Medical News Podcast

Drs. Bose and Pemmaraju discuss leukemic transformation in patients with myelofibrosis, reviewing its incidence, as well as risk factors, treatment, and prognosis.

Drs. Bose and Pemmaraju review secondary myelofibrosis arising from polycythemia vera or essential thrombocythemia and how it differs from primary myelofibrosis that develops de novo.

Maternal RSV vaccines and infant nirsevimab led to major drops in hospitalizations among infants ≤7 months, especially those ≤2 months old. The CDC’s 2025 nPEP guidelines stress starting HIV prevention within 72 hours of exposure, with rapid testing and follow-up care. Treatment should begin without delay, and patients at ongoing risk should transition to PrEP. Surgical site infections after color...

Drs. Starling and VanderPluym discuss common diagnostic pitfalls in migraine medicine and how the misinterpretation of symptoms can lead to unnecessary testing or incorrect treatments.

Drs. VanderPluym and Starling review the updated position statement from the American Headache Society indicating that CGRP-targeting migraine therapies should be considered as a first-line option.

This episode features the Beamion LUNG-1 trial, where zongertinib showed a 71% response rate in previously treated HER2-mutant NSCLC patients. The EAGLE-1 trial found gepotidacin non-inferior to standard treatment for urogenital gonorrhoea, with a 92.6% success rate. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and NIH launched the Generation Gold Standard initiative, a universal vaccine platf...

Elizabeth Kensinger, PhD and Andrew Budson, MD explain how healthy lifestyle habits, memory offloading strategies, and turning facts into stories can support cognitive aging. They stress that enriching and novel activities are more effective for brain health than most apps. Dr. Budson supports the theory that beta amyloid defends against brain infections, linking it to viral triggers of Alzheimer'...

A JAMA model warns measles could become endemic in the U.S. within 21 years if MMR vaccination rates don't rise, with over 850,000 projected cases. A Phase 3 NEJM trial found brensocatib reduced exacerbations in non-CF bronchiectasis. An EPIC study correlated higher breast cancer risk to higher education levels, beyond lifestyle and reproductive factors.

Mexico’s first fatal H5N1 case involved a healthy child and highlights localized risk despite low global concern. Long-term antidepressant use was linked to higher sudden cardiac death risk, especially in younger adults. A U.S. study found 25% of adults with very high LDL cholesterol lacked statin treatment. These stories reveal persistent gaps in infection control, cardiac monitoring, and prevent...

A polygenic risk score significantly improved prostate cancer detection beyond PSA testing, identifying more treatable and aggressive cancers in high-risk men. New WHO guidelines aim to reduce global meningitis deaths by standardizing early diagnosis, treatment, and care across settings. GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors were linked to reduced Alzheimer's risk, with GLP-1s showing the m...

Mary Beth Cicero, co-founder of Three Daughters, shares how her passion for women's health led to the development of a new frameless, self-assembling magnetic IUD designed to significantly reduce the pain of insertion and retrieval. The device, inspired by embryo transfer techniques and using copper as its active ingredient, aims to improve comfort, eliminate strings, and offer a more body-conform...

Drs. Yu and Sabari trace the evolution of HER2-mutant lung cancer treatment from chemotherapy to targeted therapies, highlighting key advancements, challenges, and patient responses. They also explore emerging treatment strategies, resistance mechanisms, and the future of personalized therapy based on biomarkers and co-mutations.

A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that statin use in patients with chronic liver disease was associated with a lower risk of liver cancer and hepatic decompensation, suggesting potential protective effects beyond lipid management. Surveys by the Annenberg Public Policy Center revealed widespread misinformation about the risks of consuming raw milk, highlighting the need for public...

Drs. Sabari and Yu discuss the molecular landscape of HER2-mutant lung cancer, including its genomic characteristics, common co-mutations, and differences between HER2 mutations and HER2 amplification. This discussion also explores the prevalence and clinical patterns of HER2 mutations, their oncogenic mechanisms, their impact on tumor behavior and metastases, and potential environmental or geneti...

Helena Yu, MD and Joshua Sabari, MD explore the importance of testing for HER2 alterations in lung cancer; how HER2 positivity influences clinical decision-making; and the key methods used for detection, including immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and next-generation sequencing. It also addresses challenges in standardizing HER2 testing, disparities in access to biomarker t...

Carrie Dougherty, MD, FAHS and Jessica Ailani, MD review migraine abstracts from the 2024 European Headache Congress.

A phase 3 study showed that combining pelabresib with ruxolitinib significantly improved spleen volume reduction and symptom relief in myelofibrosis patients compared to ruxolitinib alone, offering a promising new treatment option. Long-term use of gantenerumab may delay Alzheimer's dementia onset in individuals with inherited Alzheimer's, supporting the amyloid hypothesis and paving the way for f...

Jessica Ailani, MD and Carrie Dougherty, MD, FAHS debate initial preventive treatment for migraine and the in-clinic management of status migraine.

Drs. Lebin and Nagle-Yang discuss the pharmacological management of PPD, with a focus on the risks and benefits of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and zuranolone.

Drs. Nagle-Yang and Lebin discuss the barriers to care engagement for patients with PPD, including such factors as stigma, fear of judgement, and access to treatment.

Sarah Nagle-Yang, MD and Lindsay Lebin, MD review the screening, impact, and management of suicide risk in patients with PPD, highlighting effective prevention strategies.

A study suggests GLP-1 receptor agonists may reduce hematologic cancer risk in type 2 diabetes patients by 54% compared to insulin. Two individuals have achieved functional HIV cures through stem cell transplants, offering insights into cure strategies. Additionally, women with dense breasts face double the risk of breast cancer and reduced mammogram accuracy, supporting FDA regulations for breast...

An AI system trained on breast ultrasound studies showed promise in reducing false positives and biopsies by over 37% and 28%, respectively, while maintaining sensitivity, potentially aiding clinical decision-making. Second, nirsevimab demonstrated effectiveness in preventing RSV infections and hospitalizations among infants, with protection waning over time but remaining significant. Lastly, brea...

Drs. McClung and Singer delve into common questions and clinical conundrums encountered in managing osteoporosis and fractures, including calcium use and dental procedures, in patients with osteoporosis.

Drs. Singer and McClung discuss the operationalization of a bisphosphonate “drug holiday” in people treated with this class of osteoporosis medication. They address questions regarding patient selection criteria, duration of the holiday, and strategies for determining when and with what medication treatment should be resumed.