Daily Media Report

Thursday, November 5

 

The New York Times
November 4
Older Bypass Method is Best, Study Shows—By Gina Kolata
For decades, bypass surgery, in which surgeons improve blood flow to the heart by sewing new blood vessels to get around blocked ones, was done the same way. The heart was stopped while blood was pumped through a heart-lung machine to do the heart’s work. Some, like Dr. Aubrey C. Galloway, who is chairman of the department of cardiothoracic surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center, said he felt compelled to learn off-pump surgery and to do it primarily in high-risk patients. “There was a lot of market pressure and momentum behind this off-pump stuff,” Dr. Galloway said. “A lot of surgeons were pressured to do it in everyone. Patients were coming in and saying, ‘I’m worried about cognitive dysfunction.”
- Aubrey C. Galloway, MD, chairman, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery
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ABC News
November 4
E. Coli Concern: Once-Tainted Meat Allowed Back Into System  —By Dan Childs
Imagine a ton of freshly ground beef. The company in charge of processing this meat finds out during a routine test that it is contaminated with E. coli. They record the test results, which are read by a government inspector, who acknowledges that the meat is indeed tainted. Dr. Ira Breite, assistant clinical professor of gastroenterology at NYU Langone Medical Center, agreed that tainted meat is indeed safe to eat if it is properly cooked to decontaminate it. But he added that many consumers would not relish the idea of eating meat that had been considered tainted with E. coli at any point along its way to their tables. "If something is coated with E. coli and you cook it, the E. coli is gone," Breite said. "So could you eat it? Yes. Would I want to eat it? No. Is it gross? Yes... It's the ick factor."
- Ira Breite, MD, assistant clinical professor, Department of Gastroenterology
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PBS
November 3
Psychiatric Medication—PBS
PBS went back to visit Dr. Castellanos who is now the director of research at the NYU Child Study Center to ask him if there was a solution to the lack of knowledge about today’s psychiatric medication. “I desperately need to know, personally, what these things are about, and I can’t figure it out,” he said while brainstorming with other neuroscientists. Once a year they meet to try to solve some of the biggest questions in the field.
- Francisco Xavier Castellanos, MD, Brooke and Daniel Neidich Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, NYU Child Study Center


Fox
November 4
Start Making Babies: 5 Fertility Tips—By Kerry Hannon
Face it, for most 20-somethings, getting pregnant isn't top priority. Not getting pregnant is more like it. But the truth is, it's never too early to protect your fertility for the future. Otherwise, when you are ready to start a family, getting pregnant might not be as easy as you envisioned. Many women don't realize that their peak fertility time is in their mid-20s and already starting to fall by their late 20s," says Jamie Grifo, program director of the NYU Fertility Center. Infertility rates about double for women between the early 30s and early 40s.
- James Grifo, MD, director, NYU Fertility Center
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The Huffington Post
November 4
The Inside Scoop on Your Introvert Friends—By Dr. Irene S. Levine
I've never met Sophia Dembling in person but consider her a friend of sorts. We met as members of one or another online writer communities that we both frequent because we have so many overlapping interests. She lives in Texas but her roots are pure New York. I love her sense of humor and her refreshing candor. When I surveyed more than 1500 women for my book, Best Friends Forever: Surviving a Breakup with Your Best Friend, women described what it was like to meet a close friend. "We just clicked," was the most common phrase they used. You can say that Sophia and I clicked, both literally and figuratively. Another thing we seem to have in common is that we consider ourselves introverts.
- Irene S. Levine, PhD, professor, Department of Psychiatry
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WebMD
November 3
Conquer Complex Imperfections - By Beth Janes  
Looking younger may hinge less on a lineless complexion and more on a clear one: Research shows that uneven skin tone can add about a decade to your perceived age. For larger patches of pigmentation, newer fractional lasers (Fraxel) have begun replacing IPL as derms' go-to treatments. Both will even out skin tone — and smooth wrinkles! — but lasers direct more heat, yielding dramatic clearing in three or four sessions versus IPL's six, says Ariel Ostad, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at NYU Langone Medical Center. The catch: Fraxel leaves skin red for a few days; IPL is a true "lunchtime" procedure. Total costs for either could exceed $2,000, depending on how many treatments you need.
- Ariel Ostad, MD, assistant clinical professor, Department of Dermatology
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Courthouse News Service
November 4
Class Action Challenging Patients on Breast Cancer Genes Can Proceed —By Jonathan Perlow
A federal judge has allowed a class action to proceed against the U.S. Patent Office and Myriad Genetics that argues the company's patents on two human genes associated with breast and ovarian cancer are unconstitutional.  Doctors in the plaintiff class, including the director of human genetics at NYUs Langone Medical Center, say they could perform the same or more thorough tests than Myriad, perhaps at less cost.
- NYU Langone Medical Center
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Becker’s Hospital Review
November 3
Becker’s Hospital Review Names America’s 10 Best Hospitals for 2009—By Leigh Page
Becker's Hospital Review has named the 10 best hospitals in America for 2009. These organizations are leaders in all elements of quality care, drivers of innovation and trendsetters. They are models businesses and establish the bar for excellence. NYU Langone Medical Center has the kind of exceptional quality that attracts grand gifts. This New York medical center's new name, unveiled last year, honors Home Depot founder Kenneth Langone, who has honored it with more than $200 million. The center's 726-bed Tisch Hospital honors another benefactor, the late billionaire and former CBS-owner Laurence Tisch. Even with the recession ripping through many a New York fortune, the hospital keeps attracting more gifts.
- Kenneth G. Langone, chairman, Board of Trustees
- the late Laurence A. Tisch, Benefactor of Tisch Hospital and former member, Board of Trustees,  
- NYU Langone Medical Center
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Crain’s NY Business
November 4
Lenox Hill Update
North Shore-Long Island Jewish and NYU Langone Medical Center are among the hospitals that responded to Lenox Hill's search for a partner. Last month, the hospital received replies to its request for proposals for a merger or affiliation deal. A Lenox Hill spokeswoman said the hospital has asked for more information from the respondents. NYU Langone Medical Center has proposed a full asset merger with Lenox Hill.
- NYU Langone Medical Center
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The New York Times
November 4
Theme Parks Confront Flu Jitters—By Michelle Higgins
For many Americans, the fear of swine flu has made everyday acts like going to work, going to school or getting on a plane feel fraught with danger — even more so since President Obama recently declared swine flu a national emergency. “Any place where large masses of people accumulate over a relatively short or defined period of time could serve as a conduit to infection,” said Philip M. Tierno Jr., PhD, the director of clinical microbiology and immunology at NYU Langone Medical Center and the author of “The Secret Life of Germs.”
- Phillip M. Tierno Jr., MD, director, clinical microbiology and immunology
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Washington Square News
November 2
Student Death Moves University to Reassess Bobst Safety—By Arielle Milkman
In the wake of an NYU student's death in Bobst Library yesterday, the university plans to reassess its safety protocol in the building. According to Jess Shatkin, MD, director of Undergraduate Studies in Child and Adolescent Mental Health at the NYU Langone Medical Center, a combination of factors among college students — including living away from home, managing one's own time and expenses, and dealing with peer pressure — can contribute to anxiety and depression. He said these issues may be more difficult for students at large, decentralized universities such as NYU. "There is a level of monitoring that just can't happen on an urban campus," Shatkin said.
- Jess P. Shatkin, MD, MPH, director, Undergraduate Studies in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, NYU Child Study Center
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Science Daily
November 3
Lap Band Surgery Effective for Morbidly Obese Children, Study Finds
A surgeon at Children's National Medical Center and his colleagues from NYU Langone Medical Center have found laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (Lap band) to improve the health of morbidly obese adolescents. "This study is the first to demonstrate the improvements in overall health and distribution of weight loss after Lap band surgery in adolescents," said Evan Nadler, MD, the lead author and pediatric surgeon at Children's National. "While weight-loss surgery should always be a last resort for adults and adolescents, these findings show us that surgery in adolescents reduces the risk of significant health complications."
- NYU Langone Medical Center
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The Gainesville Sun
November 3
Quandary with Mammograms: Get a Screening, or Just Skip it?—By Denise Grady
Here we go again. Another study raises questions about the benefits of mammograms, and another set of confusing statements issue forth from experts. But Silvia C. Formenti, MD, the chairwoman of radiation oncology at NYU Langone Medical Center, said: “I don’t think there is enough debate. Screening does not pay off the way we expected.” Dr. Formenti said she was concerned about finding tumors in older people that would probably not kill them. But the diagnosis turns them into cancer patients and erodes their peace of mind forever. “We take away the innocence of being healthy and not having to worry about cancer,” she said. “The psychological cost of becoming a cancer patient is underrated.”
- Silvia C. Formenti, MD, Sandra and Edward H. Meyer Professor of Radiation Oncology, Departments of Radiation Oncology and Medicine
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Broadway World.com
November 3
Photo Coverage: The ‘Only Make Believe’ Benefit Gala at Broadway’s Shubert Theatre—By Linda Lenzi
Sir Ian McKellen hosted the 10th Anniversary of the "Only Make Believe" benefit at Broadway's Shubert Theatre on November 2nd. The Only Make Believe program debuted in October 1999 at the Rusk Institute for Rehabilitation Medicine's Pediatric Unit, NYU Langone Medical Center, as a project of the James and Dena Hammerstein Foundation. OMB serves children living with chronic illnesses and disabilities and is dedicated to the principle that freeing a child's creative spirit is a valuable part of the healing process. Functioning as a non-profit organization, Only Make Believe provides interactive theatrical performances conducted by a team of professional actors to hospitals and other medical institutions.
- Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine
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HealthScout
November 2
Nicotine Patch Plus Lozenge Best for Quitting Smoking—By Amanda Gardner 
The first head-to-head comparison of different quit-smoking products finds that a nicotine patch combined with a nicotine lozenge had the most success. “The study shows that, yes, one therapy came out on top, the patch and the lozenge [together],” said Dr. Jonathan H. Whiteson, co-director of the Joan and Joel Smilow Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention Center at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City. “The reasoning behind it is that the patch supplies a steady supply of nicotine replacement and the lozenges give a boost of nicotine which you can use when you have an extra craving. It gives people control,” said Whiteson, who was not involved in the research.
- Jonathan H. Whiteson, MD, assistant professor, Departments of Medicine and Rehabilitation Medicine 
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The New York Times
November 2
Hospital Cite Worry on Fees in Health Bill — By Anemona Hartocollis 
As Congress struggles to rein in health care costs as part of its sweeping reform efforts, hospitals in New York City and other urban areas that provide some of the most expensive care are among the primary targets. At New York University Langone Medical Center, for example, Medicare spending was $105,000 per patient during the last two years of life. During the last six months of life, when costs go up still more sharply, patients at the center spent an average of 31 days in the hospital and were visited by 77 doctors. Dr. Robert Grossman, dean and chief executive of New York University Langone, said the Dartmouth data failed to take into account patients who survived more than six months, “key drivers” like local wages, and the complexity of the medical care provided by the hospital. He said that since the Dartmouth data was compiled in 2005, N.Y.U. had made progress in reducing costs.
- Robert Grossman, MD, dean and CEO
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November 2
Quandary with Mammograms: Get a Screening, or Just Skip it? — By Denise Grady
Here we go again. Another study raises questions about the benefits of mammograms, and another set of confusing statements issue forth from experts. But Dr. Silvia C. Formenti, the chairwoman of radiation oncology at NYU Langone Medical Center, said: “I don’t think there is enough debate. Screening does not pay off the way we expected.” Dr. Formenti said she was concerned about finding tumors in older people that would probably not kill them. But the diagnosis turns them into cancer patients and erodes their peace of mind forever. “We take away the innocence of being healthy and not having to worry about cancer,” she said. “The psychological cost of becoming a cancer patient is underrated.”
- Silvia C. Formenti, MD, Sandra and Edward H. Meyer Professor of Radiation Oncology, Departments of Radiation Oncology and Medicine
Learn more 

CBS
November 2
Study: Diet Soda Drinkers Suffer Kidney Problems — By Cindy Hsu
Even though a lot of folks try to stick to water these days, it's not tough to find die-hard diet soda drinkers. However, one study examined more than 3,000 women for 11 years, and found those who drank two or more diet sodas a day were at double the risk for kidney damage. The researchers did not learn whether it was the soda or the artificial sweetener in the drink that caused the damage. "You can't conclude that the sodas caused this problem conclusively but it suggests that there's an affect on kidney function so people have to be aware that there's a possible issue in doing anything in excess," said Dr. David Goldfarb, kidney specialist with NYU Langone Medical Center.
- David Goldfarb, MD, professor, Departments of Medicine and Physiology and Neurosciences
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ABC
November 2
Controlling High Blood Pressure — Associated Press
High blood pressure, medically called hypertension, is termed a silent killer because it can often fatally damage the heart and kidneys without any symptoms. Eugenia Gianos of NYU Langone Medical Center says, "Poorly controlled blood pressure can lead to thickening of the heart, stroke risk, heart attack, and also irregular rhythms that could lead to death."
- Eugenia Gianos, MD, instructor, Department of Medicine
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WRAL-CBS
November 2
Blood Therapy Helps Heal Muscles — CBS
A new blood therapy is helping athletes and weekend warriors alike avoid surgery for muscle strains and tendon tears. Richmond Bradshaw, 18, dreamed of playing college football but got sidelined by a knee injury."It feels like someone is stabbing me in my knee when I walk," he said.  Before resorting to surgery, Dr. Dennis Cardone, with the Hospital for Joint Diseases at NYU Langone Medical Center, tried a new therapy using Bradshaw's own blood to repair the injury. In that new therapy, an injured person's blood is put in a machine that separates out the platelets. The platelets are "where the healing and growth factors," Cardone said.
- Dennis Cardone, MD, associate professor, Departments of Orthopedic Surgery
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US News & World Report
November 2
TV May Increase Aggression in Toddlers — By Serena Gordon
Yet another study has found that television viewing is linked to aggression in young children.
This research, published in the November issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, found that direct TV watching by young children or exposure to indirect viewing in the household were both associated with increased aggression in small children. "TV is not a benign influence. It does have impact," said Richard Gallagher, director of the Parenting Institute at the NYU Child Study Center in New York City. And, while content may impact children, he pointed out that children's behaviors may also be affected by the "opportunities lost."
-  Richard Gallagher, PhD, director, Parenting Institute, NYU Child Study Center 
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HealthDay
November 2
Nicotine Patch Plus Lozenge Best for Quitting Smoking — By Amanda Gardner 
The first head-to-head comparison of different quit-smoking products finds that a nicotine patch combined with a nicotine lozenge had the most success. “The study shows that, yes, one therapy came out on top, the patch and the lozenge [together],” said Dr. Jonathan H. Whiteson, co-director of the Joan and Joel Smilow Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention Center at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City. “The reasoning behind it is that the patch supplies a steady supply of nicotine replacement and the lozenges give a boost of nicotine which you can use when you have an extra craving. It gives people control,” said Whiteson, who was not involved in the research.
- Jonathan H. Whiteson, MD, assistant professor, Departments of Medicine and Rehabilitation Medicine 
Learn more 

Daily India.com 
November 3
Study Show Precuneus Region in Human, Monkey Brain is Divided into 4 Regions—By ANI
The precuneus region in the brains of humans and monkeys, which was long thought to be a single structure, is actually divided into four distinct functional regions, a comparative functional anatomy study has found. Co-led by scientists at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, the collaborative study examined patterns of connectivity to show that the humans and monkeys have highly similar brain networks preserved across evolution."The findings confirm that higher order association areas in the brain have complex functional architectures which appear to be preserved and or expanded during the evolutionary process," said study co-leader Dr. Michael P. Milham.
- Michael P. Milham, MD, associate director, Phyllis Gren and Randolph Cowen Institute for Pediatric Neuroscience, NYU Child Study Center
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Slate
November 2
Blowing the Shot — By Marc Siegel
The current shortage of the H1N1 swine flu vaccine was both predictable and largely avoidable. But it's not too late to remedy the situation. The last three pandemics—in 1968, 1957, and 1918—each lasted for more than three years, and this one is not going away any time soon. Now we must refocus public health priorities going forward, so we can apply the lessons of the swine flu to future outbreaks.
- Marc Siegel, MD, associate professor, Department of Medicine
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Washington Square News
November 2
Trinity Center to Digitize Records—By Jaywon Choe
NYU's Trinity Center will begin digitizing all future medical records, NYU Langone Medical Center announced last Thursday. This will be the first step in digitizing NYU's medical system. The Medical Center opened the Trinity Center in downtown Manhattan in 2008 to house new ambulatory care facilitates.  Andrew Rubin, vice president for NYU Langone Medical Center Clinical Affairs and Affiliates, said Langone has been working on this project for several years under the leadership of Dr. Robert Grossman, Dean and CEO of NYU Langone Medical Center.  "We are fortunate that we are a well-run hospital and have the resources to have this happen," Rubin said.
- Andrew Rubin, vice president, clinical affairs and affiliates
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October 30
Rodents and Human-Related Cancer—By Anna Sanders
In the U.S., there are more than 50,000 new cases of bladder cancer every year, killing approximately 14,000 people annually. Under a one-year grant, one NYU professor is working to determine the cause of the cancer. Joseph Guttenplan, a science professor at the College of Dentistry, was recently awarded a grant from the NYU Langone Medical Center to study how bladder tumors progress into invasive cancer in animals and use that information to find the cause of bladder cancer in humans. "This was actually work that resulted from previous research that showed this environmental compound causes bladder tumor in rodents," Guttenplan said. "It gives us an animal model to work on."
- Joseph Gluttenplan, research associate professor, Department of Environmental Medicine
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ABC News.com
October 30
Trick or Treat or Trauma—By Radha Chitale
Revelers of all kinds will be celebrating this Halloween. But mischief makers, fallen angels and all manner of witch's brews can turn the holiday into a devil's playground -- to the chagrin of local emergency departments. Gerard Brogan, MD, associate professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine at NYU School of Medicine, recalled one child who came to the ER bleeding after tripping and hitting his head. The child's friend thought his Frankenstein costume was terrific, not realizing the blood was real.
- Gerard Brogan, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Emergency Medicine  
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Advance
October 30
Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement—By Roy L. Davidovitch, MD
Orthopedic surgeons perform 300,000 hip replacements annually in the United States. This represents a 50 percent increase between 1990 and 2002. Patient satisfaction remains high, with 95 percent of patients reporting improvements in quality of life and pain reduction.
- Roy L. Davidovitch, MD, assistant professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery  
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Beauty News NYC.com
October 30
The New Thermalogy CPT—By Candice Sabatini  
Thermage CPT is not a laser, it’s a heat based treatment that builds collagen within our skin. And as you know, we’re born with lots of it, and lose it as we age. My session with Anne Chapas, MD, at the Laser and Skin Surgery Center started with the taking of photos so we can measure my results. We decided to focus the treatment on my neck and jaw line. I was given an injection of Toridal, which is strong Advil and I then lied down. Dr. Chapas explained that the new Thermage CPT machines are much gentler than the old ones from years ago, and the one used on me today is the very latest, and only a few months old.
- Anne Chapas, MD, assistant professor, Department of Dermatology
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Mesothelioma.net
October 30
Updated Screening for Malignant Pleura Mesothelioma
Recently Harvey Pass, MD, of NYU Langone Medical Center in New York and Michelle Carbone MD, of John A. Burns School of Medicine in Honolulu of published an update on screening for malignant pleural mesothelioma found on the Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery web site. The report stated that early detection of mesothelioma could find patients at a more treatable stage, resulting in prolonged survival over the present median of 12 months.
- Harvey Pass, MD, professor, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Surgey
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The Photo News
October 29
College Offers Flu Seminar for Managers
The Hudson Valley Educational Consortium will offer a seminar on “Pandemic Flu Emergency Planning for Senior Managers,” on Friday, Nov. 6, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the SUNY Orange Middletown campus. The seminar will be presented by Marc K. Siegel, MD. Siegel is a practicing internist, an associate professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, and the Medical Director of Doctor Radio with NYU Langone and Sirius/XM Satellite Radio. He is an expert in examining contagions, as well as the fear that accompanies them.
- Marc Siegel, MD, associate professor, Department of Medicine
Watch more

 

Health Day News
October 29
Cholesterol Drugs May Help Prevent Flu Deaths
Statins, frequently used to cut cholesterol levels, may also help prevent death from severe flu, a new study suggests. According to the researchers, a growing body of evidence suggests that statins -- which include medicines such as Lipitor, Crestor and Zocor -- can reduce death from severe infections. Whether they help with flu, however, has been more uncertain. Infectious diseases expert Marc Siegel, MD, an associate professor of medicine at NYU School of Medicine in New York City, said that the study "is of limited value." Siegel believes it's statins' ability to prevent death from heart disease.
- Marc Siegel, MD, associate professor, medicine
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GMA Health
October 29
ABC News Now- Food Allergies
Trick or Treating this Halloween children and their parents need to beware of food allergies. Clifford Bassett, MD, an allergist from NYU School of Medicine was interviewed about the dangers of food allergies around the Holiday and the importance of taking precautions. Dr. Bassett says, “education and prevention,” is so important when it comes to food allergies.
- Clifford Bassett, MD, clinical instructor, medicine
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CNN
October 29
Lou Dobbs Tonight: Health Care in America
Howard Weiner, MD, neurosurgeon from NYU Langone Medical Center appeared on a panel discussion. He says, “So, I deal with families in crisis. Families whose children are suffering from severe neurologic illness. They seek out very specialized care and they do this through a variety of means, through other parents, through a variety of things on the internet, through medical literature and they are savvy and they have their children as a priority. They do their homework and they are ready to go and they come into your office with very, very excellent questions and educated. Now, the problem is that when trying to arrange for these type of very highly specialized procedures, insurance companies will tell the families they must seek the care at their local hospital, oftentimes denying them the ability to even see the specialist. We will plan for months ahead of time trying to get these things in line and even up until the very last minute, families who are already suffering as a result of the illness of their child are mentally suffering with the worry, how am I going to pay for this.”
-Howard Weiner, MD, FACS, FAAP, professor of neurological surgery and pediatrics, surgery
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KMVT-CBS News
October 29
WWTV-CBS , KYTX-CBS , WTKR-CBS  & KCTV-CBS also aired the syndicated news story
Rich Plasma Therapy
It uses Richmond Bradshaw's own blood to repair his sports injury. His blood is put in a machine, that separates out the platelets. Dennis Cardone, MD, from NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases says-- "that's where the healing and growth factors are.” The platelets are then injected into the knee where they are expected to jump start the tears into mending themselves. It enhances the body's own healing powers. This technique is being used to repair tendons, ligaments and muscle, but it's fairly new so it's not clear how effective the procedure is.
- Dennis Cardone, MD, associate professor, orthopedic surgery, The Hospital for Joint Diseases

Orthopedics Today
October 29
Study Finds Physicians Need to More Accurately Disclose Industry Relationships- By Susan M. Rapp
There was a 79% rate of self-disclosure at the 2008 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons annual meeting of payments that hip and knee replacement specialists received from industry when those payments were directly related to the topic of the physician’s presentation or role at the meeting, an observational study found.  The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, also found the rate was 50% when payments were indirectly related to the research topic. Orthopedics Today discussed the study with AAOS President Joseph D. Zuckerman, MD, who took issue with the timeline involved, saying disclosure data for the 2008 AAOS meeting was due in August 2007, but DOJ settlement data appeared later in October 2007 and the meeting was held in March 2008.  “I would like to think if [the study] was done in 2009, it would be different. There are a number of things the academy has done without knowledge of this study as part of our ongoing process of evaluating our disclosure requirements,” including launching an electronic method of filing conflict of interest data that allows for frequent updates and training AAOS members on proper disclosure, Zuckerman said.  “We, like most other organizations, have looked to do more detailed disclosure than less.”
- Joseph Zuckerman, MD, Chairman, Walter A.L. Thompson Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases
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Washington Times
October 29
House Health Care Bill Contains Menu Requirements- By Amanda Carpenter
Tucked inside Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s 1,990-page health care reform bill that was unveiled Thursday is a requirement for chain restaurants to post caloric information on their menus. Pages 1511-1519 of the bill outline the new laws for restaurants, mandating any restaurants operating in 20 or more locations post caloric information “prominently” on menus in a way that's “designed to enable the public to understand, in the context of a total daily diet, the significance of the caloric information that is provided on the menu.” New York City already has a similar law on the books for their city's restauruants that was enacted in July 2008 in hopes of encouraging people to limit their caloric intake while eating out and in turn, lowering obesity rates. But research published this month by Health Affairs and conducted by a group of professors at NYU School of Medicine and Yale says otherwise. It found that people in New York typically purchased 825 calories before the menu labeling law went into effect and 846 calories after it became law.
-Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service Medicine
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MedIndia
October 29
Infant Learning Process Modified by Changes in Brain Chemicals- BY ANI
The chemical changes in the brain that transform the learning process of infants have been pinpointed in a new American study.  Psychologist Gordon A. Barr of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and neuroscientist Regina M. Sullivan of the Nathan Kline Institute and NYU Langone Medical Center studied the mother-child behaviour in rats to draw parallels in humans. The scientists say their findings can also be applied to infant behaviour in dogs, rats and people. The conclusions of the study also suggest that scientists may detect neural mechanisms due to which other transitions such as a baby's switch from breastfeeding to eating solid food occurs, he added. The study was published online on Sept. 27 in Nature Neuroscience.
- Regina M. Sullivan, PhD, Research Professor; Research Scientist, NYU Child Study Center
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BioSingularity.com
October 28
Unusual Bacteria Help Balance the Immune System in Mice
Medical researchers have long suspected that obscure bacteria living within the intestinal tract may help keep the human immune system in balance. An international collaboration co-led by scientists at NYU Langone Medical Center has now identified a bizarre-looking microbial species that can single-handedly spur the production of specialized immune cells in mice. In mice, at least, the newly identified neighborhood watchdog looks like something out of Disney’s “The Shaggy D.A.” Distinguished by long hair-like filaments, “These bacteria are the most astounding things I’ve ever seen,” says Dan Littman, MD, PhD, the Helen L. and Martin S. Kimmel Professor of Molecular Immunology and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator. Co-led by Dr. Littman’s lab, the collaboration with researchers in Japan, California, and Massachusetts zeroed in on a little-known microbe named segmented filamentous bacterium, or SFB.
- Dan R. Littman, MD, PhD, professor, Departments of Pathology and Microbiology, Helen L and Martin S Kimmel Professor of Molecular Immunology
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Medicine.Net
October 29
Gene Variants Behind Vulnerability to Yeast Infections- By Amanda Gardner
Scientists have identified two genetic mutations that help account for the presence of recurring yeast infections in certain women. Although the researchers focused their work on small and very specific populations with extreme conditions, the findings provide new insights into one of the most common and annoying maladies to afflict women. At this point, however, the reports really have no relevance to patients, cautioned Dr. Steven Goldstein, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City.  Yeast infections, which are typically caused by Candida albicans, arise from imbalances in the body's internal flora, especially in the vaginal tract, although it can affect the nail beds, mouth and bloodstream. "The vagina is a finely tuned ecosystem with almost a dozen bacteria and yeast forms, and as long as they're in harmony, it's comfortable," Goldstein explained. "But if you take antibiotics, for instance, and eliminate some of the normal bacteria, then the yeast that live there all the time have a field day."
-Steven R. Goldstein, MD, professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology 
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Daily Free Press
October 29
Academic Stress Contributes to Depression, Psychologists Say- By Allison McKinnon
With rigorous academic schedules, Boston University students and their peers at other schools are no strangers to stress. But experts said they may become depressed if pressure is too great. NYU Langone Medical Center psychiatry professor Margaret Backman said she also found reluctance among students she treated at Barnard College to get help.  “A lot of depressed people don’t seek treatment right away,” Backman said. “The people who are most uncomfortable talking to friends or family about their depressed feelings are those who don’t come in right away.” She said students may come in to student service facilities after encouragement from professors, friends or family. “It takes a while,” Backman said. “It takes time to trust someone enough to tell them your problems.” Backman said problems in a person’s family life, home life, or school life may have to do with their stress levels and trigger depression.  Economic problems have a big role right now as well.
- Margaret Backman, PhD, professor, psychiatry
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The News Times
October 30
Fundraiser Set for Danbury Girl Fighting Pediatric Brain Cancer
Like most kids in Greater Danbury, Kelly Galarza will celebrate Halloween on Saturday. The thing is, Kelly isn't like most kids.  The 26-month-old Danbury girl was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a pediatric brain cancer, at Danbury Hospital in February, after she started losing her balance and other motor skills. Almost eight months later, as Kelly sleeps in an isolated hospital room in New York City this weekend, there won't be any fairy princess costume for the little girl with the bandaged head and the beeping monitors. "She has so many cuts from all the surgeries, I can't even count them anymore," Kelly's father, Luis Galarza, said Thursday night from the NYU Langone Medical Center, where Kelly is recovering from a stem cell transplant two weeks ago.  In an effort to help Kelly's family with its medical bills and living expenses -- Kelly has already seen doctors in Connecticut, New York and Texas -- two Danbury business owners are sponsoring a special fundraiser, "Karing for Kelly," Nov. 8 from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Palace Theater.  Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for kids, and every last nickel will go to the Galarza family. Admission gets you two live bands/ So head to The Palace on Nov. 8 and have a slice of pizza for Kelly Galarza, the little girl at the NYU Langone Medical Center.  After all, you don't need a Halloween costume to be the guest of honor.
-NYU Langone Medical Center
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Thursday, October 29

CBS Newspath
October 28
Syndicated broadcast news story was sent to 250 local CBS affiliates across the country
Injured Athletes Bypass Surgery With New Procedure
A new procedure is helping people avoid surgery by helping the body heal itself following muscle strains and tendon tears.  It doesn't matter if you're an elite athlete or a weekend warrior, muscle strains and tendon tears can happen to anyone. Often surgery is needed to fix the problem, but reporter Kellye Lynn explains a new procedure is helping people avoid surgery by helping the body heal itself.  The unusual treatment is becoming more popular among doctors and professional athletes. Richmond Bradshaw has dreams of playing college football, but the 18-year-old is sidelined with a knee injury. "It feels like someone is stabbing me in my knee when I walk," said Bradshaw. Small tears in a tendon in his knee are causing the pain. But before resorting to surgery, Dennis Cardone, MD, with NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, is trying a new therapy to fix the problem. It uses Bradshaw's own blood to repair the injury. His blood is put in a machine that separates out the platelets. "That's where the healing and growth factors are," said Cardone. The platelets are then injected into the knee where they are expected to jumpstart the tears into mending themselves. "It enhances the body's own healing powers," said Cardone.
- Dennis Cardone, MD, associate professor, orthopedic surgery, The Hospital for Joint Diseases
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WCBS-TV
October 29
Battling Breast Cancer- Safely
Dr. Silvia Formenti, chair of radiation oncology at NYU Langone Medical Center was interviewed about the benefits of a women laying on her stomach in the prone position when receiving breast cancer radiation at The Cancer Institute. This allows for more limited exposure to the heart and lungs of a patient.
- Silvia Formenti, MD, chair, radiation oncology, The Edward H. Meyer Professor of Radiation Oncology, The Cancer Institute
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MSNBC’s Dr. Nancy
October 27
H1N1 Flu Vaccine
As the weather gets colder and the flu is spreading from state to state, a lot of people want to know, where is that vaccine and where, where, where is the information to help them find it. Doctors and some lawmakers are sounding the alarm because of the lack of information. Dr. Ira Breite discussed how patients are reacting to the uneven distribution of the H1N1 flu vaccine.
- Ira Breite MD, clinical assistant professor, medicine

US News & World Report
October 29
Syndicated Health Day News article also appeared on health.msn.com Timeintemp.com, healthfinder.gov/news, health.allrefer.com, bio-medicine.org, news.healingwell.com, healthgrades.com, goodhealth.com and nsmc.staywellsolutionsonline.com and more.
Gene Variants Behind Vulnerability to Yeast Infections- By Amanda Gardner
Scientists have identified two genetic mutations that help account for the presence of recurring yeast infections in certain women. Although the researchers focused their work on small and very specific populations with extreme conditions, the findings provide new insights into one of the most common and annoying maladies to afflict women. At this point, however, the reports really have no relevance to patients, cautioned Steven Goldstein, MD, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City.  Yeast infections, which are typically caused by Candida albicans, arise from imbalances in the body's internal flora, especially in the vaginal tract, although it can affect the nail beds, mouth and bloodstream. "The vagina is a finely tuned ecosystem with almost a dozen bacteria and yeast forms, and as long as they're in harmony, it's comfortable," Goldstein explained. "But if you take antibiotics, for instance, and eliminate some of the normal bacteria, then the yeast that live there all the time have a field day."
-Steven R. Goldstein, MD, professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology 
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Washington Square News
October 29
NYU may Ban Smoking Within 15 feet of Entrances-By Lily Altavena and Jaywon Choe
NYU may ban smoking within 15 feet of entrances and exits university buildings, Senior Vice President for Operations Alison Leary announced in an e-mail to the university community yesterday. Smoking is currently banned in all NYU buildings. The NYU College of Dentistry is already required by law to ban smoking within 15 feet of all entrances because it is a diagnostic and treatment center; this policy led NYU to consider a similar all-university ban. Jonathan Whiteson, MD, an assistant professor at NYU Langone Medical Center and director of its smoking cessation program, applauded the university's efforts. Second-hand smoke is dangerous at any level, he said, adding: "Whether you're smoking everyday or getting a little bit over a few days, you're still being exposed." Distancing cigarettes from areas around campus could also curb smoking overall, Whiteson said, as cigarette users who see others smoking are more likely to light up themselves.
- Jonathan Whiteson, MD, co-director, Joan and Joel Smilow Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention Center
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The GW Hatchet
October 29
Doctors say Death Uncommon at Treanor's BAC Level- By Emily Cahn
Sophomore Laura Treanor's blood alcohol content was more than three times the legal limit to drive in the District the night she died, but three doctors interviewed said death from alcohol poisoning is uncommon at that level. Three doctors interviewed, however, said that a 0.29 BAC does not usually lead to death in a woman of Treanor's stature - a 19-year-old woman at 5 feet 7 inches. All three doctors said death in patients with a BAC around 0.29 is usually due to asphyxiation by choking on vomit, or by another factor, like an irregular heart beat or a bad fall that causes head trauma. Dr. William Chiang, who specializes in medical toxicology at the NYU Langone Medical Center, said different people tolerate alcohol differently. "At 0.29, for most people, you would be not awake, comatose, and there is potential risk," Chiang said, referring to the potential of death by choking on vomit and asphyxiating.Chiang added, "It is extremely unusual to stop breathing with a blood alcohol level of 0.29. You would think that most people would be closer to 0.5, somewhere in that range group to stop breathing."
- William Chiang, MD, associate professor, Department of Emergency Medicine
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NewsPost Online
October 28
Ten Tips to Avoid Back Pain
Tried and tested everything but back pain still giving you nightmares? Well, worry not, for health expert Norman Marcus, MD, has come to your rescue. Marcus, who is the director of muscle pain research at the NYU School of Medicine said on “The Early Show,” that people seek medical advice for back pain most than for anything else Also, the National Institutes of Health revealed that four out of five Americans would suffer from disabling back pain during their lifetime, reports CBS News. However, Marcus offered tips to prevent back pain: 1. Your bed does matter- The physician advised tossing and turning at night and getting rid of sagging mattress if you have one. 2. What you do in bed matters- Reading or watching television while lying down is best avoided as when you lift your head to view the screen your muscles may contract causing pain in the neck. 3. Don’t just sit there- Apparently, staying in a particular position for too long stresses the postural muscles in your body. Hence, one should frequently change positions.
- Norman Marcus, MD, clinical associate professor, psychiatry
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BroadwayWorld.com
October 28
Sarah Jones and Steve Colman Guest At NYU Joint Diseases Hospital Founders Gala, Anthony Edwards To Receive Humanitarian Award
The 2009 NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases (HJD) Founders Gala will present its Humanitarian Award to actor and philanthropist Anthony Edwards for his work with Shoe4Africa, a non-profit that empowers Kenyans to improve their education and health. Shoe4Africa is raising funds to build the first public children's hospital in Kenya. The HJD Founders Gala takes place on Monday, November 2nd, at The Waldorf Astoria, Park Avenue at 50th Street, Manhattan. The gala begins with cocktails at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:30 p.m. Expected attendees include Jeanine Lobell, renowned makeup artist and wife of Anthony Edwards; James LeGros, one of the stars of NBC's medical drama "Mercy" and his wife Kristina Loggia; Broadway actress and writer Sarah Jones and her husband, actor and director Steve Colman; and Toby Tanser, founder of Shoe4Africa. HJD Advisory Board Chair Robin L. Smith, M.D., M.B.A. and Board Member Anthony G. Viscogliosi will chair the gala where it will also honor John W. Brown, Chairman of the Board of Stryker, a pioneer in medical technologies, and Dr. Thomas J. Errico for his outstanding accomplishments in orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery.
- The Hospital for Joint Diseases
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Wednesday, October 28

WEB MD
October 27
Pregnant Women Wary of Swine Flu Shot- By Jennifer Warner
A new survey shows only about one in four pregnant women and mothers of young children plan to get the H1N1 flu vaccine this year, despite recommendations from public health groups urging them to do so.The CDC, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and many other public health organizations strongly recommend that pregnant women and new mothers get both the seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccine shots to protect themselves as well as their newborns. "With H1N1 being the dominant influenza virus circulating so far this year, it is vital that all pregnant women get their seasonal and H1N1 flu shots as soon as possible," says Ashley Roman, MD, clinical assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at NYU School of Medicine and assistant clinical professor at Yale University, in a news release.
- Ashley Roman, MD, clinical assistant professor, obstetrics and gynecology
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Forbes
October 27
The Vaccine Blunder- By Dr. Marc Siegel
Back in late August, the Centers of Disease Control announced that 45 million doses of the H1N1 swine flu vaccine would be available by mid-October, with 20 million doses of the vaccine available every week thereafter. Bruce Gellin, head of the National Vaccine Program at HHS, predicted that there would be enough vaccine to immunize 160 million people this season. For practicing physicians and our patients, these words and these numbers were reassuring. Unfortunately, they turned out not to be true. By this week, only 16 million doses have been delivered to the feds for distribution to the state and local health departments. Explanations for the delay range from the difficulty of getting the virus to multiply in hen eggs that are used to grow them (an antiquated technique from the 1950s), to a delay in the filling of syringes. It takes six to nine months from start to finish to manufacture enough flu vaccine every year for the world using this iffy process.
- Marc Siegel, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine
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InjuryBoard.com
October 27
Majority of Pregnant Women Say No To Swine Flu Shot- By Jane Akre
Pregnant woman are wary of the swine flu shot, according to a new survey. The survey by Harris Interactive of 668 pregnant women and mothers of children under the age of two, shows only about one woman out of four plan to get the H1N1 or swine flu shot, despite recommendations to do so. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology both recommend pregnant women and new mothers be vaccinated. "With H1N1 being the dominant influenza virus circulating so far this year, it is vital that all pregnant women get their seasonal and H1N1 flu shots as soon as possible," says Ashley Roman, MD, clinical assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at New York University School of Medicine and assistant clinical professor at Yale University, in a news release, reported by WebMD.
- Ashley Roman, MD, clinical assistant professor, obstetrics and gynecology
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Crain’s Health Pulse
October 28
At A Glance
CONTRACT: Lutheran Medical Center selected Manhattan-based project manager VVA to direct the construction of a 9,000-square-foot family outpatient clinic for the Brooklyn hospital. The new facility will have 16 exam rooms, four dental offices and a rehab facility with a gym. VVA also is managing major projects at NYU Langone Medical Center, including a 25,000-square-foot expansion of its ICU.
-NYU Langone Medical Center
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EMaxHealth.com
October 27
Posting Calorie Information At Fast-Food Menus Change Consumer Behaviors- By Tyler Woods Ph.D.
If fast-food restaurants began to post calorie information on their menus could it possible change people’s behaviors? The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in New York who had mandatory food labeling says yes. The department released important data from a survey that they have been collecting on more than 10,000 customers at 275 fast-food locations in 2007 and surveyed another 12,000 customers this year. Their report suggested that 56 percent of fast-food customers reported seeing the calorie information. The researchers have reviled their data to the annual meeting of the Obesity Society in Washington that posting calorie information at fast-food menus change consumer behaviors. This comes after an earlier study by researchers at New York University and Yale University, that included 1,156 adults who ate at Burger King, KFC, McDonald's and Wendy's immediately before and after the rule went into effect. Their study showed no changes to consumer habits in low-income neighborhoods. However, the city's researcher’s team said their study was more representative of eating habits because it included more people over a longer period of time and was not limited just low-income neighborhoods.
-Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service Medicine
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Forbes.com
October 27
Health Care: Hefty Side Effect For Kids On Antipsychotics- By Robert Langreth
Study finds troubling weight gains in children taking brand-name psychiatric drugs. A new study is likely to add to the furious debate over the rapid rise in the prescription of heavy-duty antipsychotic drugs to children. It found that kids' weight balloons by 10 to 19 pounds in just the first three months on the drugs, often leading to worrisome elevations of cholesterol, triglycerides and other metabolic parameters. Monica Michell, a child psychiatrist in New York who is affiliated with  the NYU Langone Medical Center says, "It really solidifies the position that one should try every other medicine before one goes to these atypical in kids who are not psychotic." But she adds that sometimes doctors feel they have little choice but to use the drugs, even with children who are not psychotic. "When the kid becomes physically aggressive, everyone wants that to stop, pronto," she says.
- Monica Michell, clinical assistant professor, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychiatry, NYU Child Study Center
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SkinCancer.org
October 27
Homecoming: Plan Not to Tan       
You want to look your best at homecoming — whether you’re in a little black dress or sporting your school colors. But one color you shouldn’t wear is the shade you get from ultraviolet (UV) tanning. A tan is bad for your health — and your looks. Skin tans or burns when it is exposed to the UV radiation emitted by the sun, or tanning beds and lamps. But if you’re determined to deepen your skin color, do it safely. Doris Day, MD, clinical assistant professor of dermatology at NYU Langone Medical Center, explains how: Makeup is an easy, low maintenance option, and is perfect for when you want just a hint of color on your face. “If you have pale skin, a light pink blush will give you a natural-looking glow,” says Dr. Day. “For darker skin, a bronzer or blush in deeper colors looks great.” To apply, “Use a large, densely-bristled brush with a slightly flared, fluffy head to apply color to the apples of the cheeks (the fleshy, round skin that’s most visible when you smile) as well as to other areas the sun would tan — the center of the forehead, bridge of the nose, and chin.” But, Dr. Day warns, use a light hand: “You can always apply more! The idea is to have definition, not to look like you’re wearing a lot of makeup.”
- Doris Day, MD, clinical assistant professor, Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology
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Boston Globe
October 28
Assaults on therapists- By Carolyn Y. Johnson and Liz Kowalczyk
Assaults on therapists, such as the stabbing of a doctor by a psychiatric patient in a Massachusetts General Hospital clinic yesterday, capture widespread attention, but several mental health professionals said such events are rare. Still, they said, doctors can take precautions when treating psychiatric patients. A study published earlier this year in the journal Archives of General Psychiatry found that mental illness by itself did not make a person more prone to violence. Only when it is combined with other factors, such as substance abuse or a history of violence or stressful situations such as losing a job or divorce, did mental illness predict future violence in the study of more than 34,000 people. Dr. Julie Holland, who spent nine years working weekends in the psychiatric emergency room at Bellevue Hospital Center in New York City, said that in her time there she was punched in the face once by a patient. While violence is a risk when dealing with mentally ill patients, she added, a much better predictor of violence was someone who was intoxicated . "I do think there's sort of a lot of public misperception about how dangerous psychiatric patients are," said Holland, who recently chronicled her experience in a book, "Weekends at Bellevue."
- Julie Holland, PhD, clinical assistant professor, psychiatry
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Huffington Post
October 28
When a friend wants more than friendship- By Dr. Irene Levine
It's not unusual for platonic relationships to turn into something different or something more. Whenever this happens, regardless of gender, it can lead to misunderstandings if both people aren't on the same page. When two female friends are involved, the potential awkwardness is compounded exponentially because the experience is less common and less talked about.  I was pleased when my colleague Tina B. Tessina, PhD, a regular contributor to Redbook Magazine who has developed a loyal following as Dr. Romance, agreed to share some practical advice for women who find themselves involved in such a situation. Tina is a psychotherapist, author of Gay Relationships: How To Find Them, How To Improve Them, How To Make Them Last, and has written twelve other books on relationships.
- Irene S. Levine, PhD, clinical professor, psychiatry
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TradingMarkets.com
October 27
SkinMedica signs license agreement with New York University
SkinMedica, Inc. and New York University (NYU) have entered into a global license agreement to develop novel products to address skin hyperpigmentation based on technology invented at NYU. SkinMedica is a dermatology focused pharmaceutical company, while NYU is a private, nonsectarian, research university. Both the partners are based in the US.  Under the terms of the agreement, SkinMedica has licensed exclusive rights to develop and market products based on the NYU technology, with a range of applications in the modulation of skin pigmentation.
- Seth J. Orlow, MD, PhD, The Samuel Weinberg Professor of Pediatric Dermatology, chair, The Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology
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Vitals Spotlight
October 27
Yankee’s Pitcher Joba Chamberlain Reveals Series-Winning Secret Weapon
Yankee’s pitcher Joba Chamberlain says he knows the secret to his high-level athletic performance.  It is called the Phiten necklace, and you too can own one for around $25.00.  ”It helps us recover and we’re proud to be associated with it,” said Yankee pitcher Joba Chamberlain, a paid endorser of Phiten’s titanium-coated sportswear, after winning the American League pennant Sunday night.  And he is not alone - around 300 major-league players wear a Phiten necklace. Do these necklaces really enhance one’s athletic prowess and promote recovery as advertised?  “There’s no science and physiology,” said Dr. Orrin Sherman, chief of sports medicine at the NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases. “There’s just no way the chemical structure of the body can be influenced by magnets that small. It’s all superstitions with no scientific basis.”
- Orrin Sherman, MD, chief, sports medicine, NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases
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WSHM-CBS TV
October 28
3 News at 6 am
For get the gym shorts, throw on your favorite pair of jeans. NYU School of Medicine found people wearing jeans walk 491 more steps a day than those who don't. Wearing comfy clothes encourages people to be more active in their daily lives and burns more calories. According to a new survey by the American Council on Exercise, the number one reason to exercise is to stay healthy.  
-NYU School of Medicine

Tuesday October 27

CBS Newspath
October 26
Syndicated broadcast story was distributed to 250 local CBS affiliates
Swine flu outbreak for some cities?
In Health Watch: H1N1 is certainly making the rounds this fall, but some major cities are catching a break. Doctors believe that many have already built up an immunity. Here in New York, health officials estimate that in the spring, up to 1 million people were infected with H1N1. That means that about 10 percent of the population has built up a resistance to the virus. Martin Blaser, MD, says, "If there are a lot of immune individuals in a population then a new agent isn't going to spread very much. In fact, states in the southeast -- like Georgia -- which were spared the first wave are now seeing a big jump this fall. But doctors warn...the peak of flu season is from December to March...and no matter where you live..you should be vaccinated.
- Martin Blaser, MD, The Frederick H. King Professor of Internal Medicine, chairman, Department of Medicine
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Health Day News
October 26
Heart Disease Gender Gap Narrows
Hearts attacks have increased among middle-aged American women in the past two decades, but their chance of survival has improved, two new studies show. "Basically, both studies show that there still is a gap between men and women," said Nieca Goldberg, MD, clinical associate professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a spokeswoman for the American Heart Association. "They both show the importance of continuing to pay attention to women's risk of cardiovascular disease and treatment of their heart attacks." The studies offer some good news for women, Goldberg said. "I'd like to think that's because we have increased the awareness of women themselves. But these two important studies show the need to continue research about reducing women's risk of cardiovascular disease."
- Nieca Goldberg, MD, clinical associate professor, medicine (cardiology), director, Women’s Heart Center
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Health Day News
October 26
Syndicated article also appeared on News.yahoo.com, Atlanta Journal Constitution.com, Healthscout.com, Healthfinder.gov, Bio-Medicine.org, uamshealth.com (University of Arkansas), livemedinfo.com, covenanthealth.org, U.S. News & World Report, springfieldnewssun.com, journal-news.com, daytondailynews.com, middletownjournal.com, drugs.com, health.myfoxnewisconsin.com
Big, Beefy Football Players May Face Heart Problems Later
Crushing the notion that you can be both fat and fit, new research has found that current professional football linemen already have some risk factors for heart disease.  In a study comparing professional football players to minor and major league baseball players, researchers found that football linemen were more likely to have higher fasting blood sugar levels, larger waist circumferences and a greater waist-to-height ratio. "These guys are very big, and yes, they have more muscle, but a lot of the weight is fat, and anyone at a higher weight is at risk of metabolic syndrome," said Jonathan Whiteson, MD, co-director of the Joan and Joel Smilow Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention Center at the NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City.  "What happens is that you don't have to have rip-roaring abnormalities, but when you put these factors together, you create metabolic syndrome," Whiteson said. "This can put them at risk for premature heart disease, stroke, vascular disease in the legs and sudden death," he explained. "The message is clear," he said. "Being fat is not fit. It's a medical condition." But there are other worries as well, he added. "What's always a concern of mine is that these people are role models for children, and you see young boys who want to play football bulking up," Whiteson said. "We should be promoting a better health profile than linebackers."
- Jonathan Whiteson, MD, co-director, Joan and Joel Smilow Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention Center
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The New York Times
October 27
Basics: A Molecule of Motivation, Dopamine Excels at Its Task- By Natalie Angier
Should the brain want to ignore what it might otherwise notice, dopamine must be muzzled. Reporting recently in Nature Neuroscience, Regina M. Sullivan of NYU Langone Medical Center, Gordon A. Barr of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and their colleagues found that, whereas rats older than 12 days would quickly develop an aversion to any odors that were paired with a mild electric shock, young rats would perversely show a preference for such odors if their mothers were nearby when the tutorial jolt was delivered. The researchers traced that infantile Candide spirit to a suppression of dopamine activity in the amygdala, where fear memories are born. Infant rats know their mother by smell, Dr. Sullivan explained, and they must not learn to avoid her, for even an abusive caretaker is better than none.
- Regina M. Sullivan, PhD, Research Professor; Research Scientist, NYU Child Study Center
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MedPageToday.com
October 23
Cadaver Study Sparks Prostate Cancer Therapy Debate- By Charles Bankhead
A study of men who died of prostate cancer has triggered a debate over the best way to treat the majority of men living with the disease.  The argument arose from a study of cadaver prostates suggesting that a single precursor cell gives birth to all metastatic prostate cancer.  An article in the October 22 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine stoked the philosophical fires with an interpretation of the study as a call to re-examine the need to treat the whole prostate when focal therapy—such as cryoblation or high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) directed at an index lesion that harbors the precursor cell might be all that is necessary.  Responding to a media query, Herbert Lepor, MD, of NYU Langone Medical Center, said in an e-mail.  “Technology is emerging to focally ablate prostate cancer.  The effectiveness of this new paradigm will depend on the ability to select appropriate cases.”  Lepor added, “Once a means of identification can be determined, clinical trials will be warranted to investigate the effect of ablating that single lesion.”
-Herbert Lepor, MD, The Martin Spatz Chairman of the Department of Urology, professor, Department of Urology and Pharmacology

Reuters
October 26
New York Study Says Menu Labeling Affects Behavior- By David Morgan
New York's mandate that fast-food restaurants post calorie information on their menus has changed consumer habits, the city said on Monday, contradicting a recent independent study showing no effect. The city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene released preliminary data showing evidence that people bought food with fewer calories at nine of the 13 fast-food and coffee chains included in a study on the effects of menu-labeling laws that went into effect in 2008. Researchers surveyed more than 10,000 customers at 275 locations in early 2007 and another 12,000 this year. The earlier study by researchers at New York University and Yale University, which included 1,156 adults who ate at Burger King, KFC, McDonald's and Wendy's immediately before and after the rule went into effect, found no change to consumer habits in low-income neighborhoods. The city's researchers said their study was more representative of dining habits because it included more people over a longer period of time and not limited to outlets in low-income neighborhoods.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service Medicine
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October 26
SkinMedica and New York University Enter Into License Agreement for Novel Skin Lightening Program
SkinMedica, Inc. and New York University announced today that they have entered into a global license agreement to develop novel products to address skin hyperpigmentation based on technology invented at NYU."Our scientific discovery involves natural products that act by an entirely novel mechanism to modulate skin pigmentation," said Seth J. Orlow, M.D., Ph.D., Chair of the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology at NYU, and Director of the Program in Cutaneous Biology and NYU Langone Medical Center's Center of Excellence in Cancers of the Skin.  "The treatment of hyperpigmentation remains a major unmet need, and we are especially pleased to partner with SkinMedica to advance new products to address this problem."   Under the terms of the agreement, SkinMedica has licensed exclusive rights to develop and market products based on the NYU technology, with a range of applications in the modulation of skin pigmentation. 
- Seth J. Orlow, MD, PhD, Chair, The Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology
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October 26
Changes in Brain Chemicals Mark Shifts in Infant Learning
When do you first leave the nest? Early in development infants of many species experience important transitions -- such as learning when to leave the protective presence of their mother to start exploring the wider world. Neuroscientists have now pinpointed molecular events occurring in the brain during that turning point. Based on animal studies, the findings may shed light on the strength of attachments in many species -- including the conundrum of why human children form strong attachments to even abusive caregivers. "This is one of the few times we know what causes this type of early transition," said psychologist Gordon A. Barr, Ph.D., of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, co-author of a study that appeared online Sept. 27 in Nature Neuroscience. Barr performed the studies in rats with a longtime collaborator, neuroscientist Regina M. Sullivan, Ph.D., of the Nathan Kline Institute and NYU Langone Medical Center.
- Regina M. Sullivan, PhD, Research Professor; Research Scientist, NYU Child Study Center
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Los Angeles Times
October 26
Menu-Labeling Laws are Changing Food Purchases in New York City- By Jerry Hirsch
The mean number of calories purchased per customer decreased at nine of 13 fast-food or coffee chains, according to a study presented today by researchers from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.  The agency was looking to see if there was any meaningful reduction in calorie consumption from New York’s menu-labeling laws that went into effect in March 2008. They presented preliminary data today at the annual meeting of the Obesity Society in Washington, D.C.  An earlier study by New York University researchers that looked at consumers in low-income and minority neighborhoods found that calorie information on menus may increase awareness of calorie content but had less of an effect on the number of calories people purchase. The New York City study authors said they believed their result was different because their sample size was much larger and more representative of the city's entire population.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service Medicine
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RedOrbit
October 27
Conflicting Results Of NYC’s Fast Food Law
On Monday, New York City officials said that their fast-food law of 2008 — a directive enacted last year requiring that fast-food chains clearly display the calorie information for all menu items — was a success despite the results of a recently completed independent study showing that the regulation had no noticeable effect. At an annual meeting of the Obesity Society in Washington, city officials reported that 56 percent of the fast-food customers surveyed said they had taken notice of the posted nutritional information and that frequenters of such ubiquitous chains as KFC, McDonald’s and Starbucks had decreased their calorie consumption by an average of 106 calories based on that information. Conflicting studies conducted by New York University and Yale University shortly before and after the municipal legislation was enacted, however, indicated that fast-food consumers in low-income areas of the city remained unaffected by the new law.  Both university studies were sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a nonprofit organization aimed at improving health and healthcare in America.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service Medicine
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McGill Tribune
October 27
McGill Researcher Identifies Common Defects in Mouse and Baby- By Kyla Mandel
A newly discovered multi-organ syndrome may lead to earlier diagnosis for infants with lung defects. Virtually identical defects between a mouse and a sick baby were found by Elaine Davis, associate professor and Canada Research Chair at the McGill department of anatomy and cell biology.  The mouse was part of Dr. Daniel Rifkin's laboratory at the NYU Langone Medical Center. Rifkin studies the effects of a lack of LTBP4, a binding protein which keeps the growth factor, TGF?, under control. "We found that the development of the lungs was abnormal," said Rifkin. "They did not mature, and the protein elastin, which is found in the walls of the lung, was observed in clumps rather than in linear bundles."
-Daniel B. Rifkin, PhD, professor, Department of Cell Biology, Charles Aden Poindexter Professor of Medicine
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Asian News International
October 27
Changes in Brain Chemicals Modify Infant Learning Process- From ANI
A new American study has pointed out the chemical changes in the brain that transform the learning process of infants.  Psychologist Gordon A. Barr of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and neuroscientist Regina M. Sullivan of the Nathan Kline Institute and NYU Langone Medical Center studied the mother-child behavior in rats to draw parallels in humans. The scientists say their findings can also be applied to infant behavior in dogs, rats and people.  The conclusions of the study also suggest that scientists may detect neural mechanisms due to which other transitions such as a baby's switch from breastfeeding to eating solid food occurs, he added.  The study was published online on Sept. 27 in Nature Neuroscience.
- Regina M. Sullivan, PhD, Research Professor; Research Scientist, NYU Child Study Center
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St. Louis Today
October 27
Reaction from Dr. Gary Wadler, the steroid expert- By Tom Timmermann
When Mark McGwire testified before Congress on March 17, 2005, Gary Wadler, MD, an expert at NYU on the use of steroids in sports, was sitting in the front row, right behind McGwire. When McGwire told the House Government Reform Committee, "I'm not here to talk about the past," Wadler figured McGwire's days in baseball were over. "If you'd asked me to predict," Wadler said Monday, "I would have thought it pretty unlikely (he'd work in baseball again). Not from a legal point of view. But from what the public thinks." Wadler, who is chairman of the board that produces the annual prohibited substances list issued by the World Anti-Doping Agency, sees many questions still swirling around McGwire but none that point to keeping him from the game.
- Gary Wadler, MD, clinical associate professor, medicine
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NPR
October 26
Venturing Inside Bellevue's Psychiatric ER
In 1994, Julie Holland received the Outstanding Resident Award from the National Institute of Mental Health for her work at Mount Sinai Medical Center. For nine years, psychiatrist Julie Holland ran the psychiatric emergency room at Bellevue Hospital in New York City on Saturday and Sunday nights. Along with treating patients, she served as liaison to the medical ER and the toxicology department.  Holland says one of the hardest parts of her job was figuring out which patients were manic or schizophrenic and which were high on cocaine or methamphetamines. An expert on street drugs, Holland spent her college years researching and writing Ecstasy: The Complete Guide. Her new memoir is called Weekends at Bellevue: Nine Years on the Night Shift at the psych ER. Holland is an assistant professor of psychiatry at NYU School of Medicine, and runs a private practice in New York City.
- Julie Holland, PhD, clinical assistant professor, psychiatry
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Psychology Today
October 24
Why breaking up is SO hard to do – By Irene S. Levine, Ph.D.
Before you break up, think twice about the likely outcomes  When I surveyed more than 1500 women for my book, Best Friends Forever: Surviving a Breakup with Your Best Friend, I discovered that most of them have an extraordinarily difficult time ending their friendships, even very toxic ones. It's not surprising. Like divorce, the potential losses can be staggering, extending well beyond the friendship per se. That's because when two women are close, they tend to draw others into their circle: family members, neighbors, co-workers, and other friends. For example, if you're best friends with your neighbor, the chances are pretty good that your school-age children are friends, too. The kids may even be the raison d'être for the friendship. If you end your friendship, what repercussions will it have on them? Will they still feel comfortable having play dates? How will you feel when you see your ex-friend at a PTA meeting or on the soccer field?
- Irene S. Levine, PhD, clinical professor, psychiatry
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Dr. Oz Show
October 20
Seasonal Allergies
Dr. Clifford Bassett of NYU Langone Medical Center appeared on set of the Dr. Oz Show.  He performed an allergy skin test to show the audience how simple and easy it is.
- Clifford Bassett, MD, clinical instructor, medicine

The Wendy Williams Show
October 23
Breast Cancer: Importance of Self Exams
Deborah Axelrod, MD, from NYU Langone Medical Center appeared on the Wendy Williams Show.  “You want to do your breast self exam 7 to 10 days after your period ends,” said Dr. Axelrod.
- Deborah Axelrod, MD, associate professor, surgery, The Cancer Institute

RunnersWorld.com
October 26
Help Me at My First New York City Marathon!
Here are some general guidelines you can follow in order to have a successful day: When going to the start, wear extra layers of clothing you don’t care about. As the day becomes warmer you can shed layers as you run, to stay comfortable.  Have a game plan for your wait. There will be a lot of “down time” when you get to Fort Wadsworth. Be prepared with a game plan to occupy your time. Stay hydrated even if it’s cool and windy: not too much/not too little. Drink sports drink. Check your urine: It should be lemonade yellow. If it's clear, you have drunk too much; if dark, like iced tea, you have drunk too little. Limit caffeine to no more than 200 mg (2 small cups of coffee).  Take your baby aspirin while waiting at the Fort.  If you are in New York City on Thursday, October 29, NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases Department of Orthopedics Sports Medicine Division and I are hosting a free Marathon Prep Course called “Ready, Set, Go!”  We'll review everything you need to know for race weekend, including how to optimize performance, prevent and deal with injuries on race day, and tips for recovering quickly.
- Lewis Maharam, MD, clinical assistant professor, orthopaedic surgery, The Hospital for Joint Diseases Learn more

Examiner.com
October 26
Genetic Link to a Rare but Deadly Form of Breast Cancer
Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) was first seen in 1924 and continues to perplex researchers, geneticists, and oncologist.  Only recently have genetic markers been linked to this rare form of breast cancer.   Furthermore, at the NYU Cancer Institute, researchers have identified a new gene called eIF4G1 that may be a potential genetic marker in those affected by IBC. Drs. Schneider and Silvera found that in the 37 IBC tumors biopsied “over 80% of the IBC tumors” had an over expression of this gene (Rowan 2009).  Investigators continue to look for genetic changes linked specifically to IBC.
- Robert Schneider, PhD, associate director for translational research at The Cancer Institute, co-director of breast cancer research, and The Albert B. Sabin Professor of Molecular Pathogenesis
- Deborah Silvera, PhD, postdoctoral research fellow, microbiology
- Silvia Formenti, MD, chair, radiation oncology, The Edward H. Meyer Professor of Radiation Oncology
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TrueSlant.com
October 22
Brainspin: Doctors Aren’t Showing Obese Patients the Love
Doctors don’t respect their obese patients as much as other patients, a new study claims–potentially resulting in less time spent with obese patients, and less information given to them that could improve their health. The study, which will be published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, was conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University. Data was collected from 238 patients at 14 urban community medical practices in Baltimore. Patients and physicians completed questionnaires about their visit, their attitudes, and their perceptions of one another upon the completion of the encounter. This isn’t the first study to uncover these results.  A study conducted by researchers at the New York University School of Medicine last July found that 40 percent of doctors express a negative reaction to obese patients.
- NYU School of Medicine
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Monday, October 26

CNN
October 25
CNN Sunday: Healthcare- Public Option?
Andrew Rubin, a vice president at NYU Langone Medical Center says,” We have to get health care reform going.” In terms of coming to a consensus on the public option and healthcare reform soon, Rubin says, “I’m optimistic.”
- Andrew Rubin, vice president for Medical Center Clinical Affairs and Affiliates

NBC Today Show
October 24
Swine Flu
Dr. Steven Lamm, an internist at NYU Langone Medical Center, discussed swine and answered questions about H1N1.  He says, “The flu is a very strange virus that can mutate. The vaccination  really works and is very safe…for kids and pregnant women.”
- Steven Lamm, MD, clinical assistant professor, Medicine

Reuters
October 23
Trial Data Often Lack Information on Race, Ethnicity- By Anne Harding
Reporting of the racial composition of randomized controlled trial populations has steadily improved since the 1970s but still leaves much to be desired, a new analysis shows. For example, of the 156 trials cited by the American Heart Association in its 2007 guidelines for cardiovascular disease prevention in women, only 35% provided demographic data on race and ethnicity, Jeffrey S. Berger, MD of NYU School of Medicine and his colleagues found. "In these very large, randomized trials that are quoted constantly, we have not done a good job at letting the audience know the race and ethnicity in those people enrolled," Dr. Berger told Reuters Health. This information is crucial, he added, in order to translate research findings to patient care, and also to understand whether or not there really are racial differences in how people respond to treatment.  Representation of women, older people and other subgroups of patients in clinical trials "has been under intense scrutiny," he and his colleagues note in a paper published online in the American Heart Journal. "Before we can understand what the differences are I think we need data," the researcher said. "We need to do a better job reporting these things."
- Jeffrey S. Berger, MD, assistant professor, Cardiology
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The National
October 26
High-Calorie Diet in UAE is Dangerous- By Kareem Shaheen
People in the UAE are eating too much of the wrong foods and straining the nation’s food supply, according to food experts and a recently released UN report. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimated that the average daily caloric intake per person in the UAE in 2005 was just over 3,000 calories – almost a third above the recommended amount for a healthy person. That presents a major health issue for a country already struggling with obesity rates of 25 per cent for men and almost 40 per cent for women. Twenty per cent of UAE residents have diabetes, a condition linked to obesity. However, there are questions over whether such an approach might work. A law introduced in New York City in 2008 requiring restaurants to display calorie counts on menus did not result in a measurable decline in the consumption of high-calorie food, according to a joint report by New York University and Yale University published in a health policy journal.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service Medicine
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NewsRx
October 25
Race Not Reported in over 50 percent of Randomized Clinical Trials for Cardiovascular Disease
A new study recently published online by the American Heart Journal shows that more than half of all randomized clinical trials, or RCTs, for cardiovascular disease are not reporting vital information about the study populations race or ethnicity. NYU School of Medicine researchers found that out of the 156 cardiovascular disease RCTs analyzed, only 35% of trials reported any information on race or ethnicity between 1970 and 2006. From 2000 to 2006, 46% of trials included that information. "Over time, information on enrollment by race and ethnic group has improved but nevertheless, information on this important demographic of patient enrollment is far from ideal," said Jeffrey S. Berger, MD.
- Jeffrey S. Berger, MD, assistant professor, cardiology
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Times of India
October 25
Ten Tips to Avoid Back Pain- By ANI 
Tried and tested everything but back pain still giving you nightmares? Well, worry not, for health expert Dr. Norman Marcus has come to your Backpain (Getty Images) rescue.  Marcus, who is the director of muscle pain research at the NYU School of Medicine said on "The Early Show," that people seek medical advice for back pain most than for anything else.  Also, the National Institutes of Health revealed that four out of five Americans would suffer from disabling back pain during their lifetime, reports CBS News.  However, Marcus offered tips to prevent back pain including: Your bed does matter- The physician advised tossing and turning at night and getting rid of sagging mattress if you have one.
- Norman Marcus, MD, clinical associate professor, Psychiatry and Anesthesiology
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Staten Island Advance
October 25
Families, Cancer Survivors Join to Raise Funds
"A Child's Touch Benefit" 10th anniversary dinner/dance will be held Friday, November 13, 7 p.m., at the Excelsior Grand, New Dorp, to raise funds for NYU Hospital’s Children's Cancer Research. Tickets are $125 (includes cocktail hour, dinner and open bar); call 917-848-3370.  The guest speaker will be Dr. Aaron Rausen, NYU's principal investigator in the National Cancer Institute's sponsored Children's Oncology Group.  The Village People, disco icons for the past 30 years, will provide the entertainment.  Chairwomen are Laura Pisano of Huguenot and Stephanie Crocitto of Richmond, both of whom have sons that were treated at NYU by Dr. Rausen and survived childhood cancers; and Gina Sindone of Huguenot, a freelance event planner.  During the past 10 years, $600,000 has been raised to help finance clinical trials to improve the cure rate for children with leukemia, lymphoma, bone cancer, brain cancer and other childhood cancers, as well as understand the causes and improve the quality of life for children with these cancers.
- Aaron Rausen, MD, professor, pediatrics, The Cancer Institute
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HealthDay News
October 25
Rethink that Drink to Health- By Dennis Thompson
Experts with the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association say that although these studies show some benefits to moderate drinking, the health risks from alcohol consumption far outweigh the potential rewards. Drinking any alcohol at all is known to increase your risk for contracting a number of types of cancer, said Susan Gapstur, vice president of epidemiology for the American Cancer Society. These include cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, liver, colon, rectum and breast. There also are other health risks from moderate drinking, including liver damage and accidents caused by impaired reflexes, said Dr. Jennifer Mieres, director of nuclear cardiology at the New York University School of Medicine and an American Heart Association spokeswoman.
- Jennifer Mieres, MD, associate professor, Department of Medicine,  director, Nuclear Cardiology
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Ortho Supersite
October 23
Experts still Undecided Regarding the Merit of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Sports Medicine
Findings from a study in the October issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons suggest that early outcomes of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for several common orthopedic-related sports medicine conditions appear promising, but larger clinical studies are still needed to determine the benefits of its use.  “Some believe that PRP may catalyze the body's repair mechanisms at areas of injury, improve healing and shorten recovery time,” co-author Michael P. Hall, MD, a senior orthopedic surgery resident at the NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, said in a press release. “However, there currently is minimal evidence of this clinically, and more research must be performed.”  Surgeons have used PRP treatments for the past two decades to improve wound healing and bone grafting procedures, but sports medicine specialists have only recently started using this technology, according to the press release.
- Michael P. Hall, MD, senior orthopedic surgery resident, The Hospital for Joint Diseases
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Earthtimes.org
October 23
New Poll Shows Pregnant Women Concerned About H1N1 Flu but Uncertain About Getting the Vaccine 
Pregnant women are a priority audience for flu vaccination because they are at higher risk of hospitalization for complications from the flu due to physiologic changes associated with pregnancy, such as an increase in heart rate, reduction in lung capacity and changes in immune responses.(2,3) In fact, a recent study found that during the first month of the H1N1 outbreak (April 15 to May 18, 2009), hospitalization rates for H1N1 flu were four times higher in pregnant women than in the general population.(4) The CDC, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), AWHONN and numerous other professional women's health and obstetrics organizations strongly urge all new moms and moms-to-be to get the flu shots to protect themselves and their newborns through passed immunity. A 2008 New England Journal study showed that babies of mothers vaccinated against the flu during pregnancy experienced a 63 percent reduction in influenza illness due to passed immunity from mom to baby.(5) Newborns under six months of age are extremely vulnerable to influenza infection and its dangerous consequences, but cannot get vaccinated.(6)  "With H1N1 being the dominant influenza virus circulating so far this year, it is vital that all pregnant women get their seasonal and H1N1 flu shots as soon as possible," said Ashley Roman, MD, clinical assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at New York University School of Medicine and assistant clinical professor at Yale University.
- Ashley Roman, MD, clinical assistant professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Signs of the Times
October 25
Flashback: Can You Catch Swine Flu From Money? – By AnnaMaria Andriotis
To reduce the risk of catching swine flu, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends frequent hand washing and using tissues when you sneeze. But there's another way to protect yourself - even if it's not so good for the economy: Stop spending money. To be sure, many kinds of frequently touched surfaces could temporarily harbor the flu virus. Broadly speaking, scientists consider the risk of transmission in this way to be low, particularly if hand-washing and other hygiene measures are practiced, says Dr. Philip Tierno, director of clinical microbiology and immunology at NYU Langone Medical Center and author of The Secret Life of Germs.  Three things must happen for a flu virus to be transmitted from one person to another via money. First, a person who is infected with the swine flu must sneeze or cough onto the bill or blow their nose and leave remnants of their mucus on the currency. Next, an uninfected person would need to touch the money while the virus is still present.
- Philip M. Tierno, PhD, director,  clinical microbiology and immunology
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MedicineNet.com
October 25
A Video Games Can Play Havoc With Kids' Joints- By Jennifer Thomas
Kids who play video games for more than an hour a day increase their chances of having wrist and finger pain, a new study has found. Each additional hour of use increased the likelihood of experiencing pain by 50%, according to the study. Younger children were also more likely to have wrist pain than older children. "The younger the kids, the more significant the pain," said the study's senior author, Dr. Yasuf Yazici, an assistant professor of medicine at the NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York City. "The 7-year-old playing for two hours had more pain than the 10-year-old playing for two hours," he said. The study was to be presented Oct. 19 at the American College of Rheumatology's annual meeting in Philadelphia. The researchers said they weren't sure why younger children were more prone to joint pain, though it could be because their muscles and tendons are still developing. Similar motions might put more pressure on a younger child's hand and wrist, compared with an older child's, Yazici said.
-Yusuf Yazici, MD, assistant professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases
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Everyday Health.com
October 24
Knee Pain: Exercises You Can Do at Work- By Jan Sheehan
Knee pain at work can inhibit your ability to focus and perform your job well. Learn simple exercises to help you relieve knee pain while on the job. When you have knee pain, it can be difficult to focus on work. But it’s possible to relieve knee pain with some simple exercises you can do right in the workplace. These knee pain exercises are convenient and won’t take much time away from your job duties.  “There are a number of quick knee exercises that a clever person with an accommodating boss can do at work,” says Steven Stuchin, MD, director of orthopedic surgery at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York City. Try these sneaky moves and easy exercises to manage knee pain at work.
- Steven Stuchin, MD, associate professor, orthopedic surgery, NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases Learn more 

Newsday
October 23
MSG unveils studio at hospital- By Neil Best
Let's end our blogging week with something positive and uplifting, shall we? As I write this, there is an event going on at the NYU Langone Medical center where MSG - as part of a Garden of Dreams initiative - is unveiling a mobile studio for children at the hospital to use to interview celebrities, fellow patients, doctors, etc. John Starks and Adam Graves are in the house for the ceremony. The studio will remain at the center for the use of children there, with the content to be seen on the hospital's closed-circuit TV channel. (MSG and Newsday both are owned by Cablevision.)
- NYU Langone Medical Center
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Washington Square News
October 26
Children at the NYU Langone Medical Center now have Something to Look Forward to During their Stay: Their Own Television Network.
On Friday, NYU Langone unveiled the new "mobile studio," comprised of a portable set of cameras and technical equipment meant to allow young patients to create films and broadcast through a closed-circuit channel within the hospital. Dubbed MSG Mobile Studio, the studio was made possible by a partnership with MSG Media, a television network at Madison Square Garden and the non-profit charity The Garden of Dreams Foundation. Using the studio, children from NYU Langone's Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tisch Hospital and the Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders will be able to create their own shows and interview other patients, hospital staff and special guests. At Friday's opening, John Starks, a former New York Knicks basketball player, and Adam Graves, a former New York Rangers hockey player, were the children's first interviewees at the studio. Marianne Hardart, assistant therapeutic recreation director of NYU Langone's Child Life and Creative Arts Therapies Department, said the studio is beneficial for the children at NYU Langone. "It's really a way for them to take control of this environment where they have no control," she said.
- Marianne Hardart, assistant therapeutic recreation director of NYU Langone's Child Life and Creative Arts Therapies Department
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Hartford Courant
October 24
Philanthropy makes Yale cancer center a reality
Rising over downtown New Haven, the 14-story glass-and-stone tower houses what will be one of the world's most advanced cancer research and treatment centers.  The structure, which officially opens Wednesday, is among the most expensive buildings ever built in New England. Its name is the Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven, reflecting the philanthropy of Fairfield resident Joel E. Smilow. The complex will feature 112 patient beds, a healing garden, a boutique, outpatient treatment rooms, state-of-the-art operating rooms, infusion suites, diagnostic imaging services, radiation oncology and a specialized women's cancer center.  "The hospital is really exciting," said Smilow, 75, who has been a benefactor of other medical facilities, including the Joan and Joel Smilow Research Center at NYU Medical Center.
-Joel E. Smilow, Member, Board of Trustees, NYU Langone Medical Center
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The New York Times
October 24
Ignacio Ponseti, Hero to Many With Clubfoot, Dies at 95
Dr. Ignacio V. Ponseti, an orthopedist whose gentle, nonsurgical method of correcting clubfoot has become the global standard for treatment, helping thousands of children to walk, died Sunday in Iowa City. He was 95. The cause was a stroke he suffered Tuesday while working in his office, said Tom Moore, a spokesman for the University of Iowa, where Dr. Ponseti taught and practiced. Dr. Ponseti came up with his method after realizing that surgery for clubfoot actually did harm. Drawing on his experience tending to the wounded in the Spanish Civil War, he found that a regimen of plaster casts, braces and manipulations by hand could avoid the costs and after effects of surgery. The method has been endorsed by the World Health Organization, the National Institutes of Health and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Wallace B. Lehman, chief of pediatric orthopedic surgery at NYU. Hospital for Joint Diseases, said in an interview Wednesday that the method had “saved countless, countless feet of crippled babies.” In 2001, Dr. Lehman named his hospital’s clubfoot treatment center for Dr. Ponseti.
- Wallace B. Lehman, chief of pediatric orthopedic surgery, The Hospital for Joint Diseases
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Friday, October 23

CBS Evening News
October 22
Also WUSA, WKRCDT-CW, WKRCDT2-CW, WTKR, WFMY, WIVB, WPRI, WNAC-Fox, WTHV-CBS, WVLT, WKRG, WDBJ, WNEM, KWCH, KKTV, WBTW, WRDW, WMBD, WWTV, WMAZ, KLBK, WLFI
H1N1 Flu Vaccine
Dr. Martin Blaser speaks about the availability of the H1N1 flu vaccine saying, "Production is slow, distribution is uneven. So it is not getting out in the field in a regular manner.”
-Martin Blaser, MD, The Frederick H. King Professor of Internal Medicine, chairman, Department of Medicine
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NBC Today Show
October 22
Also appeared on WVIT-NBC
Brain Tumors in Children
The Czech Family discussed their son Mickey’s diagnosis of a brain stem tumor, his subsequent treatment at the NYU Clinical Cancer Center and their foundation.  “Any bleeding in the area of the brain stem can cause insidious consequences,” said Ashwatha Narayana, MD. “Surgeons shy away from doing biopsies in the area as a result. “
-Jennifer L. and Stephen J. Czech, Member, Board of Trustees, NYU Cancer Institute
-Ashwatha Narayana, MD, associate professor, Department of Radiation Oncology and Neurosurgery
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CBS The Early Show
October 23
Bye-Bye Back Pain! Muscle Pain Expert Shares Tips for Treating and Preventing People's Most Common Aches
Four out of five Americans will suffer from disabling back pain during their lifetime, according to the National Institutes of Health. In fact, says Dr. Norman Marcus, director of muscle pain research at the NYU School of Medicine, people seek medical advice for back pain most than for anything else.
-Norman Marcus, MD, clinical associate professor, Departments of Psychiatry and Anesthesiology
Learm more  

ABC-TV
October 23
Experimental prostate cancer treatment - Dr. Jay Adlersberg
Doctors who treat prostate cancer are looking at a new treatment using ultrasound waves. At this point, it is still in the study stages, but it could one day be an alternative for some men fighting the disease.  The treatment is called high-intensity focused ultrasound, or HIFU. Doctors need to conduct studies to understand exactly how effective it is and what it can do for patients. The technology is exciting because it is minimally invasive, meaning no cuts and no radiation. Right now, the study is on men whose cancer has returned.  Dr. William Huang, of the NYU Langone Medical Center, is the investigating surgeon. "The concept here is ablating or destroying prostate tissue cancer without causing collateral damage to surrounding structures, without cutting or removing body parts," he said.
-William Huang, MD, assistant professor, Department of Urology
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AACI Update
September 2009
FDA Approves First Drug for Treatment of Peripheral T-cell Lymphoma
There is good news in the fight against the aggressive and challenging to treat cancer-- T- cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. On September 24th, 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the drug FOLOTYN as the first and only FDA-approved therapy for relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) giving hope to patients and physicians. Owen A. O’Connor, MD, PhD, is the principal investigator of the PROPEL trial--the largest trial ever conducted in patients with PTCL--and deputy director for Clinical Research and Cancer Treatment at the NYU Cancer Institute.
-Owen A. O’Connor, MD, PhD, deputy director for Clinical Research and Cancer Treatment at the NYU Cancer Institute, Department of Medicine
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Crain’s Health Pulse
October 22
At A Glance
WHO'S NEWS: NYU Langone Medical Center named Owen A. O'Connor, MD, PhD, deputy director of clinical research and cancer treatment at the Cancer Institute and chief of the new division of hematologic malignancies and medical oncology in the department of medicine. Most recently, he was the director of the lymphoid development and malignancy program at Columbia University's cancer center.
-Owen A. O’Connor, MD, PhD, deputy director for Clinical Research and Cancer Treatment at the NYU Cancer Institute, Department of Medicine
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 WBZ-TV 38 CBS
October 22
Scientist Develops Prosthetic That Can Sense Touch -Eastern Scientist Develop Prosthetic That Can Sense Touch--By Mallika Marshall, MD
The Smarthand is a new prosthetic limb dotted with 40 sensors that stimulate nerves in the arm and shoot touch signals back into the brain instantaneously. There is a breakthrough for people who've lost limbs. Swedish scientists say they've developed a robotic hand that can actually sense touch. Dr. Jeffrey Heckman of NYU Langone Medical Center’s Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine says the technology is unparalleled at this point. The prosthetic hands available now allow patients to perform many tasks but the Smarthand is the first to offer movement control that only comes through feeling.
-Jeffrey Heckman, MD, chief resident, Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation
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Natural News.com
October 23
Hormone therapy for prostate cancer increases risk of fatal heart problems -Hormone therapy medically useless
"Hormone therapy does not cure prostate cancer," the American Cancer Society states on its web site. And a study published in the journal Reviews in Urology by NYU School of Medicine urologists Mark A Perlmutter and Herbert Lepor concluded: "Ultimately, men (with advanced prostate cancer) will develop disease that is refractory to all hormonal manipulations. This is termed androgen-independent prostate cancer."
-Herbert Lepor, MD, The Martin Spatz Chairman of the Department of Urology, professor, Departments of Urology and Pharmacology
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Connecticut Post - ConnPost.com
October 22
Best and the rest of the past week
Thumbs up to Fairfield resident Joel E. Smilow for helping to establish the Yale cancer center, one of the most expensive buildings in New England and one of the most progressive cancer research and treatment centers in the world. The cancer center, officially called the Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven in recognition of Smilow's "substantial" monetary contribution, plans to admit its first patients this fall and will fully open next April. The hospital's relatively fast construction has the former Yale University student and member of the class of 1954 to thank; while many philanthropic projects are delayed due to financial or other constraints, as Smilow explained, "there was no question that it would be completed." This isn't the first time Smilow has donated money to such research centers -- the former president and majority owner of the company Playtex has been a patron of other medical centers, such as the Joan and Joel Smilow Research Center at NYU Medical Center. Smilow admits that he prefers to support "brick-and-mortar projects," an inclination that has made the cancer center at Yale a reality.
-Joel E. Smilow, Member, Board of Trustees, NYU Langone Medical Center
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TheStreet.com
October 23
Fund Lesson From Carl Icahn
Carl Icahn has made a name for himself as both a notorious corporate raider and a self-proclaimed advocate for shareholder rights. During his 40-plus years on Wall Street, he has used his massive wealth and bold personality to take on a number of large U.S. companies and earn a comfortable profit doing so. Icahn was born in 1936 to a middle-class family in Queens, NY. His father was a lawyer who aspired to be an opera singer and his mother was a school teacher. After attending public school through grade 12, Icahn was accepted into Princeton University. There, he studied philosophy. Throughout Icahn's early childhood, his mother dreamt of one day seeing her son as a doctor. In order to please her, after Princeton he attended the New York University School of Medicine. His tenure at this institution, however, was short lived. After only two years, he dropped out and joined the Army.
-NYU School of Medicine
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Thursday, October 22

Worldfocus - PBS
October 21
Also appeared in Herald de Paris
Flu Could Strike up to One-Third of U.S. Population – By Daljit Dhaliwal
There are now nearly 400,000 confirmed cases of swine flu worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Martin Blaser, MD, the chair of the department of medicine at the NYU School of Medicine, discussed the latest developments in the H1N1 pandemic. He said that as many as 100 million Americans may become infected with the flu this season and explained why the United States has lagged in vaccination distribution.  “The risks of taking the vaccine are very low,” said Dr. Blaser.  “I recommend everyone get the vaccine because it will protect you, as well as your community.”
-Martin J. Blaser, MD,  Department of Medicine, Frederick H. King Professor of Internal Medicine
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WIBW-CBS News at 5 
October 21
Also appeared on KLBK-CBS, KLST-CBS, KOCR-CBS, WROC-CBS, KWTX-CBS, KYTX, WWTV-CBS, WPRI-CBS, WKYT-CBS, KCUY-CBS, KFDA-CBS, WFRV-CBS, KEYE-CBS, WIUB-CBS, WRGB-CBS, KOTV-CBS, KDKA-CBS, WKRCDT-CW
New Prosthetic Limb called the “Smarthand” – By Drew Levinson
Jeffrey Heckman, MD discussed the differences of various prosthetic modalities and the new prosthetic limb called the “Smarthand” which is dotted with 40 sensors that stimulate nerves in the arm and send “touch” signals instantaneously. “The technology is unparalleled at this point,” says Dr. Heckman, MD. “It allows a patient who is married to hold their spouses hand.”
-Jeffrey Heckman, MD, chief resident, Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation

MedPageToday.com
October 21
ACR: Video Gaming Linked to Joint Pain, Especially in Kids - By Todd Neale
In a study launched by the curiosity of an 11-year-old, playing video games was associated with finger and wrist pain among children at a St. Louis elementary school, researchers reported that among 7 to 12-year-olds, the youngest children were most likely to report having pain that limited them from continuing to play the games.  Yusuf Yazici, MD, of the NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, reported the findings in a presentation at the American College of Rheumatology meeting.
-Yusuf Yazici, MD, assistant professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases
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KHN: Kaiser Health News
October 22
Attacking Dartmouth Atlas Is Off-Target - By Shannon Brownlee, Senior Research Fellow
The Dartmouth Atlas’s central message has been absorbed by health care policy wonks and many of the members of Congress who are involved in crafting health reform legislation: Our health care system delivers a huge amount of unnecessary care, maybe as much as 20 to 30 percent of every health care dollar. So why are a handful of administrators and doctors at some of the nation’s most prestigious academic medical centers trying to discredit Dartmouth’s findings? The answer, in a word, is money.  This claim, that poverty and illness lie at the heart of variation in Medicare spending,  makes intuitive sense, but it doesn’t hold up to careful scrutiny. Poverty does influence health, but it can’t account for the extraordinary differences in the volume of care delivered by academic medical centers – even when they are located within a few miles of one another. In Manhattan, for example, chronically ill Medicare recipients, whether they are poor or not, are given about 40 percent more services at NYU Langone Medical Center than nearby Columbia Presbyterian. In Chicago, African-American Medicare patients suffering from chronic illness, who are generally poorer than white beneficiaries, spent 46 percent more days in the hospital at Rush-Presbyterian than African-American beneficiaries using the University of Chicago. There’s no evidence that patients at Rush-Presbyterian and NYU are enjoying better outcomes.
-NYU Langone Medical Center
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MSNBC National
October 21
The Dr. Nancy Show
Sudeepta Varma, MD discussed whether parents make movies and television mare scary for children.  “Every child is not the same emotionally,” said Dr. Varma.
-Sudeepta Varma, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Psychiatry

WNYW - FOX
October 21
Fox 5 News
Marc Siegel, MD, discussed the recent statement by the American Cancer Society stating that benefits of early cancer screenings are overstated.  “I think early detection is a good thing,” said Dr. Siegel.  “The study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that 40% of cancers are discovered before it leaves the breast and prostate cancers are detected early.  It is up to the patient and doctor to decide what to do with that information.”
-Marc Siegel, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine

The New York Times
October 22 
For Some Parents Shouting is The New Spanking – By Hilary Stout
Jackie Klein is a devoted mother of two little boys in the suburbs of Portland, Ore. That is 90 percent of the time. Then there is the other 10 percent, when, she admits, “I have become totally frustrated and lost control of myself.” It can happen during weeks and weeks and weeks of no camp in the summer, or at the end of a long day at home — just as adult peace is within her grasp — when the 7- or 9-year-old won’t go to sleep. And then she yells.  “Yelling is done when parents feel irritable and anxious,” said Harold S. Koplewicz, the founder of the NYU Child Study Center. “It can be as simple as ‘I’m overwhelmed, I’m running late for work, I had a fight with my wife, I have a project due — and my son left his homework upstairs.’ ”
-Harold S. Koplewicz, MD, NYU Child Study Center
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Manhattan Society
October 22
The 2009 NYU Cancer Institute Autumn Ball
The 2009 NYU Cancer Institute Autumn Ball honoring Herbert Lepor, MD on October 18, 2009 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel honored Dr. Herbert Lepor, renowned for his superb research and patient care involving prostate cancer.
-NYU Cancer Institute
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Wednesday, October 21

 

Connecticut Post
October 20
Syndicated article also appeared in the Greenwich Times
Fairfield man s philanthropy makes Yale cancer center a reality- By John Burgeson
Rising over downtown New Haven, the 14-story glass-and-stone tower houses what will be one of the world's most advanced cancer research and treatment centers. The structure, which officially opens Wednesday, is among the most expensive buildings ever built in New England. Its name is the Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven, reflecting the philanthropy of Fairfield resident Joel E. Smilow. The complex will feature 112 patient beds, a healing garden, a boutique, outpatient treatment rooms, state-of-the-art operating rooms, infusion suites, diagnostic imaging services, radiation oncology and a specialized women's cancer center. "The hospital is really exciting," said Smilow, 75, who has been a benefactor of other medical facilities, including the Joan and Joel Smilow Research Center at NYU Langone Medical Center. Smilow's advice to future philanthropists is to "do it now." He said that after taking care of family, don't wait until the end of life to support a cause. "My preference is to support brick-and-mortar projects," Smilow said. "Some philanthropists prefer to support programs. But there, you have to work to get accountability, because who knows if the decision-makers are running the program the way it was when you decided to support it. When you see the building, you know it's there and you can see the patients streaming in and out."
- Joel E. Smilow, member, Board of Trustees, NYU Langone Medical Center
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CNN
October 17
Your Bottom Line
Andrew Rubin of NYU Langone Medical Center appeared on Your Bottom Line and discussed Health Care Insurance.
- Andrew Rubin, vice president for Medical Center Clinical Affairs and Affiliates
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CBS 2 News at Noon, NY
October 20
Also KCBS, LA
Preventive Mastectomy
Freya Schnabel, MD discussed the benefits of prophylactic double mastectomies for women previously diagnosed with cancer in one breast with Max Gomez.
- Freya Schnabel, MD, professor, Department of Surgery


1010 WINS – AM New York
October 19
12 NICU Reunion at NYU Langone Medical Center was featured.  Several families who had premature babies born at NYU were interviewed as well as Karen Hendricks-Munoz, MD, director of the NICU.
- Karen Hendricks-Munoz, MD, associate professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology
(No web link available.)

CBC News
October 20
Hand Pain Limits Child Gamers - BY CBC News
Younger children who play video games are more likely than older kids to report pain in their hands and fingers, according to research sparked by the curiosity of an 11-year-old Missouri gamer. "One day, I was squeezing orange juice when my thumb started hurting, and I asked my dad if I was going to get arthritis or tendinitis and which causes more pain: i Touch or Game Boy," Deniz Ince, 11, explained in a media release. "He replied, 'Honestly, I don't know.' After this I wanted to find out if my friends were experiencing similar pain," said Ince, whose father is a rheumatologist. Ince and a research team lead by Dr. Yusuf Yazici administered questionnaires to 171 children ages seven to 12 at an elementary school in St. Louis, Mo., concerning their use of consoles including Xbox, Play Station, Wii and iPhones. The study found younger children were more likely to report increased pain, with seven-year-olds reporting the most. Additionally, researchers noted that playing a Wii exclusively resulted in more self-reported pain.
Based on the research, minimum ages for playing games could be a consideration in the future, said Dr. Yazici, an assistant professor in the department of rheumatology at New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases.
- Yusuf Yazici, MD, assistant professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases
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Reader's Digest Magazine
October 21
6 Mistakes Your Doctor May Be Making- By Meryl Davids Landau
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE: The mistake your doc may be making: Sticking with lifestyle changes when you need drugs.
The evidence shows that it's safe to try to bring down mildly elevated blood pressure by eating better and exercising. But if your numbers are even moderately high, the advice is unequivocal: Your doctor must prescribe drugs because uncontrolled high blood pressure puts you at risk for a deadly heart attack or stroke. Guidelines making this clear were crafted by a panel of leading scientists in 2003. But when 22 community doctors were asked by University of Texas researchers how they'd treat a hypothetical middle-aged man with the moderately high blood pressure of 145/92, nearly two thirds said they'd tell him to improve his lifestyle. Shockingly, only one of these practicing physicians was familiar with the recommended thresholds for prescribing drugs, says study author Joseph Ravenell, MD, now at New York University School of Medicine.
- Joseph E. Ravenell, MD, assistant professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine
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AZCentral.com
Oct. 20, 2009
Syndicated latimes.com article also appeared on Journalgazette.net, Gazette.com
Can words of a 6-year-old be relied on? By Jeannine Stein
As investigators consider whether to file felony charges against the Colorado couple suspected of crafting the riveting boy-supposedly-in-the-balloon story, attention is now focusing on the boy himself -specifically the line that many people have taken to be a ratting out of his father. After all, the family had been on a reality show and don't kids that young have trouble distinguishing fantasy from reality? Others took it as proof that the boy had been coached to go along with a story his parents had concocted (an allegation they've firmly denied). In fact, either or both could be true, say child psychologists and psychiatrists. That unreliability is one reason why children are often not put on witness stands during court cases, and it's why Falcon Heene's words can't be taken at more than face value. "A 6-year-old is able to distinguish between fantasy and reality, and that even happens at a younger age," says Andrea Vazzana, PhD, a clinical forensic psychiatrist and clinical assistant professor in the department of child and adolescent psychiatry at the NYU Child Study Center. "If a child is playing pretend, they're aware they're playing pretend." What they may not be able to do, however, is separate their own experiences from what they've been told - a task some adults can't always master. "When things have been suggested to them," Vazzana says, "they may incorporate them into their narrative, and depending on their age they may have more difficulty understanding which piece really occurred and which piece was suggested. The younger the child, the more difficulty he or she may have in being able to distinguish between the two."
- Andrea Vazzana, PhD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, NYU Child Study Center
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EYE ON HEALTH
October 20
Tips To Winterize Your Eyes
Most of us know about protecting our skin from winter's cold and dry weather, but our eyes are just as vulnerable to the changing weather.
Extreme cold temperatures, wind and low humidity can lead to the feeling of constantly having sand in your eyes, itchiness, redness, blurred vision or sensitivity to light. These signs are often symptoms of dry eye, a disease affecting an estimated 20 million Americans.¹
Dr. Marguerite McDonald, a cornea/refractive/anterior segment specialist with the Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island and a clinical professor of ophthalmology at NYU School of Medicine in New York, says that during winter months, men and women can guard against dry eye symptoms at home, at work and when traveling by following simple tips.
- Marguerite McDonald, MD, clinical professor, Department of Ophthalmology
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Laboratory Equipment.com
October 20
Syndicated article also appeared on InSciencesOrganisation.org, HealthJockey.com
Serendipity Reveals Lung Distress Cause
An extraordinary scientific coincidence has opened the door to potential treatments for newborn lung distress and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
A McGill Univ. electron microscopy expert discovered identical defects in tissue samples taken from genetically engineered mice produced at New York University School of Medicine, and children suffering from a multi-organ disease being studied at Washington Univ. School of Medicine in St. Louis.
The mouse samples, provided by Daniel Rifkin at NYU Langone School of Medicine, showed a remarkable similarity with respect to the appearance of the elastic fibers as the patient, who had cutis laxa together with lethal pulmonary complications and gastrointestinal and urinary disease.
- Daniel B. Rifkin, PhD, professor, Department of Cell Biology, Charles Aden Poindexter Professor of Medicine
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FDLReporter.com
October 21
Sisters Through Thick and Thin  by Colleen Kottke
Jeni and Mandi Maly would do anything for their sister, Katie — even trade places with her on the operating room table.The two siblings accompanied their 25-year-old sister and their parents, Jamie and Becky Maly, to New York City this summer to be with Katie during surgery for a rare brain aneurysm. For 11 days, family members took turns sitting at Katie’s bedside, combed the streets of the Big Apple looking for specialty cupcakes to tease her appetite and stood for hours outside of the Today Show studio to show their support for Katie. Watching Katie fight severe headaches following the surgery was especially hard for Jeni, the self-appointed mother hen of the three girls. “It was really hard because there was nothing I could do but just be there for her,” Jeni said. As adults, the girls were keenly aware of the risks involved, especially Katie, who tried to remain strong and upbeat for her family and young daughter, Kaylin. The procedure scheduled for Aug. 21 included the insertion of a pipeline stent, a procedure that still has not received across the board approval in the United States.  “As an adult I had fears this time, not knowing if I was going to make it through the surgery or not, especially since I was the first one in the United States to have this done. And as a mom those fears were huge,” said Katie. Following a meeting with her surgical team, Katie refused to think of the risks associated with the surgery. Instead she chose to put on a brave face for her family. “I had to be strong for my family,” Katie said. “But the first time I met the doctors from NYU Langone Medical Center there was just a sense of comfort and calmness — that I could hand everything over to them and trust them.”
- NYU Langone Medical Center
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The SunCoast News
October 20
FSU Researcher Wins Autism Grants- STAFF REPORT
A researcher at Florida State University has received funding for her efforts to ferret out signs of the baffling neuro-behavioral disorder autism in children as young as toddlers. Amy Wetherby, director of the Autism Institute at the FSU College of Medicine, has been awarded a pair of grants totaling nearly $2.4 million. She will use the money to further her development of screening tests for autism. Wetherby received $1.9 million from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, a unit of the National Institutes of Health. Wetherby will use that money to develop an autism screener in collaboration with Eva Petkova, director of biostatistics at the NYU Child Study Center, and Catherine Lord, a clinical psychologist at the University of Michigan Autism and Communication Disorders Center who specializes in autism disorders. Wetherby and her colleagues will study and evaluate various screening methods they have developed for use by professionals or parents. Under the NIDOCD grant, Wetherby will seek to improve screening methods for African-American and Latino children. On average, autism is diagnosed a year later in these youngsters.
- Eva Petkova, PhD, associate professor, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, NYU Child Study Center
- Catherine Lord, PhD, adjunct professor, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, NYU Child Study Center
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The Tufts Daily
October 21
1,200 Calories a Slice? In That Case, Make It Two By Sarah Korones
Despite less-than-reassuring calorie information displayed nearby, students have trouble resisting Dewick’s pizza.
It’s 12:05 p.m. on a Monday afternoon, and students from across campus pour through the doors of Dewick-MacPhie Dining Center ready to take advantage of the open block with a leisurely lunch. Bodies swarm the meal stations, loading up on everything from sweet potato fries to beef chili. And while some students seem to glance up at the white cards describing the nutritional value of each dish before making a decision, others prefer to scoop up their food without much thought or discrimination. Public posting of calorie and nutritional information is just one of the many efforts to curb America’s obesity epidemic and promote healthy eating habits. The practice received attention last July after a New York City law went into effect requiring all chain restaurants to post the calorie content of each food item in the same size and font as its price. The law was intended to reduce obesity and diabetes, but after a study released in early October showed little change in the public’s eating patterns, the calorie counts were met with skepticism as an effective measure to curb the nation’s eating problem. The study, which was released by professors at New York University and Yale, tracked customers at four fast food chains — McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King and Kentucky Fried Chicken — in poor neighborhoods of New York City that have high obesity rates. Examining customers’ receipts before and after the law went into effect, researchers found that customers actually ordered more food after the larger calorie counts had been posted. But despite the results of the study, it still remains unclear whether calorie counts will ultimately be successful in promoting healthy eating habits or not. The city of New York plans to carry out its own analysis of the law by studying 12,000 restaurant receipts — a considerably larger amount than the 1,100 receipts examined in the NYU analysis.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH –assistant professor, Department of Medicine
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