Media Coverage
The work done by Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine faculty members (and even some students) is regularly highlighted in newspapers, online media outlets and more. Below you’ll find links to articles and videos of Feinberg in the news.
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USA Today
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Why lifesaving tests for organ transplant patients are now out of reach for many
Federal changes regarding how to pay for screenings meant at-home blood tests were no longer available to many. Medical experts and patient advocates explained the Medicare change has a chilling effect across the health care industry causing people with private insurance to also lose out on the simple blood tests. Those limits, they say, put transplant patients at immediate risk, particularly low-income people and people of color who face existing barriers to access to care. In the long run, they fear lack of adequate testing will lead to more failed organs. The point of the tests is to provide more comfortable, less invasive monitoring for better long-term health, said John Friedewald, MD, a professor of medicine and surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Limiting access leads to shorter survival of the transplanted organ and, ultimately, the person, he said. “We want to make sure that everyone has equal access to these important tests to maintain the health of their transplant and themselves,” he said.
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WebMD
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For Happier Holidays, Set Your Expectations – and Breathe
The holiday season is upon us, and with it, a flurry of activities and obligations. Amid the hustle, a new study finds the added pressures of inflation, tight finances and world affairs have many Americans feeling even more strained and overwhelmed than usual this holiday season. More than half of people surveyed also remain concerned about the rise in COVID-19 and flu cases, both of which can be unwelcome guests at social gatherings. One example of a stress trigger would be having too little down time. A hectic life can affect your family’s stress. Studies show that long-lasting stress can cause the body to make too much cortisol, a hormone that can ramp up appetite and lead to overeating. “Step back and ask what you want for yourself for the holiday season,” she said. “Do I want ease? Do I want comfort? Do I want support? All of these can erase the self-limiting beliefs we carry about ourselves. The key is to have clarity ahead of time before we’re in the fire so we have a better chance of making those bumps feel minor versus massive derailments.” This practice of setting expectations (or setting intentions) is one of the most important strategies that Inger Burnett-Zeigler PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist and associate clinical professor at Northwestern University in Chicago, recommends – not only for the holidays, but for daily living.
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WGN Chicago
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Why do we feel colder as we age?
Depending on where you live, you may be experiencing some of the coldest days of the season. But why is it that we seem to feel colder as we grow older? Kevin Most, DO, health system clinician of family and community medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and CMO of Northwestern Medicine’s Central DuPage Hospital said there are a few reasons. When we’re younger, we have more muscle mass and body fat, which keeps us warmer. We also have better circulation than when we are older. It’s like having insulation in your home. “As we age, our skin is a lot thinner, so it loses heat a lot easier,” Most explained, adding that we also have less fat and muscle mass the older we get. “So that senior who’s wearing the sweater, there’s reasons for it,” he continued. “As you age, know that [feeling colder is] a normal part of aging.” There are some things you can do to counteract this unfortunate side effect of aging, including staying active. “As much as you can, try to keep your muscle mass up, because we know that as we use muscles, that generates heat, and again, it’ll keep us warm,” Most said. He recommends light weightlifting and walking and avoiding a sedentary lifestyle.
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Yahoo! News
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Could CRISPR cure HIV someday?
In an ongoing clinical trial, researchers are testing if just one dose of a new gene therapy that might effectively cure human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections is safe in humans. The therapy, named EBT-101, involves using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to treat HIV. This potential treatment strategy has been studied in animal models since the development of CRISPR-Cas9 in 2012. However, this is the first time such a gene-editing treatment for HIV has been tried in humans. The latest data from the trial suggest that EBT-101 is safe at the doses tested, but we don’t yet know if it cures HIV. According to the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), approximately 39 million people globally were living with HIV in 2022, and there were about 630,000 AIDS-related deaths that year, making HIV a continued public health burden. There is no vaccine or easily accessible cure for HIV, although a handful of people have been effectively cured through intensive stem-cell transplants. CRISPR works by targeting and cleaving specific sequences of DNA from the genome; a “guide” leads CRISPR’s famous “molecular scissors” to the targeted gene. This either deactivates the gene or allows it to be removed and swapped for different DNA. Research groups believe this strategy could be effective in removing latent HIV infections, because it can target the viral DNA embedded in the genome, rather than only stopping replication. The EBT-101 trial “is an important step forward in the development of this technology to treat human disease and infection, including HIV,” Thomas Hope, PhD, a professor of cell and developmental biology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine who was not involved in the work, shared.
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The Washington Post
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How to protect your lungs and breathe easier, especially as you age
Your body’s cells need oxygen to live. That’s why it’s critical to take care of your lungs, which help transport oxygen. As you age, changes to your bones, muscles and lung tissue can compromise the organ, causing shortness of breath and increasing your risk of infection. Exposure to air pollutants also can compromise your lungs, as can heart failure, which can lead to fluid buildup. Some decline in lung function is expected as you age, but exercise and other steps can help you breathe easier. Heart and lung health go hand in hand, says G.R. Scott Budinger, MD, chief of pulmonary and critical care at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Some evidence suggests that the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet can help promote lung function in people with lung disease. A nutritious diet can also help support your immune system so your body can fend off respiratory infections better. Prioritize antioxidant-rich foods (primarily fruits and vegetables) as well to stave off inflammation in the lungs and throughout the body.
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WGN Chicago
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What doctors are saying about the new weight loss drug Zepbound
A new version of the diabetes drug Mounjaro – which people have been seeking out as a weight loss drug all year – is now officially approved by the FDA to help patients do just that. The drug, made by Eli Lilly, is marketed as Zepbound. Also known as tirzepatide, it has helped dieters lose as much as 40 to 60 pounds in testing. Veronica Johnson, MD, an obesity medicine specialist at the Northwestern Medicine Center for Lifestyle Medicine and assistant professor of medicine (general internal medicine) at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said the drug was just about as effective as metabolic and bariatric surgery. It gives patients an alternative to going under the knife to treat obesity, and all the medical conditions that come with excess weight. Dr. Johnson encouraged people to think of Zepbound as a potential solution to the complex condition of obesity. “Obesity is far more complicated than just eat less, move more,” she said. “We have clear hormones in our body and other determinants and contributors that make it harder for us to manage our weight with just lifestyle modifications.”
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CBS News
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Don’t blame the turkey, here’s what is really behind your Thanksgiving food coma
A mainstay on the dinner table at this time of year, turkey, contains tryptophan, which is widely believed to be responsible for the uncontrollable yawns and sudden snoozes common after huge family feasts. However, it is not the only thing to blame for sleepiness after Thanksgiving dinner. “Turkey doesn’t really make us sleepy,” Kristen Knutson, associate professor of neurology and preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. said. “If we feel sleepy after a big meal, it is likely due to not getting enough sleep in the days leading up to the big event and finally being able to relax after the dinner is over,” said Knutson.
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New York Times
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This Is Not the Way to Help Depressed Teenagers
Ever since the pandemic, when rates of teenage suicide, anxiety and depression spiked, policymakers around the world have pushed to make mental-health resources more broadly available to young people through programming in schools and on social media platforms. This strategy is well intentioned. Traditional therapy can be expensive and time-consuming; access can be limited. But there is now reason to think that this approach is risky. Recent studies have found that several of these programs not only failed to help young people; they also made their mental-health problems worse. Jessica Schleider, PhD, a psychology researcher and associate professor of medical social sciences and pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, has tested several single-session treatments that can be offered online and show promising results in teenagers. But although such offerings fill gaps in our mental health infrastructure, they cannot take the place of more time- and resource-intensive forms of care. The hard truth is that soaring rates of teenage depression and anxiety present a structural problem requiring structural solutions, including the training of a much larger work force of therapists.
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USA Today
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After eye drop recall, should consumers be worried about buying over-the-counter drugs?
In February, Global Pharma, announced the recall of EzriCare and another eye drop brand it said had potentially been contaminated with drug-resistant bacteria linked to infections that caused deaths, eye-removal surgeries and blindness. In another public health warning last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned consumers to avoid or discard more than two dozen versions of eye drops. The FDA said these over-the-counter products sold by CVS Health, Rite Aid, Target, Walmart, Leader/Cardinal Health, Rugby/Harvard Drug Group and Velocity Pharma LLC could cause infections leading to vision loss or blindness. Timothy Milton Janetos, MD, an assistant professor of ophthalmology at Northwestern University and co-author of the JAMA Ophthalmology paper, said the vast majority of eye drops sold over-the-counter are safe. He said the challenge for both doctors and consumers is evaluating the less than 1% risk that an eye drop is contaminated. “It’s hard for physicians because we get asked all the time, ‘What is safe for me?”’ Milton said. “I can’t really make a recommendation because there’s really no source of information for me to look at and say, ‘Oh, this is a good eye drop or a bad eye drop.’” Milton and his co-author David N. Younessi concluded that “limitations in regulatory oversight highlight a substantial gap in the public health safety net, potentially leaving consumers exposed to harmful products.”
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New York Times
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Running vs. Walking: Which Is Better for Lasting Health?
When considering the health benefits of an activity like walking or running, there are two connected factors to keep in mind. One is the workout’s effect on your fitness — that is, how it improves the efficiency of your heart and lungs. The second is the ultimate positive outcome: Does it help you live a longer life? The gold standard for assessing fitness is VO2 max, a measure of how much oxygen your body uses when you’re exercising vigorously. It’s also a strong predictor of life span, said Allison Zielinski, MD, a sports cardiologist at Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute. Even doing a small amount of activity — like taking slow steps throughout the day — somewhat improves VO2 max compared with staying completely sedentary, according to a 2021 study of 2,000 middle-aged men and women. But bigger benefits come when you begin walking faster, which raises your heart and breathing rates. Check with your doctor first if you’re being treated for heart disease or another chronic condition, or if you have symptoms like chest pain, Dr. Zielinski said. You might need to undergo a stress test or other evaluation before being cleared to do vigorous activity.
