This week's topics include a wearable hemodialysis device, no benefit to bowel prep before surgery, too much use of cardiac catheterization, and recent FDA activity.

0:24     Hemodialysis device
1:24     Less fatigue with device
2:23     Continuous dialysis gentler
3:19     Causes gut to move
4:22     Most patients will undergo bowel prep
5:00     Heart attack results from blood flow compromise
6:00     May be measuring wrong thing re: heart attack treatment
7:09     Incorrect diagnoses
7:42     FDA mandates
8:25     Nonoxynol containing contraceptives
9:11     FDA decided no OTC sale of statins
10:13   How often do negative side effects occur?
11:52  End

This week's topics include face transplant follow up, flu and adenovirus concerns, diet and ovulation issues, and coronary calcium scans in women at low risk for heart disease.

0:26   Face transplant
1:20   Close lips and chew and swallow
2:22   Long line of transplants
3:17   Winter flu susceptibility
4:20   Most important to get vaccinated
5:18   Cold gets much worse
6:15   Ovulatory problems and diet
7:15    Refined carbs and trans fats
8:16   Lifestyle and dietary changes
9:25   95% of women considered 'low risk'
10:25 Moved from low risk to moderate or high risk
11:25 Women may want to consider test.

This week's topics include treatment of acute sinusitis, adverse events related to common medications in elderly, osteoporosis in men, and shift work as a risk factor for cancer.

0:30      Acute sinusitis
1:30      Antibiotics aren't effective
2:33      Develop resistant infections
3:43      Re-education needed
4:20      Commonly prescribed medications and adverse drug reactions
5:16      Hundreds of thousands of elderly taking them
6:17      Insulin, warfarin, digoxin
7:33      Osteoporosis in men
8:20      Man's age, weight and emphysema
9:20      Men need to be more aware
9:45      Shift work as cancer risk factor
10:34    Interrupts melatonin, Circadian rhythm
11:48    End

This week's topics include a cardiovascular age score, the benefits of whole grains, a return of rickets, and too many X-rays in pregnant women.

0:28     Rickets is a vitamin D deficiency
1:10     Sunshine transforms vitamin D
2:12     Osteoporosis as adults
3:10     Cereal intake and diabetes risk
4:18     High glycemic index
5:14     Substitute whole grain bread
6:10     Important to reduce cardiovascular risk factors
7:07     People did modify behavior
8:04     X-rays in pregnant women
9:04     Alternative tests
10:03   Newer CT
11:42   End

This week's topics include using barbers and beauticians to address health issues, obesity's effect on PSA, the benefit of pedometers, and ultrasound for diagnosing ovarian masses.

Program notes:

0:21     Bringing healthcare to those who need it
1:28     Health risk from heart disease 30% greater
2:13     Automated machines
3:09     Obesity and cancer detection
4:10     Diluted PSA due to increased blood volume
5:00     Pedometers
6:00     Most effective when goals set
6:27     Ultrasound for ovarian cancer
7:18     Screening different than diagnosis
8:12     Annual exam important
9:04     Screening applied to populations at risk
10:06    End

This week's topics include the success of vaccines, depression among Iraq war veterans and hospitalized people, increasing rates of sexually transmitted infections, and the dangers of homeopathy.

0:30   Mental health issues in returning veterans
1:12   Six months post-return problems
2:10   Primary or secondary depression
3:10   Treatment both with medication and therapy
4:00   Homeopathy
5:00   Deaths due to substitution of homeopathic remedy
6:11   Vaccines have reduced disease and death
7:14   Small epidemics when vaccines aren't given
8:14   Increase in sexually transmitted diseases
9:22   Part of increase is recognition
10:09 Routine screening a good idea
10:39 End

This week's topics include use of automatic external defibrillators, heart risk of childhood obesity, 64 slice CT to look at the heart, and seasonal variation in blood pressure.

0:26     New studies from American Heart Association meeting
0:43     AEDs
1:26     Survival increased 4x
2:43     Easy way to administer lifesaving treatment
3:43     Schools, airports, malls
4:24     33-34% of kid obese
5:29     Thickened heart muscle
6:42     Obesity isn't an isolated health problem
7:50     Cardiac CT
8:44     Advantages of CT
9:40     Seasonal variations in blood pressure
10:28   Independent of climate
11:28   Measure blood pressure at home
12:08   Can adjust medications
13:01    End

This week's topics include screening kids for autism, incident findings on brain MRI, how long HIV has been lurking, and weight and cancer.

0:27    American Academy of Pediatrics recommends screening for autism
1:15    Subtle signs of autism
2:20    Interventions for autism
3:14    Familial occurrence
4:01    No suspected brain problem
5:12    Further testing or biopsy required
6:33    Vast majority benign
7:16    AIDS pandemic surfaced in 1981
8:16    Need to be vigilant about zoonoses
9:00    Mid 1970s, no one thought possible
9:44    Decrease your risk of cancer 15 to 30%
10:42   Not only talks about diet but specifics
11:29   Remain as lean as possible
12:09   All of us should maintain a lean weight
13:04   End

This week's topics include risks of hysterectomy, a rise in maternal deaths in the US, increasing numbers of women choosing double mastectomy, and improved devices to bridge people to transplant.

Program notes:

0:30 First increase in maternal mortality in decades
1:27 Convenience or previous C-section
2:18 Multifactorial cause for increase
3:37 Risk for subsequent pregnancy
4:13 Double mastectomy
4:45 Women with genetic abnormality
5:50 Still need routine follow up
6:30 Stress incontinence after hysterectomy
7:30 Hysterectomy overdone
7:57 Devices to support patients before transplant
8:58 LVAD
9:47 Artificial lung
10:24 Limited donor lungs
11:23 Lung transplant less successful
12:11 End

This week's topics include stents vs. bypass surgery, a new superbug causing ear infections in kids, MRSA, and Pap vs. HPV DNA testing for cervical cancer screening.

Program notes:

0:20     CABG or stents?
1:06     Patients who had CABG required fewer repeats
2:12     Medical therapy can be just as good
2:30     Superbug related to ear infections
3:22     Implies that antibiotic use may select for resistant bugs
4:25     Vast majority of kids resolve on their own
5:05     MRSA
6:07     Test all patients?
7:00     Difficult to completely eradicate
7:33     HPV and Pap smears
8:44     HPV DNA more sensitive
9:17     Some women clear infection
10:03   HPV status determines who needs Pap?
10:28   End

This week's topics include sudden death in athletes, preventing strokes in those at risk, a new medication for alcohol dependence, and the state of healthcare for kids.

Program notes:
0:20     Identification and treatment of TIAs
1:10     Decreased strokes by 80%
2:10     Level of healthcare kids receive
3:10     Didn't depend on socioeconomic status
4:26     Refer to specialist
4:48     Decreasing alcohol dependence
5:38     GABA receptors involved
6:40     Alcoholism major global problem
7:41     Sudden death in athletes
8:43     Promontory symptoms
10:03   Discerning heart problem
11:10   Heart disease not only cause of death
12:05   Symptoms during event
12:40   End

This week's topics include when to take blood pressure, use of implantable defibrillators, CT vs. traditional colonoscopy, and use of flu vaccine in elderly.

Program notes:

0:25     Men get defibrillators more often than women
1:18     Disproportion between men and women
2:24     Differences in patient acceptance
3:25     Not only limited to defibrillators
4:18     Blood pressure rise in doctor's office
5:18     Home blood pressure monitoring
6:20     Contradictory studies on flu vaccine in elderly
7:24     Vaccinate contacts of elderly
8:20     Virtual colonoscopy
9:10     Risk of perforation small
10:50    Insurance pays?
11:40    End

This week's topics include ASCO's plans for post-cancer care, more on HDL and LDL, a lack of harm related to vaccine preservative thimerosol, and questions about the flu vaccine in elderly people.

0:19   Thimerosol
0:47   Relationship to autism
1:19   Neuropsychological outcomes
2:00   Currently about 5000 lawsuits
2:51   Parents aren't vaccinating kids
3:42   There is no scientific evidence
4:03   Flu vaccine in elderly
4:52   Influenza starts downward spiral
6:00   Older people should still get flu shot
7:07   ASCO plan for post-cancer care
8:12   Patients survive years or decades
9:00   HDL and LDL
10:06 Medications used to raise HDL harmful
11:02 HDL does matter
11:40 End

This week's topics include using an osteoporosis drug for breast cancer prevention, a once yearly use of another osteoporosis drug to reduce repeat fractures, use of steroids to prevent preterm delivery, and the best way to control type 2 diabetes when insulin is needed.

Program notes:

0:30   Osteoporosis drug in breast cancer
1:37   Reduced risk of invasive breast ca
2:28   Taken daily
2:54   Hip fracture repeat prevention
3:55   Given once yearly
4:21   Steroid use in threatened preterm delivery
5:30   Children at age 2 with steroid exposure before birth
6:30   Slight increase in cerebral palsy and ADHD
7:00   Type 2 diabetes management
8:11   Assess sugar over previous 3 months
9:09   More tight control results in weight gain
10:00   Hemoglobin a1c better measure
11:12   End

This week's topics include a simple way to predict heart failure, benefits of vitamin D, genetic testing panned, and even modest overweight hurts your heart.

Program notes:

0:30   Genetic testing for cancer risk
1:19   1 in 500 women have mutation
2:05   Need counseling and management
3:10   Number of attorney generals investigating
4:10   Weight predicts heart failure
5:10   Weight gain followed by hospitalization
6:23   Modest overweight increases heart risk
7:20   Medication alone doesn't reduce risk
8:14   Supplement benefits
9:10   Vitamin D 3 most effective
10:43  Adequate sun exposure and consumption
11:43  End

Week of September 7, 2007

This week's topics include impact of reducing resident duty hours, modest reduction of blood pressure in people with diabetes, huge increase in diagnosis of bipolar disorder, and food additives and hyperactivity in children.

Program notes:
0:28     Bipolar diagnosis increase
1:35     Mania and depression
2:25     Effective treatment in kids?
3:35     Medications have side effects
4:43     Ingestion of food additives and hyperactivity
5:50     Food additives make it look good
6:30     Three studies show same trend
7:26     Diabetes and lower blood pressure
9:16     Half of diabetics treated
10:12   Reduction in resident hours
11:20   Small benefit in VA population
12:32   Team approach streamlining
13:31   End

This week's topics include regionalized heart centers, medical clinics in retail stores, direct to consumer ads for drugs, and the possible cause of rosacea.

Program notes:

0:43    Regionalized heart centers
1:40    Catheterization availability
2:27    Organize surrounding communities
3:30    Local hospital first?
4:30    Get to closest hospital
4:48    Medical clinics in retail outlets
5:17    Staffed by ancillary personnel
6:39    Direct to consumer advertisement
7:43    Advertise newer, more expensive drugs
8:43    Consumers and patients need to be aware
9:09    Rosacea cause?
10:10  Skin protein called cathelicidin
10:44  Logical target for treatment
11:21  End

This week's topics include the last word on calcium and vitamin D in preventing osteoporosis, benefits of obesity surgery, high blood pressure in kids and sexuality in older adults.

Program Notes:

0:30  Calcium and vitamin D to prevent osteoporosis
1:23  Analysis of 29 studies
2:33  Insight into appropriate dose
3:28  Over age 50 lose calcium
4:10  Obesity surgery outcomes
5:16  9000 people underwent surgery
6:19  Surgery reserved for morbid obesity
6:36  High blood pressure in kids
7:36  Hard to standardize in kids
8:29  Lower salt, exercise, lose weight
9:04  Sexuality in older adults
10:12 Women lose intimate partners
11:02 Very few talk with physician about it
11:55 End

This week's topics include a new vaccine for multiple sclerosis, no benefit seen with antioxidants and heart disease in women, diet can help prevent colon cancer return, and the HPV vaccine can't help those already infected.

Program notes:

0:22  Diet and colon cancer recurrence
1:12  Diet reduces recurrence
2:22  Other factors may help
3:19  Antioxidants and cardiovascular disease
4:12  Vitamin C doesn't help
5:24  Don't take supplements to reduce cardiovascular disease
6:05  Multiple sclerosis vaccine
7:21  Minimize immune response
8:19  Number of inflammatory cells reduced
9:20  Vaccine very specific
9:52  HPV vaccine use
10:50 Can't clear existing HPV infection
12:21 End

This week's topics include atrial fibrillation detection and treatment, osteoporosis in men, and non-drug strategies for flu containment.

Program notes:

0:30  1918 flu lessons
1:20  No delay did better
2:20  Can't rely on antivirals
3:16  Close schools, cancel gatherings
4:45  Osteoporosis in men
5:30  DEXA scan
6:23  Bisphosphonate use
7:13  Atrial fibrillation
8:11  Warfarin does not increase bleeding
9:19  Not enough people using blood thinners
9:55  Detection of atrial fibrillation
10:45 Patients themselves can detect
11:42 End

This week's topics include genome wide analysis for ALS, MS, and coronary artery disease, transplanting protected insulin secreting cells, and the dangers of not taking prescription drugs correctly.

Program notes:

0:22 Genome wide analysis
1:20 Specific abnormal genes in ALS
2:20 Certain genes more likely to occur
3:12 MS associated with immune system genes
4:15 Coronary artery disease genes
5:14 Validated in 2 populations
6:17 Islet cell magnetocapsules
7:45 Compliance with medications poor
8:48 What to do about poor compliance
9:17 High blood pressure medications
10:15 Even transplant recipients may not take meds
11:10 Talk with physician regarding meds
12:00 Complete list of medications and supplements
12:17 End

This week's topics include the negative effects of salt on high blood pressure, the benefits of the herb echinacea in preventing or shortening the duration of colds, the impact of diet soda on development of the metabolic syndrome, and choosing a surgeon with experience in prostate cancer.

Program notes:

0:30  Sodas related to development of metabolic syndrome
1:30  Things in diet soda?
2:30  Other negative side effects of sodas
3:27  Decrease soda consumption
3:50  Salt and hypertension
4:56  Relabel to indicate salt content
5:45  Stroke, heart attack, kidney disease
6:40  Salt causes fluid retention
7:20  Reducing or preventing colds
8:27  Echinacea in over 800 products
9:38  Two types may help
10:10 Number of times a surgeon operates
11:10 Rate of recurrence lower with experienced surgeon
12:04 Find a surgeon with lots of experience
12:31 End

This week's topics include the risk of imported foods, the predictive value of a non-fasting test for triglycerides, cancer risk posed by CT scans of the heart, and a new test for metastatic breast cancer approved by the FDA.

Program notes:

0:28  Imported food risk
1:25  A lot of focus on China
2:25  DDT contamination
3:15  If we can tell where it comes from
3:50  Blood test for triglycerides
4:47  Non-fasting measurement better
5:00  Remnant particles
6:28  CT angiography
7:19  Single CT scan can increase cancer risk
8:23  Risk greater depending on facility
9:12  FDA approves test for metastatic breast cancer
10:16  Frozen section analysis may result in second operation
11:10  Tests need to be accurate and timely
12:07  Remove variability and perhaps increase sensitivity
12:37  End

This week's topics include a look at the risk of lightning strikes, especially through iPods, the success of folic acid supplementation in reducing spina bifida, ablation therapy for atrial fibrillation, and recurrent urinary tract infections in kids

Program notes:

0:30  Case report on lightning strike through iPod
1:20  1 in 10 die
2:20  Hit before or after rain
3:22  No access to building?
4:35  Supplementation with folic acid
5:35  Fairly uncommon
6:45  Elderly may not benefit
7:30  Atrial fibrillation
8:27  Treatment is expensive
9:37  Atrial fibrillation symptoms
10:18 Urinary tract infections
11:39 Don't need antibiotics
12:07  End

This week's topics take a closer look at avoiding the hazards of travel and summer.  Its under podsummer.mp3, but here it is.

Program notes:

0:20  Summer travel tips
0:47  Infections on planes
1:18  Good handwashing
2:20  National issue
3:16  Prevent diarrhea
4:25  Treat appropriately
4:54  Insect repellant and DEET
5:50  Sunscreens
6:50  Reapplication important
7:36  SPF 15 or higher
7:49  Heat stroke and heat exhaustion
8:13  Heat stroke more severe
9:10  Heat exhaustion
9:30 Increased fluid intake
10:21  Prevention best
10:59  Cars dangerous

This week's topics include a closer look at diabetes and its impact on our healthcare system, including a discussion of several recent studies.

Program notes:

  0:10  Diabetes
  0:23  Recent data on cost of diabetes
  1:10  Two types of diabetes
  2:23  Mortality related to diabetes and prediabetes
  3:44  Impaired glucose tolerance
  4:03  How long does condition exist?
  6:40  Aggressive treatment needed
  7:42  All cause mortality
  8:05  Women die more often
  9:08  Maybe women aren't as aggressively treated
  9:53  Rosaglitazone use
10:49  Medication review

This week's topics include avoiding too many tests that require radiation, the benefits of a whole grain diet, asthma and antibiotic use in early life, and estrogen use to reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Program notes:

0:20  Radiationi using tests
1:05  Newer tests use increased radiation
2:10  Indicated tests only
3:02  Prevent secondary tests
3:56  Whole grain benefits
5:00 4 or more per week
6:02  Have antioxidants
6:46  Asthma and antibiotic use
7:56  Disrupts normal flora
8:50  Narrow spectrum better
9:33  Estrogen use and heart disease
10:55 Coronary artery calcification
11:45  Subset of women helped
12:22  Controversial use
12:51  End

This week's topics include the looming burden of Alzheimer's disease, the relationship between one type of prostate cancer treatment and heart attack, low red blood cells and surgery risk, and the connection between heart disease and kidney disease.

Program notes:

0:21 New data show huge increase in Alzheimer's
1:00 Burden of care
1:30 Healthy diet, modest alcohol
2:15 Can't tell progression
3:00 Tax credits for care
3:50 Prostate cancer treatment and heart attack
4:48 Small numbers studied before
5:45 Screen men for heart disease
6:25 Hematocrit and surgery risk
7:20 Huge number of people studied
8:00 Treat anemia prior to surgery?
8:53 Kidney disease and heart disease
9:28 Same risk factors?
10:00 Heart disease should prompt kidney evaluation
11:06 End

This week's topics include 'heeling,' a type of sneaker associated with injury, avoiding Chinese toothpaste, lack of benefit and perhaps harm seen with folate supplements, and heart disease death decline explained.

Program notes:

0:20  Kid's sneakers
0:50  Heeling
1:30  First time use injury
2:15  Wear protective gear
3:00  Vigilance if used outside
4:00  Chinese toothpaste
4:30  Diethylene glycol
5:15  Manufacturing lax
6:00  Avoid Chinese health products
6:45  Good nutrition and avoiding cancer
7:35  Folate increased polyps
8:21  Many people use supplements
8:47  Decline in heart disease deaths
9:10  Risk factor decline
9:40  About half of reduction
10:19 Diabetes and obesity up
10:37 Open artery in heart attack
11:10 By-pass surgery and angioplasty
11:50 Can do better
12:05 End

In this week's podcast, soy nuts help reduce blood pressure, calcium and vitamin D appear to reduce breast cancer risk in some women, new genes found associated with breast cancer, surgery helps for some back conditions but not others, and medicines used in MRI may pose a health risk.

Program notes:

0:30  Soy nuts and high blood pressure
1:00  Ate half a cup a day
2:00  Diet and breast cancer
2:30  Premenopausal women and calcium and vitamin D intake
3:30  1000 women developed breast cancer
3:40  Genetic breast cancer risk
4:30  Human Genome Project benefit
5:20  Increase surveillance
5:55  Surgery for back problems
6:55  Spinal fusion
7:49  Herniated disks and conservative therapy
8:50  Spondylolisthesis
9:49  Back surgery and second opinion
10:30  MRI contrast agent risk
11:15  MRI used more often
11:58  Severe condition
12:26  Know your kidney function
12:50  End

This week's podcast includes coverage of FDA's warning on the diabetes drug rosaglitazone, advanced life support training for emergency responders, surgery for urinary incontinence, and alcohol intake and progression to Alzheimer's disease.

 Here are the show notes:

 0:20  Avandia/rosaglitazone warning
 1:00  Soft warning from FDA
 1:30  Didn't use primary data
 2:28  Incidence of heart attack low
 3:28  Life support and respiratory distress
 4:30  Intubation and IV placement
 5:20  Surgical management of urinary incontinence
 6:15  Interferes with lifestyle of women
 6:50  Sling vs. suspension surgery
 7:30  Complications with sling
 7:50  A drink a day keeps Alzheimer's away
 8:50  Decreased by 85%
 9:50  Lots of possible explanations
10:30 End

This week's podcast topics include: proton pump inhibitors, H2 blockers, minerals and their role, fiber and magnesium in type II diabetes, as well as topics related to Asthma.

Here are the show notes:

  0:20    Proton pump inhibitors
  0:50    Use associated with pneumonia
  1:35    Names of brands
  2:06    H2 blockers
  2:50    How do they work?
  3:30    Take medication with physician direction
  3:50    Fiber and magnesium in type II diabetes
  5:00    Minerals and their role
  5:30    Adult asthma
  6:38    Mild asthma management
  7:44    As needed dose effective
  8:25    Asthma incidence increasing
  9:11    Overweight women and exercise
12:10    End

This week's topics include: optimal dose of aspirin, more news on stents, HPV infection and mouth cancer and drug rebates from doctors.

This week's topics include: A novel medication for the chest pain known as angina, AIDS medications may harm heart, treating depression in bipolar disorder may not help, and new bacteria emerge when vaccine-covered strains decline.

This week's topics include: the dangers of lawn mowers to children and adolescents from Johns Hopkins, a review of strategies to manage jet lag from The Lancet, use of stem cells to treat type I diabetes from JAMA, and use of a medication already approved for other conditions in type II diabetes from NEJM.

This week's podcast topics include:  development of drug resistant strains of influenza (JAMA), computer assisted mammography (NEJM), treatment of migraine (JAMA) and autism and autism spectrum disorders (Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine).

This week's podcast topics include: the FDA's warnings on sleep disorder medications, CPR with just chest compressions helpful, many at risk for atherothrombosis, and Chinese food isn't healthy.

This week's podcast topics include: Varicella vaccination in children, financial barriers to health care among people with insurance, mortality following a heart attack on weekdays vs. weekends, high deductible, lower ER use.

This week's topics include: on-pump versus on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery, new American Heart Association guidelines for women, counterfeit medications cause real harm, and direct to consumer advertising by pharma.

Are physicians becoming too paternal? Assessing heart disease in women. A new drug for treating psoriasis, and over the counter sale of a weight loss medicine.

This week's topics include: the use of topical anaesthetic creams and their potential for adverse everts, federal government's flu pandemic plans, new genetic test for predicting relapse in women with breast cancer, and control of methicillin resistant staph aureus using simple testing and prevention strategies.