Dr. Geiss studies various health issues, with a particular emphasis on cancer treatment, mental health in healthcare workers, and neonatal care. He has explored how BET inhibitors can make cancer cells more susceptible to immune responses in patients, emphasizing their potential in enhancing cancer therapies. Additionally, he addressed the emotional toll of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers, creating support programs that have notably reduced stress levels among participants. Dr. Geiss has also developed tools to assess pain in newborns, ensuring that infants receive appropriate care during medical procedures.
Key findings
Using BET inhibitors alongside other therapies significantly enhanced tumor cell death, leading to greater tumor growth reduction.
In a wellness program for healthcare workers, 94% of participants reported reduced stress after interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
About 34% of Crohn's disease patients studied had NOD2 gene mutations, which were linked to lower levels of anti-TNF treatment, suggesting these patients may need higher doses.
The COVERS Neonatal Pain Scale showed high accuracy in measuring pain during infant procedures, with agreement rates of r = 0.84 for premature and r = 0.95 for full-term infants.
Home delivery of palivizumab to infants at risk of respiratory syncytial virus resulted in fewer hospital visits compared to clinic delivery.
Frequently asked questions
Does Dr. Geiss study cancer treatments?
Yes, Dr. Geiss studies ways to improve cancer treatments, particularly through the use of BET inhibitors that enhance the immune response against tumor cells.
What mental health research has Dr. Geiss conducted?
Dr. Geiss researched the mental health challenges faced by healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and developed wellness programs that significantly reduce stress.
Is Dr. Geiss's work relevant to pediatric patients?
Yes, Dr. Geiss has worked extensively with infants, studying pain assessment tools and treatment methods for conditions like respiratory syncytial virus and bacterial meningitis.
What does Dr. Geiss's research say about Crohn's disease?
Dr. Geiss found that mutations in the NOD2 gene in Crohn's disease patients were common and affected how well they respond to treatment, which can help inform better treatment strategies.
How does Dr. Geiss's research help healthcare providers?
Dr. Geiss's studies provide valuable insights and tools that help healthcare providers improve treatment outcomes for various patient groups, from infants to healthcare workers.
Publications in plain English
Answering the Call to Action: A Multimodal Wellness Response to Psychological Distress in Health Care Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Bronx.
2022
American journal of medical quality : the official journal of the American College of Medical Quality
Geiss D, Confino M, Wei E, Reyes M, Coll J +6 more
Plain English This study focused on the mental health challenges faced by healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Bronx. To address these issues, a support program called Helping Healers Heal was enhanced to offer wellness activities and emotional support, reaching 80% of the staff. The program was effective, with 94% of participants feeling that it helped reduce their stress.
Who this helps: This helps healthcare workers dealing with stress and emotional challenges.
BET Inhibition Enhances TNF-Mediated Antitumor Immunity.
2022
Cancer immunology research
Wellinger LC, Hogg SJ, Newman DM, Friess T, Geiss D +17 more
Plain English This research focused on a new type of treatment called BET inhibitors, which help make cancer cells more vulnerable to the body’s immune response. The study found that using BET inhibitors alongside other cancer therapies increased the destruction of tumor cells significantly, leading to a greater overall reduction in tumor growth. Specifically, they showed enhanced tumor cell death when BET inhibitors were combined with certain immune therapies, pointing to a strong link between TNF (a signaling molecule that promotes inflammation) and the effectiveness of these treatments.
Who this helps: This research helps patients undergoing cancer treatment by improving the effectiveness of immunotherapy options.
Finite-Size Scaling at the Edge of Disorder in a Time-Delay Vicsek Model.
2021
Physical review letters
Holubec V, Geiss D, Loos SAM, Kroy K, Cichos F
Plain English This study looked at how delays in communication among moving groups of individuals (like flocks of birds) affect their ability to move together. Researchers found that when there is a small amount of delay, group behavior improves, but too much delay actually disrupts their coordination and changes how they move from spreading out to moving in a more directed way. Understanding these dynamics helps explain how groups navigate and can lead to better models for studying collective behavior in various animals.
Who this helps: This helps researchers studying animal behavior, ecologists, and those interested in swarm robotics.
Mutations in the NOD2 gene are associated with a specific phenotype and lower anti-tumor necrosis factor trough levels in Crohn's disease.
2018
Journal of digestive diseases
Schäffler H, Geiss D, Gittel N, Rohde S, Huth A +4 more
Plain English This study looked at how mutations in the NOD2 gene affect Crohn's disease (CD) in 161 patients. The researchers found that about 34% of the patients had these mutations, and those with mutations were more likely to experience specific forms of the disease, such as stricturing and perianal issues. Additionally, these patients had lower levels of a key treatment drug, anti-TNF, indicating they might need higher doses to manage their symptoms effectively.
Who this helps: This helps Crohn's disease patients with NOD2 mutations by guiding their treatment plans.
Percutaneous Closure of the Aorto-Ostial Origin of a Coronary Artery Saphenous Bypass Graft with a Large Pseudoaneurysm Using the AMPLATZER Muscular Ventricular Septal Defect Occluder.
2017
The International journal of angiology : official publication of the International College of Angiology, Inc
Shammas NW, Chammas MZ, Robken J, Geiss D
Plain English This study looked at a 76-year-old man who developed a large pseudoaneurysm, a dangerous swelling, in a bypass graft used for heart surgery. The researchers successfully closed the opening of the graft using a special device called the AMPLATZER occluder, stopping blood flow into the pseudoaneurysm and confirming it was effective six months later with follow-up imaging. This method provides a new, less invasive way to treat a serious issue that can arise after heart surgery.
Who this helps: This helps patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass graft surgery and experience complications like pseudoaneurysms.
Plain English This paper looks at a 15-year-old boy who was diagnosed with a dangerous skin cancer called malignant melanoma, which is uncommon among teenagers. The boy's cancer had spread to other parts of his body, a serious condition known as metastatic melanoma. Understanding such cases is important because it highlights the potential risks of melanoma in younger patients, aiming to improve early detection and treatment.
Who this helps: This helps doctors and healthcare professionals in recognizing and treating melanoma in adolescents.
COVERS Neonatal Pain Scale: Development and Validation.
2010
International journal of pediatrics
Hand IL, Noble L, Geiss D, Wozniak L, Hall C
Plain English Researchers created a new pain assessment tool called the COVERS scale to evaluate pain in newborns and infants during common procedures, like heel pricks and diaper changes. The study found that the COVERS scale accurately measured pain, showing very high agreement with existing scales: r = 0.84 for premature infants and r = 0.95 for full-term infants. This is important because it offers a universal way to assess pain in all newborns, ensuring they receive appropriate care.
Who this helps: This benefits doctors and healthcare providers working with newborns and infants.
Respiratory syncytial virus immunoprophylaxis in an urban population: a comparison of delivery strategies and outcomes.
2008
The Pediatric infectious disease journal
Hand IL, Noble L, Geiss D, Shotkin A
Plain English This study looked at how providing a preventive treatment, called palivizumab, to infants at risk of a virus called respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) works better when given at home compared to at a clinic. It found that when the treatment was delivered at home, compliance was higher, which led to fewer hospital visits and fewer unexpected medical appointments. This matters because it shows that home delivery can help keep these vulnerable infants healthier by reducing their exposure to illness in a clinic setting.
Who this helps: This benefits at-risk infants and their families.
The effects of positioning on the Hering-Breuer reflex in the preterm infant.
2007
Pediatric pulmonology
Hand IL, Noble L, Geiss D
Plain English This study looked at how the position of preterm infants affects their Hering-Breuer reflex, which helps control breathing. Researchers tested seven premature babies and found that when they were placed on their stomach (prone position), this reflex was much stronger, prolonging their expiration time by an average of 237% compared to just 95% when lying on their back (supine position). These findings suggest that how we position premature infants could significantly influence their lung function and breathing control.
Who this helps: This research benefits doctors and caregivers working with premature infants.
Palivizumab prophylaxis of respiratory syncytial virus disease in 2000-2001: results from The Palivizumab Outcomes Registry.
2003
Pediatric pulmonology
Parnes C, Guillermin J, Habersang R, Nicholes P, Chawla V +138 more
Plain English Researchers studied the use of a medication called palivizumab to prevent severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in high-risk infants across the U.S. They found that 2.9% of infants in the study were hospitalized due to RSV, with higher rates (5.8%) in those with chronic lung disease. The results emphasized the importance of timely vaccinations, as almost half of the hospitalizations occurred after the first two doses.
Who this helps: This benefits high-risk infants and their healthcare providers.
Sleep and the cholinergic rapid eye movement sleep induction test in patients with primary alcohol dependence.
2001
Biological psychiatry
Gann H, Feige B, Hohagen F, van Calker D, Geiss D +1 more
Plain English This study looked at the sleep patterns of alcohol-dependent patients after they stopped drinking and compared them to healthy individuals. Researchers found that patients showed significant issues with their sleep, especially a higher risk for short periods of REM sleep, which was linked to a greater chance of relapsing back into drinking. Specifically, those who stayed sober for six months had fewer abnormalities in their REM sleep compared to those who relapsed, suggesting that tracking REM sleep could help identify patients at risk of returning to alcohol use.
Who this helps: This benefits patients recovering from alcohol dependence and their healthcare providers.
Respiratory mechanics in very low birth weight infants during continuous versus intermittent gavage feeds.
2001
Pediatric pulmonology
Brar G, Geiss D, Brion LP, Rios A
Plain English This study looked at how feeding methods—intermittent feeding versus continuous feeding—affect the breathing mechanics of very low birth weight infants (those who weigh less than 3.3 pounds at birth). Researchers measured various aspects of breathing in 16 infants and found no significant changes in their breathing abilities whether they were fed continuously or at intervals. This matters because it indicates that parents and caregivers can choose either feeding method without worrying about negatively impacting the babies' breathing.
Who this helps: This helps parents and caregivers of very low birth weight infants.
Intravenous cefotaxime in children with bacterial meningitis.
1980
Lancet (London, England)
Belohradsky BH, Bruch K, Geiss D, Kafetzis D, Marget W +1 more
Plain English The study looked at 13 children with bacterial meningitis caused by different bacteria that didn’t respond to other antibiotics. After receiving intravenous cefotaxime, 9 of the children were cured, one had a successful retreatment after recurrence, and unfortunately, two children died due to other complications. This is important because it shows that cefotaxime can be an effective option for treating difficult cases of bacterial meningitis in children, even when other treatments have failed.
Who this helps: Patients with bacterial meningitis and their doctors.
Upper extremity gangrene: a complication of subclavian artery division.
1980
The Annals of thoracic surgery
Geiss D, Williams WG, Lindsay WK, Rowe RD
Plain English This study looked at gangrene in the arms of two patients who had surgery to tie off a blood vessel called the subclavian artery. The researchers found that timely recognition of poor blood flow is crucial to prevent gangrene, and treatments like blood thinners and surgery to restore blood flow can help. This is important because addressing issues early can save patients' limbs.
Who this helps: This helps children undergoing specific vascular surgeries.