News from NYU Langone Health
When Joy Feels Out of Reach. (New York Times)
ճ (10/16) Judith F. Joseph, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, emphasizes the significance of recognizing anhedonia, a symptom linked to major depressive disorder and other mental illnesses, as an “existential crisis” despite its subtle nature.
Benefits Of Weighted Vests Discussed. (WCBS-TV New York)
New York (10/17) Heather A. Milton, MS, RCEP, CSCS, exercise physiologist supervisor, Sports Performance Center, said that while walking with weighted vests can enhance a cardio workout and increase heart rate, the data does not support the claim that it improves bone density; she recommended choosing a vest with adjustable weight to gradually increase resistance, adding that wearing a weighted vest can also enhance resistance training when lifting weights or doing calisthenics.
Consumer Reports Finds Lead Levels In Some Protein Powders. (WNYW-TV New York)
(10/16) Consumer Reports has identified concerning levels of lead in protein powders, with two-thirds of 23 samples showing higher than recommended lead levels; Rabia A. De Latour, MD, assistant professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, said, “Protein powders and increasing our protein intake seems to be all I’m seeing on social media and in the news lately, and has become a bit of a fad,” noting the surprising finding that plant-based products contain, on average, nine times more lead than dairy-based options, highlighting the importance of consulting with a physician about the safety of these products.
Yankees’ Anthony Volpe Gets Concerning Recovery Timeline. (Sports Illustrated)
(10/16) Rabia A. De Latour, MD, assistant professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, said that New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe’s recovery from recent shoulder surgery will likely extend into the first few months of the upcoming season, estimating a typical recovery timeframe of six to nine months.
Litigation Involving Eye Injections Appears To Be Rare, But Trends Are Clear. (MedPage Today)
(10/16) A retrospective case review published in Ophthalmology Retina by Maria A. Bantounou, MPharm, MBChB, from the University of Aberdeen, and Matthew R. Starr, MD, from the Mayo Clinic, analyzed 60 lawsuits related to intravitreal injections from 2000 to 2025, revealing that most legal actions focused on systemic issues rather than individual negligence, with 13% filed against physicians, 30% against manufacturers, and 38% against compounding pharmacies; Ravi Parikh, MD, MPH, clinical associate professor, Department of Ophthalmology, said that “it’s good to have more data, and it’s helpful to highlight that although litigation is very rare, these procedures can lead to some of the worst complications in the field.”
Tinted Sunscreen Is Essential To Prevent Laser Treatment Complications In Skin Of Color: Arielle Kauvar, MD. (American Journal of Managed Care)
ճ (10/17) Arielle Kauvar, MD, clinical professor, the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, said patients should use tinted sunscreen to protect against visible and ultraviolet light, particularly before and after laser procedures, to prevent inflammation and hyperpigmentation, during her presentation at the Skin of Color Update 2025; she discussed that improper laser choice and parameters can cause complications in patients with skin of color, and recommended strategies like fractional nonablative lasers and corticosteroid creams for managing hyperpigmentation and scarring, while emphasizing the importance of patient education and sun protection to minimize risks.
Also reporting is Archyde. (10/16)
Millions Of Us Have Likely Lost Our Smell Without Even Realizing It. (ScienceAlert (AUS))
(10/16) New research suggests a large proportion of people may have lost their sense of smell after catching COVID-19, without even realizing it, with general internist Leora Horwitz, MD, professor, Departments of Population Health, and Medicine, saying, “Our findings confirm that those with a history of COVID-19 may be especially at risk for a weakened sense of smell, an issue that is already underrecognized among the general population.”
Finally – Clarity On Olive Oil: What’s Real, What’s Not. (Forbes)
(10/16) A study by the North American Olive Oil Association, led by Dr. Tassos C. Kyriakides of Yale University, found no adulteration in top olive oil brands sold in the U.S. and Canada, with Harmony R. Reynolds, MD, the Joel E. and Joan L. Smilow Professor of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, the Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, saying, “I find these results reassuring,” adding, “I am convinced of the health benefits of olive oil and it is good to know the most widely sold olive oils on the market actually contain olive oil as promised.”
EyePoint Pharmaceuticals Details Phase 3 Program Evaluating Vorolanib Intravitreal Insert (DURAVYU) For DME. (Opthalmology Times)
(10/16) EyePoint Pharmaceuticals has announced the initiation of its pivotal phase 3 program for DURAVYU, a sustained-delivery treatment for diabetic macular edema, with Yasha S. Modi, MD, associate professor, Department of Ophthalmology, providing insights on the VERONA study at the ASRS meeting.
The Residency Report: Social Media And The Modern Ophthalmologist. (Opthalmology Times)
(10/16) A discussion moderated by Galen Hu, MD, resident, Department of Ophthalmology, with Andrea Blitzer, MD, associate professor, Department of Ophthalmology, NYU Langone Health Eye Center, and Eduardo C. Alfonso, MD, from the University of Miami, highlighted the evolving role of social media in ophthalmology, emphasizing professional use, misinformation challenges, and the shift towards educational content.
‘Radical Acceptance’ Might Be Key To Helping You Stay Calm During Toddler Tantrums. (Parents Magazine)
(10/16) Samantha Glickman, PsyD, NYU Langone Health’s Child Study Center, emphasizes the importance of radical acceptance, a skill from Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, saying the skill “invites parents to acknowledge feelings that show up without judgement and resistance” and “encourages caregivers to stay grounded in the present moment and focus on what they can control.”
5 Surprising Signs Of An Infection In Older Adults. (AARP)
(10/16) Older adults may experience atypical symptoms, such as confusion, due to common infections like the flu or COVID, as their immune response weakens with age, a process known as immunosenescence; Nina Blachman, MD, associate professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine and Palliative Care, said, “Infection is a concern when there’s any rapid change in an older person, meaning overnight or within hours, something is different from how it had been before.”
First Long-Acting Hair Regrowth Pill Hailed As ‘New Benchmark’. (New Atlas)
(10/17) A new oral drug, VDPHL01, developed by Connecticut-based biotech company Veradermic, is in Phase 3 trials and could become the first FDA-approved oral therapy for hair regrowth in both women and men, potentially revolutionizing treatment for pattern hair loss, which affects approximately 80 million Americans; Jerry Shapiro, MD, professor, the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology and Veradermics advisor, who said, “I believe VDPHL01 could become the new benchmark for treating pattern hair loss in both women and men.”
