News from NYU Langone Health

NYU Langone Health Plans $22M Cardiac Expansion In Sunset Park. (Crain's New York Business)

Crain’s New York Business (5/28) NYU Langone Health plans to invest $22 million in expanding cardiac care at NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn by constructing an 8-bed unit specifically for cardiac surgery patients, following the introduction of cardiac electrophysiology and complex heart procedures at the facility, which has been using general medical/surgical beds as a temporary cardiac ward under a state waiver; this expansion will make the cardiac beds permanent and address the hospital’s need for additional space, as well as align with NYU Langone Health’s broader efforts to enhance coronary care across its system, including a $10.5 million renovation of an ambulatory program in Kips Bay.

Scientists Discover Metabolic Switch For Extreme Fat Loss In Mice. (Men's Fitness)

Men’s Fitness (5/27) NYU Grossman School of Medicine researchers genetically altered mice to stop producing cysteine and fed them a cysteine-free diet, resulting in 30% weight loss within one week, according to a study published in Nature.

Can GLP-1s Protect Against Obesity-Related Cancers? (Medscape)

Medscape (5/28) New data from a large observational study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2025 annual meeting suggest that glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, used for treating diabetes and obesity, may reduce the risk of obesity-related cancers, with a “reassuring safety signal” showing a modest decrease in cancer risk, according to Lucas A. Mavromatis, research assistant, Department of Medicine, Division of Precision Medicine.

How GLP-1s Could Help People Sleep Better. (Psychiatry Advisor)

Psychiatry Advisor (5/27) The FDA recently approved Zepbound (tirzepatide) to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), marking a potential shift in treatment strategies for the condition, with Alcibiades J. Rodriguez, MD, associate professor, Department of Neurology, saying, “I’m prescribing GLP-1 medications regularly now, and the results so far have been encouraging,” adding, “We’ve had patients who went from needing CPAP machines every night to barely needing them at all after significant weight loss,” noting some patients “can stop using them altogether.”

Multiple Sclerosis And Gut Health: What To Know. (Everyday Health)

Everyday Health (5/27) “People with multiple sclerosis have good reason to get the flu shot every year, because the disease and certain MS treatments can leave them vulnerable to complications, says” Purvi S. Parikh, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Allergy & Immunology, and Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy and Immunology

Fact Or Fiction: Your Partner’s Depression And Anxiety May Be ‘Contagious’. (Well and Good)

Well and Good (5/27) Research published in the journal Exploratory Research and Hypothesis in Medicine found that symptoms of anxiety and depression, shared bacterial strains, and altered cortisol levels may be “contagious” among newly married couples, with control partners developing more symptoms over time; Thea Gallagher, PsyD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Psychiatry, said, “There is definitely a contagion,” and advised individuals to work on their own mental health through therapy, exercise, and socializing, as these positive habits can also influence partners to adopt similar lifestyle changes.

Study Reveals A Sad Thing Happens To People Who Consider Their Partner Their Best Friend. (YourTango)

YourTango (5/27) Joseph Laino, PsyD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Psychiatry, Family Health Centers, said that having a romantic partner as a best friend may offer greater companionship and fulfillment, but it is crucial to maintain friendships outside the relationship to avoid dependency and ensure personal identity.

How To Tell Difference Between Arthritis And Common Aches, Pains. (TODAY)

TODAY (5/27) Natalie E. Azar, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, discussed the prevalence of arthritis, noting over 100 types and impacting 60 million Americans, particularly women, and highlighted symptoms like stiffness, pain, redness, and swelling, emphasizing the importance of medical history, examination, lab tests, and imaging for diagnosis.

Also reporting was WNBC-NY (5/27).

Unregulated Supplements Pose Risks To Liver Health. (NBC)

NBC (5/27) Natalie E. Azar, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, discussed the potential dangers of unregulated supplements, which are increasingly popular among Americans seeking natural health remedies, highlighting that many supplements can cause liver damage and noted that the FDA does not evaluate their safety or effectiveness before they reach the market.

New COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendation Bypassed Advisory Process. (CBS)

CBS (5/27) Jonathan D. LaPook, MD, the Mebane Professor of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, professor, Department of Population Health discussed on the CBS Evening News how Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s announcement regarding the removal of the COVID-19 vaccine recommendation for healthy pregnant women and children from the CDC’s immunization schedule bypassed the usual advisory process, which typically involves an open and transparent committee meeting with public input, followed by a vote and recommendations sent to the CDC and HHS. 

In a separate article, CBS News (5/27) Jonathan D. LaPook, MD, the Mebane Professor of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, professor, Department of Population Health, discusses Billy Joel’s recent NPH diagnosis.

American Honeymoon Hotspot Hit By Highly Contagious Illness, Health Officials Warn. (Fox News)

Fox News (5/27) Hawaii is experiencing a rise in pertussis, or whooping cough, with 108 cases reported as of May 15, surpassing last year’s total of 84 cases, according to the State of Hawaii Department of Health; Marc K. Siegel, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation said Hawaii’s childhood vaccination rates are below the national average, emphasizing the DTaP vaccine’s near 100% effectiveness in children when administered in appropriate dosages.

Also reporting is the Daily Mail (UK) (5/28).

In a separate article, Fox News (5/21) Former President Joe Biden’s health records from his White House tenure revealed no signs of aggressive prostate cancer, despite his recent diagnosis with a “more aggressive form” of the disease that metastasized to the bone; Marc K. Siegel, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation said, “He’s been through a lot health-wise, but I am absolutely shocked that they didn’t find this earlier.”

Make America Healthy Again Through Prevention, Says Ethicist. (Medscape)

Medscape (5/27) Arthur L. Caplan, PhD, the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor of Bioethics, Department of Population Health, Division of Medical Ethics, critiques the Make America Healthy Again Commission, led by RFK Jr., for its focus on novel ideas rather than addressing known issues like obesity and emphasizes the need for improved prevention delivery and reimbursement changes, saying, if we want to make progress, we need “to intervene earlier with people long before they’re sick, with better wellness visits and better well-baby visits.,” adding. “We have to shift how the system delivers prevention.”