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News from ������� Langone Health

Recipient Of Pig Kidney Transplant Reaches A Milestone. (NPR)

(1/30) Towana Looney, the first person to receive a genetically modified pig kidney, is marking two months since her transplant at �����о��� Langone Health; Robert Montgomery, MD, DPhil, the H. Leon Pachter, MD, Professor of Surgery, chair, Department of Surgery, �����о��� Langone Transplant Institute, who led the operation, said, “She’s doing extraordinarily well,” and expressed hope that such organs could address the organ shortage in the future, though he acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the longevity of Looney’s transplant.

Also reporting in separate articles are (1/27) and (1/27), as well as (1/30) and Binghamton, NY (1/30).

New Study Takes On Another Myth About What Causes Autism: ‘Many Mothers Feel Guilty’. (New York Post)

The (1/31) �����о��� Langone Health researchers, led by Magdalena Janecka, associate professor, Departments of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and Population Health, conducted a study analyzing over 1.1 million Danish pregnancies and found “no convincing evidence” that maternal infections, depression, or other health issues during pregnancy cause autism, attributing most autism diagnoses to genetics, pollution exposure, and healthcare access; Janecka explained, “We saw no association between the individual [diagnostic codes on medical records] indicating maternal infection and [a child’s] autism diagnosis,” while Vahe Khachadourian, research assistant professor, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, said the study is the first to examine the entire maternal medical history, controlling for confounding factors.

This Condition Shares A Lot Of Its Symptoms With Anxiety — But It’s Much More Serious. (New York Post)

(1/30) Kepal Patel, MD, professor, Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and Surgery, Division of Endocrine Surgery, vice chair, Faculty Development, Department of Surgery, chief, Division of Endocrine Surgery, highlights that symptoms such as a racing heart and fevered brow could indicate thyroid dysfunction rather than anxiety, noting, “The thyroid gland is part of your endocrine system, producing hormones that regulate your metabolism and affect how your body uses energy.”

How To Recover After A Workout: Life Kit. (NPR)

(1/30) Producer Margaret Cirino recounts her experience of a back injury from improper weightlifting, emphasizing the importance of warm-up and recovery routines to prevent injuries, as discussed with Natasha N. Desai, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Division of Sports Medicine, Women’s Sports Medicine Center, who advises gradual reintroduction to exercise and varied training plans to avoid repetitive stress injuries and overuse tendonitis.

Infant Receives World’s Smallest Pacemaker. (KNBC-TV Los Angeles)

(1/30) Doctors at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at �����о��� Langone Health performed a rare procedure to implant the world’s smallest pacemaker, the size of a large vitamin, into newborn Mikey, who was diagnosed with a complete heart block during a 20-week ultrasound; Reina Tan, MD, assistant professor, Department of Pediatrics, Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital, T.K. Susheel Kumar, MD, associate professor, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Pediatric Heart Failure & Transplantation Program, Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital said that the current devices are typically too large for infants under two kilos, prompting the need for emergency approval for this smaller device, allowing Mikey to avoid weekly cardiologist visits and continue recovery at home with his family.

Also reporting is (1/30).

FDA Approves New Type Of Nonopioid Painkiller For Acute Pain. (NBC News)

(1/30) Vertex Pharmaceuticals has received FDA approval for Journavx, or suzetrigine, a nonopioid painkiller for moderate to severe acute pain in adults, which experts believe could offer an opioid-sparing option for post-surgical pain management; Michael S. Garshick, MD, assistant professor, Department of Medicine, the Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, and the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, said, “This is something that could be opioid-sparing, and we need more tools in our armory for pain,” though he expressed concerns about the lack of long-term safety data, while the drug’s effectiveness and accessibility may be influenced by its pricing and insurance coverage.

Accurate New Blood Test For Colon Cancer. (Newsweek)

(1/30) A blood test developed to detect colon cancer in middle-aged and older adults, reported to be 81% accurate in identifying the disease and 90% accurate in ruling it out, could increase screening rates in the U.S., according to research published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, with Aasma Shaukat, MD, MPH, the Robert M. and Mary H. Glickman Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, professor, Department of Population Health, saying, “Additional colorectal cancer screening tests that are convenient, safe and easy to complete are needed,” as the test was trialed on over 40,000 individuals across 200 U.S. sites, offering a potential alternative to colonoscopy.

Shingles On The Face: Symptoms, Treatments And Causes. (US News & World Report)

(1/30) Elisabeth J. Cohen, MD, professor, Department of Ophthalmology, vice chair for Academic Affairs, said that over 50% of individuals with shingles on their forehead, nose, or cheek may develop ocular shingles, which requires immediate treatment to minimize complications like scarring and vision loss; she also reported that a study she conducted, pending publication, found that high-dose antiviral medication for 18 months reduced complications by 50% compared to shorter or no treatment.

Is One Cycle Of Neoadjuvant Pembro OK In DMMR Colon Cancer? (Medscape)

Paywalled* (1/30)* The RESET-C study’s final analysis suggests that for most patients with clinical stage I-II deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) colon cancer, a single cycle of neoadjuvant pembrolizumab may suffice to achieve a pathologic complete response, as presented at the ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium; Paul E. Oberstein, MD, associate professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Perlmutter Cancer Center, said, “This is an important study, as it demonstrates that a single dose of immunotherapy with pembrolizumab can achieve marked alterations in tumors over a short period of time,” though he cautioned that surgery remains the standard care.

Are Kettlebells The Key To Staying Strong And Fighting Inflammation As You Age? New Research Explains. (Health)

(1/27) New research presented at the 2024 Integrative Physiology of Exercise Conference suggests that kettlebell training may help reduce inflammation and increase muscle strength in older adults, even those without prior exercise experience; Heather Milton, MS, clinical exercise physiologist, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Sports Performance Center, advises starting with controlled movements and gradually increasing weights, recommending “about eight exercises, with two to three sets of eight to 12 repetitions,” while emphasizing the importance of learning proper techniques to avoid injury.

Number Of People With Dementia May Double By 2060. (WHNS-TV Greenville (SC))

(1/30) A study released by ������� Langone Health suggests that the number of people with dementia could double by 2060, potentially reaching one million new cases annually, with 42% of adults expected to develop dementia, a significant increase from prior estimates.

Race And Place Can Contribute To Shorter Lives, Research Suggests. (Washington State Standard)

(1/30) A recent study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington reveals significant disparities in life expectancy across American demographic groups, with American Indians in Western and Midwestern states having the shortest life expectancy at 63.6 years; Dr. Ali Mokdad from the University of Washington and Lan Ðoàn, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Population Health, discuss the impact of geography, systemic racism, and the need for equitable healthcare, as recent policy changes under President Donald Trump’s administration threaten to undermine efforts in addressing these disparities.

HIIT Benefits: Weight Loss, Heart Health And Faster Metabolism. (TODAY)

(1/30) High-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts, as explained by Natalie E. Azar, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, boost metabolism, promote fat loss, improve heart health, and can be effective for regulating blood sugar, reducing stress, and making exercise more accessible due to their efficiency and adaptability.

News from �����о��� Langone Hospital—Brooklyn

BK Hospital Celebrates Two ‘Milestone’ Heart Surgeries. (Brooklyn (NY) Downtown Star)

The (1/29) �����о��� Langone Hospital—Brooklyn achieved a significant milestone by completing its first two open heart surgeries, specifically Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) procedures, with Mathew R. Williams, MD, the Frank C. Spencer Associate professor of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, associate professor, Department of Medicine, the Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, chief, Division of Adult Cardiac Surgery, �����о��� Langone Heart, saying, “What made it even more rewarding was seeing the patients go home just three days after surgery, feeling well and knowing they now have an improved longevity,” while a hospital spokesperson described the surgeries as a “coordinated effort” by �����о��� Langone Heart’s team, which has also performed over 40 advanced atrial fibrillation ablations.

5 Cough Medicines You Can Safely Take While Pregnant – Plus 1 Ingredient To Definitely Avoid. (Well and Good)

(1/30) Meleen Chuang, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Family Health Centers, said that cough medicines containing guaifenesin and dextromethorphan are generally safe for pregnant women if taken in moderation, while pseudoephedrine should be avoided due to potential risks such as uterine contractions and severe pregnancy complications; she also recommended natural remedies like warm showers and tea with honey and lemon for symptom relief.