News from NYU Langone Health

I Could Barely Walk After Being Hit By A Truck 40 Years Ago – Here’s How I Finally Got Rid Of My Back Pain. (New York Post)

The New York Post (8/15) Emmy-nominated composer Steve Sandberg underwent a three-hour minimally invasive endoscopic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) surgery at NYU Langone Health in September 2023 to address a 40-year battle with back pain; Charla R. Fischer, MD, associate professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, stated, “It really shows the ability to do what needs to be done in the spine without having to make big incisions or have a lot of pain afterward,” noting that this technique involves minimal disruption to soft tissue, resulting in faster recovery times.

Excess Caffeine Intake Linked To Increased Blood Pressure, Heart Rate. (WNYW-TV New York)

WNYW-TV (8/15) A new study reveals that excessive caffeine intake may put even healthy individuals at risk by increasing heart rates and blood pressure, with 27 percent of Americans drinking two cups of coffee per day and 20 percent consuming three; Lawrence Phillips, MD, associate professor, Department of Medicine, the Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, commented, “Excess of any intake is likely going to be bad, and the recommendation is always going to be that people eat and drink in moderation,” while also emphasizing the importance of monitoring heart rate and blood pressure during routine physical exams.

Jazz Chisholm Jr Unlikely To Need Elbow Surgery. (New York Post)

The New York Post (8/15) Laith M. Jazrawi, MD, professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Division of Sports Orthopedic Surgery, joins New York Post Sports anchor Brandon London for the weekly ‘Injury Report’ segment to provide insight into how long Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. may be out after injuring his left elbow on a slide into home plate and what the Bombers’ trainers will be monitoring during the recovery period.

Is Your College-Bound Teen ‘Soiling The Nest’? How To Deal When They’re Acting Like ‘Raging A--Holes’. (New York Post)

The New York Post (8/15) Yamalis Diaz, PhD, clinical associate professor, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry discussed the “soiling the nest” phenomenon, describing it as “a displacement of anxiety about heading off to college.”

Major Biological Shifts May Age Our Bodies Rapidly In Our 40s And 60s. (Everyday Health)

Everyday Health (8/15) Research indicates our bodies experience two significant biomolecular shifts at approximately ages 44 and 60, potentially affecting health, with Josef Coresh, MD, PhD, the Terry and Mel Karmazin Professor of Population Health, Department of Population Health, professor, Department of Medicine, stating, “This study suggests nuances on how we go about prevention, but we already know major factors that lead to lower risks include a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, avoiding weight gain, controlling diabetes and hypertension, not smoking, and maintaining physical activity.”

NYU Langone Health Physician Discusses How We Age And US Women’s Life Expectancy. (WNYW-TV New York)

WNYW-TV (8/15) A new study reveals that our bodies undergo two significant aging bursts around ages 44 and 60, impacting metabolism and immune function, with Purvi S. Parikh, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Allergy & Immunology, and Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy and Immunology, explaining, “What this research showed that there are two bursts of aging, one that occurs around age 44 and one that occurs around age 60”; additionally, Dr. Parikh discussed that U.S. women have the lowest life expectancy among high-income, English-speaking countries, attributing this to factors like lack of universal healthcare, dietary issues, and higher rates of violence and overdose.

Home BP Telemonitoring With Nurse Case Management Lowers Blood Pressure In High-Risk Stroke Survivors. (Neurology Today)

Neurology Today (8/15) Lead author Olugbenga G. Ogedegbe, MD, MPH, the Dr. Adolph and Margaret Berger Professor of Medicine and Population Health, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, professor, Department of Population Health, said, “One of the predominant drivers of health inequities when it comes to stroke is hypertension”; he and his colleagues reported that studies have shown the impact of elevated SBP on stroke risk is three times greater for Black populations than White ones.

Journal Conflict Of Interest Disclosure Policies Are All Over The Map. (MedPage Today)

MedPage Today (8/15) Barbara Redman, PhD, MBE, associate, Department of Population, Division of Medical Ethics, criticized journal editors for not performing conflict of interest checks with authors, warning the lack of checks “means that there’s potential bias – emphasizing potential bias – in the article, but the reader and researchers and patients who follow along don’t know there might be.”

Microsoft, Health Systems Partner To Streamline Nursing Workflow. (Becker's Hospital Review)

Becker’s Hospital Review (8/15) Microsoft is collaborating with various health systems, including NYU Langone Health, to create an AI tool designed to streamline nursing documentation, as detailed in an August 15 news release.

Could Dry Fasting Aid In Metabolic Disorders, Diabetes? (MD Edge)

MD Edge (8/15) Dry fasting, the practice of going without food and water, has enthusiastic advocates on social media platforms; however, Joanne Bruno, MD, PhD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Medicine, the Holman Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, & Metabolism, noted, “Certain medications used for the management of type 2 diabetes, such as SGLT2 inhibitors, can cause dehydration,” meaning that it is “critical that patients stay well hydrated while on these medications to avoid serious side effects such as euglycemic DKA.”

What Does Dactylitis Have to Do With Psoriatic Arthritis? (Health Central)

Health Central (8/15) “Dactylitis is an intense inflammatory response that involves maybe all of the digit, but especially the joint,” says David H. Goddard, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology.

21-Year-Old Man With Recurrent Patellar Instability. (Healio)

Healio (8/9) Abigail L. Campbell, MD, assistant professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Center for Women’s Sports Medicine; Alexander Golant, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery; Kevin Lehane, DO, resident, Department of Orthopedic Surgery; and Allison Morgan, MD, resident, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, all with NYU Langone Orthopedics, present a case study of a 21-year-old man with bilateral knee recurrent patellar instability, whose first dislocation occurred on the right side after a misstep 8 years prior, and who has since dislocated innumerable times during everyday activities, such as walking and stair climbing.

If You Want To Keep Your Heart Healthy, You Should Avoid This One Thing. (BuzzFeed)

BuzzFeed (8/15) In an episode of the “Am I Doing It Wrong?” podcast, Guilly R. Rebagay, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Medicine, the Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, advised avoiding foods with trans fats and those high in very saturated fats or heavily processed items, highlighting that such foods can be detrimental to heart health.

Matthew Perry’s Stepfather Keith Morrison Looks Forward To ‘Justice’ After Arrests Connected To Actor’s Death. (Fox News)

Fox News (8/15) “Fox News medical contributor Marc K. Siegel, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine “discusses the details surrounding Matthew Perry’s death and explains the dangers of recreational ketamine use.”

Also reporting is Fox News (8/15).

Disclose Ethics Consult To Patients? Ethicist Weighs In. (Medscape)

Paywalled* Medscape (8/15)* Arthur L. Caplan, PhD, the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor, Department of Population Health, Division of Medical Ethics, was asked by another facility’s ethics department if the ethics committee or hospital had a duty to disclose to the family or patient that an ethics consult had been sought to determine if it was ethical to stop care for a patient despite the family’s disagreement.

ABIM Revokes Two Physicians’ Certifications Over Accusations of COVID Misinformation. (MD Edge)

MD Edge (8/15) The American Board of Internal Medicine has revoked certification for two physicians leading an organization promoting ivermectin as a COVID-19 treatment, with Arthur L. Caplan, PhD, the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor, Department of Population Health, Division of Medical Ethics, stating, “You do have the right to free speech, but you don’t have the right to practice outside of the standard of care boundaries.”

Also reporting are Medscape (8/15)* and CHEST Physician (8/15).