Medical News Podcast

A large observational study found small but potentially meaningful differences in cardiovascular safety among sulfonylureas compared to DPP-4 inhibitors in type 2 diabetes, with glipizide showing a statistically higher risk of MACE. A separate study revealed that over half of advanced-stage lung and colorectal cancer cases involved missed diagnostic opportunities, highlighting systemic delays in w...

A new NEJM trial found methotrexate offers similar lung function improvements as prednisone in pulmonary sarcoidosis, but with fewer side effects—suggesting it could be a safer first-line option for some patients. A JAMA study revealed that patients trust physicians less when AI is mentioned in care ads, highlighting the importance of framing AI as a tool that supports—not replaces—clinical judgme...

Drs. Patel and Armstrong discuss how they are integrating FDA-approved therapies into geographic atrophy care. They share their perspectives on emerging treatments, including the potential for combination or staged approaches.

Drs. Armstrong and Patel discuss current and emerging therapies for diabetes-related macular edema and wet age-related macular degeneration including anti-VEGF agents, the need for durability and reduced treatment burden, alternative delivery strategies, novel molecules, and gene-therapy.

Dr. Richard S. Ostfeld discusses how human disruption of natural ecosystems, such as forest fragmentation and predator loss, has increased the risk of tick-borne diseases like Lyme and Powassan virus. He explains how climate change extends tick seasons and how common hosts like mice thrive in altered environments, boosting tick populations. Despite promising tick-control interventions, personal pr...

Drs. Patel and Armstrong discuss the implementation and evaluation of AI-powered diabetic retinopathy and diabetes-related macular edema screening and telemedicine, including ways to handle an influx of referrals, questions about reimbursement, staffing, and liability.

Drs. Modi and Dedania discuss GLP-1 receptor agonists and the retinal patient, including how GLP-1 receptor agonists work, benefits and risks in patients with retinal disease, and data from retrospective studies.

Drs. Dedania and Modi discuss vitreous opacities, or floaters, including imaging, evaluating, and when and whether to pursue surgery. They discuss conditional circumstances that may influence whether to pursue surgery or not, as well as patient counseling.

Drs. Modi and Dedania discuss imaging, biomarkers, and diagnosis in geographic atrophy, as well as current therapies and those in late stage clinical trials.

This podcast highlights three updates: Moderna’s Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine is now fully FDA-approved for high-risk children 6 months to 11 years, though rare myocarditis remains a concern. A large study found first-trimester TMP-SMX antibiotics increase congenital malformation risks compared to β-lactams, reinforcing β-lactams as safer. Finally, a trial showed no cardiovascular benefit from taking...

Drs. Sabari and Socinski discuss maintenance therapy strategies in small cell lung cancer, including immunotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted agents, and radiation.

Drs. Socinski and Sabari discuss a couple of abstracts from ASCO 2025 about emerging therapeutics in small cell lung cancer.

Mark A. Socinski, MD and Joshua Sabari, MD review new data from ASCO 2025 that have a substantial impact on how oncologists treat patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer.

A Lancet analysis warns that USAID cuts could cause over 14 million preventable deaths by 2030, reversing decades of progress against infectious diseases. The TARGET Protein Trial found high-protein nutrition in ICU patients did not improve outcomes and may raise risks in kidney injury. A study in npj Vaccines showed older adults getting AS01-adjuvanted shingles or RSV vaccines had lower dementia...

The measles outbreak stands at 1,227 confirmed cases in 2025 so far—nearly five times the total for all of 2024—mostly among unvaccinated individuals. New data from the INTERACT trials show that rapidly lowering blood pressure after intracerebral hemorrhage improves survival and function, especially when treatment starts within three hours. The CDC’s Vaccine Advisory Panel, controversially reconst...

Drs. Yuan and Callahan discuss data presented at ASCO 2025 about DESTINY-Breast06, SHR-A1811, and TQB2101, along with real-world data on rechallenging patients with T-DXd post grade 1 ILD.

Drs. Callahan and Yuan discuss data presented at ASCO 2025 on DESTINY-Breast09, PATINA, and MINI Trial, the utility of PFS-2 as an endpoint, and sequencing of treatments after first-line therapy.

Drs. Zaman and Podolanczuk discuss data for new and emerging therapies for ILD presented at ATS 2025, including nerandomilast, inhaled therapies for IPF and ILD, TNIK inhibitors, as well as new biomarkers and imaging for diagnosing ILDs.

Tanzira Zaman, MD and Elizabeth Volkmann, MD, MS discuss the new official American Thoracic Society Clinical Statement on the diagnosis and management of interstitial lung abnormalities which Dr. Podolanczuk presented at ATS 2025.

The FDA approved lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable PrEP shown to be 99% effective in preventing HIV, though high cost may limit global access. A phase 3 trial found that adding pembrolizumab to standard care improved event-free survival in head and neck cancer, especially in patients with high PD-L1 expression. MASLD-related deaths in the U.S. have quadrupled since 2006, rising most sharply i...

Drs. Sood and Liu discuss emerging and investigational biomarkers for interstitial lung disease and their potential utility as predictors of progression or as tools for tailoring therapy.

Gabrielle Liu, MD, MS and Namita Sood, MD, FCCP discuss advances and future treatment targets for interstitial lung disease including some that are still under investigation.

A Chinese trial found dapagliflozin improved MASH outcomes, with higher resolution and fibrosis improvement rates than placebo. A JAMA Network Open survey showed 42% of abortion providers in ban states relocated, mostly to states with protections, highlighting growing care gaps. An oncology study found AI analysis of body composition better predicted chemo dose reductions than body surface area, e...

Drs. Brander and Cohen discuss the growing role of measurable residual disease (MRD) testing in CLL and its clinical implications.

Drs. Cohen and Brander review toxicity and treatment management in CLL, specifically addressing the considerations that go into subsequent lines of treatment for patients who relapse following doublet, or even triplet, therapy.