News from NYU Langone Health
What We Know About The Legionnaires’ Disease Outbreak In New York. (The Cut (NY))
(8/6) An outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in Central Harlem, identified by the NYC Health Department, has resulted in 67 illnesses and three fatalities, with the bacteria, Legionella, spreading through infected water supplies such as cooling towers; Michael S. Phillips, MD, associate professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, and chief, Epidemiologist, to explain that Legionella thrives in warm water systems and does not transmit person-to-person.
Full-Body MRIs Expand In Columbus Amid Growing Debate. (Axios)
(8/7) Full-body MRIs are gaining popularity due to wellness influencers and celebrity endorsements, but experts like Marleen I. Meyers, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Perlmutter Â鶹ÊÓƵapp Center, criticize these scans for producing mostly false positives or benign findings that increase patient stress without improving survival rates.
Tech Startups Offering Embryo Testing Raise Ethical Concerns. (Fox News)
(8/6) Tech startups are advancing in vitro fertilization technologies that enable prospective parents to select embryos based on specific traits, such as cognitive ability and mental health; Art Caplan, PhD, the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor of Bioethics, Department of Population Health, Division of Medical Ethics, expressed concerns about creating a two-tiered society through genetic optimization.
Two Large Studies Refute Concerns About Cardiac Risks Of Lamotrigine For Epilepsy. (Neurology Today)
(8/7) Two large studies, one from Rutgers University and another from the University of Michigan, found no increased risk of ventricular arrhythmia or sudden cardiac arrest associated with the antiseizure drug lamotrigine, compared to levetiracetam, in patients with epilepsy, potentially influencing clinicians and patients to reconsider its use despite existing FDA warnings, with Jacqueline A. French, MD, professor, Department of Neurology, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, noting the drug’s effectiveness and minimal side effects.
Potential Connection Between Air Quality In The Mon Valley And Student Absenteeism. (CBS News)
(8/6) A study attributes increased school absenteeism in Clairton to air pollution from US Steel’s Clairton Coke Works, with data showing a 21% rise in asthma-related absences following high PM2.5 pollution days, despite US Steel’s claims of improved pollution controls; George Thurston, ScD, professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Environmental Medicine, and Department of Population Health, found a 41% drop in pediatric asthma ER visits after the Shenango plant closure, suggesting similar emission reductions at Clairton could yield health benefits.
Also reporting is (8/6).
‘I’ve Always Played For Me.’ Venus Williams Returns To Cincinnati Open On Her Own Terms. (Cincinnati Enquirer)
The (8/6) Venus Williams, after undergoing surgery for uterine fibroids with the assistance of gynecologist Taraneh Shirazian, MD, associate professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Fibroid Care, has returned to professional tennis with a renewed focus and determination, playing in the Cincinnati Open following a 16-month hiatus, and expressed gratitude for her health and the support she received, highlighting the importance of advocating for one’s health and playing on her own terms.
Heart Age Calculator Reveals Many Are Living With Premature Aging. (Everyday Health)
(8/6) A study in JAMA Cardiology reveals that many individuals have a heart age significantly older than their chronological age, with the heart age calculator showing that 16% of women and 26% of men have hearts at least a decade older, influenced by factors such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, lifestyle, and socioeconomic status; Yu Chen, MPH, PhD, professor, Department of Population Health, emphasizes the importance of using such tools during annual physicals to guide lifestyle changes and medical interventions to mitigate risks of heart disease.
Chronic Kidney Disease: Facing The Emotional Challenges Of Dialysis. (WebMD)
(8/6) Many patients who unexpectedly learn about renal failure and need for dialysis in the ER, where the stress of the demanding treatment, requiring four-hour sessions three times a week, can significantly impact mental health, as noted by Daniel Cukor, PhD, associate professor, Department of Medicine, Divisions of General Internal Medicine, and Nephrology, and Department of Psychiatry, who emphasized that over half of dialysis patients experience some level of depression or anxiety.
Why Do I Feel So Sleepy After Eating – And How Can I Boost My Energy Instead? (SELF Magazine)
(8/6) Post-meal drowsiness, known as postprandial somnolence, is a common issue often linked to the macronutrient composition of meals, especially those high in refined carbohydrates and tryptophan-rich foods, which cause rapid blood sugar spikes followed by drops, leading to fatigue, said Lisa Ganjhu, DO, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
News from NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island
Beyond The Glasgow Scale: NIH-NINDS Panel Urges Additional Assessments Of TBI. (Neurology Today)
(8/7) A panel of nearly 100 international experts, organized by the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, has recommended a new framework for diagnosing and prognosing traumatic brain injury (TBI) that goes beyond the Glasgow Coma Scale to include pupillary reactivity, blood-based biomarkers, and imaging, while also considering patient comorbidities and personal characteristics, with the framework published in Lancet Neurology and the Journal of Neurotrauma, and experts like Shae Datta, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Neurology, Concussion Center—Long Island, acknowledging its comprehensive nature but noting potential implementation challenges in non-trauma centers.
