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Health Sciences
Penn Medicine Fellow Receives National Award for Excellence in Interventional Cardiology
The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions Foundation (SCAI) has presented Penn Medicine’s Mitul Kadakia, MD, with the 2014 Gregory Braden Memorial Fellow of the Year Award in recognition of his outstanding performance as an interventional cardiology fellow-in-training.
Three Researchers from Penn Medicine Elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Three researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have been elected as new members to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the nation's most prestigious honorary societies and a leading center for independent policy research.
Penn Medicine Study: Sorafenib Shows Success in Advanced Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Patients
The kidney and liver cancer drug sorafenib holds metastatic thyroid cancer at bay for nearly twice as long as a placebo, according to a new study from researchers in the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania published in the journal Lancet. This is the first effective treatment for thyroid cancer patients who progress following standard treatments.
Penn Fruitfly Study Identifies Brain Circuit that Drives Daily Cycles of Rest, Activity
Amita Sehgal, PhD, a professor of Neuroscience at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, describes in Cell a circuit in the brain of fruit flies that controls their daily, rhythmic behavior of rest and activity.
Penn Medicine: Two Commonly Used Medications Equally Effective in Treating Seizures in Children
The sedative drugs diazepam (Valium) and lorazepam (Ativan) are equally effective in treating the prolonged seizures known as status epilepticus in children, according to a randomized, controlled study by a multi-institution team of researchers with the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network, including an expert from the Perelman S
Penn Medicine Researchers Uncover Hints of a Novel Mechanism Behind General Anesthetic Action
Despite decades of common use for surgeries of all kinds, the precise mechanism through which general anesthesia works on the body remains a mystery. This may come as a surprise to the millions of Americans who receive inhaled general anesthesia each year.
Sleeping Away Infection: Penn Researchers Find Link between Sleep and Immune Function in Fruitflies
When we get sick it feels natural to try to hasten our recovery by getting some extra shuteye. Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found that this response has a definite purpose, in fruitflies: enhancing immune system response and recovery to infection.
Penn Bioinformatics Profiling Identifies a New Mammalian Clock Gene
Over the last few decades researchers have characterized a set of clock genes that drive daily rhythms of physiology and behavior in all types of species, from flies to humans. Over 15 mammalian clock proteins have been identified, but researchers surmise there are more.
Penn Study Clarifies Action of Potential New Class of Pain Relievers that May Benefit, not Hurt, the Heart
Nonsteroidal antinflamatory drugs (NSAIDs) that block an enzyme called COX-2 relieve pain and inflammation but can cause heart attacks, stroke, heart failure, and even sudden cardiac death. This has prompted a decade-plus search for safer, but still effective, alternatives to these commonly prescribed, pain-relieving drugs.
Radiation Oncologists at Penn's Abramson Cancer Center Say Model Will Preserve Access to Technology and Propel Research
Proton therapy is in the proverbial chicken or the egg scenario. Companies are pulling back on reimbursements to treat some cancers—notably prostate, breast and lung—because of the added expense and limited evidence to back it up.
In the News
Healio
Children, teens face 25% higher risk for adverse GI outcomes after COVID-19 infection
According to a study by Ph.D. student Dazheng Zhang of the Perelman School of Medicine and colleagues, children and adolescents experienced increased risk for gastrointestinal symptoms and disorders after COVID-19 infections.
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CBS News
Pennsylvania doctors reflect on COVID-19 pandemic 5 years later
Raina Merchant of the Perelman School of Medicine says that Penn Medicine had to be nimble during the COVID-19 pandemic to respond to many changes in information and optimize care for patients.
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Good Housekeeping
Is This Viral Trend Really the Ultimate Cure for Bloat?
Anish A. Sheth of the Perelman School of Medicine says there’s no medical evidence that topical castor oil has any medically therapeutic benefits.
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The New York Times
Mutated DNA restored to normal in gene therapy advance
Kiran Musunuru of the Perelman School of Medicine says that a new infusion offers the hope of precisely treating other genetic diseases by fixing mutations, an alternative to current gene therapies.
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Healio
Consider cost-effectiveness of treatment when managing glaucoma
Lama Al-Aswad of the Perelman School of Medicine says that glaucoma should be diagnosed early to decrease the cost to health care, help patients, and prevent blindness.
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