Penn Medicine Orthopaedics News Feed

Zion Harvey, and the Future of Transplant Surgery

Katie Delach — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 16:37:29 +0000

Chances are you saw eight-year-old Zion Harvey's story somewhere on the news in the past few weeks and already know that a team of more than 40 surgeons, nurses, and anesthesiologists from Penn Medicine, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and the Shriner's Hospital, came together to do something that had never been done before — the very first pediatric double-hand transplant in the world.

Though the expertise of the combined team resulted in a world’s first, the skills necessary to do the bilateral hand transplant procedure have been developed over the course of many years. The first successful bilateral hand transplant was performed on an adult in 1998, and Penn’s first, performed by Harvey’s lead surgeon L. Scott Levin, MD, FACS, director of the Penn and CHOP Hand Transplant Programs, chairman of the department of Orthopaedic Surgery, the Paul. B. Magnuson Professor of Bone and Joint Surgery, and professor of Surgery (Division of Plastic Surgery), was done back in 2011 on then 28-year-old Lindsay Ess.

Successful completion of a bilateral hand transplant begins with a specialized team of surgeons trained in microsurgery. The specialty involves extensive training to perform intricate procedures involving very small surgical areas, small blood vessels and nerves. Because of the specialized expertise involved in completing the procedure to date, less than 100 have been done worldwide.

Now, with the early success of the procedure behind them, the Penn-led team is looking to strengthening Harvey’s muscles through daily physical therapy sessions, and maintaining the health of the transplant. As with any transplant procedure, doctors are also closely monitoring Harvey for any sign that his body may be rejecting the hands.

Tens of thousands of organ transplants are performed in the US every year, and they routinely extend lives, but the success rates of these procedures continue to be limited by immunological rejection and other complications.

“It’s not the technical ability to do the operation; we’ve been able to do that for years,” Levin said. “But to transplant hands, and have a patient’s body accept those hands, and modulate the immune system for a lifelong requirement of drugs, that’s the obstacle that remains.”

Rejection is a risk for any transplant patient because, just as the immune system recognizes and fights viruses and bacteria, it will also recognize an organ (or hand) that isn’t native to the body. Antirejection medicines, or immunosuppressants, work to ward off rejection by essentially weakening the immune system. Though it can make patients more susceptible to illness, and therefore may be seen as an ethical concern, particularly for a child, in this latest case, Harvey had already undergone a life-saving kidney transplant four years ago and was actively taking immunosuppresants.

To help reduce the chances of rejection, doctors perform extensive tests to match both the organ or tissue donor and the recipient. The more similar the antigens are between the donor and recipient, the less likely that the organ will be rejected. Though these matching procedures help ensure that the organ or tissue is as similar as possible, no two people, except identical twins, have identical antigens.

Though some studies have suggested using stem cells may help reduce the risk of transplant, and others have identified certain variables that may decrease risk, on the whole, doctors do not currently have a way of positively identifying which patients will experience rejection and which will not.

“Determining whether a transplant will reject or not is likely influenced by many variables, including multiple genetic factors in both the donor and recipient,” said Abraham Shaked, MD, director of the Penn Transplant Institute. “While modern testing procedures can help us determine a good donor/recipient match, some patients still experience rejection, even while taking immunosuppressants. Unfortunately, we don’t currently have the ability to say which patients will reject a transplanted organ or tissue. Obtaining the information necessary to detect all the genetic variables that could factor into a possible rejection would require incredibly large, global datasets that are just not available.”

In the meantime, as researchers continue to explore new ways to match donors and recipients, and manage the risk of rejection, Harvey's story continues to inspire hope for patients of all ages, and their care teams.

Penn-Sponsored Million Dollar Bike Ride to Raise Awareness about Rare Diseases

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

The second annual Million Dollar Bike Ride will be held on Saturday, May 9, 2015, to support research and raise awareness about rare diseases.

Malnourished Patients are More Likely to Suffer Postoperative Complications than Morbidly Obese Patients Following Knee, Hip Replacement, Penn Study Finds

Fri, 27 Mar 2015 15:00:00 +0000

Malnourished patients are more likely to have complications following total knee or hip replacement surgeries than morbidly obese patients,according to new research from researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Most NFL Players with Injuries to the Midfoot Return to Game Action, Penn Medicine Study Finds

Fri, 27 Mar 2015 04:01:00 +0000

Nearly 93 percent of National Football League (NFL) athletes who sustained traumatic injuries to the midfoot returned to competition less than 15 months after injury and with no statistically significant decrease in performance, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Penn Medicine Experts Unveil Two New Ways to Identify Joint Replacement Patients at Risk for Post-Operative Complications

Thu, 26 Mar 2015 00:01:00 +0000

Orthopedic surgeons from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have developed two new prediction tools aimed at identifying total hip and knee replacement patients who are at-risk of developing serious complications after surgery.

Penn Medicine Study: In Debated Surgical Procedure, Technique Trumps Technology

Thu, 26 Mar 2015 00:01:00 +0000

A team of orthopedic surgeons from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania has found that modern technology for healing distal femur fractures is as safe and effective as its more established alternative, without a potential shortfall of the older approach.

Penn Scientist Given Prestigious Award for Young Orthopaedic Researchers

Thu, 26 Mar 2015 00:01:00 +0000

Robert L. Mauck, PhD, an associate professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, is one of four scientists given awards by the Kappa Delta Sorority and the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons in Las Vegas.

Media Toolkit: Penn Medicine at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2015 Annual Meeting

Wed, 25 Mar 2015 16:00:00 +0000

Experts from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania will be moderating panels, serving as discussants and presenting research findings on the latest advances in orthopaedic surgery, research and education at the 2015 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgerons Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, March 24-28, 2015.

Spring and Sports are in the Air

Katie Delach — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 17:30:00 +0000

We've braved yet another winter of snow, ice and SEPTA delays, and in just a few weeks, we'll be rewarded with the first official day of spring.

In fact, spring is so close that we recently celebrated the kick-off of the new Major League Baseball (MLB) season with the beginning of spring training. Beyond baseball, with spring comes frisbee, soccer, softball, track & field, and more -- and not just for the professionals, but for everyone who has been cooped up for months, just waiting for the thaw.

Unfortunately, with all the fun, also come sprained ankles, torn ACLs and a host of other maladies. In fact, according to recent research co-authored by faculty from Penn Orthopaedics shows that on average large-scale track and field events result in at least two major orthopaedic and seven major medical injuries, per 10,000 participants. Additionally, the study showed that minor orthopaedic injuries, such as sprains and strains, are the most common.

"People are always eager to get back outside as soon as it warms up, which is great, but it's also when we start to see a sharp increase in patients suffering from sports injuries," said Brian Sennett, MD, chief of Sports Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. "During the winter months, we tend to see a lot of snowboarding and skiing injuries, but there are so many more spring and summer sports that can lead to severe, and even ‘career’ ending injuries if not cared for properly."

As people try to get fit by spending time outdoors exercising, their bodies are experiencing a world of strain and pressure, often resulting in excruciating pain, or even a season on the bench. But, whether you're getting ready for track and field or bocce, Penn's Sports Med docs say there are ways to avoid the most common sports injuries and stay healthy.

Runner's Knee

Research shows that knee injuries comprise about 55 percent of all sports injuries and approximately one-fourth of all problems treated by orthopedic surgeons. Because of its impact on the entire body, running is by far the most common sport that leads to knee injuries. While some, like ACL tears (which we'll get to later) are more severe and in a class of their own, many of the minor injuries fall into the category of "Runner's Knee," which includes a range of aches and pains related to the kneecap and surrounding area. Runner's knee occurs most often when athletes of any sport that involves running don't allow enough recovery time. When overused, the knee can become worn down, irritated, or affected by arthritis.

"Rest days are crucial for the body's recovery, and help prevent chronic muscle and tendon injuries from developing. When an athlete feels pain in the knee, it's a warning sign that should be taken very seriously," says Rahul Kapur, MD, director of the Penn Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship. "A period of rest or lower-impact cross-training, such as biking or swimming, can help prevent an irritation from becoming something more severe. Other treatment options might include a new pair of athletic shoes or inserts to help correct flat feet or other arch issues, a short course of anti-inflammatory medications, or even a knee brace. Long term, the best option is to do proper rehab focusing on the quadriceps, hips, and core to correct alignment issues and prevent the kneecap from tracking incorrectly."

Strains and Sprains

Strains and sprains can affect a number of muscles, ligaments and tendons. With proper care and rehabilitation, these injuries can generally be healed without having to take a whole season off.

Sprains most commonly occur in wrists, ankles, or knees, and are the result of overstretched ligaments. Ankle sprains, for example, often occur when an athlete lands on the foot incorrectly, causing the foot to roll to the outside, which in turn sprains the ligaments on the outside of the ankle.

Strains, similar to a sprain, also occur when the fibers of a muscle or tendon are stretched too far. Also known as a pulled muscle, strains are often the result of overuse or overstretching a muscle, or using it without properly warming up. Quad and hamstring strains are common because the muscles are used in nearly every physical activity, and particularly in those that put a lot of pressure on the legs. Groin pulls or strains are also common in sports like soccer, where the athlete is suddenly changing direction.

Whether you have a strain or a sprain, sports medicine doctors say that aside from rest, ice and anti-inflammatories, a critical component to recovering from these injuries is making sure to rebuild the muscle to avoid re-injury.

"Without proper rehabilitation, there's a chance that a sprained or strained muscle will develop into scar tissue, which increases the likelihood of re-injuring the muscle, and potentially more severely," said Milt Zgonis, MD, assistant professor of Orthopaedic Surgery. "After a period of rest, and once cleared for physical activity by a medical provider, athletes can begin gentle weight-bearing exercises to rebuild the muscle, and eventually return to pre-injury health and performance."

ACL Tear

The ACL is a ligament that connects the femur and tibia. Strains and tears of the ACL are often severe and require long periods of rehabilitation. Surgery is often necessary to replace a torn ACL.

ACL tears are common among athletes participating in sports like soccer and basketball where sudden stops and changes in direction are frequent and intense amounts of pressure are placed on the knee. Accompanied by a "popping" sound, ACL tears commonly result in an unstable feeling or “shifting” sensation. Though there are several surgical options to treat a torn ACL, nearly all require lengthy and careful rehabilitation and a gradual return to physical activity.

"Anyone who suspects they may have an ACL tear should seek professional medical advice immediately," said James Carey, MD, MPH, director of the Penn Center for Cartilage Repair and Osteochondritis Dissecans Treatment. "Though some people can live comfortably without having an ACL injury treated surgically, often patients feel unstable and are unable to return to pre-injury activities."

Tennis Elbow

Though there is a wide range of injuries related to the hips and legs, elbow injuries account for nearly seven percent of all sports injuries. Tennis elbow in particular plagues many athletes whose arms, forearms and hands are not properly strengthened to handle the amount of stress being placed on them, or whose game techniques cause undue strain. While tennis elbow is caused by tendon degeneration and strain on the outside of the elbow, golfers may experience a form of tennis elbow on the inside of the non-dominant hand as a result of pulling the club through their swing.

"The best way to prevent elbow injuries is to make sure the muscles and tendons in your hands, arms and forearms are properly strengthened and prepared," said John D. Kelly, IV, MD, director of Sports Shoulder. "Wrist curls, reverse wrist curls and squeezing strengthening balls and grips can help, but ultimately the best prevention is improved technique."

Low Back Pain

Low back pain is a common cause of disability in the general population, and also affects athletes across a wide range of sports. Low back pain is common in rowers, cyclists, golfers, racquet and ball players, and can be indicative of severe injuries like disc herniations or fractures. In athletes, low back pain is very common in those who participate in repetitive unilateral motions, such as the golfer who only pivots the spine in one consistent direction during their swing. This can lead to asymmetric loading of the spine and changes the normal mechanics of the back. Gymnasts, divers and other athletes whose sports require arching (hyperextension) of the spine, can develop stress fractures from repetitive overloading of the spinal structures. Heavy lifting, especially with improper form is another risk factor for low back injury.

"During their careers, many athletes will experience some form of back pain, with varying degrees of associated disability," said Kate Temme, MD, assistant professor of Sports Medicine in the department of Orthopaedic Surgery. "Many injuries are mild, such as muscle strains, and will resolve with a short period of relative rest and symptomatic relief. Bed rest is often counterproductive, and can actually prolong the recovery phase. Activity modification eliminates the offending activity, but keeps the spine moving and facilitates recovery. Physical therapy may be recommended to help restore normal spinal motion, promote core strengthening and optimize flexibility while addressing any underlying abnormal biomechanics. Any athlete whose symptoms progress or fail to improve, should seek medical attention. Regardless of the severity of injury, once cleared to return to sport by a medical professional, athletes should continue to optimize strength and flexibility while maximizing technique to help prevent re-injury.”

What We've Been Up To: January and February, in Pictures

Robert Press — Sat, 21 Feb 2015 14:00:00 +0000

If you feel like you've seen an awful lot of "Hey, check out some shots from the grand opening of [insert massive medical facility here]!" lately, that's because, well ... yeah, we've been opening a whole bunch of new space. In just the past few months we've celebrated the opening of Penn Medicine University City, the Pavilion for Advanced Care, and the Henry A. Jordan Medical Education Center.

Hectic times, for sure, and our camera may have gotten the biggest workout of all. Thankfully, it has yet to complain.

Building openings weren't the only news for us in early 2015, though, as the slideshow below should illustrate. While it's true we're never at a loss for things to do here at Penn Medicine, the past two months were a wonderful kind of busy — check out a few of the shots we took along the way!

When 'Sticks and Stones' Break Your Bones, the PAC is Where You Want to Be

Katie Delach — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 16:12:33 +0000

As we look toward the opening of our new Pavilion for Advanced Care (PAC) and the transition of our trauma center from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, throughout the month of January, the News Blog is highlighting some of the latest news and stories from across the areas of Penn Medicine that will find new homes in the PAC.

Orthopaedic trauma injuries to the heel and tibia

Last year, as part one of a two-part expansion project to our Penn Presbyterian Medical Center (PPMC) campus, we unveiled Penn Medicine University City (PMUC), a facility aimed at providing seamless, integrated care to outpatients. Within PMUC, Penn Orthopaedics opened the Penn Musculoskeletal Center, a cluster of specialists from orthopaedics, rheumatology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, internal medicine, pain medicine and radiology. The first of its kind in the Philadelphia region, the Center delivers a new model of orthopaedic care for patients suffering from a range of orthopaedic disorders, injuries and other issues found in joints, bones or muscles.

Now in the second phase of our expansion project, once again we’re seeing major transitions for our orthopaedic team, this time focusing on Orthopaedic Trauma and improving the way we care for our most critically injured patients.

As part of the overall trauma transition on February 4, our orthopaedic trauma team will also find a new home at the Pavilion for Advanced Care (PAC) at PPMC. The new trauma center will provide breathing room for the ortho trauma team, one of the key surgical specialties involved in treating critically injured patients. Not unlike the unveiling of a new sports stadium, Samir Mehta, MD, chief of Orthopaedic Trauma, says the innovative design of the PAC puts the facility practically in a class of its own.

“What’s been created is essentially a free-standing trauma facility, where we have trauma-specific operating rooms and resources, such as medical imaging for non-emergent issues,” said Mehta. “The PAC is designed in such a way that Penn Medicine is now joining an elite group of trauma centers across the country. You’re not going to find a trauma program like it at too many other facilities and there is nothing else like it in the region.”

Orthopedic trauma is a branch of orthopedic surgery specializing in problems related to the bones, joints, and soft tissues (muscles, tendons, ligaments) of the entire body following trauma. The main goal of the specialized area is the healing of fractured bones, as well as restoring the anatomic alignment of the joint surfaces to eventually restore maximum function of the injured body part. Common orthopaedic trauma injuries include broken bones resulting from falls or forced impact from violent contact in football or in a motor vehicle accident.

Treatments for orthopaedic trauma injuries include minimally invasive surgery for fractures, pelvis and acetabulum surgery, bone and joint transplantation, minimally invasive bone grafting, complex soft tissue reconstruction, and complex upper extremity reconstruction.

Mehta’s orthopaedic trauma group consists of 17 faculty and staff members, including: six orthopaedic surgery residents, four full-time faculty, three research personnel, three outpateint physician assistants, and an in-patient nurse practitioner.

Working with colleagues across other specialties in orthopaedics and beyond, the move to the PAC has enabled our orthopaedic trauma team to combine technologies and techniques to offer a more comprehensive approach to orthopaedic trauma, unlike any other trauma center in the region.

“Other emergency rooms, hospitals, on-call physicians, and trauma centers send cases to us because they don’t have the necessary specialists available to provide the comprehensive level of care these injured patients need,” explains Mehta. “Trauma care needs to be a compendium of specialties. A lot of the time, I work with doctors in other specialties like plastic surgery or vascular surgery. Our program is designed to offer the kind of comprehensive care that you just don’t get anywhere else in this area. The PAC will allows us to deliver this care in the most modern way possible.”

Penn Sports Medicine Welcomes Erik Thorell, DO

Clinical Reports from Penn Medicine — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 08:03:00 +0000

Erik Thorell, DO, has joined Penn Sports Medicine. A graduate of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Thorell completed his internship and residency at Mercy Suburban Hospital in Norristown, PA. He is a general sports medicine physician specializing in the non-surgical care of muscle, tendon and ligament injuries, as well as joint arthritis and bone fractures.

Dr. Thorell is the assistant team physician for Drexel University. He sees patients at both Penn Medicine Cherry Hill and Penn Medicine Woodbury Heights.

Penn Medicine Unveils New University City Facility

Katie Delach — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 20:30:40 +0000

Just one month shy of two years since the official groundbreaking ceremony, earlier this month we opened the doors to Penn Medicine University City, our newest outpatient facility that’s taking care delivery to a new level by encouraging patients to be actively engaged in their treatment.

A preeminent example of the collaborative model – developed using best practices from industry leaders in customer service, combined with patient feedback – is the Penn Musculoskeletal Center (MSK). Set to open on Monday, August 25, MSK offers a unique approach to treating orthopaedic disorders, injuries and other conditions of the joints, bones or muscles. On-site clinical specialties supporting the Center include orthopaedic surgery, rheumatology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, internal medicine, pain medicine, and therapy services.

“The Musculoskeletal Center offers a new approach to integrated care, and I don’t think anyone else is doing it locally or nationally,” said L. Scott Levin, MD, FACS, chair of the department of Orthopaedic Surgery. “The goal is to provide patients with the same world-class care they’ve come to expect at Penn Medicine, combined with added benefits and streamlined services to keep them engaged in their own care. When patients are involved and knowledgeable about their condition, their experience and care are improved.”

Upon arrival, patients visiting MSK will be escorted by a concierge to small waiting rooms which group patients according to specific conditions. For example, one “hub” is for patients with shoulder and elbow problems and another is for knee injuries. In keeping with the goal of providing patients with a more engaged and personalized experience, MSK also offers added services such as check-in kiosks, iPads preloaded with injury-specific educational material, and large flat screens in exam rooms making it easier for clinicians to explain x-rays or MRI results, or showing patient education videos between visits with specialists.

MSK also uses dedicated care coordinators, an innovative role in the health care landscape that provides patients with a single point of contact for scheduling follow-up visits, additional tests, referrals, and more. Previous studies have shown that having dedicated care coordinators who explain and follow up on patient care, dramatically improves the odds that a patient will remain actively engaged in their care and treatment.

Moving forward, Penn Medicine University City will serve as Penn Presbyterian Medical Center’s main site for ambulatory care. With six state-of-the-art operating rooms and more than 100 exam rooms – nearly half of which will be dedicated to the Penn Musculoskeletal Center – the facility expands the Health System’s outpatient services, which is essential to delivering a better patient experience. Faculty and staff at Penn Therapy & Fitness and the Surgical Center were among the first to occupy the new space and hit the ground running with sixty-two outpatient surgeries performed in the six new operating rooms, and over 850 patients visiting the new therapy and fitness center in the first week alone.

“Our expectation is this facility will help eliminate the need for patients to make multiple visits to different sites for outpatient care,” said Michele Volpe, CEO and executive director of Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, in an article from the Philadelphia Business Journal. “Having everything done in a single location where all the providers are located will make it very easy for those providers to communicate with each other. We see this [new building] as a good start to the future of how we expect to deliver care.”

Making the Summer Count

Karen Kreeger — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 13:30:34 +0000

Every summer, the news is filled with profiles of summer student programs, and those that are aimed at increased participation by minority students in STEM are no exception.

The Summer Undergraduate Internship Program (SUIP) at Penn Medicine is one such program. Assistant Dean for Research Training Programs Arnaldo Diaz, PhD, showed me around the SUIP Research Symposium last week and introduced me to some of the 33 amazing students who were wrapping up their 10-week internships.

The 2014 SUIP cohort included students from 25 institutions throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, as well as five students conducting research on the social sciences and humanities. In existence since 1993, SUIP has been steadily achieving its mission for the last two decades - most of the program’s students go on to complete PhD, MD-PhD, or other professional degrees. This year, 18 percent of incoming underrepresented minority graduate students in the Perelman School of Medicine are previous SUIP participants. Diaz attributes SUIP’s long-term success to Penn faculty’s strong support, excellent mentoring, and commitment to biomedical education.

Diaz, who has run SUIP since the summer of 2010, says this program is one of the most rewarding parts of his job, but also one of the most challenging: “It’s hard to choose just 30 or so students each year out of about 800 applications.” Before transitioning to an administrative position, Diaz completed an NIH postdoctoral fellowship in Ian Blair’s lab in the Department of Pharmacology at Penn.

The five students with whom I had a chance to chat each exemplify SUIP’s broad goals for their interns. For example, bioengineering major Bria Macklin, 20, a rising senior from North Carolina A&T State University, worked in the lab of Jason Burdick, Department of Bioengineering. Macklin studied BMP2, a protein that encourages bone formation, but is hard to control. She questioned if adding another protein, SDF1, could help better guide BPM2’s therapeutic capabilities. “I spent two summers at other programs and coming to Penn let me learn new techniques and work with new types of tissues,” she says of her time in the Burdick lab.

Macklin’s experience typifies how the lab-intern matching works for all SUIP students. Based on applicants’ interests, they are paired with an advisor who is a member of the Biomedical Graduate Studies (BGS) faculty at Penn. The intern participates in ongoing research within the investigator's lab and is mentored by a postdoc or PhD student.

Educating the whole student inside and outside the lab is also a big part of SUIP. Each week, interns attend research seminars presented by BGS faculty to expose them to a breadth of disciplines, as well as social activities such as Phillies games, concerts, plays, and trips to the shore. Osvaldo Rivera, 18, a molecular biology major and rising junior from the Universidad Metropolitana, Puerto Rico, learned of SUIP when Diaz gave a symposium on Penn summer programs in San Juan last year. Rivera worked in Eric Brown’s lab, Department of Cancer Biology, on identifying sites of genomic instability, which can correlate to cancer mutations. “There’s so much to learn and do in so little time,” says Rivera. “I really can’t do this type of research back home.”

A highpoint of the summer is the Leadership Alliance National Symposium, where interns not only present their summer research, but also attend workshops and career fairs and network with other interns and administrators from programs across the country. This all helps with the students’ next career step: applying to PhD and MD-PhD programs. Microbiology major Dorothy Tovar, 20, a rising senior from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, worked in the lab of Igor Brodsky, Department of Microbiology and the Institute for Immunology. She studied a cell death pathway within macrophage immune cells in response to bacterial infection. “My experience here encouraged me to ask new questions,” says Tovar. “I also gained experience in networking, communicating my science, and how to apply for grad school.”

Becoming aware of career options is another undercurrent of the program, in addition to honing lab and communication skills. Laura Agosto, 20, a rising senior from the University of Puerto Rico majoring in molecular biology, and all interns, meet with the directors of the BGS PhD program and the MD-PhD program to learn about these career paths. Agosto spent this and last summer in the lab of Kristen Lynch, Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, studying splicing in T-cell activation. “Before this program, I had not spent much time away from home, so I love the independence that this program has given me,” says Agosto.

And how Darren Johnson, 20, a rising senior at Towson State, who researched the regulation of genes involved in inflammation and lupus in the lab of Kathleen Sullivan, summed up his summer experience holds true for all of the students I spoke with: “I received much support, and that means a lot to me. I learned that perseverance and determination pays off.”

A sentiment that I’m sure will stay with Diaz as he and his staff start to go through the hundreds of applications for SUIP spots for the summer of 2015, in a few short months.

All photos courtesy of John Donges.
Second Photo: L-R: SUIP 2014 students Osvaldo Rivera, Laura Agosto, Dorothy Tovar, Bria Macklin and Darren Johnson.

Penn Medicine News: Now in Video Form!

Robert Press — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 17:11:50 +0000

One of the things I love most about technology — and specifically, the Internet — is that it has made the dissemination of information easier than ever before. I’m typing this on a laptop that is only slightly larger than a textbook but could, in no time at all, download and display the full contents of thousands upon thousands of textbooks. When Douglas Adams wrote Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy in 1979, the idea of a pocket-sized electronic device being able to tell you anything and everything about the universe was science fiction. Now we have the smartphone, a device even more capable … but so prevalent, we take it for granted on a daily basis (this morning, I used mine to look at oil paintings of cats dressed like Victorian-era war heroes).

That being said, the ability to access all of that content doesn’t mean a whole lot if you don’t have any, y’know, content — which can be difficult for the media, since it means having to repurpose content in any number of ways. Some people rely on Twitter for their online news. Some rely on Facebook. Some prefer a full, dedicated website. The trends in these fields are always going to shift, but the general movement appears to be toward, above all other things, brevity.

People want news, and they want to be able to digest it quickly. Perhaps that’s why the Pew Center found in 2013 that 36% of adults now receive their news through online video. That’s on par with cable news programs, and it’s a share of the pie that’s only going to get larger and larger as the Internet — and fast, widespread access to it — expands.

That said, I think it goes beyond just a desire for quick, easy to digest news. Video’s just a really fun way to find out about things. Take, for example, Vsauce — a very oddly named but nonetheless incredible YouTube channel wherein a host talks you through the fascinating answers to questions about science and philosophy. It’s heady, difficult stuff presented earnestly.

Which brings us, finally, to This Week in Penn Medicine News. We do a lot of interesting stuff here at Penn Medicine, and it’s not always easy to keep up. Between news releases, events, coverage, and various other things all coming together on an almost daily basis, we needed to find a way to succinctly bring it all together and present it to the public at large in a way that said, simply, “If you’ve got a minute or two, we can fill you in on our whole week.” Without demanding too much of your time, we’re showing you what we’ve done with ours.

It premiered this past Friday, and we’re aiming to keep that schedule going on a weekly basis. Changes in style or format may be down the line, but for now we’re letting the content dictate how things go.

Check it out, and be sure to let us know what you think. It is, after all, for you. Thanks!

Robots – Hi-Tech Help or Freaky Fiction?

Olivia Fermano — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 02:52:13 +0000

Robots cause a polarizing effect in the minds of people. We only have to look to Hollywood to illustrate this. They’re either portrayed as endearing characters like Star Wars’ C-3PO and R2D2 and the adorably-animated WALL-E – or they’re killing machines as seen in Terminator and iRobot.

The fact is robots are a part of 21^st century life, proving in reality they’re more friend than foe. They’re vacuuming floors. They’re working in factories. They’re entertaining millions in theme parks. They’re even in hospital operating rooms. Now, a team of researchers, led by Michelle J. Johnson, PhD, an assistant professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine, is working to create affordable robotic systems to help patients all over the world with non-traumatic brain injury, such as stroke and cerebral palsy, amputated limbs, and spinal cord injuries.

Johnson is the director of Penn’s Rehabilitation Robotics Research & Development Lab located at Penn Medicine Rittenhouse. The Lab is dedicated to “robot-mediated rehabilitation” and focuses on the investigation and rehabilitation of dysfunction due to aging, neural disease, and neural injury. “Our mission is to combine robotics, rehabilitation, and neuroscience techniques to translate research findings into the development of assistive and therapeutic rehabilitation robots, capable of interacting safely with patients in real-world rehab environments,” said Johnson. “Ultimately, the goal is to improve patients’ quality of life and function of performing activities of daily living – such as eating, drinking and grooming – in supervised or under-supervised settings.” (Check out this video to see some of them in action in Penn's Rehab Robotics Lab.)

For example, meet Flo – a mobile service robot named in honor of Johnson’s grandmother, a stroke survivor. The most anthropomorphized of all the current systems Johnson’s team is developing, Flo is a cute, humanoid robot being programmed especially to treat recovering stroke patients with upper body disabilities. Developed for use in hospitals, nursing homes, and other inpatient rehab facilities, Flo is remotely operated by a physician and can interact directly with patients via an attached video screen. Flo greets patients, demonstrates exercises, and spurs more movement by asking the patient to “grab my hand” and “push the button on top of my head.” Flo even offers words of encouragement after each accomplished task. Cooler still, Flo is programmed to offer those words of encouragement in not only English, but also French, Arabic, and Spanish.

Other robots in Johnson’s lab (demonstrated in the video below) can be attached to injured limbs to aid in movement and provide feedback to patients. “Robots can positively aid in a patient’s recovery by working with them to improve range of motion and re-acquire motor skills lost because of stroke,” said Johnson.

Just a couple of weeks ago, Johnson and her colleagues celebrated the first year anniversary of the Lab, with an open house. During the event, Johnson, along with Roshan Rai, Lab manager and engineer, Nicholas Vivio, clinical research co-coordinator, and about a dozen undergrad and graduate student research assistants gave demonstrations of current robot projects for rehab along with formal presentations. The presentations were grouped in one of three tracks – mobile therapy assistants, neuro-rehabilitation, and global health – and helped further demonstrate for visitors the Lab’s mission to effectively and economically fuse health care and robotics.

“A critical aspect of what we’re doing in the lab is designing and developing affordable novel therapy robots to address the need for accessible, low-cost technologies with the potential for national and global applications,” said Johnson. “In the lab, we jokingly refer to it as ‘rehab in a box.’”

Johnson may have been joking, but the phrase is brilliantly applied. Robot-assisted therapy sounds like a good thing. But it's a hi-tech thing, so it must be expensive, right? Not so. Johnson’s lab is working to not recreate the wheel, but use, combine, modify, and expand on existing technologies to create affordable systems that can be deployed in remote areas of the U.S., Mexico, and Africa to start. Systems that could aid where access to health care (let alone the months of rehabilitation needed for neuro-impaired patients) is limited or not available at all. Therapeutic robotic systems constructed not from expensive, one-of-a-kind parts that would have to be custom made and take weeks to replace, but those which may literally one day be boxed up and sent half way around the world.

Back on these shores, others are finding the work from Johnson’s Lab intriguing too: she was just awarded a three-year grant from the National Science Foundation toward the labs work toward affordable and mobile assistive robots for elderly care.

In keeping with their mission to create affordable solutions, the Lab has established a partnership with a Latin America university (ITESM, Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey) and is in the process of seeking out opportunities in Africa to do the same. Johnson is currently in Africa, spending eight days of intense networking seeking out collaborators with her lab through the Botswana-UPenn Partnership.

Affordable and Mobile Assistive Robots for Elderly Care

Medical Missions: Now and Then

John Shea — Thu, 24 Jul 2014 13:33:30 +0000

Having been an editor of Penn Medicine publications for, um, several years, I’ve been privileged to learn about some of the many medical missions abroad that the institution’s physicians, nurses, and alumni have taken part in. Occasionally, our magazines have covered such initiatives. In the most recent issue of Penn Medicine, for example, “On a Mission” takes a look at some of the doctors who make time in their schedules and lives to embark on such expeditions.

Often, the conditions they work in are very different from those at their home base in Philadelphia, and they often face challenges. For example, on a recent visit to Vietnam, James Kirkpatrick, MD, assistant professor of cardiovascular medicine, remembers seeing three or four patients to a single bed on the cardiology floor of a Vietnamese hospital. Also in the Spring 2014 issue, Derek Donegan, MD, an assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery, recalls being on a mission to Nicaragua where the hospital lacked the pins, rods, screws, and plates customarily used to anchor fractured bones while they heal. Joli Chou, DMD, MD 2004, spent two weeks aboard the Africa Mercy, said to be the world’s largest floating hospital. During her stay, the ship was docked at Conakry, Guinea. Chou, an assistant professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery, performed three, four, or five cases each weekday, depending on their complexity. The ship’s limited resources prevented her from doing all she wanted for the patients, but, she says, “it’s such a positive environment to work in.”

Derek Donegan, MD, performed orthopaedic surgery in Nicaragua.

The Spring 2010 issue of Penn Medicine included an article on “Penn Medicine One,” the nine-member surgical team that spent two weeks in Haiti after that year’s devastating earthquake. Reporting from the scene, Samir Mehta, MD, assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery, wrote: “I am stunned at the turnover time. Post-operative recovery is at the bedside for all of a few minutes to at most an hour. Between cases, our wait time is less than 15 minutes –- enough time to write orders and plan for the next case.” Despite the conditions and the limitations of what they could accomplish in their time in Haiti, Mehta noted that “Part of me has been totally changed by the experience.” As it turned out, Mehta has been on subsequent medical missions in Nicaragua as well.

A bit farther back, one of our former publications, Penn Health Magazine, ran an article on the work of two senior faculty members who are still very much part of Penn Medicine –- and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. In 1998, when the article ran, Scott P. Bartlett, MD, professor of surgery who chairs the department of Plastic Surgery at CHOP, and Peter Quinn, DMD, MD, professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery, had already been visiting Poland for several years. Their mission was to help deal with rampant congenital abnormalities among Polish children. While in the country on one- or two-week visits, they performed hands-on clinical training and patient care. By the time the article appeared, Bartlett had already traveled to Poland almost 20 times. According to Quinn, “The children have deformities that we’ve never seen and don’t have a name for. We see more cases in a week than we see in six months at Penn.”

As the Perelman School of Medicine moves steadily toward its 250^th birthday next year, it’s also instructive to take a look at some examples of engaging globally from many decades ago. Carol Perloff, a local writer and researcher, has been unearthing many such instances. For example, James Bradford, an 1823 alumnus of the school, is said to have been the first American physician to have practiced in China. Another alumnus, Josiah C. McCracken (MD 1901) served as president of the University Medical College in Canton (1907-1913) and subsequently as dean and professor of surgery of the Pennsylvania Medical School of St. John’s University in Shanghai (1914-1942). The goal of the latter school was to provide mission hospitals with well-trained physicians as well as to train Chinese physicians and investigate local diseases.

Another early missionary of health was Victor Rambo (MD 1921), who apparently bore no similarity to Sylvester Stallone’s well-known character. Dr. Rambo’s education was paid for by Penn’s Christian Association, which also continued to support his work to eliminate blindness in India. Under Rambo’s leadership, Christian Hospital Mungeli became known for its work in saving and restoring sight. In recognition of his work, Rambo received the Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh.

George D. Ludwig (MD 1946), then an associate professor of medicine whose expertise was in metabolic, endocrine and molecular diseases, led a team from Penn to Algeria in 1962. The mission was part of an emergency program to restore medical services to the war-torn country. When Algeria gained its independence after a fierce war with France, it also lost all the French physicians and medical personnel who had lived there. Ludwig’s mission earned praise from President John F. Kennedy.

Perhaps the best-known of Penn Medicine’s current medical missions involves a different nation in Africa, Botswana. Established in 2001 by the Government of Botswana and Penn’s medical school, today the Botswana-UPenn Partnership involves many of Penn’s schools, both faculty and staff. Its initial focus was combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country, but today the focus includes cervical cancer, heart disease, education of local health-care workers, and telemedicine. For more information, visit its web site.

Taking a Look "Inside Penn Medicine"

Sally Sapega — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 18:13:44 +0000

Penn Medicine is a vibrant community of students and health-care professionals. Get a glimpse into what’s happening in this world of education, clinical care and research through our internal newsletters, located on the “Inside Penn Medicine” homepage and in print editions throughout UPHS. You can also subscribe to get news delivered straight to your email inbox.

Here are a few of our most recent stories:

System News (News from throughout Penn Medicine)

New Kiosks Improve Patient Satisfaction

On any given day, Penn Orthopaedics at PPMC sees 200 patients or more. Up until early 2013, patients were asked to sign the check-in sheet when they first entered the practice. But, sometimes, several patients arrived at once, causing back-ups and a long waiting time. Now, thanks to the two patient service kiosks, that has all changed.

HUPdate (News from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Clinical Practices of the University of Pennsylvania, and Corporate offices)

Trauma Celebrates Continued Excellence

HUP’s annual recognition of Trauma Awareness Month is a chance for members of Traumatology, Surgical Critical Care, and Emergency Surgery to “celebrate positive reminders, recognize excellence, and see continued healing of patients and families,” said John Gallagher, MSN, Trauma Program manager.

Presby Bulletin (News from Penn Presbyterian Medical Center)

Recognizing Nursing Excellence

Last month, at the 14th annual celebration, Penn Medicine recognized the winners of its Nursing Clinical Excellence Awards. “The winners are illustrative of the contributions made by nurses,” said Mary Naylor, director of the New Courtland Center for Transitions and Health at Penn’s School of Nursing.

What's New (News from Pennsylvania Hospital and Penn Medicine Washington Square)

Delivering the Best in Cancer Care

PAH is now also home to Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center (ACC), the region’s number-one cancer program. As one of the locations of Penn’s ACC – one of only two National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the region – PAH can now offer several treatment options, plus research and the latest clinical care.

The Division of Orthopaedic Trauma Welcomes Derek J. Donegan, MD

Penn Medicine — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 16:13:00 +0000

Derek J. Donegan, MD, joins the division of orthopaedic trauma, in the department of orthopaedic surgery, as an assistant professor at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Donegan received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College. He completed an orthopaedic surgery residency at the University of Pennsylvania and an orthopaedic trauma and reconstructive surgery fellowship at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

During his training, Dr. Donegan was the recipient of multiple awards and honors. He was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society as a medical student and graduated magnum cum laude. He was selected as a member of the American Orthopaedic Association Resident Leadership Forum and Emerging Leaders Program. In addition, he was awarded the Deforest Williard Most Outstanding Resident award at the completion of his residency.

Dr. Donegan’s clinical interests include pelvic and acetabular trauma, reconstructive arthroplasty, periarticular trauma surgery, geriatric fractures, the management of polytrauma patients, and post-traumatic deformity. His research interests include outcomes following musculoskeletal trauma, as well as biomechanical analysis of fracture fixation constructs.

Dr. Donegan is an Orthopaedic Trauma Association Candidate Member. He provides operative care on trauma and fracture patients at Pennsylvania Hospital and at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He will have an outpatient presence at Penn Medicine Cherry Hill and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

View Dr. Donegan's physician profile

Learn more about Penn Orthopaedics

The Division of Orthopaedic Surgery Welcomes Andrew F. Kuntz, MD

Penn Medicine — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 16:10:00 +0000

Andrew F. Kuntz, MD, joins the department of orthopaedic surgery as an assistant professor at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Perelman School of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Kuntz received his medical degree from the University of Virginia School of Medicine. He completed an internship in general surgery and a residency in orthopaedic surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He also completed a fellowship in shoulder and elbow surgery at The Rothman Institute.

Dr. Kuntz specializes in shoulder and elbow treatment. His clinical interests involve all aspects of shoulder and elbow surgery, from arthroscopy to joint replacement surgery. He will conduct basic science research in the McKay orthopaedic laboratory focusing on tendon and cartilage damage and repair. In addition, Dr. Kuntz will be the director of the shoulder study research group.

Dr. Kuntz sees patients at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and Penn Medicine Cherry Hill.

View Dr. Kuntz's physician profile

Learn more about Penn Orthopaedics

The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Welcomes Keith D. Baldwin, MD, MPH, MSPT

Penn Medicine — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 11:36:00 +0000

Keith D. Baldwin, MD, MPH, MSPT, joins the department of orthopaedic surgery as an assistant professor at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Baldwin received his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine. He completed an orthopaedic surgery residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and a pediatric orthopaedic surgery fellowship at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Dr. Baldwin specializes in neuro orthopaedics. His clinical interests involve adults and children with neuromuscular disorders, including deformity caused by spasticity of upper motor neuron disease, and weakness caused by lower motor neuron disease. Also a trained physical therapist, Dr. Baldwin will see patients requiring surgical intervention in situations that rehab has failed to achieve relevant goals, such as increasing range of motion, decreasing pain, or transferring tendons of working muscles to replace lost function.

His research interests include the epidemiology of trauma, improvement in surgical care through medical management and systems-based approaches, and clinical outcomes research as it relates to the population with neuromuscular disease. Dr. Baldwin is also on staff at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and will oversee the transition of care from childhood to adulthood in patients with childhood diseases such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and other neuromuscular disorders.

Dr. Baldwin sees adult patients at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and performs surgeries at Pennsylvania Hospital. He sees pediatric patients at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

View Dr. Baldwin's physician profile

Learn more about Penn Orthopaedics

Penn Orthopaedics at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center Receives Gold Seal of Approval from The Joint Commission

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Penn Presbyterian Medical Center (PPMC) has earned the Gold Seal of Approval from The Joint Commission for its hip and knee joint replacement services.

Penn Study Finds Smoking Prolongs Fracture Healing and Increases Risk of Infection

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 14:30:00 +0000

Research has long shown the negative effects cigarette smoking has on cardiovascular health. But now, a new study from the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania corroborates early evidence showing that cigarette smoking leads to longer healing times and an increased rate of post-operative complication and infection for patients sustaining fractures or traumatic injuries to their bone. The full results of the study are being presented this week at the 2013 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons annual meeting in Chicago.

Pre-Op Triage of Total Hip Replacement Patients Improves Outcomes

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 14:30:00 +0000

According to a new study by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, pre-operatively identifying patients with certain comorbid risk factors that may increase their chance of being admitted to the ICU following total hip replacement surgery results in fewer deaths, post-surgery complications, and unplanned ICU admissions. The full results of the study will be presented at the 2013 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting this week in Chicago.

Penn Study Questions Efficacy and Unintentional Affects of Patient/Physician Shared Decision-Making

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 14:30:00 +0000

Shared decision-making between patients and physicians about health care decisions has previously been presented as superior to an approach that emphasizes physicians taking a leading role in directing key aspects of a patient's care. But now, a new study by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, calls into question the efficacy of shared decision-making as a tool for eliciting a patient's genuine preference for care. The results of the study will be presented this week at the 2013 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting in Chicago.

Differences in Bone Healing in Young Vs. Old Mice May Hold Answers to Better Bone Healing for Seniors

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:00:00 +0000

By studying the underlying differences in gene expression during healing after a bone break in young versus aged mice, Jaimo Ahn, MD, PhD, assistant professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, and his colleagues aim to find specific pathways of fracture healing in humans.

Penn Orthopaedics Welcomes Charles L. Nelson, MD

Penn Medicine — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 17:05:00 +0000

Charles L. Nelson, MD, joins the Penn Orthopaedics Joint Replacement Team as an Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Dr. Nelson is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He completed both his internship and his orthopaedic residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He subsequently completed a fellowship in adult reconstructive surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

Dr. Nelson’s clinical expertise includes complex hip and knee reconstruction, primary and revision hip and knee replacement, and hip and knee arthroscopic surgery. His special interests include joint preserving alternatives to replacement surgery, hip resurfacing, partial joint replacement, minimally invasive techniques for joint replacement and restoration of bone stock during complex hip and knee replacement. He also focuses on the use of alternative materials and bearing surfaces allowing greater survivorship for joint replacement in younger patients, and management of fractures and infections around prior hip and knee replacements.

Dr. Nelson’s research has centered on improving care for challenging hip and knee conditions.

Recent research has included:

Evaluating the role of hip replacement in young patients using alternative bearing surfaces.

Understanding the role of joint replacement in managing obesity and obesity related co-morbidities.

Understanding the role of gender and ethnicity in outcomes following joint replacement.

Understanding the role of genomics in bone loss and infection following joint replacement.

Standardizing approaches to improve outcomes following primary and revision hip and knee replacement.

Dr. Nelson sees patients at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and Penn Medicine Radnor.

Penn to Perform Hand Transplants

Wed, 15 Dec 2010 18:18:43 +0000

In continuing coverage the Philadelphia Business Journal ran an article announcing Penn's new Hand Transplant Program. The program is comprised of a team of specialists including orthopaedic and plastic surgeons, social workers, psychologists, ethicists and financial counselors. The program is led by L. Scott Levin, MD, FACS, Paul B. Magnuson Professor of Bone and Joint Surgery, chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and professor of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery and Abraham Shaked, MD, PhD, professor of Surgery and director of the Penn Transplant Institute.

Penn Medicine Valley Forge Welcomes Matthew Lewullis, DO, CAQSM

Penn Medicine — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 08:19:00 +0000

Matthew Lewullis, DO, CAQSM, joins Penn Medicine Valley Forge as a non-surgical sports medicine physician.

Dr. Lewullis received his medical degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his residency at Mercy Suburban Hospital in Norristown, Pennsylvania, and a primary care sports medicine fellowship at St. Luke’s Hospital in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Lewullis will work closely with Penn Orthopaedics. He sees patients starting August 2, 2010 at Penn Medicine Valley Forge. Appointments can be made by calling 800-789-PENN (7366) or visiting PennMedicine.org/appointments.

Penn Medicine Appoints L. Scott Levin, MD, FACS, Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery

Tue, 19 May 2009 15:30:00 +0000

L. Scott Levin, MD, FACS, has been appointed the new Chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery of Penn Medicine, effective July 1, 2009.

Misplaced Metamorphosis: Penn Researchers Identify Source of Cells that Spur Aberrant Bone Growth

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:30:00 +0000

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and the University of Connecticut have pinpointed the source of immature cells that spur misplaced bone growth. Unexpectedly, the major repository of bone-forming cells originates in blood vessels deep within skeletal muscle and other connective tissues, not from muscle stem cells themselves. The work also shows that cells important in the inflammatory response to injury trigger skeleton-stimulating proteins to transform muscle tissue into bone.

Acid Suppression Medication Linked With Increased Risk of Hip Fracture

Use of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) drugs for the treatment of acid-related diseases such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is associated with a greater risk of hip fracture, according to a study in the December 27 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Targeting a Single Gene Could Inhibit Bone Decay and Stimulate Bone Growth

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have found by targeting the function of a single gene that it is possible to inhibit bone decay while simultaneously stimulating bone formation. This concept may lead to drug treatments for osteoporosis and other bone diseases. Senior author Yongwon Choi, PhD, professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and colleagues report their findings in the December issue of Nature Medicine.

Penn Orthopaedic Surgeon Wins First Annual Health Breakthrough Award

Mary Ann Keenan, MD, Chief of Neuro-Orthopaedics for the University of Pennsylvania Health System, has been named a recipient of the first-annual Ladies' Home Journal Health Breakthrough Awards. The award recognizes leading medical professionals who are making life-saving and life-enhancing discoveries in research, treatment and diagnostics that have significantly helped women and families.