Obstetrics & Gynecology

News and Events

Programs and providers of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Weill Cornell Medicine are often the focus of news stories and features appearing in major national media. We invite you to review some stories that typify the breakthrough accomplishments of our remarkable team and highlight the impact our care has had on patient’s lives.

Cancer’s Ripple Effect May Promote Blood Clot Formation in the Lungs

thrombosis


Blood clots form in response to signals from the lungs of cancer patients—not from other organ sites, as previously thought—according to a preclinical study by Weill Cornell Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and University of California San Diego Health. Clots are the second-leading cause of death among cancer patients with advanced disease or aggressive tumors.

While blood clots usually form to stop a wound from bleeding, cancer patients can form clots without injury, plugging up vessels and cutting off circulation to organs. The study, published Feb. 11 in Cell, shows that tumors drive clot formation (thrombosis) by releasing chemokines, secreted proteins which then circulate to the lung. Once there, the chemokines prompt immune cells called macrophages to release small vesicles that attach to cell fragments (platelets), forming life-threatening clots.

Dr. Lyden

Dr. David Lyden

Many Americans Lack Access to a Gastroenterologist

gastroenterologist

Almost 50 million Americans—disproportionately in rural areas—must drive 25 miles or more to access a gastroenterologist for diagnosis and treatment of issues involving the digestive system, according to a study from Weill Cornell Medicine researchers.

Dr. Arun Jesudian

Dr. Arun Jesudian

The findings, published Feb. 6 in Gastroenterology, have important implications for public health, considering gastroenterologists play a critical role in both preventive and therapeutic care. They screen for various conditions such as gastric and colorectal cancers, as well as treat disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease, acid reflux and liver disease.

The investigators used the Health Resources & Services Administration’s Area Health Resources data on U.S. physician workforce distribution and 2020 US Census data to assess county-level access to gastroenterologists.

Mapping of Specialized Blood Vessel Cells May Lead to Diabetes Treatments

image showing pancreatic islets in green and islet endothelial cells in red

The distinct population of endothelial cells that line blood vessels in the insulin-producing “islets” of the human pancreas have been notoriously difficult to study, but Weill Cornell Medicine investigators have now succeeded in comprehensively detailing the unique characteristics of these cells. The resulting atlas advances basic research on the biology of the pancreas and could lead to new treatment strategies for diabetes and other pancreatic diseases.

In the study, published Feb. 6 in Nature Communications, the researchers devised a set of methods for rapidly isolating and profiling endothelial cells called ISECs (islet-specific endothelial cells) from donor pancreases. ISECs provide critical support for islet functions but die very quickly when separated from the pancreas using standard cell-isolation techniques. With their highly streamlined approach, the researchers were able for the first time to analyze large numbers of ISECs, mapping their molecular signatures and interactions with other pancreatic cell types.

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