10.20
Health Sciences
Four things to know about the latest IPCC climate report
Four things to know about the latest IPCC climate report
The assessment describes ‘unequivocal’ human influence that no doubt caused ‘widespread and rapid changes’ to the atmosphere, oceans, and more. Professors Mark Alan Hughes and Michael Weisberg discuss the findings, plus how we can avoid passing the point of no return.
Minimizing disruption, maximizing sleep in the hospital
Minimizing disruption, maximizing sleep in the hospital
The Pavilion at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania has embraced the challenge of design for minimizing sleep disruption in hospitals.
Older adults’ access to primary care during the pandemic
Older adults’ access to primary care during the pandemic
Older patients who accessed primary care via telemedicine had lower hospitalization rates, but racial disparities in outcomes of in-person primary care persist, with Black older adults more likely to be hospitalized after a telemedicine visit.
Reproductive justice in nursing
Reproductive justice in nursing
The Penn chapter of Nurses for Sexual and Reproductive Health works to expand students’ engagement in Reproductive justice.
Penn-led consortium identifies more genetic markers for inherited testicular cancer
Penn-led consortium identifies more genetic markers for inherited testicular cancer
A new meta-analysis of nearly 200,000 men revealed 22 new genetic locations that could be susceptible to inherited testicular germ cell tumors—an increase of 40%.
Cytokine treatment promotes weight loss by ‘sweating’ fat
Cytokine treatment promotes weight loss by ‘sweating’ fat
A seemingly unremarkable observation—greasy hair—showed Penn researchers how the immune system could be targeted to reverse obesity.
Tracking the earliest steps in parasite infection
Tracking the earliest steps in parasite infection
The parasite Cryptosporidium, a leading global cause of diarrheal diseases in children, injects host cells with a cocktail of proteins. Using powerful video microscopy, School of Veterinary Medicine researchers tracked the process in real time.
Clarifying T cell ‘exhaustion’
Clarifying T cell ‘exhaustion’
T cells, which are among the most powerful weapons in the immune systems of humans and other vertebrates, remain substantially programmed to stay exhausted even many weeks after exposure to a virus ended.
New cell therapy shows potential against solid tumors with KRAS mutations
New cell therapy shows potential against solid tumors with KRAS mutations
The new technology for cellular immunotherapy shows promising anti-tumor activity in the lab against hard-to-treat cancers driven the KRAS mutation.
Support and inspiration for undergrads pursuing careers in health care
Support and inspiration for undergrads pursuing careers in health care
The three-day-long National Pre-Health Conference, the brainchild of rising senior Alejandra Bahena, begins Aug. 4.
In the News
The New York Times
Waiting on U.S. mandate, some nursing homes are slow to vaccinate staff
PIK Professor Ezekiel Emanuel said lower COVID-19 vaccination rates lead to more infections. “We should be clear that mandates have been working and have been working in every industry that has tried them,” he said.
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Scientific American
Four success stories in gene therapy
Jean Bennett and Albert Maguire of the Perelman School of Medicine developed a gene therapy to treat blindness in patients with retinal dystrophy caused by mutations in the RPE65 gene. “These people can now do things they never could have dreamed of doing, and they’re more independent and enjoying life,” said Bennett.
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ABC News
Why breakthrough COVID deaths can be misunderstood
Edward Stadtmauer of the Perelman School of Medicine advised cancer patients to get vaccinated against COVID-19. “If you have abnormal plasma cells to begin with or are getting therapy that might suppress or damage plasma cells, you can see why that this group of patients may have the most difficulty responding to a COVID infection and responding to vaccines,” he said. “If there is any group of patients who should be vaccinated and get a booster, it is this group of patients.”
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ABC News
Why COVID boosters weren't tweaked to better match variants
John Wherry of the Perelman School of Medicine said there’s no guarantee that a booster shot retooled to target the delta variant would work better than a general COVID-19 vaccine booster.
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The New York Times
Data from federal scientists raise questions about J.&J. booster shots
Scott Hensley of the Perelman School of Medicine is quoted on which vaccines should offer an mRNA booster and how much data the F.D.A. needs before making that recommendation.
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