NYU Langone Experts in the News

CBS 2 News This Morning

October 20
Freya Schnabel, MD, discusses prophylactic double mastectomies with Max Gomez. A prime reason why patients decide to get the procedure is: “Any woman who has had cancer is at increased risk to develop a new cancer in the same or the other breast, and that risk increases about 1 - 2% per year.” Double mastectomies lower the risk of breast cancer recurring to as close to zero as possible.
- Freya Schnabel, MD, professor, Department of Surgery
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New York 1 News
October 19
NYer Of The Week: City CEO Manages Crucial Scholarship – By John Schiumo
The latest New Yorker of the Week manages 10 successful businesses but says his biggest success has been his management of a scholarship foundation. New York University sophomore Quemuel Arroyo is one of almost 100 physically disabled kids from low-income communities who have received scholarships due to Andrew Fox, the president of the New York chapter of the Chair Scholars Foundation. "Education to me is so important that if I feel like I can provide a child the opportunity to better himself through getting a college education, then that person is going to contribute to society substantially," says Fox. Arroyo became a paraplegic after a bike accident three years ago and receives his rehabilitation at the Rusk Institute. He says Fox has mentored him through the challenges of school. "Quemuel is going to graduate from NYU and he is going to be a successful young man and he's the exact kind of kid who I want on my board of trustees," says Fox. "And he's who I want helping me discovering other kids like him." If you'd like to nominate someone to be NY1's New Yorker of the Week, send an email describing their qualifications to: nyer@ny1.com.
- Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine
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Science & Technologies
October 19
In Shaping Our Immune Systems-Some Friendly Bacteria May Play Inordinate Role
Out of the trillions of "friendly" bacteria -- representing hundreds of species -- that make our intestines their home, new evidence in mice suggests that it may be a very select few that shape our immune responses. The findings offer new insight into the constant dialogue that goes on between intestinal microbes and the immune system, and point to a remarkably big role for a class of microbes known as segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB). "It's the first example of commensal bacteria that can induce accumulation in the gut of a highly specific branch of the immune system," said Dan Littman, MD, PhD, of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the NYU School of Medicine, who led the study reported in Cell. "We're headed into an exciting new area, and we hope more pieces of how the microbial-host interaction contributes to health will begin to fall into place."
- 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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Nation's Restaurant News
October 19
No big gains in the war on obesity, studies find - By Elissa Elan
Two recent studies showing that menu-labeling initiatives and fast-food bans do not appear to be doing their intended jobs of improving eating habits—especially of lower-income people—are sparking discussion that more comprehensive programs are needed to curb the nation’s weight problems. A study, conducted by researchers at New York and Yale universities, determined that only 54 percent of lower-income customers in New York, where menu labeling has been in effect since July 2008, said they noticed calorie postings on menu boards, and just 28 percent said the information affected their ordering. Led by Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, an assistant professor at the NYU School of Medicine, researchers found that not only were few people swayed by posted nutritional information, but receipts revealed that many actually ordered items with more calories even though nine out of 10 claimed they made better, more healthful choices because of the calorie postings.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, department of Medicine
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Los Angeles Times
October 20, 2009
Out of the mouths of babes--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 focusing on the boy himself. Falcon Heene, all of 6 years old and at the center of a sudden and overwhelming media frenzy, commented to father Richard Heene during a CNN interview: "You had said that we did this for a show." "A 6-year-old is able to distinguish between fantasy and reality, and that even happens at a younger age," says Andrea Vazzana, a clinical assistant professor 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.
- Andrea Vazzana, PhD, clinical assistant professor, department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, NYU Child Study Center
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Shoppingblog.com
October 18
Marc Jacobs Reissues Protect the Skin You're In Tees
Marc Jacobs is reissuing some of his "Protect the Skin You're In" tees. You can find the tees in the special items section on MarcJacobs.com. Marc Jacobs has lumped different types of products together on his website in a manner that makes it difficult to find things. As of this writing, the only shirt we could find online after scrolling around for a while was the Heidi Klum one. The shirts can also be found at Marc Jacobs' stores. The shirts costs $35. Proceeds from the sale of the shirts will benefit NYU Cancer Institute at NYU Langone Medical Center.
- NYU Cancer Institute
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Health.com
October 19
Syndicated from Healthday.com and also appears on Web MD, ModernMedicine.com, Medicine.net, Gameculture.com.
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. The lead author of the study knows this all too well. Deniz Ince, who’s 11 years old, got the idea to study joint pain among his classmates at Rossman Elementary in St. Louis, Mo., after noticing that his fingers ached while squeezing oranges. Deniz, an avid Wii player, wondered if his video game habit was the culprit. With the help of his rheumatologist dad and researchers from NYU School of Medicine, the fifth-grader handed out questionnaires to 171 of his schoolmates who were 7 to 12 years old. About 80 percent of them reported playing with game consoles or hand-held devices. Roughly half of them said they used them less than an hour a day, about a third said they played one to two hours daily, 7 percent reported playing two to three hours a day and 6 percent reported playing more than three hours daily. Each additional hour of use increased the likelihood of experiencing pain by 50 percent, 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.
-Yusuf Yazici, MD, assistant professor, department of Medicine, division of Rheumatology, NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases and NYU School of Medicine
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Reuters
October 19
Also Digital Radio Magazine
SIRIUS XM To Launch "Halloween Radio"
SIRIUS XM Radio (Nasdaq: SIRI) today announced it will launch SIRIUS XM Halloween Radio, a channel devoted to all things Halloween, offering listeners of all ages the ultimate 24/7 Halloween soundtrack. On Doctor Radio--SIRIUS 114 and XM 119--renowned nutritionists will share healthy alternatives for trick-or-treaters, dermatologists will advise on what costume makeup is best for your skin and the easiest to remover, vascular surgeons will offer fascinating facts about blood, emergency room doctors will share stories of true blood and gore and what really goes on in the ER on Halloween night, psychologists explore why we have fears of things like black cats and walking under ladders, and doctors will share tips on how to keep kids safe. Doctor Radio is a 24/7 channel featuring live, call-in shows hosted by leading doctors from NYU Langone Medical Center.
-NYU Langone Medical Center
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HealthNews.com
October
Vaccines and Acetaminophen: Should They Be Given Together
Most children do not have adverse reactions to vaccines, and for those who do, they are usually mild, like soreness or swelling at the injection site or a low-grade fever. Many parents try to spare their children, especially babies, from the discomfort by giving them acetaminophen right before or after the vaccination, a practice recommended by some doctors. But Czech scientists say that while acetaminophen does prevent post-vaccination fever, it may also reduce the effect of the vaccine. That brings up a very important question: What about the H1N1 flu vaccine? Marc Siegel, MD, an infectious disease expert and associate professor of medicine at New York University School of Medicine in New York City, says that because the immune response from the H1N1 vaccine has been so robust, giving an infant acetaminophen before the shot “may not be a problem.”
- Marc Siegel, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine
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Guest Of A Guest
October 19
2009 NYU Cancer Institute Autumn Ball
The 2009 NYU Cancer Institute Autumn Ball was co-chaired by Roberta Greenberg and Sandy Meyer honors the talented Dr. Herbert Lepor, Martin Spatz Chairman of the Department of Urology, renowned for his superb research and patient care involving prostate cancer. This year’s event will celebrate NYU Langone Medical Center’s remarkable progress in the fight against cancer on all levels: patient care, research, education, and prevention. The gala is an exciting occasion to pay tribute to the nearly 80 physicians who have helped treat more than 50,000 unique patients at the Center since 2004.
- NYU Cancer Institute
- Herbert Lepor, MD, professor, Martin Spatz Chairman of the Department of Urology
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KOTV-CBS Six In The Morning
October 19
Jonathan Whiteson, MD, a pulmonary specialist at NYU Langone Medical Center noted that this strain of the flu seems to attack the lungs more than the regular flu.
- Jonathan Whiteson, MD, assistant professor, Departments of Medicine and Rehabilitation Medicine

 

NBC 38 WLTZ-NBC COLUMBUS, GA
October 19
WGFL-CBS GAINESVILLE, FL, MARKET
Flu Virus and Its Transmission
Dr. Philip Tierno said "generally speaking if an individual coughs, talks or sneezes the virus particles come out and drop because of gravity. Philip Tierno, PhD, is the director of clinical microbiology at NYU Langone Medical Center. He says the viruses can then land anywhere ere from 3 to 5 feet away. Tierno says: "some people if they sneeze up it'll go up but it’s usually 5 feet maximum. And the influenza virus can live on surfaces like counter tops door knobs or toys, "depending on what it is mixed with.
- Philip Tierno, PhD, clinical professor, Department of Microbiology

 

NY Daily News
October 18
Eight years later a boy returns to thank NYU hospital that aided him as a 1 lb premature baby - By Christina Boyle
Manhattan grade-schooler Jared Kozar came into the world 15 weeks premature, weighing a pound and a half, with ears that hadn't fully developed yet. That was eight years ago. Today, he will bound into NYU Langone Medical Center to visit the doctors and nurses who bestowed the gift of life on him. "He's our miracle, he's our one and only," said Jared's mom, Randie Kozar, 48. Like so many others, she thanks staffers at NYU's neonatal intensive care unit who help 1,000 babies a year. The NICU, which is shared with Bellevue Hospital, throws an annual party so that the doctors and nurses can see how far the babies have come. Jared spent 114 days in the hospital, but aside from poor eyesight, he's healthy and happy. About half the newborns who wind up in the NICU are preemies or micro-preemies like Jared. Their parents, like Randie and Gregory Kozar, are usually terrified. "Our focus has been to integrate the families into the care of the babies," said Karen Hendricks-Munoz, MD, chief of NYU Langone's division of neonatology.
- Karen Hendricks-Munoz, MD, associate professor, Department of Pediatrics
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Newsweek
October 17
I’m 35, With Stage IV Breast Cancer: What You can Learn from my Missed Diagnosis - By Sara Sussman
Last December, six months after I married my husband, Lee, I discovered an unusual mass. After a local doctor told me “girls my age do not get breast cancer,” I boarded the train to New York City for an appointment at the NYU Clinical Cancer Center. I went to see Dr. Richard Shapiro, a breast and oncological surgeon who had previously operated on two close relatives. On January 8, he diagnosed me with inflammatory breast cancer.
- NYU Clinical Cancer Center
- Richard Shapiro, MD, associate professor, Department of Surgery, Division of surgical oncology
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October 17
What You Don’t Know Might Kill You-By Sharon Begley and Jeneen Interlandi
Sara Sussman had heard over and over that America has the best healthcare in the world. So she still can’t believe what happened to her. She found a lump in her breast two days before Christmas last year, and a mammogram found something that, the radiologist told her, should be biopsied. But he didn’t tell her where to do that. They referred her to a hospital with no cancer center. Instead, Sussman called a New York University oncologist who had treated her father and brother for melanoma and saw him that week.
- NYU Clinical Cancer Center
- Sara Sussman, patient at NYU Clinical Cancer Center
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CBS News
October 19
Syndicated on CBS affiliates around the nation
H1N1 Flu –By Hari Sreenivasan
Jonathan Whiteson MD discussed the effects of the H1N1flu on the lungs. “It does appear that there are a group of patients who have a very large amount of virus within the lung tissue, and they do within a few days, three or four days, get very severe pneumonia,” said Dr. Whiteson.
- Jonathan Whiteson, MD, assistant professor, Department of Medicine
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Fox News
October 16
The Lives of Viruses
Philip Tierno, PhD discussed the lives of viruses.
- Philip Tierno, PhD, clinical professor, Department of Microbiology

MSNBC
October 18
Health Officials at CDC Say manufacturing Delays are Slowing Distribution of Swine Vaccine
Steven Lamm, MD, clinical assistant professor at NYU School of Medicine and contributing editor of "Health Magazine" says, "I think the delay in getting the influenza vaccine is not as critical as the H1N1. The H1N1 is circulating now, so if you're vaccinated, it takes about ten days to get the immunity. - Steven Lamm, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Medicine

October 18
New York Becomes First City in America to Require Calorie Labeling at Fast Food Restaurants- By Alex Witt
Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, says that before labels no one saw calorie counts. After labeling, over 50% saw calorie labels which is a good number. Of the people that saw that information, about 28% said it mattered to them -- but we didn't see a change in the number of calories purchased. We would like to eventually see a change or pay attention to other legislation that might influence obesity as well.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service Medicine

RedeTV Brazil
October 16
Calorie Labeling Study - By Fabio Borges
Brian Elbel PhD, MPH is interviewed about the calorie labeling study that found calorie counting may not be enough to combat obesity.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service Medicine

TV Globo Brazil
October 16
Calorie Postings Don’t Change Habits-By Jorge Pontual
As Brazil sees a rise in a trend among consumers eating at fast-food chains like McDonalds and Wendy’s, reporter Jorge Pontual decided to speak with Brian Elbel PhD, MPH about trends in America and his calorie labeling study.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service Medicine

Medical News Today
October 17
In Shaping Our Immune Systems, Some 'Friendly' Bacteria May Play Inordinate Role-By Cathleen Genova
Out of the trillions of "friendly" bacteria - representing hundreds of species -that make our intestines their home, new evidence in mice suggests that it may be a very select few that shape our immune responses. The findings detailed in two October 16th reports appearing in the journals Cell and Immunity, both Cell Press publications, offer new insight into the constant dialogue that goes on between intestinal microbes and the immune system, and point to a remarkably big role for a class of microbes known as segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB). "It's the first example of a commensal bacteria that can induce accumulation in the gut of a highly specific branch of the immune system," said Dan Littman, MD, PhD, of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the NYU School of Medicine, who led the study reported in Cell. "We're headed into an exciting new area, and we hope more pieces of how the microbial-host interaction contributes to health will begin to fall into place."
- Dan Littman, MD, PhD, The Helen L. and Martin S. Kimmel Professor of Molecular Immunology; professor of pathology (Skirball) and Microbiology (Skirball Institute Program of Molecular Pathogenesis)
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October 17
Discovery Lays Groundwork For Better Understanding Of Protective Human Microbes In The Gut
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. This remarkable activation of the immune response could point to a similar phenomenon in humans, helping researchers understand how gut-dwelling bacteria protect us from pathogenic bacteria, such as virulent strains of E. coli. The study, published in the Oct. 30, 2009, issue of Cell, also supports the idea that specific bacteria may act like neighborhood watchdogs at key locations within the small intestine, where they sense the local microbial community and sound the alarm if something seems amiss. 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.
- Dan Littman, MD, PhD, The Helen L. and Martin S. Kimmel Professor of Molecular Immunology; professor of pathology (Skirball) and Microbiology (Skirball Institute Program of Molecular Pathogenesis)
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UPI.com
October 17
Syndicated in The Post Chronicle, The Money Times
Shaggy Microbes Aid Immune System
Shaggy microbes found in mice could help determine how intestinal bacteria protect against harmful pathogens, a scientist in New York said. The long-haired microbes help mice keep their immune systems in balance, said Dan Littman, MD, PhD, of the NYU Langone Medical Center. "These bacteria are the most astounding things I've ever seen," said Littman, who is collaborating with scientists in Japan. The shaggy bacteria, called segmented filamentous bacterium, act like watchdogs at key locations within the small intestine, triggering an alarm when something seems amiss in the local microbial community, Littman said. The bacterium appear to trigger specialized TH17 helper cells, which tell epithelial cells to increase their output of specialized molecules, which fight harmful pathogens, such as virulent forms of E. coli, Littman said. "So you can immediately see some practical application of this, if one can mimic the presence of these commensal bacteria to strengthen resistance to pathogenic microbes," Littman said in a release Thursday.
- Dan Littman, MD, PhD, The Helen L. and Martin S. Kimmel Professor of Molecular Immunology; professor of pathology (Skirball) and Microbiology (Skirball Institute Program of Molecular Pathogenesis)
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Ivanhoe Newswire
October 17
Syndicated in the College Station Eagle, The Post and Courier
Friendly Bacteria
New studies offer insight into the constant dialogue between intestinal microbes and the human immune system, pointing to a major role for a class of microbes known as segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB) in shaping the human immune response. "It's the first example of a commensal bacteria that can induce accumulation in the gut of a highly specific branch of the immune system," Dan Littman, MD, PhD, of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the NYU School of Medicine, who led the study reported in Cell, was quoted as saying. "We're headed into an exciting new area, and we hope more pieces of how the microbial-host interaction contributes to health will begin to fall into place."
- Dan Littman, MD, PhD, The Helen L. and Martin S. Kimmel Professor of Molecular Immunology; professor of pathology (Skirball) and Microbiology (Skirball Institute Program of Molecular Pathogenesis)
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MedPageToday
October 16
Gut Bacteria Linked to Immune Response--By Michael Smith
Explain to interested patients that this study suggests that -- in mice at least -- certain bacteria in the gut play a central role in immune responses to pathogens and in autoimmune disease. Specific bacteria in the gut may stimulate the immune system -- helping to fight infection in some cases, but perhaps also playing a role in autoimmune disease, researchers said. At least that's proven to be the case in mice, where so-called segmented filamentous bacteria stimulated the production of Th17 helper cells, according to two research groups, working independently. The finding is the "first example of commensal bacteria that can induce accumulation in the gut of a highly specific branch of the immune system," according to Dan Littman, MD, PhD, of the Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine in New York City.
- Dan Littman, MD, PhD, The Helen L. and Martin S. Kimmel Professor of Molecular Immunology; professor of pathology (Skirball) and Microbiology (Skirball Institute Program of Molecular Pathogenesis)
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HealthDay News
October 16
Drugs.com, Atlanta Journal Constitution
Tylenol May Weaken Effectiveness of Kids' Vaccines – By Steven Reinberg
Fever after a vaccination is a normal and essential part of building an immune response, and giving children acetaminophen -- best known in the U.S. as Tylenol -- after a shot could dampen that response, a new study finds. Infectious disease expert Dr. Marc Siegel, an associate professor of medicine at New York University School of Medicine in New York City, said that "the conclusion that Tylenol not only suppresses fever, but also decreases immune response is plausible. After all, what is an immune response? It's an inflammatory response." Siegel agrees that acetaminophen should not be routinely given to infants to prevent fever after vaccination. "But, if the kid is sick, treat the sickness. If the kid is very sick, I would get the fever down," he said. And what about the vaccine for the H1N1 flu? According to Siegel, "giving an infant Tylenol before an H1N1 flu vaccine shot may not be a problem, because the immune response to the vaccine has been so robust."
- Marc Siegel, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine
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October 17
Syndicated in US News and World Report, Dental Plans.com, MSN Health & Fitness
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. Deniz Ince, who's 11 years old, got the idea to study joint pain among his classmates at Rossman Elementary in St. Louis, Mo., after noticing that his fingers ached while squeezing oranges. Deniz, an avid Wii player, wondered if his video game habit was the culprit. With the help of his rheumatologist dad and researchers from New York University, the fifth-grader handed out questionnaires to 171 of his schoolmates who were 7 to 12 years old. About 80 percent of them reported playing with game consoles (Xbox, PlayStation, Wii and the like) or hand-held devices (including iTouch, iPhone and PlayStation Portable). Roughly half of them said they used them less than an hour a day, about a third said they played one to two hours daily, 7 percent reported playing two to three hours a day and 6 percent reported playing more than three hours daily. Each additional hour of use increased the likelihood of experiencing pain by 50 percent, 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, Yasuf Yazici, MD, 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 presented at the American College of Rheumatology's annual meeting in Philadelphia.
- Yusuf Yazici, MD, assistant professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Hospital for Joint Diseases at NYU
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October 18
Syndicated in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Drugs.com, American Journal of Cardiology, etc.
Drinking Your Way to Health? Perhaps Not
Just about every month -- if not every week -- a new study emerges touting the health benefits to be gained from a daily glass of wine or a pint of dark beer. The benefits related to cardiovascular health have become well-known. A study released in mid-July, for instance, found that moderate alcohol consumption reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease in women by increasing the amount of "good" cholesterol in the bloodstream and reducing blood sugar levels. But other studies have linked a daily drink, most often wine, to reduced risk of dementia, bone loss and physical disabilities related to old age. Wine also has been found to increase life expectancy and provide potential protection against some forms of cancer, including esophageal cancer and lymphoma. Experts with the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association say that though these studies do show some benefits to moderate drinking, the health risks from alcohol consumption far outweigh the potential rewards. There also are other health risks from moderate drinking, including liver damage and accidents caused by impaired reflexes, said Jennifer Mieres, MD, director of nuclear cardiology at the New York University School of Medicine and an American Heart Association spokeswoman. The health benefits from drinking generally are related to the antioxidants and anti-inflammatories found in red wines and dark beers, Mieres said, but those substances can be found in a number of different fruits and vegetables.
- Jennifer Mieres, MD, associate professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology
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The Boston Globe
October 19
Hidden Hazards in Bodybuilding Products: FDA says some Supplements have Illegal Steroids - By Megan Woolhouse
Earlier this month, a US subcommittee held a hearing on an FDA report that two supplements made by American Cellular Labs Inc.-Tren Xtreme and Mass Xtreme Size Promoter-contained synthetic versions of anabolic steroids. Gary Wadler, a sports physician at the NYU School of Medicine who has studied nutritional supplements, said steroid tests for student athletes won’t solve the problem. He supports increased federal oversight of the supplement industry but also sees a need for more education. “The best option is to make parents aware, coaches aware, and the schools aware,’’ Wadler said. “You just don’t put things in your body willy-nilly.
- Gary I. Wadler, M.D., FACP, FACSM, FACPM, FCP, clinical associate professor, Department of Medicine
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Renal and Urology News
October 16
Taller Men Are At Higher Risk for Aggressive Prostate Cancer - by Rosemary Frei, MSc
Prostate Cancer Tall men are at significantly increased risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer (PCa), especially if they are younger than 65 years, according to a study published in the British Journal of Cancer (2009;101:522-525). The prospective study, led by Jiyoung Ahn, PhD, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at the New York University School of Medicine, analyzed data from 34,268 men who took part in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial. Of 2,144 men diagnosed with PCa, 912 (43%) had aggressive disease. Greater height was not associated with an increased risk of PCa overall, but men who were at least six feet, three inches tall had a 39% increased risk for aggressive PCa compared with men who were no taller than five feet, seven inches. This association held true for both high-grade and high-stage disease. Each 5-cm increment in height was associated with a 5% increased risk of aggressive PCa. Furthermore, among men younger than age 65, those who were at least six feet, three inches tall had a 76% increased risk of aggressive PCa compared with those no taller than five feet, seven inches.
- Jiyoung Ahn, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Environmental Medicine, Nelson Institute of Environmental Medicine
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MedicalFront-Page.com
October 19
Gene Mutation May Reveal Clue for Treating Lung Diseases
A genetic mutation found in four children born with multiple abnormalities may provide insight into potential treatments for newborn lung distress and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Details about the discovery of the mutation, found by researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, McGill University, NYU Langone Medical Center and collaborating institutions, was recently published in the online edition of the American Journal of Human Genetics. The mouse, provided by Daniel Rifkin, MD, the Charles Aden Poindexter Professor of Medicine and professor of cell biology at NYU Langone Medical Center, showed similar connective tissue alterations by electron microscopy as the patient. The child had cutis laxa, lethal pulmonary complications and gastrointestinal and urinary disease.
- Daniel Rifkin, MD, the Charles Aden Poindexter Professor of Medicine, professor, Department of Cell Biology
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Washington Square News
October 18
Grant to aid Schizophrenia research-By Anna Sanders
The NYU Langone Medical Center will use a recent $10 million grant to launch a new center for studying the onset of schizophrenia. The center will be named after the late U.S. Congressman, Silvio O. Conte, who advocated for the advancement of mental health research. The grant was given to NYU by the National Institute of Mental Health. The new Center for the Neuroscience of Mental Disorders will take innovative approaches to treat and research schizophrenia, said Daniel Javitt, an NYU Langone psychiatry professor who will lead the center. “The NIH grant has helped us establish this center to develop and enhance research in mental disorders, especially schizophrenia in adolescent populations.” Said Vivian Lee, vice dean for science and chief scientific officer at NYU Langone Medical Center.
- Daniel Javitt, MD, professor, Department of Psychiatry, Millhauser Laboratories
- Vivian Lee, MD, senior vice president and vice dean for science, chief scientific officer, professor, Departments of Radiology, Physiology and Neuroscience
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Advance for Nurses Online
October 17
Magnet Redesignation for Tisch Hospital and the Rusk Institute
Tisch Hospital and the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation at NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, earned Magnet re-designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The 4-year Magnet redesignation acknowledges the medical center's continued success in delivering high-caliber patient-centered care, the staff's innovation in professional nursing and provides consumers with the ultimate benchmark to measure the quality of care they can expect to receive. 'This achievement is a true benchmark of the quality care our nurses provide and highlights our focus on providing an exemplary workplace,' said Susan Bowar-Ferres, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, senior vice president/chief nursing officer at NYU Langone Medical Center. 'In addition, nursing could not have achieved this recognition without the support of the entire hospital which enables our nurses to continue providing patients with high-caliber patient-centered care.' Fewer than 6 percent of U.S. hospitals have received Magnet recognition and facilities must re-apply every 4 years for Magnet re-designation. The designation also recognizes an institution's professional work environment, employee retention and ability to provide bedside patient care with a focus on excellent patient outcomes. Additionally, Magnet identifies hospitals with nurses who are visible, accessible and committed to communicating effectively with staff.
- Susan Bowar-Ferres, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, chief nursing officer

The Medical Letter on the CDC &FDA
October 18
Allos Therapeutics' FOLOTYN(TM) First and Only FDA-Approved Therapy for Relapsed or Refractory Perip
Allos Inc. announced that last night the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval for FOLOTYNTM (pralatrexate injection) for use as a single agent for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). FOLOTYN is the first and only drug approved by the FDA for this indication and represents a new treatment option for patients with relapsed or refractory PTCL. This indication is based on overall response rate. Clinical benefit such as improvement in progression free survival or overall survival has not been demonstrated. Allos expects to make FOLOTYN available to patients in the U.S. in October. "Individuals with peripheral T-cell lymphoma have a very poor prognosis and almost always relapse or become refractory to initial therapy.1 As a result, there is an urgent need for new therapies to treat patients with this challenging disease. FOLOTYN has demonstrated its efficacy and safety in the PROPEL clinical trial, and I believe it will be a welcome addition for physicians who treat patients with relapsed or refractory PTCL," stated Owen A. O'Connor, MD, PhD, principal investigator in the PROPEL study of FOLOTYN; deputy director for Clinical Research and Cancer Treatment, NYU Cancer Institute; chief, Division of Hematologic Malignancies and Medical Oncology; professor of Medicine and Pharmacology at the NYU Langone Medical Center.
-Owen A. O'Connor, MD, PhD, professor, Department of Medicine

New York Post
October 18
Syndicated in the Gothamist
Cab Baby is Fare Born - By Cynthia R. Fagen
A Manhattan playwright unexpectedly starred in his own drama when he helped his wife deliver their baby girl in the back seat of a speeding taxi. Addison Proctor, 36, and his wife, Sally Schuiling, 35, were rushing from their Upper West Side apartment to NYU Langone Medical Center when the baby's head popped out. With one more push, Alice Adeline Proctor entered the world. "I scooped her up and put her on my chest, and she was breathing right away," Schuiling said of the healthy baby, the couple's first child.
- NYU Langone Medical Center
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New York Times
October 17
Yanks Discipline Tenor, a Fixture at the Stadium, for an Anti-Semitic Joke - By David Waldstein
The tenor Ronan Tynan was scheduled to sing "God Bless America" at Yankee Stadium but was disinvited by the Yankees after he admitted making an anti-Semetic remark at his Manhattan apartment building. The Yankees were notified by a New York University physician, Gabrielle Gold-Von Simson, MD, who was present when Tynan made the remark. She sent an e-mail detailing the episode, and the Yankees' president, Randy Levine, called her back. Tynan called Ms. Gold-Von Simson to apologize. "She said that if he gave a sincere apology she would forgive him," Howard Rubenstein said, a longtime spokesman for the Yankees. "He did that to her satisfaction. He was very apologetic."
- Gabrielle Gold-Von Simpson, MD, assistant professor, Department of Pediatrics
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NY Daily News
October 17th
Syndicated in Associated Press, San Francisco Examiner
Yankees vs. Angels, ALCS game 1: Rain, Cold, Wind ... and no Ronan Tynan – By Christian Red and Mark Feinsand
The Irish tenor was scheduled to sing "God Bless America" as usual at Friday night's Game 1 of the ALCS between the Yankees and Angels, but that appearance was canceled. And it appears the tenor won't be singing at the Stadium anytime soon. "There are no plans for him to perform," said Alice McGillion, who works for Rubenstein Associates Inc., the Yankees' PR firm.
- Gabrielle Gold-Von Simpson, MD, assistant professor, Department of Pediatrics
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Associated Press
October 18
Syndicated in HuffingtonPost.com
Irish Singer Apologizes for Anti-Semetic Remarks - By Howie Rumberg
Irish tenor Ronan Tynan says he's sorry for making an anti-Semitic remark, and hopes for another chance to sing his noted rendition of "God Bless America" at Yankee Stadium. "This is my mea culpa," he told The Associated Press before Saturday night's playoff game between the Los Angeles Angels and New York Yankees. A day after the Yankees dropped their long-standing tradition of having him perform the song during the seventh-inning stretch of postseason games, Tynan said he'd apologized to the woman who was the subject of his remark. Tynan also said he had made a charitable contribution to an organization of her choice. "Several days ago I made a joke that was insensitive. My attempt at humor was inappropriate and hurtful to the person who heard it," Tynan read over the telephone in a statement to the AP. "I apologized to the person who was rightfully offended and I am so grateful my sincere apology was accepted."
- Gabrielle Gold-Von Simpson, MD, assistant professor, Department of Pediatrics
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CBS Early Show
October 15
Early Gets Down 2 Size - Surgical Weightloss Success Story
Christine Ren, MD, director of the NYU Program for Surgical Weightloss, talks about the condition of her patient who lost 104 lbs after undergoing a lap band procedure.
- Christine Ren, MD, associate professor, surgery, NYU Program for Surgical Weight Loss

Science Daily
October 15
In Shaping Our Immune Systems, Some 'Friendly' Bacteria May Play Inordinate Role
Out of the trillions of "friendly" bacteria -- representing hundreds of species -- that make our intestines their home, new evidence in mice suggests that it may be a very select few that shape our immune responses. The findings detailed in two October 16th reports appearing in the journals Cell and Immunity, both Cell Press publications, offer new insight into the constant dialogue that goes on between intestinal microbes and the immune system, and point to a remarkably big role for a class of microbes known as segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB)."It's the first example of a commensal bacteria that can induce accumulation in the gut of a highly specific branch of the immune system," said Dan Littman of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the NYU School of Medicine, who led the study reported in Cell. "We're headed into an exciting new area, and we hope more pieces of how the microbial-host interaction contributes to health will begin to fall into place."
- Dan Littman, MD, the Helen L. and Martin S. Kimmel Professor of Molecular Immunology, Microbiology
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October 15
Gene Mutation May Reveal Clues For Treating Lung Diseases
A genetic mutation found in four children born with multiple abnormalities may provide insight into potential treatments for newborn lung distress and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Details about the discovery of the mutation, found by researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, McGill University, NYU Langone Medical Center and collaborating institutions, are published in the Oct. 15 online edition of the American Journal of Human Genetics.
- Daniel Rifkin, MD, the Charles Aden Poindexter Professor of Medicine, professor, Cell Biology
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United Press International
October 15
Race Not Reported in Cardio Trials
Half of all randomized clinical trials for cardiovascular disease are not reporting race, U.S. researchers say. The study, published online in the American Heart Journal, finds that out of 156 cardiovascular randomized control trials, 35 percent reported information on race or ethnicity from 1970- 2006. >From 2000-2006, 46 percent of trials included race or ethnic 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," study co-author Jeffrey Berger, MD, of the NYU School of Medicine says in a statement. "It is imperative that all studies provide basic information including race and ethnicity. Furthermore, we must have good representation of different ethnic and minority groups in randomized control trials to apply data appropriately."
- Jeffrey Berger, MD, assistant professor, Cardiology
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The Heart.org
Racial Background Underreported in CV Trials - By Lisa Nainggolan
A new review has found that only 35% of 156 studies supporting a recent American Heart Association (AHA) guideline recorded any information on the race of participants. Dr Jeffrey S Berger (NYU School of Medicine, NY) and colleagues report their findings online September 30, 2009 in American Heart Journal. "The first question we asked was, 'Do we know about the enrollment of different racial and ethnic groups in the baseline demographic?'" Berger told heartwire. The answer was, for the most part, "no," he said, with almost two-thirds of the included studies failing to publish any information on ethnicity of participants. "It has to be understood that this was just knowing who the people were," Berger stressed. Whether demographic data on race/ethnicity were reported did improve over time, depending on when the trials were conducted. But even for studies performed in the 2000s, only 46.2% reported such information. "In the current decade, this is still less than half of all [randomized clinical trials], and it's definitely not good enough. This should be a fundamental piece of information that really should be included in every single published study," Berger commented. In addition, he and his colleagues found that of the studies that did record the race of individuals, only 15% included sufficient numbers of minority participants (>10%) to allow any kind of post hoc analysis by ethnic group, "which again is quite low," says Berger.
- Jeffrey Berger, MD, assistant professor, Cardiology
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MedPage Today
October 15
CT Safety Warnings Follow Radiation Overdose Accident – By Crystal Phend
Reports of stroke patients who were accidentally exposed to eight times the normal radiation dose during diagnostic CT scans at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles are prompting safety warnings and soul searching among radiologists nationwide. "To me, even as a professional, this is a fairly shocking story," commented James Slater, MD, of NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City. The affected patients likely reached their maximum allowable radiation exposure for the entire year in that single test, Slater added. "The fact that this error occurred and went undetected for 18 months at a well-regarded medical center is rather unbelievable," he said.
- James Slater, MD, associate professor, Cardiology
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WNYW FoxNY
October 16
Life Of A Virus – Dr. Sapna Parikh
Phillip Tierno, PhD, Director of Clinical Microbiology at NYU Langone Medical Center, says influenza is one of the easiest things to kill on surfaces. Bleach and alcohol containing products killed the virus almost instanltly. Regular soap and water does not kill viruses, but it does wash them away, adds Tierno.
- Philip M. Tierno Jr., PhD, director, Clinical Microbiology & Immunology
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Atlanta Journal Constitution
October 15
Tylenol May Weaken Effectiveness of Kids' Vaccines – By Crystal Phend
Infectious disease expert Marc Siegel, MD, an associate professor of medicine at NYU School of Medicine in New York City, said that "the conclusion that Tylenol not only suppresses fever, but also decreases immune response is plausible. After all, what is an immune response? It's an inflammatory response." Siegel agrees that acetaminophen should not be routinely given to infants to prevent fever after vaccination. "But, if the kid is sick, treat the sickness. If the kid is very sick, I would get the fever down," he said.
- Marc Siegel, MD, clinical associate professor, medicine
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NYU Washington Square News
October 16
Science and the Smells of Parenthood – By Jerry Paliath
What does an infant human have in common with a rat pup? More than you may think, according to Regina Sullivan, a research professor at the NYU Child Study Center, and Gordon Barr, a psychology professor at Hunter College. Both rat pups and infants show advanced learning and an attachment to their caregivers, Sullivan said. "I started by assessing neurobiology and how a rat brain works differently than an infant brain," she said.
- Regina Sullivan, PhD, research scientist, NYU Child Study Center
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BioMedicine
October 15
FSU researcher wins $2.4M in grants to pursue early detection of autism
A Florida State University College of Medicine researcher has been awarded two separate grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) totaling $2.4 million to continue her work in detecting autism in children as young as 18 months. Wetherby's collaborators are Eva Petkova at the NYU Child Study Center and Catherine Lord at the University of Michigan Autism and Communication Disorders Center.
- Eva Petkova, PhD, senior research scientist, NYU Child Study Center
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Vitals Spotlight
October 16
Latisse Can Turn Eye Color to Brown
“Based on collective experience, people with crystal clear blue eyes don’t develop the iris pigmentation, the people who are susceptible to it are individuals with brown eyes or hazel eyes or greenish-blue eyes. But the overall risk is less than 1 percent and that’s with the medication going directly into the eye,” says Arielle Kauvar, MD, of NYU School of Medicine.
- Arielle Kauvar, MD, clinical associate professor, The Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology
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New Haven Register
October 16
EDITORIAL: Calorie posting law proves ineffective
Probably one of the most gratuitous efforts of the nanny state is legislation that turns restaurant menus into nutrition labels intended to encourage more healthful eating choices. Our suspicion has been confirmed by a study done by researchers at NYU School of Medicine. They looked at the fast-food eating habits of New Yorkers in poor neighborhoods with high obesity rates. The study found that the number of calories of a typical meal actually went up after New York’s law went into effect.
- 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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New York Times - Week in Review
October 11
Prime Number 21
The increase in calories in meals ordered by customers at fast food outlets in New York city after restaurants began posting calorie counts of their menu offerings, according to a study in the journal Health Affairs. City officials hoped consumers would moderate their eating habits after a law took effect in July 2008 requiring restaurants to post calorie figures. The study of fast food chains in poor neighborhoods with high rates of obesity found that meals ordered for lunch and dinner after the law went on the books had a mean of 846 calories – up from 825 before the 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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Baltimore Business Journal
October 14
Advanced Image-Guided Surgery Technology from BrainLAB Now Available in New York State —Associated Press
BrainLAB, a manufacturer of software-driven systems for targeted, less-invasive medical treatments, announced today that patients in New York State and surrounding region now have access to treatment with the technologically advanced VectorVision flex. VectorVision flex is a powerful image-guided surgery (IGS) system integrated with a high-resolution, interactive viewing platform and advanced navigation software that gives surgeons more precise, less-invasive access to brain tumors, vascular abnormalities and other intra-cranial targets.
Physicians at NYU Langone Medical Center are the first in New York State to treat patients with VectorVision flex. "We are proud to have NYU Langone Medical Center as a premier center offering VectorVision flex in New York State. We look forward to the advancements in patient care that the technology brings as part of their larger commitment to excellence in healthcare," stated Sean Clark, President, BrainLAB Inc. "At NYU Langone Medical Center, our goal is to continuously offer patients comprehensive treatment options with minimally-invasive procedures using advanced technologies," said John G. Golfinos, MD, Chair, Department of Neurosurgery at NYU Langone Medical Center. "Using state-of-the-art technology like VectorVision( )flex allows our surgeons to have better access to critical patient data and develop detailed surgical plans resulting in safer procedures and faster recovery for our patients."
-John G. Golfinos, MD, chairman, Department of Neurosurgery
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NBC Today Show
October 14
Weight Loss Surgery Involving the Realize Band
Dr. Christine Ren of NYU Langone Medical Center appeared live on the Today Show along side football player Jaime Dukes who talked about the success of the Realize Band for surgical weight loss. Dr. Ren explained how the procedure and device works. “Well, it's actually a device that gets placed inside your body,” said Dr. Ren. “And it's a band made out of silicone, your body doesn't reject it.”
-Christine Ren, MD, associate professor, Department of Surgery
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MSNBC
October 14
Passing Cancer in the Womb—MSNBC
There is a new case report that says it may be possible for a woman to pass on cancer cells to her unborn baby that has gotten the attention of the medical establishment. A British study conducted found that a woman diagnosed with leukemia may have passed the cells on to her child. “The mother died about a month after she gave birth and had leukemia,” said Dr. Steven Goldstein of NYU Langone Medical Center. “At 11 months of age, the child was diagnosed with a mass in the neck which was a lymphoma.
-Steven R. Goldstein, MD, professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Advance for Nurses
October 14
More Than Talk—By Sandy Keefe, MSN, RN
With 1,150 nurses on just one NYU Langone Medical Center campus in New York City, communication can be challenging. “We’ve connected all of our nurses by e-mail with dedicated distribution lists that promote ready communication with each other, their nurse managers and their nurse leaders,” said Susan Bowar-Ferres, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, senior vice president/chief nursing officer at NYU. "We also have innovative, staff-driven communication, including a Facebook page the OB nurses set up to facilitate their self-scheduling. "We support those valuable social networks to disseminate and exchange information."
- Susan Bowar-Ferres, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, senior vice president/chief nursing officer
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October 14
The Fab Five—By Sandy Keefe, MSN, RN
What makes a great working environment for nurses? According to nurse leaders at the five hospitals that made ADVANCE's Readers' Choice Honor Roll, the answer is multifaceted.
First, you need an empowered nursing staff. They should be supported by leaders who value the work nurses do, support their professional development, communicate clearly and consistently, and reward them for excellence. "We focus very heavily on nurses participating in initiatives related to nursing practice, quality, performance improvement, cultural competency and recruitment/retention," said Susan Bowar-Ferres, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, senior vice president/chief nursing officer at NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY. "Department wide and specialty-specific councils provide a wide choice of participation and engagement for staff."
- Susan Bowar-Ferres, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, senior vice president/chief nursing officer
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New York Post
October 14
Jersey’s Win is NYC’s Loss—By Lois Weiss
At a time when financial firms are stressed and vacancy levels are rising, the city has let 1,600 office jobs skip across the Hudson River. New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine gleefully made the official announcement yesterday that the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation, the major clearing house for banks, will move most of its back office functions from 55 Water St. to the LeFrak-owned Newport Office Center in Jersey City. NYU Langone Medical Center signed a lease yesterday for 35,000 feet at 14 Wall St., effectively doubling its current space. Daniel Ghadamian, a principal of building owner Capstone Equities, said NYU is taking the entire 9th floor. It has been leasing the 10th floor for the last year.
-NYU Langone Medical Center
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Cancer Network.com
October 13
Pralatrexate Approved for Relapsed or Refractory Peripheral T-cell Lymphoma—Cancer Network
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval for pralatrexate injection (Folotyn) for use as a single agent for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), which comprises a biologically diverse group of aggressive blood cancers. Pralatrexate is the first and only drug approved by the FDA for this indication and represents a new treatment option for patients with relapsed or refractory PTCL. “Individuals with peripheral T-cell lymphoma have a very poor prognosis and almost always relapse or become refractory to initial therapy. As a result, there is an urgent need for new therapies to treat patients with this challenging disease. Folotyn has demonstrated its efficacy and safety in the PROPEL clinical trial, and I believe it will be a welcome addition for physicians who treat patients with relapsed or refractory PTCL,” said Owen A. O’Connor, MD, PhD, principal investigator in the PROPEL study; and chief, Division of Hematologic Malignancies and Medical Oncology; and professor of medicine and pharmacology at the NYU Langone Medical Center.
-Owen A. O’Connor PhD, MD, professor, Department of Medicine (Cancer Center)
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Associated Content
October 13
Our Health—By Radha Chitale
For most grown-ups, needle pricks and pokes are the necessary evil of flu vaccines and blood tests. But more and more women are getting shots to stave off the signs of aging. In fact, recent statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) show that Botox injections and other noninvasive cosmetic treatments are still on the rise, despite the crummy economy and a dip in cosmetic surgery procedures. The reason: They deliver almost instant gratification. They're also cheaper and involve less downtime than plastic surgery. Here's the crib sheet on what's available now, what's on tap, and how to get the best outcome. The Shot: Botulinum Toxin Type A. Botulinum toxin type A (a.k.a. Botox and its new competitor, Dysport, which the FDA just approved in April). How it works. The toxin temporarily paralyzes muscles so they can't contract, helping to smooth wrinkles that are created — and reinforced — whenever you make facial expressions (like furrowing your brow). "Dysport, which has been used in Europe for years, is very similar to Botox," says Anne Chapas, M.D., assistant professor of dermatology at New York University School of Medicine, who performed trials on the drug. The differences between the two are subtle and mainly in formulation, not performance, she says.
-Anne Chapas, MD, assistant professor, Department of Dermatology
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Biz Community.com
October 14
Vital Information Lacking in Critical Trials Enrolment—Best MBA Schools Online
Information on enrolment by race and ethnic group lacking in 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 enrolment by race and ethnic group has improved but nevertheless, information on this important demographic of patient enrolment is far from ideal," said Jeffrey S. Berger, MD, MS, Director of Cardiovascular Thrombosis; Assistant Professor of Medicine and Surgery at The Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology at NYU School of Medicine. "It is imperative that all studies provide basic information including race and ethnicity. Furthermore, we must have good representation of different ethnic and minority groups in RCTs to apply data appropriately."
-Jeffrey S. Berger, MD, MS, assistant professor, Department of Medicine (Cardiology)
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Best MBA Schools Online
October 14
NYU Langone Medical Center Awarded $10 million NIHM Grant—Best MBA Schools Online
NYU Langone Medical Center has received a five-year, $10 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to establish a Silvio O. Conte Center for the Neuroscience of Mental Disorders.
-NYU Langone Medical Center
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Reuters
October 13
New Prostate Surgery Not Necessarily Better: Study – By Julie Steenhuysen
Men who have less invasive prostate cancer surgery -- often done robotically -- are more likely to be incontinent and have erectile dysfunction than men who have conventional open surgery, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday. Herbert Lepor, MD, of NYU Langone Medical Center analyzed several studies on robotic-assisted prostate surgery in a paper published this year in Reviews in Urology. He said so far the evidence does not suggest the robotic procedure is superior to open surgery. Lepor, who was not involved in the study, estimates that about 80 percent of minimally invasive prostate cancer surgery is done robotically. "What drives this is the industry creating the need," he said. "We've increased the cost of care with the robot," he said. "Now what we are learning is continence and potency seem to be inferior."
- Herbert Lepor, MD, Martin Spatz Chairman of the Department of Urology
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Los Angeles Times
October 14
New Prostate Surgery Not Necessarily Better: Study — By Shari Roan
The technique, which can shorten hospital stays and reduce some complications, is linked to a higher risk of incontinence and erectile dysfunction. Men who need prostate cancer surgery are increasingly choosing minimally invasive techniques because such procedures typically lead to shorter hospital stays and a reduced risk of complications. But a study suggests that the risk of the most serious complications may be higher with the new technology. In recent years, minimally invasive surgery for prostate cancer has been advertised as comparable to or better than open surgery, said Herbert Lepor, MD, chairman of the department of urology at NYU Langone Medical Center, who was not involved in the study. "All these claims that are driving robotics are not based on any credible evidence," he said. "We have to ask, how is this technology impacting our healthcare delivery? It has increased costs, and what have we gained? It looks like we are going backward in the most important clinical outcomes."
- Herbert Lepor, MD, Martin Spatz Chairman of the Department of Urology
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Washington Square News
October 14
H1N1 Vaccines on their Way for Health Care Workers — By Clarissa Wei
This summer, the New York Department of Health announced a mandate for all health care providers to receive an H1N1 vaccination, which includes all workers at NYU Langone Medical Center. The deadline to receive a vaccine is Nov. 20. New York City received its first shipments of the vaccine last Tuesday. Experts expect about 1.2 million doses of injectable vaccine and nasal spray by the end of the month. The New York Health Department assured that there are "ample amounts" of supplies left and more shipments will be brought in throughout the following months. "We hope to receive the H1N1 vaccine from the New York City Department of Health within the next few weeks and will immediately begin administering the vaccine to target groups, which health care students would certainly belong to," NYU medical director Carlo Ciotoli said.
- Carlo Ciotoli, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Medicine
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Reuters India
October 14
U.S. Surgeons Don’t Always Follow Guidelines — By Jill Stein
U.S. surgeons do a mediocre job of incorporating "evidence-based" guidelines into their practice, according to research reported here at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) 95th Annual Clinical Congress. Dr. Marcovalerio Melis, with NYU School of Medicine in New York City, and colleagues at other centers analyzed questionnaire responses from 110 faculty and trainee surgeons at three U.S. academic medical centers.
- Marcovalerio Melis, MD, assistant professor, Department of Surgery
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ABCNews.com
October 13
Doctors ‘Shocked’ By Radiation Overexposure at Cedars-Sinai — By Radha Chitale
Doctors have expressed outrage and concern for the unsuspecting patients who received eight times the normal dose of radiation during a specific type of brain scan at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. "To me, even as a professional, this is a fairly shocking story. These patients received 8-10 times the normal dose for a head CT and probably reached their allowable radiation exposure for the year at a single test," said James Slater, MD, associate professor of cardiology at the NYU Langone Medical Center. "The fact this error occurred and went undetected for 18 months at a well regarded medical [institution] is rather unbelievable."
- James Slater, MD, associate professor, Department of Medicine (Cardiology)
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Advance
October 13
Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement — By Roy I. 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. Despite these positive outcomes, only a quarter of patients clinically indicated for a total hip actually follow through with the operation. Many patients choose not to undergo total hip replacement surgery for fear of revision surgery resulting from component wear. Other barriers include prolonged rehabilitation, concerns of possible hip dislocation and the possibility of a postoperative leg length discrepancy. A new minimally invasive procedure called the anterior total hip replacement (A-THR) addresses these concerns. The procedure utilizes an operating room table specially designed for this muscle-sparing approach (See image below). Anterior hip replacement is performed using highly durable bearing surfaces, which potentially last more than 30 years.
- Roy I. Davidovitch, MD, assistant professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery
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Government Grants for Review
October 14
NIH Awards Research Grants for NYU Langone Medical Center
NYU Langone Medical Center has been awarded more than $30 million in research grants from the National Institute of Health (NIH) for 86 research projects being conducted at NYU School of Medicine across a broad range of basic science and clinical departments.
- NYU Langone Medical Center
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Goodlifer
October 12
Skillsharing—By Johanna Bjork
Skillsharing in a new movement of freestanding weekend events featuring workshops and classes, taught by regular people who happen to be really good at, or possess deep knowledge about, something. At the Brooklyn Skillshare, the first class I attended was Basic Raw Food Preparation: the Art of “Uncooking” taught by Karen Yacobucci, a Medical Librarian at the NYU School of Medicine and a devoted raw foodist. After a brief introduction to the basic tenets of raw food, Yacobucci prepared three simple recipes while talking about her personal experience with the diet. Good reasons to eat raw: you’ll look hot, feel ridiculously happy and healthy, and your body will have a much easier time transporting food properly through your system.
- Karen Yacobucci, library associate
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NYTimes.com
October 11
The Trouble With Twin Births — Editors
Ever since in vitro fertilization became an option, there has been widespread concern about the multiple births that result from implantation of multiple embryos. Yet most doctors and patients are comfortable with implanting two or three embryos, despite the costs involved and the far higher risk of prematurity associated with twins. “One in five couples experience infertility, which is defined as a year of trying without pregnancy, said Dr. James A. Grifo, NYU Langone Medical Center. “Only a small percent seek treatment but many who do are successful.”
- James A. Grifo, MD, PhD, professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
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The Boston Globe
October 12
Fast Food: Numbers Alone Won’t Stop Obesity—Editors
Calorie-counting is not enough to combat obesity, not when calories are so plentiful and so cheap. That is the sobering suggestion from the first study of New York City’s first-in-the-nation law requiring restaurant chains to post calorie counts. Researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center and Yale analyzed more than 1,100 receipts last summer from customers of McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, and KFC in poor neighborhoods. The average number of calories purchased by customers actually increased - from 825 in the two weeks before the law to 846 a month after it took effect. Lead author Brian Elbel says that while 54 percent of people read the calorie counts, changing behavior will require more prodding. This is especially true in low-income communities where obesity is epidemic and healthy eating options are scarce.
- 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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ABC Good Morning America
October 12
Cardiovascular Death
Good Morning America featured the story of a professional dancer, Jessica Martineau, a patient at NYY Langone Medical Center, whose heart threatened her career and her life. Jessica was born with a rare medical condition and lived in fear of dying every time she took the stage, but now an important new test has finally shed some light on her mysterious ailment.
- Silvia Priori, MD, PhD, director, Cardiovascular Genetics Program
- Jessica Martineau, patient, Cardiovascular Genetics Program
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NBC The Weekend Today Show
October 11
Kenneth Langone Speaks About Columbus Day Parade
Columbus Day marks the 65th annual Columbus Day Parade celebration here in New York. Kenneth Langone, who is the parade's grand marshal this year, said “I’m very excited. It's going to be a great day for the country, for New York, and certainly for those of us of Italian extraction, I think it reflects on us (Italian Americans) coming over here more than 100 years ago seeking a better life, and it gives us an opportunity to do two things: to remember the sacrifices that were made by people who came over here that allowed us to be here and also to acknowledge the warmth and generosity of America for anybody who comes here.”
-Kenneth Langone, chairman, Board of Trustees


October 11
Truth About; Neica Goldberg Speaks About Pain Relievers
Before you grab a pill to ease your aches and pains, do you know which medication you really need? Specifically, acetaminophen. Nieca Goldberg of NYU Langone Medical Center is here to help. “What you should know is you should only read--but you should definitely read the directions on the box and only take as much as they say, and that's about two extra strength Tylenol pills every six hours,” she said. “More can increase the risk for liver damage. And about 110,000 people a year go to emergency rooms across the country because of overdose due to acetaminophen.”
- Neica Goldberg, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Medicine


CBS-TV
October 12
Go! New York: Detecting Signs of a Stroke—By Katie Sullivan
Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States. Almost a million women will die from the disease every year. Even with those staggering statistics, most women don't think it will happen to them. Dina Pagnotta was just 31-years-old when she had a stroke. "It was devastating at 30. I'm very active. I had none of the warning signs of stroke," Pagnotta told CBS 2's Kate Sullivan. It turns out, though extremely active and seemingly healthy woman, Dina had an unknown heart condition.
- Dina Pagnotta, MPT, MPH, director, Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Network, NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases
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The Bulletin
October 12
Can Animals Make Children Healthier?—By Carla Baranauckas
When Chad, a yellow Labrador retriever, moved in with Claire Vaccaro's family in Manhattan last spring, he already had an important role. As an autism service dog, he was joining the family to help protect Vaccaro's 11-year-old son, Milo — especially in public, where he often had tantrums or tried to run away. Like many companion animals, whether service dogs or pets, Chad had an immediate effect — the kind of effect that is noticeable but has yet to be fully understood through scientific study. And it went beyond the tether that connects dog and boy in public. “Within, I would say, a week, I noticed enormous changes,” Vaccaro said of Milo, whose autism impairs his ability to communicate and form social bonds. “More and more changes have happened over the months as their bond has grown. He's much calmer. He can concentrate for much longer periods of time. It's almost like a cloud has lifted.” Dr. Melissa Nishawala, clinical director of the autism-spectrum service at the Child Study Center at NYU Langone Medical Center, said she saw “a prominent and noticeable change” in Milo, even though the dog just sat quietly in the room. “He started to give me narratives in a way he never did,” she said, adding that most of them were about the dog.
- Melissa Nishawala, MD, assistant professor, Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
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Fox News Channel
October 8
Facing the Facts
Doctors debate on the Glenn Beck show whether or not people should get the H1N1 vaccine. Dr. Marc Seigel of NYU Langone Medical Center is for the vaccine. “I think it’s a fear issue,” he said. “I think we should be more afraid of the virus than afraid of the vaccine.
- Marc Siegel, MD, associate professor, Department of Medicine
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ABC News
October 10
Shortage of Flu Vaccines
A new ABC report shows that there is now a shortage of seasonal flu vaccines. At least 9 states so far have had to ration vaccine. Some have canceled clinics, because companies who have produced the seasonal vaccine are switching to the development of the H1N1 vaccine. “The shortages and the disruptions in getting the vaccine to private doctor’s offices is the worst I’ve ever seen,” said Dr. Clifford Bassett, NYU Langone Medical Center. Dr. Bassett ordered 200 doses of seasonal flu vaccine. He’s had to scramble just to find 30 doses.
- Clifford Bassett, MD, clinical instructor, Department of Medicine


The News Tribune
October 11
H1N1: Learn How to Stop the Spread of Swine Flu — By Linda Shrieves
Already, there are reports coming from schools across the country that kids are being diagnosed with swine flu (also known as the H1N1 virus). And in several states, health officials say swine flu already is widespread. The good news is this: Although swine flu is highly contagious, the World Health Organization says it generally causes “very mild illness” in healthy people. But there are ways to prevent the flu from spreading, mainly by washing your hands. If doctors sound like your mom, who keeps bugging you to wash your hands before you eat, there’s a reason. “Whenever you’re contaminated by touching things that other people have touched – desks or tabletops in the lunchroom – you really should wash your hands before eating or drinking or touching your face,” said Dr. Philip Tierno, director of clinical microbiology and immunology at NYU Langone Medical Center.
- Philip M. Tierno Jr., Ph.D., clinical professor, Department of Pathology, Department of Microbiology
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Solve Climate
October 11
California Fights Shipping Pollution as International Shippers Push Back—Solve Climate
Massive cargo ships have long motored into the nation’s busiest ports here and next door in Los Angeles, trailing plumes of sulfurous soot. They disgorge containers of toys, VCR’s and sneakers, then chug out again loaded with scrap tin and waste paper. They are literally the slow boats to and from China, Singapore, and Japan, mighty container ships that have managed to elude air pollution regulation for half a century. The picture is similar in port communities across the country. George Thurston, a professor of environmental medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and one of the nation’s leading air pollution researchers, has linked sulfur diesel emissions to heart attacks, lung cancer and other serious illness. He said the sulfur-based oil used by the container ships is among the worst pollutants. It not only forms dangerous gases, but contributes to tiny particulate specks that sink deep into the lungs, etched with trace minerals like nickel that make them even more dangerous.
- George Thurston, MD, professor, Department of Environmental Medicine
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CBS 4 Denver
October 9
CDC: H1N1 Cases Are Increasing Nationally
Health officials say swine flu activity is picking up, with 37 states now reporting widespread cases. Officials with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday that the count is up from 27 states the previous week. The figures suggest a leveling off of flu activity the previous week may have been short-lived. Meanwhile, CDC officials say states have ordered 3.6 million doses of swine flu vaccine for a campaign that started this week. "One of the current ideas is that that wave of this virus last spring has left a number of people protected who are immune from the virus," said Dr. Martin Blaser, the chair of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center. This protective effect is called herd immunity. "In places like New York and the Northeast, there's probably a substantial amount of herd immunity, which is dampening the spread of the virus," Blaser said. "It doesn't mean it's not going to appear. It just means that it's going to appear later, and maybe not quite as bad as it is in the Southeast right now."
- Martin Jack Blaser MD, chairman, Frederick H. King Professor of Internal Medicine
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KPVI
*Article syndicated by Health Day News
In Some Cities, Spring Swine Flu May Be Easing Fall Outbreak - By Steven Reinberg
New York, Philadelphia and other cities hit hard by H1N1 swine flu last spring aren't seeing as much of it now, even though outbreaks are occurring in all 50 states. The possible reason: Many people in these spring-outbreak epicenters have already gained some immunity to H1N1, and this "herd immunity" is keeping a wider fall outbreak at bay, experts say. According to a report released Thursday by the New York Times, health officials in New York City, Boston and Philadelphia say they are seeing less swine flu now than they did during the initial outbreak. "This is very much in keeping with what I am seeing here in New York," noted one flu expert, Dr. Marc Siegel, an associate professor of medicine at NYU School of Medicine. "Not only is there not a resurgence of flu in areas where there were previous large outbreaks, but there are probably very mild cases going around that are going under the radar, because people don't even realize they are flu," he said. Siegel agreed that widespread immunity from the spring outbreak may have led to a different kind of autumn outbreak. That's because many people exposed to the flu don't get seriously ill, but they do build an immunity to it. "There's a large percentage of patients who don't get ill -- we only focus on those who do," Seigel said.
- Marc Siegel, MD, associate professor, medicine
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Lifescript
October 9
H1N1: Where Germs Hide- By Nicole McEwin
Touch a germ-infected surface, then rub your nose or mouth, and the next thing you know, microbes are dancing the mambo in your body. And this year — with H1N1 virus, seasonal flu and the run-of-the-mill bugs crawling about public places — germaphobes have plenty to worry about. No wonder. Unfortunately, going anywhere people congregate can boost your chances of getting sick, says Philip Tierno, Ph.D., author of The Secret Life of Germs (Atria) and director of clinical microbiology and immunology at NYU Langone Medical Center. That’s because disease-carrying bacteria and viruses live practically everywhere — shopping malls, grocery stores, playgrounds, petting zoos, restaurants. They can survive up to two hours on shopping carts, escalator handrails, even doorknobs before they find their next victim.
- Philip M. Tierno Jr, PhD, clinical professor, Department of Pathology, Department of Microbiology
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The New York Times
October 9
NYC: All’s Not Well in Sex and Food - By Clyde Haberman
A study published this week by professors at New York University and Yale suggests that those posted calorie counts in fast-food chains aren’t doing a bit of good in getting customers to go easy on the cheeseburgers and fries. New Yorkers living in poor neighborhoods, where obesity and diabetes rates are high, ate what they could afford and what tasted good to them — forbidding calorie counts be damned. So much for this phase of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s public health campaign. Not that the mayor is likely to retreat after the discouraging findings. Bake sales and soda-packed vending machines in schools are next on his hit list. He has even gone healthy in a ritualistic bet with his Minneapolis counterpart over who will win the playoff series between the Yankees and the Twins. In past wagers of this sort, Mr. Bloomberg put up cheesecakes, pastrami, pizzas and knishes — high-calorie but solidly New York fare. This time, should the Yankees lose, he is offering “an assortment of urban produce,” whatever that is, from the New York Botanical Garden and Bronx community gardens. Like they don’t have produce in Minnesota, urban or otherwise. It’s almost incentive enough for the Twins not to bother trying to win.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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NYTimes.com
October 8
Blog: Freakonomics- Does Posting a Calorie Count Change How People Eat? - By Stephen J. Dubner
Some time ago, we wondered if New York City’s new law requiring certain restaurants to post calorie counts might provide good material for academic researchers who care about obesity. The answer: yes! Brian Elbel, an assistant professor of medicine and health policy at the NYU School of Medicine and the NYU Wagner School of Public Service, was the lead researcher on a new study called “Calorie Labeling and Food Choices: A First Look at the Effects on Low-Income People in New York City” (abstract here; pdf here). Elbel sent researchers into the field to measure the caloric habits of low-income people who eat at fast-food restaurants including McDonald’s and KFC. They gathered data before the calorie-posting law went into effect, in order to measure the change, and in addition to gathering data from New York fast-food restaurants, they also gathered data from equivalent restaurants in Newark, N.J., which doesn’t have a caloric-posting law, to serve as a control. What did they learn? “We found that 27.7 percent [of people] who saw calorie labeling in New York said the information influenced their choices.” Great news, right? Um, no: “However, we did not detect a change in calories purchased after the introduction of calorie labeling.” Yikes. This is a great example of how well-intentioned incentives, even if they are successfully presented, fail to move the needle. There are obviously a million more questions to be asked in this realm.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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Wall Street Journal Online
October 8
Study: At New York Chain Restaurants, Low-Income Diners Don’t Count Calories- By Carl Bialik
I wrote last summer about menu labeling of calorie counts, and questioned whether they would influence diners to make healthier choices. This week, a widely reported study of a New York City law mandating menu labeling in chain restaurants revealed that low-income diners didn’t order lower-calorie meals when confronted by the calorie counts, when compared with New York diners before the law was passed and with diners in Newark, which doesn’t have mandatory labeling. The study undercuts a major notion behind menu labeling: that, when confronted with mammoth calorie counts, diners will choose healthier options. The study’s authors suggest that labeling might work if combined with other efforts to prod diners toward healthier choices. “My sense is that to really influence obesity, we will probably need a combination of interventions,” Brian Elbel, assistant professor of medicine and health policy at NYU School of Medicine and lead author of the study, told me. “These will have to deal with the availability of foods in a community (both health and unhealthy), the price of foods (health and unhealthy), the marketing of foods and what we provide in schools for kids.”
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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US News & World Report
*Article syndicated by Health Day News
In Some Cities, Spring Swine Flu May Be Easing Fall Outbreak- By Steven Reinberg
New York, Philadelphia and other cities hit hard by H1N1 swine flu last spring aren't seeing as much of it now, even though outbreaks are occurring in all 50 states. The possible reason: Many people in these spring-outbreak epicenters have already gained some immunity to H1N1, and this "herd immunity" is keeping a wider fall outbreak at bay, experts say. According to a report released Thursday by the New York Times, health officials in New York City, Boston and Philadelphia say they are seeing less swine flu now than they did during the initial outbreak. "This is very much in keeping with what I am seeing here in New York," noted one flu expert, Dr. Marc Siegel, an associate professor of medicine at NYU School of Medicine. "Not only is there not a resurgence of flu in areas where there were previous large outbreaks, but there are probably very mild cases going around that are going under the radar, because people don't even realize they are flu," he said. Siegel agreed that widespread immunity from the spring outbreak may have led to a different kind of autumn outbreak. That's because many people exposed to the flu don't get seriously ill, but they do build an immunity to it. "There's a large percentage of patients who don't get ill -- we only focus on those who do," Seigel said.
- Marc Siegel, MD, associate professor, medicine
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CBS News with Katie Couric
October 8
Do Some Areas Have H1N1 Immunity?- By Jonathan LaPook, M.D.
The H1N1 virus has hit children particularly hard. Mark Strassmann revisits an overwhelmed Oklahoma hospital where two children he reported on earlier are now showing great improvements. According to the CDC, New York and New Jersey were hard hit by the H1N1 virus in the spring but have fewer cases this fall. CBS News Medical Correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook explains a protective effect called "herd immunity." H1N1 is closing schools in places like Texas and Virginia. But other regions are still waiting for the virus to show up again. "We're not seeing H1N1 influenza in New York City right now," said Dr. Thomas Farley, the New York City health commissioner. CDC data shows last spring, New York and New Jersey were especially hard hit but have been relatively spared this fall. The opposite is true of the Southeast, which saw fewer cases last spring but is now seeing an H1N1 surge, reports LaPook. "One of the current ideas is that that wave of this virus last spring has left a number of people protected who are immune from the virus," said Dr. Martin Blaser, the chair of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center. This protective effect is called herd immunity. "In places like New York and the Northeast, there's probably a substantial amount of herd immunity, which is dampening the spread of the virus," Blaser said. "It doesn't mean it's not going to appear. It just means that it's going to appear later, and maybe not quite as bad as it is in the Southeast right now."
- Martin Jack Blaser MD, chairman, Frederick H. King Professor of Internal Medicine
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WCBS-TV
October 8
* Syndicated broadcast by CBS Newspath to all CBS local affiliates across the country
U.S. to screen Air Travelers for H1N1
With the holiday season just a few weeks away, health officials fear the swine flu will pick up right along with air travel. New government guidelines are on their way, designed to help keep passengers healthy. This flu season, airport staff across the nation won't just be screening for security threats. They'll also be looking out for health threats – people who "look like" they may have the H1N1 virus. The government says that people traveling internationally may be screened for the H1N1 virus as they leave or enter the U.S."Get vaccinated, wash your hands frequently, and you've really done the most that almost anybody can do to protect against influenza," Dr. Michael Phillips, of NYU Langone Medical Center, said. The first doses of swine flu vaccine arrived earlier this week, but new polls show that many people don't plan to get it. Flu shot or not, experts say that healthy habits will help make sure that, when you travel, germs don't take the trip with you.
- Michael S. Phillips, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology
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Medscape Today
October 8
Current Trends and New Techniques in Rhinoplasty: An Expert Interview With Sherrell J. Aston, MD- By Pippa Wysong
A complex procedure, the rhinoplasty has in recent years seen changes of opinion in how this surgery should be performed, such as more attention to protecting or enhancing architectural integrity. Medscape's Pippa Wysong spoke to Sherrell J. Aston, MD, who offered his thoughts on the state of the art in rhinoplasty. Dr. Aston is Director and Chairman of the Department of Plastic Surgery at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital in New York, NY. He is also Professor of Plastic Surgery at the NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, and is certified by the American Board of Surgery (ABS) and the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS).
Medscape: Rhinoplasties are becoming more popular. Why is this, and who is having all of these rhinoplasties? Dr. Aston: Most rhinoplasties are performed to change the cosmetic appearance of the nose. Most are performed in teenagers and young adults, but increasing numbers have been performed on people ranging from their 30s to their 60s. Breathing problems are frequently corrected during rhinoplasty.
- Sherrell J. Aston, MD, professor, surgery, plastic surgery
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EMaxHealth.com
October 8
Calorie Information Not Yet Changing Food Purchases- By Denise Reynolds RD
New York City became the first US jurisdiction to implement legislation on the labeling of restaurant food in July 2008. All menus for restaurant chains with over 15 locations must contain information regarding the calorie content of the food to increase awareness and assist patrons in purchasing more healthy options. More than 30 U.S. cities and states have introduced legislation to mandate menu labeling, with over 13 bills succeeding in becoming law. Federal legislation is pending. Unfortunately, however, a recent study has shown that the menu labeling has not changed food-purchasing habits. 1,156 people in low-income, minority New York communities were surveyed, and only 27.7% responded that the seeing calorie information on menus influenced their purchase choices. Of these, 88% indicated that they used the information to purchase lower-calorie options. For some patrons, the awareness of calorie levels in food did not influence healthier choices. In fact, in New York City, calories per meal increased by 3% after the labeling laws were put into place. The findings from this study were published in the journal Health Affairs and were researched by Brian Elbel and colleagues at the NYU School of Medicine.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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Edmonton Journal
October 8
The mysterious effect of pets on sick kids- By Carla Baranauckas
Dr. Melissa A. Nishawala, clinical director of the autism-spectrum service at the The NYU Child Study Center, said she saw "a prominent and noticeable change" in Milo, even though the dog just sat quietly in the room. "He started to give me narratives in a way he never did," she said, adding that most of them were about the dog. The changes have been so profound that Vaccaro and Nishawala are starting to talk about weaning Milo from some of his medication. Anecdotes abound on the benefits of companion animals -- whether service and therapy animals or family pets -- on human health. But in-depth studies have been rare. Now the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, part of the National Institutes of Health, is embarking on an effort to study whether these animals can have a tangible effect on children's well-being.
- Melissa Nishawala, MD,assistant professor, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; Director, Tisch Young Adult Program; Clinical Director, Autism Spectrum Disorders Service; Clinical Director, Eating Disorders Service, NYU Child Study Center
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About.com
October 9
Eating Disorders Blog- By Matthew Tiemeyer
It looks as though keeping people away from fast food isn't as easy as it looks. In July of 2008, New York City started mandating that fast food chains post calorie information on menus in an effort to curb obesity. NYU dutifully went in to study how it was working in some low-income neighborhoods in the city. It turns out that the fast food consumption has decreased by...care to guess? None. In the NYU study, people were actually purchasing slightly more calories with the signs displayed. The expert reaction? These labels aren't enough. I've heard some radio discussion about how this may be because fast food is cheap, and that people in these neighborhoods can't afford other options. Maybe. My guess is that similar results will be found in other neighborhoods as well. If we could simply take information and make a choice to eat "better," wouldn't we have done it a long time ago? Drives for food are rarely based on logic.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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CNBC
October 6
Power Lunch: Calorie labels
Dr. Brian Elbel of NYU School of Medicine was interviewed on CNBC about his new study regarding calorie labels in fast food restaurants. Last year you may remember fast food restaurants in NYC were required by the city to post how many calories were in each food item on your tray. Some other cities and states have taken that into case now. A new study though looking at the results of this law suggests we don't care. People are consuming just as many calories as before, maybe even more. “It's a valid posting to say we didn't see a charge change in the percentage of calories consumed. But what we did see is more people are paying attention. More people are indicating it matters to them. Hopefully eventually we will see a change in calories purchased,” said Elbel.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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CBS Newspath
October 8
Nationally syndicated story to all local CBS affiliates across the country
H1N1
With the holiday season just around the corner, travel will soon pick up. Health officials worry so will the H1N1 virus. The government has released a list of guidelines telling travelers what they need to know. This flu season airport staff across the nation won't just be screening for security threats, they'll also be looking out for health threats: people who look like they may have the H1N1 virus. The government warns some passengers may be asked to: Pass through a screening device. Have your temperature taken. Answer questions about your health. And even be quarantined if someone on your flight shows symptoms of H-1-N-1. New York along with other transportation agencies around the country are posting signs reminding customers to keep their sneezes and coughs to themselves. It's common sense advice that doctors echo. "Get vaccinated, wash your hands frequently and you've really done the most that almost anybody can do to protect against influenza," urges Dr. Michael Phillips of NYU's Langone Medical Center. The first doses of the H1N1 vaccine arrived earlier this week. But new polls show many don't plan to get it. Flu shot or no flu shot experts say healthy habits will help make sure when you travel germs don't go with you.
- Michael S. Phillips, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology
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CW- The Daily Buzz
October 8
Calorie Me Bad
After more than a year under a law that demands New York City fast food joints post calorie information on the menu boards, guess what? A new study shows people are stuffing their faces with just as many juicy delicious cheeseburgers. The NYU School of Medicine found only half of fast food customers even noticed the calorie counts and of those only a quarter said it made a difference in their menu choices. Imagine that, grown adults who walk into a greasy burger and fries joint end up buying greasy burgers and fries.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service


Walk FM Radio
October 8
Calorie labeling doesn't curb NYC fast food habits- By Reuters
A rule that requires New York City fast food restaurants to post calorie information on their menu boards has not changed consumer habits in low-income neighborhoods, according to a study published on Tuesday. While half of consumers surveyed said they noticed the labeling, and about a quarter of those said they made different choices as a result, a review of fast food purchases showed habits remained the same, said the study, published in the journal Health Affairs. Brian Elbel, a professor at the New York University School of Medicine and a lead author of the study, which was conducted in low-income neighborhoods with high minority populations, said that more research needed to be done. "Though the introduction of calorie labels did not change the number of calories purchased, a combination of public policy efforts are likely necessary to produce a meaningful change in obesity," Elbel said.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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Shape Magazine
October 8
Age proof your eyes - By Sally Wadyka And Elsa Kruger
Turn back the clock with this expert advice on how to iron out wrinkles, crinkles, eliminate dark circles, puffiness and more. Want to look younger? Start taking care of the skin around your eyes. “It’s very thin, so fi ne lines and other signs of ageing tend to show up there long before anywhere else,” says Linda Franks, a dermatology professor at New York University Medical Centre. Most women think their regular skincare and make-up practices are enough, but you really do need a separate eyecare routine and specialised products to target this delicate area. Think it’s only an issue for old ladies? Sun exposure, fair skin, and high alitude determine how fast eyelid skin sags. Make your skin more resilient now to avoid taking drastic measures later.
- Linda Franks, MD, clinical assistant professor, The Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology
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WDAF-FOX
October 7
Calorie Study
New York City tried to cinch expanding waistlines, enacting a law last year forcing restaurant chains to publicly post calories on their menus. Researchers like Brian Elbel at NYU School of Medicine say the law may not be enough. It's not going to be a slam dunk here. A recent NYU-Yale University study found 54 percent of those questioned noticed the posted calorie count.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service


WashingtonPost.com
October 7
The Checkup - Health in the News – and in Your Life –by Jennifer LaRue Huget
Remember how requiring fast-food chain restaurants to post calorie counts for food items on their menu boards was supposed to help people make better foods choices? If the results of the first study to measure the impact of that initiative are any indication, we might want to rethink the premise. Researchers looked at fast-food purchases made in low-income areas of New York City – where a menu-labeling law took effect July 18. 2009 – and, as a control, in nearby Newark, where no such requirements exists. They found little difference between then number of calories purchased before and after the law took effect. “Our study does not necessarily imply that labeling is an ineffective policy,” said Brian Elbel of NYU School of Medicine and lead author of the study. “On the contrary, we found that some subset of consumers used the information to eat more healthfully.”
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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Belleville News Democrat
October 8
Supersize me
Despite a law requiring restaurant chains to post calorie counts, customers in New York City apparently are supersizing their orders as often as ever. A new study, by several professors at New York University and Yale, tracked customers at four fast-food chains in poor New York neighborhoods with high rates of obesity. New York was the first city requiring such calorie labeling. It found that about half the customers noticed the calorie counts, which were prominently posted on the menu boards. About 28 percent of those who noticed them said the information influenced their ordering, and nearly all of those people said they had made healthier choices as a result. But when the researchers checked receipts afterward, they found that people had ordered slightly more calories than the typical customer had before the labeling law went into effect in July 2008 -- 842-825. The findings, published Tuesday in the online version of the journal Health Affairs, come amid the spreading popularity of calorie-counting proposals as a way to improve public health across the country. "I think it does show us that labels are not enough," said Brian Elbel, an assistant professor at the New York University School of Medicine and the study's lead author.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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The Atlantic
Oct 7
Why We Shouldn't Ditch Calorie Labeling - By Marion Nestle
On Wednesday, Megan McArdle noted the failure of calorie labeling in NYC to reduce calorie intake according to new survey. Nestle from the Atlantic Food Channel has a different take.
So the New York Times ran a story about early research on the impact of New York City's calorie labeling postings by fast food restaurants. The research, done by some of my New York University colleagues, looked at what customers said they were doing and compared what they said to what they actually did. Oops. Customers said the labeling made them choose foods more carefully but they actually bought more calories. So, should we give up on this idea? No way.
These are preliminary results looking at what happened during the first few weeks of calorie labeling in fast food places in low-income areas of New York City. In such areas, restaurant choices are few, cheap food is a necessity, and people go to fast food places precisely because they can get lots of calories at low cost.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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Health News Digest
October 7
Bestselling Series Offers 365 Daily Doses of Health & Wellness Wisdom- By Staff Editor
Today, more people are taking an active role in the prevention and treatment of medical conditions and improving their day-to-day health. There is much to learn about the human body, food choices, and positive living. There are also many contemporary resources for treating specific symptoms as they arise. But one of the best (and age-old) methods for maintaining the good heath of you and your family is to cultivate a broad knowledge of health issues.
The Intellectual Devotional: Health is the fourth installment in the New York Times best-selling series by David S. Kidder and Noah D. Oppenheim. With the assistance of Bruce K. Young, MD, this daily devotional will renew the mind and provide readers with health and medical information important for general wellness. Bruce K. Young, MD, is internationally known as a leader in obstetrics and gynecology.
- Bruce K. Young, MD, Silverman Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Quick Service Restaurant
October 7
Study: NYC menu labeling not leading to healthier food choices- By Christa Hoyland
Recent studies into the impact of a moratorium on fast food stores and menu labeling may be indications that legislative attempts to curb obesity through those means are not reaching the heart of the problem. A new study found that about half the New York customers noticed the calorie counts displayed on menu boards. About 28 percent of them said the information did influence their ordering and most claimed to have made a healthier choice as a result. However, their receipts indicated a higher number of average calories purchased, from an average of 825 calories before menu labeling was introduced to 846 calories after. The number of calories purchased in the Newark stores did not change significantly. "I think it does show us that labels are not enough," Brian Elbel, an assistant professor at the New York University School of Medicine and the lead author of the study, said in an interview.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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Philippine Star
October 8
Matters of the heart and women
(Some may think that men are more prone to heart disease than women. In reality, though, heart disease is one of the leading causes of death among women: the older a woman gets, the more likely she is prone to heart disease. The even sadder part about this is women are less likely to survive after a heart attack. Dr. Jeffrey Berger, assistant professor of medicine and director of cardiovascular thrombosis at New York University, said, “The difference (between men and women) can be attributed to well-known clinical and angiographic characteristics such as age and the presence of other illnesses.” Although heart disease can be blamed on one’s family history, doctors would still agree that adopting a healthy lifestyle can keep heart problems at bay.
Avoid smoking. In recent years, more and more Filipinas have been keen to smoking. Thing is, smoking is one of the major causes of heart diseases among females. Moreover, women smokers on birth control pills are on even higher risk of heart disease. There are various ways to quit this habit, but you can also ask a doctor to give you a more effective means to quit smoking.
Manage your blood pressure and cholesterol level. High blood pressure and high cholesterol level are major causes of heart failure. Too much fat and salt in one’s diet, being overweight, and lack of exercise can raise one’s blood pressure and cholesterol level, so it’s best to change one’s lifestyle. Maintain a healthy weight. Eat a healthy diet.
- Jeffrey S. Berger, MD, MS, Director of Cardiovascular Thrombosis; Assistant Professor of Medicine and Surgery at The Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology
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The Wall Street Journal
October 8
Orthopedists Fail to Disclose Payments- By KEITH J. WINSTEIN
Orthopedists failed to disclose over 20% of the payments they receive from makers of hip and knee replacements when presenting research related to the companies' products, a new study found. The finding, published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine, comes amid growing legislative efforts to require medical companies to disclose payments made to physicians, and researchers to alert the public to potential conflicts of interest that may color how doctors treat them. Such laws have been enacted in Massachusetts and Vermont, and a federal effort, the Physician Payment Sunshine Act, is pending a vote in the U.S. Senate as part of a health-care reform bill. The Advanced Medical Technology Association, which represents device makers, says it supports the legislation. Joseph Zuckerman, a New York University doctor who serves as the orthopedist society's president, said the group had significantly tightened its conflict-disclosure policies since the 2008 meeting. "In 2007 or 2008, it was a different deal than it is now," he said. "When the Department of Justice came out with their [settlements], it got everybody's attention," he said. "We have made conflict of interest front and center," said Dr. Zuckerman, who said he earned about $132,000 last year from Exactech Inc., in royalties for a shoulder-replacement system he helped design. He said that such relationships between doctors and manufacturers "have benefited millions of patients."
- Joseph Zuckerman, MD, Chairman, Walter A.L. Thompson Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases
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Bloomberg
October 7
Doctors Fail to Report $12 Million in Industry Fees at Meeting – By Meg Tirrell
Doctors failed to disclose almost a third of payments, or at least $12 million, from companies when participating in a 2008 medical meeting, according to a study on physicians’ self-reports of potential conflicts of interest. Of 344 payments made by five medical-device makers to physicians making presentations at last year’s meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 245, or 71 percent, were disclosed, the report published in the New England Journal of Medicine found. About 29 percent of the compensation wasn’t disclosed. Payments included royalties on products doctors helped develop, fees for consulting services and costs of lodging, meals and transportation, the report said. Disclosure is essential because such relationships may cause a pro-industry bias. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons has changed its disclosure policies since the 2008 meeting, held at the beginning of the year, said the association’s president, Joseph D. Zuckerman. Participants in the meeting must now submit disclosures online, and aren’t allowed to attend without fully completing the document, which asks for more detail than last year’s, he said. “The changes we made weren’t in response to the study; we made those changes to make things better,” said Zuckerman, who is also a professor and chair of the department of orthopedic surgery at the New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases. “There should be transparency about this.”
- Joseph Zuckerman, MD, Chairman, Walter A.L. Thompson Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases
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MedPage Today
October 7
Ortho Surgeons Frequently Omitted Required Disclosures- By John Gever
Explain to interested patients that most medical journals now have policies requiring authors to disclose relationships with companies or other entities that may have an interest in the work. Presentations at medical meetings are usually subject to similar requirements.
Explain that this study focused on disclosures at a single meeting of orthopedic surgeons, which may not be generalizable to other specialties or to other forums for research reports.
Orthopedic surgeons who received payments from device makers often failed to follow disclosure policies required by their chief professional society, researchers said. In addition, the study focused on disclosures at one meeting of a single specialty society, covering a specific set of payments. Said AAOS President Joseph D. Zuckerman, MD, "Since 2008, we have taken steps to make our process and emphasis on mandatory disclosure more robust."
- Joseph Zuckerman, MD, Chairman, Walter A.L. Thompson Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases
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Reuters
October 6
Calorie labeling doesn't curb NYC fast food habits
A rule that requires New York City fast food restaurants to post calorie information on their menu boards has not changed consumer habits in low-income neighborhoods, according to a study published on Tuesday. Brian Elbel, a professor at the New York University School of Medicine and a lead author of the study, which was conducted in low-income neighborhoods with high minority populations, said that more research needed to be done."Though the introduction of calorie labels did not change the number of calories purchased, a combination of public policy efforts are likely necessary to produce a meaningful change in obesity," Elbel said.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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NY Daily News
October 7
Posting calorie counts on chain restaurant menus doesn't change eating habits of poorest New Yorkers- By Carrie Melago
A new study found that even after the city ordered chain restaurants to post calories on their menus, some diners in low-income areas apparently made worse food choices than before. Researchers collected about 1,200 receipts from customers at McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King and Kentucky Fried Chicken and found they purchased an average of 846 calories - compared to 825 before the menus were labeled. Surprisingly, the customers bought the fat-laden food even though 28% believed the calorie counts had influenced their orders. Of those, 88% felt they had made better choices because of it, according to the study published Tuesday in the journal Health Affairs.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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CBS American Morning
October 7
Calorie Counting – By Jason Carroll
NYC tried to cinch its waste lines, forcing restaurant chains to post calories on menus. Researchers like Brian Elbel at NYU School of Medicine say the law may not be enough. It's not going to be a slam dunk. A recent NYU/Yale Study found 54% of those questioned noticed the posted calorie count, 25% said as a result they made healthier choices.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service

WABC-TV
October 6
Calorie counts don't change habits, study finds
A new study finds New York City's law requiring restaurant chains to post calories on menus doesn't change the eating habits of low-income people. The study tracked customers at McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King and Kentucky Fried Chicken in poor New York City neighborhoods with high obesity rates. Half of customers noticed calorie counts. Twenty-eight percent of those said postings had influenced what they ordered. Nine out of 10 of those said they'd made healthier choices as a result. But New York University and Yale researchers say receipts showed people had ordered slightly more calories than the typical customer before the law went into effect in July 2008.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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WNBC
October 6
This Is Why You're Fat: Posting Calories Doesn't Make Consumers Care - By Ida Siegel
Researchers followed customers at McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King and Kentucky Fried Chicken in low-income neighborhoods where obesity rates are high. Even though calorie counts were posted in clear view, only half of the patrons were aware of the calorie counts, the study showed. Only 28 percent of those who saw the calorie counts said the postings affected their decision. Out of this group, 9 out of 10 said the calorie counts helped them make healthier choices. But researchers found something interesting. Receipts showed people had purchased more calories than a typical customer prior to the labeling law implemented in July 2008. “We confirmed what they ate and then asking questions about the receipts,” said Brian Elbel.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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NY NBC Nightly News
October 6
Study by NYU finds Posting Calories Don’t Make Consumers Reduce their Calorie Consumption - By Chuck Scarborough
Brian Elbel is interviewed about the NYU study on menu labeling that appeared in the journal Health Affairs.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service


WPIX-TV
October 6
Study: Posted Calories Don't Change Orders - By Stephanie Barish
When the law was first put into place, many New Yorkers were opposed to the idea of calories being placed beside the food they were about to order. But, when it all comes down to it now, people's stomachs appear to be more powerful than their brains. The study slated to be published in the online version of the journal of Health Affairs and conducted by several professors at New York University and Yale, followed customers at four popular fast food chains - including, McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King and Kentucky Fried Chicken - in lower income areas of New York City where obesity rates are high. Shockingly, it found half the customers took note of the calorie counts, which are placed in prominent spots on the menu boards. Only 28 percent of people said the calorie count had influenced their order. 9 out of 10 said they made healthier choices as a result. However, researchers found before the law went into effect in July 2008, the receipts of people involved in the study found people had splurged and ordered food with more calories than the typical customer.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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Food Consumer
October 7
Calorie Postings Don’t Guarantee Healthier Choices - By Rachel Stockton
It’s been 14 months since the law requiring New York City fast food chains to post the calorie content of each of their offerings on their menu boards. Several professors from New York University and Yale decided to see if the postings made much of a difference in what consumers were ordering. Four chains were analyzed: McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King and Kentucky Fried Chicken. The researchers went to areas of the city where obesity and diabetes are at their highest. For part of the study, they asked consumer questions, such as "did you notice the postings," and if the answer was affirmative, they then asked them if the information made them order something healthier. 28% of those who said they noticed the postings said that they had a positive influence on their ordering. However, after checking customer receipts (they were paid $2.00 for these), the team discovered that in comparison to receipts before the law went into effect, there was not much of a difference in the caloric density of what customers ordered.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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Post Standard (Syracuse)
October 7
Calories? We hear they're delicious- By The Post-Standard Editorial Board
Well, it’s official. You can lead a diner to a healthy meal, but you can’t make him eat it. A study of the impact of posting calorie counts on the menus of fast-food restaurants in several New York City neighborhoods suggests the counts have had little effect. The study, led by a New York University School of Medicine professor, focused on McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King and Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants in high-poverty neighborhoods with high levels of obesity and diabetes. Researchers collected receipts from customers before and after New York City required that calories be posted on fast-food menus. The result? Calorie intakes actually increased slightly, from a mean of 825 before the law to a mean of 846 after. Some customers interviewed by The New York Times said they simply pay no attention to calories — at least when there’s a juicy cheeseburger in sight. Others said they pay attention to price, and cheaper foods often carry more calories.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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The Med Guru
October 7
NY calorie law may not alter food choices- By Kangna Agarwal
A study published Tuesday finds that a ruling requiring the NYC fast food chains to post calorie counts on their menus isn’t encouraging poor minority populations to make healthy food choices. The findings suggested that such information on the menus may increase the awareness about calorie content, but it has less of an effect in bringing about behavioral changes in line with choosing healthier food options. Researchers based at the New York University and Yale University analyzed fast-food purchases by 1,156 adults at four fast-food chains--McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King and Kentucky Fried Chicken--in poor neighborhoods of New York City where there are high rates of obesity and diabetes. Brian Elbel, a professor at the New York University School of Medicine and lead author of the study, said, “Though the introduction of calorie labels did not change the number of calories purchased, a combination of public policy efforts are likely necessary to produce a meaningful change in obesity."
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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All Headline News
October 7
Study: Labeling Fast Food Doesn't Create Healthier Eaters
A study conducted by New York University (NYU) and Yale researchers found that labeling the calories on fast food offerings had no effect on the purchasing habits of low-income, minority consumers. The study, "Calorie Labeling And Food Choices: A First Look At The Effects On Low-Income People In New York City" was published online in 'Health Affairs' on Tuesday. It compared results from adults in New York City and Newark, New Jersey. "We found that 27.7 percent who saw calorie labeling in New York said the information influenced their choices. However, we did not detect a change in calories purchased after the introduction of calorie labeling," the report's authors explained. "We encourage more research on menu labeling and greater attention to evaluating and implementing other obesity-related policies," the authors added.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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The Oregonian
October 6
Menu labeling: With fast food, knowledge isn't power- By Rick Attig
The first major study of laws requiring restaurant chains to post calories found that fast-food customers are hungry for something other than information. The study compared customer orders before and after New York City adopted its pioneering law on posting calories and found a disappointing surprise: People eating at four fast-food chains in poorer neighborhoods of New York where there are high rates of obesity ordered more calories after the labeling law went into effect. So much for the claim that when it comes to eating better, knowledge is power. The researchers, several professors at New York University and Yale, interviewed customers at McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King and KFC. The good news in the report is that about half of customers said they noticed the calorie counts posted on menu boards.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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Health Day News
October 6
Health Highlights- Menu Calorie Info Doesn't Change Eating Habits: Study
A law requiring New York City restaurant chains to list calories on menus hasn't changed the eating habits of low-income people, according to a study published Tuesday. New York University and Yale researchers studied people eating at Burger King, Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonald's and Wendy's in lower-income neighborhoods with high obesity rates and found that half of the customers noticed the calorie information, CBS and the Associated Press reported. Twenty-eight percent said the calorie postings influenced what they ordered and 90 percent of those people said they made healthier food choices as a result. However, the researchers analyzed the customers' receipts and found they ordered slightly more calories than the typical customer did before the law took effect in July 2008. The findings show that calorie postings don't have enough impact, study lead author Brian Elbel, an assistant professor at the New York University School of Medicine, according to published reports.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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Los Angeles Times
October 6
More study needed to determine whether adding calorie counts to menus curbs obesity, researcher says- By Mary MacVean
Going to McDonald's or KFC? What if you see the calorie counts posted on the menu? Would you change your plans? Researchers in New York tried to answer the question. You can read about their study here. It’s no surprise that eating habits are hard to change. But the lead researcher also notes that it’s hard to assess the many anti-obesity public health efforts underway. Brian Elbel of New York University says more research is needed into the effects of putting calorie counts on menus. It’s possible, he says, that the labels -- required in New York since July 2008 -- need more time to make a difference. Or perhaps the effect is hard to track at fast-food outlets. The researchers surveyed customers and examined receipts from several fast-food places. But what if the labels have kept some people away all together? Elbel and other researchers are still evaluating the data they collected. And they’re planning another study, this time in a city (still to be decided) that’s about to adopt labeling laws, so they can look at the before and after.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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October 6
Calorie information might not influence fast food choices- By Jerry Hirsch
Posting calorie information on menus is often cited as an important tool in fighting obesity, but a study published today shows that at least in its initial stages, it doesn't have as big an effect as many health officials had hoped. Such information on menus may increase awareness of calorie content, but it has less of an effect on the number of calories people purchase, according to New York University researchers in a study published today by the journal Health Affairs.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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AFP
October 6
Food habits of the poor unchanged by NY calories law: study
A New York City law requiring restaurant chains to display calorie counts has not changed eating habits among poorer people, a study released Tuesday said. The research by a team from New York University and Yale University, which was published Tuesday in Health Affairs, suggests some people actually ordered slightly more calories than before the July 2008 law took effect. New York was the first US city to impose the calorie law, which is meant to promote healthier eating and combat the national obesity epidemic. According to the survey, only half of 1,156 low-income, fast food consumers noticed the calorie count, and just over a quarter of those who did actually based their decisions on the information. "We found that 27.7 percent who saw calorie labeling in New York said the information influenced their choices," the researchers wrote.
"However, we did not detect a change in calories purchased after the introduction of calorie labeling. We encourage more research on menu labeling and greater attention to evaluating and implementing other obesity-related policies."
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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ConsumerFreedom.com
October 6
Obesity Science Catches Up With the Sound Bite
Two myth-shattering pieces of obesity science hit the academic world this morning, and the usual controlling, finger-wagging party poopers are regrouping. Yes, indeed, victory is sweet. Taken together, the two studies should go a long way toward bursting the activist fantasy that getting between Americans and the foods they enjoy is the road to better health. Which brings us to today’s second piece of good news: Calorie-count menu labeling in New York City is an unmitigated failure. The New York Times reports today that when professors from Yale and New York University interviewed fast-food eaters in New York City and Newark, NJ, they found something surprising. Typical customers ignored calorie numbers posted on menu boards and simply ate what they wanted to: “In an ideal world,” researchers wrote, “calorie labeling on menus and menu boards would have an immediate and direct impact on everyone’s food choices.” But this is the real world. And people still have choices that are (thankfully) immune from tinker-happy social engineers. At least for now. NYU study author Brian Elbel tells the Times that the menu tinkering is far from over: “[L]abels are not enough.”
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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Gothamist
October 6
Is the Fast Food Calorie Info Law Making Some Consume More?- By John Del Signore
According to the report, about half the customers noticed the calorie counts, which were prominently posted on menu boards. A quarter of those customers said the information had influenced their order, and 9 out of 10 of those insisted they'd made healthier choices. But then the researchers looked at the receipts and found a different story, finding that consumers had actually ordered slightly more calories than the typical customer had before the law went into effect. NYU's Brian Elbel, the lead author of the report, has concluded that "labels are not enough." But he doesn't say what would be enough. Is he hinting at an all-out ban on everything unhealthy, at least where the poor people live? As Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, tells the Times, "Nutrition is not the top concern of low-income people, who are probably the least amenable to calorie labeling."
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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Woman’s Day
October 06
Daily Buzz: Study Shows Calorie Postings Don't Change Habits (Poll)
NYC was the first place to require calorie posting—in fast food chains, ice cream shops, etc.—the city acting as the guinea pig for the practice, which has entered the national health care reform debate. I imagine that the calorie-labeling system is ultimately useless—and apparently some researchers at NYU and Yale seemed to think the same. The group tracked four fast-food chains—McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King and Kentucky Fried Chicken—in “poor neighborhoods of New York City where there are high rates of obesity,” according to the NYTimes.com, revealing that "about half the customers noticed the calorie counts prominently posted on menu boards. About 28 percent of those who noticed them said the information had influenced their ordering, and 9 out of 10 of those said they had made healthier choices as a result. But when the researchers checked receipts afterward, they found that people had, in fact, ordered slightly more calories than the typical customer had before the labeling law went into effect, in July 2008." The full findings will be published Tuesday in the online version of the journal Health Affairs.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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Seattle Times
October 7
Calorie Counts on Restaurant Menus Don't Work- By Bruce Ramsey
A study in New York City finds that after calorie counts have been posted on fast-food menus, people order the same number of calories. About a quarter say they have used the information to order less fattening food, but, in fact, they don't. They order the same number of calories as before. The study was not done in Seattle, but Seattle has essentially the same mandates as New York. Our 'progressive' city was eager to follow New York's lead on this new method of social control. Now that it has been shown not to work--that is, not to have changed the way people eat--there will be a push to do more. Already there is a quote in this story to the effect that it is not enough. In a supposedly free country, why is it the government's business to manage our choices among lawfully available foods?
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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United Press International
October 7
Calorie information may not change choices
About 25 percent of consumers indicated that calorie information at fast-food restaurants influenced their food choices, U.S. researchers said. Brian Elbel of New York University's Langone Medical Center compared New York fast-food eating -- which has implemented calorie labeling in fast-food restaurants -- to Newark, N.J., which has no calorie labeling requirement.
The study, which focused on low-income areas in New York, found that posting calories increased the percentage of consumers who saw calorie information to 54 percent, and approximately 25 percent of these consumers indicated that the information was influential in their food choices. Data were collected before labeling began, and one month after labels were posted in restaurants in New York. As adults were leaving fast food restaurants, they were asked to participate in a brief survey, their receipts were collected and the foods they purchased were confirmed.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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AARP Bulletin
October 6
*Reprint on NY Times article
Study Finds Calorie Postings in Restaurants Don’t Change Eating Habits
A study of New York City’s pioneering law on posting calories in restaurant chains suggests that when it comes to deciding what to order, people’s stomachs are more powerful than their brains.
The study, by several 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 where there are high rates of obesity.“I think it does show us that labels are not enough,” Brian Elbel, an assistant professor at the New York University School of Medicine and the lead author of the study, said in an interview. New York City was the first place in the country to require calorie posting, making it a test case for other jurisdictions. Since then, California, Seattle and other places have instituted similar rules.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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The Economic Times
October 6
Calorie labels
The findings, to be published Tuesday in the online version of the journal Health Affairs, come amid the spreading popularity of calorie-counting proposals as a way to improve public health across the country. “I think it does show us that labels are not enough,” Brian Elbel, an assistant professor at the New York University School of Medicine and the lead author of the study, said in an interview. New York City was the first place in the country to require calorie posting, making it a test case for other jurisdictions. Since then, California, Seattle and other places have instituted similar rules. New York City health officials said that because the study was conducted immediately after the law took effect, it might not have captured changes in people’s behavior that have taken hold more gradually. A year ago, officials pointed out, the city began an advertising campaign telling subway riders that most adults should eat about 2,000 calories a day, which might put the calorie counts in context. While the NYU study examined 1,100 restaurant receipts, the city is doing its own analysis of 12,000 restaurant receipts, which it plans to release in a few months.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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Washington Square News
October 7
Calorie law may not encourage healthiness
According to a group of NYU School of Medicine professors who teamed up with researchers from Yale University to study the impact of calorie postings on consumers' ordering habits and their calorie consumption. In fact, the researchers found that many customers, particularly low-income customers, actually ordered higher-calorie options after the postings were introduced on menu boards in fast-food joints. Calorie posting first became required in New York City in July 2008. Since then, California and Seattle have followed the city's lead with the same requirement.
Brian Elbel, the leader of the study and an assistant professor of medicine and health policy at the NYU School of Medicine, and the other researchers gathered data from about 1,100 restaurant receipts. Customers were each paid $2 to give up their receipts. The researchers found that customers' orders in New York City had an average of 846 calories after the labeling law went into effect. Before the law, the average was 825 calories.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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MSNBC-TV- Dr. Nancy
October 6
Cocaine Vaccine
There is new hope of a vaccine in the hope to block users from feeling a high from cocaine. Dr. Samuel Glazer, clinical assistant professor at NYU Langone Medical Center discussed how the new vaccine works.
- Samuel Glazer, MD, clinical assistant professor, psychiatry

CNN Lou Dobbs Tonight
October 6
Flu Vaccine
Dr. Martin Blaser, chairman of the department of medicine at the NYU School of Medicine spoke about mandatory flu shots in NYS for healthcare workers, how they are important and how this is an important example of public health action.
- Martin Blaser, MD, chairman, medicine

Forbes.com
October 7
Vaccinate Health Care Workers – By Dr. Marc Siegel
The decision on whether to make the vaccine for the novel H1N1 swine flu mandatory for health care workers is not a moral or an ethical problem. It is a question of simple public health mathematics. In this case the math is on the side of the vaccine. When doctors and nurses are infected, they expose sick patients to the infection. Since H1N1 swine flu is easily transmissible (for every person who has it, at least 1.5 additional people are infected), and since pregnant women, children, and those with chronic conditions are at greater risk of complications and even death, the purpose of vaccinating health care workers is to decrease the amount of circulating virus and lower the risk that it will spread to those in higher risk groups. If I, as a practicing internist, am vaccinated against swine flu, the chances that I will give it to my patient who is pregnant or has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or bring it home to my 4-year-old child with asthma, are much lower.
- Marc Siegel, MD, clinical associate professor, medicine
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Health Day News
October 6
Seasonal Flu Vaccine May Lessen Swine Flu Impact
The seasonal flu vaccine may offer partial protection against the pandemic H1N1 swine flu, but not enough to prevent a person from catching the swine flu, Mexican researchers say. In a study of hospital patients during the H1N1 epidemic in Mexico City last spring, the researchers found that those who had had a seasonal flu shot and were infected with the H1N1 flu had significantly milder cases than those who had not received a seasonal flu shot. Dr. Marc Siegel, an associate professor of medicine at New York University School of Medicine in New York City, isn't surprised to hear that a seasonal flu shot offers some protection from the swine flu. "The implication is that if you trigger an antibody response to an H1N1 flu virus of any kind, it may be useful as part of the body's attempt to fight the flu," he said. "That would explain why it wouldn't immunize you, but could prevent you from having a severe outcome." Siegel cautioned that the seasonal vaccine the study participants received was last year's vaccine. This year's seasonal vaccine is a different mix of viruses so it may not have any protection against the H1N1 swine flu, he said.
- Marc Siegel, MD, clinical associate professor, medicine
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HoumaToday
October 6
Resistant bacteria- By Dr. Randolph M. Howes
With increasing frequency, we hear about the escalating spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, especially Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in hospitals. The question then arises, “How do these bugs resist antibiotic drugs?” The best theory is that the bacteria produce a chemical, nitric oxide, which blocks our ability to generate oxygen radicals, which normally kill the bacteria. Our bodies produce oxygen-free radicals to protect us from bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoans. Health organizations report that drug-resistant bugs, such as MRSA, kill about 19,000 Americans annually and this is a growing problem worldwide. Normally, antibiotics stimulate EMOD production, which kills the bacteria but new studies at New York University show that nitric oxide can protect bacteria against oxidative stress. Interestingly, nitric oxide is the active end product from Viagra. The article in Science states, “Blocking this enzyme can make antibiotics much more potent, making even deadly superbugs like MRSA succumb.” I believe that this also raises serious questions regarding the injudicious use of antioxidants, which are now commonly fortified in foods and pushed by unrestrained marketing.
- Evgeny A. Nudler, PhD, the Julie Wilson Anderson Professor of Biochemistry
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Medical News Today
October 7
Recent Studies Shed Light On Risks Of Antidepressants During Pregnancy
Although use of antidepressants during pregnancy seems to be "fairly safe" for the fetus, some studies have reported a slightly increased risk of certain fetal conditions with maternal use of the drugs, the New York Times reports. About 25% of all pregnant women have depression, and about one-eighth of them use an antidepressant at some point during pregnancy, according to 2003 data, the Times reports.. Some critics of the report said it did not give enough attention to nondrug methods to treat depression, such as homeopathic remedies and nutritional supplements. Critics also charge that the paper's endorsement of psychotherapy was "politically correct" but not realistic, the Times reports. "By the time I get to hear about somebody's perinatal depression, it's usually worse than what can be treated with psychotherapy alone," Shari Lusskin, director of reproductive psychiatry at NYU Langone Medical Center, said, adding, "We should use a low threshold for treating women aggressively."
- Shari I. Lusskin, MD, director, reproductive psychiatry & clinical associate professor, psychiatry
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Newsweek.com
October 6
Health Care Reform and the Crises of the Conservative Intelligentsia- By Ben Adler
Some might say it's been a longtime coming -- at least since Richard Nixon's appeals to the "Silent Majority" and Spiro Agnew's villification of the media -- but the crisis of conservative intellectualism is coming to a head at the moment. It's a fascinating spectacle to watch and it is the roiling subtext to the whole debate about health care reform. Monday night McCaughey debated Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) at NYU School of Medicine. The claque of conservatives in the audience loudly cheered McCaughey, and heckled the pugnacious Weiner with cries of "Be a man" and "rude man" when he alluded to her "pants on fire" rating for maximum dishonesty from politifact. The angry white men defending a pretty white woman from the slings and arrows of a smarty-pants liberal man with his "facts" reminded me of complaints about Palin's alleged mistreatment at the hands of the media.
- NYU School of Medicine
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FoxNews.com
October 6
Blog- H1N1 Swine Flu Update- By Dr. Marc Siegel
Here is the latest about the novel A(H1N1) swine flu pandemic virus, and what we are doing about it. Also check out my new Ebook: “Swine Flu; the New Pandemic.” The best way to decrease the amount of circulating AH1N1 flu virus is to vaccinate as many people as possible. This is known as herd immunity. The current H1N1 though mild, has infected millions and hospitalized more than 10,000 here in the U.S., killing close to 1000, so mass vaccination is warranted. Unfortunately, once the vaccination program starts, it will be TOO easy to blame ANY deaths on the vaccine. This vaccine is made the same as the yearly flu vaccine, with hen eggs, and will be just as safe, with the major complication in the vast majority of cases being local irritation around the injection site. In discussions with senior officials at the CDC I have determined that it is acceptable to give both the seasonal flu shot and the H1N1 swine flu shot at the same time. The CDC also recommends H1N1 vaccines even for those who believe they have had the disease. Serological tests to confirm immunity are considered unreliable and are not readily available.
- Marc Siegel, MD, clinical associate professor, Medicine
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Forbes.com
October 7
Repros (RPRX) Reports Sperm Levels Restored to Normal While Increasing Testosterone Levels In Hypogonadal Men
Repros Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: RPRX) announced today that a study of its oral investogational product, enclomiphene citrate (Androxal), raised sperm levels in men with secondary hypogonadism who were receiving testosterone replacement treatment. "Androxal may fill the need for a drug that is able to restore testicular function and at the same time provide the benefits that normalization of testosterone provides to hypogonadal men. If Androxal can be safely developed, it will represent an important new treatment option for men with secondary hypogonadism with a continued fertility interest," states Dr. Jed Kaminetsky the lead investigator (Department of Urology, New York University Medical Center).
- Jed Kaminetsky, MD, Urology
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Dominican Today
October 6
Doctors plan up to 10 surgeries on children with complex spine disorders
Leading surgeons and medical professionals from the USA are headed to the Dominican Republic the first week of October, 2009 as part of a Butterfly Foundation funded Spinal Clinic. Dr. Andrew Moulton MD, a founding director of the Butterfly Foundation and Head of Spine at Westchester Medical Center in New York ,will lead a team to Gautier Hospital in Santo Domingo. Dr. Arash Emami MD, a Clinical Assistant Professor from NYU Langone Medical Center, Denise DiGioia MS, CRNA Director of Anesthesia for the Butterfly Foundation, Kevin Costadura Equipment and Supplies Coordinator, will assist the surgeons in performing complex spine surgery on 9-10 children and perform routine checkups on up to 15 previous patients. Complex spinal disorder are much more prevalent in developing countries due to malnutrition and other conditions. Complex spine surgery is both difficult and expensive leading fewer cases of treatment for potentially life threatening spine disorders. Dr. Moulton explains "surgeons in developing nations, such as the Dominican Republic, lack the financial resources and training to perform the most up to date complex spine surgeries.
- Arash Emami MD, clinical assistant professor, orthopaedic surgery
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Redbook Magazine
October 2
Will You Get Breast Cancer? 5 Things That May Increase Your Risk- By Redbook
Carrying extra weight means more than being self-conscious in a bathing suit: It may actually up your chances of getting breast cancer. "Women who are overweight tend to have higher blood estrogen levels and higher insulin levels, both of which we believe may promote the development of cancerous cells," explains Ruth Oratz, a breast-cancer oncologist at the New York University Langone Medical Center. After menopause, being overweight can increase your risk for breast cancer by up to 60 percent, according to one study. (Researchers are still unsure exactly how much weight gain is too much, so check with your doctor.) And even though menopause is very likely years away, experts say you should lose any extra weight now. "You should really avoid weight gain during your 20s, 30s and 40s, because it's likely that any weight you put on will carry into your postmenopausal years," explains Deborah Axelrod, M.D., in New York.
- Ruth Oratz, MD, clinical associate professor, Medicine, Oncology, NYU Cancer Institute
- Deborah Axelrod, MD, associate professor, surgery, NYU Cancer Institute
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LifeScript
October 6
Which Breast Test Is Best for You?- By Fran Golden
MRIs are generally used only to screen women with more than 20% risk of breast cancer because of family history or gene abnormality; those who’ve had radiation cancer treatment; or as a follow-up to a suspicious finding on a mammogram.Pros: MRIs are the best breast cancer screening tool, doctors say, because they find abnormalities that mammograms don’t, especially in younger women with dense breasts. (Their breasts have more tissue than fat and show up as white on mammograms; tumors do too.) Also, no radiation is involved. Cons: MRIs aren’t for everyone because of side effects, claustrophobia and false positives, says Ruth Oratz, M.D., an oncologist and clinical associate professor of Medicine at the New York University School of Medicine. The dye can trigger rare allergic reactions, for example, and some people feel claustrophobic inside the tube. MRIs also produce a “significant” number of false positives, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), higher than with mammograms and physicians’ breast exams. One 2003 Dutch study reported 12% false positives for MRIs, compared to 5% in mammograms and 3% for clinical exams.
- Ruth Oratz, MD, clinical associate professor, Medicine, Oncology, NYU Cancer Institute
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Chic Gloss
October 6
3 Beauty Products to Toss This Fall- By Lolita Carrico
Not all of your beauty products should make the transition into fall, because changing seasons means different skin needs. Dr. Elizabeth K. Hale, clinical associate professor of dermatology at New York University, gave us her top three beauty items to toss and which ones to keep this fall.
Toss: Any sunless tanner that has residue on the bottle. Keep: A tinted moisturizer.
Why: Sunless tanners that have begun to gather an orange-brown residue around the bottle can indicate that the product has already oxidized upon contact to air and is therefore unlikely to retain its effectiveness. If you want to sustain a healthy glow into fall, better to use a tinted moisturizer. Or, invest in a new bottle of sunless tanner for more intense color. With either choice, make sure you also apply sunscreen. Layer a lightweight SPF formula under your tint to ensure UV protection.
- Elizabeth K. Hale, MD, clinical associate professor, Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology
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The New York Times
October 6
Calorie Postings Don’t Change Habits, Study Finds - By Anemona Hartocollis
A study of New York City’s pioneering law on posting calories in restaurant chains suggests that when it comes to deciding what to order, people’s stomachs are more powerful than their brains.
The study, by several 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 where there are high rates of obesity. It found that about half the customers noticed the calorie counts, which were prominently posted on menu boards. About 28 percent of those who noticed them said the information had influenced their ordering, and 9 out of 10 of those said they had made healthier choices as a result. But when the researchers checked receipts afterward, they found that people had, in fact, ordered slightly more calories than the typical customer had before the labeling law went into effect, in July 2008. “I think it does show us that labels are not enough,” Brian Elbel, an assistant professor at the New York University School of Medicine and the lead author of the study, said in an interview.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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October 6
Exploring the Health Benefits of Pets - By Carla Baranauckas
Anecdotes abound on the benefits of companion animals — whether service and therapy animals or family pets — on human health. This week Dr. Melissa Nishawala, clinical director of the autism-spectrum service at the Child Study Center at New York University, answers questions about pet therapy, companion animals and the treatment of autism spectrum disorder. Dr. Melissa A. Nishawala, clinical director of the autism-spectrum service at the Child Study Center at New York University, said she saw “a prominent and noticeable change” in Milo, even though the dog just sat quietly in the room. “He started to give me narratives in a way he never did,” she said, adding that most of them were about the dog.The changes have been so profound that Ms. Vaccaro and Dr. Nishawala are starting to talk about weaning Milo from some of his medication.
- Melissa Nishawala, clinical director of the autism-spectrum service, NYU Child Study Center, assistant professor, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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October 6
Depression Is a Dilemma for Women in Pregnancy - By Roni Caryn Rabin
A pregnant woman’s quintessential dilemma: take drugs that might pose a risk to the developing baby, or struggle through an anguishing pregnancy that could harm the baby in other ways?
To put such findings in perspective, experts from the American Psychiatric Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists joined forces to review existing data and make recommendations for managing depression during pregnancy. Their report, published in the September-October issue of General Hospital Psychiatry, finds that talk therapy should be the first-line treatment for mild to moderate depression, but it says that for severe cases the risks of antidepressants and even shock therapy are relatively low. Its main message, however, is that no generalizations apply: treatment decisions should be made case by case. Dr. Shari I. Lusskin, director of reproductive psychiatry at NYU Langone Medical Center, said the real danger was undertreatment. “By the time I get to hear about somebody’s perinatal depression,” Dr. Lusskin said, “it’s usually worse than what can be treated with psychotherapy alone, because women go out of their way not to complain; they don’t want to be put on medication, and they feel guilty.
“We should use a low threshold for treating women aggressively.”
- Shari I. Lusskin, MD, director, reproductive psychiatry & clinical associate professor, psychiatry
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Associated Press
October 6
Study: NYC calorie postings don't change orders
A new study finds New York City's law requiring restaurant chains to post calories on menus doesn't change the eating habits of low-income people.The study tracked customers at McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King and Kentucky Fried Chicken in poor New York City neighborhoods with high obesity rates. Half of customers noticed calorie counts. Twenty-eight percent of those said postings had influenced what they ordered. Nine out of 10 of those said they'd made healthier choices as a result. But New York University and Yale researchers say receipts showed people had ordered slightly more calories than the typical customer before the law went into effect in July 2008.The study will be published Tuesday in Health Affairs.
- NYU School of Medicine
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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NY 1 News
October 6
Study Suggests Calorie Postings Are Ineffective- By: NY1 News
A look at the city's calorie posting law suggests people's taste buds win out over concern about their waistlines. The study by professors at New York University School of Medicine and Yale observed fast food eaters at four chains in city neighborhoods with higher obesity rates. Researchers found people actually ordered food with slightly more calories than an average customer did before the calorie posting law went into effect, in July of 2008. The study found that only about half the customers even noticed the calorie counts. Only about one-quarter of those people say it influenced their ordering. The findings will be published in today's online version of Health Affairs. Calorie positing advocates tell the New York Times the findings suggest people in impoverished areas are more concerned about pricing than calories.The city, which initiated the law in April 2008 for chain restaurants, is doing a much larger analysis, which it plans to release in a few months.
- NYU School of Medicine
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH, assistant professor, Medicine and Health Policy, NYU School of Medicine, NYU Wagner School of Public Service
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WABC-TV
October 3
Breast Cancer Special
Dr. Robert Schneider and Dr. Robert Shapiro of The Cancer Institute at NYU Langone Medical Center were highlighted in a Breast Cancer Special on WABC-TV. New research on a key gene that was indentified in women with inflammatory breast cancer by Dr. Schneider and his team was highlighted. A patient who was successfully diagnosed and treated by Dr. Shapiro was also highlighted. Dr. Shapiro explained how inflammatory breast cancer is a very rare form of breast cancer and often misdiagnosed as an infection.
- Robert Schneider, PhD, Albert B. Sabin Professor of Microbiology and Molecular Pathogenesis; Professor of Radiation Oncology, NYU Cancer Institute
- Richard L. Shapiro MD, associate professor , Surgery, NYU Cancer Institute


October 5
Stairway to Health- By Heidi Jones
Instead of waiting for the elevator, take the stairs instead. You can improve your health simply by climbing stairs. And now, there's a new campaign to get New Yorkers to do just that. Doctors say it can make a difference. "There are well proven benefits of climbing stairs," said Dr. Jonathan Whiteson, with NYU Langone Medical Center. He says it can help to improve cholesterol levels, with good cholesterol going up and bad cholesterol going down. And then there's the heart-healthy benefit, as it can improve cardiovascular health. Even something as simple as climbing the stairs in an apartment building. According to a recent study, men who climb at least 20 floors a week had a 20 percent lower risk of stroke or death, and mortality rates were 33 percent lower for men who climbed 55 flights or more each week. Just two minutes of stair climbing each day burns enough calories to eliminate the one pound an average adult gains each year. Men who climbed at least 20 floors a week (about three floors a day) had a 20 percent lower risk of stroke or death from all causes.
- Jonathan Whiteson, MD, assistant professor, medicine
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News-Medical.net
October 6
New institutional advertising campaign based on real stories
NYU Langone Medical Center launched a new institutional advertising campaign based on real stories from the Medical Center beginning on October 5, 2009. “This is an exciting time for the Medical Center. All objective measures of our performance are up—from our Magnet re-certification for nursing care to a 9 percent increase in grant funding to our place on U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals Honor Roll”—making this the perfect time to spread the word with a new advertising campaign,” said Robert I. Grossman, MD, dean and CEO of NYU Langone Medical Center. “We wanted an advertising campaign that successfully communicates the passion, energy and expertise of our doctors, nurses, scientists and staff,” said Deborah Loeb Bohren, vice president for communications and public affairs. “We believe that ‘Any Given Moment” does just that, and more. It captures powerful real-life moments that we believe people will connect with, all while creating a strong visual identity for the Medical Center.”
The ads will run through mid-November and resume in early 2010. They will appear in newspapers and magazines—including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, New York magazine and The New Yorker—on billboards, buses and bus shelters, as well as online.
- Robert I. Grossman, MD, dean & CEO, NYU Langone Medical Center
- Deborah Loeb Bohren, vice president for communications and public affairs
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Health Day News
October 6
Teens With ADHD, Depression Risk Internet Addiction
Teenagers with psychosocial disorders such as ADHD, depression and social phobia are more likely to be addicted to the Internet than other teens, new research suggests. Because computer use is a way of life in the United States, the potential exists for childhood computer addiction to become a major public health problem, the Taiwanese study authors say. Boys and girls who had ADHD or hostility were more likely to be addicted to the Internet than teens without those conditions. Having social phobia or depression also predicted Internet addiction in girls, though not in boys. "We see children and teens spending a tremendous amount of time on the Internet. Activities can range from chatting and using Facebook to participating in online gaming, shopping, pornography or 'Second Life,'" said Dr. Harold Koplewicz, director of the Child Study Center at New York University Langone Medical Center. "Like anything else, when it's done too much and it starts causing dysfunction in other parts of our lives, it qualifies as an addiction, obsession or compulsion."
- Harold Koplewicz, MD, director, NYU Child Study Center & Arnold and Debbie Simon professor and chair of the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at NYU School of Medicine
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October 5
Use of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Sports Medicine Increasing
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is being increasingly used in sports medicine, even though minimal clinical evidence exists that it can enhance healing, according to a review in the October issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Michael P. Hall, M.D., and colleagues from NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York City reviewed the use of autologous PRP in sports medicine. They note that in vitro studies have shown that platelets secrete growth factors and recruit reparative cells that may be able to enhance the healing of soft tissue.However, the researchers point out that, although minimal clinical evidence currently exists to support the use of PRP in sports medicine, PRP is being increasingly used due to its safety and the availability of marketed devices for outpatient preparation and delivery. PRP has been used non-surgically to treat conditions such as lateral epicondylitis, muscle injury and knee osteoarthritis, and surgically to augment rotator cuff and Achilles tendon repair."As the marketing of PRP increases, orthopedic surgeons must be informed regarding the available preparation devices and their differences," Hall and colleagues conclude. "Many controlled clinical trials are under way, but clinical use should be approached cautiously until high-level clinical evidence supporting PRP efficacy is available."
- Michael Hall, MD, senior resident, orthopaedic surgery, Hospital for Joint Diseases
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Washington Square News
October 6
Healthcare debate heats up at NYU Langone- By Clarissa Wei
The new public health option will be "devastating" for New York. At least, that's what former New York Lt. Gov. Betsy McCaughey believes. Last night, McCaughey debated New York congressman Anthony Weiner at an event hosted by the Democratic Leadership for the 21st Century, a New York-based political group. The event, titled "A Debate on Health Care Reform: What Works and What Should be Changed?," was held at the NYU Langone Medical Center. Weiner, a strong supporter for the public option proposed by the Obama administration, criticized private health insurance companies for what he believes is taking as much money as they possibly can. He went on to criticize McCaughey, who countered by saying the bill would be problematic. "It will slow the flow of dollars into the health care and will cause layoffs," McCaughey said. "It's like snatching purses from little old ladies. You represent this city. You should represent us even if it means standing up to the president." Weiner responded: "I feel like I'm debating a pyromaniac."
- NYU Langone Medical Center
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Allure Magazine
October 5
Battling breast cancer made her stronger - By Katherine Zoepf
When Michelle Eskengren-Brown was in the shower one evening in March 2008, she noticed a large lump on the underside of her right breast. It was odd, she thought, but she wasn’t especially concerned. At 38, Eskengren-Brown, a former model from Sweden who had become a successful New York City casting director and the mother of two young sons, was in sturdy good health. Breast cancer was so far from her mind that she waited almost a week before consulting her doctor. Detection in young women is relatively tricky, says Julia A. Smith, director of the breast cancer screening program at the New York University Cancer Institute. Premenopausal women have denser breasts, with a higher percentage of glandular tissue than fat, she explains; the X-rays of mammography don’t penetrate dense tissue, making the images there less clear. Now, many months after her treatment and recovery, Eskengren-Brown is friendly, funny, and seemingly in ideal health. With her cropped hair pinned back — “It’s still short, but I have hair,” she says — she is as effortlessly pretty as the teenage model she once was.
- Julia A. Smith, MD, PhD, Director of the Breast Cancer Screening and Prevention Program and Director of The Lynne Cohen Breast Cancer Preventive Care Program, NYU Cancer Institute
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Cosmopolitan Magazine
October 5
Your most embarrassing beauty questions answered
How can you get rid of your whiteheads? They form when dead skin and oil clog pores. Spot treat twice a day with a salicylic acid cream to eliminate the gunk says Brent Wainwright, MD, of NYU Langone Medical Center. Then stick to oil free lotions and makeup to prevent future blockages. Also, any way to prevent a pimple form turning into a huge pimple- when I have one of those feel –it-starting zits? The bothersome bump is a blockage of bacteria and oild trapped beneath the top layers of skin that has yet to form a pimple. To battle a blemish-to-be, wash with a cleanser that contains glycolic acid or salicylic acid, which will slough off the top skin cells and clear out the dirt and oil underneath, says Doris Day, MD, clinical assistant professor of dermatology at NYU Langone Medical Center.
- Brent Wainwright, MD, clinical assistant professor, Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology
- Doris Day, MD, clinical assistant professor, Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology
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Crain's Health Pulse
October 5
NYU Launches Major Ad Campaign
NYU-Langone Medical Center is launching a massive ad campaign. Starting today, print and electronic ads featuring the work of photojournalist Larry Fink and first-person success stories from Langone patients and staff will run in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker and New York Magazine, and on billboards, bus stops and buses. The “Any Given Moment” campaign was developed by the ArnoldNYC agency. The people who appear in the ads are not actors but actual patients and hospital system employees who donated their time and the use of their stories. There are 11 ads. They will run through early 2010, with a break for the holidays.
- NYU Langone Medical Center
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Crain’s New York Business
October 4
Lenox Hill Calls End to Solo Act
After years of struggling financially, Lenox Hill Hospital—one of the last independents in the city—is finally throwing in the towel. It has issued a request for proposals in the hope of arranging either a merger or an affiliation with one of its stronger rivals, according to four sources with knowledge of the matter. While Lenox Hill has been open to affiliation talks for some time, this marks the first time it has gone so far as to issue an RFP to get a deal done. Three institutions that now dominate the scene in the New York area—North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, New York-Presbyterian and NYU Langone Medical Center—are in the early stages of exploring Lenox Hill's offer. North Shore-LIJ and New York-Presbyterian declined to comment. A spokeswoman for NYU Langone says the medical center had an obligation to explore all opportunities, including Lenox Hill's overtures.
- NYU Langone Medical Center
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NY Post
October 4
My Mysterious Lost Month of Madness- By SUSANNAH CAHALAN
“When I got to the Midtown newsroom of the New York Post, where I was a year into my first full-time reporting job, I asked a friend, "Have you ever not felt like yourself? Have you ever felt completely off?" I had started to feel numb on the left side of my body. My arm and leg on that side tingled. Until recently, I had been a healthy 24-year-old, happily starting a career in the Big Apple with a new boyfriend. Now I spent sleepless hours wondering what was happening to my body and my mind. I contacted a neurologist. He sent me to a litany of tests, including two MRIs. Nothing. Then it was my first seizure. Then I had my third grand mal seizure while waiting for a hospital bed, and was whisked up to the epilepsy floor of NYU Langone Medical Center. Every day a new doctor comes to visit. There are internists, infectious-disease doctors, immune-system specialists, psychiatrists, psychopharmacologists. They send me to MRIs, sonograms, X-rays, CAT scans, PET scans, multitudes of blood tests. All come back negative. No one could give my parents an answer. The head doctors started speaking of a mythical miracle man named Dr. Souhel Najjar. "He would find out what it is," they would say. They even nicknamed him "Dr. House." Dr. Najjar, a Syrian-born neurologist, neuro-pathologist and epileptologist at NYU Langone Medical Center- found rare antibodies called anti-N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor, or anti-NMDAR encephalitis. My body was attacking my brain. Najjar estimates that nearly 90 percent of those suffering from autoimmune encephalitis go undiagnosed. "It's a death sentence when you're still alive," Najjar told me. "Many are wasting away in a psych ward or a nursing home. I was the first person in NYU Medical Center's history to be diagnosed with NMDAR encephalitis.”
- Souhel Najjar MD, clinical associate professor, neurology, NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center
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October 4
Embry-Whoa! Docs Design Uber-Babies- By SUSAN EDELMAN
Fertility clinics are now testing embryo DNA for genetic "mutations" that can trigger dozens of disorders -- from breast cancer to Lou Gehrig's disease -- for prospective parents seeking defect-free babies Until 18 months ago, the so-called FISH test could examine just seven to nine chromosomes at a time. But a new genetic test, a DNA microarray costing about $5,000, lets labs like California-based Gene Security Network, used by NYU Fertility Center, test all 26 chromosomes in a single cell taken from an embryo. Results are returned within 24 hours to the clinics, where a couple's embryos wait to be selected for implantation in a mother's womb. Parents even get a report card, assessing the "health" of each embryo. The tests reveal chromosomal abnormalities that cause miscarriages and birth defects, or genes linked to inherited ailments.
- NYU Fertility Center
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NBC Today Show
October 3
Swine Flu
On "Today's Health” segment on the Today Show on NBC News, flu season was discussed and how it is in full swing—and the seasonal flu shot and a vaccine for the swine flu are adding a lot of confusion and uncertainty for everyone. Dr. Steve Lamm appeared on set to answer questions about the flu, both the seasonal and swine flu and to give flu prevention tips.
- Steven Lamm, MD, clinical assistant professor, medicine
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Health News
October 3
Treatment of Gestational Diabetes Beneficial Even in Mild Cases - By Madeline Ellis
It’s not well understood why some women who have never shown signs or symptoms of diabetes develop the condition during pregnancy, but it is clear that left untreated, gestational diabetes poses risks for both mother and child. Mothers have an increased chance of high blood pressure during pregnancy, greater likelihood of having an oversized baby and the need for a cesarean section delivery, and stillbirth. Children born to women with gestational diabetes face not only delivery complications but an increased risk for childhood and adult obesity and an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Diagnoses and treatment of gestational diabetes is key to minimizing these complications and improving pregnancy outcomes, and recent studies show that is true even for women with the mildest form of the condition. Dr. Miriam Greene, an obstetrician and gynecologist at NYU Langone Medical Center, says she has already been treating women with the mildest forms of gestational diabetes, and that it does make a difference. Clearly, “when women with mild gestational diabetes are treated well, there’s a decreased incidence of birth trauma,” she said.
- Miriam Greene, MD, clinical assistant professor, obstetrics and gynecology
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Newsday
October 3
LI Research Center for Rare Disease Draws Scrutiny- By RIDGELY OCHS
When the state recently cited North Shore University Hospital for 14 violations following the actions of two neurosurgeons there, it brought attention to the hospital's Chiari Institute, which also has been at the center of a long-simmering medical controversy. The question for many in the research community has been whether the institute operates on the cutting edge of medical science or its fringes. Situated on the third floor of a cobalt-blue glass building in Great Neck, the institute is the world's first and largest center dedicated solely to treating a rare, usually congenital brain defect called Chiari malformation. For years, the institute was anchored by its founder, Dr. Thomas Milhorat, who earned $7 million in 2007 and was the highest-paid surgeon at North Shore-LIJ; and Dr. Paolo Bolognese, who earned more than $2 million, according to the hospital. The hospital temporarily suspended both men in April for not operating on an anesthetized patient awaiting brain surgery. "The vast majority of pediatric neurosurgeons would strongly disagree with treatment protocols Dr. Milhorat has promulgated, and although he has published a very large series on patients, we have not seen this data systematically reproduced by other centers to establish validity," said Dr. Jeffrey Wisoff, director of pediatric neurosurgery at NYU Langone Medical Center in Manhattan. Like many pediatric neurosurgeons, he operates on children with Chiari malformation only when signs and symptoms are more clear-cut.
- Jeffrey Wisoff, MD, director, pediatric neurosurgery
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News- Medical.net
October 5
Surgeon Spotlight Series Showcases Interview with Top Orthopaedic Surgeons
Allen Medical Systems, a Hill-Rom company, (NYSE: HRC), announces the second in its Surgeon Spotlight Series showcasing interviews with top orthopaedic surgeons. Launched in January 2009, the Allen Intraoperative Arm Positioner was originally designed for use in both open and arthroscopic shoulder procedures where patients are seated in the beach chair position. Darren Friedman, M.D., clinical assistant professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, NYU School of Medicine, used the device in an elbow fracture case. This procedure is usually performed with the patient in the supine position, with their elbow resting on a sterile pillow on the chest. The pillow tends to shift during these cases, often sliding towards the patient's neck and interfering with the intubation tube. Dr. Friedman described his experience using the device in elbow cases, "I have found the Allen Intraoperative Arm Positioner to be useful during surgery about the elbow. With the patient in the supine or lateral position, and the Allen Arm Positioner attached on the contralateral side of the bed, the arm can be precisely controlled and held off the chest. This obviates the need for a "bump" and allows the anesthesia team freedom and access to the airway thus increasing the safety of the procedure."
- Darren Friedman, MD, clinical assistant professor, orthopaedic surgery, Hospital for Joint Diseases
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Oprah.com
October 5
A Cure for Rosacea?- By Valerie Monroe
Q: Would a chemical peel improve my rosacea symptoms?
A: Possibly, yes. Glycolic acid peels at low concentrations (20 to 40 percent), along with topical or oral antibiotics, are often used to treat the redness and the dilated blood vessels that are symptomatic of the condition, says Arielle Kauvar, MD, clinical associate professor of dermatology at NYU School of Medicine. The peels are usually performed at two- to three-week intervals in a doctor's office, and supplemented with a daily glycolic wash or cream. For removing large capillaries or reducing redness, two to five laser treatments about a month apart are an option. Keep in mind: Though a chemical peel can help relieve rosacea symptoms, if you have very dry, sensitive skin, you may not be able to tolerate one; in that case, try a barrier-repair moisturizer and a nonirritating sunscreen along with topical or oral antibiotics.
- Arielle Kauvar, MD, clinical associate professor, The Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology
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Medical News.Net
October 5
New Study about PRP
Platelet -rich plasma (PRP) is currently used as an alternative treatment method for several common orthopaedic-related sports medicine conditions. According to a new study in the October issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS), early outcomes of PRP appear promising; however, 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," said study co-author Michael Hall, MD, a senior orthopaedic surgery resident at the NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York. "However, there currently is minimal evidence of this clinically and more research must be performed."
- Michael Hall, MD, senior resident, orthopaedic surgery, Hospital for Joint Diseases
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Nurse.com
October 5
Oncology RNs Share How to Make Patients With Dyspnea More Comfortable- By Debra Anscombe Wood, RN
Breathing — it’s typically taken for granted, not even noticed, unless the mere exchange of air becomes difficult. But patients with lung cancer who experience dyspnea are often all too aware of their breath. Dyspnea commonly occurs in patients with lung cancer. Dyspnea is usually seen in patients with advanced or recurring disease. But many lung cancer patients experience difficulty breathing because of comorbid moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. “Sometimes that’s how they present to us,” says Gary Shelton, RN, NP, MSN, ANP-BC, AOCNP, an active, national member of the Oncology Nursing Society, and an oncology clinical nurse specialist and adult health nurse practitioner at the NYU Cancer Institute. “Dyspnea sends them to their primary care provider, and they end up with a diagnosis of lung cancer. Getting to the reason for dyspnea is part of the puzzle.” Dyspnea may result from the tumor itself, such as when it causes compression of the airway or superior vena cava; a malignant pleural effusion; or from a co-morbid condition, including anemia or heart disease. Even the anxiety of a lung cancer diagnosis can contribute to the dyspnea, Shelton says.
- Gary Shelton, RN, NP, MSN, ANP-BC, AOCNP, oncology clinical nurse specialist, adult health nurse practitioner, The Cancer Institute
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NewsMaker.com
October 5
Microskin Opens Trans-Atlantic Clinics
Award winning second skin technology Queensland company Microskin is expanding its operations with new franchises announced in the US and UK. The US clinic will open in New York in January 2010 and will have world-renowned skin specialist Dr. Roy G. Geronemus as one of its franchisees. Dr. Geronemus is the M.D. Director at the Laser and Skin Surgery Center of New York, and is a Clinical Professor of Dermatology at NYU Langone Medical Center. The Directors of Microskin met recently with the office of Trade Queensland and Mr Peter Beattie during their business trip to the United States, and are currently exploring the possibility of franchisees on the West Coast of the US and in Latin America. Microskin founder Linda Lowndes says she believes that these two new clinics will not only further boost the company’s reputation internationally but will also increase their capacity to help those in need.
- Roy G. Geronemus, MD, clinical professor, The Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology
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Journal News
October 4
New Deputy Director Named at Nathan Kline Institute in Orangeburg- By Jane Lerner
A child psychiatrist from Chicago has become deputy director of the Nathan Kline Institute, replacing an administrator who is retiring after half a century in the field of mental health. Bennett Leventhal comes to the state-funded psychiatric research center in Orangeburg from the University of Illinois at Chicago where he served as director of the Center for Child Mental Health and Developmental Neurosciences. He was also co-investigator of the university's Center of Excellence on Autism and co-directed the Illinois Statewide Autism Program. Leventhal, replaces Jerome Levine, a psychiatrist who had been at Nathan Kline for 15 years. Before that, Levine, a Chappaqua resident, served for many years as chief of psychopharmacology at the National Institute of Mental Health. Leventhal is the second expert in child psychiatry to take charge at Nathan Kline in the past three years. He will also serve as vice chairman of the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the NYU Langone Medical Center. "Brain disease is a developmental disorder," he said. "We know that when an adult has a psychotic episode at age 18 or 20, they have already had early signs of changes in brain function."
- Bennett Leventhal, MD, professor & vice chairman, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
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International News Network
October 3
Smoking Spurs Snoring
Your chances of getting a peaceful night‘s sleep are better if you don‘t smoke, or spend time around anyone who does. That‘s because smoking -- both active and passive -- makes it more likely you‘ll snore the night away, according to a study in the October issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Snoring is caused by an obstruction in the nasal passages, said Dr. Marc Siegel, an internist at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City. "Normally, air is getting pushed through a narrow tube as you breathe. If it‘s narrower than normal, there will be more noise," said Siegel, who pointed out that‘s one reason why obesity is strongly linked to an increase in snoring -- as you gain weight, your nasal passages become smaller.
- Marc Siegel, MD, clinical associate professor, medicine
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Vancouver Sun
October 2
Sleep Apnea Raises Death Risk 46 Percent: Study
Severe sleep apnea raises the risk of dying early by 46 percent, U.S. researchers reported Monday, but said people with milder sleep-breathing problems do not share that risk. They said people with severe breathing disorders during sleep were more likely to die from a variety of causes than similar people without such sleep disorders. The risks are most obvious in men aged 40 to 70, Naresh Punjabi of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and colleagues found. Sleep apnea is caused by a collapse of the upper airway during sleep. Strong snoring can be a symptom but what makes apnea different are numerous brief interruptions in breathing. "When it becomes this frequent -- 30 times per hour -- about every two minutes it is severe sleep apnea and can become a problem," said Dr. David Rapoport of New York University, who worked on the study. "The best treatment for sleep apnea is weight loss. However, the most successful treatment can be a nasal CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) mask that applies pressure to help keep the airways of a patient open while they sleep, allowing normal breathing," he added in a statement.
- David Rapoport, MD, director, NYU Sleep Disorders Center
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US News & World Report
October 2
Swine Flu Tests Could Swamp Diagnostic Labs - Might lead to delays in tests for other diseases, experts say By Peter West, HealthDay Reporter
Concerns about a swine flu outbreak this fall are spreading to the nation's diagnostic laboratories, which could see a big surge in their testing workload this fall. According to several laboratory professionals affiliated with the American Society for Clinical Pathology, a large spike in swine flu screenings could clog a lab system already struggling with a shortage of workers. Such swine flu screenings, they said, could slow down testing for other diseases, potentially putting some patients at risk.
At New York University Langone Medical Center, lab workers handled an increase of as many as 300 swine flu tests a week during the initial epidemic in the spring and early summer, according to Irina Lutinger, the medical center's senior administrative director of clinical laboratories. If swine flu becomes a full-fledged epidemic this fall and winter, her staff of 45 in the lab's microbiology department could be forced to handle thousands of H1N1 tests per week, she said.
- Irina Lutinger, Senior Administrative Director, Clinical Laboratories, Tisch Hospital Labs
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Health.com
October 1
Pre-Birth Exposure to 1918 Flu Raised Heart Risks, Study Finds - By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay reporter
People exposed to the deadly 1918 Spanish flu pandemic while still in their mother’s womb were about 20 percent more likely to have heart disease 60 years later, a new study has found. The flu outbreak in 1918 killed 20 million to 40 million people worldwide, including 500,000 in the United States. That flu, like the current H1N1 swine flu pandemic, began as a mild disease, but it then came back in a much more lethal form. What the current H1N1 flu will do is unknown, but so far its genetics have not changed and there is a vaccine to protect against it, researchers say. That’s especially good news for pregnant women. "There are long-term effects of being exposed prenatally to flu,” said lead researcher Caleb Finch, director of the Gerontology Research Institute at the University of Southern California. “There is a danger to the fetus from exposure to maternal flu that has shown up 60 years later from the 1918 influenza epidemic.” Why exposure to flu in the womb has this effect is not known, Finch said, but he added that it’s “a likely outcome of maternal stress.” Maternal stress increases a number of developmental problems, including the risk for autism and schizophrenia, Finch said. Mr. Marc Siegel, an associate professor of medicine at the New York University School of Medicine in New York City said that “it is reasonable that, if you had the flu in 1918, it could lead to a maternal disruption that would increase the incidence of long-term medical problems if you’re a fetus.” The 1918 flu, he said, was particularly deadly, which is not likely to be the case with every flu variation. “The current H1N1 flu is mild and certainly has less teeth than the 1918 flu, in terms of its virulence,” Siegel said. “You cannot conclude that the 2009 swine flu pandemic is going to lead to heart disease 60 years later.” But the study is a reminder of just how problematic and tricky flu can be, especially in pregnancy, Siegel said. “Pregnant women should get flu shots, especially the H1N1 shot,” he said. Whether these same effects can be traced to other flu strains also is unknown, he said. “Each flu is different, and the 1918 epidemic remains the most virulent,” he said. “Subsequent epidemics have not been as severe. This could have been something unique to that, but we can’t tell. It took 60 years to find this out.”
- Marc Siegel, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine
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PharmTech.com, EarthTimes.org
October 1
Pharma Celebrates its Own - By Michelle Hoffman
Fall is upon us and so is the awards season. And I’m not talking about the Emmy’s (although kudos to Mad Men). Earlier this month the Lasker Foundation gave out its Basic Medical Research Award, its Lasker-deBakey Clinical Medical Research Award, and the Mary Woodard Lasker Award for Public Service (see the Lasker Foundation website for more information). Next week the Nobel Committee will announce its award winners.
But last night belonged to the Pharmaceutical Industry.
The Prix Galien USA celebrates innovation in American pharmaceutical sciences, and last night in the Whale Room of New York’s Museum of Natural History, the industry celebrated its best. Public television host Charlie Rose mc’d the proceedings, which included a speech by Elie Wiesel, winner of the 1986 Nobel Peace Prize and member of the Prix Galien USA committee. Wiesel lauded the audience for their humanitarian mission in improving the people’s health and lives.
Gerald Weissmann, committee chair of Prix Galien USA, and research professor at NYU School of Medicine, remarked on the important partnership between industry and academia. “The 2009 Prix Galien USA winners represent what is possible when basic scientific research translates to drug development and discovery,” he said.
Visit Prix Galien’s website for more information.
- Gerald Weissmann, MD, professor emeritus, Department of Medicine, research professor
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Washington Square News
October 2
University plans for H1N1 by Clarissa Wei
The University Senate held its first meeting of the academic year yesterday afternoon. Along with the announcement that 2010 commencement will be held at Yankee Stadium, the Senate also discussed NYU's planning for the potential spread of H1N1 on campus.
H1N1 Planning
— Strategies available to help combat H1N1 include vaccinations, education and reminders about personal hygiene, isolation, the availability of masks and gloves, and anti-viral treatment for at-risk groups.
— NYU plans to develop policies for the suspension of classes and programs in the event of the increased spread of H1N1, though Carlo Ciotoli, the medical director of the Student Health Center, said, "It looks more and more like that will be a very unlikely event."
— When the threshold of ill students is below 20 percent, they would be encouraged to wear masks and gloves for protection. But when it is above 20 percent, the protection strategies will be enforced to a higher degree.
— In regard to upcoming flu vaccines, Ciotoli said, "Hopefully now that the flu vaccine is available for H1N1, we will be able to do some mass vaccination campaigns and get as many vaccinated as possible."
— All medical officials in New York are required to get the swine flu vaccine. This includes staff at the NYU Langone Medical Center, the College of Dentistry, and the Student Health Center.
- NYU Langone Medical Center
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ABC - Good Morning America
October 1
Freya Schnabel, M.D. appeared on Good Morning America with Dr. Tim Johnson to launch Breast Cancer Awareness Week.
- Freya R. Schnabel, MD, professor, Department of Surgery, NYU Breast Surgery Associates
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WCBS-TV
And seen by 4 cbs affiliates across the country
October 1
Health Watch: Breast Cancer Study-- WCBS-TV this morning with Freya Schnabel, MD
Freya Schnabel, M.D. appeared on WCBS-TV with Dr. Max Gomez to launch Breast Cancer Awareness Week.
- Freya R. Schnabel, MD, professor, Department of Surgery, NYU Breast Surgery Associates
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Forbes.com
September 30
Study Urges Treatment for Even Mild Gestational Diabetes - Women, babies alike benefit when therapy goes to more than just severe cases, experts say by HealthDay News
Pregnant women who receive treatment for the mildest forms of gestational diabetes -- including diet and exercise intervention, self-monitoring of blood glucose levels and possibly insulin therapy -- are less likely to have serious birth complications or develop preeclampsia or high blood pressure during pregnancy, according to new research.
It's been unclear whether treating borderline cases of gestational diabetes would make a difference in pregnancy outcomes. But the study's lead author, Dr. Mark Landon, professor and interim chair of obstetrics and gynecology at Ohio State University Medical Center, said that the finding "demonstrates that there's a significant clinical benefit to treating even the mildest form of gestational diabetes."
What is clear, said Dr. Miriam Greene, an obstetrician and gynecologist at NYU Langone Medical Center, is that "when women with mild gestational diabetes are treated well, there's a decreased incidence of birth trauma." Greene said that she's already been treating women with the mildest forms of gestational diabetes, and that it does make a difference.
- Miriam Greene, M.D., clinical assistant professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
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USA Today
September 30
Prescriptions Now Biggest Cause of Fatal Drug Overdoses - By Liz Szabo
Because persistent pain and painkillers can carry so many risks, people with pain that lasts more than three months should consult a pain-management specialist, says Christopher Gharibo, medical director of pain medicine at NYU-Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York. To treat long-term pain, doctors may try a combination approach, using anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-convulsants and muscle relaxants, Gharibo says. For lower back pain, for example, doctors may use anesthetic patches and "trigger-point injections" into specific muscles, he says.
- Christopher G. Gharibo, MD, assistant professor, Department of Anesthesiology, NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases
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US News & World Report, MSN Health and Fitness
October 1
Study Urges Treatment for Even Mild Gestational Diabetes - By Serena Gordo - HealthDay Reporter
A new study from Ohio State University Medical Center found that pregnant women who receive treatment for the mildest forms of gestational diabetes -- including diet and exercise intervention, self-monitoring of blood glucose levels and possibly insulin therapy -- are less likely to have serious birth complications or develop preeclampsia or high blood pressure during pregnancy, according to new research. It's been unclear whether treating borderline cases of gestational diabetes would make a difference in pregnancy outcomes. " What is clear, said Dr. Miriam Greene, an obstetrician and gynecologist at NYU Langone Medical Center, is that "when women with mild gestational diabetes are treated well, there's a decreased incidence of birth trauma." Greene said that she's already been treating women with the mildest forms of gestational diabetes, and that it does make a difference. Results of the study are published in the Oct. 1 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
- Miriam Greene, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
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WIBW.com, WTVR.com and 23 affiliated CBS stations across the country
September 30
Early Detection Remains Key In Beating Breast Cancer
A new report from the American Cancer Society shows how important early detection and treatment of breast cancer is. The American Cancer Society says the death rate from breast cancer has dropped more than 2-percent a year for the past decade. That means this year alone, 15,000 lives will be saved. Dr. Freya Schnabel, director of breast surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center says much of the improvement in breast cancer mortality is a result of early detection. Identifying major risk factors like genetics and taking postmenopausal hormones has also improved the survival rate. The numbers also show a racial disparity. 40-percent more African American women are dying of breast cancer than white women. Schnabel says there is a suggestion that there may be a more aggressive variant of disease that is seen particularly in young African American women
To read the full report, log on to the American Cancer Society's website at cancer.org.
- Freya R. Schnabel, MD, professor, Department of Surgery, NYU Breast Surgery Associates
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www.nejm.org
September 30
Novel H1N1 Influenza and Respiratory Protection for Health Care Workers by
Kenneth I. Shine, M.D., Bonnie Rogers, Dr.P.H., R.N., and Lewis R. Goldfrank, M.D.
Your hospital has been seeing a large number of patients with influenza-like symptoms, many of whom turn out to be infected with the novel H1N1 influenza A virus. What should the hospital and its infection-control officer provide when you reach into the box for a respiratory protective device? What should be available? Our committee did not examine the supply of respirators and masks, but we have heard that such protective gear — particularly N95 respirators — is currently in short supply, despite previous IOM recommendations that the devices be made widely available.1 Until the supply increases, health care institutions will have to place priority on the highest-risk areas, such as enclosed spaces in the respiratory care unit, patients' rooms, and ambulances. In addition, personal equipment for respiratory protection should be considered just one component of a set of occupational safety and health measures designed to reduce workers' risk of exposure through all possible pathways. The IOM committee has recommended that current CDC guidelines for respiratory protection be maintained. (For details, see the CDC's H1N1 Flu Web site at www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidelines_infection_control.htm.)
- Lewis R. Goldfrank, MD, professor and chairman, Department of Emergency Medicine
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Prix Galien USA Honors Innovation in Science and Biotech Industries
October 1
The Prix Galien USA committee celebrated members of the science and biotechnology industries last night for the development and discovery of drugs and technologies that improve the human condition. "The 2009 Prix Galien USA winners represent what is possible when basic scientific research translates to drug development and discovery," said Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Prix Galien USA committee chair, NYU School of Medicine research professor of medicine, director of biotechnology study center, and editor-in-chief of The FASEB Journal. "We all benefit from the research that provides new treatments for the millions of cancer patients worldwide and for the patients living with rare blood diseases. Basic research translates into future knowledge and improved health for all of us."
- Gerald Weissman, MD, professor emeritus, research professor, Department of Medicine
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Platelet-Rich Plasma: Does It Work?
October 1, 2009
New study reports on the platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment and its use in sports medicine; cautions more investigation needed
Platelet -rich plasma (PRP) is currently used as an alternative treatment method for several common orthopaedic-related sports medicine conditions. According to a new study in the October issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS), early outcomes of PRP appear promising; however, 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," said study co-author Michael Hall, MD, a senior orthopaedic surgery resident at the NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York. "However, there currently is minimal evidence of this clinically and more research must be performed."
- Michael Hall, MD, resident, Department of Orthopaedics, NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases
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PHARMABIZ.COM
October 1
Allos gets US FDA nod for Folotyn to treat relapsed or refractory PTCL
Allos Therapeutics, Inc announced that US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval for Folotyn (pralatrexate injection) for use as a single agent for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). Folotyn is the first and only drug approved by the FDA for this indication and represents a new treatment option for patients with relapsed or refractory PTCL. This indication is based on overall response rate. Clinical benefit such as improvement in progression free survival or overall survival has not been demonstrated. Allos expects to make Folotyn available to patients in the US in October.
"Individuals with peripheral T-cell lymphoma have a very poor prognosis and almost always relapse or become refractory to initial therapy. As a result, there is an urgent need for new therapies to treat patients with this challenging disease. Folotyn has demonstrated its efficacy and safety in the PROPEL clinical trial, and I believe it will be a welcome addition for physicians who treat patients with relapsed or refractory PTCL," stated Owen A O'Connor, principal investigator in the PROPEL study of Folotyn; deputy director for Clinical Research and Cancer Treatment, NYU Cancer Institute; chief, Division of Hematologic Malignancies and Medical Oncology; professor of Medicine and Pharmacology at the NYU Langone Medical Center.
- Owen A. O’Connor, PhD, professor, Department of Medicine and Pharmacology, deputy director, Clinical Research and Cancer Treatment, NYU Cancer Institute
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The New York Times
September 29
Melanoma on the Rise, or Is It Just Diagnoses? - By Nicholas Bakalar
In recent years there has been a sharp rise in reported cases of malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. But a British study has found evidence that the epidemic may be due at least in part to “diagnostic drift,” a growing tendency to identify and treat benign lesions as malignant cancers. The findings may raise the temperature in an already-heated controversy. But the British researchers found something odd in the data: almost all of the increase was in diagnoses of the earliest stage of the disease, where it is difficult, and sometimes impossible, to tell a malignant lesion from a melanocytic nevus, a type of benign mole. There was no change in the combined incidence of the later stages of the disease, and mortality increased only slightly. “Every study over the past 10 years has shown that the absolute number of melanomas is rising,” said Dr. Darrell S. Rigel, a professor of dermatology at NYU Langone Medical Center. The death rate from melanoma has also been going up, Dr. Rigel said, but so has the survival rate. In other words, while more people are getting the disease and dying from it, early identification and treatment has simultaneously allowed more people to survive.
- Darrell S. Rigel, MD, clinical professor, The Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology
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Baltimore Sun
September 29
Six Ways to Avoid a Heart Attack
The facts are scary: Despite the progress made against heart disease in the past several decades, almost half the people who die suddenly from a heart attack or other cardiac problem have no prior symptoms. Even knowing someone's risk factors for heart disease, it's often tough to pinpoint who will actually go on to get the disease. And once blood flow to the heart muscle is blocked and a heart attack happens, it's not exactly clear why some people experience sudden cardiac arrest, which killed "Meet the Press" host Tim Russert, and others don't. Those uncertainties, however, don't mean that you are powerless to protect yourself from dying of a heart attack. Here is a step to take to improve your odds: Learn CPR. Clearly, you can't perform it on yourself, but you can help someone around you who is experiencing cardiac arrest. "If people can make it until EMS arrives, then their chances of survival are wonderful," says Judith Hochman, clinical chief of cardiology at NYU Langone Medical Center, who says she's seen three recent cases of patients saved by CPR. The American Heart Association says it improves survival two to threefold and recently urged laypeople to learn how to do it. And it needn't be complicated: Chest compressions alone can help heart attack victims. Meantime, if you're in a public space like a gym or casino when someone has an attack, look for an automated external defibrillator, Hochman advises.
- Judith S. Hochman, MD, Harold Snyder Family Professor of Cardiology, Co-Director, NYU-HHC Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Clinical Chief, Leon Charney Division of Cardiology, Director, Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, New York University School of Medicine
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BusinessWeek.com
September 29
Syndicated article from Health Day News
Irregular Heartbeat Risk Higher in Women With Type 2 Diabetes - By Serena Gordon
Women with type 2 diabetes have a 26 percent increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation, a potentially life-threatening irregular heartbeat, new findings suggest. The overall incidence of atrial fibrillation was 3.6 percent among people with type 2 diabetes, while the rate for people without the metabolic condition was only 2.5 percent, according to the study, which will be published in the October issue of Diabetes Care. Not everyone is convinced that cardiac neuropathy is to blame, however. "In people with diabetes, the cluster of other cardiac risk factors, like obesity and hypertension, increases the risk of atrial fibrillation," said Dr. Howard Weintraub, clinical director of the Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease at the NYU Langone Medical Center. "Diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which heart disease risk factors cluster," said Weintraub. He added that one important take-away message from this study is to try to aggressively control your weight and blood pressure levels, particularly if you have diabetes, because it increases your risk of atrial fibrillation and other forms of heart disease.
- Howard Weintraub, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, clinical director, Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease
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Medical News Today
September 30
Symposium To Highlight Strategies To Overcome Cancer Immunosuppression During Treatment
Three-hundred cancer vaccine researchers and immunologists from academia and industry will meet for three days in New York City to discuss the different ways cancer exploits the human body's self-protective mechanisms of immune regulation to avoid elimination by the immune system, a problem which researchers in the field have identified as one of the key challenges to therapeutic cancer vaccination. The conference, titled "Control of Cancer Immunosuppression: The Challenge for Cancer Vaccine Development," will take place September 30 to October 2, 2009, at the Millennium Conference Center in the heart of Manhattan. “Modulating innate and adaptive immunity through the manipulation of dendritic cells”, by Dr. Nina Bhardwaj, NYU Langone Medical Center and NYU Cancer Institute will be highlighted.
- Nina Bhardwaj, MD, PhD, professor, Medicine, Pathology and Dermatology, director, Tumor Vaccine Program
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Cancer Facts.com
September 30
FDA approves first drug for type of aggressive lymphoma
The first treatment for an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma has been approved by the FDA. Peripheral T-cell Lymphoma (PTCL), describes a subgroup of cancers affecting T-cells, which defend the body against viruses, bacteria and even cancer. These lymphomas usually are detected at advanced stages at diagnosis and are often more aggressive requiring prompt treatment. "Individuals with peripheral T-cell lymphoma have a very poor prognosis and almost always relapse or become refractory to initial therapy," said Dr. Owen A. O'Connor, principal investigator in the PROPEL study and deputy director for Clinical Research and Cancer Treatment at the NYU Cancer Institute. "As a result, there is an urgent need for new therapies to treat patients with this challenging disease.”
- Owen A. O’Connor, PhD, professor, Department of Medicine and Pharmacology, deputy director, Clinical Research and Cancer Treatment, NYU Cancer Institute
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New Scientist
September 28
Rats learn to be once bitten, twice shy- by Peter Aldhous
You cannot grow up without leaving your mother's protection and learning to make your own way in the world. Now for rat pups, at least, we have a clear idea of the changes in the brain involved in this vital transition. A team led by Regina Sullivan of NYU Langone Medical Center previously found that young pups will become attracted to odors – even when those odors are paired with electric shocks. Only when pups reach about 10 days old do they become capable of associating odors with negative stimuli. What enables this transition from blind attraction to the ability to learn about potential danger? Sullivan found previously that odors associated with their mother suppress the release in rat pups of the stress hormone corticosterone. Now her team has shown that corticosterone suppression in turn reduces levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the amygdala, a structure that acts as the brain's "fear centre".
- Regina M. Sullivan, PhD, research professor, NYU Child Study Center
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Washington Square News
September 30
Getting through a best friend breakup
NYU psychiatry professor Irene Levine recently explored the elusive subject of female relationships in her new book, "Best Friends Forever: Surviving a Breakup with Your Best Friend."The book was released Sept. 20, which was National Women's Friendship Day. "I've always been appreciative of my friendships," Levine said. "I had this curiosity of why some relationships last and others don't. Since I am a psychologist and journalist, I decided to dig deeper and learn more." "Best Friends Forever" explores the multifaceted dynamics of female relationships and gives advice on the best ways to nurture and mend existing ones — and cut the cord for those that are toxic. Levine began research for her book by creating an anonymous online survey that received responses from 15,000 women in seven months.
- Irene Levine. PhD, clinical professor, psychiatry
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E Gov Monitor
September 29
Heal NY Allocated $436 Million To Support NY Wide Health Care Reforms in the US
Governor David A. Paterson today announced the award of $436 million in grants under the Health Care Efficiency and Affordability Law of New York State (HEAL NY) to further improvements to the State’s health care system. A second block of funding, HEAL NY Phase 11, consists of more than $174 million in grants to 25 hospitals across the State to enter into collaborative arrangements that promote quality and efficiency in the delivery of care appropriate to the needs of their communities. These awards will help the recipient hospitals to eliminate duplicative services and achieve greater efficiency in providing services responsive to identified community needs. For example, the Catholic Health System’s merger of its three acute care hospitals in Western New York into its single governance structure will lead to a more efficient service line model – patients will get better care, and operating costs will go down. In New York City, an award to St. Vincent’s Catholic Medical Center in Manhattan will support that facility’s collaboration with NYU Hospitals Center to consolidate services in pediatrics, physical rehabilitation, psychiatry and cardiovascular care, while eliminating more than 60 beds that are no longer needed.
- NYU Langone Medical Center
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Washington Square News
September 25
NYU Langone Medical Center Earns Prestigious Re-designation—By Ying Lam
This year has been one of recognition for the NYU Langone Medical Center. In addition to being named one of America's best hospitals by the U.S. News and World Report, the center has been awarded again for its excellence in nursing. NYU Langone Medical Center's Tisch Hospital and Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine recently earned a second Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, an accrediting body that recognizes health care organizations for excellence in nursing. The Magnet recognition is awarded every four years, and in 2005 Langone received its first Magnet designation. Andrew Litt, the executive vice president of NYU Langone Medical Center, said the center underwent an extensive application process to earn the award from ANCC. Less than 6 percent of American hospitals receive Magnet recognition, and according to Litt, even fewer receive a second designation. "Only 3 percent of the hospitals in the country have gotten it more than once," Litt said.
 - Andrew W. Litt, MD, executive vice president and vice dean, chief of staff
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MSN Money
September 25
Allos Therapeutics’ FOLOTYN™ First and Only FDA-Approved Therapy for Relapsed or Refractory Peripheral T-cell Lymphoma–BusinessWire
Allos Therapeutics, Inc. ALTH today announced that last night the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval for FOLOTYNTM (pralatrexate injection) for use as a single agent for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). FOLOTYN is the first and only drug approved by the FDA for this indication and represents a new treatment option for patients with relapsed or refractory PTCL. This indication is based on overall response rate. Clinical benefit such as improvement in progression free survival or overall survival has not been demonstrated. Allos expects to make FOLOTYN available to patients in the U.S. in October. “Individuals with peripheral T-cell lymphoma have a very poor prognosis and almost always relapse or become refractory to initial therapy. As a result, there is an urgent need for new therapies to treat patients with this challenging disease. FOLOTYN has demonstrated its efficacy and safety in the PROPEL clinical trial, and I believe it will be a welcome addition for physicians who treat patients with relapsed or refractory PTCL,” stated Owen A. O'Connor, MD, PhD, principal investigator in the PROPEL study of FOLOTYN; deputy director for Clinical Research and Cancer Treatment, NYU Cancer Institute; chief, Division of Hematologic Malignancies and Medical Oncology; professor of Medicine and Pharmacology at the NYU Langone Medical Center.
- Owen A. O’Connor, PhD, professor, Department of Medicine and Pharmacology, NYU Cancer Institute 
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Jewish Exponent
September 24
Of Time and the River—By Frank Rosci
Next weekend, the waters of the Schuylkill River will be transformed into a river of hope for children and families dealing with the heartbreak of Familial Dysautonomia, a rare Jewish genetic disease that affects the sensory and automatic nervous systems. Two teams of more than 40 people from Old York Road Temple-Beth Am in Abington will take part for the first time in the eighth annual Philadelphia International Dragon Boat Festival. In addition to money contributed by crew members, registration fees of $1,500 for each of the two Beth Am boats and $250 for two tents was paid anonymously. Funds raised will go to the Dysautonomia Foundation, Inc., of New York City, which funds the Dysautonomia Center at NYU Langone Medical Center. In 2001, Dr. Felicia B. Axelrod of NYU Langone Medical Center identified the F.D. gene; NYU is set to begin testing a gene therapy of splicing the gene together on adults with the disease that could relieve its symptoms.
-Felicia B. Axelrod, MD, professor/ Carl Seaman Family Professor of Dysautonomia Treatment and Research, Department of Pediatrics and Neurology
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Bio Space
September 24
Chelsea Therapeutics Reports Preliminary Phase III Data of Droxidopa for Treatment of Symptomatic Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension
Chelsea Therapeutics International, Ltd. (Nasdaq:CHTP) announced top-line results from Study 302, the first of two Phase III trials of Droxidopa for the treatment of symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (NOH). While Study 302 demonstrated that Droxidopa showed a strong symptomatic benefit during the open-label dose titration and run-in phase of the trial, a preliminary review of the data indicates it did not demonstrate a statistically significant improvement. "There is a long history of successfully treating neurogenic orthostatic hypotension with Droxidopa -- in the clinic, in the Japanese market, and here in the US through a long-standing compassionate use program," says Dr. Horacio Kaufmann, Professor of Neurology and Medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, and investigator for this trial. "Having studied Droxidopa extensively, I firmly believe that this agent has a significant and clinically meaningful therapeutic benefit. I am looking forward to continuing to work with Chelsea to confirm these findings and bring Droxidopa to the US market. I have no doubts that patients suffering from symptomatic NOH in the US should have Droxidopa available."
-Horacio Kaufmann, MD, professor, Department of Medicine, professor, Department of Pediatrics
-Felicia B. Axelrod, MD, professor/ Carl Seaman Family Professor of Dysautonomia Treatment and Research, Department of Pediatrics and Neurology
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Cancer Network
September 23
Women With Metastatic Breast Cancer Fight for a Place in the ‘Pink Parade’– By Shalmali Pal
A global survey in nine countries reveals common ground among patients with advanced disease. Members of the BRIDGE survey steering committee explain how oncologists can use the data in their breast cancer treatment programs. “A lot of attention is paid to patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer; a lot of medical information and psychosocial support are available through a variety of avenues: in the doctor’s office, in cancer groups, online, even in the lay press,” said Dr. Ruth Oratz, clinical associate professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center. “The public face of advanced disease is not out there.”
 - Ruth Oratz, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Medicine (Oncology)
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WebMD
September 23
Six Daily Habits That Can Make You Sick—By Lisa Zamosky
They say that home is where the heart is. But what you may not know is that it's also where 65% of colds and more than half of food-borne illnesses are contracted. The things we do around the house every day have a big impact on both our long- and short-term health. The dirtiest room in everybody's home is the kitchen, says Phillip Tierno, PhD, director of clinical microbiology and diagnostic immunology at NYU Langone Medical Center and author of The Secret Life of Germs. "That's because we deal with dead animal carcasses on our countertops and in the sink."
- Philip M. Tierno Jr., Ph.D., Director, clinical microbiology & immunology
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Associated Content
September 23
Tips to Look 7 Years Younger– Associated Content
Maybe this sounds familiar: You find a photo taken a decade ago at the bottom of a drawer. It shows you barefaced, grinning, while hiking with family or friends. Back then, you thought that without makeup, eye crinkles clearly visible, this photo made you look old. If only you could get that look back now! Plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and the makers of many face creams will tell you that you can, but their wares can be expensive and invasive. We asked dermatologists what affordable, at-home steps will help restore your more youthful appearance. Repeated sun exposure eventually leads to brown spots, fine wrinkles, deeper creases, and sagging skin."What the sun does is fast-forward your aging clock," says Doris Day, M.D., clinical assistant professor of dermatology at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City.
 - Doris Day, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Dermatology
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AZ Central
September 24
Is Hand Sanitizer Better Than Soap for Halting Flu?—By Stephanie Desmon
When Sandy Summers picks up her children - ages 6 and 10 - at elementary school, they're greeted with squirts of hand sanitizer. "It's actually better than soap," said Dr. Philip M. Tierno Jr., director of clinical microbiology and immunology at NYU Langone Medical Center. "Soap and water does not kill germs. Soap and water washes them off your skin." "The best thing you can do for yourself is wash appropriately with soap and water, 15 to 20 seconds," he said. "(But) most people don't wash appropriately, because they don't do it long enough, suds up appropriately, don't get in between the digits."
- Philip M. Tierno Jr., Ph.D., Director, clinical microbiology & immunology
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The New York Times
September 23
This Real Estate Comes With Hand Sanitizers - By A. G. Sulzberger
As the city braces for another bout with the H1N1 virus — and all the accompanying nervousness, official proclamations and bad jokes — the preparations of government agencies, hospitals and schools have been well documented. Now some commercial landlords are also doing their part. Trinity Real Estate, one of the largest property owners in Manhattan, announced on Tuesday that starting next week it will install nearly 300 hand sanitizer dispensers in the lobbies and bathrooms of 13 large commercial buildings it owns. Aimed at encouraging good hygiene, the effort will also include providing boxes of tissues and informational posters on controlling the spread of germs. Dr. Philip M. Tierno Jr., director of clinical microbiology and immunology at the NYU Langone Medical Center and author of “The Secret Life of Germs,” applauded the effort to make hand sanitizer available in more public spaces. “It’s something that is easy to do and something that has been shown by extensive studies to reduce infection,” he said.
- Philip M. Tierno Jr., Ph.D., clinical professor, Department of Pathology, Department of Microbiology
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Media-Newswire.com
September 24
Governor Paterson Announces More Than $600 Million in Stimulus Grants for New York Research Institutions
Governor David A. Paterson today announced that New York State universities, medical facilities, businesses and research institutions have been awarded 1,164 research grants worth more than $600 million through competitive stimulus funds available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The federal agencies providing these funds include the National Institutes of Health ( NIH ), the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy.
“The key to a growing economy is investing in innovation – by turning discoveries into business opportunities,” Governor Paterson said. “The $605.5 million that institutions all around New York have won will help ensure that New York remains a leader in research as we continue to work with our universities to build bridges from research to application.” Institutions that received the largest amounts include:
Brookhaven Laboratory: $186 million
Cornell University: $69.7 million
Columbia University: $66.9 million
New York University & the New York University School of Medicine: $28.2 million
University of Rochester: $26.7 million
Mount Sinai School of Medicine: $28.7 million
State University at Stony Brook: $21 million
State University at Buffalo: $14 million
- New York University School of Medicine
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The Tyra Banks Show
September 23, 2009
New Motherhood
Dr. Roshini Rajapaksa was part of a panel discussing new motherhood.
- Roshini Rajapaksa, MD, assistant professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology

 

Fox News
September 23, 2009
College, Cocktails and Cookies: Coed Describes Struggle to Lose Weight, Lower Cholesterol – By Jessica Ryen Doyle
Diet and physical activity contribute to overall blood cholesterol levels as well as the cholesterol that is made naturally by the body, according to the AHA.
When Allison Richie began college four years ago, she was 5-feet-10 and weighed 150 pounds. Nine months later, the Dallas native gained 40 pounds “fairly quickly.” She would continue to gain and lose weight throughout her time at Fordham University in New York, attributing it to cafeteria food 'like cookies," beer and fattening choices. Richie, 22, weighed 198 pounds at her heaviest and along with her weight gain came a spike in her cholesterol levels, which had already been high. Her total cholesterol, which at one point was 190 mg/dL, was up to 230 mg/dL. The American Heart Association says a desirable total cholesterol level is under 200 mg/dL. Dr. Richard Stein, a spokesman for the American Heart Association and professor of medicine and cardiology at NYU School of Medicine, told FOXNews.com that patients with high cholesterol levels must make a lifestyle commitment and then follow up with regular visits to the doctors.
- Richard A. Stein, MD, professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology
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GlobeNewswire
September 24
Chelsea Therapeutics Reports Preliminary Phase III Data of Droxidopa for Treatment of Symptomatic Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension
Chelsea Therapeutics International, Ltd. (Nasdaq:CHTP) announced top-line results from Study 302, the first of two Phase III trials of Droxidopa for the treatment of symptomatic neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (NOH). While Study 302 demonstrated that Droxidopa showed a strong symptomatic benefit during the open-label dose titration and run-in phase of the trial, a preliminary review of the data indicates it did not demonstrate a statistically significant improvement.
"There is a long history of successfully treating neurogenic orthostatic hypotension with Droxidopa -- in the clinic, in the Japanese market, and here in the US through a long-standing compassionate use program," says Dr. Horacio Kaufmann, Professor of Neurology and Medicine at NYU School of Medicine, and investigator for this trial. "Having studied Droxidopa extensively, I firmly believe that this agent has a significant and clinically meaningful therapeutic benefit. I am looking forward to continuing to work with Chelsea to confirm these findings and bring Droxidopa to the US market. I have no doubts that patients suffering from symptomatic NOH in the US should have Droxidopa available."
- Horacio Kaufmann, MD, professor, Department of Medicine, professor, Department of Pediatrics, Felicia B. Axelrod Professor of Dysautonomia Research
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The New York Post
September 24
Luck Saves Scooter Kid – By Rebecca Rosenberg and John Doyle
A 6-year-old girl was hit by an SUV on the Upper East Side yesterday -- but luckily, a group of pediatricians from a nearby clinic rushed to her aid.
The girl was riding a pink scooter, accompanied by her nanny, on York Avenue at East 82nd Street shortly after noon, when the SUV driver tried to back into parking spot, running into her, witnesses said. Police said the little girl was taken to NYU Langone Medical Center, where she was listed in stable condition. They said no one would be charged in the incident.
- NYU Langone Medical Center
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MSNBC.COM
September 23
In lust for lashes, few bat an eye at odd risks: Product thickens lashes, but can cause light eyes to turn brown, FDA says – By Diane Mapes
The Food and Drug Administration last week sent a warning letter to Allergan saying that Latisse's promotional materials "minimize the risks." Even before the FDA warning, the treatment — currently being hawked by bright-eyed actress Brooke Shields — has provoked much discussion and debate. According to the FDA, Lumigan (a competitor), which uses the same formulation as Latisse, “may gradually change eye color, increasing the amount of brown pigment in the iris,” a change that occurs slowly and may not be noticeable “for several months to years.” Doctors, however, say this side effect is associated exclusively with dropping medication directly into the eye as opposed to painting it along the upper lash line. And that it’s extremely rare. “Based on collective experience, people with crystal clear blue eyes don’t develop the iris pigmentation,” says Dr. Arielle Kauvar, clinical associate professor of dermatology at New York University School of Medicine. “The people who are susceptible to it are individuals with brown eyes or hazel eyes or greenish-blue eyes. But the overall risk is less than 1 percent and that’s with the medication going directly into the eye.”
- Arielle Kauvar, MD, clinical associate professor, The Ronald O. Perlman Department of Dermatology
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KevinMD.com, HealthNewsDigest
September 22
How to protect yourself from abdominal aortic aneurysms - By Mark Adelman, MD
While diseases like prostate cancer and heart disease have become household concerns, abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), the 10th leading cause of death in men age 55 and older, have been overshadowed by more prominent diseases for far too long. It’s time we pull back the curtain and take a closer look at this serious disease and how it can be both detected and prevented.
Mark Adelman is the Chief of Vascular Surgery at New York University Langone Medical Center.
- Mark Adelman, MD, associate professor, Department of Surgery, Division of Vascular Surgery
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NY1 News
Sepember 22
State Makes Health Care Workers Receive Flu Shots – By Kafi Drexel
Doctors say that common flu shots and the H1N1 flu vaccine are necessary precautions this year, but some health care workers are bristling at getting these shots. NY1's Health reporter Kafi Drexel filed the following report. At NYU Langone Medical Center in Manhattan, hospital personnel are lining up by the hundreds to get their flu shots, including many first-time recipients. "The law is pretty clear. It says that individuals who work in the hospital who provide direct patient care have to be vaccinated and it has to be done by November 30 of this year," says Dr. Michael Phillips of NYU Langone. "So that's really our plan is to set up these clinics at all of our sites to make sure that we get all those individuals that work in the hospital, make sure they are all vaccinated." At NYU Langone, they say they keep track every year of who's getting their flu shots. This year, though, all the information will go to state officials. Most health experts agree getting vaccinated is everyone's best shot at protection against any kind of flu.
- Michael S. Phillips, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology
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The Baltimore Sun
September 23
Use of hand sanitizer soars with concern over swine flu
Few people use soap correctly, say proponents of 60% alcohol sanitizers – By Stephanie Desmon
The conventional wisdom among public health officials is that hand sanitizer works well, but soaping up at the sink is best because it is the only way to wash off dirt. But others say hand sanitizer may actually be better, especially since so few people wash their hands properly and because the gels are always at the ready when you have sneezed or pushed an elevator button or turned a doorknob. "It's actually better than soap," said Dr. Philip M. Tierno Jr., director of clinical microbiology and immunology at NYU Langone Medical Center. "Soap and water does not kill germs. Soap and water washes them off your skin. ..."The best thing you can do for yourself is wash appropriately with soap and water, 15 to 20 seconds," he said. "[But] most people don't wash appropriately because they don't do it long enough, suds up appropriately, don't get in between the digits."
- Philip M.Tierno, Jr, PhD, clinical professor, Department of Microbiology, Department of Pathology
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The New York Daily News
September 23
In Vitro Fertilization Risks in the Spotlight as Carolyn Savage Speaks Out on Embryo Mixup – By Julian Kesner AND Nicole Lyn Pesce
In vitro fertilization's risks are back in the spotlight, and some would-be parents are finding a simpler solution. The miracle of life became an inconceivable nightmare after one woman was implanted with someone else's embryo through a botched in-vitro fertilization. Now Carolyn and Sean Savage, who have brought another couple's baby almost to term, will give the child up to his biological parents when he's born in just a couple of weeks. This sort of tragic mixup, though rare, has happened before. Despite its growing popularity - New York has the second-highest number of reproductive assistance procedures (99% of which are IVFs) in the nation, the risks can outweigh the results. The biggest of those risks, say detractors: that the invasive, $15,000 procedure won't work at all. While the NYU Fertility Center reports that 30-year-old women undergoing IVF have babies 64% of the time, the success rate dwindles to just 5% for a 44-year-old. Close to 2 million American women of child-bearing age encounter infertility problems every year.
- NYU Fertility Center
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Nightly Scoreboard
September 22
FBN National
Marc Siegel discussed Medical Malpractice Reform on the Fox Business News (cited as Professor at NYU Medical Center).
- Marc K. Siegel, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine

The New York Post
September 23
Why Doctors Hate BamCare By Marc K. Siegel, a practicing internist, teaches medicine at NYU and is a Fox News contributor
Two-thirds of doctors "oppose the proposed health-care plan," reports an Investors Business Daily/TIPP poll. Almost half would "consider leaving their practice or taking an early retirement" if "Congress passes its health-care plan." Many of my colleagues feel like we're already struggling -- nor are we prepared to take care of tens of millions more patients. In short, doctors fear "health reform" because it's not really about health care; it's about catering to the prejudices of the politicians and the lawyers who've already made such a mess of our health-care system.
- Marc K. Siegel, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Internal Medicine
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CancerConsultants.com
September 2009
Robot-assisted Partial Nephrectomy Safe and Effective for Renal Tumors
Researchers from Washington University, Henry Ford Hospital, and NYU Langone Medical Center have reported that robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) is a safe and effective alternative to laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) for renal tumors. The details of this study appeared in the September 2009 issue of the Journal of Urology.
- NYU Langone Medical Center, Department of Urology
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Nurse.com
September 21
ANCC Re-Designates NYU Langone Magnet Facility
Tisch Hospital and Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation at NYU Langone Medical Center earned Magnet re-designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The new four-year Magnet recognition acknowledges the New York City medical center’s continued success in delivering high-caliber patient-centered care as well as innovation in professional nursing.
“This achievement is a true benchmark of the quality care our nurses provide and highlights our focus on providing an exemplary workplace,” Susan Bowar-Ferres, RN, PhD, NEA-BC, senior vice president and chief nursing officer at NYU Langone Medical Center, said in a news release. “In addition, nursing could not have achieved this recognition without the support of the entire hospital which enables our nurses to continue providing patients with high-caliber patient-centered care.”
- Susan Bowar-Ferres, RN, PhD, NEA-BC, senior vice president and chief nursing officer
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Health.com
September 13
How to Tell Your Doctor About Your Embarrassing Problems- By Roshini Rajapaksa, MD
Go ahead, try to make our medical editor Dr. Raj blush. Not only is she Health’s go-to doc for embarrassing questions, but she’s heard everything imaginable in her four years at New York University Langone Medical Center. And so has your own physician, she says: “Trust me, you can’t shock your doc. You may think your health confession is unique or strange, but your doctor’s heard it—and worse—a million times.”That’s one reason embarrass­ment should never keep you from talking to your doctor about anything, she says. (In a recent Health.com poll, 47% of respondents said they’d ignored a health problem because of embarrassment.) What’s more, sometimes those strange little symptoms or moments really do signal that something’s wrong. “As smart as patients are these days, they don’t always know what’s normal or not,” Dr. Raj says. “Like gas. Everyone passes gas; it’s completely normal. But thinning hair, sweating profusely, vaginal odor—there may be some­thing going on that needs to be addressed. And we can’t help if you don’t tell us about it.” Here, her top ways to make talking to your doc (about anything) easier.
- Roshini Rajapaksa, MD, assistant professor, medicine, gastroenterology
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Health Day News
September 22
Could Swine Flu Panic Be Worse Than Outbreak Itself?
With all the warnings and preparations, dire predictions and hastily ordered vaccines, could the growing worry about H1N1 swine flu prove more disruptive than the actual outbreak? That notion is weighing on the minds of more than a few infectious-disease experts as the fall and winter flu season looms. Not only does societal panic not help during a public health situation, such as the current H1N1 flu pandemic, it can actually backfire, creating its own set of problems, the experts said. "We have limited resources in the U.S. -- if this [swine flu] captures our negative imagination, it's going to hurt our health-care system," said Dr. Marc Siegel, associate professor of medicine at New York University School of Medicine in New York City. "Our emergency rooms will be flooded with worried people, doctors' phones will be hanging off the hook, everyone will be afraid of every sniffle and wanting to get tested for the flu."
- Marc Siegel, MD, associate professor, medicine
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US News & World Report
September 21
Syndicated article by Health Day News
Flu Can Raise Chances of Heart Attack- By Steve Reinberg
People suffering from the flu may be at higher risk for having a heart attack, especially those with heart disease and diabetes, British researchers report. Because both seasonal and the pandemic H1N1 swine flu are circulating this fall and winter, people at risk for heart attacks are urged to get a seasonal flu shot and an H1N1 flu shot, which may reduce the chance of getting the flu and thereby lower the risk for a heart attack, experts say. "Influenza is most concerning because of its secondary complications," said Dr. Marc Siegel, an associate professor of medicine at New York University School of Medicine in New York City. "Most of the time with influenza, death or hospitalization isn't because of the influenza, it's because influenza puts you in a weakened state -- it's a stress on the system," he said. "So, it is not surprising that you would have the increased risk of a myocardial infarction during or right after an influenza infection."
- Marc Siegel, MD, associate professor, medicine
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Zikkir Health
September 22
Indoor Sizzle Can Overcome Parental Consent Laws- by Nathan Solomon
Zele went to see her dermatologist, who removed the mole. About a week and a half later, just before Thanksgiving, the dermatologist called back. Brittany Zele had melanoma. Many doctors expressed dismay at the state of regulation for the tanning industry.
“As a medical professional subject to intense regulation, it is amazing that the tanning industry is allowed to deliver intensive ultraviolet light to minors with a minimal amount of oversight and enforcement,” said Dr. Seth J. Orlow, chairman of dermatology at New York University School of Medicine. The tanning bed industry attacked the study, however, saying it did not highlight its findings on regulations.
- Seth J. Orlow, MD, chairman, Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology
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Charlotte Observer
September 21
Reconnect with yourself when the nest gets empty- By Lee Bierer
A decade ago no one was talking about parents' adjustment to life after launching a child to college. Today, there are dozens of books and articles on the subject. There is no denying that heading off to college is a major milestone for everyone in the family. For some students it is the first time they are out from under the watchful eye of their parents. There are voids where there once was noise and activity. What is often described as a bittersweet separation can lead to feelings of emptiness. If these feelings are more than temporary and interfere with a parent's day-to-day activities, they should be addressed by a professional. Staff at the New York University Child Study Center said “Parenting is a tough business and a double-edged sword; successful parenting requires devoting one's life to a totally dependent being to ensure a safe, independent departure into the world – leaving parents behind. Joy may be mixed with longing as the young adult takes flight from home base.”
- NYU Child Study Center
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Simple Health Guide.com
September 19
Naturopathic Course For Impotence – Part
Amino acid L-arginine or Arginine – Arginine is noted to be innately present in food and is known to bolster the body’s production of nitric oxide which is the crucial compound that assists in erections by causing dilatation of the blood vessels present in the penis. Mr. Geo Espinosa, the director of the Integrative Urological Center at NYU Langone Medical Center states that men suffering from heart ailments must consume L-Arginine only after undergoing medical supervision as L-arginine had the capacity to react with certain medicines. DHEA – Those suffering from erectile dysfunction are noted to have lowered levels of testosterone which is vital for healthy sex drive and regular sexual functioning. Hence, such men show major improvement when they start on prescription testosterone replacement therapy.
- Geo Espinosa, ND, is the Director of the Integrative Urological Center
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Drugs.com
September 21
Lower Drinking Age Linked to Later-Life Problems
People who grew up in a place and time when they could legally buy alcohol before age 21 are more likely than others to be alcoholics or have a drug problem, even well into adulthood, new research shows. The study "substantiates something that has not been substantiated this way before -- that the [legal] drinking age really has long-term impact," said Dr. Marc Galanter, director of the division of alcoholism and drug abuse at New York University School of Medicine. "Even in [people's] 40s and 50s, this impact was felt."Though people nationwide continue to debate what the ideal legal drinking age should be, with some again calling for a lower age, Galanter said the results suggest that keeping the status quo would be good.
- Marc Galanter, MD, professor, psychiatry & director, Division of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
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Black Voices Wellness
September 18
More Blacks Die of Prostate Cancer Than Any Other Race- By Lynette Holloway
More African American men die of prostate cancer each year than any other race, experts say. And doctors are urging black men to use September -- Prostate Cancer Awareness Month -- to enhance their knowledge of the disease. The death rate among African American men is 54 percent, compared to 22.7 percent among white men, 18 percent among Indian/Alaska Natives and 18.7 percent among Hispanic, according to the U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group. The median age for diagnosis is 68, according to the National Cancer Institute. To help combat the disease, Geo Espinosa, N.D., director of the Integrative Urological Center at New York University, encourages men to adopt a healthy lifestyle that will promote prostate health. To that end, he recommends the following tips: Evaluate your risk factors. Men with immediate family members who have had prostate or breast cancer are more likely to get prostate cancer.
Maintain a healthy diet. Eat meals rich in cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, watercress and cauliflower, fish--particularly omega-3 rich salmon, antioxidant-rich berries and whole grains.
Don't forget to drink water. Good hydration is essential to a healthy prostate.
- Geo Espinosa, ND, is the Director of the Integrative Urological Center
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HealthScout.com
September 16
Fertility Drug Shows Potential Against Hot Flashes- By Serena Gordon
A powerful fertility drug may have another use for older women: stopping hot flashes.
In a letter to the editor in the Sept. 17 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers from the Netherlands report that in three cases, the injectable medication cetrorelix (Cetrotide) helped ease hot flash symptoms. Not everyone is convinced that this drug is a viable option for treating menopausal symptoms, however. "This letter describes three cases and has no controls. This drug works on receptors in the brain and no one knows what the long-term consequences might be," said Dr. Lila Nachtigall, director of the Women's Wellness Program at the NYU Langone Medical Center, and a professor at the New York University School of Medicine in New York City. Nachtigall said she would never recommend such a drug to her patients when there are other, often more well-studied options available to treat hot flashes.
- Lila Nachtigall, MD, professor, obstetrics & gynecology and director, Women's Wellness Program
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W Magazine
October 2009
Beauty Buzz: New discoveries in fragrance, skincare and breast health- By Jane Larkworthy
Doctors at the Cancer Institute at NYU Langone Medical Center have found a link between the overproduction of the gene eIF4G1 and an increased risk for developing IBC. Though IBC makes up only about one to 5 percent of all breast cancers, its rate of occurrence in premenopausal women and in women postpregnancy is significantly higher than that of other breast cancers. Dr. Robert Schneider, associate director of translational research at NYU, who, along with research associate Deborah Silvera and radiation oncologist and department chair Silvia Formenti, conducted the study, encourages a take-charge attitude. “My patients know their bodies better than anybody, and they know when a swollen breast is abnormal,” says Schneider, who hopes a standard test for the gene will be available in the next few years.
- 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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Sobefit Magazine
September/October 2009
Are 40s the New 30s? – Sobefit
At a certain age, we stop putting the right number of candles on the birthday cake. Call it denial, or maybe we’re just hipper and cooler than our parents. But while the elderly are reversed in some cultures, America aging just means grayer hair, sagging skin and achier bones. Have society and science made staying younger longer a must—and a possibility? “We don’t want to just live longer—but also to be healthy in our later years,” said Jennifer Crum RD, nutritionist at NYU Cancer Institute at NYU Langone Medical Center. “We want to stay active and be able to socialize. People feel really old when they can’t remember names and things, but we’re learning about brain-boosting foods that may help keep the mind young.”
- Jennifer Crum, RD, nutritionist, NYU Cancer Institute, NYU Langone Medical Center
(No web link available.)

September/October 2009
Body Language – Sobefit
They say the eyes are the window to your soul, but we say your entire body is an eye-opener to the state of your health. Changes in the color and texture of your skin, hair and even stool may be nothing serious, but they could also offer cues to an underlying health condition. Keep a close watch on any skin changes: “If you have an itch without a rash, which means something internal is causing the itch,” says Jessie Cheung, MD, professor of dermatology at NYU Langone Medical Cancer.
- Jessie Cheung, MD, assistant professor, The Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology
(No web link available.)

 

Woman’s Day
September 18
Daily Dose: The Truth About Chocolate and Migraines
Many headache specialists, including Dr. Halpern, believe that chocolate doesn’t cause migraines but rather that craving chocolate might simply indicate that a migraine is on its way. “Some people have physiological cravings for chocolate anywhere from 4-24 hours before their migraine,” she explains. “Because of that association, people often assume that it triggers the attack—but in reality it may be your body attempting to treat a migraine before it even begins. Caffeine, which is present in chocolate, actually gets rid of migraines when used sparingly.”
- Audrey Halpern, MD, clinical assistant professor, neurology
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Health.com
September
Hot Tips, Tricks, and Updates That Help You Live Healthy
Two billion people around the globe may catch swine flu. But that doesn’t mean you should run right out and get the H1N1 flu vaccine. For starters, it may not be ready by the time you read this. And if you’re a healthy adult you may not need it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Exceptions: If you have a chronic illness, are pregnant, or have a baby less than six months old, ask your doc about the swine flu vaccine.) The real must-have, though, is the shot for regular, or seasonal, flu. Everyone needs that this year—and ASAP, says Philip Tierno, director of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology at NYU Langone Medical Center. The seasonal-flu vaccine may even offer a little protection against swine flu, according to some experts. So don’t hesitate—vaccinate! 90% That’s the percentage you may reduce your risk of catching influenza by getting a seasonal-flu shot.
- Philip Tierno, PhD, director, Clinical Microbiology and Immunology
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KCCI-TV.com
September 21
The 8 Age-Defying Superfoods You Need
You can't fight Mother Nature. But when it comes to battling the effects of aging, you can work with her … by using the age-defying influence of superfoods to turn back the clock. Nutrient-rich superfoods like acai and goji berries, pomegranate and mangosteen are loaded with free-radical fighting antioxidants. Research has shown that these foods can help people who eat them regularly look and feel younger. In fact, a team of nutritional researchers in California recently completed a 5-year study that shows people who eat more fruits and vegetables appear to age at a slower rate than those who don't have such healthful diets. Dr. Laurence Meyerson, a professor at NYU School of Medicine highly recommends Proleva to individuals who are interested in using a safe dietary supplement. "It is likely that the components of Proleva's unique formulation may very well produce additive or even synergistic biological effects," Meyerson says.
- Laurence Meyerson, PhD, research associate professor, psychiatry
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WOR Radio 710HD
September 16
Joan Hamburg Show
WOR Joan Hamburg talked with Dr. Michael Phillips from NYU Langone Medical Center about who should get the flu shot.Dr. Phillips said, ‘Everyone has concern about vaccines. The major advance for stemming the terrible toll of infectious disease has been vaccines. Every Fall when you get your flu vaccine you are getting a new strain each year.”
- Michael Phillips, MD, clinical assistant professor, medicine
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FoxNews.com
September 18
Cheney's Back Surgery Risky, But Necessary, Doctors Say- By Jessica Ryen Doyle
A victim of four heart attacks, Cheney also suffers from lumbar spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal that is a common cause of lower back pain in older adults. Cheney was undergoing elective surgery Thursday to deal with his back problem, leading some to ask: Can someone with his history of heart problems tolerate surgery? “The risks are assessed by the level of his heart function,” said Dr. Nieca Goldberg, director of New York University’s Women’s Heart Center, who has not treated Cheney. “The concerns are to make sure his pain management is good post-operatively. That will lower his stress.” Goldberg said if Cheney were to have another heart attack, the time to have a heart complication would be after a surgery is performed. However, he will be monitored closely, so it should not be a problem. “People are living longer, so they have more than one health condition, and sometimes they are going to need surgery,” said Goldberg. “The good news is, when they get anesthesia, the heart is monitored continuously, as is the oxygenation of his blood.”
- Nieca Goldberg, MD, director, Women’s Heart Center
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US News & World Report
September 18
Syndicated article by Health Day News
Lower Drinking Age Linked to Later-Life Problems- By Kathleen Doheny
People who grew up in a place and time when they could legally buy alcohol before age 21 are more likely than others to be alcoholics or have a drug problem, even well into adulthood, new research shows. This study is believed to be the first to look at the very long-term effects of lowered drinking ages. The study "substantiates something that has not been substantiated this way before -- that the [legal] drinking age really has long-term impact," said Dr. Marc Galanter, director of the division of alcoholism and drug abuse at NYU School of Medicine. "Even in [people's] 40s and 50s, this impact was felt."
- Marc Galanter, MD, professor, psychiatry
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Medicine.net
September 3
Respirator Masks Best for Swine Flu Health Workers
Because people can catch the new H1N1 swine flu by inhaling the virus, health-care workers who deal with flu patients should wear properly fitted N95 disposable respirator masks, a new report from the Institute of Medicine advises. These masks are not the same as loosely fitted surgical masks. N95 respirators fit tightly around the mouth and nose and have filters that can block about 95% of the flu virus, according to the report released Thursday. "Surgical masks are not effective and will only spread panic," said Dr. Marc Siegel, an associate professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City. "Only people with flu should use them." "Health-care workers in direct contact with flu patients should use N95 respirator masks," Siegel added. "They are the most effective, but are not for general use."
- Marc Siegel, MD, associate professor, medicine
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NewsRx.com
September 21
Foot Study
According to a study published in the Foot & Ankle International, "The goal of this review was to compare the functional outcomes of patients less than 60 and greater than or equal to 60 years old following operative stabilization of unstable ankle fractures.” Researcher Roy Davidovitch and his colleagues at NYU Langone Medical Center concluded: "Operative fixation of unstable ankle fractures in patients greater than or equal to 60 years old can provide a reasonable functional result at the 1-year followup with a return to preoperative baseline even though they report more limitation of activities than younger patients."
- Roy I. Davidovitch, assistant professor, orthopedic surgery, The Hospital for Joinnt Diseases
(No web link available.)

Huffington Post
September 19
On Women's Friendship Day: Five Ways to Make Yourself a Keeper- By Dr. Irene S. Levine
Unless you're an alumnus of Kappa Delta Sorority (unlikely) or a friend of mine (less likely), you probably don't know that Sunday, September 20, 2009, the third Sunday in September, is National Women's Friendship Day. Until I began writing a book about female friendship, I didn't realize it either. I love that it isn't a Hallmark day that has been hijacked by commercialism. There is no pressure: to decorate, to buy gifts, to send cards, or to do anything that I don't really want to do. Now recognized by the Governors of 34 states, the day is intended merely as a reminder of the contributions female friendships play in enhancing our health and emotional well-being at every stage of life.
- Irene S. Levine, PhD, professor, psychiatry
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Can We Prevent Defective Babies?-By Abby Martinez
Can a woman do anything to protect her child-to-be? In many cases, she can do a great deal, according to doctors engaged in current research. Birth defects arising from genetic factors - including defects resulting from imperfect genes and chromosomes in sperm and ovum - are subject to little or no control at present But the large number of birth defects resulting from things that happened to the mother during pregnancy can be reduced. German measles in particular. "The first six weeks after conception are the most dangerous for the fetus," said Dr. Herbert S. Kupperman, M. D., Associate Professor of Medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center. "Contraction of German measles during this period almost invariably leads to serious incurable defects in the child."
- Herbert S. Kupperman, MD, associate professor, Department of Medicine
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Renal & Urology News
September 17
PSM Site Predicts PSA Relapse Risk-By Jody A. Charnow
The risk of biochemical recurrence (BCR) after radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer depends on the site of positive surgical margins (PSMs) in the biopsy specimen, according to researchers. In a study of 1,308 men who underwent radical surgery for prostate cancer, Herbert Lepor, MD, and colleagues at NYU Langone Medical Center, in New York City, examined the relationship between the location of PSMs and biochemical recurrence. The researchers defined BCR as three consecutive rises in PSA level, with a peak level of at least 0.15 ng/mL. The researchers had more than five years of follow-up data for 246 patients.
- Herbert Lepor, MD, Martin Spatz Chairman, Department of Urology
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Greenwich Times
September 16
Getting Old Isn't What-or When-it Used to Be-By Carla Wallach
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the 65 and older population will double between now and 2030. The bureau goes on to say that in 10 years, old people will outnumber young people across the globe. If the president still writes a letter of congratulations to each person who reaches 100, he must be busy since there are nearly 85,000 of them and growing each day. It is no longer newsworthy to turn 100. That brings us to the question of when does old age start? At 96, Emma Shulman was the subject of an interview in The New York Times this past July. She is currently a consultant to the Center for Excellence on Brain Aging and Dementia after working at NYU Langone Medical Center as a senior social worker and research assistant until 2005. She is amused that she has a son on Medicare.
- Emma Shulman, consultant, Center for Excellence on Brain Aging and Dementia, NYU Langone Medical Center
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Orlando Sentinel
September 10
How to Prevent the Spread of Swine Flu-By Linda Shrieves
Worried about the spread of swine flu? Join the crowd. Already, there are reports coming from schools across Florida that kids are being diagnosed with swine flu (also known as the H1N1 virus). And in Georgia, Alaska and Puerto Rico, health officials say swine flu already is widespread. The good news is this: Although swine flu is highly contagious, the World Health Organization says it generally causes "very mild illness" in healthy people. But there are ways to prevent the flu from spreading, mainly by washing your hands. If doctors sound like your mom, who keeps bugging you to wash your hands before you eat, there's a reason. "Whenever you're contaminated by touching things that other people have touched - desks or tabletops in the lunchroom - you really should wash your hands before eating or drinking or touching your face," said Dr. Philip Tierno, director of clinical microbiology and immunology at NYU Langone Medical Center. "Eighty percent of all infections are spread when you touch germs and then touch your mouth, eyes and nose."
-Phillip M. Tierno Jr., PhD, director, microbiology and immunology
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DentalPlans
September 16
Fertility Drug Shows Potential Against Hot Flashes-By Serena Gordon
A powerful fertility drug may have another use for older women: stopping hot flashes. In a letter to the editor in the Sept. 17 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers from the Netherlands report that in three cases, the injectable medication cetrorelix (Cetrotide) helped ease hot flash symptoms. However, not everyone is convinced that this drug is a viable option for treating menopausal symptoms, however. "This letter describes three cases and has no controls. This drug works on receptors in the brain and no one knows what the long-term consequences might be," said Dr. Lila Nachtigall, director of the Women's Wellness Program at NYU Langone Medical Center, and a professor at the New York University School of Medicine in New York City.
-Lila Nachtigall, MD, professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Washington Square News
September 17
Patient Care Added to Syllabus-By Smriti Singh
Students at NYU Langone Medical Center have begun their year under a revamped curriculum. Previously, the first two years of medical school consisted of science courses and lectures, while the latter two years focused on clinical medicine. But now, although medical students still take science courses during their first two years, the curriculum is more patient-centered, and in their third and fourth years, students continue to study the scientific concepts behind illnesses. Steven Abramson, senior vice president and vice dean for education at NYU Langone Medical Center, said the school is attempting to create a "spiral curriculum." "Topics are introduced and reintroduced in a greater degree of sophistication as the student goes through the first year and second year of medical school, [building] a staircase of knowledge," he said.
-Steven Abramson, MD, professor, Department of Medicine (Rheumatology) and Pathology; senior vice president and vice dean for education, faculty and academic affairs
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US News & World Report
September 16
Fertility Drug Shows Potential Against Hot Flashes-By Serena Gordon
A powerful fertility drug may have another use for older women: stopping hot flashes. In a letter to the editor in the Sept. 17 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers from the Netherlands report that in three cases, the injectable medication cetrorelix (Cetrotide) helped ease hot flash symptoms. However, not everyone is convinced that this drug is a viable option for treating menopausal symptoms, however. "This letter describes three cases and has no controls. This drug works on receptors in the brain and no one knows what the long-term consequences might be," said Dr. Lila Nachtigall, director of the Women's Wellness Program at NYU Langone Medical Center, and a professor at the NYU School of Medicine in New York City.
-Lila Nachtigall, MD, professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
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RT Magazine
September 16
Tuberculosis Patients Can Reduce Transmissibility by Inhaling Interferon through a Nebulizer
A new study published in the September 15^th issue of PLoS ONE found that patients with cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis receiving anti-TB medications supplemented with nebulized interferon-gamma have fewer bacilli in the lungs and less inflammation, thereby reducing the transmissibility of tuberculosis in the early phase of treatment. "Our findings create an opportunity to combat TB bacilli in the lungs and reduce inflammation in the early stages of the disease when the tuberculosis is transmissible," says William N. Rom, MD, MPH, the Judith and Sol Bergstein Professor of Medicine and Environmental Medicine, director of the Bellevue Chest Service, and director of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center. "Nebulized interferon doesn't replace medications used to fight tuberculosis, but it shortens the time when the disease is spread-which could be critical for control of the spread of the disease." This study was performed, in part, at Bellevue Hospital Center, affiliated with NYU School of Medicine. The co-authors of the study include Rany Condos, MD, of the Department of Medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and Dr. Rod Dawson, MBChB, of the Department of Medicine at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. The research was funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.
- William N. Rom, MD, MPH, The Sol and Judith Bergstein Professor of Medicine
-Rany Condos, MD, associate professor, Department of Medicine
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Naples News
September 16
Your Showerhead is Filled with Nasty Bacteria-By Ann Porter
New research suggests that many shower heads are teeming with Mycobacterium avium, a bacteria that can cause lung disease. Should you be worried? The type and number of bacteria in shower heads varied from place to place, often corresponding roughly with levels of bacteria in the water supply. However, one type of bacteria, called mycobacteria, appeared in higher numbers inside shower heads. The researchers think these bacteria form a waxy biofilm that's not easily washed away by water. "[The study] is nothing to freak out about because most germs don't hurt you," says Philip M. Tierno Jr., PhD, the director of clinical microbiology and immunology at NYU Langone Medical Center. People come into contact with 60,000 types or groups of bacteria on a regular basis, says Tierno. "Only one or two percent are pathogenic," he explains.
-Phillip M. Tierno Jr., PhD, director, microbiology and immunology
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BusinessWeek
September 10
One Dose of Swine Flu Vaccine Offers Protection: Studies
Preliminary tests of an H1N1 swine flu vaccine conducted in Australia and Britain show that a single dose creates enough antibodies to protect against the virus within about 10 days. That's a potentially significant development, because it was thought that two shots would be needed to provide full immunity to the virus. A one-dose protocol would greatly expand the supply of vaccine and hasten individual immunity. Dr. Marc Siegel, associate professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, said, "It looks like a single dose works -- wow. This is great news," Siegel said. "It looked like it was going to take two shots. But I am still expecting two shots [will be needed] in kids, because they don't have the immune basis," he noted.
- Marc Siegel, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Medicine
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CNN.com
September 14
Study: Showerheads May Deliver Blast of Bacteria-By Denise Mann
If the shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho scared you, here's another reason to scream: A new study says that potentially disease-causing germs can get trapped in showerheads and grow into biofilm, or coats of slime that deliver a bacteria blast along with your hot water. Although the classic horror film gave legions of moviegoers a fear of showering, the new study shouldn't do the same, experts say. The bacteria probably don't pose a threat to most people, although they could be problematic for those with weakened immune systems. "[The study] is nothing to freak out about because most germs don't hurt you," says Philip M. Tierno Jr., the director of clinical microbiology and immunology at NYU Langone Medical Center. People come into contact with 60,000 types or groups of bacteria on a regular basis, says Tierno, who is also a clinical professor of microbiology and pathology at the NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City. "Only one or two percent are pathogenic," he explains.
-Phillip M. Tierno Jr., PhD, director, microbiology and immunology
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Seattle Post Intelligencer
September 14
When Stress Keeps You Up at Night-By Stacy Colino
Stress-induced insomnia is rampant these days among 20- and 30-something women. Thanks to job and money craziness, hectic social schedules, and the pressure to be totally together, the typical chick is more tense than ever, and that means she's getting less sleep than her body needs, explains Joyce Walsleben, PhD, associate professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and coauthor of A Woman's Guide to Sleep. If stress kept you up only once every so often, it wouldn't be that big of a deal. Unfortunately, it's the snowball effect that makes the stress-sleeplessness trap so pernicious. "It's called psychophysiologic insomnia," says Walsleben. "After worrying about how you got no sleep the night before, you get into bed early the next night, worried that it'll happen again. But this panic produces brain activity that makes it even harder to sleep, and the cycle continues for days, even weeks."
- Joyce Walsleben, PhD, associate professor, Department of Medicine
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The Star Phoenix
September 14
Study exposes how bacteria resist antibiotics - By Julie Steenhuysen
Scientists have discovered how bacteria fend off a wide range of antibiotics, and blocking that defense mechanism could give existing antibiotics more power to fight dangerous infections. Researchers at NYU School of Medicine said on Thursday that bacteria produce certain nitric oxide-producing enzymes to resist antibiotics. Drugs that inhibit these enzymes can make antibiotics much more potent, making even deadly superbugs like Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA succumb, they said. "Developing new medications to fight antibiotic resistant bacteria like MRSA is a huge hurdle, associated with great cost and countless safety issues," said Evgeny Nudler of NYU Langone Medical Center, whose study appears in the journal Science. "Here, we have a short cut, where we don't have to invent new antibiotics. Instead, we can enhance the activity of well-established ones, making them more effective at lower doses," he said in a statement.
- Evgeny A. Nudler, PhD, the Julie Wilson Anderson Professor of Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry
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Agence France Press
September 13
Study explains bacteria's resistance to antibiotics -AFP
A small molecule composed of one atom of oxygen and one of nitrogen plays an important role in helping pathogens resist antibiotics, a new study has found. The study, led by Evgeny Nudler, professor of biochemistry at NYU Langone Medical Center, and published in Science magazine, provides evidence that nitric oxide (NO) is able to alleviate stress in bacteria caused by many antibiotics and helps it neutralize many antibacterial compounds. "Developing new medications to fight antibiotic resistant bacteria ... is a huge hurdle, associated with great cost and countless safety issues," he said in a statement. Dr. Nudler continued, "Here, we have a short cut, where we don't have to invent new antibiotics. Instead, we can enhance the activity of well established ones, making them more effective at lower doses." Dr. Vivian Lee, senior vice president of NYU Langone Medical Center, was also quoted in the article.
- Evgeny A. Nudler, PhD, the Julie Wilson Anderson Professor of Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry
- Vivian S. Lee, MD, PhD, MBA, vice dean for science, senior vice president and chief scientific officer
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tcetoday.com
September 14
Nitric Oxide Key to Antibiotic Resistance-By Adam Duckett
Biochemists at NYU Langone Medical Center say bacteria produce nitric oxide to neutralise the effects of antibiotics. Using this information, the researchers say that old drugs could be redesigned and used at lower doses to overcome superbugs like MRSA. In 2004, NYU Langone Medical Center biochemistry professor Evgeny Nudler found that bacteria produce nitric oxide to guard against oxidative stress. In a new study, he says that bacteria activate the same mechanism to resist the toxic effects of antibiotics. After eliminating their ability to produce nitric oxide, the team found that antibiotics work at lower doses. "Here, we have a short cut," says Nudler. "We don't have to invent new antibiotics. Instead, we can enhance the activity of well-established ones, making them more effective at lower doses."
- Evgeny A. Nudler, PhD, the Julie Wilson Anderson Professor of Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry
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Insciences.org
September 14
Tuberculosis Patients Can Reduce Transmissibility by Inhaling Interferon through a Nebulizer -Insciences.org-
A new study published in the September 15, 2009, issue of PLoS ONE found that patients with cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis receiving anti-TB medications supplemented with nebulized interferon-gamma have fewer bacilli in the lungs and less inflammation, thereby reducing the transmissibility of tuberculosis in the early phase of treatment. "Our findings create an opportunity to combat TB bacilli in the lungs and reduce inflammation in the early stages of the disease when the tuberculosis is transmissible," says William N. Rom, MD, MPH, the Judith and Sol Bergstein Professor of Medicine and Environmental Medicine, director of the Bellevue Chest Service, and director of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center. "Nebulized interferon doesn't replace medications used to fight tuberculosis, but it shortens the time when the disease is spread-which could be critical for control of the spread of the disease." This study was performed, in part, at Bellevue Hospital Center, affiliated with NYU School of Medicine. The co-authors of the study include Rany Condos, MD, of the Department of Medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and Dr. Rod Dawson, MBChB, of the Department of Medicine at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. The research was funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.
- William N. Rom, MD, MPH, professor/Sol and Judith Bergstein professor of medicine-Rany Condos, MD, associate professor, Department of Medicine
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Ethiopian Review
September 13
Sex-based Differences in ACS Mortality-By Michelle Mitzvie
Women who have an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have higher unadjusted rates of mortality at 30 days than men, but these sex-based differences disappear after adjustment for clinical variables at presentation and other angiographic data, according to the results of a new study. "The women in this study were more likely to be older, more likely to be hypertensive and diabetic, and more likely to have a history of heart failure or high cholesterol," said lead investigator Dr. Jeffrey Berger (NYU Langone Medical Center, New York). "When you're trying to understand if there is a difference between men and women related to an outcome, older people with more comorbidities will do worse. The obvious question is, ‘Do women do worse because of these comorbidities, or do they do worse because they are women?' I think our study, to a large extent, suggests that much of the difference in mortality is attributed to these differences in comorbidities."
- Jeffrey Berger, MD, assistant professor, Department of Medicine (cardiology)
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The Huffington Post
September 15
BFF Until They Grew Apart-By Dr. Irene S. Levine
A column written by Dr. Irene S. Levine of NYU Langone Medical Center was included on the HuffingtonPost.com on September 15, detailing the relationship between best friends and how friends can often grow apart following different life experiences.
- Irene S. Levine, MD, clinical professor, Department of Psychiatry
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Scientific American
September 11
NO Good: Nitric Oxide May Be Key to Overcoming Antibiotic Resistance- By Katherine Harmon
Researchers may be a touch closer to eliminating antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and anthrax, thanks to a troublesome air pollutant-nitric oxide (NO). In the body, however, the compound plays a range of crucial roles-assisting with processes ranging from brain function to penile erection. Recent studies have discovered that NO also helps bacteria protect themselves. "This particular function of NO [is] important in making pathogens virulent," says Evgeny Nudler, a professor of biochemistry at NYU Langone Medical Center in Manhattan. A new study, co-authored by Nudler and published online yesterday in Science magazine, shows that stopping the creation of bacterial nitric oxide synthases (bNOS), enzymes that contribute to the production of NO, may leave the microbes more vulnerable to antibiotic treatment.
- Evgeny A. Nudler, PhD, the Julie Wilson Anderson Professor of Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry
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BBC News
September 13
Antibiotic Resistance Clue Found-BBC
US scientists have uncovered a defence mechanism in bacteria that allows them to fend off the threat of antibiotics. The latest research, done by a team at NYU Langone Medical Center, showed that in bacteria the production of nitric oxide - a small molecule made up of one nitrogen and one oxygen atom - increased their resistance to antibiotics. Study leader, Dr. Evgeny Nudler, said developing new medicines to fight antibiotic resistance, such as that seen with MRSA is a "huge hurdle." He continued, "Here, we have a short cut, where we don't have to invent new antibiotics."
- Evgeny A. Nudler, PhD, the Julie Wilson Anderson Professor of Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry
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The Straits Times
September 13
New Study Explains Resistance--The Straits Times
A small molecule composed of one atom of oxygen and one of nitrogen plays an important role in helping pathogens resist antibiotics, a new study has found. The study, led by Evgeny Nudler, professor of biochemistry at NYU Langone Medical Center, and published in Science magazine, provides evidence that nitric oxide (NO) is able to alleviate stress in bacteria caused by many antibiotics and helps it neutralize many antibacterial compounds. 'Developing new medications to fight antibiotic resistant bacteria ... is a huge hurdle, associated with great cost and countless safety issues,' he said in a statement. Dr. Nudler continued, "Here, we have a short cut, where we don't have to invent new antibiotics. Instead, we can enhance the activity of well established ones, making them more effective at lower doses." Dr. Vivian Lee, senior vice president of NYU Langone Medical Center, was also quoted in the study. "We are very excited about the potential impact of this research in terms of continuing to push the boundaries of research in the area of infectious diseases," she said. "With the emergence of drug resistant bacteria, it's imperative that researchers strive to find conceptually new approaches to fight these pathogens."
- Evgeny A. Nudler, PhD, the Julie Wilson Anderson Professor of Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry
- Vivian S. Lee, MD, PhD, MBA, vice dean for science, senior vice president and chief scientific officer
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Drugs Review
September 12
Scientists Discover Mechanism to Make Existing Antibiotics More Effective at Lower Doses - Press Release
A new study published in the September 11, 2009, issue of Science magazine by researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center reveals a conceptually novel mechanism that plays an important role in making human pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus anthracis resistant to numerous antibiotics. The study led by Evgeny A. Nudler, PhD, provides evidence that nitric oxide, or NO, is able to alleviate the oxidative stress in bacteria caused by many antibiotics and also helps to neutralize many antibacterial compounds. Eliminating this NO-mediated bacterial defense renders existing antibiotics more potent at lower, less toxic, doses. "Developing new medications to fight antibiotic resistant bacteria like MRSA is a huge hurdle, associated with great cost and countless safety issues," says Nudler. "We are very excited about the potential impact of this research in terms of continuing to push the boundaries of research in the area of infectious diseases," said Vivian S. Lee, MD, PhD, MBA, vice dean for science, senior vice president and chief scientific officer of NYU Langone Medical Center. Co-authors of the study include Drs. Ivan Gusarov and Konstantin Shatalin of the department of biochemistry at NYU School of Medicine in New York.
- Evgeny A. Nudler, PhD, the Julie Wilson Anderson Professor of Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry
- Vivian S. Lee, MD, PhD, MBA, vice dean for science, senior vice president and chief scientific officer
- Ivan Gusarov, research assistant professor, Department of Biochemistry
- Konstantin Shatalin, research assistant professor, Department of Biochemistry
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Washington Square News
September 14
Med Center Ranks in Top 20-Ashley Mason
If you get your medical treatment at a teaching hospital, NYU's among the best to go to - at least according to one report. The NYU Langone Medical Center earned an "honor roll" position on the U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Hospitals" list, which was released in July. Of the 4,861 teaching hospitals that were evaluated, just 21 made the honor roll. Of those 21 hospitals, Langone ranked 17th (tying with Yale-New Haven Hospital). Andrew Litt, vice dean and executive vice president of NYU Langone, said he thinks pinpointing the center's success is difficult. "I think these things kind of work like building blocks," Litt said. "I think we've had incredible research outcomes that people know about. We've recruited some incredible people here. It's a whole bunch of little things." To maintain its rank, the center plans to follow dean Robert Grossman's vision of establishing Langone as a world-class institution. Litt said Langone strives to be one of the top facilities that people consider for health care, research and education. "We're happy to be recognized for the success that we've seen, but we're very cognizant of the fact that we have a lot of work to do to make this a better place," said Litt.
- Andrew Litt, MD, executive vice president and vice dean, chief of staff
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NurseZone.com
September 14
The Lessons of 9/11: Nurses Now Better Prepared for Mass Casualties-By Susan Kreimer
Lisa Dyer, RN, MSN, CNS, answered when duty called on Sept. 11, 2001. She was at home in the Bronx section of New York City, watching cable TV and doing laundry when a neighbor told her a plane had hit the World Trade Center. After switching to a regular channel, she saw another airliner plow into the second twin tower. She called work and asked if she should come in early. Her boss replied "definitely." Since that fateful day, disaster drills have become common in hospitals. Simulating such situations helps brace nurses for the unthinkable - responding to mass casualties. Frontline staff members are encouraged to voice their opinions and suggest ideas for change to the emergency management team. "Many lessons learned from 9/11 are now standard operating procedures for nursing and hospital emergency preparedness," said Kimberly S. Glassman, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, vice president of patient care services at NYU Langone Medical Center in Manhattan. Glassman explained that at NYU Langone Medical Center, several drills are conducted each year to test emergency plans for a variety of disasters ranging from pandemic flus to fires, mass casualties and local accidents. Public agencies sponsor training sessions in which employees can share knowledge with workers at other hospitals. "Nurses participate in mass inoculation ‘pods,' serve as integral members of hospital and health care facility emergency preparedness teams, and teach about personal preparedness in community centers," Glassman said. NYU Langone also has partnered with other entities to create credentialing databases that would enable hospitals to readily share staff in disasters, if one facility is impacted more than others.
- Kimberly S. Glassman, PhD, vice president for Hospital Operations, patient services
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USA Today
September 14
My Medical Oath Requires No Government Oversight-By Marc Siegel
USA Today published an Opinion piece written by Mark Siegel, clinical associate professor at NYU Langone Medical Center, addressing President Obama's statement that physician's were performing certain medical procedures just for the money.
- Marc Siegel, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Medicine
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NY Post
September 14
Swine Flu Wave Could Wreak Workplace Havoc-By Cara O'Flynn
For Keith Baumwald and his co-workers at Shoplet.com, an online retailer, it's all about sanitizing. In their Financial District office, there are dispensers of hand sanitizer in the entry and the sales department, hand wipes on the coffee machines, and personal Purell bottles on every desk. Masks and gloves are available, if it comes to that. "It's going to be a big problem," says Dr. Marc Siegel, an associate professor at NYU Langone Medical Center and an expert on flu transmission. "In a worst-case scenario, this could paralyze the economy."
- Marc Siegel, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Medicine
No link available.

Fox Business News
September 11
Insuring Better Care
Andrew Rubin, vice president of medical center clinical affairs and affiliates at NYU Langone Medical Center spoke with Fox Business News about high-quality inexpensive health care. "A lot of medical centers do a lot of great things to keep costs down," he said." In response to a question by the Fox Business News anchor regarding where hospitals fails, Rubin said, "It's really where all the doctors and various doctors with specialties at the hospital work together to take care of the patient. In systems where there's less of a connection between all the physicians taking care of that patient and less of a connection with that hospital, that the care can sometimes get a little scattered."
-Andrew Rubin, vice president, medical center clinical affairs and affiliates
Learn more: http://tinyurl.com/ln9yna

 

NY Daily News
September 13
Tabitha Mullings Her Lost Hands, Legs to Illness, Then Lost Prostheses to Thief-John Marzulli
It's been a long, hard year for Tabitha Mullings: She lost her hands - and then she lost them again. The Brooklyn single mom fell suddenly ill last year, damaging all four limbs and her eyesight. And then in the spring, a heartless thief stole her prosthetic hands from her car. Buoyed by love from her three sons and fiancé Kahseem Davis and the caregivers at Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Mullings' recovery has had more ups than downs.
- Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center
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Daily Record.com
September 13
N.J. Miles for Melanoma Run & Walk Set for Morris Twp.-Daily Record
New Jersey's third annual Miles for Melanoma Run & Walk will take place Sept. 20 at the township municipal complex. The 5K run and 2-mile walk will raise money to support the Melanoma Research Foundation's research mission. Sponsors of the run and walk include: the Carol G. Simon Cancer Center of Atlantic Health, the Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Genta, Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania, Perkins' Restaurant & Bakery, the NYU Cancer Institute, and Lomuro Davison Eastman and Munoz P.A.
- The Cancer Institute at NYU Langone Medical Center
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The Huffington Post
September 11
Call Healthcare What it is: A Basic Human Right-By Allen Keller
A post entry written by Dr. Allen Keller of NYU Langone Medical Center was included on the HuffingtonPost.com on September 8, detailing his position on health care reform. Dr. Keller states in his post that "Health care is a basic human right" and suggests that any and all decisions must be viewed through this rights-based perspective: Does a decision/policy promote or impede a right to health care?
- Allen Keller, MD, associate professor, Department of Medicine
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EmpowerHer.com
September 10
One Dose of Swine Flu Vaccine Offers Protection: Studies
Preliminary tests of an H1N1 swine flu vaccine conducted in Australia and Britain show that a single dose creates enough antibodies to protect against the virus within about 10 days. That's a potentially significant development, because it was thought that two shots would be needed to provide full immunity to the virus. A one-dose protocol would greatly expand the supply of vaccine and hasten individual immunity. Dr. Marc Siegel, associate professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, said, "It looks like a single dose works -- wow." "This is great news," Siegel said. "It looked like it was going to take two shots. But I am still expecting two shots [will be needed] in kids, because they don't have the immune basis," he noted.
- Marc Siegel, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Medicine
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Oregon's Women Report
September 12
Article syndicated by Health Day News
Allergies Dampen Sex Lives- By Kathleen Doheny
Having allergies can take a toll on your sex life, new research shows. When polled, 83 percent of people with allergic rhinitis said it affected their sexual activity at least sometimes, with almost 18 percent of those affected saying their allergies nearly always got in the way of a satisfying sex life. "The study definitely sheds light on a new area," said Dr. Clifford Bassett, a clinical assistant professor of medicine at the Long Island College Hospital/State University of New York and a clinical instructor at NYU School of Medicine. "Sexual function is not something typically evaluated [with allergies]," he said.
- Clifford Bassett, MD, clinical instructor, Department of Medicine
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MSNBC
September 13
Cardio Tastic Surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center
Every once in a while every guy who thrives on being in control has to hand over the reigns sometime. Case and point, Dr. Hodai (a cardiac thoracic surgeon at NYU Langone Medical Center) has been obsessed with getting a tattoo since he was 14 years old and that, he couldn't possibly do by himself. But he wasn't going to let just anyone mark up his body...Dr. Usuf Hodai allowed MSNBC to film his tattoo process by Paul Booth of Last Rites Tattoo Theater in New York City. "I looked at a lot of his work, and he had a log of the personality traits that I like and I have, so it was just a perfect match. (Note: Previously taped segment aired on September 13)
-Usuf Hodai, MD, cardiac thoracic surgeon

 

Reuters
September 10
Study exposes how bacteria resist antibiotics - By Julie Steenhuysen
Scientists have discovered how bacteria fend off a wide range of antibiotics, and blocking that defense mechanism could give existing antibiotics more power to fight dangerous infections. Researchers at NYU School of Medicine said on Thursday that bacteria produce certain nitric oxide-producing enzymes to resist antibiotics. Drugs that inhibit these enzymes can make antibiotics much more potent, making even deadly superbugs like Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA succumb, they said. "Developing new medications to fight antibiotic resistant bacteria like MRSA is a huge hurdle, associated with great cost and countless safety issues," said Evgeny Nudler of NYU Langone Medical Center, whose study appears in the journal Science. "Here, we have a short cut, where we don't have to invent new antibiotics. Instead, we can enhance the activity of well-established ones, making them more effective at lower doses," he said in a statement.
- Evgeny A. Nudler, PhD, the Julie Wilson Anderson Professor of Biochemistry
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ANI
September 11
How to make antibiotics more effective at lower doses - by Mohit Joshi
Researchers at the NYU School of Medicine say that they have gained significant insights into a mechanism that plays an important role in making human pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus anthracis resistant to numerous antibiotics. Writing about their work in the journal Science, they have said that their study provides evidence that Nitric Oxide (NO) is able to alleviate the oxidative stress in bacteria caused by many antibiotics, and that it also helps to neutralize many antibacterial compounds. Lead researcher Evgeny A. Nudler, The Julie Wilson Anderson Professor of Biochemistry at NYU Langone Medical Center, says in the report that eliminating this NO-mediated bacterial defense renders existing antibiotics more potent at lower, less toxic, doses. "Developing new medications to fight antibiotic resistant bacteria like MRSA is a huge hurdle, associated with great cost and countless safety issues. Here, we have a short cut, where we don't have to invent new antibiotics. Instead, we can enhance the activity of well established ones, making them more effective at lower doses," says Nudler. We are very excited about the potential impact of this research in terms of continuing to push the boundaries of research in the area of infectious diseases," said Dr. Vivian S. Lee, vice dean for science, senior vice president and chief scientific officer of NYU Langone Medical Center. "With the emergence of drug resistant bacteria, it's imperative that researchers strive to find conceptually new approaches to fight these pathogens," Lee added.
- Evgeny A. Nudler, PhD, the Julie Wilson Anderson Professor of Biochemistry
- Vivian S. Lee, MD, PhD, MBA, vice dean for science, senior vice president and chief scientific officer
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Insciences.org
September 10
Scientists Discover Mechanism to Make Existing Antibiotics More Effective at Lower Doses - Press Release
A new study published in the September 11, 2009, issue of Science by researchers at the NYU School of Medicine reveals a conceptually novel mechanism that plays an important role in making human pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus anthracis resistant to numerous antibiotics. The study led by Evgeny A. Nudler, PhD, provides evidence that nitric oxide, or NO, is able to alleviate the oxidative stress in bacteria caused by many antibiotics and also helps to neutralize many antibacterial compounds. Eliminating this NO-mediated bacterial defense renders existing antibiotics more potent at lower, less toxic, doses. "Developing new medications to fight antibiotic resistant bacteria like MRSA is a huge hurdle, associated with great cost and countless safety issues," says Nudler. "We are very excited about the potential impact of this research in terms of continuing to push the boundaries of research in the area of infectious diseases," said Vivian S. Lee, MD, PhD, MBA, vice dean for science, senior vice president and chief scientific officer of NYU Langone Medical Center. Co-authors of the study include Drs. Ivan Gusarov and Konstantin Shatalin of the department of biochemistry at NYU School of Medicine in New York.
- Evgeny A. Nudler, PhD, the Julie Wilson Anderson Professor of Biochemistry
- Vivian S. Lee, MD, PhD, MBA, vice dean for science, senior vice president and chief scientific officer
- Ivan Gusarov, biochemistry
- Konstantin Shatalin, biochemistry
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Fox 5's Good Day New York
September 11
Ovarian Cancer
James Speyer, MD, of NYU's Clinical Cancer Center was interviewed about Ovarian Cancer- how it is diagnosed, symptoms women may experience and how it is treated during a segment on Good Day NY.
- James Speyer, MD, professor, medicine, oncology, The Cancer Institute
No link available.

 

Baltimore Sun
September 11
Women Still Waiting for Their Viagra- By Lindsay Lyon
Happy birthday, Viagra. It's been a decade since Pfizer's lovechild was borne through the straits of regulatory approval. The little pill has helped millions of men reclaim their pride and their sex lives. It has also spawned progeny, in a sense, in the form of the erectile dysfunction drugs Levitra and Cialis. Men these days have little reason to let ED ruin a romp in the bedroom. Women, on the other hand, might not be as eager to celebrate.After 10 years of buzz about a Viagra-like drug for women, nothing has been approved to date.. "This is not what women want, and this is not what's in their best interest," says Leonore Tiefer, clinical associate professor of psychiatry at the NYU School of Medicine, who's at the helm of this countermovement. Her view: It's normal for some healthy women to experience a decline in sexual interest, and it doesn't warrant medical treatment.
- Leonore Tiefer, clinical associate professor, psychiatry
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Ethiopian Review
September 10
Sleep Apnea Increases Risk of Premature Death- by Maggie Guo
People who suffer from severe breathing disorders during sleep, including sleep apnea, have been shown to have an increased risk of premature death. In fact, severe sleep apnea elevates the risk of an early death by 46 percent, according to a team of U.S. researchers. According to Dr. David Rapoport of NYU Langone Medical Center who worked on the study, "The best treatment for sleep apnea is weight loss. However, the most successful treatment can be a nasal CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) mask that applies pressure to help keep the airways of a patient open while they sleep, allowing normal breathing." Rapoport also added, "Another possible helpful treatment is surgery. That may include tonsil removal." He further noted, "A mouth guard that pulls a patient's mouth forward is another option."
- David Rapoport, director, NYU Sleep Disorders Center
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Atlanta Journal Constitution
September 11
One Dose of Swine Flu Vaccine Offers Protection: Studies
Preliminary tests of an H1N1 swine flu vaccine conducted in Australia and Britain show that a single dose creates enough antibodies to protect against the virus within about 10 days. That's a potentially significant development, because it was thought that two shots would be needed to provide full immunity to the virus. A one-dose protocol would greatly expand the supply of vaccine and hasten individual immunity. Dr. Marc Siegel, associate professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, said, "It looks like a single dose works -- wow." "This is great news," Siegel said. "It looked like it was going to take two shots. But I am still expecting two shots [will be needed] in kids, because they don't have the immune basis," he noted.
- Marc Siegel, MD, clinical associate professor, medicine
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ABCNews.com
September 10
Obama's Health Care Speech: Experts Sound Off
Following President Obama's speech on health care reform Wednesday night, the ABC News Medical Unit solicited comments from some of the country's leading health care policy experts. A number of them responded with their thoughts, and while more than half of the responses supported the ideas presented in the speech, many also had at least some reservations. Dr. Henry Black, clinical professor of internal medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, said he was "very impressed with the tone, firmness and especially the way he systematically dealt with all the accusations that have been leveled at him and the need for reform." Black further noted that he was "particularly pleased that some sort of public option was included." Black, though impressed with the speech, said he was left with "one big question" about how his talk of Medicare savings will play with the elderly.
- Henry Black, MD, clinical professor, medicine, cardiology
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US News & World Report
September 10
Article syndicated by Health Day News
Allergies Dampen Sex Lives- By Kathleen Doheny
Having allergies can take a toll on your sex life, new research shows.When polled, 83 percent of people with allergic rhinitis said it affected their sexual activity at least sometimes, with almost 18 percent of those affected saying their allergies nearly always got in the way of a satisfying sex life. The study definitely sheds light on a new area, said Dr. Clifford Bassett, a clinical assistant professor of medicine at the Long Island College Hospital/State University of New York and a clinical instructor at NYU School of Medicine. "Sexual function is not something typically evaluated [with allergies]," he said.
- Clifford Bassett, MD, clinical instructor, medicine
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Hartford Courant
September 10
How to Prevent the Spread of Swine Flu
Already, there are reports coming from schools across Florida that kids are being diagnosed with swine flu (also known as the H1N1 virus). And in Georgia, Alaska and Puerto Rico, health officials say swine flu already is widespread. The good news is this: Although swine flu is highly contagious, the World Health Organization says it generally causes "very mild illness" in healthy people. But there are ways to prevent the flu from spreading, mainly by washing your hands..
"Whenever you're contaminated by touching things that other people have touched - desks or tabletops in the lunchroom - you really should wash your hands before eating or drinking or touching your face," said Dr. Philip Tierno, director of clinical microbiology and immunology at New York University's Langone Medical Center. Eighty percent of all infections are spread when you touch germs and then touch your mouth, eyes and nose.
- Philip Tierno, PhD, director, clinical microbiology and immunology
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New York Daily News
September 10
Plea comes as city hurting for organ donations
Steve Jobs message about organ sharing couldn't come at a better time, city hospitals said- donations in New York area are down 30% since last year. The reasons for the drop are unclear said Dr. Lewis Teperman, director of transplantation and vice chair of surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center. He echoed Jobs' please for more people to agree to share their organs. "It's lifesaving", said Dr. Teperman.
- Lewis Teperman, MD, director, transplantation, vice chair of surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center
(No web link available.)

Tyra Banks Show
September 9
Go with the Flow: Period Questions
The Tyra Banks show had several doctors on the broadcast to answer questions from women about their menstrual cycle. Including Dr. Roshini Rajapaksa, an assistant professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center who is also a medical editor for Health Magazine. In this show, Tyra spent the entire hour having a no-holds-barred discussion on periods! Everything you wanted to know about your little friend but were too afraid to ask was discussed. "So, let's first start with amount. So, we have two examples here. Basically, you're gonna get a range anywhere from 4 to 12 teaspoons. It's really not that much, although it may look like more," said Dr. Rajapaksa.
- Roshini Rajapaksa, MD, assistant professor, medicine
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Self Magazine
September 2009
Health: Love your body (from the inside out)
You probably spend time every day thinking about how your body looks. But how often do you consider how it works? One suggestion to love your body more is to - "show your tear ducts some love." Here's the easiest health advice ever: Blink. "Blinking allows tears to provide a protective coating that prevents dry eyes and keeps out irritants," says Marguerite McDonald, M.D., professor of ophthalmology at New York University School of Medicine in New York City. Your blink rate slows when you're at the computer; artificial tears can keep eyes fresh. To reduce your risk for a blocked duct, wash your hands and keep fingers out of your eyes. When you apply eyeliner, stop just short of your tear ducts. "Crayon or liquid liner can cause infection," Dr. McDonald warns. Always remove makeup before you hit the hay.
- Marguerite McDonald, MD, professor, ophthalmology
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WCBD-TV.com
September 10
Secrets of women with healthy hearts
You're under 50. You're pretty fit. You can't have a heart attack, right? Truth is, starting at the age of 35, heart disease is the leading killer of women. About 35,000 women younger than 50 die of heart attacks annually-but only 20 percent of women believe they're at risk for heart disease. "We really need to bust the myth that this is just a disease of men and older women," says Dr. Nieca Goldberg, medical director of the New York University Women's Heart Program. Sixty-four percent of women die suddenly with their first heart attack without any warning signs at all, and almost all had at least one risk factor that could have been addressed.
- Nieca Goldberg, MD, director, Women's Heart Center, NYU Langone Medical Center
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Ethiopian Review
September 10
Health News Forum: Famous names may ‘pinpoint dementia'- by Michelle Mitzvie
A new technique may have discovered how to detect dementia much earlier than before. There may be a way for doctors to understand if someone is on the way to getting Alzheimer's disease long before symptoms truly show up. Publishing its report in the journal Neurology, it was discovered by the Cleveland Clinic that those most at risk of Alzheimer's disease or dementia reacted in a much different way to the names of big celebrities - such as Britney Spears - when under observation in an MRI machine. Those with the highest chance of getting Alzheimer's disease showed high levels of activity in the posterior cingulated, hippocampus and parts of the frontal cortex. Speaking to Time Magazine, Dr Ralph Nixon, a New York University School of Medicine psychiatry expert and vice chair of the advisory council of the Alzheimer's Association, explained: "This pushes the envelope further in attempting to detect dysfunction in the brain at a stage earlier than any detectable clinical measurement of cognitive decline. "We all know that the brain is changing metabolically at a very early stage of the disease, well before clinical symptoms. This type of technique validates that concept."
- Ralph Nixon, MD, PhD, professor, psychiatry, cell biology, Director of Center of Excellence for Brain Aging and Dementia
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Chiropractic Economics
September 10
Health plan problems? Most US consumers do nothing about it
Having problems with your health plan? If you speak up about it - or move on to another plan - you are a very unusual consumer, according to a new study. The vast majority of people do not complain formally about problems with their health plans, even if those problems have significant consequences, such as costing them thousands of dollars out of pocket or denying them essential care, say health policy experts like Brian Elbel, Ph.D., of New York University. It is even rarer for consumers to leave their health plan in response to problems, the researchers report in the September issue of The Milbank Quarterly. This silent majority, according to Elbel, are less likely to have protection against a particular plan's shortfalls and often are unable to identify the worst plans. Without this critical information, consumers cannot exert much influence on the health plan market and a choice between plans "would have only a modest influence on quality of care," said Elbel.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH; assistant professor, medicine
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MesotheliomaHelp.com
September 9
Cancer Surgeons form Band to Benefit Cancer Research
Six oncologists from across the country have joined together to form a band with a mission to "enhance knowledge about gynecologic cancers and bring hope through rhythm for women undergoing treatment." Their first CD eponymously titled, "N.E.D. No Evidence of Disease," was released yesterday with all proceeds going to benefit research into gynecological cancers. Their album features music with themes inspired by the experience of taking care of women with ovarian, uterine, and cervical cancers. The music and information about the band and their cause can be found on their website. Band members include Joanie Hope, MD - a Gynecologic Oncology Fellow at the NYU Langone Medical Center.
- Joanie Hope, MD, gynecologic oncology, NYU Cancer Institute
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KDAF-TV.com
September 9
ADHD drugs don't help children long term- By Nancy Shute
Stimulant drugs like Ritalin that are used to treat ADHD don't improve children's symptoms long term, according to new research published online in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.That may come as a surprise to parents, but ADHD researchers have been arguing for the past 10 years over the findings of the Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD. Called the MTA study, it is the largest study conducted to compare the benefits of medication to behavioral interventions. Behavioral parent training is widely available--it is not rocket science, and it's proven to help. School-based interventions for ADHD are also widely available. Almost every teacher in the country knows good behavior management techniques for children with ADHD. What's not as available are the intensive peer programs, which is what we do. We developed an intensive summer program that has the best supported evidence of any program. That's been replicated in a number of places, including New York University School of Medicine, the Cleveland Clinic, and the University of Alabama.
- NYU School of Medicine
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WELT Online
September 10
COPAXONE® Significantly Reduced Disease Severity in Long-Term Treated Multiple Sclerosis Patients
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NASDAQ: TEVA) today presented data that demonstrated patients treated for 10 and 15 years with COPAXONE® (glatiramer acetate injection) had significant reduction in disease severity. These data, generated from the longest continuous prospective study of any disease modifying therapy in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), were presented today at the 25th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) in Düsseldorf, Germany. "This study, along with other MSSS studies, is paving the way to enable neurologists to predict the progression of disease severity in MS patients," said Joseph Herbert, M.D., associate professor, NYU Department of Neurology and principal investigator of the study. "The demonstrated positive impact of long-term COPAXONE® treatment on slowing disease progression provides hope to MS patients and further emphasizes the importance of early treatment initiation."
- Joseph Herbert, MD, associate professor, neurology
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GenomeWeb.com
September 10
Movers & Shakers
Costel Darie was appointed assistant professor of chemistry and biomolecular science at Clarkson University, the school announced this week. His research interests include proteomics, protein-protein interactions, cellular signaling, cancer, serum biomarkers, and immunotherapy, Clarkson said in a statement. Before joining the school's faculty, Darie was a postdoctoral associate at the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York, a research scientist at the Skirball Institute at New York University School of Medicine, and an associate scientist at Mt. Sinai.
- NYU School of Medicine
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Fox Business News
September 9
Live: Money for Breakfast
Andrew Rubin of NYU Langone Medical Center appeared live this morning in-studio on Fox Business News Channel to talk about healthcare reform in the midst of the upcoming speech by President Obama to joint session of Congress. In terms of healthcare reform, Rubin says, "This is where the money is...and whether or not Congress will come together - we will see what happens."
- Andrew Rubin, vice president, medical center clinical affairs and affiliates

Health Behavior News
September 9
Health Plan Problems? Most People Stay Quiet and Stay Put- By Becky Ham
Having problems with your health plan? If you speak up about it - or move on to another plan - you are a very unusual consumer, according to a new study. The vast majority of people do not complain formally about problems with their health plans, even if those problems have significant consequences, such as costing them thousands of dollars out of pocket or denying them essential care, say health policy experts Brian Elbel, Ph.D., of NYU School of Medicine. It is even rarer for consumers to leave their health plan in response to problems, the researchers report in the September issue of The Milbank Quarterly. "If many consumers complain about minor annoyances or switch health plans whenever they are inconvenienced by paperwork, plans that cause more serious harms may prove difficult to detect," Elbel said.
- Brian Elbel, PhD, MPH; assistant professor, medicine
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New York Daily News
September 9
5 pills for Obama to swallow: A medical doctor gives his Rx for health care reform- By Dr. Marc Siegel
Based on my experience, I believe there are at least five central reforms that President Obama has yet to consider - and will likely not grapple with in tonight's speech to Congress - because of a narrow world-view and pressures from special interests. Extend high-deductible insurance to the uninsured; Demand real tort reform; Extend liability to the government as well private insurers; Increase rather than decrease reimbursements to doctors and hospitals; Subsidize primary care education. Siegel is an associate professor of medicine and the medical director of Doctor Radio at NYU Langone Medical Center.
- Marc Siegel, MD, clinical associate professor, medicine
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1010 Wins
September 9
Breast Cancer
Dr. Ruth Oratz, a member of the advisory board for Susan G. Komen For A Cure, was interviewed about the kick off of breast cancer awareness month and The Race for a Cure the organization sponsors - along with the importance of continuous research.
- Ruth Oratz, MD, clinical associate professor, medicine, oncology, The Cancer Institute
(No web link available.)

The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet
September 8
Fibroid Tumors
Dr. Marc Siegel, an internist, appeared on the set of The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet to discuss fibroid tumors and best treatment for women.
- Marc Siegel, MD, clinical associate professor, medicine
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Cosmopolitan Magazine
September 9
Will you be a good mother?- By MOLLY TRIFFIN
You no doubt take precautions to ensure you don't become a mother right now, but you may wonder if you have what it takes to be a fab mom later on. Well, there are ways to tell. First tip: "The Ability to Keep Your Cool: Everyone gets frazzled." Women who rein in their emotions before they freak have a leg up on being terrific moms. "You probably won't take out frustration on your future kids," explains Daniela Montalto, PhD, a developmental psychologist at the NYU Child Study Center.
- Daniela Montalto, PhD, clinical assistant professor; pediatric neuropsychologist, NYU Child Study Center
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Medical News Today
September 8
Maternal Literacy Level Associated With The Cognitive Home Environment
Literacy levels of low-income mothers appear to be a more accurate indicator of parenting behaviors that are important for child development than maternal educational levels, according to a report in the September issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Cori M. Green, M.D., M.S., of the NYU School of Medicine and Bellevue Hospital Center, New York, and colleagues analyzed results from maternal literacy tests and interviews determining maternal educational level and the cognitive home environment of 369 mother-infant pairs. "Maternal literacy level of ninth grade or higher was associated with increases in scores for the overall StimQ and each of four subscales, whereas a maternal educational level of ninth grade or higher was associated with increases in scores for the overall StimQ and three of four subscales," the authors write.
- Cori M. Green, MD, MS, fellow, pediatrics
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Barron's
August 24
Taking Aim at Skin Cancer- By NEIL A. MARTIN
One of the most critical decisions a dermatologist can make is whether a mark on a patient's skin might be melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. The device, called MelaFind, consists of a hand-held imaging "gun" that emits 10 different wavelengths of light to capture images of suspect pigmented skin lesions. Because MelaFind can see where the clinician cannot -- up to 2.5 millimeters below the skin's surface -- it is expected to help catch melanomas much earlier, without the need for as many biopsies, which is good news for most patients fearful about body scarring from the procedure. The hope for MelaFind is that it will more frequently rule out melanoma before a biopsy is performed, thanks to a database of some 9,000 pigmented skin lesions. Dermatologists say it could reduce to about seven the number of biopsies performed for finding one case of melanoma. "There will still always be the need for the experience and judgment of the dermatologist," says Doris Day, Assistant Professor of Dermatology at the NYU Langone Medical Center. "But this is a very welcomed and useful additional tool in helping us identify melanomas with greater accuracy."
- Doris Day, MD, clinical assistant professor, The Ronald O. Perelman, Department of Dermatology
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Reuters
September 9
Constellation Pharmaceuticals Appoints Renowned Cancer Biologist Edward E. Harlow, Jr., Ph.D. as Company`s CSO
Constellation Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that it has appointed Edward E. Harlow, Jr., Ph.D. as the company`s Chief Scientific Officer. Dr. Harlow, a distinguished molecular biologist, is an internationally recognized leader in cancer biology who is best known for his discoveries regarding the control of cell division and critical changes that allow cancer to develop. Dr. Harlow has served on a number of influential advisory groups, including the Board of Life Sciences for the National Research Council, External Advisory Boards for UCSF, Stanford, UCLA, and NYU Cancer Institute.
- The Cancer Institute, NYU Langone Medical Center
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September 9
Leading U.S. Epilepsy Organizations Unite on H1N1 Virus "Swine Flu" Public Health Recommendations for Children with Epilepsy
AES,CURE, Epilepsy Foundation, Epilepsy Therapy Project and FACES today announced their support for increased public awareness of H1N1 Virus ("Swine Flu") risks for young children with epilepsy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta reports that 477 people in the US have died from H1N1 influenza (flu), including 36 children, as of August 8th, 2009. Nearly 70 percent of these children had chronic high-risk medical conditions such as epilepsy, cerebral palsy or developmental delay, according to data published in the September 4, 2009, edition of MMWR News Epilepsy experts speaking on behalf of the Epilepsy Therapy Project, CURE, FACES, AES and the Epilepsy Foundation suggest that certain behaviors can help to avoid catching or spreading viruses.
- FACES, The Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, NYU Langone Medical Center
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KATU.com
September 9
What you need to know about swine flu
A never-before-seen strain of swine flu has turned killer in Mexico and is causing milder illness in the United States and elsewhere. While authorities say it's not time to panic, they are taking steps to stem the spread and also urging people to pay close attention to the latest health warnings and take their own precautions. Q: Should I take Tamiflu as a precaution if I'm not sick yet? A: No. "What are you going to do with it, use it when you get a sniffle?" asks Dr. Marc Siegel of New York University Langone Medical Center and author of "Bird Flu: Everything you Need To Know About The Next Pandemic." Overusing antiviral drugs can help germs become resistant to them.
- Marc Siegel, MD, clinical associate professor, medicine
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MartketWatch
September 9

Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation Funds Abiant, Inc. to Develop a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Imaging Diagnostic for Alzheimer's Disease
The Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) announced today that it is providing a grant of $200,000 to Abiant, Inc. (Deerfield, IL), for the development of a highly accurate imaging diagnostic for Alzheimer's Disease. Abiant, a privately held company, is dedicated to the application of neuroimaging to improve the diagnosis and treatment of neurologic and neuropsychiatric disorders. Abiant's diagnostic approach combines key advances in the analysis of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) images of the brain. The first of these was developed by NYU School of Medicine's Center for Brain Health.
- Center for Brain Health, NYU School of Medicine
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WeightLossSurgeryChannel.com
September 7
Weight Loss Improves Heart Function, Study Shows
Weight loss can improve heart function, regardless of whether the pounds are lost due to dieting or bariatric surgery, according to a new study. New data from British researchers shows that whether you lose weight by surgery or dieting, the weight loss will be good for your heart. But bariatric surgeon Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding of the NYU Program for Surgical Weight Loss in New York City explained that losing weight through dieting alone is hard to maintain. According to statistics, she said, maintaining the weight loss you want by watching what you eat is not only difficult, but rare. However, long term studies indicate that with weight loss surgery, the pounds stay off.
- Christine Ren-Fielding, MD, associate professor, surgery, NYU Program for Surgical Weight Loss
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NewsRx
September 8
Risk of death following acute coronary syndromes different for men, women
Women may have a slightly higher risk of death than men in the 30 days following an acute coronary syndrome (ACS; such as heart attack or unstable angina), but this difference appears attributable to factors such as severity and type of ACS, clinical differences and angiographic severity according to a study in the August 26 issue of JAMA. Jeffrey S. Berger, M.D., M.S., of the NYU School of Medicine, New York, and colleagues evaluated the relationship between sex and 30-day mortality following ACS and analyzed factors such as clinical classification at the time of ACS and the severity of angiographic disease. Patients for the study were pooled from a sample of 11 independent, international, randomized ACS clinical trials between 1993 and 2006. The researchers found that women had a significantly higher unadjusted 30-day risk of death compared with men (9.6 percent vs. 5.3 percent). But after multivariable adjustment for clinical characteristics and clinical presentation, no significant difference was observed in 30-day mortality.
-Jeffrey S. Berger, MD, MS, assistant professor, medicine (Cardiology and Hematology), assistant professor , surgery (Vascular Surgery) and director, Cardiovascular Thrombosis
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Cancer Weekly
September 8
Research on breast cancer detailed by scientists
According to recent research published in the journal Nature Cell Biology, "Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is the most lethal form of primary breast cancer. IBC lethality derives from generation of tumor emboli, which are non-adherent cell clusters that rapidly spread by a form of continuous invasion known as passive metastasis." "In most cancers, expression of E-cadherin, an epithelial marker, is indicative of low metastatic potential. In IBC, E-cadherin is over expressed(8) and supports formation of tumor emboli by promoting tumor cell interactions rather than adherence to stroma. E-cadherin, a surface component of adherens junctions, is anchored by interaction with p120 catenin (p120). We show that the unique pathogenic properties of IBC result in part from over expression of the translation initiation factor eIF4GI in most IBCs," wrote D. Silvera and colleagues, NYU School of Medicine's department of medicine.
- Deborah Silvera, postdoctoral research fellow, microbiology
(No web link available.)

 

Huffington Post
August 26
Pathologist and Surgeon Team to Find the Extent of a Breast Cancer
Dr. Deborah Axelrod, a breast surgeon and Dr. Baljit Singh, a pathologist, talk about breast conservation on video. Most women who have cancer can save their breast with a lumpectomy, followed by radiation therapy. Dr. Deborah Axelrod, a breast surgeon, tells us that a small number of recurrences in the breast are expected with breast conservation. Dr. Baljit Singh, a pathologist, reports the factors that he examines under a microscope which can keep this to a low and acceptable rate. It is about margins, the tissue surrounding the cancer when it is removed. The surgeon has to mark the tissues removed with sutures and clips and the pathologist carefully inks it with different colors for orientation. The desired result is a rim of normal tissue, not containing cancer cells.
- Baljit Singh, MD, associate professor, pathology
- Deborah Axelrod, MD, associate professor, surgery, The Cancer Institute
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BioTech Week
September 9
Kenneth G. Langone, Home Depot Co-Founder, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, NYU Langone Medical Center
Kenneth G. Langone, investment banker, venture capitalist and philanthropist, will be Grand Marshal of the 2009 Columbus Day Parade in New York City. Mr. Langone, a co-founder of Home Depot and chairman of the board of trustees at NYU Langone Medical Center, will lead contingents of folk dancers, musicians, dignitaries, and civil servants nearly 35,000 strong past crowds of nearly one million people in the world's largest celebration of Italian and Italian-American culture and heritage.
- Kenneth G. Langone, chairman, board of trustees, NYU Langone Medical Center
(No web link available.)

Washington Square News
September 8
Kimmel Center Blood Drive on September 15th
The NYU Langone Medical Center Blood Program will be hosting a blood drive at The Kimmel Center for Life, 60 Washington Square So, on Tuesday, September, 15th 2009 on the 9th floor, in room 903 from 9:30am -4:15pm. Blood drives play a critical role to ensure that our nation has an adequate blood supply at all times. Every two seconds, someone in America needs a blood transfusion. 38,000 units of red blood cells are needed. There is no substitute for blood. Only 5% of the eligible population donates. You never know when you, a loved one, or a friend will need blood. Blood must be available before it is needed. We want to make sure blood will be available wherever and whenever a patient is in need.
- NYU Langone Medical Center
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ADVANCE for Healthy Aging
September 2
Minimally Invasive Hip Surgery - By Roy I. 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. Despite these positive outcomes, only a quarter of patients clinically indicated for a total hip actually follow through with the operation because they rear revision surgery or prolonged rehabilitation. A new minimally invasive procedure called the anterior total hip replacement (A-THR) addresses these concerns. The procedure utilizes an operating room table specially designed for this muscle-sparing approach.
- Roy I. Davidovitch MD, orthopedic surgeon, Hospital for Joint Diseases
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Time.com
September 5
Midnight Snacking: More Fattening Than You Feared - By Shahreen Abdein
When it comes to weight gain, the timing of your meals may be just as important as what or how much you eat. According to a study of lab animals published online by the journal Obesity, eating during the hours that the body would naturally be sleeping may lead to excess weight gain. Experiments in which obese human patients were injected with leptin have failed, because the metabolic pathways that control hunger and fullness in people are far more complex than they are in mice. Knocking out one of, say, 50 such pathways through drug treatment just means the other 49 will eventually pick up the slack, says Dr. George Fielding, a bariatric surgeon at the NYU Program for Surgical Weight Loss.
- George Fielding MD, associate professor (clinical), department of general surgery
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Today Show
September 4
Memory Boosters at Any Age
Dr. Roshini Rajapaksa, assistant professor at NYU Langone Medical Center, was interviewed on the Today Show about things people can do in their 30's to improve memory. One tip she gave was flossing. "We're finding more and more that gum disease or plaque can have really, body-wide systemic effects. We know that it can affect your heart and the blood vessels affecting your heart. It can also affect the blood vessels going to your brain."
- Roshini Rajapaksa MD, assistant professor, department of medicine

September 5
Boomer Nation: The Battle Over Health Care Reform
Andrew Rubin, vice president of medical center clinical affairs and affiliates at NYU Langone Medical Center was interviewed by the Today Show about health care reform in regards to the baby boomer generation. "Everyone wants health care form," Mr. Rubin said. "Democrats, Republicans, young people, old people and the outbursts are really because of a lack of clarity in what's in the various bills that are out there right now. So until there is some clarity on what exactly it means to cut costs in Medicare, seniors who are on Medicare are very nervous and we are going to have to start answering some of those questions. I think the President is going to try to start doing that this coming Wednesday."
- Andrew Rubin, vice president, medical center clinical affairs and affiliates

 

WPIX-11
September 7
How to Prepare You and Your Child for the New School Year - Jen Bisram
Besides discussing your swine flu concerns, how about a few suggestion on how to prep you and your child for the new school year. Susan J. Schwartz of the NYU Child Study Center says it's important to build a relationship with your child. "It's a partnership between teachers and parents to help children be as productive as they can each school year," says Schwarz.
- Susan J. Schwarz, clinical assistant professor, child and adolescent psychiatry
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ABC.com
September 3
New Treatment Available for Varicose Veins
It's called the V-Nus closure fast procedure. The treatment uses a long electrode which is threaded up the vein. "Typically patients feel better right away almost, as they walk out they feel lighter that they no longer have that heavy pressure inside the veins," said Dr. Mark Adelman from NYU Langone Medical Center. .
- Mark Adelman, MD, associate professor, vascular surgery
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New York Daily News
September 5
Labor Day Comes Early: Cops Help New Mom Deliver Baby in Back of Cab - By Erica Pearson and Christina Boyle
Labor Day came a little too early for one New York mom. An NYPD officer had to deliver her baby girl in the back of a livery cab early Saturday. Ester Abbot, 31, said the baby, their third child, was doing well at NYU Langone Medical Center, but she declined to comment further.
- NYU Langone Medical Center
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Los Angeles Times
September 7
‘The Cleaner' Should Get to the Hospital - By Marc Siegel
Herniated discs are painful ruptures of the spongy fibrocartilage discs that act as cushions between the vertebrae. Narcotic pain medications are only temporary treatments for flare-ups of herniated discs, says Dr. Michel Dubois, director of research and education at the NYU Langone Medical Center's pain program. They should not be used on a longer-term basis without regular supervision from a pain medicine specialist. Dubois adds that herniated discs in the neck can be dangerous, especially for a dancer who pushes physical performance to the limits.
- Marc Siegel, MD, associate professor, department of medicine
- Michael Dubois MD, director of research and education, pain program
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WLOX
September 3
Respirator Masks Best for Swine Flu Health Workers: Medical Personnel Should Use Them, But Not the General Public, Experts Say - By Steven Reinberg (HealthDay News)
Because people can catch the new H1N1 swine flu by inhaling the virus, health-care workers who deal with flu patients should wear properly fitted N95 disposable respirator masks, a new report from the Institute of Medicine advises. These masks are not the same as loosely fitted surgical masks. N95 respirators fit tightly around the mouth and nose and have filters that can block about 95 percent of the flu virus, according to the report released Thursday."The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for protection of health-care workers during an H1N1 outbreak have been that those in close contact with people who have H1N1 flu should wear N95 respirators," said Dr. Kenneth I. Shine, chair of the Committee on Respiratory Protection for Healthcare Workers in the Workplace Against Novel H1N1 Influenza A. "Healthcare-workers in direct contact with flu patients should use N95 respirator masks," said Dr. Marc Siegel, an associate professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City. "They are the most effective, but are not for general use."
- Marc Siegel, MD, clinical associate professor, department of medicine
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CNN.com
September 7
What Your Doctor Doesn't Have Time to Tell You - By Sally Wadyka
Nieca Goldberg, an associate professor of medicine and the medical director of the Women's Heart Program at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City. Do some navel-gazing. "Even if you're slim, storing fat around your belly is linked with a higher risk of heart disease," says Goldberg. Measure your waist regularly. Ideally, it should be less than 35 inches. To manage your middle, get daily aerobic exercise and avoid simple carbohydrates, such as pastries and white bread, which can increase belly fat.
- Nieca Goldberg, MD, associate professor, department of medicine; medical director, Women's Heart Program
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The Washington Post
September 4
The Unwitting Birth Place of the ‘Death Panel' Myth - By Alec MacGillis
This city often shows up on "best places to live" lists, but residents say it is also a good place to die -- which is how it landed in the center of a controversy that almost derailed health-care reform this summer. The town's biggest hospital, Gundersen Lutheran, has long been a pioneer in ensuring that the care provided to patients in their final months complies with their wishes. More recently, it has taken the lead in seeking to have Medicare compensate physicians for advising patients on end-of-life planning. The reliance on directives has an impact on the type of care people receive: Gundersen patients spend 13.5 days on average in the hospital in their final two years of life, at an average cost of $18,000. That is in contrast with big-city hospitals such as the University of California at Los Angeles medical centers (31 days and $59,000), the University of Miami Hospital (39 days, $64,000) and New York University's Langone Medical Center (54 days, $66,000).
- NYU Langone Medical Center
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Philadelphia Inquirer
September 7
Congregation Joins Dragon Boat Race to Help Child - By David O'Reilly
A happy, brown-eyed boy (his father calls him a "huge flirt"), Sam Sernovitz is only the 647th person ever diagnosed with familial dysautonomia, which until recently claimed the lives of most youngsters before their fifth birthdays. Nowadays, more than half can reach age 30 thanks to therapies and surgeries, but it is an extremely difficult disease to manage. Sam's feeding can take hours, Sernovitz said, and there is still no known way to prevent it. But he said NYU Medical Center is preparing to test a gene therapy on adults with dysautonomia that could relieve its symptoms.
- NYU Langone Medical Center
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NPR
September 4
In Future, Science Could Erase Traumatic Memories - By Jon Hamilton
Scientists are beginning to understand why fearful memories are so persistent in the brain, and how they can be erased. According to researchers, fear comes from a part of the brain called the amygdala. To understand why fearful memories are so persistent, researchers have been studying the amygdale, and a Swiss team seems to have found some clues - at least in rats. But what about people? When it comes to fear, rats and people have a lot in common, says Dr. Joseph LeDoux, a professor of neuroscience at New York University and one of the nation's most prominent fear researchers. You can see the similarities by watching a video taken during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, LeDoux says. It shows a crowd of people watching a concert. Then a bomb explodes "and everyone is hunkered down in a freezing posture," he says...Research on ways to erase memories has some people worried about the potential for misuse by governments or the military. But LeDoux says it would be wrong to halt experiments that could help people with phobias, panic disorder, or PTSD. "Any PTSD patient I've talked to has been willing to sacrifice a few normal memories for the bad ones they may get rid of if these experiments are successful," he says.
- Joseph E. LeDoux, PhD, professor of psychology, professor of psychiatry, NYU Child Study Center
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The New York Times
September 3
Swine Flu Upsets Rituals of Greeting - By Sewell ChanThe era of swine flu poses the thorny challenge of how to express cordiality, friendship, even love - while staying, as the authorities recommend, at least three to five feet away from anyone who coughs, sneezes or might otherwise show signs of infection with the H1N1 virus... The problem, doctors say, is when you shake someone else's hand after that sneeze or that cough, thereby transmitting the virus...The elbow nudge might be a better option. "When my hands have been full, I've greeted people elbow to elbow," said Dr. Philip M. Tierno Jr., director of clinical microbiology and immunology at NYU Langone Medical Center and author of "The Secret Life of Germs" (Atria, 2001). He added: "Saluting is good. Bowing is perfectly acceptable. So too, I think, is just saying hi."
- Philip M. Tierno, Jr, PhD, clinical professor, departments of microbiology and pathology, NYU School of Medicine; director, clinical microbiology and immunology
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Forbes.com
September 21 edition
Creative Giving - Cash Strapped Charities Put Donors' Names On Just About Everything - By William P. Barrett
After a $100 million gift last year, Forbes 400 hedge fund manager Stephen Schwarzman got his name on the famous main building of the New York Public Library. Nonprofits creatively mine money from names, partly by subdividing their turf. The Carnegie Museum of Natural History was named for the philanthropist who founded and funded it in 1896. But the Pittsburgh institution just raised $250,000 by selling 2,300 naming opportunities for individual dinosaur bones and teeth.
NOTE: NYU Langone Medical Center is included in a separate section of the article titled "In Pictures: 10 Big Name Gifts."
- NYU Langone Medical Center
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Atlanta Journal Constitution, AJC.com
September 3
Fear of Job Loss May Be Worse Than Loss Itself - By Steven Reinberg (HealthDay News)
People who constantly worry about losing their jobs reported poorer physical health and more symptoms of depression than those who'd actually been laid off, a new study shows.Those who said they feared losing their job at both points in the study reported poorer health and more symptoms of depression than those who had actually been laid off sometime after the first interview but had found another job by the second. Those with chronic job insecurity were also more likely to report having poor health than those who smoked or had hypertension, according to the results in one group. Dr. Norman Sussman, interim chair of the department of psychiatry at NYU Langone Medical Center, said it's important to keep in mind that there are individual differences in how well people cope with job insecurity and job loss. For those prone to worry or who are uncomfortable with ambiguity, the worries may be very stressful and lead to insomnia, headaches, bowel disruptions and higher blood pressure, he said. Others are able to weather the storm with few ill health effects. Why some muddle through and others can't is unclear, he added. "Unhealthy anxiety is worrying about something that may or may not happen, and borrowing tomorrow's problem today," Sussman said.
- Norman Sussman, MD, interim chair and professor, department of psychiatry and administration
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And carried nationally.

MSN Health and Fitness
September 3
Respirator Masks Best for Swine Flu Health Workers: Medical Personnel Should Use Them, But Not The General Public, Experts Say - By Steven Reinberg (HealthDay News)
Because people can catch the new H1N1 swine flu by inhaling the virus, health-care workers who deal with flu patients should wear properly fitted N95 disposable respirator masks, a new report from the Institute of Medicine advises. These masks are not the same as loosely fitted surgical masks. N95 respirators fit tightly around the mouth and nose and have filters that can block about 95 percent of the flu virus, according to the report released Thursday."The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for protection of health-care workers during an H1N1 outbreak have been that those in close contact with people who have H1N1 flu should wear N95 respirators," said Dr. Kenneth I. Shine, chair of the Committee on Respiratory Protection for Healthcare Workers in the Workplace Against Novel H1N1 Influenza A...."Surgical masks are not effective and will only spread panic," said Dr. Marc Siegel, an associate professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City. "Only people with flu should use them." "Health-care workers in direct contact with flu patients should use N95 respirator masks," Siegel added. "They are the most effective, but are not for general use."
- Marc Siegel, MD, clinical associate professor, department of medicine
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And carried nationally.

HealthDay News
September 2
Swine Flu Poses Risk To Kids With Neurological Conditions - By Steven Reinberg
Nearly 500 Americans have died of complications from the H1N1 swine flu since the virus first surfaced last spring, including at least 36 children younger than 18, a new government report shows. And 67 percent of those children who died had at least one chronic high-risk "neurodevelopmental condition," such as epilepsy, cerebral palsy or developmental delay, U.S. health officials said during a news conference Thursday. Bacterial infections - such as bacterial pneumonia - were another contributing factor to an increased risk of death in children, including most children older than 5 who didn't have a preexisting high-risk medical condition. This suggests that bacteria, in tandem with the H1N1 virus, can cause severe disease in children who may be otherwise healthy, the officials said. Besides children and young adults, who seem to lack immunity to the H1N1 virus, pregnant women, people with preexisting health problems, such as diabetes, and health-care workers also top the CDC's list of vaccine candidates once it becomes available...Dr. Marc Siegel, an associate professor of medicine at NYU Medical Center in New York City, said the new CDC report "emphasizes the need for antivirals in children who are sick, as well as vaccination of all children as soon as it is available."
- Marc Siegel, MD, associate professor, department of medicine
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TheGrio.com
September 3
Swine flu may have greater impact on blacks, Hispanics - By Todd Johnson
Swine flu has had greater impact on blacks and Hispanics, according to records from the Boston Public Health Commission and Chicago Department of Public Health..."We don't know if it's a genetic predisposition that's greater in Hispanic or blacks," said Dr. Philip M. Tierno, Jr., director of clinical microbiology and immunology at New York University's Langone Medical Center. "We think it may have to do with cohorting in large groups--individuals who live in large buildings where many families live and interface."
- Philip M. Tierno, Jr, PhD, clinical professor, departments of microbiology and pathology
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DemocracyNow.org
September 3
Physicians for Human Rights: Doctors' Role in CIA Waterboarding "May Amount to Human Experimentation"
A new report by Physicians for Human Rights has found that physicians and psychologists played a greater role than previously known in designing, implementing and legitimizing the Bush administration's torture program. Dr. Steven Reisner is the co-author of the report, titled "Aiding Torture." Dr. Reisner is the adviser on psychological ethics for Physicians for Human Rights. He's also an adjunct professor of clinical psychology at Columbia University and a clinical assistant professor at NYU.
- Steven Reisner, PhD, clinical assistant professor, department of psychiatry
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Advance for Healthy Aging
September 2
Minimally Invasive Hip Replacement - By Roy I. Davidovitch, MD
Orthopaedic 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. Despite these positive outcomes, only a quarter of patients clinically indicated for a total hip actually follow through with the operation. Many patients choose not to undergo total hip replacement surgery for fear of revision surgery resulting from component wear. Other barriers include prolonged rehabilitation, concerns of possible hip dislocation and the possibility of a postoperative leg length discrepancy. A new minimally invasive procedure called the anterior total hip replacement (A-THR) addresses these concerns. The procedure utilizes an operating room table specially designed for this muscle-sparing approach. Anterior hip replacement is performed using highly durable bearing surfaces, which potentially last more than 30 years.
- Roy I. Davidovitch, MD, assistant professor, department of orthopaedics
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Online PR News
September 2
World Renowned Prostate Cancer Physician Launches HIFU Site: Dr. Scionti enlists the services of leading online marketing firm to create and market new HIFU site.
Leading Internet marketing firm On Top Results just launched a new website for Dr. Stephen Scionti, a urologist who specializes in prostate health. September is prostate cancer awareness month and the launch of Dr. Scionti's new HIFU site will help educate more patients about alternatives that exist in the industry. Dr. Scionti has been recognized around the world for his work in treating prostate cancer using minimally invasive therapy options, specifically guided ablation technologies. He has worked extensively with HIFU treatment centers around the world to perfect the technology, research further applications for it, and train other urologists in the use of HIFU. Currently, Dr. Scionti serves as the medical director and founder of the International Center for Men's Health. Here he dedicates his work to diagnosing prostate cancer and using HIFU and cryotherapy to provide patients with minimally invasive treatment options. Recently, Dr. Scionti has accepted a position as the Director of Prostate Cancer Ablation Surgery at the NYU School of Medicine and NYU Langone Medical Center.
- Stephen Scionti, MD, clinical associate professor, department of urology
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Science Daily
September 2
Diesel Exhaust Is Linked To Cancer Development Via New Blood Vessel Growth
Scientists have demonstrated that the link between diesel fume exposure and cancer lies in the ability of diesel exhaust to induce the growth of new blood vessels that serve as a food supply for solid tumors.The researchers found that in both healthy and diseased animals, more new blood vessels sprouted in mice exposed to diesel exhaust than did in mice exposed to clean, filtered air. This suggests that previous illness isn't required to make humans susceptible to the damaging effects of the diesel exhaust. Co-authors on the study are Xiaohua Xu and Ling Zheng of Ohio State's Division of Environmental Health Sciences; Nisharahmed Kherada, Aixia Wang and Sanjay Rajagopalan of the Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute; Xinru Hong of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Fuzhou General Hospital in Fujian Province, China; Chunli Quan, Morton Lippmann and Lung Chi Chen of the Department of Environmental Medicine at the New York University School of Medicine; and Loren Wold of the Center for Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Research at Nationwide Children's Research Institute.
- Lung Chi Chen, PhD, professor, department of environmental medicine, Nelson Institute of Environmental Medicine
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LiveScience
September 2
Health - Accidental Poisoning Deaths Spike Upward By LiveScience Staff
For reasons not totally understood, the mortality rate from unintended injury in the United States rose 11 percent between 1999 and 2005, a new study finds. The jumps in poisoning deaths and deaths from falls were particularly high and troubling, researchers said. Overall, 89 percent of the total increase in unintentional injury deaths in the U.S. between 1999 and 2005 was due to poisoning among those 15 to 64 years old and falls among those 45 and older, which increased by about 11,200 and 6,600, respectively. Other studies have also found alarming increased in prescription drug overdoses, while prescriptions for antidepressants, in particular, have soared. Meanwhile, overall abuse of certain prescription drugs nearly doubled from 2000 to 2007, according to separate research by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "I think part of it is a misunderstanding of what prescription means; it doesn't mean safe," Dr. Lewis Nelson of the NYU Langone Medical Center told LiveScience in a July interview. "It also at some level means a little more easy access to it. So you don't have to stand on the street corner and deal with shady characters." Nelson points out that this is particularly the case with teenagers, who are increasingly abusing such drugs.
- Lewis Nelson, MD, associate professor, department of emergency medicine
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Good Morning America (ABC)
September 3
Varicose Veins
Dr. Mark Adelman, chief of vascular surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center appeared live this morning on Good Morning America to discuss a 15 minute procedure that can fix bulging, painful varicose veins.
- Mark Adelman, MD, associate professor, department of surgery
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The Progressive USA
September 2
Saving Girls' Self Esteem - By Ruth Conniff
Sending my three daughters off to school this week was an exciting, exhausting, thrilling ride. Our brand new kindergartener took her first trip on the school bus. Our two year old got her first taste of preschool, and our third grader--the veteran--was back in the old routine. Getting up earlier, keeping track of a more rigorous schedule, and just adjusting to the demands of school all day energizes our family, even as it wears us all out. According to national research of girls in the United States, fourth grade is the peak year for girls' self-esteem. Nine-year-old girls feel great about themselves. But by fifth grade it is a whole different story. What suddenly happens to girls when they turn ten? According to Anita Gurian of the New York University Child Study Center, just before junior high school, girls' self-esteem plummets. "Starting in the pre-teen years, there is a shift in focus; the body becomes an all consuming passion and barometer of worth."
- Anita S. Gurian, MD, clinical assistant professor, department of child and adolescent psychiatry
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The Star Phoenix
September 2
Teens understand emergency-contraception labels, By Amy Norton, Reuters
Studies have shown Plan B to be safe and effective, Dr. Cremer says. Teenagers do just as well as adults when it comes to understanding the information on emergency-contraception labels, a new study suggests. The findings, say researchers, argue for making emergency contraception available to minors over-the-counter, as it already is for adults. The emergency contraceptive Plan B can prevent pregnancy if it is taken within 72 hours of having unprotected sex. However, the sooner it is taken, the better - after the first 12 hours the risk of pregnancy increases by 50 percent. Since 2006, adults in the U.S. have been able to get the contraceptive without a prescription... "I believe the potential implications of our study are to help the FDA decide to make Plan B available over-the-counter without an age restriction," lead researcher Dr. Miriam Cremer, of New York University School of Medicine, told Reuters Health.
- Miriam Cremer, MD, clinical assistant professor, department of obstetrics and gynecology
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NewYorkMets.com
September 2
News Johan a natural pick for Clemente nod :For Mets ace, charity work is an opportunity to give back - By Marty Noble
Since Johan Santana brought his brilliant career to the Mets early in 2008, his heart has been on display -- sometimes on the mound, sometimes away from the ballpark. We know of his valiant effort against the Marlins in the Mets' 161st game last season, a three-hit shutout produced on a bum knee that required surgery. And chances are Santana might have denied the pain in his left elbow deeper into the 2009 season, if the Mets' summer had been more about winning and less about rehabbing. The others aspects of his heart -- his big heart -- haven't been so readily noticed, which is not to suggest they are any less important. "I made a promise to myself," Santana said, "that when I made it to the big leagues that I would take care of the people who took care of me when I was young." Moreover, Santana has been an advocate for skin cancer awareness as a tribute to the late wife of one of his agents. He hosted a Bowl-A-Thon while he was with the Minnesota Twins that benefited his foundation and the NYU Myeloma Center. And he introduced his own wine, "Santana's Select," with the help of Charity Hop with all proceeds going to his Foundation and melanoma research.
- NYU Myeloma Center
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Huliq News
September 2
Prostate Cancer Will Affect 1 in 6 U.S. Men - By Jessica Lee
One in six men in the United States are at risk of having prostate cancer. Screening, healthy diet and water are key elements to maintain a healthy prostate, says Dr. Espinosa. Prostate cancer will affect one in six men in the United States. Dr. Geo Espinosa, Director of NYU's Integrative Urological Center, hopes that Prostate Cancer Awareness Month (September) will help inspire men to adopt lifestyle habits that promote prostate health. The American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 200,000 cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in 2009. This will make prostate cancer the second most common cancer in American men. Dr. Geo Espinosa, N.D. L.Ac., is one of only three naturopathic specialists in the United States whose research and practice focus exclusively on urology and prostate health. The Integrative Urological Center at NYU Langone Medical Center offers innovative treatments for prostate cancer and urological conditions that include clinical nutrition, stress reduction, mind-body connections and lifestyle management.
- Geo Espinosa, ND, director of the Integrative Urological Center at NYU Langone Medical Center, department of urology
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The Hartford Courant, Courant.com
September 2, 2009
Red Wine's Benefits In A Pill? Wait For Research Before Turning To Resveratrol Supplement By Melissa Healy
In August 2003, when scientists first revealed the life-extending powers of trans-3,4', 5-trihydroxystilbene-also known as resveratrol-its earthly form had all the allure of an apple in the Garden of Eden. Ruby red, delicately fragrant, shapely in a rounded nest of glass, red wine can deliver as much as 1.5 milligrams of the plant compound resveratrol per 4-ounce serving. At concentrations present in a person's blood after two glasses of red wine, resveratrol has been found to suppress the formation of blood clots and boost the efficiency of immune system cells. Much larger doses of resveratrol increase the life span of yeast, flies, fish and roundworms, studies have shown. A feeding regimen that includes the good stuff found in red wine makes obese mice just as healthy, spry and long-lived as those who have been raised on near-starvation diets. So leave it to American entrepreneurs to gin up a thriving market for a resveratrol supplement rather than urge consumers to enjoy the food-or in this case, savor the drink-linked to better health and longer life, says Dr. Gerald Weissmann, director of New York University's biotechnology study center.
- Gerald Weissmann, MD, professor emeritus of medicine, research professor, department of medicine
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Antiwar.com
September 02, 2009
Group Charges Complicity by CIA Medics in Torture - By William Fisher
Did physicians and psychologists help the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency develop a new research protocol to assess and refine the use of waterboarding or other harsh interrogation techniques? This is the question being raised in a new report by a leading human rights organization. The group says that, if confirmed, it would likely constitute a "new, previously unknown category of ethical violations committed by CIA physicians and psychologists." Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) charges that the "extent to which American physicians and psychologists violated human rights and betrayed the ethical standards of their professions by designing, implementing, and legitimizing a worldwide torture program is greater than previously known." "That health professionals who swear to oaths of healing so abused the sacred trust society places in us by instigating, legitimizing, and participating in torture, is an abomination," states co-author Allen Keller, MD, director of the Bellevue Medical Center/New York University Program for Survivors of Torture. "Health professionals who aided torture must be held accountable by professional associations, by state licensing boards, and by society. Accountability is essential to maintain trust in our professions and to end torture, which scars bodies and minds, leaving survivors to endure debilitating injuries, humiliating memories and haunting nightmares," Keller said.
- Allen Keller, M.D., associate professor, department of medicine, division of internal medicine
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Ortho Supersite
ORTHOPEDICS TODAY 2009
Obama's remarks on reimbursement and the role of surgeons draw AAOS response
The president misrepresented surgeon reimbursement for diabetic foot amputation - By Gina Brockenbrough
In light of the current health care debate that is marred by inaccuracies reported from government officials, members of the media and being spread by word of mouth, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons has released a statement addressing misrepresentations that it alleges President Obama made at a recent town hall meeting on health care reform. The President of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), Joseph D. Zuckerman, MD, said that his group responded to the president's comments because the misrepresentations hit too close to home. "We understand that he was making a point about the need to stress preventative care," Zuckerman said. "However, the serious mistake was the mischaracterization of the role of the orthopedic surgeon who may perform the amputation. We had to set that straight."
- Joseph D. Zuckerman, M.D., Walter A.L. Thompson Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, chair, department of orthopaedics
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The New York Daily News
August 30
Another thanks
Lake Katrine, N.Y.: I just wanted to thank the staff at NYU Medical Center for the excellent job they did for me last month. I had a massive brain tumor recently, and it was a great place to be for help. Dr. Jafar and his staff were wonderful. A nurse named Jeanine (on the 12th floor) and an NP named Janine were fantastic. Even the food was good and served by a wonderful, caring woman. Everyone there made the scariest time of my life feel safer. Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart. From Janet Schliff
- Jafar Jafar, MD,professor, department of neurosurgery
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The New York Times
Vital Signs Risks: Disparities Found in Heart-Related Deaths - By Roni Caryn Rabin
August 31
A new study comparing death rates of men and women after heart attacks and unstable angina finds that women are almost twice as likely to die within 30 days. But they tend to be older, to have complicating illnesses and to show different disease patterns. The study, published Aug. 26 in The Journal of the American Medical Association, examined the cases of more than 130,000 patients from several countries. The researchers had access to clinical information about women that similar studies had lacked. "If you had a 61-year-old woman with hypertension, cholesterol and diabetes, and a 61-year-old man with hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes, and both have acute coronary syndrome, you would expect the mortality to be the same - and it is," Dr. Jeffrey S. Berger said, as assistant professor of medicine and surgery at NYU School of Medicine. But he added: "The women are not going to be like the men. They're going to be older, have more co-morbidities" - other diseases that complicate their heart condition - and they are going to present differently."
- Jeffrey S. Berger, MD, assistant professor, department of medicine, division of cardiology
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August 31
Essay: Finding a Scapegoat When Epidemics Strike: Whose fault was the Black Death? - By Donald G. McNeil, Jr.
In medieval Europe, Jews were blamed so often, and so viciously, that it is surprising it was not called the Jewish Death. During the pandemic's peak in Europe, from 1348 to 1351, more than 200 Jewish communities were wiped out, their inhabitants accused of spreading contagion or poisoning wells. Dr. Martin J. Blaser, a historian who is chairman of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, offers an intriguing hypothesis for why Jews became scapegoats in the Black Death: they were largely spared, in comparison with other groups, because grain was removed from their houses for Passover, discouraging the rats that spread the disease. The plague peaked in spring, around Passover.
- Martin J. Blaser, MD, chairman, department of medicine, the Frederick H. King Professor of Internal Medicine, professor, department of microbiology
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August 31
Obituary - Joseph Goodgold, MD
The Board of Trustees, faculty, and staff of NYU Langone Medical Center mourn the passing of Joseph Goodgold, M.D., Professor Emeritus at NYU School of Medicine and former director of Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine. As a professor, Joseph trained doctors from all over the world in his specialty and became the chairman of the department of Rehabilitation. He also served as chairman and director of the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine and Director of the Jerry Lewis Neuromuscular Center. An internationally recognized expert, Joseph was a major contributor to his field through numerous scholarly publications and the first textbooks for electromyography. He was also instrumental in establishing the first credentialing examinations for electrodiagnostic medicine. A recipient of the Krusen Award and Distinguished Clinical Award of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, he also served as the association's president. Joseph also served as the president of the American Association of Academic Psychiatry of the American Association of Medical Colleges and the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostics. A colleague and friend, Joseph will be deeply missed. To Mildred and the entire Goodgold family, we extend our deepest condolences. Kenneth G. Langone Chairman, Board of Trustees NYU Langone Medical Center Robert I. Grossman, M.D. Dean & CEO NYU Langone Medical Center.

 

Time.com
September 1
Study: Diet Can Help Avoid Diabetes Drugs - By Shahreen Abedin
In the longest-term study of its kind, researchers pitted two popular diets head-to-head - a low-fat American Heart Association-style diet and a carb-controlled Mediterranean diet, each combined with regular physical activity - in a population of overweight patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Based on their findings, the study's authors suggest that some diabetes patients may be able to substitute diet and exercise for blood-sugar-lowering medications. "A Mediterranean-style diet is a very important part of treatment of diabetes. We knew that," says Dr. Loren Greene, a NYU Langone Medical Center endocrinologist who was not involved in the study. "But there just hasn't been a good study to confirm this before." But the current study does not make clear, however, whether diet alone can reduce blood sugar enough to eliminate the use of diabetes medication, or whether it is even advisable to forgo medication at all. "We don't know for sure if people with A1C levels under 7% still need to be on drugs," Says Greene. "The research just hasn't answered that question yet."
- Loren Greene, MD, clinical associate professor, department of medicine (endocrinology)
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The New York Daily News
September 1
Majority of Americans pick their noses, AOL survey finds - by Joe Jackson and Oren Yaniv
America sure has some dirty secrets. More than one out of five people around you right now is wearing dirty underwear, one in three didn't shower today and most are professed nose-pickers. These are some of the disgusting disclosures in a recent online poll measuring American hygiene - or lack thereof. "That's nasty," said Tasha Harley, 22, of lower Manhattan. "I'm very surprised at people admitting these habits." Some 71% of respondents to the unscientific survey, conducted by AOL, confessed to picking their nose. "That's probably one of the worst habits," said Dr. Philip Tierno, director of clinical microbiology at NYU Langone Medical Center. "It's okay as long as you wash your hands."
- Philip M. Tierno, PhD, clinical professor, departments of microbiology and pathology, NYU School of Medicine, director, clinical microbiology and immunology, NYU Langone Medical Center
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MedPage Today
August 31
False Positives Higher with Breast Exam than with Mammography - By Nancy Walsh
Medical centers providing both mammography and clinical exams were more likely to detect breast cancer than centers offering mammography alone, but also far more likely to produce false positives, a Canadian study found. The study reported in the September 16^th issue of the Journal of the National cancer Institute that for each additional cancer detected by clinical breast examination, there were an additional 55 false positive screens. So women should be advised of the risks and benefits of having a clinical exam in addition to mammography, the investigators said. Freya Schnabel, MD, director of breast surgery at NYU School of Medicine, was more supportive of clinical exams. "I cannot imagine that anyone could advocate abandoning clinical breast exams, even in a screened population," she said. "It's clear that the pickup rate is low when patients are well screened, but superficial and central lesions are frequently missed on mammography, and young women with dense breasts represent a specific population where there is a substantial false negative rate for mammography, making clinical exam particularly important." She added, "As to the false positives on exam, many are resolved with simple, quick, relatively painless needle biopsies -- not such a big price to pay."
- Freya R. Schnabel, M.D., professor, department of surgery
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The New York Times
August 28
For Common Male Problem, Hope Beyond a Pill - By Lesley Alderman
If you watch enough television, you'd think that treating erectile dysfunction was as effortless as popping a pill and then whirling your partner around the living room in a romantic dance. Correcting erectile dysfunction, alas, is not so simple - and it can be rather costly. One Viagra pill, for example, the most common way to treat erection problems, costs about $15. "There is not a man out there that cannot be helped in some way with his E.D. - even if money is an issue," says Dr. Andrew McCullough, an associate professor of urology and director of Male Sexual Health and Fertility at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City.
- Andrew McCullough, M.D., associate professor, department of urology
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August 30
The Long Not Summer: A Calendar Quirk Stretches the Season: Summer just won't end. It goes on. And on. And on - By N. R. Kleinfeld
Labor Day arrives on the latest possible date, Sept. 7, providing an extra week to enjoy summer--if the weather cooperates. In one of those calendar quirks that can sneak up you, Labor Day, the marker of summer's conclusion, arrives as late as it possibly can this year, on Sept. 7. With Memorial Day having shown up on May 25, its earliest arrival, this has been one very, very long summer. It hasn't always felt that way, of course, since it did nothing but rain for so much of the season. But long it has been. Since a lot of people don't focus on exactly when Labor Day appears until it's practically staring them in the face, the date hit some as new information. "I only found out when my wife told me two weeks ago," said Dr. Norman Sussman, a professor and interim chairman of the psychiatry department at the NYU School of Medicine. "It came as a pleasant surprise." He was not the only one caught off guard. When he glanced at his appointment book the other day, he noticed that the front desk people had booked patients for Sept. 7. Forget that. He had to bump them to other dates.
- Norman Sussman, MD, professor, departments of psychiatry and administration
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Science NOW Daily News
August 28
A Strange Transformation - By Greg Miller
During an epileptic seizure, waves of abnormal electrical activity sweep through the brain. That can create some strange experiences, including hallucinations and feelings of déjà vu. Even stranger is the recently reported case of an epileptic woman who feels that she has become a man during some seizures. The authors wisely avoid the conclusion that there's a sexual identity center in the right amygdala, says Orrin Devinsky,M.D., a neurologist at NYU Langone Medical Center. If that were the case, one might expect that patients who've undergone surgical removal of the amygdala to treat intractable epilepsy would experience similar symptoms. But there have been no such reports, Devinsky says. More likely, he says, the amygdala is one node in a network of brain regions essential for self-identity. When neural activity in this network goes haywire, a range of bizarre experiences can result, Devinsky says. The Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky wrote of feeling the presence of God in the moments preceding a seizure. More common, Devinsky says, are feelings of déjà vu or its opposite, jamais vu, the sense that a familiar environment has become unfamiliar. "In epilepsy, you can experience these intense and extreme emotions and in some cases misidentification of yourself and where you are in relation in the world," he says.
- Orrin Devinsky, MD, professor departments of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry
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Advance for Physical Therapists & PT Assistants
August 20
Femur Fix - By Rebecca Mayer
Imagine if instead of replacing a knee joint that has deteriorated, the standard was to amputate the leg above the knee. Seems antiquated, doesn't it? Even in this day and age of advanced orthopedic solutions and breakthroughs in prosthetics, patients with a severely compromised femur secondary to cancer, osteoporosis or poor bone stock may be presented with amputation or immobilization as the only options. But there is another surgical option and it's one that dates back to the 1950s: total femur replacement. Total femur replacement surgery is a viable option for select patients suffering from a severely compromised femur. To date, there are just 80 surgeries performed annually in the United States. According to rehabilitation experts at the Hospital for Joint Diseases at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York, NY, the number of these surgeries performed is set to rise as incidences of cancer increase and aging Baby Boomers require more joint replacements. Total femur replacement will likely never be as common as total hip and knee procedures, but the facility's therapists are adamant about being prepared for the trend."With a growing number of cancer cases and more total joint revisions on the horizon, the procedure will become more common. The patients who receive total joint replacements are younger than in years past and the volume of cases is growing. People need to be aware of the surgery and what it entails," acknowledged Allison Lieberman, PT, MSPT, GCS, senior physical therapist at the Hospital for Joint Diseases. "In the instance that a patient is presented with the option of a total femur replacement versus amputation, naturally many will choose to salvage the limb," shared Patricia Guastella, PT, MSPT, program manager of inpatient physical therapy. Gina Beecher, DPT, a staff PT at the hospital, developed an in-service designed to familiarize staff with the procedure and impart knowledge regarding the rehab component. To make the task less daunting, Dr. Beecher simplified her message: she recommends that therapists think of rehab after total femur replacement as similar to total knee or hip procedures, but with a longer recovery period.
- Allison Lieberman, PT, MSPT, GCS, senior PT at HJD
- Patricia Guastella, PT, MSPT, program manager of inpatient PT, at HJD
- Gina Beecher, PT, DPT, staff PT at HJD
- Angela Cirami, OTR/L, program manager of inpatient OT, at HJD
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Associated Press Financial Wire
August 28
Kenneth G. Langone, Investment Banker, Venture Capitalist and Philanthropist, will be Grand Marshal of the 2009 Columbus Day Parade in New York City.
Mr. Langone, a co-founder of Home Depot and chairman of the board of trustees of the NYU Langone Medical Center, will lead contingents of folk dancers, musicians, dignitaries, and civil servants nearly 35,000 strong past crowds of nearly one million people in the world's largest celebration of Italian and Italian-American culture and heritage. "Ken Langone is a virtuous man of good character, who is an ideal role model for Italian-Americans and indeed all Americans," said Lawrence Auriana, chairman of the Columbus Citizens Foundation. The parade will be held on October 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The parade runs north on Fifth Avenue from 47th through 79th Streets and will be broadcast on NBC affiliates and by RAI Italian television. As Grand Marshal, Mr. Langone will be presented with an award at the Columbus Day Gala on Saturday, October 10 at the Waldorf Astoria. In addition to the Parade and Gala, the Foundation celebrates its heritage with a two-week, 7,000 square foot exhibition in Grand Central Terminal, which this year will become a stage for a beautiful exhibit on Italy's Veneto Region as well as a biographical storyboard on the Grand Marshal. A noted philanthropist, Mr. Langone has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to charities. He has made major gifts to his alma maters, Bucknell University and New York University, as well as the NYU Langone Medical Center. And, in recognition of his support for Catholic causes, Mr. Langone was made a Knight of St. Gregory by Pope Benedict XVI.
- Kenneth Langone, chair, board of trustees
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NPR
August 28
Fear Factor: Don't Let NYU Prof Scare You - By Scott Hensley
A creepy crawley critter in your basement or proposals to overhaul health care can be downright frightening. And as NPR's Julie Rovner reports, opponents have been using scare tactics to fight changes to the American health-care system for just about as long as people have been trying to give it a makeover. It turns out the foes of change are pretty smart because fear works. "Once fear is aroused and in your brain, it tends to take over and dominate," explains Joseph LeDoux, a NYU Langone Medical Center neuroscientist. It's also contagious. But LeDoux, who's written tons of academic papers and several books on how the brain works, has his own viral way of spreading the science of the brain: rock music. He leads a band called the Amygdaloids, named for the almond-shaped region of the brain instrumental in the fear response.
- Joseph LeDoux, PhD, professor, departments of psychiatry and psychology
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Reading Eagle.com
August 30
Fear Trumps Logic in State Budget Debate: In any Political Debate That Pits Fear Versus Logic, Fear Will Win - By John D. Forester Jr.
Fear is a physical reaction to a threat, and once it is aroused in your brain, it takes over and dominates, said Dr. Joseph LeDoux, a NYU Langone Medical Center neuroscientist, interviewed by NPR's health policy reporter Julie Rovner. A brain paralyzed by fear is unable to think other things through, he said. While he was speaking of natural science, he might as well have been talking about strategies used in a number of political battles being waged.
- Joseph LeDoux, PhD, professor, departments of psychiatry and psychology
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Sunday Times Online
August 30
Extreme Celebrity Workouts can Damage you -Exercise and Diet Regimes Favored by the Famous from Madonna to Elle MacPherson Can Do More Harm Than Good - By Peta Bee
Thanks to several high-profile extreme exercisers, we have recently been provided with plenty of proof that Olympian-style workout regimes, far from being beneficial, can actually take their toll on health and appearance. Madonna's arms, all sinew and veins, and Elle Macpherson's saggy knees are both side effects of excessive exercising. Then we had the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, collapsing while out jogging. Many blamed the rigorous exercise schedule and severe diet that his wife, Carla Bruni, has encouraged him to follow. With the help of Bruni's personal trainer, Speedy Sarko, 54, has dropped two trouser sizes in the process, but he has also dropped to the floor. Certainly, experts are becoming more aware of the dangers linked to over strenuous workouts. Sarkozy's collapse was reportedly due to "a cardiac incident", and he is not alone. In June, a study in the American Journal of Cardiology suggested that too much vigorous exercise can increase the risk of heart problems. Dr Anthony Aizer, a cardiologist at NYU Langone Medical Center, analyzed the workout habits of almost 17,000 seemingly healthy men. He found that those who exercised hard enough to break into a significant sweat five to seven days a week increased the odds of atrial fibrillation, a heart rhythm disorder, by 20% compared with those who did no vigorous exercise. Runners, especially those aged 50 and under, are most at risk of the problem, which can lead to fainting, heart attacks and even strokes.
- Anthony Aizer, MD, assistant professor, department of medicine, division of cardiology
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CBS Evening News
August 27
Brain Cancer Fatalities - by Dr. Jon LaPook
Prior to his death, Senator Edward Kennedy treated his condition through surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. There's a new drug that shows promise which was approved this year by the FDA: Avastin, which cuts off the tumor's blood supply. Dr. Michael Gruber from NYU Langone Medical Center said, "After a number of treatments with Avastin, the tumor disappears and we've never seen this before."
- Michael Gruber, MD, professor, neurology and neurosurgery
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Modern Medicine.com
August 27
Syndicated by HealthDay News
Obesity's Effect on Anterior Spine Surgery Examined
Obese patients undergoing anterior lumbar surgery may have similar complications and time to ambulation as non-obese patients, according to research published in the September issue of The Spine Journal. Chan W.B. Peng, M.D., of the NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York City, and colleagues analyzed data from 74 patients who underwent anterior retroperitoneal lumbar disc procedures from May 2007 to January 2008. Based on body mass index, 33 patients were considered obese. The mean age was 46.6 years. The researchers found that obese patients had a longer duration of anterior exposure, duration of entire anterior surgery, longer anterior incision, and greater depth from skin to fascia and fascia to spine. However, the rate of minor complications (such as urinary tract infections) and major complications (such as iliac vein lacerations) wasn't significantly different. The authors further note that the groups weren't significantly different in terms of blood loss, length of hospitalization, or time to ambulation. "Obese patients have similar surgical outcomes in terms of blood loss, analgesic use, length of time to ambulation, and length of hospitalization when compared with non-obese patients for anterior lumbar surgery. Although the anterior approach to the lumbar spine is associated with many potential complications, we found that obesity is not related to an increased risk. This study is important as anterior lumbar surgery is common and obesity is a major medical issue," the authors conclude.
- Hospital for Joint Diseases
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Healthywomen.org
August 28
OTC Meds to Avoid With Hypertension
Q: I'm finding that so many over-the-counter medications warn against taking them if you have high blood pressure. Can you tell me why and what medications I should avoid?
A: It's funny, isn't it? We often assume that just because a medication is available without a prescription that it must somehow be safer than prescription medications. But the reality is that all drugs can have harmful side effects. Even aspirin can increase the risk of stomach bleeding, and acetaminophen (Tylenol) can contribute to liver damage. Thus, the decision to use a specific medication should always depend on a complete understanding of its potential risks and benefits. You are correct. Several over-the-counter (OTC) medications can contribute to high blood pressure. Others could interact with your high blood pressure medication, making it less effective. The OTC medications to watch out for include: pain relievers, oral contraceptives, antihistamines and decongestants, weight-loss preparation, caffeine and herbal remedies.
- Nieca Goldberg, MD, associate professor, cardiology.
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Onlinenews.com
August 27
Can Dark Chocolate Halt Heart Trouble?
Legend has it that chocolate, eaten in copious amounts after a break-up, can mend a broken heart.
But can that same delicacy actually prevent the breakage in the first place, at least physiologically speaking? Two research letters in the Aug. 27 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association found dark chocolate and drinkable cocoa had beneficial effects on certain measures of heart function. Both were small studies, however, and experts warn it's not yet time to substitute Nestle's dark for tried-and-true fruits and veggies. "Letters to the editors are not the place to change nutrition policy," says Dr. Robert H. Eckel, chairman of the American Heart Association's Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism. "Not only is chocolate high in calories, but one-third of it is fat that can be converted to a monounsaturated fatty acid. This doesn't give us enough information to just open the green light to chocolate consumption." There's also the issue of quantity. "The way we process chocolate tends to reduce the concentration of healthful compounds," says Samantha Heller, senior clinical nutritionist at the Joan and Joel Smilow Center for Cardiac Rehabilitation and Prevention at New York University Medical Center. At the same time, Heller points out, "Polyphenols are found in fruits and vegetables with the same if not more health-promoting qualities."
- Samantha Heller, nutritionist, Joan and Joel Smilow Center for Cardiac Rehabilitation and Prevention
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Men's Journal.com
August 26
The Libido Drug - by Frederick Kaufman
As soon as the bremelanotide (a.k.a. PT-141) arrived in the mail, I shook the white crystal onto a mirror and began to chop it into powder. I snorted some and a bitter taste began its steady descent down the back of my throat. But I wasn't about to complain. Thanks to a website called Tanresearch.com and $65, I finally had my hands on the most revolutionary sex drug ever created. This potion had undergone studies for almost a decade in a quest to make it the first-ever FDA-approved aphrodisiac to hit the U.S. market. A year earlier I was in the Montreal lab of Jim Pfaus, arguably the world's preeminent expert on bremelanotide. A 50-year-old neuroscientist, Pfaus was in the last stages of preclinical trials aimed at getting FDA approval for bremelanotide. Originally developed as a self-tanning agent, the drug had been repurposed when male study subjects reported a surprising side effect: erections. But there were side effects, and in 2007, Palatin's sex drug hit a roadblock just before entering phase-three testing, the FDA's final clinical hurdle before the drug is released to the public. Some of the men who sniffed bremelanotide experienced an increase in blood pressure, and about one third of the women who took the drug reported nausea. There were also those who doubted the drug would actually cause couples to want to jump into bed together. "It's baloney," says Leonore Tiefer, a professor of psychiatry at NYU School School of Medicine. "You might increase genital itchiness, but you won't increase desire." Several hours after taking the drug, I wasn't experiencing a headache, a palpitating heart, or nausea, but, sadly, I also hadn't enjoyed a spontaneous erection. Then, at four in the morning, it took hold. I felt a great surge of affection (greater than any regular level of arousal) for my lovely wife. My body tingled and, yes, I developed an erection that wouldn't quit. For two hours the drug wouldn't let me out of its grasp - nor my wife out of mine.
- Leonore Tiefer, MD, associate professor, psychiatry
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Businessweek.com
August 26
Syndicated by HealthDay News
Advice Helps Prevent Pain After Breast Cancer Surgery
Patients recovering from breast cancer surgery have a greater chance of avoiding a painful and debilitating post-surgery condition if they get a little extra information, a study has found. Lymphedema is a condition that causes a debilitating swelling of the extremities following breast cancer surgery. About 30 percent of the 2.4 million U.S. breast cancer survivors have developed lymphedema, and all are at risk for the rest of their lives, according to background information in a news release from the NYU Langone Medical Center. But there are things that patients can do to reduce the risk, including elevating the affected limb to promote fluid drainage, avoiding blood draws and injections in the affected limb and shunning tight clothing, which can aggravate symptoms, experts say. "It is important to identify the early warning signs and symptoms of the condition, as well as determine what interventions to take," said the study co-author Dr. Deborah Axelrod, an associate professor in the department of surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center and a member of the NYU Cancer Institute. "We also enroll patients into ongoing behavior and risk modification trials so they work with physical therapists to ensure symptom reduction." Lead author Mei R. Fu, assistant professor in the College of Nursing at New York University says, "Nurses can play a leadership role in educating patients about lymphedema and can play a role in improving the quality of life in cancer survivors."
- Deborah Axelrod, MD, associate professor, surgery, NYU Cancer Institute
- Mei R. Fu, assistant professor, college of nursing at New York University
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MSNBC
August 27
Medical Treatment for Obese Patients - Dr. Nancy Snyderman
Almost a third of Americans are estimated to be obese and now a new study finds that there are doctors who are not happy about treating them. Researchers from the NYU School of Medicine surveyed closed 400 of their own colleagues practicing all different types of medicine. And here's what they found. More than 40 percent say that they have a negative reaction to treating obese people and most felt that treating them is very frustrating. While 56 percent felt that they were qualified to treat obesity, only 46 percent felt they had successfully treated obese patients.
- NYU School of Medicine
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HealthDay News
August 27
Advice Helps Prevent Pain After Breast Cancer Surgery
A recent study shows that patients recovering from breast cancer surgery have a greater chance of avoiding a painful and debilitating post-surgery condition if they get a little extra information. "It is important to identify the early warning signs and symptoms of the condition, as well as determine what interventions to take," said the study co-author Dr. Deborah Axelrod, an associate professor in the department of surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center and a member of the NYU Cancer Institute. "We also enroll patients into ongoing behavior and risk modification trials so they work with physical therapists to ensure symptom reduction." Lead author Mei R. Fu, assistant professor in the College of Nursing at New York University says, "Nurses can play a leadership role in educating patients about lymphedema and can play a role in improving the quality of life in cancer survivors."
- Dr. Deborah Axelrod, associate professor, surgery, NYU Cancer Institute
- Mei R. Fu, assistant professor, college of nursing at New York University
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ABC Good Morning America Health
August 26
Heart Attack Hazards - By Vinita Nair
Dr. Jeffrey Berger was interviewed about the recent study he co-authored comparing mortality rates for men and women thirty days after having a heart attack. He said that while mortality rates have improved over the past 30 years for men, we haven't seen such improvements in women's rates. More women are dying from heart disease than men, he said. His goal was to see how men compare with women with heart attacks and their outcomes. Dr. Berger pointed out that women can have different heart attack symptoms than men including abdominal pain that doesn't get better while they can't find another reason for the discomfort. Dr. Berger also said women should be more proactive to prevent heart attacks through exercise, diet, and medications.
- Jeffrey Berger, MD, assistant professor, cardiology
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ABCnews.com
August 26
Are Heart Attacks More Deadly for Women? - By Lauren Cox and Courtney Hutchinson
Doctors have long known that women are nearly twice as likely as men to die in the first month after a heart attack. But a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association looked behind this statistic to discover that gender may not directly influence survival outcomes after a heart attack.. To discover more about the difference in heart attack survival rates between the sexes, Dr. Jeffrey Berger and his colleagues at the NYU School of Medicine analyzed the medical records of more than 130,000 heart attack patients (72 percent men and 28 percent women) that were part of 11 international studies between 1993 and 2006. Among all the studies, women died at a 9.6 percent rate compared with a 5.3 percent rate for men in the first month after a heart attack. Yet the study pointed out key differences between men and women in these statistics. Women were having heart attacks at an older age than the men. Women were also more likely to have diabetes, high blood pressure and heart failure while men were more likely to smoke, to have had a previous heart attack and have a previous bypass surgery. "[In our study] you see that women have almost a twofold increase risk for death after 30 days, which was found before, but the beauty of our study is we're able to look at reasons why this is," said Berger. "If you account for age, clinical risk factors that differ like hypertension, high cholesterol and numbers of arteries are blocked, there is not a difference." "It's not being a man or woman that puts you at higher risk, it's these other factors," said Berger. Rather than focus on treating men and differently, Berger hoped doctors would start looking at treating older heart attack victims with specific health complications differently than other heart attack victims. Indeed, Berger's study led some cardiologists to wonder if some of the differences between men and women in heart disease have been overblown.
- Jeffrey Berger, MD, assistant professor, cardiology
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Sciencedaily.com
August 26
Risk Of Death Following Acute Coronary Syndromes Different For Men, Women
Women may have a slightly higher risk of death than men in the 30 days following an acute coronary syndrome (ACS; such as heart attack or unstable angina), but this difference appears attributable to factors such as severity and type of ACS, clinical differences and angiographic severity according to a study in the August 26 issue of JAMA. "Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women, accounting for one-third of all deaths. Although several studies have shown an improvement of prognosis in women over time, overall outcomes remain worse for women compared with men, providing a strong rationale for focusing on the study of sex-based differences in the outcome of acute coronary syndromes," according to background information in the article. Previous analyses of the differences in outcomes for men and women following ACS have reported conflicting results. Jeffrey S. Berger, M.D., M.S., of the NYU School of Medicine, New York, and colleagues evaluated the relationship between sex and 30-day mortality following ACS and analyzed factors such as clinical classification at the time of ACS and the severity of angiographic disease. Patients for the study were pooled from a sample of 11 independent, international, randomized ACS clinical trials between 1993 and 2006.
- Jeffrey Berger, MD, assistant professor, cardiology
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Medical News Today.com
August 27
Women Slightly More Likely To Die Than Men In The 30 Days Following A Heart Attack
A new study from NYU School of Medicine found that women may have a slightly higher risk of death than men in the thirty days following an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), but that these differences appear to be attributable to factors such as severity and type of ACS. The study, published in the August 26, 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), found however that overall there was no significant difference in mortality observed between the sexes after a heart attack. The large observational study pooled 136,247 ACS patients from 11 independent, international randomized clinical trials between 1993 and 2006. "Our research concludes that there is a difference in mortality between men and women depending on the type of ACS they suffer," said lead study author, Jeffrey Berger, MD, MS, Director of Cardiovascular Thrombosis, Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, The Leon H Charney Division of Cardiology at NYU School of Medicine. "Among STEMI or more severe heart attacks - 30 day mortality was significantly higher among women than men. For NSTEMI or less severe heart attacks and unstable angina women had lower 30 day mortality than men. The lower risk in women after a less severe presentation is likely explained by the less severe blockages seen in women. The higher risk of women after a more severe presentation following total coronary occlusion STEMI - may be explained by the reduced collateral blood flow observed in women."
- Jeffrey Berger, MD, assistant professor, cardiology
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ABC-TV Affiliates
August 26

A New Study Shows Men Do Better than Women When it Comes to Surviving Heart
A Study from the NYU School of Medicine says women are more likely to die in the month after suffering a heart attack compared to men: 9.6 percent of women died within a month, compared with a 5.4 of men.
- Jeffrey Berger, MD, assistant professor, cardiology

NBC Today Show
August 26
The Frozen Embryo Dilemma
Researchers estimate that there are about half a million frozen embryos in the United States. A byproduct of invitro-fertilization, some will be used in future pregnancy attempts while others will be donated anonymously to other couples or used for research. Dr. Jaime Grifo of the NYU Fertility Center said, "No matter how well informed the patient is, there are always going to be complexities around this and it's just an uncomfortable side effect of a life-changing technology."
- Jaime Grifo, MD, professor, obstetrics and gynecology, director, NYU Fertility Center
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HealthDay News
August 26
Gene 'Fix' in Egg Prevents Inherited Diseases in Monkeys - by Steven Reinberg
A genetic tweak of the unfertilized eggs of macaque monkeys effectively prevented the transmission of diseases typically passed down through the maternal line, U.S. scientists reported. The hope is that the method could prevent inherited diseases passed from human mothers to their children through mutated DNA in cell "power plants" called mitochondria. Mitochondria play a basic role by producing energy for each cell, but they also contain their own genes, called mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), the researchers say. The report is published in the Aug. 26 online edition of Nature. Dr. Joshua Hare, professor and director of the Interdisciplinary Stem Cell Institute at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, called the work "very exciting."But he stressed that there are many steps in going from an animal model to a human. "In this case there is going to be a great amount of ethical discussion because you can't really do a clinical trial," he said. "If you created a human like this that human would be alive and if something went wrong because of the way in which that person was created there would be a lot of ethical dilemmas," he explained. Dr. Jamie Grifo, director of reproductive endocrinology at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City, who has done similar experiments in mice, agreed that ethical issues will continue to plague this work."This kind of work is going to cause people to be nervous and regulators to be really nervous," Grifo said, while defending the research. "Show me the harm," he said. "If you can make healthy babies, what is the harm?"
- Jaime Grifo, MD, professor, obstetrics and gynecology, director, NYU Fertility Center
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Also syndicated on numerous TV stations online including KTNV-TV, KTRV-TV, KTTC-TV, KTVN-TV, KTVZ-TV, KVBC-TV, KVIA-TV, AND KVOA-TV.

 

Fox News.com
August 26
Doctor: Despite Brain Tumor, Kennedy Had High Quality of Life Up To His Death - by Jessica Ryen Doyle
Edward M. "Ted" Kennedy, the Democratic "liberal lion" who for nearly 50 years represented Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate, died Wednesday morning at his home on Cape Cod more than a year after he announced he had been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. He was 77. "For a man is his 70s, he did very, very well," Dr. Michael Gruber, professor of neurology and neurosurgery at NYU School of Medicine and Director of the Brain Tumor Center in Summit, New Jersey, told FOXNews.com. "He was walking unassisted (up until the end), he was lucid." "Most people with brain tumors can go on living their everyday lives and function at a high level," said Gruber, who did not treat Kennedy. "They continue to work, travel. Only a small percentage are impaired because their vision is affected or they are having seizures. Each case is different. Some people have a better go at it than others."
- Michael Gruber, MD, professor, neurology and neurosurgery
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Quote also appeared in Asian News Network wire story.

 

NBC -TV Affiliates
August 26
Treating Obese Patients
An estimated 30 percent of Americans are obese and now a new study finds many doctors have negative feelings about treating them. Researchers from NYU School of medicine surveyed close to 400 of their own colleagues practicing all types of medicine. More than 40 percent said they have a negative reaction to obese patients and most felt treating them is quote "very frustrating." While 56 percent felt qualified to treat obesity, only 46 percent felt they successfully treated patients.
- NYU School of Medicine
Also appeared on WGRZ-TV, WNWO-TV, KWWl-TV, WWLP-TV, WAGT-TV and WTVA-TV.

 

WABC-TV
Syndicated in KLKN, WABC, KVUE, KVII
August 25
Heart Diseases and Gender- by Diana Williams
For most of us, the biggest threat of death is heart disease. And now, researchers are finding out that gender makes a difference in how a person fares following a heart attack, or even from the chest pains that lead to heart attack.. "An acute coronary syndrome is basically an umbrella term that really looks at a combination of factors that are caused by the heart not enough oxygen," said Dr. Jeffrey S. Berger of NYU Langone Medical Center. Dr. Berger led a team of researchers who wanted to find out how men and women different when they experience these factors. They reviewed the records of 136,000 patients in studies with acute coronary syndrome. Among their findings was that women in the studies were sicker at the beginning and, over the next 30 days, were more likely to die. "Women tended to be older at the time of their acute coronary syndrome, as well as have a great incidence of high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes," Dr. Berger said."Whereas men were more likely to have a prior heart attack or previous by-pass surgery."
- Jeffrey Berger, MD, assistant professor, cardiology
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Health Day.com
August 25
Women More Prone to Die in Month After Heart Attack - by Ed Edelson
Women are more likely to die than men in the 30 days after a heart attack, but that doesn't mean gender is driving the trend, a new study finds. Rather, "the difference can be attributed to well-known clinical and angiographic characteristics," such as age and the presence of other illnesses, said study lead author Dr. Jeffrey S. Berger, assistant professor of medicine and director of cardiovascular thrombosis at NYU Langone Medical Center. He and his colleagues published the findings in the Aug. 26 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. In the study, data on more than 136,000 people (28 percent of them women) from 11 major international studies of acute coronary syndrome showed no significant difference in male-female death rates after adjusting for clinical characteristics such as the amount of blockage in heart arteries and the presence of risk factors such as diabetes and high blood pressure, Berger said.
- Jeffrey Berger, MD, assistant professor, cardiology
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Medpage Today
August 25
Women's ACS Death rate Explained by Underlying Causes- by Michael Smith
Although women were more likely than men to die within 30 days of acute coronary syndromes, the difference almost disappeared when severity of symptoms, underlying conditions, and angiographic disease were taken into account, researchers found. Overall, 30-day mortality was significantly higher in women at 9.6%, versus 5.3% in men, (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.83 to 2.0).However, after multivariate adjustment for clinical characteristics, the odds ratio fell to 1.06 (95% CI 0.99 to 1.15) Jeffrey Berger, MD, of NYU School of Medicine, and colleagues reported in the Aug. 26 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association."The women tended to be older, as well as have a greater incidence of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes," Berger noted. The findings come from a pooled sample of 136,247 patients with acute coronary syndrome who took part in 11 independent, randomized trials between 1993 and 2006."One of the most surprising and interesting findings," Berger said in an interview, "was that we found that not all syndromes are the same."
- Jeffrey Berger, MD, assistant professor, cardiology
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Asian International Network (ANI)
August 26
Women are more likely than men to die within thirty days of suffering a heart attack.
The major cause of death from cardiovascular disease is acute coronary syndrome, the dangerous rupture of plaque inside the heart's artery. Researchers insist that the differences in mortality risk appear to be attributable to factors such as severity and type of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). "Our research concludes that there is a difference in mortality between men and women depending on the type of ACS they suffer," said lead study author Dr. Jeffrey Berger, MS, Director of C-Cardiovascular Thrombosis, Cardiovascular Clinical Research Center, The Leon H. Charney Divison of Cardiology at NYU School of Medicine.
-Jeffrey Berger, MD, assistant professor, cardiology
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NBC Today Show
August 25
Hidden Hazards in College Dorms
Dr. Roshini Rajapaksa of NYU Langone Medical Center talks about the top ten dangers that college students may encounter in close quarters as they move to dormitories. The dangers include meningitis, mononucleosis, colds and flu, sleep deprivation, binge drinking, and sexually transmitted diseases.
- Roshini Rajapaksa, MD, assistant professor, gastroenterology
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El Diario
August 25
Latin American Doctors Train at NYU
Dr. Thomas Maldonado, chief of vascular surgery at Bellevue Hospital and Assistant Professor Surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center trained a group of surgeons from Chile, Brazil, Venezuela, Costa Rica and Panamá for a week a course at NYU Langone on surgical techniques to treat abdominal or thoracic aneurysms. Dr. Maldonado, taught the latest techniques through video broadcast from the NYU operating room. As doctors explained - conventional surgery to treat problems of the aorta, the body's largest artery, is aggressive, long, costly convalescence. "It's ironic but in Latin America due to their economic situation surgeons have to be more creative in developing surgical techniques and so many of them have sprung up there," said Maldonado.
- Thomas Maldonado, MD, assistant professor, vascular and endovascular surgery
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Gannett News Service
August 24
Jackson Death Probe Deepens - by Maria Puente, William M. Welch, and Marco R. Della Cava
The slow-moving investigation of Michael Jackson's death inched forward with word that the pop superstar died from an injection of a powerful anesthetic, possibly compounded by the administration of at least two sedatives. The Los Angeles County coroner has determined that Jackson's death was a homicide, the Associated Press reported Monday. If so, that makes it more likely criminal charges will be filed against Conrad Murray, the doctor who was with the pop star when he died June 25 and injected him with several drugs. But in a search warrant affidavit, dated July 23 and unsealed Monday in Houston, L.A. chief medical examiner Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran revealed that preliminary toxicology results indicate Jackson's cause of death was a result of lethal levels of the hospital-only anesthetic Propofol. According to the affidavit, Murray said he administered Propofol around 10:40 a.m., hours after injecting Jackson with two sedatives in an attempt to help him sleep."Jackson remained awake," the affidavit read. "After repeated demands from Jackson, Murray administered 25mg of Propofol (Diprivan), diluted with Lidocaine (Xylocaine), via IV drip. Jackson finally went to sleep." Doctors use the drug only in hospitals before procedures such as heart surgery, says Christopher Gharibo, medical director of pain medicine at New York University-Hospital for Joint Diseases. Propofol (Diprivan), diluted with Lidocaine (Xylocaine), via IV drip. Jackson finally went to sleep."
- Christopher Gharibo, MD, assistant professor, anesthesiology
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Mental Health Update
August 25
ADHD and Insomnia
People with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often report trouble sleeping. It is thought that this relationship works both ways with ADHD making it harder for people to sleep and poor sleep contributing to the symptoms of ADHD. At the same time people with ADHD tend to smoke more and drink more coffee (both of which can cause insomnia) and are more likely to be overweight leading to sleep apnea. Most of the drugs prescribed for ADHD are stimulants although the evidence is mixed as to whether they make the problem better or worse. Researchers from the NYU School of Medicine studied the effect of the ADHD drug lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (LDX) on sleep quality in adults with ADHD. LDX is different from other drugs for ADHD as it is taken in an inactive form and only becomes active as it is metabolised in the body. The researchers studied 420 people taking either a placebo or varying amounts of LDX. The study found that for most of the participants LDX was not associated with an overall worsening of sleep quality and significantly improved daytime functioning.
- NYU School of Medicine
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5News-TV, Ft. Smith-Fayetteville, AR
August 25
Syndicated by Premium Health News Service
Women Still Waiting for Their Viagra - by Lindsay Lyon
Happy birthday, Viagra. It's been a decade since Pfizer's lovechild was borne through the straits of regulatory approval. The little pill has helped millions of men reclaim their pride and their sex lives. It has also spawned progeny, in a sense, in the form of the erectile dysfunction drugs Levitra and Cialis. Men these days have little reason to let ED ruin a romp in the bedroom. Women, on the other hand, might not be as eager to celebrate. After 10 years of buzz about a Viagra-like drug for women, nothing has been approved to date. Nonetheless, treating patients will remain a difficult process until a product for women is approved, says Irwin Goldstein, director of sexual medicine at Alvarado Hospital, San Diego, California. Patients trek to his clinic from all corners of the country to seek a solution for their sexual woes. When medically appropriate, Goldstein and other specialists prescribe testosterone products approved for men off-label in significant numbers of women whose levels of the hormone are deemed low by blood tests. "There are people who would like to go to their nearby doctor to get this care," says Goldstein. "Having a drug that's FDA approved would (make that possible)." Some don't agree. A group of self-appointed feminists are doing everything they can to ensure that female libido drugs don't reach pharmacy shelves. "This is not what women want, and this is not what's in their best interest," says Leonore Tiefer, clinical associate professor of psychiatry at the NYU Langone Medical Center, who's at the helm of this countermovement. Her view: It's normal for some healthy women to experience a decline in sexual interest, and it doesn't warrant medical treatment.
- Leonore Tiefer, MD, associate professor, psychiatry
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AOLHealth.com
August 24
How Dirty Is the Average American? - By Sara Abadi
The website received more than 20,000 responses to over 20 questions regarding the cleanliness of people's homes and bodies. Germ experts were asked to comment, including Philip Tierno Jr., M.D., Director of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology at NYU Langone Medical Center and author of "The Secret Life of Germs." Subjects ranged from how often to wash sheets and dishes to scrubbing the tub and cleaning the toilet, and washing fresh produce.
- Philip Tierno, MD, professor, microbiology and pathology
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MedPagetoday.com
August 24
Generics versus Brands: How It Plays Out in Practice - By Kristina Fiore, John Gever, Todd Neale
Pharmacists are allowed -- and in some states, mandated -- to swap a brand name drug for its generic counterpart, but concerns linger about whether some generics actually measure up. Although generic medications have long been touted for their cost-effectiveness, concerns have been raised about the effect of generic substitution in everyday practice, differences in bioequivalence standards for FDA approval, and recent manufacturing recalls. Harry Lever, MD, a Cleveland Clinic cardiologist, shares these concerns and warns his patients about generics. He tells them to avoid generic warfarin (Coumadin), a drug with a very narrow therapeutic index. Richard Stein, MD, a cardiologist at NYU School of Medicine, doesn't see the same issues with generics."I think we've seen very few problems in transferring patients, certainly in the drugs that I use the most -- the statins, the ACE inhibitors, the beta-blockers, the calcium channel blockers -- in going from a brand to generic," he said. Unlike Lever, Stein doesn't tell his patients to avoid generic warfarin, but he does try to make sure they remain on the same drug by the same manufacturer during treatment. He said he was unable as a physician to judge whether the FDA's process for determining bioequivalence between a generic and brand name medication is sufficient."Most of us just have to assume that the agencies are monitoring both the producers and the quality of the product," he said.
- Richard Stein, MD, professor, cardiology
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