In the Spotlight
Parvovirus or "Slapped Cheek Disease" Is on the Rise, CDC Warns: Here Is What to Know
Aaron Glatt, MD, Professor of Medicine, and Site Chair for Department of Medicine at Mount Sinai South Nassau, discusses a respiratory disease known as parvovirus B19, and how it is on the rise in the United States among all age groups.
The New and Approved COVID-19 Booster Shot
Bernard Camins, MD, Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) discusses the most recent COVID-19 booster vaccine that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, as well as who should take the booster and when. He said, “While the last updated vaccines did provide some protection against strains like those, the new variants are different enough that an updated booster is warranted. But this particular dose is becoming available earlier in the season than boosters have been in the past, which makes it tough to know when to get it for the most protection."
Treating Insomnia
Jing Wang, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine (Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine), discusses the use of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia and how the process works. She said, “Oftentimes it’s very slow. We don’t expect that tomorrow, these issues will all go away. It’s the little steps and consistency—and encouraging people who feel like this is too hard that, yes, it may get worse before it gets better. But if you keep at it, long, peaceful nights of slumber will be more than a sweet dream.”
Heart Attack Patients Benefit From SGLT2 Inhibitor Empagliflozin
Deepak Bhatt, MD, MPH, MBA, Professor of Medicine (Cardiology), and System Chief of the Division of Cardiology, discusses his research regarding the kidney-protective benefits of the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin, and how it can be given safely and effectively to patients when they are hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction.
There's a New, Lower-Cost Version of Weight Loss Drug Zepbound - Here's What to Know
Ilana Bass, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone Disease), discusses the popular weight management drug, Zepbound, and how it will now be sold in vials, providing a cheaper alternative for people who don’t have health insurance.
A Phase 1 Single Ascending Dose Study of Pure Oral Harmine in Healthy Volunteers
Andrew Stewart, MD, Professor of Medicine (Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone Disease) was one of the lead researchers in this study. Harmine is a substance found in Ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic substance that also contains a mind-altering compound called N, N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). Prior to study, it was unclear whether harmine, in its purified form (as harmine hydrochloride), had any psychoactive effects, what doses might have caused these effects, and its overall safety in humans. Other key team members were Jessica Ables, MD, PhD and James Murrough, MD, PhD in Psychiatry; and Robert DeVita, PhD in the Drug Discovery Institute.
ADCs, Biomarker-Driven Therapies Will Be Prominent at Breast Cancer Conference
Joseph Sparano, MD, Professor of Medicine (Hematology and Medical Oncology), System Chief for the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, discusses his research regarding the use of biomarkers to help guide adjuvant therapies.
Rinvoq Outperforms Placebo in Drainage Resolution, Closure in Perianal Fistulizing Crohn’s
Jean-Frédéric Colombel, MD, Professor of Medicine (Gastroenterology), discusses his research that found that treatment with Rinvoq® resulted in higher rates of closure of external openings and drainage resolution vs. placebo in perianal fistulizing Crohn’s disease. He said, “Upadacitinib induction treatment resulted in higher rates of closure of external fistula openings, resolution of drainage in draining fistulas and clinical remission, along with luminal disease and [quality of life] improvements compared with placebo.”
Odds for Poor Outcomes Increase During Hospitalization for Both Asthma, COVID-19
Monica Kraft, MD, Murray M. Rosenberg Professor of Medicine (Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine), and System Chair for the Department of Medicine, comments: "It is not surprising that patients with asthma experienced an exacerbation due to SARS-CoV-2 infection; note that the number was less than those with exacerbation due to other etiologies. There also was a proportion where SARS-CoV-2 was found incidentally, and therefore, not felt to be an etiology of the exacerbation, or that could be unclear.
No information about asthma severity was provided in either group. It would be helpful to understand the population; the only information is that the largest proportion of patients were from the lowest income group in both cohorts. This could suggest less access to medication and medical care for asthma prior to the exacerbation. I am concerned about baseline asthma control in this vulnerable population."
Patients With Moderate-to-Severe Ulcerative Colitis May Find Significant Relief as New Treatment Option Shows Good Results in Clinical Trial
The Mount Sinai-led trial was the first large study to demonstrate tulisokibart's significant benefits in reducing inflammation and inducing remission in patients. Led by Bruce E. Sands, MD, MS, Dr. Burrill B. Crohn Professor of Medicine, and System Chief for the Division of Gastroenterology, his findings were published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
