July 2012 Archive - Penn Medicine News Blog

Vladimir R. Muzykantov, MD, PhD, professor of Pharmacology and Medicine, at the Perelman School of Medicine, is devising a recombinant version of thrombomodulin -- a natural anticoagulant present in human blood vessels -- that can be injected in the bloodstream of animals, where it binds to RBCs and circulates for a long time as a prodrug that gets activated at sites of thrombosis, preventing closing up of blood vessels.

In the wake of the tragic shootings in Colorado last week, people across the country are still in shock as they try to contemplate the meaning behind such an evil act of human nature. Twelve people were killed and 59 more are struggling to recover from the injuries they sustained in the violent attack. And while many of them will make full physical recoveries, the memories of the shootings will persist. Penn Medicine mental health experts are now weighing in to help both the victims and the general public cope with the inevitable fear, anxiety and depression that can follow traumatic events like this.

A research article in a recent issue of Immunity from the lab of Mickey Marks, PhD, professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, in part explains the recurrent bacterial infections in patients with a rare genetic disease called Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome type 2.

Free Wig Salon at Pennsylvania Hospital Hair. It’s big. And I’m not just talking about the 1980’s. Hair is our only built-in body adornment, capable of infinite versatility – if you have it. Often referred to as one’s “crowning glory,” the significance of hair spans centuries. It was the source...

This week, HIV advocates, scientists, and patients gathered at the XIX International AIDS Conference in Washington, D.C. – the first time in 22 years the meeting was held in the United States. The group’s charge: mapping out a strategy to usher in an AIDS-free generation.

After the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recently recommended against routine prostate screening for most men, the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) says that some of those groups could benefit from regular testing, the Associated Press reports. As the debate on PSA testing continues, Alan Wein, MD,...

Top row- left to right-Jean Thelisma, Beth Attig, Kim Wooding, Karla McIntosh Bottom row-Marisse Thelisma, Johanne Louis, Michelle Edwards, Mitza Jeune Since its start in 2004, the Vermase Foundation, a faith-based non-profit relief organization based out of Upper Darby, provides food, medicine, clothing and other necessities to those facing famine,...

Sepsis researcher David Gaieski, MD, an assistant professor of Emergency Medicine in the Perelman School of Medicine and clinical director in Penn’s Center for Resuscitation Science, spoke this week with several news outlets about the issues raised by the case of the 12-year-old New York City boy who died of sepsis after his infection apparently went undetected at his doctor and an emergency room. ABCNews.com explored the reasons why these infections can be so difficult to identify when they’re easiest to treat:

The Penn Transplant Institute’s reputation draws patients from across the nation who are waiting for a second chance at life. It is the region’s leader in total number of organ transplants performed; Penn transplant surgeons performed over 400 solid organ transplants during the 2011 fiscal year, including heart, liver, kidney,...

Penn Medicine is building a war chest of approaches to enhance the ability of T cells to attack as many cancer types as possible.

It's becoming more and more common to find out a relative or friend has to leave his/her job to care for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease. Just yesterday, I heard about a colleague who is facing this difficult situation. In fact, the Alzheimer’s Association estimates in 2011, 15.2 million...

When you turn 18, life can change overnight. At 18, you can apply for a credit card, register to vote, and sign your own legal documents asserting that you are officially an adult in charge of your own care. It might even be time to head off to college, or...

Cardiologists at Penn Medicine are testing devices that can allow heart failure patients to be monitored from the comfort of their own homes instead of having to make trips to and from the hospital.

Pelvic floor disorders are not always easy to discuss, particularly as the three most common types of pelvic floor disorders are urinary incontinence (lack of bladder control), fecal incontinence (lack of bowel control), and pelvic organ prolapse (the uterus, bladder and/or bowel may fall into the vaginal area). At the...

“We need new and better ways to treat our patients, not just ‘me, too’ medications. We need new and daring approaches. Our patients deserve it!”

All of Society Needs to Support Breastfeeding for Everyone to Reap the Maximum Benefits Medical journals, magazines, websites… they’re all touting the same message, something nature has known all along: breastfeeding is beneficial for both babies and mothers. The message is getting through - but not always to everyone who...