News from NYU Langone Health
I’m A Doctor – How To Lose Weight For Good This Year And Tricks To Avoid Diet Fatigue. (New York Post)
The New York Post (1/6) Holly F. Lofton, MD, clinical associate professor, Departments of Surgery, Division of Bariatric Surgery, and Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, advises against drastic changes to diet and exercise routines in the new year, suggesting that individuals consider gradual, sustainable changes, such as avoiding carbohydrates after 6 p.m., logging food and emotions to identify unhealthy eating triggers, and exploring home workout options before committing to a gym.
Can Alcohol Cause Cancer? Here’s What The Science Says. (USA Today)
USA Today (1/3) In a recent advisory, US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warned that alcohol consumption, even at moderate levels, increases cancer risk, with the National Cancer Institute explaining that alcohol breaks down into harmful chemicals that can damage DNA and elevate cancer risk, while Jiyoung Ahn, PhD, professor, Departments of Population Health, and Medicine, Perlmutter Cancer Center, said, “If you drink more, it’s really clearly increasing your risk, so moderating and less drinking is better.”
Crain’s New York Business (1/6) “The general public perception is that moderate drinking could be good for cardiovascular health, such as a glass of red wine at dinner, but the warning informs individuals that even moderate drinking can carry risks,” said Jiyoung Ahn, PhD, professor, Departments of Population Health, and Medicine, Perlmutter Cancer Center.
CBS (1/3) Jonathan D. LaPook, MD, the Mebane Professor of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, professor, Department of Population Health explained that while only about 45% of Americans are aware of alcohol’s cancer link, the surgeon general’s report connects alcohol consumption to cancers of the mouth, throat, voice box, esophagus, and liver, and emphasizes that even one drink per day can increase cancer risk, challenging previous studies suggesting moderate alcohol benefits for heart health.
TODAY (1/5) NBC medical contributor Natalie E. Azar, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, appeared on TODAY to discuss US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s proposal to implement warning labels on alcohol bottles and cans akin to those on cigarette packs.
Fox News (1/3) Marc K. Siegel, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, commented on Murthy’s advisory regarding alcohol consumption, stating, “Too many Americans are living with an outdated assumption that some amount of alcohol is not only harmless, but also good for you.”
Also reporting was Fox News (1/3).
Three-Year Medical School Can Work: Ethicist. (Medscape)
Paywalled* Medscape (1/3)* Arthur L. Caplan, PhD, the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor, Department of Population Health, Division of Medical Ethics, discussed the institution’s innovative tuition-free policy and its accelerated 3-year medical program, which guarantees residency and shows promising outcomes, as reported in Academic Medicine, with accelerated students performing comparably to 4-year students in clinical reasoning and exams, suggesting the program’s potential to address doctor shortages, reduce educational costs, and maintain educational quality, while offering flexibility for additional degrees.
Also reporting was National Review (1/3).
10 Hospitals Expanding Radiology Services. (Becker's Hospital Review)
Becker’s Hospital Review (1/3) published a listicle of ten hospitals expanding radiology services, including that “New York City-based NYU Langone Health opened NYU Langone Radiology – Fort Hamilton, a new imaging center in Brooklyn.”
Zebrafish Study Reveals Insights Into Newborn Gaze Stabilization. (ReachMD)
ReachMD (1/5) A study by NYU Langone Health reveals that the vestibulo-ocular reflex in newborns can stabilize gaze without sensory input, with research using zebrafish showing that the maturation of neuromuscular junctions is critical for this reflex, potentially informing treatments for balance and eye movement disorders; David Schoppik, MD, associate professor, Departments of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and Neuroscience and Physiology, the study’s senior author, said, “Discovering how vestibular reflexes come to be may help us find new ways to counter pathologies that affect balance or eye movements.”
New Findings Support Positive Mental Health Benefits Of Psychedelics. (Drug Discovery World)
Drug Discovery World (1/3) A report by NYU Langone Health indicates that psilocybin, when combined with psychotherapy, can significantly alleviate anxiety, depression, obsessive thoughts, and anger in cancer patients, with effects lasting up to six months; Petros D. Petridis, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Physiatry said, “Our findings suggest that the mental health benefits of psilocybin therapy for cancer patients may reach far beyond what we have previously understood.” Additionally, a separate NYU Grossman School of Medicine study found psilocybin therapy led to positive personality changes in individuals with alcohol use disorder, with Broc Pagni, PhD, postdoctoral fellow, Department of Psychiatry, saying these changes may aid in resilience against relapse triggers.
Also reporting are Cancer Network (1/3) and HealthDay (1/6).
Hainline: America Needs A Youth Sports Revival. (Boston Herald (MA))
The Boston Herald (MA) (1/4) Brian W. Hainline, MD, clinical professor, Department of Neurology, writes about the decline in youth sports participation, attributing it to rising costs rather than a lack of interest, and underscores the critical importance of making sports financially accessible for improving children’s mental and physical health, citing tennis as a model for accessibility due to its low equipment costs and adaptability for all ages and abilities, which has contributed to a 34% increase in participation since 2019, contrasting with the high costs of sports like basketball and soccer that deter many families.
‘U.S. News & World Report’ Reveals Its Best Diets For 2025. (Everyday Health)
Everyday Health (1/3) U.S. News & World Report has released its top diets for 2025, with the Mediterranean diet ranked as the best overall for the eighth consecutive year, followed by the DASH diet, and the flexitarian diet, which moved to third place; Melanie R. Jay, MD, associate professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, and Department of Population Health, said, “The Mediterranean diet has a lot more options and may be the easiest out of all of these for some people to follow, but each one of these diets would be much better than the typical American diet.”
The Role Of Caregivers In Positive Body Image. (KIDK-TV Pocatello (ID))
KIDK-TV (1/5) Rachel L. Goldman, PhD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Psychiatry, discussed the impact of social media on body image issues, emphasizing the role of caregivers in promoting positive body image among youth by being mindful of language and modeling healthy behaviors. She advised setting realistic, behavior-focused goals instead of number-based resolutions and recommended seeking assistance from healthcare professionals if needed.
What Really Happens To Your Body When You Drink Electrolytes Every Day. (LiveStrong)
LiveStrong (1/3) David S. Goldfarb, MD, professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, and Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, clinical chief, Division of Nephrology, NY Harbor VA Medical Center, said that sodium is the most important electrolyte because it determines blood volume, affecting the entire body, and while electrolyte supplements can be beneficial in extreme conditions, generally healthy individuals with a balanced diet do not need them since the kidneys regulate electrolyte levels, and excessive intake is unlikely unless kidney function is impaired or certain medications are involved.
Respiratory Illnesses Surge In Washington. (KCPQ-TV Seattle)
KCPQ-TV (1/3) Rabia A. De Latour, MD, assistant professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, said that while things are back to normal following the pandemic, “our immune systems are not,” as respiratory illnesses surge in Washington, with ER visits for COVID, flu, and RSV increasing by 20%, 47%, and 13%, respectively.
Costco Cold Remedy Recalled Due To Possible ‘Contamination.’ (Fox Business)
Fox Business (1/5) A Costco-brand cold and flu medicine, Kirkland Signature Severe Cold & Flu Plus Congestion, has been recalled due to potential foreign material contamination; this follows a previous FDA recall of 8,640 boxes due to the ingredient oral phenylephrine being deemed ineffective as a nasal decongestant, which Marc K. Siegel, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, said can cause heart toxicity at effective doses.
Why More Kids Are Getting Kidney Stones. (The Independent)
The Independent (1/5) David S. Goldfarb, MD, professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, and Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, clinical chief, Division of Nephrology, NY Harbor VA Medical Center, discussed the increasing incidence of kidney stones in children, particularly adolescent girls, attributing it to factors such as diet, dehydration, and possibly climate change, while also highlighting that people are consuming less dairy, which reduces calcium intake.
