Medical News Podcast

Drs. Liu and Scott review second-line treatments of small cell lung cancer following first-line maintenance treatment, including platinum rechallenge and other post-platinum agents.

Drs. Liu and Scott offer their perspectives on maintenance therapy in patients with small cell lung cancer, discussing the rationale, different approaches, as well as the associated benefits and challenges.

A large meta-analysis in The Lancet found clopidogrel superior to aspirin for long-term secondary prevention in coronary artery disease, reducing major cardiovascular events by 14% without added bleeding risk. The REBOOT trial in NEJM showed no benefit of beta-blockers in post-MI patients with preserved ejection fraction, and even potential harm in women on high doses, prompting reevaluation of ro...

Drs. Chaichian and Dall’Era explore the “treat to target” approach in lupus, including key targets like DORIS remission and lupus low disease activity state.

Drs. Dall’Era and Chaichian discuss earlier use of targeted biologics for treating lupus.

The FDA has endorsed vibration-controlled transient elastography as a surrogate endpoint for MASH trials, marking the first non-invasive alternative to liver biopsy. A Japanese cohort study linked breakfast skipping and late dinners to higher fracture risk, with combined habits raising risk by nearly 25%. Finally, a global meta-analysis suggests shingles vaccination reduces major cardiovascular ev...

Drs. Chaichian and Dall’Era review the updated guidelines for the treatment and management of SLE in children and adults.

Drs. Fava and Petri discuss emerging therapies in systemic lupus erythematosus, including treatments for lupus nephritis and cutaneous disease.

Drs. Petri and Fava review non-invasive biomarkers in systemic lupus erythematosus, including urine proteomics.

Drs. Petri and Fava discuss updated guidelines for the screening, treatment, and management of lupus nephritis.

The FDA has approved a generic version of liraglutide injection, expanding access to obesity treatment by lowering costs and broadening eligibility across adults and adolescents, though safety monitoring remains essential. A JAMA Network Open study found that overweight older adults had lower 30-day mortality after elective surgery compared to those of normal weight, highlighting the “obesity para...

The FDA has granted accelerated approval to semaglutide (Wegovy) as the first drug for metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH), showing significant improvements in liver health and weight loss in the phase 3 ESSENCE trial. A systematic review of acetaminophen use in pregnancy found potential risks with long-term or frequent use but confirmed short-term, low-dose use remains appropr...

A new JAMA study found that 84% of abortion prescriptions from Aid Access went to patients in states with bans, enabled by “shield laws” protecting telehealth providers across state lines. Provision rates were highest in underserved Southern and Midwestern counties, highlighting telemedicine’s role in maintaining access. A Scientific Reports study showed that large language models for clinical use...

A multi-site randomized trial found that the suicide-prevention app OTX202 reduced repeat suicide attempts by 58% and sustained lower suicidal ideation through 24 weeks, especially in high-risk patients with prior attempts. A phase 3 trial showed canagliflozin significantly improved glycemic control in children and adolescents with type 2 diabetes, with safety comparable to adults. Finally, the SW...

New guidelines from the 2025 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference support using high-performing blood tests to help diagnose Alzheimer’s in memory care patients, offering a less invasive option than spinal taps or PET scans. A NEJM trial found the smaller NTCU380mini IUD nearly as effective as the standard TCU380A, with fewer side effects and better tolerability. Lastly, a large study...

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...