MedEvidence Articles

On this week's episode, we explore the world of natriuretic peptides; special signal molecules that help reduce the effects of heart failure. We look at what these peptides are, how they work, and how they are being used in medicine to help those with chronic heart failure.

Acronyms in this article:

Abbreviation | Meaning | Explanation
NP | Natriuretic peptides | A class of signaling molecules found in the blood
Na | Sodium (from natrium) | An key element; part of dietary salt
ANP | Atrial natriuretic peptide | A...

On this week's episode, we explore the history of one of the most ubiquitous manufacturing tools for producing medicine in living cells: Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. We look at the history, progress, and technical benefits of using CHO cells compared with other cells like bacteria or yeast.

References:

Life Sciences Foundation. Vital tools A brief history of CHO cells. LSF Magazine. 2015 Winter.

Wechsler, A. Brant Lake’s gerbil whisperer. Adirondack Life. 2023, Jun. https://www.adirondacklife.com/2013/08/12/from-the-archives-the-gerbil-genius-of-brant-lake/

Berg JM, Tymoczko JL, Stryer L. Biochemistry [7th Edition]. [New Yo...

In this week's episode we explore the links between anxiety, Alzheimer's, and agitation. We look at how anxiety works, how agitation works, and how Alzheimer's may increase these two. We also jump into some of the treatment options available to lower agitation for those with Alzheimer's disease.

References:

In this week's episode, we look into the world of "grey market" peptides. We explore what peptides are, what the grey market is, and if these unsanctioned "medications" are safe for human use.

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In this week's episode, we review a recently released, randomized research paper that compared three different diets. The study looked at the Mediterranean diet, a low-fat plant-forward diet, and very-low-carb ketogenic diet to discover the effects of these diets on heart health after participants lost 10% of their body weight. We look at the study, the diets, and why participants on the ketogenic diet had better indicators of heart health after weight loss.

References:

Petersen MC, Smith GI, Farabi SS, Palacios HH, Shankaran M, Hellerstein MK, Patterson BW, Klein S. Effect of diet...

In this week's episode, we take a peek into the murky, hazy world of brain fog. This condition/syndrome/symptom is vague and nonspecific, and occurs alongside a wide variety of otherwise unrelated medical problems, which makes it hard to categorize. We look at what brain fog is, what might be going on inside the skull, and possible treatments.

References:

Denno P, Hampshire A. Defining Brain Fog-A Transdiagnostic Narrative Review. European Psychiatry. 2025 Apr;68(S1):S602-3. https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2025.1226

Denno P, Zhao S, Husain M, Hampshire A. Defining brain fog across...

In this week's episode, written by guest writer Daniel Benton, we explore the Hawthorne Effect. This the phenomenon that people tend to do better in research studies just by being observed. We look into what this effect is, how it works, and how it makes clinical research trials beneficial to every participants simply by being observed.

References:

Sommer R. The Hawthorne dogma. Psychological Bulletin [Internet]. 1968 Dec 1 [cited 2026 July 21];70(6, Pt.1):592–5. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232457651_the_hawthorne_dogma

Mayo E. The Human Problems of an Industrial Civilization. Nature. 1933 Aug;134(3380):201–1. 

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In this week's episode, we look at the prevalence, pathophysiology, and progress towards a solution to urinary incontinence. We review what urinary incontinence is, look at the different types of incontinence, and explore what happens in the body that makes it tough to prevent leakage. Then we finish by looking at treatment options for those who suffer with the condition.

References:

Aoki Y, Brown HW, Brubaker L, Cornu JN, Daly JO, Cartwright R. Urinary incontinence in women. Nature reviews Disease primers. 2017 Jul 6;3(1):17042. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrdp.2017.42

Marieb EN, Hoehn K...

In this week's episode, we explore the world of hypogonadism, which typically manifests as low testosterone. We look at what testosterone is, the role it plays in the body, and what happens when testosterone is low. We then explore some common reasons for low testosterone and treatments that are available, as well as what's coming on the horizon.

References:

Anawalt BD, O’Connor KM, Grossmann M. Adult male hypogonadism: a review. JAMA. 2026 Jun 23;335(24):2146-59. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2026.8526

Carman W. The prevalence, incidence, and treatment rates of hypogonadism in men ac...

In this week's episode, we explore pancreatic cancer. This dangerous form of cancer has many things working against it: the pancreas is very near vital blood vessels, symptoms are vague, and there is no screening option available. As a result, most tumors aren't detected until surgical removal isn't an option, which leads to a high mortality rate. Listen to learn more about this devastating disease.

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In this week's episode, we explore the difference between vaccines that are effective for live and those that must be renewed yearly. The difference is viruses that mutate frequently, like the flu, and those that don't, like measles. We explore the mechanism that makes some viruses better at evading our immune system and the  tradeoff between high infection rate and high infection efficacy.

References:

In this week's episode, we explore a rare genetic disorder that results in excessive urination. X-Linked Congenital Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus (NDI) is a disease where sufferers produce excessive amounts of urine, causing dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and other issues. We explore what causes this disease, why it results in so much extra urine production, and what treatments are available and coming down the pipeline.

References:

In this week's episode, written by guest author Daniel Benton, we examine the link between obesity and diabetes. We look at the underlying biological mechanisms that link the two conditions, why each can exacerbate the other, and what medications are available and on the horizon to help mange the linked conditions.

References:

In this week's episode, we explore what might be the oldest exercise: walking. We look at the effectiveness of walking in preventing heart disease and stroke, diabetes, and other conditions, explore why it's so effective, and look at how to get the most out of your walking routine; including when to walk and if walking faster really makes a difference.

References:

In this week's episode, we examine a little-known benefit of being in weight loss trials: the placebo effect. We look at data showing that most people lose weight in weight loss trials, even those who take no active medication, and explore how being on a placebo can improve markers of health. This helps underscore the importance of staying in clinical trials all the way to the end.

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On this week's episode, we look at a disease commonly confused for normal "picky eating," Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. This disorder, which is driven by fear, disgust, sensory sensitivity, and/or a lack of appetite, leads to malnutrition and vitamin deficiency - especially in children. We look at what this disorder is and isn't, variants, some of the possible underlying causes, complications, and available therapies.

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On this week's episode, we explore the concept to "Food Noise." Food noise is excessive, intrusive, constant thoughts about food that disrupt social, mental, and physical life - including by eating excessive calories.

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In this episode, we’re talking about cochlear synaptopathy, also known as “hidden hearing loss,” a lesser-known form of hearing damage that can make understanding speech difficult even when standard hearing tests appear normal. 

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In this week's episode, we take a first look at early-stage clinical trials for tooth regrowth in Japan. We look at some of the key molecules involved in tooth development, and why they are suppressed after our permanent teeth come in. Finally, we explore what happens when the protein that stops tooth growth is turned off.

References

On this week's episode, we’re talking about breakthroughs in Type 1 Diabetes management.

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On this week's episode, we look into one of the key benefits of clinical trials: that they tend to isolate against confounding variables. We look at what confounding variables are and look at the long-term example of reported links between sunscreen use and increased skin cancer rates. We look at why excessive sun exposure is dangerous, how sunscreen works, why rates of skin cancer appeared to increase as sunscreen was introduced.

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In this episode, we’re talking about the FDA’s push toward real-time clinical trials, and what that could mean for the pace, quality, and oversight of bringing new treatments to patients.

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In this episode, we look at the need for cheap, accurate screening tools for common diseases. To that end, we take the example of fatty liver disease. We review the "gold standard" diagnostic tool, liver biopsy, and why that shouldn't be the first line of detection for a fatty liver. We review some standard methods of screening before diving into transient elastography, also known as FibroScan. We look at what this method is, why it may be preferable to an MRI or CT scan, and how clinical researchers use transient elastography in trials.

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In this week's episode, guest author Maya Yanchuck explores the ins and outs of PCOS. We review what the condition is, symptoms, complications, and what is happening in the body. Finally, we look at treatments, from mental health to medications.

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In this week's episode, written by guest author Christy Kestner, we explore the neuroscience of misinformation. We look inot what misinformation is, what happens inside the brain when we encounter misinformation, why misinformation can be so hard to correct, and some of the real-life consequences with misinformation - especialyl in relation to health. We close by discussing how we can combat misinformation, from correcting false ideas to protecting against inflammatory, misleading informaiton found online.

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In this week's episode, we explore the most common type of degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis. We look at the risks of getting the disease, complications and symptoms, and what can be done about it. We also look at what may be next on the horizon; clinical trials targeting degenerative joint disease in myriad ways.

References:

In this week's episode, we explore new RNA interference technology and how it is being investigated for clinical research. We look at what high blood pressure is, one of the key underlining systems involved: RAAS, and how current blood pressure medications target this system. We then look at the theory behind RNA interference medicaitons and why they are so exciting for scientists.

Refrerences:

In this week's episode, we explore some of the roles receptors play in the body. We focus on Cannabanoid 1 (CB1) receptors, which regulate appetite and energy expenditure in the body, but can have effects in the brain as well. We look at how receptors can do different things depending on location and that the challenge of medications is in targeting right receptors in the right place.

References:

In this week's episode, we talk about Sjögren's disease, a relatively common autoimmune disease. We explore the risks of contracting the disease, who gets it, symptoms, and complications. We also explore how the disease works on a mechanical level inside the body by hijacking the immune system, and finish by looking at what treatment looks like today and what's coming down the clinical trial pipeline tomorrow.

References:

In this week's episode we explore gene therapies. We look at what genes are, why mutations can be dangerous, and what methods are being investigated to solve these problems. Then we focus on familial hypercholesterolemia as an example and look at what's being researched today to solve this problem.

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In this week's episode, we explore what happens when the body can't supply enough oxygen to cells. This condition, called anemia, is caused by a drop in red blood cells or the oxygen-carrying hemoglobin inside them. We dive into some of the risks, causes, complications, and treatments associated with anemia.

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In this week's episode, we take a look at bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is what happens when out-of-control brain chemicals cut our ability to regulate our mood. The condition results in uncontrollable mood swings that can last for weeks at a time, ranging from impuslive mania to debilitating depression.

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On this week's episode we investigate the molecule amylin, a hormone that also affects the body and brain. Amylin is released in response to eating, and helps us know when we're full. We look at what amylin is, how it works, and how investigational versions of the hormone may help with obesity and weight loss.

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In this week's episode, we explore the concept of Carbs Last. This is an eating tactic where foods high in fiber and protein are eaten before sugary carbohydrates. A solid history of clinical research studies has shown that this method of eating smooths out spikes in blood glucose and is associated with better outcomes for diabetic patients. Tune in to learn about this fast, free method of helping your body process sugars!

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In this week's episode, we take a closer look at Neurotrophic Keratopathy (NK), a rare nerve condition affecting the eye. We explore how the eye works, the risks of developing NK, possible complications of the disease, and what is actually happening within the eye. We also dive into current treatments, including an new investigational class of medications being researched.

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In this week's episode, we explore hypertriglyceridemia: high triglyceride levels in the blood. We look at what triglycerides are, why they might be elevated, and some of the risks and causes of hypertriglyceridemia. We also look at the pivotal role clinical research has and continues to play in controlling this dangerous condition, and give a powerful look at what's being investigated now in the research space.

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In this week's episode, we look at the surprising link between mouthwash use and high blood pressure. We explore what mouthwash does, how the bacteria in our mouths are beneficial, and how the products of those bacteria can indirectly affect blood pressure.

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This week we explore atopic dermatitis, oftne called eczema. This skin condition is common, long lasting, and can have serious effects on mental health and relationships. We explore who gets it, how it works in the body, and what treatments are available and on the horizon.

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On this week's episode, we show an increased drive into vagus nerve stimulation clinical research. This FDA-approved therapy for major depressive disorder (MDD) is undergoing further trials in an effort to get it approved by big insurance carriers like Medicaid.

On this week's episode, we look into the calculations being made to develop new obesity treatments. We go into the history, current best practices, body changes, and some possible new solutions in the weight loss field.

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