News from NYU Langone Health
Low-Dose Valtrex Shows Promising Results In Treating Shingles Of The Eye. (CBS)
CBS Evening News (10/27) Elisabeth J. Cohen, MD, professor, Department of Ophthalmology, vice chair, academic affairs, Department of Ophthalmology, discusses with Jonathan D. LaPook, MD, the Mebane Professor of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, professor, Department of Population Health, the study she has presented which suggests that treating shingles of the eye with an antiviral drug for a year significantly reduces the risk of developing new or worsening eye disease, with patients on low-dose Valtrex showing a 22% lower risk at 12 months and 26% lower at 18 months compared to those on a placebo, despite not reaching statistical significance at 12 months, which could potentially change clinical practices.
Also reporting are MedBound Times (10/27), EyeWorld News Magazine (10/25), and Dermatology Advisor (10/25).
I Had A Preventative Double Mastectomy At 32, And No, I Don’t Have The BRCA Gene. (Good Morning America)
Good Morning America (10/28) Rachel Katz, a coordinating producer for “ABC News Live,” underwent a preventative double mastectomy at age 32 due to a strong family history of breast cancer, despite not having the BRCA gene, and her journey involved intensive surveillance at NYU Langone Health under Julia A. Smith, MD, PhD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Perlmutter Cancer Center.
I’m A Doctor – Here Are Signs You Need To Get Your Thyroid Checked. (New York Post)
The New York Post (10/28) Kepal N. Patel, MD, professor, Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and Surgery, chief, Division of Endocrine Surgery, and co-director of NYU Langone’s Thyroid Program, explains that the thyroid gland, essential for regulating metabolism and affecting various bodily functions, can develop conditions such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, with symptoms ranging from fatigue and weight changes to anxiety and heart irregularities, and advises seeing a specialist if symptoms persist or if there are changes in neck appearance; he also mentions that while neck lumps are often benign, persistent or growing lumps should be evaluated further.
Medical School, Early Residency Outcomes Similar For 3-, 4-Year MD Grads. (Infectious Disease Advisor)
Infectious Disease Advisor (10/25) A study from NYU Grossman School of Medicine, published in Academic Medicine, reveals that graduates of the accelerated 3-year M.D. (3YMD) program perform similarly to those from the traditional 4-year M.D. (4YMD) program in medical school and early residency; 3YMD students were slightly older and had higher multiple mini-interview scores, with superior preclerkship exam performance but lower scores on USMLE steps 1 and 2 and the physical examination section of the Comprehensive Clinical Skills Exam, while achieving comparable USMLE step 3 scores and team assessments in residency, and outperforming peers in milestone assessments in the internal medicine program.
NYU Langone’s Sustainability Keystones. (Becker's Hospital Review)
Becker’s Hospital Review (10/25) Joseph Bosco III, MD, professor, vice chair, clinical affairs, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, chief, Musculoskeletal Strategic Areas, discusses navigating healthcare economics and system growth, saying, “We believe that integration is the key to sustainable growth, that you have to be able to integrate whatever hospital or group that you purchase.”
213 CNOs To Know In 2024. (Becker's Hospital Review)
Becker’s Hospital Review (10/25) Becker’s is celebrating outstanding healthcare chief nursing officers (CNOs) for their significant contributions, including Debra Albert, MBA, RN, chief, Nursing Officer and Senior Vice President of Patient Care Service, who has been the Chief Nursing Officer at NYU Langone Health since April 2020, and under whose leadership the health system has consistently received top rankings for patient safety and quality of care, including recognition as a top performer in the Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD, Quality Leadership ranking.
26 Health Systems Listed As ‘Most Wired.’ (Becker's Hospital Review)
Becker’s Hospital Review (10/25) NYU Langone Health has been recognized by the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives as one of the 26 hospitals and health systems achieving level 10 status in the 2024 “Digital Health Most Wired” program, which acknowledges organizations that have effectively utilized information technology to enhance patient safety and health outcomes.
New Netflix Thriller ‘Don’t Move’ Makes Drug-Induced Paralysis Look Scary. It’s Actually Worse. (Inverse)
Inverse (10/26) Akshay Bhatt, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative Care, and Pain Medicine, discusses the medical inaccuracies in Netflix’s thriller “Don’t Move,” where a character is injected with a paralytic agent, explaining that such agents used in general anesthesia act much faster than depicted and require continuous administration to maintain paralysis, while also highlighting that these drugs affect all muscles, including those necessary for breathing, necessitating medical assistance to prevent life-threatening situations, and emphasizing that in a healthcare setting, paralytics are rarely used alone without accompanying medications for anxiety, pain, and sedation.
Discrimination May Cause Gut Inflammation, Digestive Woes, Study Says. (UPI)
UPI (10/25) Aasma Shaukat, MD, MPH, the Robert M. and Mary H. Glickman Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, professor, Department of Population Health, said a new study suggesting discrimination may lead to gut inflammation and digestive issues does not demonstrate that changes in gut microbiome “lead to more physical health conditions.”
Can Normothermic Regional Perfusion Help Ease The Donor Organ Shortage? (Endocrinology Advisor)
Endocrinology Advisor (10/25) Normothermic regional perfusion (NRP), introduced in the U.S. in 2019, maintains organs at normal body temperature postmortem, improving viability and outcomes, though its adoption is uneven due to cost, logistics, and ethical concerns, with Brendan Parent, JD, assistant professor, Department of Population Health, Division of Medical Ethics, and Department of Surgery, Transplant Institute, researching informed consent issues, stating, “One of the most important potential consequences is whether pursuing NRP is going to betray public trust or exacerbate existing distrust.”
As Workloads Increase, Radiologists Participate In Less Resident Training. (Applied Radiology (UK))
Applied Radiology (UK) (10/27) A study by the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute, published in the Journal of The American College of Radiology, reveals a significant reduction in the time radiologists dedicate to teaching residents, with a drop from 35.3% of their workload in 2008 to 24.5% in 2020, attributed partly to increasing case volumes; Andrew B. Rosenkrantz, MD, professor, Departments of Urology, and Radiology, section chief, Body Imaging, Department of Radiology, commented on the implications of this workload increase on teaching time and burnout.
Mid-Ohio Valley Climate Corner: Join The Fight! (Parkersburg (WV) News and Sentinel)
The Parkersburg (WV) News and Sentinel (10/26) A study conducted by NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Stanford University, Utah State University, the University of Washington, and George Washington University, published in The Lancet Planetary Health, surveyed individuals aged 16-25 across the U.S., revealing that 85% are at least moderately worried about climate change, with 57% being “very or extremely” worried, and nearly two-thirds believing “Humanity is doomed.”
This Startup Is Moving The Egg Donation Market Beyond College Students. (Forbes)
Forbes (10/26) In its coverage of Cofertility, a Los Angeles-based startup that is transforming the egg donation market, the article also discusses the “paucity of research specifically on donors,” with Linda G. Kahn, MPH, PhD, assistant professor, Departments of Pediatrics, and Population Health, saying, “The industry is getting the raw material it needs, and that’s all they care about. They’re just not incentivized to do because to them, the patient is not the donor. The patient is the infertile person.”
You’re Washing Your Clothes Too Much. (Nottingham (UK) Post)
The Nottingham (UK) Post (10/25) Mary L. Stevenson, MD, associate professor, the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, shared that the frequency of showering should be based on personal factors such as skin type, age, and activity level, generally recommending cleansing every two to three days.
Everything You Need To Know About The 2024 RSV Season. (Allure)
Allure (10/25) Isaac P. Dapkins, MD, clinical associate professor, Departments of Population Health, and Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine, chief medical officer, Family Health Centers, said, “The most effective precautions are basic. Wash hands, sneeze or cough into your elbow, and also wear a mask if you are sick, since ‘covering your cough’ really does apply to RSV prevention.”
Over 50? Nutritionists And Geriatricians Are Begging You Eat These Foods. (HuffPost (UK))
HuffPost (UK) (10/28) Nina Blachman, MD, associate professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care, recommends that individuals over 50 limit salt intake and use herbs like parsley, saffron, or rosemary for seasoning to manage high blood pressure.
Pink Cocaine: The New Drug Cocktail Responsible For An Increasing Number Of Deaths. (The Week)
The Week (10/28) Joseph J. Palamar, MPH, PhD, associate professor, Department of Population Health, discusses the emerging threat of pink cocaine, a drug cocktail gaining popularity in the U.S., which poses significant risks due to its variable composition that may include dangerous substances like fentanyl, as highlighted by recent seizures.
News from NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island
Heart Failure And Cancer: HFSA Statement Explores The Interplay. (TCTMD)
TCTMD (10/24) Michelle Bloom, MD, professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island, co-chaired a Heart Failure Society of America scientific statement addressing the intersection of heart failure and cancer, which explores shared pathophysiology, risk factors, and management strategies, noting the growing overlap between these conditions; she remarked, “I think that the reason is because – and you see this weaved throughout the theme of the statement – there is a large overlap...in a bidirectional way” between the conditions, and emphasized the importance of a team-based approach involving heart failure, oncology, palliative care, pharmacy, and nursing for patients facing both cancer and potential cardiac dysfunction.
