Steministas

When you hear the word ultrasound, you probably think of pregnancies, but did you know that ultrasounds can have other uses? In this episode, we discuss how researchers want to use focused ultrasound to treat Alzheimer's disease. 
 
Sources
https://www.alzheimers.net/new-ultrasound-therapy-treat-dementia/
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/12/191203082912.htm
BBB: https://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/bbb.html
 Ultrasound: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/245491.php
AD: https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-alzheimers
Focused ultrasound clinical trial: https://www.medpagetoday.com/neurology/alzheimersdisease/64114
FU + AD: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-04529-6.pdf
Phase II clinical trial: https://ichgcp.net/clinical-trials-registry/NCT03739905
Dr. Lipsman explaining the technique and applications: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfuIzJS5Yqw

Drug discovery is a complicated and expensive process that can take years for a drug to finally come to market. In this week's podcast we walk you through the process of drug discovery looking through the lens of cystic fibrosis. We explain the many steps including screens for different drug compounds, the different phases of testing and the vast regulations that drugs in the US are under to protect people! Finally, we link this back to COVID-19 and some of the drugs that are currently being tested to see if they help treat COVID-19 symptoms. 
// SOURCES:
Sources
Cystic Fibrosis: https://www.cff.org/a
Cystic Fibrosis: https://www.cff.org/Research/About-Our-Research/Research-Milestones/
Cystic Fibrosis: https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/CFTR#:~:text=Normal%20Function,%2C%20tears%2C%20and%20digestive%20enzymes.
Ivacaftor discovery: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3770629/pdf/dddt-7-929.pdf
Original Ivacaftor screen: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16443646/
Ivacaftor company: https://investors.vrtx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/fda-approves-kalydecotm-ivacaftor-first-medicine-treat
Ivacaftor clinical trials: https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/projects/ivacaftor-treatment-for-cystic-fibrosis/
Follow-up characterization: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2773991/
Drug discovery process: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK22930/
Drug discovery process http://phrma-docs.phrma.org/sites/default/files/pdf/rd_brochure_022307.pdf
Drug discovery process: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/development-approval-process-drugs
Drug failure/approval: https://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2019/05/09/the-latest-on-drug-failure-and-approval-rates
COVID-19 Treatments: https://www.covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov/antiviral-therapy/chloroquine-or-hydroxychloroquine/
COVID-19 Treatments: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-issues-emergency-use-authorization-potential-covid-19-treatment
Right to Try: https://www.fda.gov/patients/learn-about-expanded-access-and-other-treatment-options/right-try
Hydroxychloroquine shortage: https://www.arthritis.org/drug-guide/medication-topics/plaquenil-shortage
Hydroxychloroquine shortage: https://www.lupus.org/news/fda-recognizes-hydroxychloroquine-and-chloroquine-shortages

Science is a complicated process and it's especially confusing in terms of COVID-19 and the ever-changing regulations in regards to masks and what scientists are learning. In this podcast we go through the scientific process starting with generating hypotheses all the way to data analysis and communicating your science. We also try to explain the scientific process in regards to COVID-19 and shed some light on why regulations change so quickly! 
SOURCES: 
Different recommendations of masks article: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/04/10/829890635/why-there-so-many-different-guidelines-for-face-masks-for-the-public
WHO masks: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/when-and-how-to-use-masks
WHO vs CDC masks: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/cdc-offer-conflicting-advice-masks-expert-tells-us/story?id=70958380
Updated WHO mask policy: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-52945210

Vitamins have gone from unknown to a billion dollar industry within a century! In the previous episode we covered the basics of what vitamins are and how they were discovered. During this episode, we'll focus on how vitamins and supplements, the broader class of dietary additives, are marketed, evaluated, and regulated. It may shock you to learn that supplements are not routinely evaluated by the FDA! That's right, being in pill form does not make supplements equal to the level of scrutiny that we place on medicine and drugs in this country. If you use/need supplements, please check out our sources and listen for some strategies that you can use to research reliable sources of supplements!
Sources:
Vitamania book: https://www.amazon.com/Vitamania-Vitamins-Revolutionized-Think-About/dp/0143108158
Vitamin A toxicity: https://www.healthline.com/health/hypervitaminosis-a#causes
History of vitamin advertising: https://www.sciencehistory.org/distillations/vitamins-come-to-dinner
FDA regulation of vitamins: https://www.nytimes.com/1993/07/30/us/diet-supplements-attacked-by-fda.html
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/06/supplements-make-tobacco-look-easy/488798/
NIH Dietary supplements: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/DietarySupplements-HealthProfessional/
Vitamin C commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_F_ZZvdHqPM
EMS: https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/eosinophilia-myalgia-syndrome/
St. John’s-Wort drug interactions: https://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/st-john-s-wort.html
Plant vs animal vitamins:
https://www.kevinstock.io/health/vitamins-and-minerals-plants-vs-animals/
Harvard – best foods for certain vitamins: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-best-foods-for-vitamins-and-minerals
Identifying safe vitamins: https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/02/12/107141/https://www.consumerreports.org/supplements/how-to-choose-supplements-wisely/USP:https://www.quality-supplements.org/verified-products/verified-products-listings#list3
NSF: https://www.nsf.org/about-nsf/
ConsumerLab: https://www.consumerlab.com/
NatureMade: http://www.naturemade.com/about-nature-made/science-based
Ritual website: https://ritual.com/products/essential-for-women-multivitamin
Ritual clinical trial:https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03828097?term=Multivitamin%2C+Auburn+University&draw=2&rank=1
Ritual partnership with Auburn university: http://www.education.auburn.edu/news/roberts-masl-lab-complete-large-scale-clinical-trial-in-partnership-with-ritual/

Vitamins are everywhere in the news and are often marketed as having superpowers. This week we're covering all the basics behind Vitamins: what they are, how they work, their importance, and recommended vitamin levels. This is a two part podcast so stay tuned for the next podcast where we discuss how vitamins became vitamania and how they're regulated.
// SOURCES 
Vitamania book: https://www.amazon.com/Vitamania-Vitamins-Revolutionized-Think-About/dp/0143108158
Plant vs animal vitamins:
https://www.kevinstock.io/health/vitamins-and-minerals-plants-vs-animals/
Vitamins and what they do: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/listing_of_vitamins
Elmer McColum: https://onwisconsin.uwalumni.com/features/the-birth-of-vitamin-a/
Vitamin D levels: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/vitamin-d-whats-right-level-2016121910893
Synthetic vs natural vitamins: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/synthetic-vs-natural-nutrients#section1
Fortification/enrichment: https://www.supermarketguru.com/articles/fortification-vs-enriched-know-your-food/
Calcium/Vitamin D: 
https://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/osteoporosis/role-calcium-vitamin-d-bone-health

During these unprecedented times, many people have reported having strange dreams - and others just more dreams! What is causing this shift in our dreaming patterns? In this episode, we talk about our limited understanding of dreams & sleep, and we discuss why experts believe this change is happening.
Sources:
Dream Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/B8S75CN
Dr. Barrett’s website: http://www.deirdrebarrett.com/
Sleep & Coronavirus:
http://science.unctv.org/content/blog/dreams
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/04/coronavirus-pandemic-is-giving-people-vivid-unusual-dreams-here-is-why/
https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2020-04-07/coronavirus-quarantine-dreams (Interview with HMS sleep researcher)
Sleep cycles: https://www.sleep.org/articles/what-happens-during-sleep/
Italian earthquake: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0055936

The immune system has become a hot topic recently with COVID-19's spread but did you know that scientists can manipulate the immune system to fight cancer? In this episode we go over the basics of the immune system, discuss how cancer can hijack the immune system and introduce you to CAR-T therapy! 
// SOURCES 
Types of T-cells: https://www.celiackidsconnection.org/2018/05/06/what-are-the-different-types-of-t-cells/
Great summary of the nature article: https://www.sciencealert.com/new-t-cell-therapy-kills-most-human-cancer-types-and-might-work-across-individuals
Hallmarks of cancer: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/the-hallmarks-of-cancer-9-reprogramming-energy-metabolism/
Journal article on glycolysis and immune system: https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/pdf/S1550-4131(18)30178-5.pdf
Personalis article: https://www.personalis.com/understanding-role-human-leukocyte-antigen-cancer-immunotherapy/
What is CAR-T therapy: https://www.cartcellscience.com/car-t-cell-therapy-frequently-asked-questions/
Lymphoma CAR-T: https://www.cell.com/molecular-therapy-family/molecular-therapy/fulltext/S1525-0016(17)30058-8?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS1525001617300588%3Fshowall%3Dtrue#secsectitle0020

With warmer weather rolling in, many of you are probably dreaming of a nice cold ice cream cone, but not everyone can enjoy this tasty treat! In this episode, we discuss lactose intolerance - we've all heard of the unfortunate symptoms, but what are the biological and genetic causes behind this phenomenon?
Sources: 
Lactose intolerance facts: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/lactose-intolerance
https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/lactose-intolerance#genes
https://www.theweek.co.uk/64017/lactose-intolerant-why-most-of-us-can-t-digest-milk
Lactose genetics: http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/digestion/smallgut/lactose_intol.html

Allergy season is in full swing! Cars are covered in pollen, sneezes abound, and Claritin is being swiped off the shelves faster than toilet paper. 
In this video we discuss the difference between allergies and food intolerances, the role of our immune system in allergies, different types of allergy tests, and hypotheses as to why people have more allergies now than they did 100 years ago!
 
// SOURCES 
Adaptive vs innate immunity: http://www.biology.arizona.edu/immunology/tutorials/immunology/page3.html
Allergy testing info: 
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/3-reasons-why-home-allergy-tests-probably-wont-help-you/
Different kind of allergy tests review: 
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1258/acb.2011.011011
Genetic tests and allergies: 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5407010/
Importance of not putting children on diets based off of allergy tests:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/jun/04/bogus-allergy-tests-causing-real-harm-say-experts
Blood testing for allergies: 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3314037/pdf/1840666.pdf
Making sense of allergies PDF: 
https://senseaboutscience.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Making-Sense-of-Allergies-1.pdf
Frequent allergies: 
(https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/allergies-more-frequent_us_561b1687e4b0e66ad4c85844)
Overactive immune system: https://www.embriahealth.com/resources/healthlifestylereports
Germany Environmental factors: 
https://www.allergicliving.com/2010/11/20/allergies-why-so-many-now/
Epigenetics and allergies: 
https://www.npr.org/2013/04/15/177319365/the-doctor-trying-to-solve-the-mystery-of-food-allergies

As part of California's Proposition 65 law, the state must maintain a list of chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. California is considering adding acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol to this list of hazardous chemicals. In this episode, we first explain what acetaminophen is and what it is used for. Then, we summarize the evidence of why some scientists think it may cause cancer and discuss whether these concerns are valid based on the research.
Sources: 
https://reason.com/2020/01/22/acetaminophen-carcinogen-california-prop-65/
*Acetaminophen report: https://oehha.ca.gov/media/downloads/crnr/acetaminophenhid092019.pdf
Headaches and prostaglandins: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/5005-migraine-headaches
Inflammation: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279298/
NSAIDS: https://www.arthritis.org/drug-guide/nsaids/nsaids
Acetaminophen: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/acetaminophen-avoiding-liver-injury
Prop 65: https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65