News from NYU Langone Health
Air Filters Can Tackle Elevated Blood Pressure. (MedPage Today)
(8/6) A randomized trial demonstrated that HEPA filters reduced systolic blood pressure in people living near highways, particularly among those with elevated baseline blood pressure, with Jonathan Newman, MD, MPH, associate professor, Department of Medicine, the Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, and colleagues noting in an accompanying editorial that this modest reduction aligns with other lifestyle interventions and is associated with significant cardiovascular benefits, despite concerns about the trial’s limitations such as participant demographics and potential type 1 error.
Also reporting are (8/6) and (8/7).
Can Creativity In Science Be Learnt? These Researchers Think So. (Nature)
(8/8) Jacqueline Tabler’s experience, where she solved a laboratory problem through a creative dream-inspired experiment, underscores the challenges faced by early-career scientists in nurturing creativity amidst structural barriers like publication and funding pressures, as discussed at the (In)Credible Research Conference 2024, with insights from Itai Yanai, PhD, professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, highlighting how scientific culture often sidelines creativity in favor of traditional metrics of success.
Dr Mehnert On The Rationale For Adding IL-6 Blockade To Checkpoint Inhibition In Melanoma. (OncLive)
(8/7) Janice Mehnert, MD, professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Perlmutter 鶹Ƶapp Center, discussed a phase 2 trial combining IL-6 receptor blockade with checkpoint inhibitors in advanced melanoma, showing a 63.6% response rate and manageable toxicity, with the potential to enhance antitumor efficacy and reduce immune-related toxicity, as presented at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting.
New Sports Mean New Preventions And Treatments For Post-Middle Age Athletes. (Newsweek)
(8/7) Lauren E. Borowski, MD, assistant professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Division of Sports Medicine, Sports Medicine Center, emphasizes the importance of diverse training and resistance exercises to prevent injuries in older athletes, saying, “Resistance training has been shown to decrease one’s fall risk, improve balance, and keep us independent longer” adding that we “need the muscular strength to better support healthy joint movement.”
Boost Your Heart Health With 1 Simple Swap, Cardiologist Says. (TODAY)
(8/7) Cardiologist Dr. Andrew Freeman suggested swapping screen time for a brisk walk every morning, while N’Namdi Nelson, CSCS, senior exercise physiologist, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Division of Sports Medicine, Sports Performance Center, highlighted the benefits of walking outside, saying, “You want to look at different buildings, trees, birds, everything,” adding that is “healthier for you than just looking at a screen all day.”
Colorectal 鶹Ƶapp Diagnoses Soar Among Younger Adults For One Key Reason. (Fox News)
(8/7) Recent studies by the American 鶹Ƶapp Society (ACS) reveal a significant increase in colorectal cancer diagnoses among Americans aged 45 to 49, following updated screening guidelines that lowered the recommended screening age from 50 to 45, with a 50% relative increase in diagnoses from 2021 to 2022, as well as a notable rise in local-stage tumor detection, prompting experts including Paul E. Oberstein, MD, associate professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Perlmutter 鶹Ƶapp Center, to emphasize the success of early-stage detection and the need for continued research into the causes of increased cancer rates.
What To Do When It’s Too Hot To Sleep. (Consumer Reports)
(8/7) Alcibiades J. Rodriguez, MD, associate professor, Department of Neurology, Division of Epilepsy, and Sleep Medicine, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, advises keeping blinds or shades closed and windows shut when it’s hotter outside than inside to maintain cool indoor temperatures and promote better sleep.
3-Year-Old Weighed 100 Lbs. Due To A Rare Genetic Condition That Left Him ‘Crying And Wanting To Eat Nonstop’. (People)
(8/7) Mary Pat Gallagher, MD, associate professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Fink Ambulatory Care Center, Pediatric Diabetes Center, commented on the rarity of leptin-receptor abnormalities, a condition affecting an estimated 500 to 2,000 people in the U.S., stating that “the leptin receptor is critical to being able to pass along the message that you have eaten, and you’re not starving.”
You Can Get Ozempic Online Without A Prescription. Is It Safe? (Vogue)
(8/7) Holly F. Lofton, MD, clinical associate professor, Departments of Surgery, Division of Bariatric Surgery, and Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, attributes the rise in online GLP-1 sales to high costs, exceeding $1,000 monthly without insurance, and prescriber reluctance, noting that prescribers “have not been properly trained or don’t understand the complexity of overweight and obesity as chronic medical conditions.”
16 Best Hyaluronic Acid Serums And Creams Of 2025. (NBC News)
(8/7) Mary L. Stevenson, MD, associate professor, the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, emphasizes the hydrating benefits of hyaluronic acid for all skin types, noting its unique ability to draw moisture into the skin, noting, “It’s not like salicylic acid or some of the other acids that can be more exfoliating or abrasive on our skin.”
The Healthy Pasta That’s Helping American Families Lead Healthier Lives. (USA Today)
(8/7) An advertorial for Natural Heaven’s hearts of palm pasta quotes Sean P. Heffron, MD, assistant professor, Department of Medicine, the Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, as saying, “Diets high in fruits and vegetables are beneficial for blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight maintenance. The fiber in vegetables binds to cholesterol in the gut so it doesn’t go back into circulation, thus helping reduce total and LDL cholesterol.”
