News from NYU Langone Health

Obesity Rate’s Climb May Have Stopped In ‘Promising’ Sign. (Newsday (NY))

Newsday (NY) (9/24) A federal study by the National Center for Health Statistics indicates that the obesity rate among Americans aged 20 and older has decreased from 41.9% in the 2017-20 period to 40.3% in the 2021-23 period; “Christine J. Ren-Fielding, MD, professor, Department of Surgery, Division of Bariatric Surgery, division chief, Bariatric Surgery, said she was not expecting the apparent decline because ‘nothing has really changed in our society in terms of food quality and food production and this need to have more,’ especially of processed foods that are high in sugar, salt and fat.”

What Is A Cell Type, Really? The Quest To Categorize Life’s Myriad Forms. (Nature)

Nature (9/24) Research into cell types has revealed significant diversity in cell DNA packaging, complicating efforts to understand cancer cell drug resistance, meanwhile, efforts like the Human Cell Atlas project, which has analyzed over 90 million cells, are advancing the understanding of cell types, but when it comes to defining the “basic unit of life,” Itai Yanai, PhD, professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, commented, “One camp looks at cells, and the other camp looks at genes.”

Meet The Expert: Shaping The Future Of Pediatric Diabetes Care. (T1D Exchange)

T1D Exchange (9/24) Mary Pat Gallagher, MD, associate professor, Department of Pediatrics, discusses her work with the T1D Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative (T1DX-QI) and her role as Medical Director of the Pediatric Diabetes Center at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone Health, emphasizing the importance of shared, data-driven methods in improving diabetes care.

Epigenetics In Healthcare & Disease. (Front Line Genomics (UK))

Front Line Genomics (UK) (9/24) The Epigenetics in Healthcare & Disease Webinar Series will feature presentations by nine experts over three webinars, addressing challenges in epigenetic data, therapeutics, and translational models, with Giovanni Gambi, postdoctoral researcher, discussing the link between the epigenome and 3D chromatin structure to design novel therapeutics, in a webinar entitled, “Understanding the Link Between Epigenome & 3D Chromatin Structure to Design & Develop Novel Therapeutics.”

That Message From Your Doctor? It May Have Been Drafted By AI. (New York Times)

The New York Times (9/24) More than 150 health systems, including NYU Langone Health, are using a new AI feature in MyChart to draft patient message replies, with concerns arising over potential errors and lack of patient disclosure; Paul A. Testa, MD, assistant professor, the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Emergency Medicine, chief medical information officer, expressed that notifying patients about AI involvement might undermine clinical advice.

Study Shows Rates Of E-Bike And Powered Scooter Injuries Surged Between 2019 And 2022. (Medical Xpress)

Medical Xpress (9/24) A study by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, whose co-authors include Charles J. DiMaggio, PhD, professor, Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma and Critical Care Surgery, professor, Department of Population Health, reveals a significant increase in e-bike and powered scooter injuries between 2019 and 2022, with e-bike injuries surging by 293% and powered scooter injuries by 88%.

UBE Microdiscectomy Beneficial For Lumbar Disc Herniation. (HealthDay)

HealthDay (9/24) For adults with symptomatic lumbar disc herniation, unilateral biportal endoscopic (UBE) microdiscectomy results in longer operating times but lower early postoperative pain medication consumption compared to tubular lumbar microdiscectomy, according to a study conducted by Charla R. Fischer, MD, associate professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery and colleagues.

Also reporting is Medical Xpress (9/24).

Reducing Barriers To Glucose Monitoring. (Regulatory Review (PA))

The Regulatory Review (PA) (9/25) The FDA has approved Stelo, the first over-the-counter continuous glucose monitor for adults with diabetes who do not use insulin, which can be worn on the belly or arm and paired with a smartphone application to help track blood sugar levels, with Michael B. Natter, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Medicine, Holman Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, suggesting the device could be used as a preventative tool for individuals with prediabetes or to help detect undiagnosed diabetes.

Leveraging Tennis To Combat Youth Mental Health Challenges. (Health Reporter News)

Health Reporter News (9/24) In an opinion piece, Brian W. Hainline, MD, clinical professor, Department of Neurology, writes that US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s warning about the youth mental health crisis being the “defining public health issue of our time” is accurate, and suggests that encouraging youth sports, particularly tennis, could help mitigate this crisis by reducing depression and anxiety rates, especially among girls, promoting self-worth, fostering family bonding, and strengthening community cohesion, while also offering significant physical health benefits.

AI-Powered Mental Health Chatbots Developed As A Therapy Support Tool. (Doctors Channel)

Doctors Channel (9/24) On “60 Minutes,” Jonathan D. LaPook, MD, the Mebane Professor of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, professor, Department of Population Health examines the transformative role of AI in mental healthcare, addressing the shortage of human therapists with AI-driven chatbots that offer 24/7 support via smartphones, though he cautions that the effectiveness of these chatbots varies.

I Thought My Head Was Going To Explode On A Plane. (Thrillist)

Thrillist (9/24) Erica Klauber experienced a severe case of aerosinusitis during a flight in 2013, which caused intense pain and led her to believe she was having an aneurysm; Richard A. Lebowitz, MD, professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, vice chair, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, chief, Division of Rhinology, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, explains that this condition occurs when sinus openings are blocked due to swelling or inflammation, preventing pressure equalization during plane descents, and while excruciating, it is not dangerous and resolves once the plane lands.

Study Finds Link Between Food Processing Chemicals, Breast Cancer Risk. (NBC News Now-2)

NBC News Now (9/24) A Swiss study has linked nearly 200 chemicals found in food processing equipment, containers, and cookware to breast cancer, revealing that many of these chemicals, including known carcinogens, are pervasive in the global food supply; Natalie E. Azar, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, explains that these chemicals act as endocrine disruptors that can increase breast cancer risk by affecting hormone levels, and suggests reducing exposure by using stainless steel and glass instead of plastics, especially for reheating food.

News from NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn

‘Boy Meets World’ Actress Who Became Pregnant At 54 Reveals Miscarriage. (Yahoo! Entertainment)

Yahoo! Entertainment (9/23) Trina McGee, known for her role on “Boy Meets World,” shared on the “Tamron Hall Show” that she experienced a miscarriage three months after announcing her pregnancy at age 54, expressing gratitude for the ability to conceive and discussing the subsequent depression; Shilpi Mehta-Lee, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, NYU Langone Hospital–Brooklyn, explained that the age 35 was chosen decades ago to determine which pregnant women should get an amniocentesis.

Can The Keto Diet Reverse PCOS Symptoms? (Giddy)

Giddy (9/23) Research suggests low-carb diets like the ketogenic diet may benefit women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) by improving insulin sensitivity and balancing reproductive hormones, though they may not be a quick fix; Meleen Chuang, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, chief, Obstetrics and Gynecology, NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn, said, “By reducing insulin levels and improving insulin sensitivity, a diet low in refined, processed carbs may help to restore balance in reproductive hormones, including LH, FSH, SHGB and testosterone.”

News from NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island

Boehringer, Insilico Appear To Break Through Against IPF. (BioSpace)

BioSpace (9/24) Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis received promising news as Boehringer Ingelheim and Insilico Medicine reported positive trial data for their respective drug candidates; however, Allison B. Reiss, MD, associate professor, Departments of Foundations of Medicine, and Medicine, NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island, cautioned that more detailed data is needed and highlighted that current IPF treatments, including Boehringer’s Ofev, primarily aim to slow disease progression.