A four-year study found a significantly lower cesarean delivery rate of 5.3% for women using an alternative obstetric care method compared to traditional care. Preventive labor induction was used based on accurate pregnancy dating and risk-factor scoring.
Researchers at Penn School Medicine observe and measure internal motion in proteins, revealing its impact on function and overturning traditional views. This discovery may explain why drug design fails more often than it works.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine identified a combination therapy that selectively eliminates cancer cells while leaving healthy cells intact. The therapy combines TRAIL and sorafenib, reducing tumor size in mice with few side effects, demonstrating its potential effectiveness on human colon cancers.
Researchers at Penn School of Medicine have discovered a potential new target for treating muscular dystrophy by targeting the 'brake' on utrophin gene expression. The study proposes using drugs to remove this brake, increasing utrophin production as a possible therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have discovered that miRNAs regulate gene expression by associating with the Argonaute2 (Ago2) protein. This interaction inhibits protein production, highlighting a crucial role for Ago2 in the miRNA pathway.
Penn researchers have developed a new method for screening drug-resistant forms of HIV that analyzes multiple HIV variants simultaneously, while also reducing time and costs. The technique uses DNA bar coding and pyrosequencing to quantify and characterize hundreds of thousands of HIV variants for drug resistance in a single test.
The Penn Udall Center will focus on dementia and Parkinson's disease, with objectives including developing a new rating scale for activities of daily living and studying the neural basis of cognitive deficits in Parkinson's disease. The center aims to improve care and treatment for patients and train physicians.
A new study has identified proteins in the rod and cones of the eye that could lead to the discovery of the genetic causes of a host of inherited eye diseases. The researchers hope to gain a clearer understanding of what goes wrong at the most basic level in these diseases that cause blindness and other disorders.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine discovered a molecular link between two major pathways for breaking down proteins in cells. They found that increasing HDAC6 activity can rescue neurodegenerative diseases by facilitating delivery of misfolded proteins to the autophagy-lysosomal system for degradation.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have discovered a potential new target for treating type 2 diabetes, a protein that regulates fat metabolism. The study found that insulin stimulates the addition of a phosphate group to this protein, preventing the activation of genes involved in fat metabolism.
A study by University of Pennsylvania researchers discovered that deleting a gene essential for DNA repair leads to premature aging and loss of stem cells in adult mice. This accelerated aging process results from the exhaustion of tissue renewal mechanisms.
Researchers identified Rap80 as a new candidate breast-cancer susceptibility gene required for normal BRCA1 DNA-repair function. This discovery provides insights into the molecular mechanism of BRCA1 recognizing sites of DNA damage, shedding light on cancer-causing mutations in BRCA1.
Researchers found that COX inhibitors like traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may counteract the potential heart-protective effects of estrogen therapy. Women who used NSAIDs with hormone replacement therapy had a lost protective effect against heart attack and stroke.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have found that adult mice can regenerate hair follicles by re-awakening dormant embryonic genes. This breakthrough could lead to new treatments for hair loss, scarring alopecia, and other skin disorders.
A Penn study found that older adults with major depression who receive coordinated care with primary physicians and depression care managers have a 45% lower risk of dying within five years compared to those receiving standard care. The study suggests that engaging primary care practices in mental health services is crucial for improvi...
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have found an absolute biochemical distinction between sporadic and hereditary forms of Lou Gehrig's disease, suggesting that current approaches to drug discovery should be re-examined. This distinction may impact therapeutic strategies for ALS patients.
A recent study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found no evidence linking psychotherapy to increased survival rates among cancer patients. Despite previous studies suggesting a potential benefit, the authors conclude that psychotherapy can improve quality of life without extending lifespan.
A new class of treatment, PTC124, has been shown to restore muscle function in a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy by targeting a specific genetic defect. The drug allows the ribosome to read through a mutation and produce full-length dystrophin protein, enabling enough protein to be made to correct defects in the muscles.
A newly discovered bacterial enzyme may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of lung injury in cystic fibrosis patients. The study suggests that targeting this enzyme could be a viable near-term approach to improving the length and quality of life for many CF patients.
A novel video-imaging system reveals that slow component-b proteins, involved in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, exhibit rapid bursts of movement followed by pauses. Multiple slow proteins are also transported together as 'packets,' piggy-backing on molecular motors, suggesting a potential carpooling mechanism.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have found that natalizumab reduces both visual loss and disability in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis. Vision loss is a common symptom of MS, and this study provides strong validation for a simple measure of visual function.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have discovered a way to deliver medicine more effectively using cylindrical-shaped carriers. The study found that these nanocylinders sustainably delivered an anticancer drug for up to one week, killing more cancer cells and shrinking tumors.
Researchers found that ICD devices help patients with heart problems live longer, more active lives. Patients living with ICDs report high levels of emotional, physical, and functional well-being, comparable to average Americans of the same age.
Researchers at Penn are studying a new airway bypass treatment that creates pathways in the lung for trapped air to escape, relieving emphysema symptoms. The procedure involves placing stents to keep the passageways open and is being tested in an international clinical trial.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have demonstrated that injured pancreatic cells readily regenerate back into healthy acinar cells. This finding holds promise for treating cancer and inflammation of the pancreas, while shifting focus from regenerating insulin-producing beta cells.
Researchers designed peptides that can bind to specific regions of transmembrane proteins to study their effects on crucial first steps in blood clotting. This breakthrough method allows for the interrogation of inaccessible proteins within the cell membrane.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Medicine identified key risk factors associated with increased hospital admission rates following outpatient surgery. These risk factors include age, operating time, cardiac diagnoses, and certain medical conditions.
Researchers found that both chemical and mechanical stimuli trigger the same messenger molecule, cAMP, in olfactory nerve cells. This suggests that mechanosensitivity exists in all mammals, including humans, without a septal organ, enhancing our ability to smell and synchronizing breathing with inhaling.
Children raised in one-parent households are at a higher risk for childhood sexual abuse, according to a study. The risk is particularly high in lower-income families where the single parent may be absent more frequently, making children more vulnerable to predators.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have discovered a way to pre-screen cancer patients for blood cancer drugs by testing for p53, a tumor-suppressor protein. This test may help identify patients who are most likely to respond to treatment and avoid harmful side effects.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that common inhaled anesthetics increase amyloid plaque appearance and cognitive decline in genetically engineered mice. The study suggests a potential link between long-term anesthesia use and early-onset Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have discovered a mechanism to modify enzymes that stabilize immune regulatory cells, improving their function and preventing autoimmune diseases. The findings offer a new approach to treating multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and arthritis by targeting faulty white blood cells.
Scientists have discovered how immune cells decide to respond to infections by either fighting to the death or becoming the body's memory for future infections. The research reveals that immune cells can take divergent paths, leading to a more targeted approach to developing vaccines.
Researchers found that a core clock gene regulates stress response and blood pressure, providing a novel link to the diurnal variation in heart attack risk. The study suggests modifying the molecular clock using drugs could be a treatment for people with high blood pressure.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine discovered that an enzyme important in fetal heart-cell development regulates cardiac hypertrophy, a key step in congestive heart failure. The study found that inhibiting this enzyme can prevent the onset of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have developed a new model for discovering and evaluating anti-HIV drugs using a mouse protein called APOBEC3. The study found that APOBEC3 inhibits the infection and spread of a mouse tumor virus, providing a potential test system for evaluating human APOBEC3-based drugs.
A Penn study found that only 16% of male veterans indicated zero tolerance for detainee exposure and deprivation, while 48% showed no tolerance for detainee rape. Depression and PTSD were strongly linked to increased tolerance for abuse.
Research finds standard therapy more effective in helping women with PCOS achieve pregnancy compared to diabetes drug metformin, which was initially thought to have great promise. Clomiphene fosters ovulation by stimulating hormone release, increasing pregnancy chances two times over metformin.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have found a link between microglia activation and Alzheimer's disease, suggesting a new approach to fighting the disease. The study also shows promise for immunosuppressant FK506 as a potential treatment for neurodegenerative disorders.
A study published in Cell reveals that microtubules rely on a balance between molecular motors and brakes to form stable structures. This cooperation enables the creation of microtubule arrays with defined lengths, which is crucial for basic cellular functions such as cell division and transport.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine propose a new approach for brain-machine interfaces using undamaged nervous tissue to provide command signals to drive prosthetics. The system may one day enable people with spinal-cord injuries or limb loss to regain control over their devices.
A team of researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine has identified a molecular spring within the fibrinogen protein, which explains how blood clots can stretch and bend under physical stress. This discovery may lead to the development of treatments for cardiovascular diseases such as stroke and thrombosis.
Researchers at Penn School of Medicine have shown a 51% reduction in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. The new therapy, which targets the microsomal triglyceride transfer protein, also decreased total cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
A study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine has identified a key regulatory protein, Klf2, that translates blood flow into gene expression. Klf2 is activated by rapid, pulsed blood flow and plays a crucial role in maintaining vessel tone and regulating smooth muscle contraction.
Researchers found that older men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer who received treatment lived significantly longer than those who didn't receive treatment. After accounting for differences, the study discovered a 31% lower risk of death in patients who underwent surgery or radiation therapy.
Researchers found that high-performing hospitals had little difference in mortality rates for common conditions like heart attack and pneumonia. The study suggests that current quality measures are insufficient to accurately reflect patient outcomes, highlighting the need for new measures linked to clinical outcomes.
A breakthrough discovery by Vera Krymskaya at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine has linked a potential treatment for Lymphangioleimyomatosis (LAM), a rare lung disease targeting only women during childbearing years. The treatment, utilizing a medication to inhibit abnormal growth, is now in clinical trials.
Researchers at University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine discovered targeting a single gene can inhibit bone decay while stimulating bone formation. This concept may lead to drug treatments for osteoporosis and other bone diseases.
Scientists have pinpointed a molecular pathway regulating the development of taste buds, with Wnt proteins playing a key role in initiating taste-bud formation and connecting them to the brain. This breakthrough sheds light on the lesser-understood sense of taste.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have identified a new protein called Tribbles associated with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). The study found that Tribbles induces AML by inactivating the C/EBPá protein, providing a potential therapeutic target.