7.30
Health Sciences
Smartphone breath alcohol testing devices vary widely in accuracy
Smartphone breath alcohol testing devices vary widely in accuracy
Penn Medicine research finds that some devices failed to detect drivers were over the legal driving limit more than half the time.
A gentler strategy for avoiding childhood dental decay
A gentler strategy for avoiding childhood dental decay
By targeting the bonds between bacteria and yeast that can form a sticky dental plaque, a new therapeutic strategy could help wash away the build-up while sparing oral tissues, according to a new study by a team from the School of Dental Medicine.
Guiding emergency medicine toward a North Star of racial justice
Guiding emergency medicine toward a North Star of racial justice
Eugenia South, an assistant professor of emergency medicine and vice chair for Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity in Emergency Medicine, highlights the need to connect and act in support of equity and inclusion on many fronts.
Minimum nurse-to-patient ratios policy saves lives and lowers costs
Minimum nurse-to-patient ratios policy saves lives and lowers costs
A new study shows that a policy establishing minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios in hospitals saves lives, prevents readmissions, shortens hospital stays, and reduces costs.
What happens in the brain when we imagine the future?
What happens in the brain when we imagine the future?
Research from neuroscientist Joseph Kable finds that two sub-networks are at work, one focused on creating the new event, another on evaluating whether that event is positive or negative.
Rapid COVID-19 diagnostic test delivers accurate results within 4 minutes
Rapid COVID-19 diagnostic test delivers accurate results within 4 minutes
The low-cost biosensor test developed by Penn Medicine could extend COVID-19 testing with 90% accuracy to remote and disadvantaged areas.
A Penn nurse plays an integral role in temporary COVID-19 hospital
A Penn nurse plays an integral role in temporary COVID-19 hospital
Kerwin Barden, a cardiovascular nurse at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and chief nurse for the 177th Fighter Wing with the Air National Guard, was deployed to a 250-bed field medical station in New Jersey when the pandemic hit.
A more effective at-home treatment for IBS
A more effective at-home treatment for IBS
In a randomized control trial, researchers found that after eight weeks, participants with irritable bowel syndrome who used an app focused on cognitive behavioral therapy experienced better health-related quality of life, fewer GI symptoms, and less anxiety.
Discovery of a new genetic cause of hearing loss illuminates how inner ear works
Discovery of a new genetic cause of hearing loss illuminates how inner ear works
A gene called GAS2 plays a key role in normal hearing, and its absence causes severe hearing loss, according to a study led by researchers in Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine.
India’s COVID crisis
India’s COVID crisis
Political scientist Tariq Thachil of the School of Arts & Sciences and economist and public health expert Harsha Thirumurthy of the Perelman School of Medicine take a look at what’s happening in India with the pandemic's second wave and what can be done to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
In the News
WHYY (Philadelphia)
Penn researching ways to avoid side effects of key treatment for serious COVID cases
To improve outcomes for patients hospitalized with COVID-19, researchers led by Mitchell Lazar of the Perelman School of Medicine are exploring which populations are most prone to side effects when treated with glucocorticoids, a type of steroid.
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Forbes
The most common causes of memory loss
Jason Karlawish of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about memory loss, the condition’s symptoms, and seeking diagnosis. “Start with a doctor who knows you well, so a primary care physician,” he said. “Ideally, people go in with someone who knows them well—a spouse, child or close friend—who can speak to what they’ve been seeing.”
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“All Things Considered,” National Public Radio
COVID symptoms may linger in some vaccinated people who get infected, study finds
Paul Offit of the Perelman School of Medicine and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia said that initially, COVID-19 “was billed falsely as a winter respiratory virus that, like influenza, could cause severe and occasionally fatal pneumonia. But this virus is much more than that.”
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Today
Olympians face 'overwhelming' mental pressure—especially this year
Jeremy Tyler of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about the pressure faced by Olympic athletes. “Imagine going into the most important moment of your present lifetime, the world watching, having the knowledge that everyone expects you to live up to your reputation of being the best … and you’ve got go into it completely alone, without any social or emotional support,” he said. “I can’t think of a higher pressure or more daunting task to go through.”
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The Hill
Masks and vaccines: What would you do to save a child?
Susan Coffin and Sage Myers of the Perelman School of Medicine and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia wrote an opinion piece about unvaccinated children’s vulnerability to the COVID-19 delta variant. They called for adults to continue wearing masks in risky environments, saying, “allowing even one child to become severely ill is too many if it can be prevented with simple measures.”
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