20 APRIL 21 – APRIL 27, 2017 BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP TV show hones in on fatty liver disease BY JAIME DEJESUS [email protected] Educating audiences on staying healthy, the latest episode of “Medcast Plus,” a television program aimed at informing Brooklynites about various health issues, with doctors as featured guests, tackles the complex issue of fatty liver disease. Dr. Patrick Basu, a transplant and gastroenterologist hepatologist, discussed the disease and its causes, and was blunt about how the epidemic has developed. “It's not understood well or diagnosed for the last 20 years and it’s a global problem,” he said, noting that it’s not just alcohol that can cause significant liver failure. “What happens with this disease, is we are getting fatter and fatter. The global index of obesity has bumped. Americans have it, but even China, parts of Africa and poor countries, India have it. Over time, we realize that we are getting lazier and lazier, and now our exercising has practically diminished because of our intellect, smart phone, smart TV, etc. We don’t have to move.” Taxing careers also play a role. “Life has become much more stressful and demanding,” Basu said. “Nobody really works about eight hours. They work 12 hours. Everyone can afford a car; even in India, average people can afford a car. Walking or taking trains and buses to commute or even going for groceries is all gone.” Basu stated that currently 30 percent of people in the world are obese and by 2036, that number is projected to rise to 62 percent. Basu believes this is a major reason for fatty liver disease. “Our livers get fatter and are deprived of oxygen because fat takes over. The liver activity is diminished and liver cells die because of the huge amount of fat," he said. "The liver is the mother organ for so many things," Basu added. "It makes hormones, peptides and other important things." Tips were given throughout the show for people to follow. “First of all, avoid obesity, exercise daily, go to a cardiologist to see if you have heart disease,” he said. “Get a trainer if you can or nutritionists. There are so many diets, so go on whatever suits you but be compliant". Other tips from Basu — drink coffee, consume antioxidants and take vitamin e. Host Helen Vays found the interview to be honest and enlightening. "He took it more to the level of understanding for any person watching the show and it was nice because you don’t meet those physicians commonly nowadays," she explained. "He tries to find the root of the problem." Greg Romenski is the executive producer of “Medcast Plus.” The next episode will air on Thursday, April 13 on Channel 79 on Time Warner, 68 on Optimum, 83 on RCN, and 43 on Verizon Fios. NYU Lutheran expanding maternity services With more babies born in Brooklyn than anywhere else in New York City, NYU Lutheran Medical Center is taking several important steps forward to ensure the borough’s many expecting moms have access to the safest, most comprehensive care available. Leading the way is the recent appointment of Ming Tsai, MD, as chief of obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), to oversee an extensive expansion of the hospital’s labor and delivery services. Tsai is an accomplished board-certified practitioner who, during his distinguished career, has won several awards from the most prestigious associations in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. He joins a number of highly skilled physicians, nurses, and specialists at NYU Lutheran. “Patients want the best care and that is our principal goal – to provide world-class, highly specialized services that meet the needs of Brooklyn’s families,” says Tsai, who previously served as chief of ob/gyn at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue in Manhattan. “We want our patients to know that we care about their hospital experience, and we’ve launched initiatives here that really improve upon that.” According to 2014 data from the New York State Department of Health (the most recent data available to date), 117,099 babies were born in New York City — 41,746 of them in Brooklyn. In response to the borough’s growing demand for more obstetrical services, NYU Lutheran has added around-the-clock coverage by maternal fetal medicine physicians and ob/ gyn hospitalists. In addition, more than 20 nurses have been recruited for the labor and delivery unit along with six physician assistants, five midwives, and six postpartum nurses. “A large percentage of babies born at NYU Langone Medical Center in Manhattan—about 50 percent—go home to Brooklyn,” said David Keefe, MD, the Stanley H. Kaplan Professor and Chairman of Obstetrics and Gynecology at NYU Langone. “We’re committed to bringing a high level of care to NYU Lutheran while, at the same time, providing a higher degree of convenience. Our ob/gyn services in Brooklyn are improving and we are extremely pleased that an accomplished, experienced physician like Dr. Tsai is leading the effort.” A native of Taiwan who spent his childhood in Paraguay and Brazil, Tsai has been a member of NYU Langone’s Department of ob/ gyn since 2006 and was appointed associate professor in 2014. During his tenure at Bellevue, Tsai received the hospital’s Distinguished Service Award for his tireless service. Under his leadership, obstetrics at Bellevue was awarded the Quality Improvement Award by the New York State Department of Health for the promotion of safety and quality in patient care. Tsai also helped Bellevue earn the nationally accredited Baby-Friendly USA designation. In 2015, Tsai was selected a faculty advisor of the founding chapter of the Gold Humanism Award Honor Society, an appointment made by the office of Robert Grossman, MD, the Saul J. Farber dean and CEO of NYU Langone. Tsai is certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, Mandarin and Taiwanese. Photo courtesy of NYU Lutheran Ming C. Tsai., chief of OB/ GYN at NYU Lutheran Medical Center. Photo courtesy of Medcast Plus Dr. Patrick Basu with host Helen Vays.
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