The Scope

It’s been estimated that up to half of scientific studies are irreproducible, they can’t be replicated, and this is a big problem. A new study illustrates a case in point, calling into question previous results suggesting that cancer prevents Alzheimer’s. Heidi Hanson , Ph. D., M.S., a Huntsman Cancer Institute research associate and research assistant professor of family and preventive medicine a...

The night shift in the emergency department is anything but boring. From burns to cuts, and fever to heart attacks, ER physicians see it all. The most difficult part of their job might be prioritizing whom to see first and who can wait. Emergency physician Dr. Troy Madsen walks us through a “typical” night in the ER.

Level 1 trauma centers treat the most critical injuries that can happen: severe car accidents, falls from high places and other accidents with extreme injuries. These cases require immediate, expert care from multiple disciplines to get the patient stabilized and on the road to recovery. Dr. David Rothberg , orthopedic surgeon at the University of Utah, walks us through what it is like to be a par...

Don’t panic. Dense breast tissue is not cancer. The results are merely informing you that, like 40 percent of American women, your breast tissue is particularly fibrous. This does, however, make it more difficult for a mammogram to see through the entire breast. Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones explains dense breasts in further detail and what alternative screening methods might work the best for you.

In the past, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and other bowel inflammation conditions were treated with a gradual medication regiment. Today there is a multitude of potential treatments to help manage particular symptoms and conditions. Dr. John Valentine , a specialist in treating inflammatory diseases relating to the bowel, talks you through the wide variety of options available to patients toda...

Warts are raised, round, rough growths on the surface of the skin. They are very common and most people have dealt with one at some point. Warts usually go away without treatment in two to three years, but what if you, or your child, don’t want to wait that long? It’s time to pull out that wonderful silver tape that seems to fix just about anything. Dr. Cindy Gellner shares how duct tape can be us...

Opioid-based prescription pain medications are the third leading cause of death for Utah adults under 65 years of age. Given their dangers, should physicians continue to prescribe opioid pain medications? Orthopedic trauma surgeon Dr. Tom Higgins gives us his perspective. We ask him if there is still a use for them, if you should say no if your physician recommends them or be concerned if someone...

You are suddenly hit with a severe headache that you’ve never experienced before. Maybe you pass out; maybe it makes you sick to your stomach. Should you go to the ER? Emergency physician Dr. Troy Madsen says these “thunderclap headaches” might be a sign of something much more serious. On this episode of "ER or Not" we talk what potentially life threatening problems that a severe headache might be...

You have irregular periods and have done some research online. You may have come across some alarming articles on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). First, don’t panic. PCOS is a common endocrine problem in women, effecting 5 to 10 percent of young women in the United States. Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones explains what PCOS is, what symptoms to look for and when it’s time to visit your doctor.

Utah ranks fourth in the nation in deaths related to opioid overdoses. That equates to more than 10 Utahns dying each week from an overdose – and that rate is rising. Naloxone is a legal drug that temporarily reverses the life-threatening effects of an opioid-based overdose. Yet, many patients and their families don’t seek the drug due to the surrounding controversy. Dr. Jennifer Plumb and her bro...

An ingrown toenail can cause a lot of pain, especially in children. There are different causes for an ingrown toenail, but the most common are tight shoes. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner tells you how to identify ingrown toenail from other feet infections, prevention and what to do if your child gets one.

Mitochondria, tiny organelles within our cells, pack a big punch. They function as powerhouses that generate energy for the cell. Malfunctioning mitochondria, explains Adam Hughes, assistant professor of biochemistry at the University of Utah, impacts a number of processes, such as aging and development of disease. He describes his latest research, published in eLife , discovering a never-before s...

Working with a knife is not the only way you can cut yourself. Emergency physician Dr. Troy Madsen talks about the most common ways people suffer slices and nicks and what you can do to avoid stitches and emergency assistance.

Would you know if you had a pelvic fracture? Commonly confused with a hip injury, a broken pelvis is seen in two primary populations: patients with life-threatening injuries and older patients who suffer a ground-level fall. If you or a loved one is experiencing persistent pain after a fall, get to a radiologist. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. David Rothberg explains how to identify a pelvic fracture and...

Emerging science in the study of addiction may fundamentally change the way we approach and treat addiction. University of Utah psychotherapist Eric L. Garland, Ph. D , discuss new research that shows how addiction may actually be a symptom of “normal learning gone awry” and how doctors at the U are using this knowledge to create new, more effective treatments for patients suffering from addiction...

While it is rare these days, some children still catch chicken pox. Will old-fashioned remedies like an oatmeal bath work? Or should you take her to the pediatrician? Dr. Cindy Gellner goes step-by-step through everything you need to know about your child’s chicken pox, how to treat every symptom and when it’s time to take her to the pediatrician.

Have you ever treated a child with abdominal pain that you suspected might be caused by appendicitis? It’s tempting to go straight to a CT scan, but such scans expose children to ionizing radiation, which is potentially harmful. Eric Glissmeyer, MD , a pediatric emergency physician, discusses how doctors can know whether to employ advanced scanning in kids. He presented this information to his pee...

While medications are effective for many children with epilepsy, other kids are drug-resistant. After two failed medications, it may be time to look at other options, such as surgery, to prevent further damage caused by seizures. Matthew Sweney , MD, MS, discusses options for particularly stubborn cases. He presented this information at the 2016 Pediatric Academic Societies meeting in Baltimore.

When parents of autistic teens have high expectations, they are more likely to have the skills they need to live independently, reports a study published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. The transition to adulthood can be difficult for people with autism. Suddenly, subsidized educational and social supports disappear, and they and their families are left on their own. “Many de...

Have an extreme pain or discomfort in your stomach? Has it lasted longer than five minutes? Many sufferers avoid going to the emergency room for fear they’ll just be told it’s nothing and then sent home. As a follow-up to “ER or Not: Severe Stomach Pain,” emergency physician Dr. Troy Madsen takes us step-by-step through what physicians do when a patient with abdominal pain comes into the ER and wh...

Autism effects people their entire lives. Yet most research about the autism spectrum focuses on childhood and adolescence then goes straight to geriatrics. But what about autism in adulthood? What resources are available to aging parents of people with autism and the adults with autism? Scott Wright , researcher at University of Utah and editor of the book "Autism Spectrum Disorder in Mid and Lat...

Are you the type of person who likes working with your hands, problem solving and is a bit of a science nerd? Have a favorite parasite? Then maybe a medical technologist job at ARUP is right for you. ARUP medical technologist, Kristen Case specializes in parasitology. Her workday consists of looking at samples through microscopes and running tests to help diagnose what's wrong with patients at med...

Our hands are one of the primary ways we interact with the world. We touch, feel, grab and grasp. It’s pretty common to get them hurt in a lot of different ways. Dr. Andrew Tyser covers the different types of trauma that can happen to your hands and, more importantly, what to do, step-by-step if you ever find yourself separated from one of your fingers.

Outside of latex condoms and certain spermicides, it is extremely rare for a woman to have an allergic reaction to any form of birth control. That includes oral contraceptives. With cases of less than one in a thousand, birth control allergies are not normal for majority of women. But what if you are allergic to birth control? Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones explains the difference between allergies and s...

When a child develops an itchy rash, many parents immediately worry about chicken pox. But thanks to vaccination, most rashes in school-age children are caused by something else entirely. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD , debunks chicken pox myths. Learn how to tell when a rash might not be chicken pox, what conditions commonly mimic it, and when to call your child's pediatrician about a suspected...