News from NYU Langone Health
NYU Langone Health Moves Beyond AI ‘At The Edges’. (Becker's Hospital Review)
Becker’s Hospital Review (10/9) Nader Mherabi, executive vice president and vice dean, chief digital and information officer, discussed the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in healthcare during a panel at the Becker’s Health IT + Digital Health + Revenue Cycle Conference, describing the current state as “the zero inning” and stressed the importance of moving AI from peripheral applications to core functions that enhance patient care and operational efficiency, adding, “Every company I talk to is working on this and the question is really how fast that can be realized and will we be the beneficiary of that?”
$1.6M Grant Aims To Diagnose, Monitor Parkinson’s Via Eye’s Retina. (Parkinson's News Today)
Parkinson’s News Today (10/9) NYU Langone Health researchers received a two-year, $1.6 million NIH grant, potentially extendable to $4.8 million, to study eye changes as early markers of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s under the Oculomics Initiative, with Laura J. Balcer, MD, professor, Departments of Neurology, Population Health, and Ophthalmology, Division of Neuro-Ophthalmology, vice chair, Department of Neurology, leading the project, stating, “We’re investigating important aspects of neuro-ophthalmology in this study and trying to answer three big questions,” while Vivek J. Srinivasan, PhD, associate professor, Department of Ophthalmology, and associate professor, Department of Radiology remarked, “The goal is to find signatures of neurological disease by looking into the eye, which is an easily accessible window to the brain,” emphasizing the significance of visible-light OCT technology. The support of the NIH is “‘further recognition of the important role that eye and vision play … as a window into our cognitive and overall health,’ said Kathryn A. Colby, MD, PhD, Chair and the Elisabeth J. Cohen, M.D. Professor of Ophthalmology, Department of Ophthalmology.”
LCME Defends Med School Accreditation Process. (Becker's Hospital Review)
Becker’s Hospital Review (10/9) Robert I. Grossman, MD, dean and CEO, and Steven Abramson, MD, the Frederick H. King Professor of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, professor, Department of Pathology, chair, Department of Medicine, executive vice president and vice dean for education, faculty, and academic affairs, chief academic officer, criticized the Liaison Committee of Medical Education’s accreditation process as overly complex and costly in an op-ed, prompting the LCME to counter that the process is aligned with Education Department and World Federation for Medical Education standards and is not outdated, as it is undergoing a strategic visioning process, while maintaining that accreditation should focus on comprehensive competencies beyond written exams.
Vagus Nerve Stimulation Can Boost Perceptual Learning. (Neuroscience News)
Neuroscience News (10/9) Research led by NYU Langone Health reveals that vagus nerve stimulation enhances perceptual learning in mice, enabling them to better distinguish subtle sensory differences, with implications for improving sensory-based skills in humans, particularly those adjusting to cochlear implants; Kathleen Martin, a graduate student at the Neuroscience Institute, stated, “Our findings suggest that activating the vagus nerve during training can push past the limits of what animals, and perhaps even humans, can learn to perceive,” while Robert C. Froemke, PhD, professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the Skirball Professor of Genetics, Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, emphasized the potential for this method to expedite hearing improvements from cochlear implants, noting its applicability in outpatient settings. Additional NYU Langone Health researchers involved in the study are Eleni Papadoyannis, MA; Jennifer Schiavo, PhD; Saba Shokat Fadaei, MS; Habon Issa, BS; Soomin Song, PhD; and Sofia Orrey Valencia, BS.”
Also reporting is Science Blog (10/9).
The Science Behind Breastfeeding And Asthma Prevention. (Wake Up World)
Wake Up World (10/10) New research led by NYU Langone Health and the University of Manitoba reveals that breastfeeding significantly influences an infant’s microbiome, which is crucial for immune and respiratory health, with Liat Shenhav, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Microbiology, and co-senior investigator, stating, “Breastfeeding and human milk set the pace and sequence for microbial colonization in the infant’s gut and nasal cavity, ensuring that this process occurs in an orderly and timely manner.”
NYU Langone Health Physician Discusses Use Of Mifepristone For Early Pregnancy Loss. (NBC News Now-2)
NBC News Now-2(10/9) Natalie E. Azar, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, discusses the underutilization of mifepristone for early pregnancy loss despite its FDA approval for medically induced abortion, as recommended by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, citing stringent prescribing requirements and pharmacy certification as barriers; she advises patients to advocate for themselves by asking their doctors about the drug’s suitability, while also cautioning against its use in cases of suspected ectopic pregnancy.
Woman ‘Still Suffering’ After Being Knocked Out By A Cauliflower While Grocery Shopping. (Fox News)
Fox News (10/9) Fox News medical contributor Marc K. Siegel, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, explained to Fox News Digital that neck pain and nausea can be symptoms of a blow to the head, even if a concussion is unlikely, advising those with symptoms like headache, visual changes, dizziness, nausea, or confusion after a head injury to consult a physician.
