10.21
Health Sciences
Reproductive science by experts, for teens
Reproductive science by experts, for teens
High school girls who take part in the Penn Academy for Reproductive Science get a hands-on lab course with top epigenetic and reproductive health experts.
CAR T cell therapy may be harnessed to treat heart disease
CAR T cell therapy may be harnessed to treat heart disease
Penn Med researchers used genetically modified T cells to improve heart function in an animal model after cardiac injury, a step forward in expanding the use of the technology to treating, or even reversing, heart failure.
Minority students still underrepresented in medical schools
Minority students still underrepresented in medical schools
While numbers of black and Hispanic physicians have increased, a Penn study shows the physician workforce does not represent the shifting demographics of the U.S. population.
Is treatment forever? Success of gene therapy for inherited blindness depends on timing
Is treatment forever? Success of gene therapy for inherited blindness depends on timing
An FDA-approved gene therapy for Leber congenital amaurosis, an inherited vision disorder with a childhood onset and progressive nature, has improved patients’ sight. But new research underscores the importance of further investigation to halt the progression of the disorder.
Competition works better than support or collaboration to increase daily step counts
Competition works better than support or collaboration to increase daily step counts
A clinical trial using a behaviorally designed gamification program found that adding competition to motivate exercise is a catalyst for real results.
The diet-microbiome connection in inflammatory bowel disease
The diet-microbiome connection in inflammatory bowel disease
Dogs with a Crohn’s-like disease fed a special diet were found to have characteristic changes in their gut microbiomes, paralleling changes seen in children with Crohn’s.
Inferno in the rainforest
Inferno in the rainforest
Satellite images have detected more than 100,000 points of fire in the Amazon this year. Scientists Reto Gieré and Alain Plante illuminate some less obvious impacts of the fires, including health threats and climate impacts.
A molecular ‘atlas’ of animal development
A molecular ‘atlas’ of animal development
Scientists have studied the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans for decades, making essential contributions to basic science. In the latest milestone, a team uses cutting-edge technology to individually profile the genes expressed in more than 80,000 cells in a developing C. elegans embryo.
Researcher Virginia M.Y. Lee receives $3 million Breakthrough Prize
Researcher Virginia M.Y. Lee receives $3 million Breakthrough Prize
The Breakthrough Prize award recognizes Lee’s work studying underlying mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other dementias.
The U.S. and Canada are seven times more likely to prescribe opioids than Sweden
The U.S. and Canada are seven times more likely to prescribe opioids than Sweden
Within 30 days of discharge, nearly half of all surgical patients in the United States received opioids in excess of 200 morphine milligram equivalents, compared to just 11 percent of the patients in Sweden.
In the News
Forbes
Eye drops proven to reverse vision loss in clinical trial
Eve Higginbotham of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about some of the shortcomings of eye drops that treat age-related farsightedness. “There’s a question of whether or not people will actually use these drops twice a day in order to see a little better up close,” she said. “I am sure there may be a small segment of the population that may choose to put drops in twice a day, but for the vast majority of individuals, using drops twice a day may be a challenge.”
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Time
‘I burned all the time.’ Selma Blair discusses her MS diagnosis and hope for effective treatments for chronic diseases
Carl June of the Perelman School of Medicine was noted for his contributions to the development of CAR T cell therapy. “The approaches we’ve learned in cancer may well apply to dementia,” he said. “I think that will be the next wave of research.”
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Forbes
FDA: Deliveries of scarce childhood cancer drug due to resume later in October, but shortages may continue for months
Peter Adamson of the Perelman School of Medicine authored a letter proposing a “call to action” to make sure childhood-cancer drug shortages don’t reoccur.
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KYW Newsradio (Philadelphia)
Using a patient portal could help you work harder for your health
Health System CEO Kevin Mahoney spoke about the health benefits of online patient portals. “An engaged patient is more likely to follow guidelines of when you're supposed to get your preventative health care screenings,” he said.
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Philadelphia Inquirer
Penn’s genital herpes vaccine is a winner in animals. Next up: Testing on humans
Harvey Friedman of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about his efforts to develop an “urgently needed” genital herpes vaccine. “What we have is close to perfect in animals. No one else has done that,” he said. “The big unknown is whether it will work in humans.”
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