Einstein in the Media | U.S./Global

Treating vascular dementia patients with the drug Cerebrolysin may not help patients to a meaningful extent, explains Joe Verghese, M.B.B.S., in Reuters.  Dr. Verghese notes that although a new study found improvement in patients on the drug was statistically significant, it was so slight that patients and family members wouldn’t be likely to notice it. Cerebrolysin is not approved by the FDA, but is available outside the U.S. Dr. Verghese is professor of neurology at Einstein and chief of the division of geriatrics at Einstein and Montefiore Medical Ceneter. (Thursday, January 31, 2013)

More coverage on Dr. Verghese | Dr. Joe Verghese

Nature interviews Lawrence Brandt, M.D., about the first randomized clinical trial on using fecal transplants to treat recurring infections of Clostridium difficile, a bacterium that causes severe diarrhea. While the standard antibiotic treatment cured 27% of patients in the trial, fecal transplants cured 94%. Dr. Brandt currently leads a blinded trial in which patients are treated with their own feces or those from healthy donors. Dr. Brandt is professor of medicine and of surgery at Einstein and emeritus chief of gastroenterology at Montefiore Medical Center. (Thursday, January 17, 2013)

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Science interviews Cristina Montagna, Ph.D., about her research on a protein that, when present in excess, dramatically reduces aging and cancer in mice. Dr. Montagna and Jan Vijg, Ph.D., are also collaborating with researchers at the Mayo Clinic to study the impact of the protein (BubR1) on the brain. Dr. Montagna is assistant professor of genetics; Dr. Vijg is chair of genetics. (Monday, December 17, 2012)

Dr. Montagna's Profile

Less than a quarter of internal medicine residents plan to stay in primary care, reports a US News & World Report article quoting Martha Grayson, M.D. With the primary care physician shortage expected to worsen, Dr. Grayson suggests interest in the field might be boosted by debt forgiveness and reducing work hours. Dr. Grayson is senior associate dean of medical education at Einstein. (Wednesday, December 05, 2012)

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CBSNews.com features research by Elina Jerschow, M.D., that links pesticides in tap water to risk for food allergies. Dr. Jerschow notes that high levels of dichlorophenold, a chemical used in pesticides and to chlorinate drinking water, may weaken food tolerance in some people, causing food allergy. Dr. Jerschow is assistant professor of medicine at Einstein and attending physician of allergy & immunology at Montefiore Medical Center. (Monday, December 03, 2012)

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NPR interviews Johanna Daily, M.D., about the disappointing results of a malaria vaccine for infants, which only lowered risk of disease by a third. Dr. Daily notes that malaria parasites are particularly adept at hiding from the immune system because they reside where the immune cells are – in the blood. (Friday, November 09, 2012)

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NPR.com interviews Michal Melamed, M.D., about new research that finds it’s healthy for adults to take 600 I.U. of Vitamin D, which supports the current IOM recommendations. Because very low levels of vitamin D can lead to kidney and skeletal problems but taking supplements has been linked to higher risk for kidney stones and certain cancers, Dr. Melamed likens maintaining the right levels to Goldilocks: not too high or too low, but just right. Dr. Melamed is associate professor of medicine and of epidemiology & population health.  (Thursday, November 01, 2012)

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Richard Dawkins interviews Nir Bazilai, M.D., on U.K. TV about the trade-off between living longer and having fewer children. (Segment begins at 28:15) Mr. Dawkins, an English evolutionary biologist and author, also interviews Irving Kahn, a participant in Dr. Barzilai's The Longevity Genes Project, in his new series titled "Sex, Death and the Meaning of Life." Dr. Barzilai is the Ingeborg and Ira Leon Rennert Chair of Aging Research and director of the Institute for Aging Research. (Wednesday, October 31, 2012)

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Nature interviews Adam Auton, Ph.D., about his research using single-cell genomic sequencing to study recombination, a key process in gene inheritance. Dr. Auton sequenced nearly 200 sperm cells of an individual to estimate his specific recombination rate, which had previously been impossible to learn directly. Dr. Auton is assistant professor of genetics. (Wednesday, October 31, 2012)

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Katie interviews Keith Ayoob, Ed.D., about pica, an eating disorder characterized by persistent cravings for non-food sources like ice or dirt. Dr. Ayoob notes that he has seen numerous cases of pica in foster children with a history of behavioral problems, such as aggression. Dr. Ayoob is associate clinical professor of pediatrics and director of the nutrition clinic at the Children's Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center at Einstein. (Friday, October 19, 2012)

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New York Daily News features the BOLD (Bronx Oncology Living Daily) Buddies program, which partners newly-diagnosed cancer patients with survivors. Alyson Moadel, Ph.D., founded the support program due in part to her mother’s experience battling breast cancer virtually alone. Dr. Moadel is associate professor of clinical epidemiology & population health and of clinical medicine at Einstein and director of the psychosocial oncology program at the Albert Einstein Cancer Center. (Thursday, October 18, 2012)

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The American Association for the Advancement of Science features William Jacobs, Jr., Ph.D., dubbed the “TB Terminator,” on its “Member Spotlight” blog. The profile highlights Dr. Jacobs’ pioneering use of molecular genetics to control TB, his drive to discover a new vaccine and his work to encourage student interest – from high school to the master’s level – in science. Dr. Jacobs is professor of microbiology & immunology and of genetics at Einstein and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator. (Tuesday, September 04, 2012)

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The Scientist features Kartik Chandran, Ph.D., as a "Scientist to Watch" for his research that helped identify how the deadly Ebola virus infects cells. The article charts Dr. Chandran’s career – from his high school chemistry club’s explosive experiments to his innovative techniques to manipulate the surface proteins of viruses. Dr. Chandran is associate professor of microbiology & immunology. (Tuesday, September 04, 2012)

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The New York Times “Well” blog ran a post by Samuel Weinstein, M.D., describing the typically intense but rewarding pediatric heart transplant. Dr. Weinstein outlines what a surgeon can expect, from the first call that a donor organ is available to the final suture. Dr. Weinstein is associate professor of clinical cardiovascular and thoracic surgery at Einstein and director of pediatric cardiothoracic surgery and of adult congenital cardiac surgery at Montefiore Medical Center. (Friday, August 31, 2012)

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Einstein and Montefiore research using the parasitic whipworm to treat autism is highlighted in a New York Times op-ed. The clinical trial, lead by Eric Hollander, M.D., is based on indications that immune dysregulation may be at the root of some cases of autism. Dr. Hollander is clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Einstein and the director of the Autism and Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Program at Montefiore Medical Center. (Wednesday, August 29, 2012)

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