News from NYU Langone Health
NYU Langone Receives $60 Million For Women’s Health Collaborative. (Philanthropy News Digest)
(5/26) NYU Langone Health announced $60 million in gifts to support women’s health, including $50 million from the Allison and Roberto Mignone Family Foundation and $10 million from Kenneth C. Griffin, leading to the renaming of the NYU Langone Ambulatory Care Center as the Mignone Women’s Health Collaborative, which will unite over 125 experts across 20 women’s health areas, establish new coursework at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, offer advanced imaging MRIs, and enroll high-risk patients in clinical studies, while Griffin’s contribution will create the Griffin Healthspan and Vitality Center to enhance women’s well-being, with Caren F. Behar, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, stating, “These new gifts strengthen our ability to form lifelong relationships with patients built on scientific excellence and compassionate care.”
A Conductor Gained 40 Pounds In A Matter Of Weeks. It Took Open-Heart Surgery To Learn Why. (CBS News)
(5/24) Conductor John Mauceri underwent open-heart surgery at NYU Langone Health in June 2024 to treat pericardial constriction caused by scarring, following a series of health issues including COVID-19, with the procedure successfully performed by cardiology surgeon Eugene Grossi, MD, the Stephen B. Colvin Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, with assistance from colleagues Adam H. Skolnick MD, associate professor, Department of Medicine, the Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, and Jonathan Samuels, MD, associate professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology.
I’m A Doctor — Beware These 6 Common 鶹Ƶapp Symptoms For People Under 50. (New York Post)
(5/26) Paul E. Oberstein, MD, associate professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Perlmutter 鶹Ƶapp Center, advises individuals to consult their doctor if they experience bowel changes, unintentional weight loss, lumps, skin lesions, unusual bleeding, or night sweats, as these could be potential cancer symptoms, adding, “We’ve been very successful at reducing cancer incidence in people over 50, so we’re optimistic that with focused research, more widespread screening and early intervention, we will be able to decrease cancer risk among people under 50 as well.”
Weight-Loss Drugs May Lower 鶹Ƶapp Risk In People With Diabetes, A Study Suggests. (Los Angeles Times)
The (5/23) A study led by Lucas A. Mavromatis, research assistant, Department of Medicine, Division of Precision Medicine, analyzed 170,000 patient records and found that U.S. adults with diabetes who took GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as Wegovy, Ozempic, and Zepbound, had a slightly lower risk of obesity-related cancers compared to those who took other diabetes medications not associated with weight loss; this study, funded by the National Institutes of Health and released by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, suggests a potential link worth further exploration.
Also reporting are (5/23), (5/23), (5/23), and (5/26).
In New Jersey Wrestling, A High School Fight Goes Out Of Bounds. (New York Times)
The (5/27) Christopher N. La Lima, PhD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, said that high school athletes and their parents experience different pressures, with adults viewing the competition as “a mirror of themselves,” while students aim to please their parents and impress friends, amid the backdrop of a February incident where Anthony Knox Jr. and his father were involved in a brawl at a New Jersey wrestling meet, leading to Anthony’s temporary disqualification from the state championship.
Billy Joel Cancels Shows Due To A Brain Disorder. Here’s What To Know. (Washington Post)
The (5/23) Singer Billy Joel canceled all upcoming U.S. and U.K. performances due to normal pressure hydrocephalus, a rare brain disorder, according to a statement released Friday on the singer’s social media, with David H. Harter, MD, professor, Department of Neurosurgery, saying, “The analogy I use for patients is that it’s like driving around with the parking brake on.”
(5/23) Billy Joel has canceled all concerts for a year after being diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, a condition exacerbated by recent performances, as explained by Jonathan D. LaPook, MD, the Mebane Professor of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, professor, Department of Population Health, who says the condition can “cause typical symptoms which are trouble thinking, trouble walking, and trouble with incontinence.”
(5/26) Senior medical analyst Marc K. Siegel, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation “breaks down the symptoms of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus amid music legend Billy Joel’s brain diagnosis and why it’s under-diagnosed on ‘Fox Report.’”
SARS-CoV-2 Corrupts Some White Blood Cells To Suppress Immune System. (Technology Networks)
(5/23) A study funded by the National Institutes of Health and conducted by researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine and affiliated institutions found that SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, can reprogram neutrophils to become polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSCs), which inhibit T cells and may contribute to severe COVID-19, with lead author Leon Hsieh, PhD, postdoctoral fellow, Department of Microbiology, stating that the presence of SARS-CoV-2 induced neutrophils to differentiate into PMN-MDSCs that limited T-cell proliferation and inhibited cytokine release, suggesting potential therapeutic strategies involving PD-L1 antibodies.
Fentanyl Fueling OD Deaths Among Teens, Young Adults. (HealthDay)
(5/25) A study published in Pediatrics reveals that fentanyl, taken alone, is responsible for most fatal overdoses among 15- to 24-year-olds, with deaths soaring by 168% from 2018 to 2022, according to researchers from the Center for Opioid Epidemiology and Policy at NYU Langone Health; instead of finding that overdoses were due to contamination, senior researcher Noa Krawczyk, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Population Health, said, “Instead, we found the opposite — that most deaths were caused by fentanyl alone.” The study analyzed federal death records, finding the largest increase in overdose death rates among young people using fentanyl alone, while lead investigator Megan Miller, MPH, research coordinator, Center for Opioid Epidemiology and Policy, emphasized the importance of educating youth on fentanyl risks and utilizing harm reduction tools.
30% Weight Loss In A Week? The Metabolic “Kill Switch” Scientists Just Discovered. (SciTech Daily)
(5/23) Researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine have genetically modified mice to cease producing the amino acid cysteine, leading to a 30% body weight reduction within a week when fed a cysteine-free diet; the study reveals that the absence of cysteine disrupts energy metabolism by depleting coenzyme A, impairing the conversion of food into energy and prompting rapid fat utilization, and co-senior author Evgeny A. Nudler, PhD, the Julie Wilson Anderson Professor of Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, said this research exposes “profound, fundamental aspects of metabolism,” while Dan Littman, MD, PhD, the Helen L. and Martin S. Kimmel Professor of Molecular Immunology, Department of Pathology, and professor, Department of Cell Biology, expressed hope to “hijack parts of this process to induce a similar weight loss in humans but without completely removing cysteine.”
Recognizing Actinic Keratosis, 鶹Ƶapp Risk, With Elizabeth Hale, MD. (HCP Live)
(5/24) In an interview, Elizabeth K. Hale, MD, clinical associate professor, the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, emphasized the importance of actinic keratosis diagnosis and treatment by dermatologists and general physicians, to help “minimize the risk of future skin cancers.”
Rising Tides: Making A More Resilient Lowcountry. (WCIV-TV Charleston (SC))
Charleston, SC (5/21) The Lowcountry is experiencing intensified climate change effects, including frequent coastal flooding due to rising sea levels, as reported by the National Weather Service Charleston, and the City of Charleston is implementing a Climate Action Plan to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, with Mayor William Cogswell saying, “The biggest tool is gonna be money,” while Neely Tummala, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Otolaryngology and Neck Surgery, has found that climate change has increased pollen levels, exacerbating allergy symptoms, and said, “Studies do show that the pollen itself is more allergenic, meaning that it produces more severe allergy symptoms.”
Experts Reveal ‘Harmless-Looking’ Skin Changes That Are 鶹Ƶapp Signs. (Daily Mail (UK))
The (5/26) Research from 鶹Ƶapp Research UK has revealed that melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, manifests differently in men and women; dermatologists, including Nayoung Lee, MD, assistant professor, the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, have identified lesser-known symptoms such as dark patches on mucous membranes and changes to nails, which could indicate melanoma or other cancers like squamous cell carcinoma.
Knicks In Six? Ask Fran Lebowitz, Alison Roman, And Spike Lee. (The New Yorker)
The (5/24) At the start of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals, Sunil Rao, MD, professor, Department of Medicine, the Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, predicted the Knicks would win the series in six games against the Pacers, saying, “The Pacers have a really fast-paced game, but I think Jalen Brunson’s the real deal.”
Inavolisib Regimen Significantly Improves OS In PIK3CA-Mutated Advanced Breast 鶹Ƶapp. (Healio)
(5/23) The addition of inavolisib to palbociclib and fulvestrant significantly extended overall survival (OS) and delayed time to chemotherapy for patients with PIK3CA-mutated, hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer, according to a phase 3 trial to be presented at the ASCO annual meeting; Iris Zhi, MD, PhD, member of the faculty, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Perlmutter 鶹Ƶapp Center, described the triplet therapy as practice-changing and standard-of-care for these patients, though routine PIK3CA mutation testing and managing inavolisib-related side effects remain crucial.
HHS Releases The First ‘Make America Healthy Again’ Report. (Healthcare Innovation)
(5/23) On May 22, the Presidential Commission to Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) released a report identifying poor diet, aggregation of environmental chemicals, lack of physical activity and chronic stress, and overmedicalization as potential drivers of rising childhood chronic diseases, while Arthur L. Caplan, PhD, the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor, Department of Population Health, Division of Medical Ethics, said the report has both interesting and controversial ideas about health and children’s health.
(5/23) A White House report, “MAHA Report: Making Our Children Healthy Again,” released by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., claims that today’s children are the sickest generation in U.S. history due to environmental toxins, poor nutrition, and excessive screen time, criticizing ultra-processed foods and questioning the safety of certain chemicals and childhood vaccine schedules; however, some scientists dispute its scientific accuracy, while Melanie R. Jay, MD, professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, and Department of Population Health, said not treating childhood obesity early can be more harmful than using approved medications, amid the report’s concerns about long-term medication use in children.
A Pregnant Woman Is Being Kept On Life Support. (Politico)
(5/23) Emory University Hospital is keeping Adriana Smith on life support, despite her being declared brain dead, due to Georgia’s fetal heartbeat law, which her family claims was applied without their consent, and Arthur L. Caplan, PhD, the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor, Department of Population Health, Division of Medical Ethics, stated that keeping a pregnant person on life support is highly unusual and typically only occurs when the pregnancy is considered viable, usually after 20 weeks.
UnitedHealth’s Rocky 2025: NYU Langone Health’s Art Caplan On The Challenges Facing The Company. (CNBC)
(5/23) Arthur L. Caplan, PhD, the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor, Department of Population Health, Division of Medical Ethics, joined ‘Squawk Box’ to discuss the recent UnitedHealthcare troubles, saying, “One of the key requirements of any company operating in the healthcare space is trust,” adding that “when patients don’t trust them, when customers don’t trust them, when doctors don’t trust them, they are in for some rocky times.”
Also reporting is (5/23).
News from NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island
‘Don’t Fry Day’: 7 Sun Safety Tips To Prevent Skin 鶹Ƶapp. (KWTV-TV Oklahoma City)
Oklahoma City (5/23) “Don’t Fry Day,” an awareness initiative by the National Council on Skin 鶹Ƶapp Prevention, promotes sun safety to reduce skin cancer, the most common cancer in the U.S., with 1 in 5 Americans expected to develop it during their lifetime, and physicians urging preventive measures as 90% of cases are preventable; Nicole M. Golbari, MD, MPH, clinical associate professor, Department of Medicine—Long Island, advises using tinted sunscreens with iron oxide for added protection against visible light.
