Medical News Podcast

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 preventive care.

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 most consistent neuroprotective effects in recent studies. Lastly, breast cancer mortality was 47% higher among Black women living in disadvantaged neighborhoods, underscoring the impact of social determinants on survival.

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-conforming contraceptive option—especially for younger women deterred by current IUDs. As the product moves through clinical trials, the team is focused on both efficacy and ease of use, with hopes to expand into treating other uterine conditions in the future.

A large study in Wales found that older adults who received the shingles vaccine had a 20% lower risk of developing dementia over seven years, with the strongest effect seen in women. U.S. measles cases have surged past 500, driven largely by outbreaks in West Texas and linked to international travel, underscoring critical gaps in vaccination coverage. Meanwhile, new research shows that even the wealthiest Americans have shorter life expectancies than their European peers, pointing to systemic health disadvantages in the U.S.

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 education on the importance of pasteurization. New research links red meat allergy (alpha-gal syndrome) to bites from deer ticks and western black-legged ticks, expanding the geographic risk area and emphasizing the need for clinicians to consider this diagnosis in patients with unexplained...

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 genetic contributors to their development.

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 testing, and the evolving role of liquid biopsy compared to traditional tissue biopsy.

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