News from NYU Langone Health
Oral Microbiota And Risk For Pancreatic Cancer. (ASCO Post)
The (9/18) Researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, including lead author Yixuan Meng, PhD, and co-senior authors Richard Hayes, DDS, MPH, PhD, professor, Department of Population Health, and Jiyoung Ahn, PhD, Departments of Population Health, and Medicine, Perlmutter Cancer Center, have linked certain oral bacteria and fungi to an increased risk of pancreatic cancer, as published in JAMA Oncology; the study analyzed data from 122,000 participants and found that bacteria such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, Eubacterium nodatum, and Parvimonas micra, as well as the fungal genus Candida, were associated with higher cancer risk, suggesting oral microbiota could serve as biomarkers for early screening and prevention, with Meng stating, “Our findings provide new insight into the relationship between the oral microbiome and pancreatic cancer.”
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Childhood Plastic Exposure Could Be Fueling Obesity, Infertility, And Asthma. (Science Daily)
(9/22) Experts from NYU Langone Health, in a review published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health on Sept. 21, concluded that childhood exposure to chemicals, such as phthalates, bisphenols, and PFAS, used in producing plastic household items, is linked to long-term health risks including heart disease, obesity, infertility, and asthma, with study lead author and Leonardo Trasande, MD, the Jim G. Hendrick, M.D. Professor of Pediatrics, vice chair of research in the Department of Pediatrics, professor, Department of Population Health, saying, “If we want kids to stay healthy and live longer, then we need to get serious about limiting the use of these materials.”
The Future Of Nurse Scientists’ Influence. (Becker's Hospital Review)
(9/22) Nurse scientists are increasingly integral to hospital systems, including NYU Langone Health, which leverages its nursing science fellowship and 60 PhD-prepared nurses for research, though they are not formally designated as nurse scientists; Kathleen Evanovich Zavotsky , PhD, RN, CCRN, CEN, ACNS-BC, FAEN, FCNS, system senior director, Nursing Research and Program Evaluation, said, “Even though research may not be their primary role, they’re a huge resource and part of our extended community of nursing inquiry.”
Aerobic Training Tops Balance Training For Cerebellar Ataxia. (Medscape)
(9/22)* A randomized controlled trial published in JAMA Neurology found that home-based high-intensity aerobic training led to greater improvements in cerebellar ataxia symptoms, fitness, and fatigue compared to balance training, with Estelle C. Gallo DPT, clinical instructor, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, saying, there is a “paucity of evidence to guide the clinician on what to do with this patient population so this study is valuable.”
The Changing Landscape Of Epilepsy Care: Orrin Devinsky, MD. (Neurology Live)
(9/22) Orrin Devinsky, MD, professor, Departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery, Psychiatry, director, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, noted significant progress in epilepsy treatment through new therapeutics and genetic insights, saying, “Our ability to discover epilepsy genes is moving at warp speed, but our ability to develop approved gene therapies has been relatively glacial,” adding, “balancing risk and benefit remains critical.”
Beyond The Rash: What Dermatologists Need To Know About The World Of Infectious Diseases. (Dermatology Times)
(9/23) At the 2025 Maui Derm NP+PA Fall meeting, Vikash S. Oza, MD, associate professor, the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, and associate professor, Department of Pediatrics, discussed the resurgence of molluscum contagiosum (MC) in post-pandemic practice, emphasizing its impact on parental anxiety in urban settings and the necessity of accurate diagnosis and individualized management.
Most Women Lose Bone Density After 40. These Moves Can Help Them Stay Strong. (Women's Health)
(9/22) Hormonal changes throughout life, such as during pregnancy and menopause, can weaken bones, but resistance exercises are effective in maintaining and improving bone density, according to experts including Spencer Stein, MD, assistant professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, who said, “Menopause causes a drop in estrogen, which then causes drop in bone calcium.”
Some People Can ‘See’ And ‘Feel’ Sounds. Doctors Explain When It’s A Superpower – Or Cause For Concern. (Women's Health)
(9/22) Synesthesia, a condition where senses blend, affects at least 4 percent of the global population and can manifest in various forms such as associating letters with colors or sounds with tastes, according to Joel Salinas, MD, MBA, clinical assistant professor, Department of Neurology, the Pearl I. Barlow Center for Memory Evaluation and Treatment, who said it involves “cross-talk between the visual and auditory processing centers.”
