12.1
Health Sciences
Algorithm personalizes which cancer mutations are best targets for immunotherapy
Algorithm personalizes which cancer mutations are best targets for immunotherapy
A new model developed by researchers in the Abramson Cancer Center hand-picks cancer cells to target for more effective, customized cancer vaccines.
The price of noise
The price of noise
Silence is a rare commodity these days, because society has only gotten louder. “And we're all paying a price for it in terms of our health,” says Mathias Basner, an associate professor of sleep and chronobiology in psychiatry at Penn.
In pursuit of a cure, when ideas and options have run out
In pursuit of a cure, when ideas and options have run out
A new book from Penn Medicine’s David Fajgenbaum chronicles his journey to beat Castleman disease, a rare disorder that he’s lived with for almost a decade.
Mounting brain organoid research reignites ethical debate
Mounting brain organoid research reignites ethical debate
Penn neuroscientists call for an ethical framework grounded in scientific principles for transplanting human “mini-brains” into animals as the field evolves.
A Q&A with Penn Medicine’s Jason Freedman for National Coming Out Day
A Q&A with Penn Medicine’s Jason Freedman for National Coming Out Day
The assistant professor of clinical pediatrics discusses being out at Penn and shares some of his own experiences as a gay man.
How safe and effective are new pulmonary embolism devices?
How safe and effective are new pulmonary embolism devices?
A scientific statement from the American Heart Association, led by Penn Medicine, identifies the risks and benefits of new interventional devices compared to the use of blood thinners alone.
Gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy safely preserves muscle function
Gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy safely preserves muscle function
A Penn study shows delivering a “distant cousin” of a key protein prevented muscle damage without triggering an immune response in large animal models.
Penn alumnus Gregg L. Semenza awarded Nobel in Physiology or Medicine 2019
Penn alumnus Gregg L. Semenza awarded Nobel in Physiology or Medicine 2019
He is one of a trio of researchers sharing the award for their studies of how cells sense and adapt to varying oxygen levels.
Can the additive tree expand machine learning in medicine?
Can the additive tree expand machine learning in medicine?
By combining elements of two widely used prediction models, the “additive tree” is a highly predictive model that is also easy to interpret.
Identifying a gene for canine night blindness
Identifying a gene for canine night blindness
An international team of researchers led by the School of Veterinary Medicine’s Keiko Miyadera has identified the gene mutation responsible for a form of night blindness in dogs. Strategies to treat this condition could also inform treatment of other diseases that rely on targeting this cell type.
In the News
WHYY (Philadelphia)
Dental school grads find it hard to beat back student debt
Dean Mark Wolff of the School of Dental Medicine said dental school tuition has increased because dentistry, in general, has gotten more expensive. “You used to get the X-rays in your mouth taken with film, put inside your mouth. Today, we put sensors inside the mouth, capture it directly into the computer,” he said. “Film used to cost a few dollars a pack. That sensor is a $7,000 sensor.”
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U.S. News & World Report
Antarctic study shows isolation, monotony may change the human brain
Alexander Stahn of the Perelman School of Medicine led a study that found a volume decrease in the hippocampi of explorers who spent 14 months at a research station in Antarctica. “It was an average of about 7%, which is really big in terms of brain changes,” he said.
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WHYY (Philadelphia)
Why mandated nurse-to-patient ratios have become one of the most controversial ideas in health care
Linda Aiken of the School of Nursing said that mandated nurse-to-patient ratios result in fewer complications, infections, and injuries, as well as lower mortality rates.
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The Washington Post
Do NAD-boosting supplements fight aging? Not according to current research
Joseph Baur of the Perelman School of Medicine said that while supplements claiming to increase NAD levels and improve longevity are unlikely to do harm, they’re ineffective when it comes to actually extending human life. “There have been several short-term clinical trials that have been mostly disappointing,” he said.
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Men’s Health
Wait, is it safe to take cold medicine when you’re breastfeeding?
Anna Graseck of the Perelman School of Medicine said, “Over-the-counter cold medicines are generally safe for breast feeding moms,” but warned that anything containing the decongestants pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine can impact the milk supply.
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