global-medicine

International Team of Researchers Co-Led by Penn Aims to Revolutionize Understanding of How Gene Variants Affect Organ Transplant Outcomes

Thu, 01 Oct 2015 13:30:00 +0000

A large international team of transplant surgeons and scientists, co-led by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, has come together to investigate the genetic factors behind transplant successes and failures.

Three Ways to Bond with Your Baby in the NICU

Penn Medicine — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 13:00:00 +0000

“No parent ever expects or plans to end up in the NICU,” says Michelle Ferrant, MSN, RNC-NIC, CBC, DNP(C). Michelle is a staff nurse, Clinical Level IV at Penn’s intensive care nursery (ICN), and the staff chair on the ICN Family Advisory Council. One of the hardest things parents may struggle with is feeling that they can’t form a close relationship with their newborn, especially when they

Penn Medicine Researcher Receives Champion of Hope Award

Thu, 01 Oct 2015 10:30:00 +0000

David Fajgenbaum, MD, MBA, MSc, a research assistant professor of Medicine, division of Hematology/Oncology, in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, has received the RARE Champion of Hope award for science.

Penn-developed, DNA-based Vaccine Clears Nearly Half of Precancerous Cervical Lesions in Clinical Trial

Wed, 30 Sep 2015 13:30:00 +0000

Using a novel synthetic platform for creating vaccines originally developed in the laboratory of David Weiner, PhD, a professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, a team led by his colleagues at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, has successfully eradicated precancerous cervical lesions in nearly half of the...

Know the Signs of Heart Disease in Women

Penn Medicine — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 13:00:00 +0000

When it comes to heart disease, many people think of it as a condition that effects only men. It may surprise you to learn, however, that heart disease is the number one cause of death in the US for women, as well as men. Heart disease, in all its forms, is responsible for over 400,000 deaths a year among women – more than all forms of cancer combined. And although new research on the importance

Invitation to Cover: Racing Against the Clock, 4th Annual Penn 5K for the IOA Raises Research Funds for Institute on Aging

Fri, 18 Sep 2015 16:00:00 +0000

This Sunday, the 4th annual 5K for The IOA and Memory Mile Walk will be held in support of the Institute on Aging (IOA) at the University of Pennsylvania.

Researchers at Penn Medicine and the Department of Veterans Affairs Investigate Chronic Illnesses in 200,000 Veterans

Thu, 17 Sep 2015 17:30:00 +0000

Two groups of investigators at Penn Medicine received funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to beta-test the genetic database of 200,000 veterans in the VA’s Million Veterans Program (MVP).

Cancer Doesn't Sleep: The Myc Oncogene Disrupts Circadian Rhythm and Metabolism in Cancer Cells, Finds New Penn Study

Thu, 17 Sep 2015 16:00:00 +0000

Myc is a cancer-causing gene responsible for disrupting the normal 24-hour internal rhythm and metabolic pathways in cancer cells, found a team led by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Post-Pregnancy Life: Six Things Mom Never Told You

Penn Medicine — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 13:16:00 +0000

Having a baby is both exhilarating and overwhelming. Your mom probably told you all about when you were a newborn, but she probably also left out some things about life after baby arrives. Here are six things your mom never told you about post-pregnancy life. 1. Finding a good sitter is like finding a bag of money. If a loved one can’t babysit your child, then the hunt begins. You can ask

Penn Team Pinpoints Immune Changes in Blood of Melanoma Patients on PD-1 Drugs That Put Potential Biomarker within Reach

Wed, 16 Sep 2015 10:00:00 +0000

A simple blood test can detect early markers of “reinvigorated” T cells and track immune responses in metastatic melanoma patients after initial treatment with the anti-PD-1 drug pembrolizumab, researchers from the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania report in new research being presented at the inaugural CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference.

Multiple Myeloma Patients More Vulnerable to 'Financial Toxicity' Due to Expensive, Longer Courses of Treatments, Penn Study Finds

Wed, 16 Sep 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Even patients with health insurance who have multiple myeloma may be vulnerable to "financial toxicity" because of the higher use of novel therapeutics and extended duration of myeloma treatment, researchers from Penn's Abramson Cancer Center report in this week's Lancet Haematology.

Penn Study Demonstrates Genes' Major Role in Skin and Organ Development

Tue, 15 Sep 2015 12:00:00 +0000

Knocking out one or both crucial regulatory genes caused cleft lip, skin barrier defects, and a host of other developmental problems in mice, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, hinting that abnormalities in these molecular pathways could underlie many birth defects that are presently not well understood.

Five Things Mom Never Told You About Being Pregnant

Penn Medicine — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 13:01:00 +0000

From the moment you told mom you’re pregnant, she has been giving you non-stop advice. Plus, she’s been telling you stories about when she was pregnant with you. She’s talked about how she craved certain foods, how baking soda smoothies helped with nausea and how she heard your heartbeat for the first time. However, she may have left a few things out. Here’s a side of pregnancy that your

Blood Cancers Develop When Immune Cell DNA Editing Enzyme Hits Off-target Spots in the Genome, Penn Animal Study Finds

Thu, 10 Sep 2015 16:00:00 +0000

Now, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania have shown that when the enzyme key to cutting and pasting segments of DNA hits so-called "off-target" spots on a chromosome, the development of immune cells can lead to cancer in animal models.

Sensitivity of Smell Cilia Depends on Location and Length in Nasal Cavity, Penn Researchers Find

Thu, 10 Sep 2015 16:00:00 +0000

A team of researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found a location-dependent pattern in cilia length in the mouse nasal cavity that affects sensitivity to odors. The discovery may also have important implications for the study of sight and touch.

Penn Researchers Report Sustained Remission After Treatment with Investigational Personalized Cellular Therapy In Patient with Multiple Myeloma

Wed, 09 Sep 2015 21:00:00 +0000

A multiple myeloma patient whose cancer had stopped responding after nine different treatment regimens experienced a complete remission after receiving an investigational personalized cellular therapy known as CTL019 developed by a team at the University of Pennsylvania.

Paying Women to Have Mammograms Is Unethical, Penn Medicine Ethicist Says

Wed, 09 Sep 2015 20:30:00 +0000

The widespread practice of incentivizing mammogram completion via cash payments is unethical according to a Viewpoint article published this week in JAMA by an expert from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Pregnant Over 35: Here’s What Your 20-Week Ultrasound Can Show You

Penn Medicine — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 14:47:00 +0000

Finding out the sex of your baby is an exciting milestone, but what else can the 20-week ultrasound reveal? The ultrasound looks at your baby’s development head to toe, inside out. At this point, you can expect information about the baby’s growth, position and health. For moms over 35, there are some additional questions you may want to ask your doctor. Four Questions to Ask at the 20-Week

Penn's Abramson Cancer Center Earns "Exceptional" Rating by the National Cancer Institute

Thu, 03 Sep 2015 17:45:00 +0000

The University of Pennsylvania’s Abramson Cancer Center (ACC) has received an “exceptional” rating by the National Cancer Institute during an extensive peer-review process for its five-year competitive research support grant. The rating is the highest possible for an NCI cancer center.

Team Decodes Structure of Protein Complex Active in DNA Repair

Thu, 03 Sep 2015 16:00:00 +0000

A team led by Roger Greenberg, MD, PhD, an associate professor of Cancer Biology at Penn, and Frank Sicheri, PhD, in Toronto, report online in Molecular Cell ahead of print, the atomic structures of several BRCC36-containing complexes.

Abramson Cancer Center Researchers Report Long-Term Remissions in First Group of Patients to Receive Personalized Cellular Therapy for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Wed, 02 Sep 2015 18:00:00 +0000

Eight of 14 patients in the first trial of the University of Pennsylvania’s personalized cellular therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) responded to the therapy, with some complete remissions continuing past four and a half years.

Mutation in Well-studied p53 Tumor Suppressor Protein Uses Epigenetic Pathways to Drive Aggressive Cancer Growth

Wed, 02 Sep 2015 17:00:00 +0000

Aggressive cancer growth and alterations in gene activity without changes in DNA sequence (epigenetics) are associated with mutant p53 proteins, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Penn Medicine's Rinad Beidas, PhD, Receives 'President's New Researcher Award' from the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT)

Tue, 01 Sep 2015 18:30:00 +0000

Acupuncture may be a viable treatment for women experiencing hot flashes as a result of estrogen-targeting therapies to treat breast cancer, according to a new study from researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Penn Study Suggests Acupuncture Dramatically Reduces Hot Flashes in Breast Cancer Survivors

Tue, 01 Sep 2015 18:00:00 +0000

Eight of 14 patients in the first trial of the University of Pennsylvania's personalized cellular therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) responded to the therapy, with some complete remissions continuing past four and a half years.

Penn Medicine Hospitals Recognized Among First Approved "Leaders in LGBT Healthcare Equality" by Human Rights Campaign in 2015

Mon, 31 Aug 2015 14:45:00 +0000

The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Hospital, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, and Chester County Hospital were announced among the 2015 class of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation’s “Leader in LGBT Healthcare Equality” list, and the first to be announced in the organization’s rolling admissions in 2015.

Sex After Birth: What To Do When It Just Doesn’t Feel the Same

Penn Medicine — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 18:39:00 +0000

Women tend to assume that after their bodies have bounced back from childbirth, their sex lives should do the same. But Pamela Levin, MD, Assistant Professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at Penn Medicine, knows this is not the case for many women. A lot of women soon come to realize that sex after birth simply doesn’t feel the same. You may not have the desire, you have trouble getting

Penn Medicine Researchers Receive Kaufman Foundation Awards

Thu, 27 Aug 2015 16:15:00 +0000

University of Pennsylvania researchers will receive five of the 10 grants being awarded this year by the Charles E. Kaufman Foundation, part of The Pittsburgh Foundation, which supports cutting-edge scientific research in chemistry, biology, and physics at institutions across Pennsylvania. Two of those five will go to researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine.

Penn Medicine Study: Brexpiprazole Provides New Second-Line Treatment Options for Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

Wed, 26 Aug 2015 16:30:00 +0000

Brexpiprazole, an antipsychotic drug approved this summer by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is an effective and well-tolerated addition to conventional first-line antidepressants for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD), according to research from psychiatrists in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Use of Observation Stays Over Hospital Admissions Drives Up Costs for One in Four Medicare Patients, Penn Study Finds

Wed, 26 Aug 2015 13:15:00 +0000

In the midst of a growing trend for Medicare patients to receive observation care in the hospital to determine if they should be formally admitted, a new study from researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania shows that for more than a quarter of beneficiaries with multiple observation stays, the cumulative out-of-pocket costs of these visits exceeds the...

Penn Neuroscientists Receive $1 Million "BRAIN" Grant from National Science Foundation

Tue, 25 Aug 2015 15:30:00 +0000

Joshua Gold, PhD, a professor of Neuroscience at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and Joe Kable, PhD, Baird Term Associate Professor of Psychology in the School of Arts and Sciences, have been awarded a three-year $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation.

Caryn Lerman, PhD, Senior Deputy Director of Penn's Abramson Cancer Center, Receives NCI Outstanding Investigator Award

Fri, 21 Aug 2015 14:15:00 +0000

Caryn Lerman, PhD, the senior deputy director of Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center (ACC), member of the Institute of Medicine, and co-director of the Penn Medicine Neuroscience Center, has received the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Outstanding Investigator Award, a new grant bestowed upon influential cancer researchers to provide long-term support for their impactful and exceptional cancer research.

Prolapse Surgery and Why You May or May Not Need It

Penn Medicine — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 13:40:00 +0000

Many women find the thought of dealing with medical issues “down there” completely cringeworthy. They may choose to suffer in silence from serious health issues—like pelvic organ prolapse. Not only is this suffering unnecessary, the process of waiting to see what will happen can allow the situation to worsen. Signs of worsening pelvic organ prolapse include: Pressure or a bulging sensation in

Targeting HIV in Semen to Shut Down AIDS

Tue, 18 Aug 2015 15:00:00 +0000

There may be two new ways to fight AIDS -- using a heat shock protein or a small molecule – to attack fibrils in semen associated with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) during the initial phases of infection, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Some Health Insurance Websites Show Improved Efforts to Support Patient Decision Making, Penn Medicine Experts Find

Tue, 18 Aug 2015 13:00:00 +0000

Websites for national and state health insurance marketplaces show evidence of improved efforts to assist patients in choosing health insurance plans, such as providing decision support tools, experts from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have found.

Penn's Edna Foa Awarded American Psychological Association Distinguished Scientific Contributions Award

Fri, 14 Aug 2015 16:00:00 +0000

Renowned post-traumatic stress disorder expert Edna Foa, PhD received the 2015 Distinguished Scientific Contributions Award from the American Psychological Association (APA) for her contribution to the theory and clinical practice of psychology, specifically the research and treatment of anxiety disorders.

20 Years of White Coat: Doctors-to-be Start Their Journey at Penn's Perelman School of Medicine

Thu, 13 Aug 2015 20:00:00 +0000

This Friday, the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania will bestow short white coats on 156 first year medical school students during its annual White Coat Ceremony, the rite of passage experienced by students across the country in their journeys toward a health care career.

Fears Of Potentially Blinding Complication From Avastin Eye Injections Are Overblown, According to Penn Study

Thu, 13 Aug 2015 18:00:00 +0000

Eye injections of the drug Avastin, used to treat retinal diseases, bring no greater risk of endophthalmitis, a potentially blinding eye infection, than injections with the much more expensive drug Lucentis made by the same company, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Health Care Innovation Isn't About Smart Phone Apps, Penn Medicine Researchers Say

Thu, 13 Aug 2015 13:00:00 +0000

Health care has much to learn from innovative high-tech companies, but not in the way most people think, according to a Perspective published today in the New England Journal of Medicine and authored by innovation experts from the Perelman School of Medicine and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Spread of Cancer from Pancreas Arises from the Interactions of Multiple Types of Wayward Cells

Wed, 12 Aug 2015 14:44:00 +0000

Tumor cells associated with pancreatic cancer often behave like communities by working with each other to increase tumor spread and growth to different organs. Groups of these cancer cells are better than single cancer cells in driving tumor spread, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania published in Cancer Discovery online in advance of...

Penn Study Finds Important Gaps in Evidence for Best Methods for Cleaning Hospital Rooms to Prevent Healthcare-associated Infections

Mon, 10 Aug 2015 21:00:00 +0000

Tray tables, bed rails, light switches, and toilets: All are common vectors for swapping germs between patients and health care workers. While a new systematic overview in this week’s Annals of Internal Medicine points to several promising cleaning tactics of these “high-touch surfaces,” there’s a lack of evidence as to which is the most effective at reducing healthcare-associated infections...

Penn Medicine Researchers Recognized by American Statistical Association

Mon, 10 Aug 2015 16:00:00 +0000

Two Penn Medicine researchers from the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CCEB) have been honored with the 2015 Outstanding Statistical Application Award from the American Statistical Association, to be presented today at the Joint Statistical Meetings.

Penn Medicine Researcher Receives High Impact Neuroscience Resource Center Grant from National Institutes of Health

Mon, 10 Aug 2015 16:00:00 +0000

Sergei A. Vinogradov, PhD, an associate professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, has been awarded a four-year High Impact Neuroscience Research Resource Center Grant from the National Institutes of Health.

Diabetes in Pregnancy

Penn Medicine — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Between 14 and 16 million people have diabetes in the Unites States. It's a disease where the body cannot properly break down and use food for energy. Sometimes women develop diabetes while they're pregnant, called gestational diabetes. The hormone, insulin, helps sugar move from the blood stream into the body’s cells. If a woman gets gestational diabetes, it means there is a problem with her

Penn Study Details Powerful Molecular Promoter of Colon Cancers

Wed, 05 Aug 2015 18:00:00 +0000

Cancer researchers already know of some oncogenes and other factors that promote the development of colon cancers, but they don’t yet have the full picture of how these cancers originate and spread. Now researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have illuminated another powerful factor in this process.

Penn Medicine Scientist Receives 2015 Henry M. Stratton Medal Recognizing Contributions to Basic Hematology Research

Wed, 05 Aug 2015 14:15:00 +0000

The American Society of Hematology (ASH) has awarded Nancy Speck, PhD, a professor of Cell and Developmental Biology in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, the 2015 Henry M. Stratton Medal for Basic Science for her “seminal contributions in the area of hematology research.”

Penn Medicine-led Project Approved for $1.4 Million PCORI Grant to Continue Vasculitis Research

Tue, 04 Aug 2015 18:15:00 +0000

A large-scale, clinical research project on vasculitis, led by Peter A. Merkel, MD, MPH, a professor of Medicine and Epidemiology and chief of the division of Rheumatology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and George Casey, MBA, Vice President of the Vasculitis Foundation, has been approved to receive a three-year, $1.4 million award by the Patient-Centered...

Penn Study Questions Presence in Blood of Heart-Healthy Molecules from Fish Oil Supplements

Thu, 30 Jul 2015 17:15:00 +0000

Now, a new study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, published online this month ahead of the print issue in the Journal of Lipid Research, questions the relevance of fish oil-derived SPMs and their purported anti-inflammatory effects in humans.

Cell Aging Slowed by Putting Brakes on Noisy Transcription

Thu, 30 Jul 2015 15:00:00 +0000

Working with yeast and worms, researchers found that incorrect gene expression is a hallmark of aged cells and that reducing such "noise" extends lifespan in these organisms.

Penn Bioethicists Call for End to "Pay-to-Play" Clinical Research

Thu, 30 Jul 2015 15:00:00 +0000

Charging people to participate in research studies is likely to undermine the fundamental ethical basis of clinical research, according to a new paper written by bioethicists, including lead author Ezekiel Emanuel, MD, PhD, chair of the department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and published in Science Translational...

When Should Pelvic Floor Issues Send You to the Doctor?

Penn Medicine — Thu, 30 Jul 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Some women deal with their pelvic organ prolapse or urinary incontinence on their own and don’t let their symptoms interfere with their lives. Others are mortified by them. Dr. Uduak Andy “What I always tell my patients with prolapse and incontinence is that none of those things will kill you, but they can significantly impact your quality of life,” says Uduak Andy, MD, a urogynecologist at

Sleepy Fruitflies Get Mellow: Sleep Deprivation Reduces Aggression, Mating Behavior in Flies, Penn Study Finds

Tue, 28 Jul 2015 17:30:00 +0000

A team of researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania used fruitflies to probe deeper into the cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern aggression and sleep.

Lancaster General Health to Join University of Pennsylvania Health System Aug. 1

Tue, 28 Jul 2015 16:00:00 +0000

Effective Aug. 1, Lancaster General Health (LG Health) will become a member of the University of Pennsylvania Health System (Penn Medicine).

James Metz Named Chair of Penn Medicine Department of Radiation Oncology

Tue, 28 Jul 2015 14:30:00 +0000

James Metz, MD, has been named the chair of the department of Radiation Oncology in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Penn Scientists Find That Flow Means "Go" for Proper Lymph System Development

Mon, 27 Jul 2015 20:15:00 +0000

The lymphatic system provides a slow flow of fluid from our organs and tissues into the bloodstream. It returns fluid and proteins that leak from blood vessels, provides passage for immune and inflammatory cells from the tissues to the blood, and hosts key niches for immune cells. How this system develops hasn't been well understood, but now researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the...

Penn Study Finds Link between Physician Training and Brand Name Prescribing

Thu, 23 Jul 2015 21:00:00 +0000

Physicians in training are twice as likely to order a costly brand-name statin (used to lower blood cholesterol levels) when supervised by senior physicians who prefer those medications in their own practice, according to a new study led by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and published online in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

Hair Loss – Not Just a Problem for Men

Penn Medicine — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Women can experience significant hair loss and baldness. “Hair loss in women may be caused by either over or under production of androgen (male) hormones in the body,” says George Cotsarelis, MD, chair of the department of dermatology at Penn Medicine. “So as women age and produce less estrogen, they may notice that their hair is getting thinner.” A change in hormone levels at the time of

Penn Authors Urge Transplantation of Hepatitis C-Infected Kidneys in Some Non-Infected Patients

Wed, 22 Jul 2015 21:00:00 +0000

A new perspective paper written by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and published in The New England Journal of Medicine suggests that “new antiviral therapies with cure rates exceeding 95 percent should prompt transplant-community leaders to view HCV (hepatitis C virus)-positive organs as a valuable opportunity for transplant candidates with or...

Penn Medicine Hospitals Named Among Top Ten in the Nation and #1 in Pennsylvania By U.S. News & World Report

Tue, 21 Jul 2015 15:30:00 +0000

Penn Medicine hospitals have been ranked among the top 10 hospitals in the nation, #1 in Pennsylvania, and once again #1 in the Philadelphia metro area by U.S. News & World Report.

Penn Medicine's John Q. Trojanowski, MD, PhD, Receives Top Honor for Neuropathology Achievement

Tue, 21 Jul 2015 13:00:00 +0000

John Q. Trojanowski, MD, PhD, professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and director of Penn’s Institute on Aging, has been honored with the American Association of Neuropathologists’ (AANP) Award for Meritorious Contributions to Neuropathology.

Investigational T-cell Receptor Therapy Achieves Encouraging Clinical Responses in Multiple Myeloma Patients, Penn-led Study Finds

Mon, 20 Jul 2015 15:00:00 +0000

Results from a clinical trial investigating a new T cell receptor (TCR) therapy that uses a person’s own immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells demonstrated a clinical response in 80 percent of multiple myeloma patients with advanced disease after undergoing autologous stem cell transplants (ASCT).

Penn Medicine Researchers Receive $2 Million Grant from the American Heart Association

Fri, 17 Jul 2015 15:00:00 +0000

Daniel J. Rader, MD, chair of the Department of Genetics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and Danish Saleheen, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, have been awarded a four-year, $2 million 2015 Grand Challenge Award from the American Heart Association (AHA).

Increased Radiation Dose Offers No Survival Benefit for Patients with Low-Risk Prostate Cancer, Penn Study Finds

Thu, 16 Jul 2015 15:00:00 +0000

Increased radiation dose is associated with higher survival rates in men with medium- and high-risk prostate cancer, but not men with low-risk prostate cancer, according to a new study from Penn Medicine published this week in JAMA Oncology.

Top Five Myths About Urinary Incontinence in Women

Penn Medicine — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Dr. Uduak Andy Urinary incontinence—the fancy clinical term for those inconvenient leaks that women sometimes experience—is far more common than most people would expect. Even though there are plenty of treatment options available for this condition, a lot of people buy into widespread myths about urinary incontinence in women. Uduak Andy, MD, a urogynecologist at Penn Medicine, is all too

Vision-Restoring Gene Therapy Also Strengthens Visual Processing Pathways in Brain, According to Penn Study

Wed, 15 Jul 2015 18:00:00 +0000

Since 2007, clinical trials using gene therapy have resulted in often-dramatic sight restoration for dozens of children and adults who were otherwise doomed to blindness. Now, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), have found evidence that this sight restoration leads to strengthening of visual...

Hydraulic Fracturing Linked to Increases in Hospitalization Rates in the Marcellus Shale Region, According to Penn Study

Wed, 15 Jul 2015 18:00:00 +0000

Hospitalizations for heart conditions, neurological illness, and other conditions were higher among people who live near unconventional gas and oil drilling (hydraulic fracturing), according to new research from the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University published this week in PLOS ONE.

Penn Investigator Named a 2015 Rita Allen Foundation Scholar

Wed, 15 Jul 2015 13:45:00 +0000

Jeremy E. Wilusz, PhD, an assistant professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, has been awarded a grant from the Rita Allen Foundation

Penn Medicine Information Services Wins Two Prestigious IS Industry Awards

Thu, 09 Jul 2015 19:15:00 +0000

Penn Medicine’s Information Services team has been recognized by Health and Hospital Networks with two awards, Most Wired and the 2015 Innovator Award.

Penn's Basser Center for BRCA Names Molecular Scientist David Livingston Winner of 2015 Annual Basser Global Prize

Thu, 09 Jul 2015 14:30:00 +0000

The Basser Center for BRCA at Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center has announced the recipient of its third annual Basser Global Prize. The honor will go to molecular cancer expert David Livingston, MD, Emil Frei Professor of Genetics and Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and deputy director of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center.

No Periods – Should You Be Alarmed?

Penn Medicine — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 10:00:00 +0000

Menstrual bleeding is a normal monthly event for most women, so should you be concerned if you or your daughter stops bleeding or has not started having regular periods? Athletic Amenorrhea Kate Temme, MD, specializes in sports medicine and women’s health, including treatment of the female athlete triad. According to her, the female athlete triad is composed of three interrelated conditions

Remediating Abandoned, Inner City Buildings Reduces Crime and Violence in Surrounding Areas, Penn Study Finds

Wed, 08 Jul 2015 18:00:00 +0000

Fixing up abandoned buildings in the inner city doesn’t just eliminate eyesores, it can also significantly reduce crime and violence, including gun assaults, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine report in the first study to demonstrate the direct impact of building remediation efforts on crime.

Penn Medicine Begins Development of New Cherry Hill Practice

Wed, 08 Jul 2015 14:30:00 +0000

Penn Medicine is planning a new, two-story, 150,000 square foot outpatient medical practice on Route 70 East in Cherry Hill, NJ, scheduled to open in Summer 2016.

Affordable Care Act Results in Dramatic Drop in Out-of-Pocket Prices for Prescription Contraceptives, Penn Medicine Study Finds

Tue, 07 Jul 2015 20:00:00 +0000

Average out-of-pocket spending for oral contraceptive pills and the intrauterine device (IUD), the two most common forms of contraception for women, has decreased significantly since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) took effect.

Serious Adverse Events Rare in Healthy Volunteers Participating in Phase I Drug Trials, Penn Medicine Study Finds

Tue, 07 Jul 2015 13:30:00 +0000

Less than 1 percent of 11,000 healthy volunteers who participated in 394 phase I trials for new drugs experienced serious complications, according to a new meta-analysis of participants in non-cancer, phase I medication trials.

Penn Researchers' New Tracking Method Yields Insights into Mitochondrial Dynamics

Wed, 01 Jul 2015 14:30:00 +0000

Mitochondria, the tiny oxygen reactors that power our cells, can be the keys to health or disease. But while the recognition of their importance has soared in recent years, methods for studying them haven’t always kept pace. Now, scientists from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have devised a powerful new technique that enables the tracking of every mitochondrion...

Jonathan Epstein, MD, Named Chief Scientific Officer for Penn Medicine

Mon, 29 Jun 2015 13:30:00 +0000

Jonathan Epstein, MD, a highly regarded physician-scientist whose work has played a major role in the understanding and treatment of congenital heart disease, has been named executive vice dean and chief scientific officer for Penn Medicine.

What on Earth Is Urogynecology?

Penn Medicine — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 15:59:00 +0000

Picture this: You’re out with your friends and someone says something so hilarious that you all burst out laughing. But your good mood plummets to embarrassment: You’ve started to leak urine. You dash to the nearest restroom, hoping you’ll make it in time. Over the next few months, you’re plagued by more embarrassing leaks and close calls. Finally, you mention it to your primary care physician

Penn Researchers Identify Stem-like Progenitor Cell that Exclusively Forms Heart Muscle

Thu, 25 Jun 2015 18:00:00 +0000

Future therapies for failing hearts are likely to include stem-like cells and associated growth factors that regenerate heart muscle. Scientists from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have just taken an important step towards that future by identifying a stem-like “progenitor” cell that produces only heart muscle cells.

Penn Medicine's Kevin Volpp, MD, PhD, Receives National Institutes of Health 2015 Matilda White Riley Award

Tue, 23 Jun 2015 15:30:00 +0000

Kevin Volpp, MD, PhD, a professor of Medicine and Health Care Management in the Perelman School of Medicine and The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, is receiving the 2015 Matilda White Riley Award, issued today by the National Institutes of Health Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR) as part of their 20th Anniversary celebration.

Penn Medicine Awarded Nearly $9 Million in Grants to Improve HIV/TB Care, Study Lung Health in Africa

Tue, 23 Jun 2015 14:30:00 +0000

Two Penn Medicine infectious disease teams have received five-year federal grants collectively worth nearly $9 million, the first of which will help train and expand the local health care workforce in Botswana, while the second will investigate lasting lung complications stemming from HIV/tuberculosis (TB) co-infections in South Africa.

Penn Medicine Study Finds Participation in Research Studies Not Detrimental to Preterm Infants

Thu, 18 Jun 2015 20:15:00 +0000

Premature babies who are enrolled in clinical trials for therapies to treat and prevent complications from preterm birth are no more likely to die or experience poor outcomes than babies who are not trial participants, according to a retrospective analysis of more than 5,000 babies born before 29 weeks of gestation.

Protein "Comet Tails" Propel Cell Recycling Process, Penn Study Finds

Thu, 18 Jun 2015 18:30:00 +0000

Several well-known neurodegenerative diseases, such as Lou Gehrig’s (ALS), Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and Huntington's disease, all result in part from a defect in autophagy – one way a cell removes and recycles misfolded proteins and pathogens. In a paper published this week in Current Biology, postdoctoral fellow David Kast, PhD, and professor Roberto Dominguez, PhD, and three other colleagues...

Penn Author Calls for Better Primary Care for Medicaid Patients to Curb Unnecessary Emergency Room Visits

Wed, 17 Jun 2015 21:00:00 +0000

Health policy researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and the Institute of Health Policy Studies at the University of California, San Francisco, suggest in a new Perspective published in the New England Journal of Medicine that patient-centered medical homes may be more effective in reducing the number...

Maria Molina, CRNP, MSN, Receives Two Awards from International Transplant Nurses Society

Wed, 17 Jun 2015 20:00:00 +0000

Maria Molina, CRNP, MSN, a board-certified adult gerontology-acute care nurse practitioner and critical-care registered nurse with a Transplant specialty, received the 2015 International Transplant Nurses Society (ITNS) Nursing Excellence Award and the 2015 ITNS Symposium Best Research Abstract Award.

Penn Researchers Receive $2.9 Million in Awards from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund to Launch Biomedical Research Careers

Wed, 17 Jun 2015 14:00:00 +0000

Five early-career researchers from three schools at the University of Pennsylvania have received funding from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF) for their excellence in biomedical research, in topics including heart disease, sleep, and infectious diseases, as part of a nationwide program totaling $22.5 million.

Improving Health for the LGBT Community

Penn Medicine — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 16:31:00 +0000

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people experience multiple health disparities due to harassment, discrimination and stigma. Because of these disparities, and the barriers to high quality patient-centered care members of the LGBT community face, the Penn Medicine Program for LGBT Health was created. Dr. Baligh Yehia “Barriers such as decreased access to healthcare, lack of

Penn Medicine's Judith Green-McKenzie, MD, MPH, Receives Lifetime Achievement Award from the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Fri, 12 Jun 2015 14:15:00 +0000

Judith Green-McKenzie, MD, MPH, an associate professor of Emergency Medicine and chief of the division of Occupational Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, was awarded the 2015 Kehoe Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Education or Researcher from the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

Frederic D. Bushman, PhD, Named as Chair of the Department of Microbiology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Thu, 11 Jun 2015 18:00:00 +0000

Frederic D. Bushman, PhD, a widely recognized leader in the fields of microbiology and gene therapy, has been named the new chair of the department of Microbiology in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Penn Medicine Study Shows First Signs that Drug Used to Treat ADHD May Improve Cognitive Difficulties for Menopausal Women

Thu, 11 Jun 2015 13:30:00 +0000

According to a new study, women experiencing difficulty with time management, attention, organization, memory, and problem solving – often referred to as executive functions – related to menopause may find improvement with a drug already being used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Penn Study Shows Nearly 10 Percent of Women Live Too Far from Access to Gynecologic Cancer Care

Thu, 11 Jun 2015 13:30:00 +0000

More than one-third of counties in the Unites States are located more than 50 miles from the nearest gynecologic oncologist, making access to specialty care for ovarian and other gynecologic cancers difficult for nearly 15 million women.

Strategies Needed for Community Health Worker Programs to Solve Healthcare Challenges

Wed, 10 Jun 2015 21:00:00 +0000

Community health workers (CHW) are expected to be a growing and vital part of healthcare delivery in the United States as the Affordable Care Act is fully implemented. A slate of steps detailing how CHW programs can maximize their effectiveness and impact on patients and healthcare spending is provided in a new perspective piece in The New England Journal of Medicine by experts at the University...

Certain Donors with High T Cell Counts Make a Better Match for Stem-Cell Transplant Patients, Penn Study Suggests

Mon, 08 Jun 2015 20:00:00 +0000

Using a simple blood test to measure the T lymphocyte count in donors for stem cell transplants may help identify the best match for patients in need of an allogeneic stem cell transplant, suggests a new study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology from researchers at the Abramson Cancer Center (ACC) of the University of Pennsylvania.

Reverberations in Metabolism: Protein Maintains Double Duty as Key Cog in Body Clock and Metabolic Control, Penn Study Finds

Thu, 04 Jun 2015 20:00:00 +0000

In a new study published online ahead of print in Science Express, the Mitchell Lazar, MD, PhD, and his team describes how one protein regulates the clock in most cells in the body and metabolic genes in the liver, the body's key organ for metabolism of fat as well as sugar.

Yoga, Running, Weight Lifting, and Gardening: Penn Study Maps the Types of Physical Activity Associated with Better Sleep Habits

Thu, 04 Jun 2015 14:15:00 +0000

Physical activities, such as walking, as well as aerobics/calisthenics, biking, gardening, golfing, running, weight-lifting, and yoga/Pilates are associated with better sleep habits, compared to no activity, according to a new study from researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Eating Less During Late Night Hours May Stave off Some Effects of Sleep Deprivation, Penn Study Shows

Thu, 04 Jun 2015 14:15:00 +0000

Eating less late at night may help curb the concentration and alertness deficits that accompany sleep deprivation, according to results of a new study from researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania that will be presented at SLEEP 2015, the 29th annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies LLC.

High Levels of Moral Reasoning Correspond with Increased Gray Matter in Brain

Wed, 03 Jun 2015 18:00:00 +0000

Individuals with a higher level of moral reasoning skills showed increased gray matter in the areas of the brain implicated in complex social behavior, decision making, and conflict processing as compared to subjects at a lower level of moral reasoning, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Penn Researchers Home in on What's Wearing Out T Cells

Wed, 03 Jun 2015 14:30:00 +0000

Sometimes even cells get tired. When the T cells of your immune system are forced to deal over time with cancer or a chronic infection such as HIV or hepatitis C, they can develop "T cell exhaustion," becoming less effective and losing their ability to attack and destroy the invaders of the body. While the PD-1 protein pathway has long been implicated as a primary player in T cell exhaustion, a...

Wide Variability in Organ Donation Rates: Midwest Leads Nation in Highest Rates of Donations

Thu, 28 May 2015 14:15:00 +0000

More than 123,000 Americans are currently waiting for lifesaving organ transplants, but 21 patients die each day because there aren't enough organs to go around. New research shows wide variation in the number of eligible organ donors whose loved ones consent to organ donation across the country.

Penn Medicine Study Reveals Novel Use of 3-D Imaging Technique for Precise Measurement of Injectable Wrinkle Reducers

Thu, 28 May 2015 13:45:00 +0000

A three-dimensional imaging technique often used in the automotive and aerospace industries for accurate measurement may be useful to measure the efficacy of injectable wrinkle reducers such as Botox and Dysport, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Penn Medicine Authors Emphasize Importance of Clinically Actionable Results in Genetic Panel Testing for Breast Cancer

Wed, 27 May 2015 19:45:00 +0000

While advances in technology have made multigene testing, or “panel testing,” for genetic mutations that increase the risk of breast or other cancers an option, authors of a review published today in the New England Journal of Medicine say larger studies are needed in order to provide reliable risk estimates for counseling these patients.

Penn Study Links Better "Good Cholesterol" Function With Lower Risk of Later Heart Disease

Wed, 27 May 2015 13:15:00 +0000

A team led by scientists from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania has shown in a large, forward-looking epidemiological study that a person's HDL function—the efficiency of HDL molecules at removing cholesterol—may be a better measure of coronary heart disease risk and a better target for heart-protecting drugs.