Sep
29
2020
Highlights |
CUNY School of Medicine, TechnoVax Report COVID-19 Vaccine Breakthrough
The CUNY School of Medicine at The City College of New York and TechnoVax, Inc., a biotechnology developer of novel vaccines, announce a breakthrough in their collaborative effort to develop a vaccine for COVID-19. Scientists from the two organizations have generated and characterized SARS-CoV-2 virus-like particles (VLPs) which are structural mimics of the native virus in size, morphology and surface composition but devoid of viral, infection causing, genetic material. Take a closer look.
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Weill Cornell Medicine: Stroke and Heart Failure Risk Rises With Factors Like Race, Education Level and Neighborhood Poverty
The risks of stroke and heart failure in an individual increase as the number of social determinants of health increase, according to two new studies by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators. The social factors that affect health include race, education level, annual household income and neighborhood poverty. Take a closer look.
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COVID-19 |
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University: A Desperate Fight Against a Common Enemy: Supporting the Mental Health and Wellness of our Frontline Heroes During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Ayman H. Fanous, M.D., Professor and Chair, Ramaswamy Viswanathan, M.D.,D.M.Sc., Professor and Director of the Psychiatric Consultation-Liaison Service, and Michael F. Myers, M.D., Professor, all from the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, recently described the encompassing network of video-conferenced peer support groups and individual telehealth counseling sessions they and their faculty set up for physicians, resident physicians, and nursing staff in a recently published paper in the journal Psychosomatics entitled, Support Groups and Individual Mental Health Care via Video Conferencing for Frontline Clinicians during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Take a closer look.
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New York Medical College: Fifth COVID-19 Symposium Addresses “What Have we Learned? How can we use What we Have Learned?”
Nearly six months after New York Medical College (NYMC) and the Touro College and University System (TCUS) presented its first COVID-19 symposium, faculty experts shared “What Have We Learned? How Can We Use What We Have Learned?,” the fifth in the series, via a webinar on August 18. “We have learned through this pandemic of the fearsome mortality and morbidity consequences and of the devastating economic consequences. Take a closer look.
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NYU Grossman School of Medicine: More Patients With Coronavirus Successfully Recover When Supported by Heart-Lung Bypass Machines
Adding another mechanical support system-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO-for patients with 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on ventilators resulted in 96 percent of patients surviving (4 percent mortality) over a 44-day period, an early study finds. Patients with this severity of disease often die, say the study authors, with another recent report finding the mortality rate to be 88.1 percent among patients with COVID-19 who are intubated. Take a closer look.
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University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry: Nursing Homes Continue to Report Staff and PPE Shortages
Nearly half of all COVID-19 deaths in the United States have occurred among nursing home residents, whose age, chronic medical conditions, and congregate living quarters place them and their caregivers at high risk of contracting the disease. And yet, six months into the pandemic, more than 20 percent of nursing homes in the US continue to report severe shortages of staff and personal protective equipment (PPE), according to a new study. Take a closer look.
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Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai: Men Hospitalized for COVID-19 Were Younger and Healthier Than Women who Were Hospitalized
Men who were hospitalized for COVID-19 in New York City during the early days of the pandemic were both younger and healthier on average than their female counterparts, according to a new study by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The study, posted to the preprint server medRxiv, analyzed the electronic health records of 3,086 racially diverse COVID-19 patients who were admitted to five hospitals within the Mount Sinai Health System on or before April 13, 2020, and followed through June 2, 2020. Take a closer look.
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Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at University at Buffalo Paper Sets Best Delivery Room Practices for Health Care Team
Childbirth is an emotional event, filled with both excitement and apprehension. But when the mother-to-be tests positive for COVID-19, or is suspected of having the virus, the stakes get higher. Keeping mom, baby and the health care team as safe as possible adds another layer of concern for everyone involved. Taking steps to minimize risks becomes a priority. Take a closer look.
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SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University: Drs. Nakeshbhandi and Maini Investigate the Nexus Between COVID-19 and Obesity
Over the last few months, our faculty, residents, and students have collected large amounts of data and undertaken significant studies contributing to the literature on COVID-19. Here’s one of the latest: Investigators from the Department of Medicine’s Division of Infectious Diseases, the Departments of Emergency Medicine and Surgery, and the School of Public Health have identified obesity as a potential risk factor for adverse COVID-19 outcomes. Take a closer look.
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SUNY Upstate Medical University: New York State Approves Program to Detect COVID-19 Spread Through Pooled Surveillance Testing Developed by Upstate
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recently announced a series of new initiatives related to COVID-19 testing that will improve New York state’s ability to detect and control the virus in communities across the state. The Governor announced the launch of a pilot program to detect the presence of COVID-19 in wastewater, designed to establish an early indicator system to forecast virus spread in communities. $500,000 will support expanding initial wastewater sampling undertaken in Onondaga County and start sample collection in three additional communities, Albany, Newburgh and Buffalo. Take a closer look.
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Cancer |
Weill Cornell Medicine: Preclinical Model Suggests why Common Immunotherapy may not be Effective at Treating Breast Cancer
A preclinical model of a common type of breast cancer provides new insight into why an immunotherapy known as checkpoint inhibition has not yet been effective against the cancer, according to researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine. Research with the model also suggests new approaches to treatment. In a paper published July 30 in Nature Communications, the investigators describe a new method to study tumors that resemble hormone receptor positive breast cancer in mice with functioning immune systems. Take a closer look.
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Neurology |
SUNY Upstate Medical University: What is Cerebral Venous Thrombosis? Upstate Study Finds Blood Clot Condition on the Rise
Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) occurs when a blood clot forms in one of the veins in the brain, preventing blood from draining out of the brain. A new analysis, led by SUNY Upstate Medical University has found that the incidence of CVT in the United States is higher than previously reported and has increased over time. The study is published in the Aug. 26, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Take a closer look.
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University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry: Circadian Rhythms Help Guide Waste From Brain
New research details how the complex set of molecular and fluid dynamics that comprise the glymphatic system – the brain’s unique process of waste removal – are synchronized with the master internal clock that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. These findings suggest that people who rely on sleeping during daytime hours are at greater risk for developing neurological disorders. Take a closer look.
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Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at University at Buffalo: Powerful Drug Discovery Protocol for Autism is Accelerating the Development of new Treatments
A sensitive and reliable new protocol for assessing social deficits in animal models of autism and certain psychiatric conditions is expediting the search for effective treatments. Developed by University at Buffalo researchers, the new protocol is described in a paper published today in Nature Protocols. Take a closer look.
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New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine: Getting Hands-On with Concussions
The Centers for Disease Control estimates that approximately 3.8 million concussions occur during competitive sports and recreational activities in the United States each year. However, as many as 50 percent of these concussions may go unreported. Experts believe that vague symptoms that can be attributed to other factors and patients’ unawareness about warning signs may be to blame. However, not identifying and treating a concussion as early as possible can cause symptoms to linger long after the initial injury. Take a closer look.
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More Studies |
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Elevated Level of a “Hunger” Hormone Leaves Trauma-Exposed Adolescents at Higher Risk of Developing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Chronic stress increases a blood-based hormone called acyl-ghrelin for years after the initial traumatic stressor exposure in some adolescents, and those with elevated levels of the hormone are more likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder and to experience more severe cases of the condition, according to a study conducted by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and published August 20 in JAMA Network Open. Take a closer look.
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NYU Grossman School of Medicine: New Research Finds FastMRI Scans Generated With Artificial Intelligence are as Accurate as Traditional MRI
New research finds that rapid MRI scans generated with artificial intelligence were just as effective as, and were diagnostically interchangeable with, traditional MRI. The results could significantly improve the patient experience, expand access to MRIs, and potentially enable new use cases for MRI. Take a closer look.
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Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons: After Stillbirth, new Genetic Analyses may Give Parents Answers
Researchers at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons have uncovered an array of new genes that cause stillbirth, significantly increasing the understanding of the condition’s genetic foundations. The findings suggest that genetic analysis could be used to counsel parents who have previously experienced stillbirth and to unlock new human biology. Take a closer look.
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Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University: Imaging an Estrogen Related Enzyme may Help to Predict Obesity, Self-Control Issues
Findings from a positron emission tomography brain imaging study of the amygdala reveals that low levels of the enzyme aromatase, which catalyzes estrogen biosynthesis, are associated with a higher body mass index and lower self-control, as measured by a standard personality test. Published in PNAS, the study is led by Anat Biegon, PhD, Professor of Radiology and Director of the Center on Gender, Hormones and Health at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University. Take a closer look.
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Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons: Unique Antibody Profile Sets Gluten Sensitivity Apart From Celiac Disease
A new study of the antibodies produced by people with gluten sensitivity may lead to a better way to detect the condition and treat it. Until recently, many doctors often dismissed the complaints of people who claimed to be sensitive to foods containing gluten but did not have celiac disease, a well-documented autoimmune disease triggered by exposure to the dietary protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. Take a closer look.
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Grants |
Albert Einstein College of Medicine Receives $16 Million NIH Grant to Study Cellular Process Linked to Alzheimer’s Disease
Age is the most significant risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. In the United States, approximately 1 in 10 people over the age of 65 have the disease, and the odds increase to nearly 1 in 3 for those over 85. However, the mechanisms by which aging increases risk are unknown. Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, led by Ana Maria Cuervo, M.D., Ph.D., co-director of the Institute for Aging Research, have received a five-year, $16 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to determine how autophagy, a cellular recycling process, is related to the development of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Take a closer look.
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Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University: Researcher Receives NIH Grant for Brain Imaging Study of Opioid Addiction
Impaired Insight is a term in Psychiatry that refers to the idea that patients with certain diseases are unaware how ill they are. For people with an opioid use disorder (OUD), impaired insight may cause patients to reject treatments for their addiction. Supported by a nearly $3 million grant from National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Scott J. Moeller, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health in the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, is embarking on an imaging study of the brain to reveal what is happening in the brains of those with OUD who, despite profound problems with drugs, are not committed to taking their prescribed treatment medications. Take a closer look.
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Albany Medical College Receives American Cancer Society Research Grant
The American Cancer Society, the largest non-government, not-for-profit funding source of cancer research in the United States, has approved funding for 79 research and training grants totaling $36,165,100 in the first of two grant cycles for 2020. Grant applications were reviewed and approved remotely in light of the coronavirus pandemic. The grants will fund investigators at 59 institutions across the United States; 73 are new grants while six are renewals of previous grants. Take a closer look.
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CUNY School of Medicine: Dr. Victoria Frye and Colleagues Receive Grants to Conduct HIV Care and Prevention Research
Dr. Victoria Frye, Associate Medical Professor at the CUNY School of Medicine, and colleagues at the Columbia University School of Social Work and the New York Blood Center have received two National Institute of Health grants focusing on care and prevention of HIV. The first, a two-year study funded by the National Institute on Mental Health will examine whether and how various forms of violence affect HIV care engagement among HIV-positive young Black and Latinx gay men living in New York City. Take a closer look.
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Albert Einstein College of Medicine: Understanding ‘Chemo Brain’ in Children: Researchers Secure $4.6 Million NIH Grant to Identify Those at Risk
Chemotherapy usually cures children diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), but the treatment may hamper brain development and impact key cognitive functions including sensory processing, memory, and attention. Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Children’s Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM), and Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey have received a five-year, $4.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to determine how chemotherapy exerts its damaging effects on the brain. Take a closer look.
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New York Medical College Receives $594K NIH Shared Instrumentation Grant
The collaborative efforts by a team of New York Medical College (NYMC) faculty researchers from across all of the basic science disciplines have paid off to the tune of nearly $594,269. The grant proposal team made up of nearly 20 NYMC faculty and led by Dana G. Mordue, Ph.D., associate professor of microbiology and immunology, secured a Shared Instrumentation Grant from the National Institutes of Health, which will be used to purchase a new high-resolution confocal microscope. Take a closer look.
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