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Health Sciences
A self-help guide to treating IBD
In her new book, clinical psychologist Melissa Hunt offers a cognitive behavioral therapy approach to helping people with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis improve their quality of life.
Can food assistance influence diabetes trends in the U.S.?
In a new study, researchers investigate the relationship between the prevalence of diabetes at the county-level and state SNAP policies, with findings that suggest SNAP could play a key role in the health of communities.
‘Encrypted’ peptides could be wellspring of natural antibiotics
An interdisciplinary team of Penn researchers have used a carefully designed algorithm to discover a new suite of antimicrobial peptides, or naturally occurring antibiotics, in the human genome.
A Black-owned radio station, a physician, and a quest to prevent colon cancer
A unique community-based campaign by Penn Medicine, WURD, Philadelphia’s Black-owned and -operated talk radio station, and other organizations provide free colon cancer testing kits and follow-up support to Philadelphia residents.
New study illuminates the biology of common heart disorder
Dilated cardiomyopathy, an often fatal heart disorder, due to titin gene mutations involves both a shortage of good titin and a buildup of mutant, potentially “bad” titin.
New gene-editing technique can ‘turn on’ enzymes that cause DNA base mutations
The novel Penn method of splitting specific mutator enzymes and then triggering them to reconstitute has been patented, and allows for new possibilities in biologic and therapeutic research, including cancer.
A ‘dented’ internal clock informs shift workers’ weight gain and diabetes
Weight gain and high blood sugar caused by a damaged internal clock was corrected by Penn researchers, who changed the length of the day in tests.
Entering a new phase in cell therapy for glioblastoma
Donald M. O’Rourke, director of the Glioblastoma Translational Center of Excellence at Penn Medicine, and others are exploring cellular immunotherapies as a potential better option for deadly brain cancer glioblastoma multiforme.
Ethnic and racial diversity in surgical faculty associated with medical student diversity
A new study confirms there is little progress made in the last decade to expand racial and ethnic diversity in surgical faculty, despite evidence that more diverse faculty leads to greater racial, ethnic, and gender diversity in the medical student population.
Moving past conflation of race and genetics
Race is not genetic. Race is a social and political construct. However, the conflation of race and genetics is one way that racism persists in medicine and research.
In the News
UPenn hosts free online panel for LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion
The Eidos LGBTQ+ Health Initiative, led by José Bauermeister and Jessica Halem of the School of Nursing, will host a free online panel in April on the integration of LGBTQ+ people in the workforce.
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How to die in good health
PIK Professor Ezekiel Emanuel says that incessantly preparing for old age mistakes a long life for a worthwhile one.
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Mayor Parker’s plan to ‘remove the presence of drug users’ from Kensington raises new questions
Shoshana Aronowitz of the School of Nursing and Ashish Thakrar of the Perelman School of Medicine comment on the lack of specificity in Philadelphia’s plan to remove drug users from Kensington and on the current state of drug treatment in the city.
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How many patients would recommend their Philly-area hospital to family and friends? Check your local hospital
The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania has been named one of the most recommended acute-care facilities by patients in the Philadelphia area.
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Homeward bound: When a Penn Medicine nurse was diagnosed with uterine cancer, she turned to the service dogs she helped to train
A profile highlights Maria Wright of Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, from her volunteer work connecting people with service dogs to her cancer diagnosis and her own journey applying for a service dog.
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