Alzheimer's - Dementia, Author Interviews, Lipids, Vanderbilt / 18.01.2026

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72035" align="alignleft" width="200"]Leslie S. Gaynor, PhDClinical Neuropsychologist & Assistant Professor of Medicine Division of Geriatric Medicine Department of Medicine Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville, TN 37203 Dr. Gaynor[/caption] Leslie S. Gaynor, PhD Clinical Neuropsychologist & Assistant Professor of Medicine Division of Geriatric Medicine Department of Medicine Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville, TN 37203 MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: The US population is rapidly aging, and the oldest members of our population are also the most vulnerable to developing clinical dementia. We are interested in studying older adults ages 80+ who display cognitive resilience despite this increased risk of dementia and actually display exceptional memory performance compared to their same-aged, typically performing peers. These “SuperAgers,”—i.e., 80+-year-old adults with memory performance that is comparable to or surpasses that of adults 20 to 30 years their junior—may hold the key to uncovering genetic factors that predict exceptionally healthy longevity.
Alzheimer's - Dementia, Author Interviews, Case Western / 25.12.2025

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_71888" align="alignleft" width="150"]Andrew A. Pieper M.D., Ph.D.Professor, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine Professor, Department of Neurosciences Professor, Department of Pathology Investigator, University Hospitals Harrington Discovery Institute, Harrington Discovery Institute Associate Director, Medical Scientist Training Program, School of Medicine Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, and at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center Dr. Pieper[/caption] Andrew A. Pieper M.D., Ph.D. Professor, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine Professor, Department of Neurosciences Professor, Department of Pathology Investigator, University Hospitals Harrington Discovery Institute, Harrington Discovery Institute Associate Director, Medical Scientist Training Program, School of Medicine Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, and at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center   MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: NAD+, a central cellular energy and signaling molecule, declines with age throughout the body, including the brain. When NAD+ falls below necessary levels, cells lose their ability to carry out essential maintenance and survival functions. We found that the NAD+ decline is more severe in brains from people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and in mouse models of AD, whereas brains of people with AD pathology but preserved cognition show gene-expression patterns consistent with maintained NAD+ homeostasis.
Author Interviews, Cognitive Issues, Karolinski Institute, Pediatrics / 18.12.2025

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Samson Nivins PhD Postdoctoral Researcher, specializing in Perinatal and Pediatric NeurologySamson Nivins PhD Postdoctoral Researcher, specializing in Perinatal and Pediatric Neurology [caption id="attachment_71834" align="alignleft" width="92"]Torkel Klingberg, M.D., Ph.D.Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the Stockholm Brain Institute Dr. Klingberg[/caption] Torkel Klingberg, M.D., Ph.D. Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the Stockholm Brain Institute Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Sweden   MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: In the modern era, children’s use of digital media such as watching videos, playing video games, and using social media has increased substantially, often coinciding with a decline in outdoor activities. As many school-aged children now own personal devices, particularly smartphones, it has become easier for them to spend more time on screens than intended. For example, a German survey cited in an EU briefing reported that in 2020, 27% of 8-9-year-olds and 54% of 10-11-year-olds owned a smartphone. In the U.S., ~30% of children own a smartphone by age eight, with many receiving their first device between ages 10 and 11. With growing concerns about screen time, numerous studies have examined its potential consequences and have reported associations between higher screen use and increased ADHD symptoms. However, most of this research has been cross-sectional and has tended to combine different types of digital media such as television, video games, and social media into a single composite measure. This approach may obscure important differences, as various forms of digital media may have distinct effects on ADHD symptoms. To date, relatively few studies have examined the impact of specific types of digital media use on ADHD in a longitudinal framework, and even fewer have accounted for the heritable nature of ADHD. To address these gaps, this U.S. longitudinal study followed children from ages 9-10 to 13-14 years. The study collected repeated measures of daily time spent on specific digital activities, including television and videos, video games, and social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. ADHD symptoms specifically inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity were assessed using parent reports, and analyses adjusted for genetic factors and socioeconomic status.
Author Interviews, Duke, Leukemia, Nature / 12.12.2025

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_71759" align="alignleft" width="200"]Dr. Hirschey Dr. Matthew Hirschey[/caption] Matthew Hirschey Ph.D. Associate Professor of Medicine Associate Professor of Cell Biology Associate Professor in Pharmacology and Cancer Biology Member of the Duke Cancer Institute Member of Sarah W. Stedman Nutrition and Metabolism Center Hirschey Lab in the Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Would you briefly describe AML and why new therapeutic approaches are needed? Response: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive blood cancer that begins in the bone marrow and progresses rapidly. While recent advances, particularly the BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax combined with other agents, have improved outcomes for some patients, many still relapse or don't respond to treatment. The five-year survival rate remains below 30% overall, highlighting an urgent need for new therapeutic strategies. We know that cancer cells rewire their metabolism to fuel rapid growth, and the mitochondria (the cell's powerhouses) play a central role. However, understanding exactly how different metabolic pathways connect and depend on each other has been challenging. We wanted to develop better tools to map these connections and identify new vulnerabilities we could potentially target.
Author Interviews, Diabetes, Kidney Disease, NYU, Weight Research / 20.10.2025

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_71025" align="alignleft" width="225"]Michael A. Weintraub, MDClinical Assistant Professor Department of Medicine NYU Grossman School of Medicine Dr. Weintraub[/caption] Michael A. Weintraub, MD Clinical Assistant Professor Department of Medicine NYU Grossman School of Medicine MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: The study addresses a critical knowledge gap in diabetes management for dialysis patients. Of the 808,000 people on dialysis in the United States, approximately 60% have diabetes and would be eligible for GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs). However, these medications have not been well-studied in this population because dialysis dependence is frequently an exclusion criterion in clinical trials.
Author Interviews, Cancer Research, Dental Research, JAMA, Microbiome, NYU, Pancreatic / 13.10.2025

[caption id="attachment_70956" align="alignleft" width="125"]Jiyoung Ahn, PhDProfessor of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine Associate Director for Population Science, NYU Perlmutter Cancer Center  NYU Langone Health New York, NY 10016 Dr. Jiyoung Ahn[/caption] MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Jiyoung Ahn, PhD Professor of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine Associate Director for Population Science, NYU Perlmutter Cancer Center NYU Langone Health New York, NY 10016 MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: About 10 years ago. we reported that people with poor oral health seem to have a greater risk of pancreatic cancer development.  We suspected that this could be due to oral microbiota.  More recently, animal studies, by other groups, showed that bacteria from the mouth can actually travel through saliva into the pancreas. But we didn’t know which exact species of bacteria or fungi might be involved in pancreas cancer development. We therefore conducted this large human study to examine the oral microbiome — including whole bacteria and fungi profiles in the mouth, and to see which bacteria and fungal taxa are associated with subsequent risk of pancreatic cancer development.
Author Interviews, Autism, Brigham & Women's - Harvard, JAMA / 06.10.2025

Memantine to Treat Social Impairment in Youths With ASD

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_70898" align="alignleft" width="143"]Gagan Joshi, MDDirector, The Alan & Lorraine Bressler Clinical and Research Program for Autism Spectrum Disorder Associate Director, The Pediatric Psychopharmacology Research Program Associate Program Director, MGH Fellowship in Autism Spectrum Disorder Rovee Endowed Chair in Child Psychiatry Massachusetts General Hospital Associate Professor of Psychiatry Harvard Medical School Dr. Joshi[/caption] Gagan Joshi, MD Director, The Alan & Lorraine Bressler Clinical and Research Program for Autism Spectrum Disorder Associate Director, The Pediatric Psychopharmacology Research Program Associate Program Director, MGH Fellowship in Autism Spectrum Disorder Rovee Endowed Chair in Child Psychiatry Massachusetts General Hospital Associate Professor of Psychiatry Harvard Medical School MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Intellectually capable individuals with autism often face significant challenges in social functioning, yet pharmacologic treatments specifically targeting social impairments are lacking. Our prior neuroimaging research identified abnormally elevated brain glutamate levels in intellectually capable youth with autism, suggesting a potential neurochemical pathway underlying social difficulties. Based on these findings, we examined the effects of memantine—a glutamate-modulating medication—for the treatment of autism.
Author Interviews, Blood Pressure - Hypertension, Cancer Research, Stanford / 23.09.2025

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_70752" align="alignleft" width="150"]Minji Jung PharmD, PhDPostdoctoral Research Fellow in Epidemiology Department of Urology Stanford University Medical Center Stanford, CA Dr. Minji Jung[/caption] Minji Jung PharmD, PhD Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Epidemiology Department of Urology Stanford University Medical Center Stanford, CA MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Hypertension is a well-established risk factor for kidney cancer, and previous studies have suggested potential links between antihypertensive medications and kidney cancer risk. However, distinguishing the effects of the medications from those of hypertension itself has been challenging. Our meta-analysis systematically evaluated different classes of antihypertensive drugs while accounting for hypertension.
Author Interviews, Mental Health Research, Race/Ethnic Diversity, University of Pennsylvania / 26.08.2025

Mental health is shaped by much more than individual experiences or biology. The social and systemic forces that surround a person—including their identity and environment—play a critical role in determining how they access care, the kind of treatment they receive, and their overall likelihood of facing mental health challenges. This is where the concept of intersectionality offers crucial insight. Originally introduced by legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw, intersectionality highlights how overlapping social identities—such as race, gender, socioeconomic status, and disability—combine to influence a person’s lived experience. When it comes to mental health, this framework helps us better understand how multiple layers of disadvantage can magnify risks and create barriers to care.
Author Interviews, Education, Health Care Workers, Menopause, University of Pittsburgh / 07.08.2025

[caption id="attachment_70198" align="aligncenter" width="500"]Before Starting a Career in Health Source[/caption] Ever watched a nurse steady a patient’s arm during an injection, answer a family’s questions, juggle documentation, and still keep calm—then thought, I could do that? It’s a common spark. Health careers are high-impact, in demand, and offer the kind of work that feels meaningful. But behind the scrubs and steady hands is a world that asks more than most people expect. In this blog, we will share what you need to know before stepping into a health career. Start With the Structure, Not the Aesthetic Everyone sees the outside first—neatly pressed uniforms, digital charts, exam gloves, badges swinging from lanyards. What’s less obvious is the scaffolding beneath. Health work is layered. Each role connects to others, and each tier carries specific responsibilities, training, and legal scope. If you're picturing your future in health, the first thing to understand is where you want to start, how far you want to go, and what that pathway actually involves. Titles aren’t interchangeable. The difference between a nurse who administers medication and one who diagnoses conditions is more than experience—it’s formal licensing, state-defined boundaries, and years of education. This is where questions like LPN vs nurse practitioner become more than trivia. A Licensed Practical Nurse supports care under the supervision of RNs or physicians, usually after completing a year-long program. A Nurse Practitioner, on the other hand, holds a graduate degree, can assess and diagnose independently in many states, and often carries a caseload similar to a primary care provider. Understanding the distinctions early can save years of missteps. Every job in the system matters, but they’re built on different skill sets. If you want flexibility, long-term growth, or eventual autonomy, you need to plan for that at the start—not halfway through your training. This doesn’t mean locking in a decision forever. It means knowing what each credential unlocks, so you can move with purpose, not guesswork.
Author Interviews, Environmental Risks, NYU / 23.07.2025

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_69606" align="alignleft" width="225"]Dr. George D. Thurston ScD Professor of Medicine and Population Health Director of the Program in Exposure Assessment and Human Health Effects NYU Grossman School of Medicine Division of Environmental Medicine NYC, NY 10010   Prof. Thurston[/caption] Dr. George D. Thurston Professor of Medicine and Population Health NYU Grossman School of Medicine Division of Environmental Medicine NYC, NY 10010   USA MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What were some of the chemicals released by the coal-coking plant? Response: Pittsburgh has a long history as the nation's principal source of bituminous coal production and home to iron and coke industries since the late 19th century, and is also known as one of the cities with the highest levels of air pollution and most air-pollution related deaths in the US, to date. The Shenango, Inc Coke Plant was one of the significant industrial emission sources in the area before its closure in January 2016. Coal-coking plants like the Shenango plant utilizes a destructive heated distillation process called pyrolysis to volatilize and drive the impurities out of coal and produce coke, a purer product with higher carbon content for use in iron and steel production. From this process, coke plant operations are known to generate high emissions of complex air pollution mixtures into the ambient air, including particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), polycyclic organic matter (POMs), volatile compounds (VOCs), and volatilized trace metals such as arsenic, nickel, selenium, lead, and cobalt. Our study examines the changes in respiratory health in the community residing near the Shenango Coke Plant before vs. after its closure,  providing a direct quantification of the health benefits of such fossil-fuel-related air pollution reductions. 
Author Interviews, Cancer Research, Chemotherapy, Melanoma, NYU / 27.06.2025

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_69251" align="alignleft" width="156"]Tomas Kirchhoff, PhD (corresponding author)Associate ProfessorLaura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center New York University School of Medicine Dr. Kirchhoff[/caption] Tomas Kirchhoff, PhD (corresponding author) Associate ProfessorLaura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center New York University School of Medicine Robert Ferguson PhD Senior Scientist at NYU Langone Medical Center Kelsey Monson, PhD Immuno-Oncology Postdoctoral Researcher Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Would you briefly explain how mitochondrial DNA differs from chromosomal DNA? TK: Immune checkpoint blockade has changed the way we treat several cancers, including advanced melanoma. Before these therapies, the treatment options were very limited, but now more than half of patients experience significant tumor shrinkage or disease control. KRM: Despite these advances, many patients still do not respond to treatment. One of the main challenges in cancer medicine today is to find ways to predict which patients will benefit from these therapies before treatment begins. This approach is key to personalizing care and improving outcomes. RF: Mitochondria are small structures inside our cells that produce the energy needed for cells to function. Unlike most of our DNA, mitochondrial DNA is inherited only from the mother. Scientists can categorize this mitochondrial DNA into groups called haplogroups, based on unique variations in the genetic code. These haplogroups can provide insight into how cells produce energy and may affect a person’s health or response to cancer treatment.
Author Interviews, Cannabis, Colon Cancer, UCSD / 30.04.2025

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_68230" align="alignleft" width="150"]Raphael E. Cuomo, PhD, MPH, CPH, FRSPHProfessor, School of Medicine University of California, San Diego Dr. Cuomo[/caption] Raphael E. Cuomo, PhD, MPH, CPH, FRSPH Professor, School of Medicine University of California, San Diego MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Colon cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Recent years have seen a substantial increase in cannabis use, but limited research has explored its potential influence on cancer outcomes. We conducted a large-scale retrospective cohort study using real-world clinical data to investigate whether a diagnosis of cannabis use disorder prior to colon cancer diagnosis was associated with survival outcomes.
Author Interviews, Gender Differences, JAMA, University of Michigan / 14.02.2025

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_66556" align="alignleft" width="200"]Farrah Madanay, PhDPostdoctoral Research Fellow Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine Michigan Medicine University of Michigan Dr. Madanay[/caption] Farrah Madanay, PhD Postdoctoral Research Fellow Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine Michigan Medicine University of Michigan MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Patients are increasingly using online forums to evaluate their physicians, with not only star ratings but also written narrative reviews. These reviews tend to fall into two dimensions: interpersonal manner, which includes comments about the physician’s attitude, behavior, and communication; and technical competence, which includes comments about the physician’s knowledge, skill, and outcomes. These two dimensions are important for patient-centered care and align with research from social psychology. Whereas prior studies have revealed gender differences in workplace assessments and overall star ratings of physicians, little is known about physician gender differences in patients’ online written reviews. We were curious whether physician gender differences were prevalent in patients’ written reviews and consistent across physician specialties, from generalists, like primary care physicians, to proceduralists, like surgeons. We collected physician profile, rating, and review data from one of the largest commercial physician rating and review websites. We focused on physicians from three primary care specialties (family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics), and three surgical specialties (general surgery; orthopedic surgery; and cosmetic, plastic, and reconstructive surgery). Our final sample included 345,053 online reviews received by 167,150 U.S. physicians between 2015 and 2020. We used hand-coded reviews to train an advanced natural language processing algorithm to classify all reviews for the presence and valence of patients’ comments of physicians’ interpersonal manner and technical competence. We then conducted multilevel logistic regressions to analyze differences by female or male physician gender in interpersonal manner and technical competence comments and whether those comments were associated with review star ratings.
Laboratories, Medical Research Centers, Pharmaceutical Companies / 12.02.2025

[caption id="attachment_66514" align="aligncenter" width="500"]CROs-medical-research-regulatory approvals Photo by Chokniti Khongchum[/caption] Clinical trials are a fundamental part of medical research, ensuring the safety and efficacy of new drugs, medical devices, and treatments. A Clinical Research Organization (CRO) plays a pivotal role in managing and conducting these trials efficiently. From regulatory compliance to data management, CROs provide expertise that helps sponsors navigate the complexities of clinical research.

What is a Clinical Trials CRO?

A Clinical Research Organization (CRO) is a specialized service provider that assists pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, and medical device manufacturers in conducting clinical trials. These organizations offer comprehensive services, including study design, patient recruitment, monitoring, regulatory compliance, data collection, and statistical analysis. CROs streamline the clinical trial process, reducing time and costs while ensuring compliance with regulatory authorities such as the FDA and EMA.

Key Services Offered by Clinical Trials CROs

  1. Protocol Development – Designing a scientifically sound and regulatory-compliant study protocol.
  2. Regulatory Compliance – Ensuring adherence to FDA, EMA, and other global regulatory requirements.
  3. Patient Recruitment and Management – Identifying and enrolling eligible patients for clinical trials.
  4. Site Selection and Monitoring – Identifying qualified research sites and ensuring compliance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP).
  5. Data Management and Biostatistics – Collecting, analyzing, and interpreting trial data.
  6. Safety Monitoring – Assessing adverse events and ensuring patient safety throughout the trial.
  7. Quality Assurance – Conducting audits and inspections to maintain data integrity and protocol adherence.
  8. Medical Writing and Reporting – Preparing regulatory submissions, study reports, and scientific publications.
Author Interviews, Cannabis, JAMA, Pediatrics, UCSD / 30.01.2025

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_66243" align="alignleft" width="150"]John Bellettiere, PhDAssistant Adjunct Professor Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health & Human Longevity Science University of California, San Diego Dr. Bellettiere[/caption] John Bellettiere, PhD Assistant Adjunct Professor Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health & Human Longevity Science University of California, San Diego MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response:  Smoking is the most common method of cannabis use and generates harmful emissions.  Cannabis is often smoked indoors, which exposes non-smokers, including children, to these emissions. Our research analyzed in-home cannabis smoking practices to determine if there is an association between this behavior and the detection of cannabis biomarkers in children.
Author Interviews, Cancer Research, Lymphoma, Nutrition, University of Pennsylvania / 24.12.2024

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_65650" align="alignleft" width="200"]Shan Liu, PhD, Postdoctoral fellowPerelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania Dr. Shan Liu[/caption] Shan Liu, PhD, Postdoctoral fellow Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Our study provides evidence that the efficacy of CAR T cell immunotherapies can be influenced by an important lifestyle factor: diet.   MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings? Response:  Our study found that a ketogenic diet can enhance CAR T cell function through its metabolite, β-Hydroxybutyrate (BHB). Importantly, instead of altering the diet, providing BHB via oral supplementation in our preclinical model is sufficient to improve the anti-tumor function of CAR T cells. However, it's important to note that we’re still in the early stages, and we’re not yet recommending any dietary changes or supplements for patients.
Author Interviews, Cancer Research, NEJM, NIH, OBGYNE / 05.12.2024

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_65321" align="alignleft" width="92"]Diana W. Bianchi, M.D.Senior Investigator Center for Precision Health Research Director, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institutes of Health Dr. Bianchi[/caption] Diana W. Bianchi, M.D. Senior Investigator Center for Precision Health Research Director, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development National Institutes of Health MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: The ability of prenatal cell-free DNA (cfDNA) sequencing to incidentally detect maternal cancers has been demonstrated by several retrospective studies from commercial or national laboratories. However, there are no standardized approaches to the identification and medical management of prenatal screening results that might indicate a maternal cancer. We sought to prospectively identify DNA sequencing patterns and other biomarkers that could distinguish which women with nonreportable or unusual cfDNA sequencing results had cancer and to determine the best approach for diagnostic work-up of pregnant people who receive these results.
Author Interviews, Health Care Systems, JAMA, Pharmacology, University of Pittsburgh / 31.10.2024

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_64457" align="alignleft" width="200"]Dr. Katie Suda Dr. Suda[/caption] Katie J. Suda, PharmD, M.S., FCCP Professor of medicine with tenure Associate Director, Center for Pharmaceutical Policy and Prescribing University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Our pharmaceutical supply chain is global where the manufacturing process for one drug may occur in multiple countries. Sometimes there are breakdowns in the pharmaceutical supply chain which may threaten access to medicines. Breakdowns in the supply chain occur for medicines manufactured in the U.S. and by international partners. While breakdowns in the supply chain occur for hundreds of drugs each year, not all result in a decrease in available supply (a “drug shortage”) because of action taken by manufacturers, pharmacies and drug regulators (e.g., the U.S. Food and Drug Administration [FDA]). Drug shortages are a critical concern to public health as pharmacies, clinicians, and patients struggle to identify safe and effective alternatives. In addition, drug shortages have been associated with adverse patient outcomes and medication safety events. Recently, drug shortages have gotten worse with shortages occurring with increasing frequency and lasting longer. There has also been a shift in the types of medicines in shortage from drugs primarily used in hospitals, such as injectables, to oral medicines frequently used to manage outpatient conditions. Countries have different regulatory authority and policy which may impact how drug supply chain breakdowns result in drug shortages. We wanted to know if there are differences between the U.S. and Canada in the frequency that national drug shortages occur after supply chain breakdowns are reported in both countries. Canada is a good comparator to the U.S. because Canada has similar drug regulatory standards and manufacturing inspections. Prescription drug coverage is also similar for the two countries where half of prescriptions are reimbursed through public insurance and half through private insurance and out-of-pocket.
Author Interviews, Mental Health Research, University of Michigan / 27.10.2024

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Daniel J. Kruger, PhD University of Michigan MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: A team of researchers from the University of Michigan and University at Buffalo teamed up with psychedelic advocates and therapists to document some of the challenges with psychedelics. They surveyed over a thousand psychedelic users about their adverse experiences and the experiences they have heard from others. Most reported being frightened, sadness, loneliness, and feeling their body tremble or shake at times. Some people experienced panic, paranoia, felt that they are dead, or that the state they were in would last forever. One in ten participants had adverse physical reactions.  For most people having these experiences, they are rare or happen sometimes, but they are still significant. Most of the people that experienced a severe adverse event did not have guidance from someone who was knowledgeable about psychedelics. A small portion of participants knew about an incident of inappropriate sexual contact by a psychedelic sitter, guide, or practitioner, the perpetrators were mostly underground guides and friends or acquaintances.
Alzheimer's - Dementia, Author Interviews, Cost of Health Care, Medicare, UCLA / 15.10.2024

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_64014" align="alignleft" width="150"]Frank F. Zhou  |  he/himMD Candidate, Class of 2025 David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Frank F Zhou[/caption] Frank F. Zhou  |  he/him MD Candidate, Class of 2025 David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What is Lecanemab used for?  How is it given to patients? Response: Lecanemab is a new infusion therapy for Alzheimer's disease. Its dosing is based on each patient's body weight (10 mg/kg every two weeks), but the drug is only available in 500 mg and 200 mg single-use vials, meaning that any leftover drug in vials must be thrown away. Given that lecanemab is expected to cost Medicare billions of dollars each year, we hypothesized that discarded drug could result in significant wasteful spending.
Author Interviews, Cancer Research, JAMA, Microbiome, NYU / 01.10.2024

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_63665" align="alignleft" width="211"]Jiyoung Ahn, PhDProfessor of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine Associate Director for Population Science, NYU Perlmutter Cancer Center  NYU Langone Health Smilow Research Building New York, NY 10016 Prof. Ahn[/caption] Jiyoung Ahn, PhD Professor of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine Associate Director for Population Science, NYU Perlmutter Cancer Center NYU Langone Health Smilow Research Building New York, NY 10016 MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: We found that oral bacterial species are linked to a collective 50% increased risk of developing head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Some of these microbes have previously been shown to contribute to periodontal disease, a serious gum infection that can erode the jawbone and the soft tissues surrounding the teeth.
Author Interviews, Cognitive Issues, Environmental Risks, NIH, Pediatrics / 27.08.2024

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Rick Woychik, Ph.D. Director of the National Toxicology Program Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Principal Investigator Mammalian Genome Research Group Division for Intramural Research at NIEHS MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? [caption id="attachment_62975" align="alignleft" width="200"]water_pexels-pixabay-416528 Source[/caption] Response: Since 1945, the use of fluoride has been a successful public health initiative for reducing dental cavities and improving general oral health of adults and children. There is a concern, however, that some pregnant women and children may be getting more fluoride than they need because they now get fluoride from many sources including treated public water, water-added foods and beverages, teas, toothpaste, floss, and mouthwash, and the combined total intake of fluoride may exceed safe amounts.   Therefore, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) conducted a systematic review of the published scientific literature on the association between fluoride exposure and neurodevelopment and cognition. The NTP released their findings in a State of the Science Monograph on August 21, 2024, and posted to the NTP website. A corresponding meta-analysis on children’s IQ has been accepted by a scientific journal for publication later in 2024. The NTP started this work in 2016. As with all research documents intended for publication, the NTP fluoride monograph and meta-analysis underwent rigorous scientific evaluation.  The evaluation process has involved many steps. The draft fluoride monograph received significant critical feedback during peer-review by the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM), from other external experts, and from experts in several federal health agencies.  After modifications were made, additional evaluation following a rigorous scientific framework was conducted by subject matter experts organized by the NTP Board of Scientific Counselors. I am very pleased that this document is now complete and available for reference. Since fluoride is such an important topic to the public and to public health officials, it was imperative that we made every effort to get the science right. I commend the report authors, the NTP Board of Scientific Counselors, and countless subject matter experts who participated in this evaluation. The monograph represents a thorough review of the data, and the various interpretations of the data, to accurately reflect what we know and where additional research is needed.
Author Interviews, Autism, Brigham & Women's - Harvard, Genetic Research / 26.08.2024

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_62961" align="alignleft" width="150"]Caroline Dias, M.D., Ph.D.Assistant Professor, Pediatrics-Developmental Pediatrics University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus  Dr. Dias[/caption] Caroline Dias, M.D., Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Pediatrics-Developmental Pediatrics University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus       [caption id="attachment_62962" align="alignleft" width="150"]Christopher Walsh, M.D., Ph.D.Chief, Division of Genetics and Genomics Bullard Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology at Harvard Medical School and researcher who has used material donated to the brain bank  Dr. Walsh[/caption] Christopher Walsh, M.D., Ph.D. Chief, Division of Genetics and Genomics Bullard Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology at Harvard Medical School and researcher who has used material donated to the brain bank     MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Many different types of genetic variants contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism. Copy number variants are large pieces of genetic material that are duplicated or deleted. We have known for many years that many copy number variants at certain genetic locations are linked to autism. Because these copy number variants may include lots of different genes, it has been difficult to understand how these copy number variants alter human brain function. Furthermore, although animal models are important, autism is in many ways defined by differences in uniquely human cognitive and social functioning. Better understanding of how these copy number variants change human brain function will shed light on universal mechanisms that regulate neurodevelopment. We studied a copy number variant called dup15q, that is associated with almost 40-fold higher rates of autism vs. the general population. We studied post-mortem human brain tissue from individuals with dup15q, individuals with autism not related to dup15q, and neurotypical controls, to better understand how the human brain is impacted by dup15q. We focused on frontal cortex, an important brain region in executive function and social perspective taking. We applied cutting edge techniques that allow us to assess individual cells in the brain. 
Author Interviews, Diabetes, Johns Hopkins, Nutrition / 22.07.2024

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Shutong Du Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: We know that ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are high in salt, added sugars, unhealthy fats, and artificial additives and have undergone multiple industrial processes. These foods have been linked to adverse health outcomes like weight gain and cardiovascular diseases. Despite these risks, current diabetes guidelines do not address UPFs.
Author Interviews, Brigham & Women's - Harvard, Genetic Research, JAMA, Karolinski Institute, Prostate Cancer / 05.07.2024

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_62249" align="alignleft" width="204"]Anna Plym PhDDepartment of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health Department of Urology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts Dr. Plym[/caption] Anna Plym PhD Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health Department of Urology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death among men, with approximately one third of the deaths occurring before the age of 75 years. There is a need for a better understanding of the risk factors for those early deaths. Our previous research has indicated that inherited factors play a major role.
Allergies, Author Interviews, Duke / 25.06.2024

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_62084" align="alignleft" width="200"]Professor Soman Abraham PhDGrace Kerby Distinguished Professor of Pathology Duke University. Dr. Abraham led the research when working in the Emerging Infectious Diseases Research Programme at Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore Prof. Abraham[/caption] Professor Soman Abraham PhD Grace Kerby Distinguished Professor of Pathology Duke University. Dr. Abraham led the research when working in the Emerging Infectious Diseases Research Programme at Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: The degranulation of mast cells (MCs) is a process that leads to allergic symptoms, ranging from itching, redness, and swelling of the tissue to severe and potentially life-threatening anaphylaxis involving multiple organ systems. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 10 per cent of the global population suffers from food allergies. As allergy rates continue to rise, so does the incidence of food-triggered anaphylaxis and asthma worldwide. In view of the fact that allergic diseases are difficult to prevent or treat, we sought to understand the underlying basis for anaphylactic reactions.
Author Interviews, Cancer Research, University of Pittsburgh / 09.05.2024

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_61672" align="alignleft" width="273"]Roderick J. O’Sullivan Dr. O’Sullivan[/caption] Roderick J. O’Sullivan PhD Associate Professor Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology UPMC Hillman Cancer Center University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: For a few years, my group has had the good fortune of collaborating with Dr. Ivan Ahel. Ivan is a world leader in the field of ADP-ribosylation. His work has identified major gaps in our understanding of ADP-ribosylation. This includes his lab discovering that DNA bases can be ADP-ribosylated in bacteria and that a poorly characterized enzyme known as TARG1 could be involved in that process. In discussing this work with Ivan, we were confident that DNA ADP-ribosylation also exists in human cells and that showing this could be pretty important. The problem was that identifying a part of the genome where it might be present, so we could study it, was not so obvious and challenging. But we had a hunch that telomeres could be one part of the genome where it could happen!! Telomeres are really special structures located at the ends of each human chromosome. They demarcate the physical end of each chromosome and prevent chromosomes from becoming entangled – which if it happens, is catastrophic for cells. Our hunch was based on the evidence from other studies that telomeres are natural targets of PARP1, the enzyme that catalyzes most of the ADP-ribosylation in human cells. I then discussed this idea with Anne Wondisford, a medical scientist trainee in the lab, who liked the idea and designed a series of experiments to test it.
Alzheimer's - Dementia, Author Interviews, Brigham & Women's - Harvard, JAMA, Nutrition / 07.05.2024

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_61650" align="alignleft" width="200"]Marta Guasch-Ferré, PhDAssociate Professor and Deputy Head of Section, Section of Epidemiology University of Copenhagen  Group Leader, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research  Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Nutrition Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health  Dr. Guasch-Ferré[/caption] Marta Guasch-Ferré, PhD Associate Professor and Deputy Head of Section, Section of Epidemiology University of Copenhagen Group Leader, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Nutrition Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response:  Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fats and contains compounds with antioxidant activity that may play a protective role for the brain. Olive oil as part of a Mediterranean diet appears to have a beneficial effect against cognitive decline. Higher olive oil intake was previously associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. But its association with dementia mortality was unknown.