News from NYU Langone Health
Can CtDNA Monitoring Help To Predict Melanoma Recurrence? (ASCO Post)
The (4/16) A study published in The Lancet Oncology found that approximately 80% of patients with stage III melanoma with detectable circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) before treatment experienced recurrence, with the disease returning more than four times faster than in those without detectable ctDNA; lead author Mahrukh Syeda, MS, research scientist, the Ronald O. Perlman Department of Dermatology, said, “Our findings suggest that ctDNA tests could help oncologists identify which [patients with] melanoma are most likely to respond well to therapy,” and senior author David Polsky, MD, PhD, the Alfred W. Kopf, M.D. Professor of Dermatologic Oncology, vice chair, research, the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, and professor, Department of Pathology, Perlmutter 鶹Ƶapp Center, and added, “Unlike standard, tissue-based analyses of tumor cells, which can only suggest the likelihood of recurrence, ctDNA tests provide a clear, direct measure of the disease itself and can tell us outright that melanoma has returned.”
Also reporting are (4/16), (4/16), (4/16), (4/16), and the (4/16).
New NYU Langone Health Study Has Potential To Change The Way Food Allergies Are Treated. (Brooklyn (NY) Daily Eagle)
The (4/16) A study led by Dan Littman, MD, PhD, the Helen L. and Martin S. Kimmel Professor of Molecular Immunology, Department of Pathology, and professor, Department of Cell Biology, published in Nature Online on April 14, identifies a group of intestinal cells that modulate immune responses to food proteins by expressing genes and proteins characteristic of dendritic cells, which communicate with T cells to suppress inflammation upon subsequent antigen encounters, potentially offering new treatments for food allergies; Dr. Littman said, “For example, if someone has a peanut allergy, perhaps we can use tolerogenic dendritic cells to help create more regulatory T cells to suppress an allergic response to peanut molecules.”
Also reporting is (4/16).
Robotic Technology May Improve Accuracy Of Screw Placement In Adult Spinal Deformity. (Healio)
(4/16) Robotic-guided and CT-navigated pedicle screw placement demonstrated higher accuracy and fewer revisions compared to freehand methods in adult spinal deformity cases, according to a study by Themistocles S. Protopsaltis, MD, professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, chief, Division of Spine Surgery, and professor, Department of Neurosurgery, and colleagues, presented at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting; robotic and CT-navigated techniques achieved 93% and 95% accuracy, respectively, while freehand methods showed 86% accuracy with a 6% revision rate, with Protopsaltis advising selective use of technology for challenging screw placements rather than routine application for all screws.
Lil Nas X Hospitalized With Partial Facial Paralysis. (FOX 5 New York)
(4/16) Lil Nas X posted an update as he deals with partial facial paralysis, with Danielle Eytan, MD, clinical associate professor, Department oF Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, saying, “The vast majority of patients that have true Bell’s palsy withing the span, frequently of just three weeks.”
Simple Movements You Can Do At Home Might Improve Strength, Flexibility, And More. (Health)
(4/16) A study published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology on March 15 found that sedentary individuals who engaged in daily eccentric exercise training for a month improved their muscle strength, endurance, flexibility, and mental health scores, though there were no significant changes in body composition or cardiovascular markers; Heather Milton, MS, clinical exercise physiologist, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Sports Performance Center, commented that “adaptations to exercise interventions can take longer than four weeks in these domains,” and emphasized the benefits of starting with low-intensity exercises and gradually increasing intensity or duration for continued fitness improvements.
Can Eating Local Honey Reduce Seasonal Allergies? Experts Weigh In. (TODAY)
(4/16) Purvi S. Parikh, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Allergy & Immunology, and Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy and Immunology, said honey does not help with seasonal allergies or treat allergic rhinitis, countering the common belief that it can desensitize the body to pollen, as honey bees collect pollen from flowers, which is different from the airborne pollen causing allergies; instead, nasal steroid sprays and antihistamines are recommended for relief, while natural remedies include closing windows, using air conditioning with filters, and washing bedding weekly.
Also reporting is (4/16).
Warning Over Quick-Fix Diet That Says You Can Lose Over Half A Stone In A Week. (GloucestershireLive (UK))
(4/16) The military diet claims to facilitate weight loss of up to 4kg in a week through severe calorie restriction, but Holly F. Lofton, MD, clinical associate professor, Departments of Surgery, Division of Bariatric Surgery, and Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, recommends sustainable dietary changes, such as keeping a food diary and increasing fruits, vegetables, and high-quality proteins.
Also reporting is (4/16).
We Vacuumed With Nearly 400 Cleaners, And These Robot, Handheld, And Cordless Vacuums Sucked Up The Most Debris. (People)
(4/16) A high-quality vacuum cleaner is essential for household cleaning and Purvi S. Parikh, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Allergy & Immunology, and Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy and Immunology, noted, “With bagged cleaners, you do not have to change the filter as often, but if you do not have a model that alerts you, some of the allergens can start coming out when it’s too full.”
Social Media Fuels Dubious Cortisol Craze. (Medscape)
(4/16)* Social media trends promoting “cortisol detoxing” have led to increased patient requests for cortisol testing, though Priya Jaisinghani, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Medicine, the Holman Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, & Metabolism, warns that false positives for adrenal insufficiency “may lead to unnecessary follow-up testing including lab work or imaging, and increased health anxiety.”
Jewish Family On Way To Seder Killed In Plane Crash. (Jewish News (UK))
(UK) (4/16) A Jewish family, including NYU Grossman School of Medicine student Karenna Groff, perished in a plane crash on Saturday while traveling to upstate New York to celebrate Passover and Karenna’s 25th birthday.
Also reporting are (4/17) and (4/17)
Texas Measles Outbreak Swells To 561 Cases, CDC Sends More Help. (Fox News)
(4/16) “Marc K. Siegel, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation “joins ‘Fox & Friends’ to discuss HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. promoting the MMR vaccine and visiting Utah after the state announced a ban on fluoride in water.”
RFK Jr’s ‘Chronic Disease Tour’ Wraps. (WNYC-FM New York)
(4/17) Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again tour, focused on chronic disease and diet, coincides with substantial cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services, impacting public health programs and data collection efforts, with Kennedy claiming the cuts target DEI initiatives, although confusion persists about their permanence; Jonathan D. LaPook, MD, the Mebane Professor of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, professor, Department of Population Health interviewed Kennedy about these cuts, revealing Kennedy’s lack of awareness about the reductions.
Porn ‘Literacy’ Needed To Better Inform Young People. (Medscape)
Paywalled* (4/16)* Arthur L. Caplan, PhD, the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor of Bioethics, Department of Population Health, Division of Medical Ethics, emphasizes the need for discussions on pornography with young people, highlighting statistics that show 25% of adolescents view porn by age 13, urging parents and doctors to address the unrealistic and potentially harmful depictions of sex in pornographic content.
News from NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn
Vaping May Seem Safer Than Cigarette Smoking, But It Still Raises Lung Disease Risk. (Verywell Health)
(4/16) Jorge M. Mercado, MD, clinical associate professor, and associate section chief, Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, NYU Langone Hospital–Brooklyn, warns that vaping, while perceived as safer than smoking, can still damage lungs and contribute to diseases like COPD, saying, “You have to be careful, because not only can these be addictive because of the substances in there, mainly the nicotine, but also it can damage your lungs as well.”
News from NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island
Heart Health Awareness. (News 12-TV Bronx (NY))
(4/16) Shaline D. Rao, MD, assistant professor, the Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, and chief, Division of Cardiology, and chief and vice chair of Operations of Medicine, NYU Langone Hospital–Long Island, emphasized the importance of addressing heart disease risk factors early in life, including habits formed before adulthood, such as alcohol consumption, vaping, and family history awareness, which can significantly impact long-term health.
Also reporting was (4/16).
