6.19
Health Sciences
Dermatologists offer tips on how to prevent and detect skin cancer
As Skin Cancer Awareness Month comes to a close, Penn experts offer tips to spot skin cancer early, how to keep it away for good, and much more.
Early-life seizures prematurely wake up brain networks tied to autism
An antiepileptic drug may keep synapses associated with autism ‘silent’ following seizures so the brain can develop normally during the critical early years of brain development.
Protecting the littlest victims of the opioid crisis
A new protocol underway at Chester County Hospital from Penn Medicine aims to minimize distress for babies born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.
Bioengineer takes big step forward in radical approach to treating neurodegeneration
Research by D. Kacy Cullen, an associate professor of neurosurgery in the Perelman School of Medicine, could aid patients with neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disease.
Bringing health innovation to life
The Penn Center for Health, Devices and Technology weds health care professionals with visionary ideas and the technological know-how to build innovative medical devices.
Mathematical model explains why metastasis can occur even when cancer is caught early
Researchers are uncovering the unique nature of individual cancer "communities" and how they evolve, and applying math models to understand their growth.
Oxytocin, vasopressin flatten social hierarchy and synchronize behaviors
Findings from a study of male rhesus macaques from PIK professor Michael Platt and postdoc Yaoguang Jiang could lead to treatment options for social impairments in disorders like autism and schizophrenia.
Future doctors take to the community
A course developed at the Perelman School of Medicine connects medical students with high-risk patients in Philadelphia through apprenticeships with community health workers.
NICU uses volunteer cuddlers to calm premature babies
It seems intuitive that holding a baby provides comfort, but a recent study found that human touch plays a major role in the progression of infant neurodevelopmental function.
Technology, aging patients, and the people who care for them
In a quest to ease the care process for older adults and the very sick, as well as their family-member caregivers, PIK professor George Demiris is studying the intersection of smart-home technologies and health informatics.
In the News
PhillyVoice
When to See the Doctor When You’re Traveling, and When to Suck It Up
Penn Global’s Erica Sebastian advised travelers to factor in a visit to the doctor when planning a trip, especially “if you have a chronic health condition.”
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Reuters Health
Workplace Noise in Daytime Linked to Sleep Problems at Night
The Perelman School of Medicine’s Mathias Basner weighed in on the effects of noise environments on stress levels.
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BBC
Why Do Only Some People Get Blackout Drunk?
Reagan Wetherill of the Perelman School of Medicine discussed “inherent brain vulnerabilities, and genetic vulnerabilities,” that put adolescents at risk of future alcohol abuse.
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The Washington Post
Forget ‘Man vs. Machine.’ When Doctors Compete with Artificial Intelligence, Patients Lose
Carrie Kovarik, Caroline Nelson, and John Barbieri of the Perelman School of Medicine co-authored an argument for collaboration, not competition, between doctors and AI technology.
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WHYY (Philadelphia)
New Blood Test for Pregnant Women Could Predict Preterm Birth
The Perelman School of Medicine’s Michal Elovitz discussed the results from her research exploring methods for predicting preterm births. The study’s results were published in Science.
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