News from NYU Langone Health
AAO 2024: Main Takeaways From The Zoster Eye Disease Study. (Opthalmology Times)
Opthalmology Times (10/31) Elisabeth J. Cohen, MD, professor, Department of Ophthalmology, vice chair, academic affairs, Department of Ophthalmology, presented findings from the Zoster Eye Disease study at the American Academy of Ophthalmology congress, revealing that low-dose valcyclovir significantly reduces flare-ups of keratitis and iritis in patients with shingles-related eye involvement, with benefits evident at 18 months, and also decreases the need for poorly tolerated neuropathic pain medications, thus offering a better-tolerated alternative for managing post-herpetic neuralgia and chronic pain syndrome associated with shingles.
Ozempic Reduces Knee Osteoarthritis Pain By Almost Half: “That’s Huge.” (New York Post)
New York Post (10/31) Following a study finding that medications like Ozempic and Wegovy can reduce knee pain “for those with moderate to severe osteoarthritis,” Vinay K. Aggarwal, MD, assistant professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, said, “Osteoarthritis is most common in the hip joints, causing pain in the groin and sides of the hips, and the knee joints, leading to pain in the front, sides or back of the knees.”
I’m An ER Pediatrician – 4 Halloween Mistakes I Never Let My Kids Make. (New York Post)
New York Post (10/31) Karen N. Goodman, MD, clinical assistant professor, the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Emergency Medicine, and Department of Pediatrics, Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital, suggested that parents do a mask safety check for Halloween, noting children “may put the mask on right before or when they get outside and suddenly realize that they can’t see anything, but then they don’t want to take the mask off.”
Doctors Report First U.S. Cases Of Sexually Transmitted Ringworm Rash. (HealthDay)
HealthDay (10/31) Avrom S. Caplan, MD, assistant professor, the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, and his team have identified the first U.S. cases of sexually transmitted ringworm, specifically the TMVII subtype of Trichophyton mentagrophytes, which the team said appeared “on the [patients’] face, buttocks or genitals, and was successfully treated with antifungal medications.”
Also reporting is HealthDay (10/31).
Families Shared Meals And Quality Time More During The Pandemic. Experts Say It’s Important To Keep That Going. (Yahoo! News)
Yahoo! News (10/31) Experts say the COVID-19 pandemic increased family dinners, a time that “gives us the chance to connect and process the day,” according to Thea Gallagher, PsyD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Psychiatry.
Vision Care Symposium At The East Hampton Library. (East Hampton (NY) Star)
East Hampton (NY) Star (10/31) Julie N. Nam, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Ophthalmology, will participate in the Healthcare Foundation’s symposium on vision care on Saturday, November 1.
Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists May Decrease Rates Of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Flares. (Physician's Weekly)
Physician’s Weekly (10/31) A NYU Langone Health observational study investigated “the safety and effectiveness of GLP-1 agonists on weight loss in IBD patients.”
UK Settles Novel Legal Case Over Girl’s Death From Air Pollution. (Texarkana (TX) Gazette)
The Texarkana (TX) Gazette (11/1) In a landmark civil case, the British government has settled with the family of Ella, a 9-year-old girl whose death certificate uniquely listed “air pollution” as a cause of death, following her asthma-related death in 2013 in Lewisham, London; Environment Minister Emma Hardy apologized to the family without introducing new policy measures, while George D. Thurston, ScD, professor, Departments of Medicine, Division of Environmental Medicine, and Department of Population Health, remarked on the rarity of such documentation, expressing hope it would prompt swifter governmental action to mitigate air pollution.
Expert Debunks Sugar-Hyperactivity Myth In Kids, Discusses Seasonal Affective Disorder. (WNYW-NY (FOX)-3)
WNYW-NY (FOX)-3 (10/31) 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, said that the belief that sugar makes children hyperactive is a myth, attributing the behavior to excitement from the reward mechanism in the brain rather than sugar itself, and cautioned that excessive black licorice consumption can cause heart problems in both children and adults; she also discussed seasonal affective disorder, advising that while phototherapy lamps may offer temporary relief, maintaining regular sleep patterns, healthy eating, and exposure to natural sunlight are crucial for managing symptoms.
News from NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island
Her Stomach Pain Was Unbearable. What Was Causing It? (New York Times)
The New York Times (11/1) A 68-year-old woman from Long Island, suffering from severe abdominal pain and weakness, was admitted to NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island, where tests indicated a possible case of vasculitis, a serious inflammation of the arteries, rather than the initially suspected gastritis; David Yaich, DO, clinical assistant professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island, treated her with high-dose steroids and her symptoms improved significantly, although her osteoarthritis persisted as a separate issue.
Dr. Melissa Fana Dispels Common Breast Cancer Myths, Says Future Of Detection And Treatment Is Bright. (East Hampton (NY) Press)
Paywalled* East Hampton (NY) Press (10/30) Melissa D. Fana, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Surgery, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Perlmutter Cancer Center, chief of service, Breast Surgery, Long Island Community Hospital, works to dispel common breast cancer myths and advocates for patient empowerment through knowledge, emphasizing the importance of understanding cancer biology and the necessity of proactive healthcare measures, especially as breast cancer cases rise among young women, while also supporting the updated guideline for biennial mammograms starting at age 40, asserting “mammograms save lives,” and highlighting the advancements in detection and treatment that offer hope for improved patient outcomes.
LI Lawmakers Call For Increased Pediatric Cancer Research Budget. (Huntington (NY) Patch)
The Huntington (NY) Patch (10/31) Long Island officials are advocating for increased federal funding for pediatric cancer research, with U.S. Congressman Nick LaLota supporting the Give Kids a Chance Act of 2024 to allow pediatric drug trials, while Sylwia Jasinski, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Pediatrics, NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island, supports the act, saying it would prioritize innovative treatments for children.
