4.23
Health Sciences
Making headway against a killer virus
Around Penn, clinicians and researchers are focused on Ebola, working to ensure this disease—fearsomely lethal—can be vanquished.
Is dog walking hazardous to senior health?
Between 2004 and 2017, dog walking related fractures in people 65 or older more than doubled, and two factors are the cause: increased pet ownership and a greater emphasis, in recent years, on physical activity at older ages.
Cancer most frequently spreads to the liver. Here’s why.
Researchers from the Abramson Cancer Center shows hepatocytes, the chief functional cells of the liver, orchestrate the “seed and soil” process for cancer to spread to the liver.
College campuses are thinking about lactation spaces—but could be doing more
Breastfeeding mothers in higher-education environments can typically find a place to pump, but only recently have institutions begun to prioritize access to this resource.
To prevent HIV, start online
A team led by José Bauermeister at Penn Nursing designed the My Desires & Expectations tool to address cognitive and emotional factors that influence sexual decision-making when seeking partners online.
Largest-ever Alzheimer’s gene study reveals five new genes that increase risk
The International Genomic Alzheimer’s Project analyzed information from more than 94,000 individuals and found new information on the underlying causes of Alzheimer disease, including five new genes that increase risk for the disease.
The link between sleep, genes, and mental health
Whether you’re a night owl or a morning lark could affect your risk of developing a psychiatric disorder.
Hep C-infected organs may be viable option for patients awaiting a heart transplant
Successfully treating the virus post-transplant has the potential for expanding the use of HCV-infected organs, including hearts, to broaden the donor pool for those on a transplant waitlist.
Using stairwells for wellness
StairWELL, a Penn Sustainability Green Fund project, completed a yearlong pilot project last July that aimed to test how effective a stairwell makeover could be in increasing physical activity and reducing energy costs.
What’s overlooked can be fatal
New research shows that spontaneous coronary artery dissection is not only far more common than was previously thought, but that patients may benefit most from conservative treatment that allows the body to heal on its own.
In the News
U.S. News & World Report
What is syphilis, and why are rates rising?
Amy Forrestel of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about the symptoms, spread, and long-term effects of syphilis. If left untreated, the sexually transmitted infection “can wreak a lot of havoc” on the body, said Forrestel.
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The Washington Post
A smarter way to think about willpower
Angela Duckworth of the School of Arts and Sciences and Katherine Milkman of the Wharton School are among co-authors of an op-ed about self-control. While many believe Americans’ willpower is on the decline, the authors write, “the scant scientific evidence on the question suggests that if anything, the capacity to delay gratification may be increasing.”
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NPR
First U.S. patients treated with CRISPR as human gene-editing trials get underway
A clinical trial led by Edward Stadtmauer of the Perelman School of Medicine will be using CRISPR to treat cancer patients.
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Associated Press
Senior’s weakness for scams may be warning sign of dementia
Jason Karlawish of the Perelman School of Medicine said a recent study on aging and scam awareness doesn’t prove a link between susceptibility and cognitive decline in seniors. However, Karlawish says, the results “should be a call to action to health care systems, the financial services industry and their regulators.”
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The Washington Post
New cancer therapies offer great hope, but there can be surprising complications
Ravi Parikh of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about rapid advances in cancer therapies. While excited about the possibilities, Parikh notes that new treatments come with new side effects, among other complications.
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