News from NYU Langone Health
The Gift Of Life: A Visual History Of Organ Transplantation. (CNN)
(5/17) Xenotransplantation, the practice of transplanting animal organs into humans, is being explored as a potential solution to the shortage of human organs, with NYU Langone Health playing a pivotal role; Jeffrey Stern, MD, assistant professor, Department of Surgery, Division of Transplant Surgery, NYU Transplant Institute, said, “The lack of having ready access to human organs has always sort of been the holy grail,” while Jayme Locke, MD, MPH, FACS, FAST, adjunct professor, Department of Surgery, said, “The promise of xenotransplantation is the promise of hope for our patients,” as NYU Langone’s groundbreaking 2021 pig kidney transplant into a brain-dead patient demonstrated the potential viability of genetically engineered pig organs for human use, paving the way for future clinical trials and advancements in personalized organ creation. Porcine organs were chosen as “Primates turned out to be too small, too expensive and too controversial,” said Art Caplan, the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor of Bioethics, Division of Medical Ethics, Department of Population. Robert Montgomery, MD, DPhil, the H. Leon Pachter, MD, Professor of Surgery, chair, Department of Surgery, NYU Langone Transplant Institute, said, “I think the next thing we’re going to do is … create personalized organs where we don’t have to use any immunosuppression...Then you have a designer organ for that person when they need it.”
The CNN Documentary on this story can be seen (5/18). Also reporting is Spokane, WA (5/17).
St. Francis College Student With Cerebral Palsy Walks Across Graduation Stage. (CBS News New York)
(5/16) Jessica Huang, a St. Francis College graduate with cerebral palsy, achieved her goal of walking across the stage at her graduation, an effort that involved nearly 150 physical therapy sessions at NYU Langone Health, surprising her parents and receiving a standing ovation at King’s Theatre; her journey also inspired her friend and fellow NYU Langone Health patient, Carmen Lai, who is set to graduate next year, while Huang plans to pursue graduate studies in public health at CUNY.
Also reporting are (5/16) and (5/16). Additional broadcast coverage also reporting on the graduation can be seen .
Former US President Biden Diagnosed With ‘Aggressive’ Prostate 鶹Ƶapp. (Reuters)
(5/18) Former U.S. President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has metastasized to his bones, according to a statement from his office; while the cancer is hormone-sensitive, allowing for effective management, Biden and his family are evaluating treatment options with physicians, including Herbert Lepor, MD, professor, Departments of Urology, and Biochemistry, the Martin Spatz Chair, Department of Urology, chief, Urology, Perlmutter 鶹Ƶapp Center, who said a Gleason score of nine indicates “very high risk” but noted advancements in treatment over the last decade.
(5/18) Fox News senior medical analyst Marc K. Siegel, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, described the cancer as “pretty far advanced” and noted urinary symptoms as an indication of its progression.
Also reporting are the (5/18) and (5/17).
Popular Injected Weight Loss Medications Work Better For One Sex. Researchers Want To Know Why. (CNN)
(5/16) Recent clinical trials reveal that injected GLP-1 weight loss medications, such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, appear more effective for women than men, with women losing up to 90% more weight; this effect might be influenced by factors like drug dosing, fat distribution, societal pressures, and estrogen’s interaction with GLP-1, according to Melanie R. Jay, MD, associate professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, and Department of Population Health.
63 Health Systems Ranked By Annual Revenue. (Becker's Hospital Review)
(5/16) NYU Langone Health, ranked 21st among 63 health systems, reported an annual revenue of $14.2 billion in 2024, as patient volumes increased and provider productivity improved, reflecting a broader industry recovery, although many organizations faced rising expenses that outpaced revenue gains, highlighting persistent financial pressures on hospitals and health systems.
Comorbidities In TKA: Time To Adjust Reimbursement Models? (Orthopedics This Week)
Paywalled* This Week (5/16) “Citing a lack of information on the impact of increased comorbidities on the cost-effectiveness of total knee arthroplasty (TKA), a team from NYU Langone Health in New York and the Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center in Israel set out to right the situation,” and their work, “‘The Financial Burden of Patient Comorbidities on Total Knee Arthroplasty Procedures: A Matched Cohort Analysis of Patients Who Have a High and Non-High Comorbidity Burden,’ appears in the December 24, 2024 edition of The Journal of Arthroplasty.”
Astrocytes Take Center Stage In Brain Function And Behavior. (Neuroscience News)
(5/16) Astrocytes, previously considered support cells, have been shown to play a crucial role in regulating brain function and behavior by selectively responding to neurotransmitters and influencing neural signal prioritization, according to research from Oregon Health & Science University published in Science; this study, which was replicated in rodents, suggests astrocytes’ ability to gate synaptic input could be key in treating disorders involving attention, mood, and neurodegeneration, with co-author Rachel D. Kim, PhD, postdoctoral fellow, Department of Neuroscience.
Should You Try To Reset Your Stress With A Cortisol Detox? (Verywell Health)
(5/16) Priya Jaisinghani, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Medicine, the Holman Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, & Metabolism, said that while there is no scientific basis for a “cortisol detox,” incorporating sustainable lifestyle changes such as quality sleep, mindfulness practices, and regular physical activity can help regulate cortisol levels and reduce stress, emphasizing that cortisol is essential and its regulation involves a complex interplay between the brain, adrenal glands, and environment, with high levels sometimes linked to conditions like Cushing’s syndrome, but typically not the sole cause of symptoms like fatigue and weight gain.
Incidence Of Food-Allergic Reactions Low In Adolescents, But Patients Still Need Guidance. (Healio)
(5/16) Researchers from the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, led by Roxanne Dupuis, PhD, Department of Population Health, conducted a 15-month study on food-allergic reactions among adolescents, finding 2.83 reactions per 100 person-months, with 1.35 being anaphylactic; despite the infrequency, Dupuis stressed the need for “easy access to epinephrine” and safer food environments, noting, “The relative infrequency of food-allergic reactions should not lead to laxer guidance...because one of the main issues with food allergy...is the unpredictability of reactions and their severity,” and highlighting that epinephrine was used in only 60% of anaphylactic cases.
Study Finds Men Twice As Likely To Die From Broken Heart Syndrome. (Vice)
(5/18) A recent study in the Journal of the American Heart Association reveals that men hospitalized with takotsubo cardiomyopathy, or “broken heart syndrome,” have a mortality rate over twice that of women, with 11% of men dying compared to 5% of women, according to data analyzed from nearly 200,000 cases between 2016 and 2020; Harmony R. Reynolds, MD, the Joel E. and Joan L. Smilow Professor of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, the Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, said, “It seems to be a consistent finding that men don’t get takotsubo syndrome as much, but when they do, they do worse.”
How GLP-1s Could Help People Sleep Better. (Rheumatology Advisor)
(5/16) Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, including tirzepatide, have gained FDA approval for treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), expanding their use beyond weight management and diabetes, with Alcibiades J. Rodriguez, MD, associate professor, Department of Neurology, Division of Epilepsy, and Sleep Medicine, saying, “The number one modifiable risk factor for sleep apnea is obesity,” and noting that GLP-1s are now part of his treatment strategy due to their potential to reduce inflammation, improve metabolic health, and decrease cardiovascular risks, though he cautions that they are most effective when combined with lifestyle changes.
When A Vaccine Safety Trial Becomes Unethical. (New York Times)
The (5/16) The Department of Health and Human Services has introduced a new standard for vaccine safety testing, mandating that all new vaccines be evaluated against a placebo, a move that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has long advocated for, although bioethicists including Art Caplan, PhD, the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor of Bioethics, Department of Population Health, Division of Medical Ethics, argue that Kennedy’s stance overlooks ethical and practical considerations, as placebo-controlled trials are not always feasible or ethical, especially when effective treatments already exist; for instance, during the polio vaccine trial in 1954, while the placebo group was necessary to demonstrate efficacy, it resulted in fatalities among those who did not receive the vaccine.
Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Expecting Very Quick Return, But Doctor Isn’t So Sure. (New Jersey Star-Ledger)
(5/16) Despite a high-grade oblique strain with three tears, Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm is optimistic about returning to action sooner than the 4-6 weeks timeline set by physicians, aiming for a comeback in “a week and a half;” however, Spencer Stein, MD, assistant professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, cautions that Chisholm’s timeline might be overly optimistic, saying, “I think a month (on the injured list) is early for a more severe sprain.”
In a separate article, (5/16) Yankees third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera announced via Instagram that his surgery for a fractured left ankle was successful, but Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that due to revealed ligament damage, it is “probably unlikely” Cabrera will play again this season, pending further evaluation in a week to 10 days; Spencer Stein, MD, assistant professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, explained that the ligament tear “shouldn’t add much to the repair,” estimating four to six weeks to weight bearing, three months to jogging and training, and approximately six months for a return to sports, though this timeline can vary.
A Low-Carb Diet For Diabetics That Doesn’t Feel Restrictive? Yes! (Women's World Magazine)
(5/16) Experts, including Rachel Pessah-Pollack, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, the Holman Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, advocate for a nutrient-dense, low-carb diet to manage diabetes, as reducing carbohydrates can lower glucose levels and enhance insulin response.
CRISPR Technology Saves Infant With Rare Genetic Mutation. (WCBS-TV New York)
(5/16) A groundbreaking treatment using CRISPR technology has saved the life of baby KJ, who was born with a rare genetic disorder that is typically fatal for half of those affected; Jonathan D. LaPook, MD, the Mebane Professor of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, professor, Department of Population Health explained the urgency of editing out the genetic mutation to prevent brain-damaging ammonia levels.
Also reporting is (5/16).
DR MARC SIEGEL: Presidential Fitness And What We Deserve To Know. (Fox News)
(5/17) In an opinion piece, Marc K. Siegel, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, writes that concerns about President Joe Biden’s health during his presidency were heightened by revelations of his disorientation and memory loss, and challenges reassurances given by White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor, who did not report any neurological disorders, arguing for greater transparency in presidential health matters.
(5/17) A study led by Oxford researchers, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, shows that light-intensity activities like casual walking can lower cancer risk; Marc K. Siegel, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, who was not involved in the study, said, “All kinds of activity, including walking, increases metabolic function and decreases inflammation,” supporting the study’s findings that any level of physical activity reduces cancer risk.
