Focus: Hidden - Pennsylvania

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The Orphan Disease Center at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, has awarded its inaugural grants funded by proceeds from the 2014 Million Dollar Bike Ride. Thirteen institutions – from academia in the US, Canada, Germany, and Australia – received grants ranging from $35,000 to $60,000 from funds raised by 13 disease-specific cycling teams.

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From many clinical researchers presenting findings at Cardiology 2015, conference organizers chose 8 finalists for the Outstanding Investigator Award. Their research in pediatric cardiology is summarized below.

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A study led by researchers at The Wistar Institute has shown that targeting both PI3K and the mitochondria within these cancer cells can dramatically improve the effectiveness of targeted therapy and significantly reduce the chances of developing resistance.

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TMS will recognize more than 70 of its members with division-level awards during the 144th TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition (TMS2015), set for March 15–19 at Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida.

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Researchers found common molecules signifying perturbed metabolism in response to sleep restriction in a comprehensive metabolic profiling of blood from both rats and humans. Their findings point to an overall shift in how lipids are metabolized and evidence of systemic oxidative stress.

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Unfortunately, there are still those in business who see having a female CFO as a “token.” But a new research study finds that not only does having a female CFO lead a company to more ethical tax decisions, but having female board members is also beneficial—and necessary—for ethical financial decision making. The study examined the associations between CFO gender, board gender diversity and corporate tax evasion through 20 years of data spanning 1991-2011. They found that women CFOs in the study were indeed less likely to evade taxes than their male counterparts, and they also confirmed that having a “critical mass” of women making up at least 30 percent of the board lets a company reap the benefits of gender diversity.

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Physicians often blame patient demands for contributing to high medical costs, however, a new Penn Medicine study involving more than 5,000 patient-clinician visits indicates that cancer patients rarely push for unnecessary tests and treatments from their health care providers.

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Experience with the Ebola outbreak highlights local health departments' essential role in responding to global health threats posed by infectious diseases, according to a special article in the March/April issue of the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

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Experts have warned for years that insufficient sleep can lead to weight gain. A new Penn Medicine study found that not only do we consume more food following a night of total sleep deprivation, but we also we consume more fat and less carbohydrates and a region of the brain known as the salience network is what may lead us to eat more fat. The new findings are published in Scientific Reports.

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An international group of more than 800 medical experts at the nation’s largest pediatric cardiology conference are discussing challenges in treating congenital heart disease in fetuses, neonates, children and young adults.

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TMS will honor members who have made remarkable contributions in the field of materials science and engineering this past year at the 144th TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition (TMS2015), set for March 15–19 at Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida.

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Dr. Jeffrey G. Wong will join Penn State Hershey as associate dean for medical education at the University Park Regional Campus of Penn State College of Medicine on July 1.

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Lots of things have been associated with higher risks of developing certain cancers. But there are very few things that have been proven to have a cause-and-effect relationship.

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University of the Sciences has unveiled a bold marketing campaign on billboards, public transit, and local television and radio stations. Featuring a new theme, “Proven Everywhere,” the campaign reflects USciences’ emphasis on providing students with transformative experiences that prepare them for successful careers in healthcare and science.

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TMS announces its 2015 Class of Fellows, six Society members who have earned the highest award bestowed by TMS. The award recognizes TMS members for their outstanding contributions to the practice of metallurgy, materials science, and technology. The 2015 Fellows will be recognized at the 144th TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition, set for March 15–19 at Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida.

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TMS announces the 30 recipients of the 2015 TMS Young Leader Professional Development Awards, who will be formally recognized at the 144th TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition set for March 15–19 at Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida.

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Although wearable devices have received significant attention for their ability to track an individual’s physical activity, most smartphone applications are just as accurate, according to a new research letter in JAMA. The study tested 10 of the top-selling smartphone apps and devices in the United States by having 14 participants walk on a treadmill for 500 and 1,500 steps, each twice (for a total of 56 trials), and then recording their step counts. Led by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, this study is a follow-up to a recent JAMA viewpoint suggesting that there’s little evidence that wearable devices alone can change behavior and improve health for those that need it most.

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Jefferson partners with Reproductive Medicine Associates (RMA) of Philadelphia to offer fertility services at its new Center City OBGYN facility.

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Gabrilovich and fellow investigators demonstrated what is happening at a cellular level that allows for chronic inflammation to cause a variety of cancers.

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As Phoenixville Area High School students prepare to end the United States’ eight-year absence from the International Young Physicists’ Tournament (IYPT), faculty from University of the Sciences have spent the past few months helping them polish their science and research skills before the week-long competition in Thailand this summer.

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Reporting in a new study published online this week in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, researchers under the Botswana-UPenn Partnership at the University of Pennsylvania, including Shruthi Ravimohan, PhD, a research associate in the division of Infectious Diseases at Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine, and Gregory P. Bisson, MD, MSCE, an assistant professor in the division of Infectious Diseases, have identified immune biomarkers in HIV/TB patients before they begin ART that could help distinguish who goes on to develop IRIS or die after treatment.

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Asthma, back pain, and congestive heart failure are among the conditions showing reductions in health care costs in one large employer's disease management (DM) program, reports a study in the February Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).

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A device for precisely positioning small objects using acoustic waves has now been used to position fragile protein crystals a few micrometers or less in size in the path of a crystallography X-ray beam.

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Evolutionary researchers have determined that settling for “Mr. Okay” is a better evolutionary strategy than waiting for “Mr. Perfect.” When studying the evolution of risk aversion Michigan State University researchers found that it is in our nature – traced back to the earliest humans – to take the safe bet when stakes are high, such as whether or not we will mate.

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Bariatric surgery—as a last resort when conservative interventions have failed—can improve liver disease and other obesity-related health problems in severely obese children and adolescents, according to a position paper in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, official journal of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) and the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

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Medical management and surgical options for people with heart disease improve each year. But coronary disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States.

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As medical marijuana becomes increasingly accepted, there is growing interest in its use for children and adolescents with developmental and behavioral problems such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a review in the February Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, the official journal of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

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In patients who don't resume normal urination after surgery, a simple ultrasound test can accurately diagnose the common problem of postoperative urinary retention (POUR), reports a study in Anesthesia & Analgesia.

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Grant will support Jefferson Integrative Medicine and establishes Marcus Integrative Health at the Myrna Brind Center – Villanova

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The International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS) announces that Alan Jay Schwartz, MD, MSEd, will succeed Lawrence J. Saidman, MD, as Editor-in-Chief of its online journal Anesthesia & Analgesia Case Reports. Dr. Saidman retired in December 2014.

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A new analysis released at a DC briefing today shows that, five years after its technical end, the recession of the mid-2000s continues to impact America’s children in four key areas: health, hunger, housing, and abuse and neglect, updating research conducted in 2010. It finds lingering effects in every aspect, but it underscores the effectiveness of federal investments in mitigating harm to children.

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Kazuko Nishikura, Ph.D., receives Macula Vision Research Foundation grant for groundbreaking research to find new treatments for macular degeneration.

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The Philadelphia Pediatric Medical Device Consortium announces its first three awards to companies developing new medical devices for children. The FDA-funded consortium, based at CHOP, provides know-how and seed funding.

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Researchers find clues for reducing infections after bone marrow transplantation for leukemia and lymphoma.

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Sharp and significant increases in suicides followed select financial crisis events and austerity announcements in Greece, from the start of the country’s 2008 recession to steep spending cuts in 2012, Penn Medicine researchers report in a new study published online this week in the British Medical Journal Open, along with colleagues from Greece and the United Kingdom.

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Penn State College of Medicine researchers contend that professional medical societies must update or amend their Internet guidelines to address when it is ethical to "Google" a patient.

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To help bring a wider array of new prostate cancer therapies to patients sooner, Jefferson joins a prestigious clinical trial group, with several projects already in the works.

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Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) is a common consequence of traumatic injuries, wounds caused by an external force or an act of violence, such as a car accident, gun shot or even surgery. In those injuries that require surgical reconstruction, outcomes can result in partial or complete loss of nerve function and a reduced quality of life. But, researchers at Penn Medicine have demonstrated a novel way to regenerate long-distance nerve connections in animal models using tissue-engineered nerve grafts (TENGs).

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Results from a recent unpublished study at University of the Sciences indicate that reducing the clutter and narrowing one’s possessions, activities, and thoughts can play a key role in boosting their mental and physical health.

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January 31, 2015 marks the 20th anniversary of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network; originally announced as an alliance of 13 leading cancer centers in 1995, NCCN has grown to a network of 25 academic cancer centers devoted to patient care, research, and education.

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At the invitation of the White House, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia sent two special guests to Pres. Obama's announcement today of the Precision Medicine Initiative: the Hospital CEO and 9-year-old patient Emily Whitehead.

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Two new fluorescent dyes attracted to cancer cells may help neurosurgeons more accurately localize and completely resect brain tumors, suggests a study in the February issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

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More than three-fourths US neurosurgeons practice some form of defensive medicine—performing additional tests and procedures out of fear of malpractice lawsuits, reports a special article in the February issue of Neurosurgery, official journal of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

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With the opening of the Henry A. Jordan M’62 Medical Education Center, the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania has expanded its urban campus with an innovative new facility that’s redefining medical education for 21st century doctors.

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Patients undergoing bariatric surgery for severe obesity are often left with excess, sagging skin affecting all areas of the body—including the face. The unique challenges of facelift surgery in this group of patients—and effective techniques for addressing them—are presented in a paper in the February issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

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With attention to some unique patient characteristics, breast reduction surgery achieves good aesthetic outcomes in bodybuilders with gynecomastia—enlargement of the male breast, according to a report in the February issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

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According to a new study by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, only 25 percent of women who had reported no earlier sleep problems developed moderate or severe insomnia or other sleep disturbances during a 16-year period around menopause. What’s more, the researchers say that these sleep woes did not appear to be caused by menopause itself, which may quell common fears about symptoms associated with this phase of life.

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The recent measles outbreak linked to Disney amusement parks in southern California should not be a concern for anyone who has had measles in the past or who has received two doses of the measles vaccine.