Health Sciences

Penn Medicine Study Uncovers New Pathways that Control Skin Tanning and Lightening

When skin cells responsible for pigmentation are exposed to estrogen or progesterone, the cells respond by adjusting their melanin production, resulting in either skin darkening or lightening. Although pregnant women often experience alterations in skin pigmentation, the reason for the changes has long puzzled physicians.

Katie Delach

Penn Medicine's Josep Dalmau Named Recipient of 2016 Cotzias Lecture and Award From AAN

Josep Dalmau, MD, PhD, an adjunct professor of neurology and founder and director of the Penn Center of Autoimmune Neurology in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, was honored as a recipient of the American Academy of Neurology’s 2016 Cotzias Lecture and Award, at the organization’s 68th annual meeting that took place April 15-21 in Vancouver.

Stephanie Simon

Robot-driven Imaging System Opens New Avenues for Discovery

Even those who have never had a CT scan are likely familiar with the process, which often entails a slow journey through a narrow tube. Given that the experience can elicit feelings of claustrophobia in human adults, it’s easy to imagine how complicated it can be to perform the same procedure on a 1,400 pound horse.

Katherine Unger Baillie



In the News


6ABC.com

Bird flu suspected in deaths of 200 snow geese in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley

Stephen Cole of the School of Veterinary Medicine says that indoor cats are contracting bird flu through raw pet foods of poultry origin or raw milk products.

FULL STORY →



NPR

Tuberculosis rates plunge when families living in poverty get a monthly cash payout

Aaron Richterman of the Perelman School of Medicine says that there are large and underappreciated benefits of cash-transfer programs, such as potentially ending a tuberculosis epidemic.

FULL STORY →



Self

The surgeon general calls for new warning labels on alcohol—here’s the truth about how it impacts your health

Henry Kranzler of the Perelman School of Medicine says that alcohol’s effects on the brain are observed more readily because it’s the organ of behavior.

FULL STORY →



Newsweek

Cancer breakthrough as ‘speckles’ may reveal best treatment

A paper co-authored by PIK Professor Shelley Berger finds that patterns of “speckles” in the heart of tumor cells could help predict how patients with a common form of kidney cancer will respond to treatment options.

FULL STORY →



Time

Scientists are racing to develop a new bird flu vaccine

Drew Weissman and Scott Hensley of the Perelman School of Medicine are testing a vaccine to prevent a strain of H5N1 bird flu in chickens and cattle.

FULL STORY →