of Medicine says that some reactions to new Alzheimer’s drugs can resemble flu-like symptoms, such as chills, shortness of breath, and rash.
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Stat
Social media misinformation is scaring women about birth control
In an opinion essay, postdoc Emily Pfender of the Leonard Davis Institute and Perelman School of Medicine cautions that social media can set back women’s health by perpetuating fear and misinformation instead of empowering informed choices.
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WHYY (Philadelphia)
Does it matter what time you take your medicine?
Garret FitzGerald of the Perelman School of Medicine says that the timing of medication dosing can substantially influence the drug levels in people’s blood.
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