News from NYU Langone Health
Empathy In Healthcare Gains Global Focus. (CBS)
(9/23 Jonathan D. LaPook, MD, the Mebane Professor of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, professor, Department of Population Health, and Jennifer G. Adams, MD, assistant professor, Department of Medicine, and the Frankfort Family Director for the Center for Empathy, discussed the global emphasis on empathy in healthcare at a recent international conference; Dr. LaPook shared how the Center for Empathy at NYU Langone Health is developing curricula to teach empathy to healthcare professionals, using innovative methods such as Hollywood-quality films and training actors to simulate patient interactions, aiming to create measurable improvements in empathetic healthcare delivery.
Oral Microbes Linked To Increased Risk Of Pancreatic Cancer. (Pathology In Practice)
(9/22) A study by NYU Langone Health’s Perlmutter Cancer Center links 27 species of oral bacteria and fungi to a 3.5 times greater risk of pancreatic cancer, with researchers analyzing saliva samples from 122,000 individuals to identify these species, including Candida yeast, in pancreatic tumors; “Our findings provide new insight into the relationship between the oral microbiome and pancreatic cancer,” said Yixuan Meng PhD, postdoctoral fellow, Department of Population Health, and co-senior Jiyoung Ahn, PhD, professor, Departments of Population Health, and Medicine, Perlmutter Cancer Center, said profiling these microbes could help oncologists identify individuals who need pancreatic cancer screening.
Also reporting is (9/23).
Scientists Call For Action To Reduce Children’s Plastic Exposure. (Technology Networks)
(9/23) Experts from NYU Langone Health have published a review in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health on September 21, detailing the health risks associated with chemicals in plastics and calling for stricter regulations, with study lead author Leonardo Trasande, MD, MPP, the Jim G. Hendrick, M.D. Professor of Pediatrics, professor, Department of Population Health, saying, “Our findings point to plastic’s role in the early origins of many chronic diseases that reverberate into adolescence and adulthood,” adding, “If we want kids to stay healthy and live longer, then we need to get serious about limiting the use of these materials.”
Anirban Maitra: Insights From NYU Langone Health Plastics And Human Health Symposium. (OncoDaily)
(9/23) Anirban Maitra, Professor of Pathology and Medicine at NYU Langone Health, shared on LinkedIn his appreciation for the NYU Langone Health Plastics and Human Health symposium, organized by Leonardo Trasande, MD, MPP, the Jim G. Hendrick, M.D. Professor of Pediatrics, professor, Department of Population Health.
Free Health Screenings: HealthFest 2025 Coming To Staten Island This Week. (Staten Island (NY) Advance)
ճ (9/23) HealthFest 2025, hosted by Borough President Vito Fossella at SIUH Community Park, is a free community event produced with CleanCutHealth, featuring screenings, resources, and activities, including appearances by former NFL players, as part of the Staten Island Community to Clinic Linkage Implementation Program (CLIP), a joint initiative with NYU Langone Health, the American Heart Association, and Community Health Action of Staten Island.
What Does The Science Say About Tylenol And Autism? (NY1-TV New York)
(9/23) P⳦ٰ Lauren J. Donnelly, clinical associate professor, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, addressed the complex question of whether acetaminophen use during pregnancy could lead to neurodevelopmental issues such as autism or ADHD, stating, “There’s no one known, single cause of autism, and there’s a lot of genetic and environmental risk factors that are likely involved that we’ve been doing research on for many years and many, many years to come as well.”
Also reporting is (9/23).
FDA Approves Leucovorin. (WNYW-TV New York)
(9/23) The FDA approved leucovorin as a potential treatment for autism, bypassing the normal approval process, coinciding with the Trump administration’s promotion of the drug; Devi E. Nampiaparampil, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, explained that leucovorin, a more accessible form of folate, could benefit a subset of autism patients by crossing the blood-brain barrier to improve language and communication skills, although studies are small and not all patients respond similarly, but it is considered relatively safe.
New Criteria Could Improve Speed, Accuracy Of MS Diagnosis. (Medscape)
(9/23)* The McDonald criteria for diagnosing multiple sclerosis have been updated for the first time in nearly a decade, incorporating new biomarkers and emphasizing neuroimaging to improve diagnostic speed and accuracy, with commentary from Steven L. Galetta, MD, the Philip K. Moskowitz, MD Professor and Chair of Neurology, Department of Neurology, professor, Department of Ophthalmology, highlighting significant changes.
70 Academic Medical Center COOs To Know. (Becker's Hospital Review)
(9/23). Fritz François, MD, professor, Department of Medicine, Divisions of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and General Internal Medicine, executive vice president and vice dean, chief of Hospital Operations, serves as the executive vice president, vice dean, and chief of hospital operations, where he oversees care quality and patient safety across the Manhattan campus.
They’ve Dropped The Weight. But What About The Skin? (San Diego Union-Tribune)
(9/23) The increasing use of powerful obesity drugs, such as tirzepatide, has led to a rise in demand for body contouring procedures to address loose skin, with Holly F. Lofton, MD, clinical associate professor, Departments of Surgery, Division of Bariatric Surgery, and Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, saying, “When you lose weight, the fatty layer of your skin known as the hypodermis shrinks, leaving some empty space between your skin and muscle,” noting the skin “has to go somewhere, and it usually goes down because of gravity.”
The Best Lice Treatments, According To Experts. (NBC News)
(9/23) Dermatologists recommend various treatments for head lice, with Kristin Lo Sicco, MD, associate professor, the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, and chief, Skin and Cancer Unit, suggesting a “physical method of lice and nit removal in combination with topical therapies,” saying, “This takes patience as it takes about 30 minutes and may be required daily for several weeks.”
What Happens To Your Iron Levels When You Drink Too Much Matcha? (Verywell Health)
(9/23) Matcha, a powdered green tea, contains tannins that can inhibit iron absorption, particularly affecting non-heme iron from plant sources like dark leafy greens and legumes Yoshua K. Quinones, MD, clinical instructor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, said, “One cup of matcha daily is generally fine, but multiple servings or drinking it with meals can interfere with iron absorption, and the caffeine content can also add up,” recommending consuming vitamin C-rich foods to enhance iron absorption.
