News from NYU Langone Health

Top Spine Surgeon Combines Minimally Invasive And Robotic Surgery. (Orthoworld)

Orthoworld (3/28) Charla R. Fischer, MD, associate professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, chief of orthopedics, Tisch Hospital and Kimmel Pavilion, discussed her commitment to minimally invasive spine surgery, stating, “It’s the future of spine surgery,” and her focus on patient education, innovative techniques, and surgeon ergonomics; she also mentioned the importance of diversity in the healthcare workforce, saying, “I do believe surgeon diversity leads to patient diversity,” and emphasized her research on social determinants of health and healthcare inequities.

I’m A Neurologist – I Eat These 8 Foods To Keep My Brain Healthy. (New York Post)

The New York Post (3/31) Aaron S. Lord, MD, associate professor, Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, chief, Neurology, NYU Langone Hospital–Brooklyn, discusses his daily or weekly consumption of eight brain-healthy foods, including nuts, fresh fish, leafy greens, tomatoes, olive oil, turmeric, ginger, and coffee or tea, emphasizing their roles in enhancing brain function, reducing inflammation, and potentially lowering the risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease.

Food Poisoning While Traveling: What You Should Know. (New York Times)

The New York Times (3/28) Two cases of potential food poisoning among tourists have highlighted concerns about preventing and treating food-borne illnesses, with Adam J. Ratner, MD, professor, Departments of Pediatrics, and Microbiology, Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital, saying, “People may be in places where the tap water is not necessarily safe, and they don’t have control over how food is prepared or handled.”

Fox News (3/28) Marc K. Siegel, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, said that while water at resorts in Costa Rica is generally safe, it is often wise to use bottled water for activities like brushing teeth when traveling in Mexico or Central America.

Staten Island Son Secures Medical Residency Right Here In New York City On ‘Match Day’. (Staten Island (NY) Advance)

The Staten Island (NY) Advance (3/30) Jake Gilman, a fourth-generation Staten Islander and soon-to-be graduate of Albert Einstein School of Medicine, has matched to NYU Grossman School of Medicine for his residency in Anesthesiology, marking a significant milestone in his medical career.

Wound Therapy May Not Mitigate Risk For Wound Complications In Direct Anterior THA. (Healio)

Healio (3/28) At the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting, Joshua C. Rozell, MD, associate professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, chief, Orthopedic Surgery, NYU Langone Hospital–Brooklyn, presented findings that the prophylactic use of negative pressure wound therapy did not reduce wound complication risks in patients undergoing direct anterior total hip arthroplasty (THA), with higher BMI and longer operative times increasing complication risks.

Low-Dose Doxycycline Effective In Scarring Alopecia. (Medscape)

Paywalled* Medscape (3/28)* A retrospective review conducted by researchers Carli Needle, BA, and Anna Brinks, BA, at NYU Grossman School of Medicine examined 241 patients with lymphocytic scarring alopecia from 2009 to 2023, finding that low-dose doxycycline offers comparable efficacy to high-dose treatment with fewer adverse events, particularly gastrointestinal symptoms and photosensitivity, leading to fewer treatment discontinuations; the study was published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Dietary Recommendations For Cancer Prevention And Supportive Care. (Targeted Oncology)

Targeted Oncology (3/29) Marleen I. Meyers, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Perlmutter Cancer Center, said that a balanced, nutrient-rich diet is crucial for cancer prevention, advocating for whole foods like fruits and vegetables over supplements, and emphasizing a colorful diet to ensure a range of vital nutrients.

Bariatric Surgery May Improve Outcomes For Patients With MASH, Study Finds. (Verywell Health)

Verywell Health (3/28) Bariatric surgery has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of severe liver problems in people with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), according to a 15-year study in Nature Medicine, with only 20.9% of surgical patients experiencing severe liver outcomes compared to 46.4% using medical therapies; Christine J. Ren-Fielding, MD, professor, Department of Surgery, Division of Bariatric Surgery, division chief, Bariatric Surgery, said, “It’s the sustained weight loss that is what really impacts MASH progression or non-progression, and therefore, surgery really is the much better, more effective option for MASH management.”

Oral Semaglutide Cuts Risk For Heart Events By 14% In High-Risk Type 2 Diabetes. (Healio)

Healio (3/29) Howard Weintraub, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, the Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, writes in a Perspectives column that data from the SOUL study reinforce the benefits of GLP-1s, particularly semaglutide, for patients with cardiovascular risk, including those with diabetes and renal disease, showing a significant reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events; he maintains enthusiasm for these treatments, stating, “If there is a patient who fits the phenotype of this study and they just will not take an injectable version of this drug, I would have no hesitation prescribing the oral medication.”

Remi Bader’s Shocking Transformation: What You Need To Know About SADI-S Weight Loss Surgery. (Ok!)

Ok! (3/30) Remi Bader discussed her weight loss journey and the SADI-S bariatric procedure she underwent in December 2023, with her surgeon, Christine J. Ren-Fielding, MD, professor, Department of Surgery, Division of Bariatric Surgery, division chief, Bariatric Surgery, recommending the procedure, explaining that SADI-S is for patients with significant weight to lose and metabolism issues, adding, “What you need to do is add a component where the intestines aren’t absorbing as many calories in terms of fat.”

These Drugstore Conditioners Are Annoyingly Good. (Allure)

Allure (3/28) “‘Coconut oil can be a great thing to either condition with or leave in to help repair the damage that occurs to your hair shafts from coloring, heat, and the sun,’ explains Robert Finney, MD, faculty, The Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology.”

18 Hospitals, Health Systems Raising Workers’ Pay. (Becker's Hospital Review)

Becker’s Hospital Review (3/28) “Members of the Federation of Nurses/United Federation of Teachers approved a new labor contract with NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn, part of New York City-based NYU Langone Health,” under which “nurses received a 9.25% wage increase effective March 1 and will receive a 6% increase effective March 1, 2026, according to the union.”

23andMe Has Filed For Bankruptcy: ‘Get Your Data Out Of There’. (CNET News)

CNET News (3/29) 23andMe has filed for bankruptcy amid slowing sales, a major data breach, and workforce layoffs, leading to concerns about the future of customer data; Arthur L. Caplan, PhD, the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor of Bioethics, Department of Population Health, Division of Medical Ethics, criticized the company’s business model, advising users to retrieve their data, saying, “My advice is get your data out of there. I would not leave it there, and it might be too late,” warning of privacy risks under new ownership.

Heart Disease Risk Higher For Women Who Have These Unhealthy Lifestyle Habits. (New York Post)

The New York Post (3/29) A study by researchers at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto found that lifestyle and health factors such as diet, sleep, and physical activity have twice the impact on heart health risk for women compared to men; Marc K. Siegel, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, who was not involved in the research, said hormonal shifts in women, including menopause, may contribute to this increased susceptibility.

New Class Of Antibiotics Discovered For First Time In Decades. (Fox News)

Fox News (3/28) Researchers from McMaster University and the University of Illinois, Chicago, have discovered a new class of antibiotics called lariocidin effective against drug-resistant bacteria and not toxic to human cells; Marc K. Siegel, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, who was not involved in the research, praised the discovery, saying, “Artificial intelligence promises to improve new drug targets, including for antibiotics – and in the meantime, research at McMaster in Canada has found a new class of antibiotics.” 

In a separate article, Fox News (3/27) Marc K. Siegel, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, expressed skepticism about the use of full-body MRI scans, stating, “If you do a full-body scan, you will be inclined to pursue every positive finding, whether they are really significant or not,” and raised concerns about their high cost, oversensitivity, and the potential to overshadow more targeted and accurate diagnostic approaches.

Also reporting is the New York Post (3/28).