A new preclinical study investigated whether Roseburia hominis, a gut microbe often depleted in individuals with obesity, could play a direct role in regulating metabolism. Learn more as Dr. Hallie Blevins explores these findings and their potential implications for future treatment of obesity and related metabolic disorders in this AudioAbstract.
What does it really mean to humanize medicine? In this candid conversation, Ryan Quigley and Dr. Michael Greenberg explore how clinicians can revive empathy, trust, and emotional connection in patient care, from intentional language shifts to brief yet meaningful moments of authentic connection. Dr. Greenberg is a dermatologist at the Illinois Dermatology Institute.
Timely surgical intervention is critical for reducing mortality and complications in high-risk hip fracture patients. However, anticoagulation therapy often presents barriers to prompt care, requiring careful coordination and clinical judgment. Joining Dr. Steve Jackson to discuss anticoagulant reversal strategies and multidisciplinary approaches for managing high-risk fracture patients are Drs. Anna Miller and Michael Weaver. Dr. Miller is a Professor of Orthopedics and the Chair of the Department of Orthopedics at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth in Lebanon, New Hampshire. Dr. Weaver is an Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Harvard Medical School, as well as the Chief of Orthopedic Trauma and Distinguished Chair in Orthopedic Surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
What if a rare, progressive neuromuscular disease like thymidine kinase 2 deficiency (TK2d) could not only be stabilized, but partially reversed? Based on findings from a pooled analysis of pediatric patients, pyrimidine nucleoside or nucleotide therapy reduced mortality risk up to 95%, with nearly 75% of patients regaining at least one motor milestone. Joining Dr. Charles Turck to explore these survival and functional outcomes is Dr. Caterina Garone, Associate Professor of Medical Genetics in the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences at the Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna in Italy.
From minimizing wrong-drug and dosing errors to easing cognitive burden in the OR, ready-to-administer (RTA) medications are enhancing both safety and efficiency in anesthesiology and perioperative care. Join Dr. Charles Turck and Dr. John Hertig as they explore key medication safety challenges, compare FDA-approved versus 503B compounded products, and share strategies for effectively integrating RTA medications into clinical workflows. Dr. Hertig is a member of both the Board of Directors for the Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee.
How fast does thymidine kinase 2 deficiency (TK2d) progress without intervention? That’s the question explored by the largest dataset to date on untreated pediatric-onset TK2d, and the results reveal a median survival of just 2.6 years from symptom onset. Additionally, more than 80% lost at least one motor milestone, and many experienced escalating care needs, including ventilatory and feeding tube support. Here with Dr. Charles Turck to discuss the findings that highlight the urgent need for earlier diagnosis and intervention is Dr. Cristina Dominguez-Gonzalez, a physician in the Department of Neurology at the University Hospital 12 de Octubre in Madrid.
Caring for individuals with thymidine kinase 2 (TK2) deficiency can place extraordinary demands on families, yet caregiver experiences are often overlooked in clinical care. To shed light on this burden, a mixed-methods study explored the physical, emotional, and financial impacts on caregivers. Here with Dr. Charles Turck to share the findings and how we can better support these families is Dr. Philip Yeske, the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation Science and Alliance Officer.
Emerging research suggests that the effects of obesity extend beyond metabolism, reaching the brain in ways that may influence the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Tune in as Dr. Stephen Wong discusses how fat-derived vesicles act as molecular messengers, potentially linking systemic inflammation and lipid imbalance to neurodegenerative changes. Dr. Wong is the John S. Dunn Presidential Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Engineering at Houston Methodist Hospital and Associate Director at Houston Methodist Cancer Center. He’s also a Professor of Radiology, Neurosciences, Pathology, and Laboratory Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine.
A cross-sectional study in Frontiers in Endocrinology assessed the triglyceride–glucose (TyG) index as a potential screening marker for prediabetes in children and adolescents with obesity. Hear from ReachMD's Ryan Quigley as he discusses the findings from this research and explores how the TyG index could provide an accessible tool for early risk stratification.
Emerging data reveal a troubling trend: individuals with higher body mass index are significantly less likely to receive routine cancer screenings, raising urgent concerns about care equity. Join Dr. Vance Albaugh, Assistant Professor of Metabolic Surgery at Pennington Biomedical Research Center and Louisiana State University, as he dives into the findings from this analysis.
How often are ICU patients conscious during intubation despite paralysis? Hear from Dr. Yana Zemkova as she discusses new findings on the incidence of awareness with paralysis and the urgent need for improved monitoring in critical care. Dr. Zemkova is Clinical Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine specializing in Pulmonary, Critical Care and Occupational Medicine at the University of Iowa, and she spoke about this topic at the 2025 CHEST Annual Meeting.
A large retrospective study across 38 endocrinology clinics in Turkey showed that liraglutide led to meaningful weight loss and metabolic improvements—even at slightly reduced doses. Hear from ReachMD's Ryan Quigley as he reviews recent real-world data on this GLP-1 receptor agonist.
Obesity impacts how the lungs function in a variety of ways, and understanding these impacts is essential for interpreting pulmonary function tests, identifying restrictive or obstructive patterns, and managing ventilation. Learn more with Dr. Sujith Cherian, who's an Associate Professor in the Divisions of Critical Care, Pulmonary, and Sleep Medicine at University of Texas Health-McGovern Medical School and the Director of Interventional Pulmonology and Pleural Diseases at Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital in Houston. He also spoke about this topic at the 2025 CHEST Annual Meeting.
Cytology via thoracentesis remains the first-line approach for diagnosing malignant pleural effusion (MPE), yet its sensitivity is limited. leaving many patients undiagnosed or delayed in treatment. In this expert-led discussion, Dr. David Feller-Kopman explores the limitations of current diagnostic methods and the evolving role of biomarkers in enhancing both diagnostic accuracy and prognostic insight. Dr. Feller-Kopman is a Professor of Medicine at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and the Chief of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, and he discussed this topic at the 2025 CHEST Annual Meeting.
Discussing weight with pediatric patients and families is a nuanced challenge shaped by stigma, culture, and access—but it’s also a vital opportunity for early intervention. Dr. Jaime Moore shares how to build confidence, counter bias, and leverage practical tools and partnerships that support long-term, personalized care. Dr. Moore is an Assistant Professor of Pediatric Nutrition at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine and part of the Children’s Hospital Colorado Lifestyle Medicine Program. She also spoke about this topic at the 2025 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference and Exhibition.
About 40 percent of patients with metastatic HR+/HER2- breast cancer have an activating mutation in the PIK3CA gene,1,2 which plays a key role not only in tumor growth, but also in driving resistance to endocrine therapy.3-5 And while there are several FDA-approved PI3K pathway-targeted agents for patients with PIK3CA tumor mutations,6-8 they come with challenges, like modest efficacy and on-pathway effects.9-12 Given this unmet need, the ReDiscover trial evaluated the investigational agent RLY-2608 in combination with fulvestrant in in patients with PIK3CA-mutated HR+/HER2- aBC previously treated with a CDK4/6 inhibitor.13 Joining Dr. Charles Turck to share updated safety and efficacy data from the trial is Dr. Sarah Sammons, a Senior Physician at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston.
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In a 2025 study investigating salivary metabolites as potential biomarkers in cystic fibrosis, researchers identified distinct metabolic patterns linked with key complications as well as correlations with lung function. In this AudioAbstract, Ryan Quigley discusses how a simple saliva sample could provide clinicians with an accessible, non-invasive tool to stratify patients, monitor therapies, and advance personalized care in cystic fibrosis. This topic was also discussed at the 2025 CHEST Annual Meeting.
Recognizing how inequities can significantly impact pediatric care outcomes is essential to improving access, trust, and long-term health. Dr. Shelina Ramnarine is joined by Dr. Yolanda Evans to discuss actionable strategies that can help us deliver more inclusive care, from social determinant screeners to equity-focused frameworks. Dr. Evans is a board-certified pediatrician and adolescent medicine specialist practicing in Seattle, Washington, and she spoke about this topic at the 2025 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition.
Early genetic evaluation plays a vital role in identifying potential causes of neurodevelopmental disorders and guiding families on next steps, expectations, and recurrence risks. Dr. Jennifer Kalish joins us to share practical insights for recognizing when to initiate testing, selecting the right tests, and addressing barriers such as insurance and interpretation. Dr. Kalish is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and the Director of the Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome Program at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She also spoke about this topic at the 2025 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference and Exhibition.
Childhood trauma can profoundly alter brain and behavioral development, making it essential to recognize how trauma differs from other diagnoses like ADHD. Ryan Quigley sits down with Drs. Heather Forkey and Wynne Morgan, who presented on this topic at the 2025 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition, to better understand how to identify trauma responses, avoid misdiagnosis, and implement supportive treatment strategies that prioritize safety, routine, and caregiver connection. Dr. Forkey is a Professor of Pediatrics and Vice Chair of Pediatrics and Dr. Morgan is an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester, Massachusetts.