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Health Sciences
Can contact tracing stop the spread of COVID-19?
Penn experts discuss how contact tracing works, the differences between traditional “analog” and new “digital” approaches, and how these two strategies could shape what everyday life looks like in the next phase of the pandemic.
Researchers analyze ethics of allocating medical resources in COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has left many health care providers scrambling for resources to treat cases over the last several months, making doctors face difficult decisions: Whom do you save?
Parasites and the microbiome
In a study of ethnically diverse people from Cameroon, the presence of a parasite infection was closely linked to the make-up of the gastrointestinal microbiome, according to a research team led by Penn scientists.
The case against separating breastfeeding mothers and infants during the pandemic
In a Q&A, Diane Spatz of Penn Nursing and CHOP discusses why it’s safe and beneficial to keep them together, even when the mother tests positive for COVID-19.
Examining health inequities with a global lens
Rising senior Adriana Discher examined public health measures and disparities in four countries—three in person and one virtually—during a semester abroad program this spring.
Already in fiscal crisis, rural hospitals face COVID-19
LDI’s Eighth virtual “Experts at Home” seminar on May 29 brought together top academic and government experts to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rural health and hospitals.
Videos, webinars and lots of feedback: Medical training’s shift amid COVID-19
Because hands-on learning and in-person simulations have been so altered during the coronavirus pandemic, there is now high demand for updated training videos and shifting best practices.
After opioid overdose emergency, few patients receive timely follow-up
For people with diagnosed opioid use disorder, timely follow-up care after leaving the hospital can save lives. But a recent national study showed that just 16% of privately insured patients obtain that essential care.
8 minutes, 46 seconds
Hundreds of health care workers remembered George Floyd and other victims of police violence at a White Coats for Black Lives event at Franklin Field.
New cancer immunotherapy targeting myeloid cells slows tumor growth
Researchers found that inhibiting a molecule hijacked by tumor cells to suppress the immune system shrank tumors.
In the News
Drinking two beers daily ages the brain by 10 years; study reveals surprising findings
A study by Penn researchers found that one to two units of alcohol per day shrunk overall brain volume and gray matter volumes.
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Seven unusual sleep hacks to help you drift off peacefully—we speak to a sleep expert about how to get a good night’s rest
A study from the Perelman School of Medicine found that participants who practiced paradoxical intention experienced significantly reduced sleep anxiety.
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More yogurt and nuts, less alcohol and snack foods: How GLP-1 medications like Ozempic are influencing people’s food spending habits
Carrie Burns of the Perelman School of Medicine says that weight-loss medications tend to decrease cravings for foods high in sugar and fat.
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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.
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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.
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