News from NYU Langone Health
Pig Kidney Transplant Recipient Returns Home. (KABC-TV Los Angeles)
(2/25) A 53-year-old grandmother is returning to Alabama after receiving a kidney transplant at NYU Langone Health, where she was given a hero’s sendoff; she is the longest living recipient of a genetically engineered pig kidney and only the third person globally to receive one, with doctors describing her recovery as remarkable and planning to monitor her with monthly checkups.
Also reporting are (2/25), (2/26), and (2/25).
Study: The Secret To Happiness Is Simple – Hang Up The Smart Phone. (Newsday (NY))
(2/26) A study published in PNAS Nexus revealed that blocking internet and social media access on smartphones for two weeks improved mental health, well-being, and attention spans in 91% of participants; Judith F. Joseph, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry said, “People were very concerned about children, but I think we need to be concerned about adults as well because the data shows that the rates of anxiety and depression are also increasing in adults.”
‘Ultra-Rapid’ Testing Unlocks Cancer Genetics In The Operating Room. (Science Daily)
(2/25) NYU Langone Health researchers have developed Ultra-Rapid droplet digital PCR (UR-ddPCR), a tool capable of identifying cancer cell genetic “fingerprints” in brain tissues within 15 minutes, which could enhance surgical precision; “With Ultra-Rapid droplet digital PCR, surgeons may now be able to determine what cells are cancerous and how many of these cancer cells are present in any particular tissue region at a level of accuracy that has never before been possible,” said Daniel A. Orringer, MD, associate professor, Departments of Neurosurgery, and Pathology, Perlmutter Cancer Center. Additional NYU Langone Health “researchers involved in this study are lead investigator Zachary Murphy, researcher, and Emilia Bianchini, research associate, and co-investigators Andrew Smith, research associate, Lisa Körner, Teresa Russell, nurse practitioner, David Reinecke, research fellow, Nader Maarouf, Yuxiu Wang, MD, resident, John G. Golfinos, MD, professor, Departments of Neurosurgery, and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Gray Foundation chair of Neurosurgery, Alexandra Miller, MD, PhD, chief, Division of Neuro-Oncology, Brain and Spine Tumor Center, Perlmutter Cancer Center, and Matija Snuderl, MD, professor, Department of Pathology.”
(2/25) A team of researchers at NYU Langone Health has systematically whittled down the “tissue-to-result” time of a neuro-oncology digital PCR workflow to perform molecular testing in under 20 minutes. “We’ve always been fascinated by this almost science fiction idea of a surgeon having molecular insight into which tissue to cut out during the surgery,” said Gilad D. Evrony, MD, PhD, assistant professor, Departments of Pediatrics, and Neuroscience and Physiology, Center for Human Genetics & Genomics.
Also reporting is (2/26).
The Best Skin Care Routine For Women Over 50. (TODAY)
(2/25) Shop TODAY consulted top dermatologists, including Robert T. Anolik, clinical assistant professor, the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, to create a list of skin care products aimed at achieving glowing, youthful skin for individuals in their 50s and beyond, with Dr. Anolik recommending using ascorbic acid (vitamin C) as an antioxidant to brighten skin and boost collagen for those in their 50s and beyond.
Racial, Ethnic Minorities Still Underrepresented In Internal Medicine Residency Programs. (Pulmonology Advisor)
(2/25) A study published in JAMA Network Open on January 30, 2025, by Jung G. Kim, PhD, assistant professor, the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Emergency Medicine, found that racial and ethnic minorities, including American Indian and Alaska Native, Black, Hispanic and Latinx, and Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander residents, are significantly underrepresented in U.S. internal medicine residency programs compared to their county-level populations, with 24.8 percent of counties having no underrepresented minority residents at all.
Eating This Fruit Every Day Can Reduce Depression Risk, Per Harvard Researchers. (Women's Health)
(2/25) Thea Gallagher, PsyD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Psychiatry, and cohost of the Mind in View podcast, commented on a study linking citrus consumption to reduced depression risk, saying, “We don’t fully understand the pathways between gut health and depression, but we do know there’s something there,” although Gallagher also cautioned, “Don’t go off your medications and start eating oranges.”
Pope Francis Remains Hospitalized. (CBS Mornings)
(2/25) A vigil was held in St. Peter’s Square on Monday evening as people prayed for the Pope, who is dealing with double pneumonia and mild kidney failure, with Jonathan D. LaPook, MD, the Mebane Professor of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, professor, Department of Population Health, noting that while some lab tests have improved, the Pope’s underlying lung issues present a complex case.
Pope Francis’ Health Status And Prognosis: Doctor Gives Update. (2/24) Marc K. Siegel, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, added that while the pope’s prognosis is unknown, “it doesn’t sound like he is truly in critical condition, a term doctors tend to reserve for much more unstable patients.”
Flu Season Surge. (CBS Mornings)
(2/25) This year’s flu season is projected to be one of the worst in a decade, with the CDC noting 33 million cases, 430,000 hospitalizations, and 19,000 deaths so far, surpassing COVID-related deaths for the first time, according to Jonathan D. LaPook, MD, the Mebane Professor of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, professor, Department of Population Health, who emphasized the importance of flu vaccinations despite the ongoing severity of the outbreak.
Drugs That Reduce Dementia Risk. (Fox News)
(2/24) Marc K. Siegel, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, discussed a Talker survey, which found that spending at least 60 minutes outside can improve mood and decrease depression, and said antioxidants found in olive oil can “decrease dementia from forming.”
