News from NYU Langone Health

Study Offers New Insight Into The Link Between Oral Microbiome And Head And Neck Cancers. (News Medical)

News Medical (9/26) A study led by researchers at NYU Langone Health and its Perlmutter Cancer Center found that certain oral bacteria are linked to a 50% increased risk of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), with 13 bacterial species identified as influencing this risk; “Our findings offer new insight into the relationship between the oral microbiome and head and neck cancers,” said lead author Soyoung Kwak, PhD, postdoctoral fellow, while co-author Richard Hayes, DDS, MPH, PhD, professor, Department of Population Health, Perlmutter Cancer Center, added, “Brushing your teeth and flossing may not only help prevent periodontal disease, but also may protect against head and neck cancer.” Jiyoung Ahn, PhD, professor, Departments of Population Health, and Medicine, Perlmutter Cancer Center, study co-senior author, also cautioned “that while the added risks from bacteria are concerning, overall cases of head and neck cancer remain fairly uncommon.”

Also reporting are Health Reporter (9/26), Inside Precision Medicine (9/26), and the Daily Mail (UK) (9/26).

For Heart Failure Patients, Tirzepatide Could Lower Risk Of Hospitalization And Death. (Health)

Health (9/26) Data from Eli Lilly indicates that tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro and Zepbound, significantly reduces the risk of hospitalization and death from heart failure, and improves heart failure symptoms and physical limitations in adults with obesity and HFpEF, with Priya Jaisinghani, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Medicine, the Holman Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, reviewing the topline results and stating, “The study offers hope for U.S. patients with HFpEF.”

I Was Diagnosed With Thyroid Cancer At Age 39 – This Was The First Sign That Something Was Wrong. (AOL)

AOL (9/26) Jennifer Tyburski’s journey with thyroid cancer underscores the importance of self-advocacy and early detection; after noticing a lump on her neck, Tyburski sought medical attention despite normal bloodwork and was eventually diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer, leading her to undergo an eight-hour thyroidectomy performed by Kepal Patel, MD, professor, Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and Surgery, Division of Endocrine Surgery, vice chair, Faculty Development, Department of Surgery, chief, Division of Endocrine Surgery, who she praises for treating her as “a whole person, not just a patient.”

The Truth About Soy And Breast Cancer. (WebMD)

WebMD (9/26) Marleen I. Meyers, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Perlmutter Cancer Center, and director of the Perlmutter Cancer Center Survivorship Program, addresses the longstanding debate over soy consumption and breast cancer risk, explaining that while soy’s isoflavones were once feared to stimulate cancer growth, studies have shown that a diet high in soy does not increase breast cancer risk and may even reduce it; she states, “For years, soy got a bad rap because of its isoflavones,” and adds, “So there was a fear that soy could act as estrogen in the body and stimulate cancer cells.”

Yes, Gas Can Cause Chest Pain. (PopSugar)

PopSugar (9/26) Harmony R. Reynolds, MD, associate professor, Department of Medicine, the Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, explains that gas pain is usually brief and triggered by specific foods, unlike heart attack pain which lasts longer and may accompany belching, nausea, or vomiting.

Jason E. Lowenstein, MD Named Top Doctor For Treating Spine Deformities. (Jersey's Best)

Jersey’s Best (9/26) Jason E. Lowenstein, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, “has been recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor; honored by New York magazine and Inside Jersey magazine as a Top Doctor; voted Top Doctor by New Jersey Monthly magazine; and received the NJ’s Favorite Kids Doc Award by New Jersey Family magazine.”