Alzheimer's - Dementia, Author Interviews, Genetic Research, JAMA, Karolinski Institute / 24.03.2026

[caption id="attachment_72900" align="alignleft" width="200"]MedicalResearch.com Interview with:Jakob Norgren | PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS) | Karolinska Institutet Division of Clinical Geriatrics | Center for Alzheimer Research Huddinge, Sweden Jakob Norgren, Ph.D.[/caption] MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Jakob Norgren | PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS) | Karolinska Institutet Division of Clinical Geriatrics | Center for Alzheimer Research Huddinge, Sweden     MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: This study tested the hypothesis that people with APOE 3/4 and 4/4 would have a reduced risk of cognitive decline and dementia with higher meat intake, based on the fact that APOE4 is the evolutionarily oldest variant of the APOE gene and may have arisen during a period when our evolutionary ancestors ate a more animal-based diet.
Author Interviews, Medical Research Journals, Mental Health Research / 24.03.2026

[caption id="attachment_72893" align="alignleft" width="200"]MedicalResearch.com Interview with:Francis J. Gesel Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine Scranton, Pennsylvania Francis J. Gesel[/caption] MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Francis J. Gesel Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine Scranton, Pennsylvania MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Conflicts of interest (COIs) in psychiatric research represent a longstanding ethical challenge, given the close relationship between the pharmaceutical industry and psychiatry. Journals require authors to disclose these relationships, while the U.S. Open Payments database, created under the Sunshine Act, provides a record of payments from manufacturers to physicians. However, whether physician-authors in psychiatry’s most influential journals consistently disclose these relationships had not been systematically assessed. We focused on the American Journal of Psychiatry (AJP) and JAMA Psychiatry (JAMA-PSY), two of the highest-impact journals in the field, to evaluate the prevalence and magnitude of undisclosed financial COIs.
Author Interviews, CMAJ, Race/Ethnic Diversity / 23.03.2026

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72842" align="alignleft" width="200"] Bukola Salami, Ph.D.[/caption] Bukola Salami, RN, BScN, MN, PhD, FCAN, FAAN (She/Her) Full Professor Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Black and Racialized Peoples Health Department of Community Health Sciences Cumming School of Medicine University of Calgary MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Black people experience disproportionately poor health outcomes, with access to healthcare recognized as a key determinant of health. Although prior research has examined factors influencing healthcare access among Black populations, there is limited evidence on medication access and use. This gap is particularly important in the context of emerging Pharmacare policy in Canada. In this study, we aimed to assess the prevalence of cost-related prescription nonadherence among Black adults in Canada and to examine racial disparities in comparison to White adults, while accounting for demographic, socioeconomic, and insurance-related factors as potential mediators.
Addiction, CMAJ / 04.03.2026

[caption id="attachment_72632" align="aligncenter" width="500"]online-gambling-young-men.jpg Photo by Niek Doup on Unsplash[/caption] MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72636" align="alignleft" width="200"]Ryan ForrestPublic health doctoral student Dalla Lana School of Public Health University of Toronto Ryan Forrest[/caption] Ryan Forrest Public health doctoral student Dalla Lana School of Public Health University of Toronto MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Over the past decade, there have been major changes to the gambling landscape across North America, including how accessible gambling is, what products are available, and how aggressively gambling is marketed and promoted. Our study focused on Ontario, where several key policy changes created a natural opportunity to examine potential health impacts. Online gambling was introduced through a government-run platform in 2015. In 2021, federal legislation legalized single-event sports betting, enabling new gambling formats. Then, in April 2022, Ontario became the first and only jurisdiction in Canada to open a competitive private online gambling market, allowing private companies,  including some large multinational operators, to offer and heavily advertise gambling products. Many Ontarians experienced a rapid increase in gambling advertising and visibility following this shift. To understand whether these changes were associated with health harms, we examined contacts to ConnexOntario, the province’s mental health and addictions helpline, for gambling-related problems.
Author Interviews, Infections, Nature, NYU/NYMC / 25.02.2026

[caption id="attachment_72626" align="aligncenter" width="500"]C. auris- CDC image.jpg Candida auris CDC Image[/caption] MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72627" align="alignleft" width="200"]Vishnu Chaturvedi, Ph.D.Professor of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology and of Medicine New York Medical College Vishnu Chaturvedi, Ph.D.[/caption] Vishnu Chaturvedi, Ph.D. Professor of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology and of Medicine New York Medical College MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: The research was prompted by the rise of Candida auris (C. auris) as a critical fungal pathogen that has caused global outbreaks in healthcare facilities with high mortality rates. C. auris is particularly difficult to control because it can survive on physical surfaces for extended periods. Current diagnostic methods (such as culture-based approaches or mass spectrometry) are often costly, slow, and require complex equipment in centralized laboratories, which delays effective clinical responses. There is an urgent need for rapid tests that can both identify the fungus and measure its level of drug resistance.
Author Interviews, Cannabis, JAMA, Mental Health Research / 22.02.2026

Editor’ note:  Cannabis and THCA/HEMP CBD products should have an active ingredient list on the container and have a Certificate of Analysis (COA). Discuss your use of THC, Cannabis or CBD products with your health care provider.  Dosing of Cannabis products is variable, especially since they are not FDA regulated. Cannabis/CBD may interfere with other medications and should not be used in individuals with certain health conditions, including liver issues. CBD skin care products can be absorbed through the skin and have similar effects. Do not use Cannabis products including edibles, drinks and CBD if you are pregnant, nursing or may become pregnant. Do not use cannabis products if driving or operating difficult or dangerous machinery. Children should not be exposed to cannabis or CBD products. MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72552" align="alignleft" width="200"]Kelly Young-Wolff, PhD, MPHLicensed clinical psychologist and Research Scientist Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research Associate Professor, Psychiatry School of Medicine UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences Dr. Young-Wolff[/caption] Kelly Young-Wolff, PhD, MPH Licensed clinical psychologist and Research Scientist Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research Associate Professor, Psychiatry School of Medicine UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Cannabis is widely used by adolescents, and it’s often first used during the same developmental window when many psychiatric disorders begin to emerge. At the same time, cannabis has become more accessible and more socially accepted. While prior studies have linked adolescent cannabis use to mental health symptoms, fewer large studies have examined whether it’s associated with later clinically diagnosed psychiatric disorders. We wanted to address that gap.
Author Interviews, Blood Pressure - Hypertension, JACC / 15.02.2026

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72419" align="alignleft" width="200"]Professor Moo-Yong Rhee MD, PhD.Cardiology, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital College of Medicine, Dongguk University Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea Prof. Moo-Yong Rhee[/caption] Professor Moo-Yong Rhee MD, PhD. Cardiology, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital College of Medicine, Dongguk University Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Hypertension remains one of the leading causes of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide. Major challenges in its initial treatment include therapeutic inertia, reliance on stepwise dose escalation of single agents, and reduced adherence due to dose-related adverse effects. These limitations often delay optimal blood pressure control. To address these issues, the concept of low-dose combination therapy was proposed, based on the rationale that combining multiple agents at lower doses may enhance efficacy while minimizing side effects. Although several studies have supported this concept, systematic translational research and confirmatory clinical trials were needed before widespread clinical implementation. The recently completed APOLLO-301 and APOLLO-302 trials were confirmatory, randomized, phase 3 studies designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a single-pill ultra-low-dose triple combination therapy, conducted in accordance with regulatory standards. This formulation combined three antihypertensive agents (amlodipine (1.67 mg), losartan (16.67 mg), and chlorthalidone (4.17 mg)) each at approximately one-third of its standard dose. The triple combination was directly compared with standard-dose monotherapy (amlodipine 5 mg or losartan 50 mg). After 8 weeks of treatment, the ultra-low-dose triple combination achieved blood pressure reductions comparable to those of amlodipine 5 mg and significantly greater than those of losartan 50 mg, while maintaining good tolerability. These findings support the potential role of ultra-low-dose triple therapy as an effective initial treatment strategy for patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension.
Author Interviews, Autism, BMJ, Parkinson's / 05.02.2026

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72249" align="alignleft" width="150"]Dr. Caroline Fyfe PhDPostdoctoral Research Associate Life Long Health and Wellbeing Theme University of Edinburgh Dr. Fyfe[/caption] Dr. Caroline Fyfe PhD Postdoctoral Research Associate Life Long Health and Wellbeing Theme University of Edinburgh MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Autism (ASD) has traditionally been seen as a condition that disproportionately affects males. This study quantifies the sex bias across birth cohorts, ages, and calendar time,  using the Swedish national population registers to follow ~ 2.7 million individual born between 1985 and 2020 throughout their lives. Among children under ten years old the male-to-female diagnosis ratio remained relatively stable at about 3:1. In contrast, a rapid increase in diagnoses of ASD among females during adolescence, produced a “female catch-up effect” that resulted in near parity of ASD prevalence between males and females by adulthood.
AI and HealthCare, Author Interviews, Brain Cancer - Brain Tumors, Lancet, Mammograms / 30.01.2026

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72182" align="alignleft" width="200"]Kristina Lång MD PhDAssociate professor, Diagnostic Radiology Translational Medicine, Lund University Senior consultant, Unilabs Mammography Unit Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden Dr. Lång[/caption] Kristina Lång MD PhD Associate professor, Diagnostic Radiology Translational Medicine, Lund University Senior consultant, Unilabs Mammography Unit Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response:  Prior to the start of the trial, several retrospective studies had shown that AI could discriminate between screening mammograms at low and high risk of cancer, with performance comparable to that of average breast radiologists. These findings suggested a potential to improve both the efficiency and sensitivity of mammography screening. This motivated us to design and evaluate an AI-supported screening procedure in a randomised controlled trial. The MASAI trial was among the first prospective studies in this field and, to date, remains the only randomised trial with reported results on the use of AI in breast cancer screening. In European breast cancer screening programmes, every mammogram is usually read by two radiologists, so called double reading, to ensure a high sensitivity. In the MASAI trial we compared AI-supported mammography screening to standard double reading without AI. I n the AI-supported approach, mammograms identified as low-risk by the AI were read by a single radiologist, while high-risk mammograms underwent double reading, with AI providing additional detection support.
Annals Internal Medicine, Author Interviews, Kidney Disease / 28.01.2026

[caption id="attachment_72168" align="alignleft" width="150"]Dustin Mark, MDEmergency Medicine/Critical Care Medicine, East Bay Adjunct Researcher, KPNC Division of Research, CREST Network Dr. Mark[/caption] MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Dustin Mark, MD Emergency Medicine/Critical Care Medicine, East Bay Adjunct Researcher, KPNC Division of Research, CREST Network MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: We examined medical records from 13,988 adults hospitalized with severe hyponatremia between 2008 and 2023 across 21 community hospitals in the Kaiser Permanente Northern California health system. Patients were grouped based on how quickly their sodium levels were corrected within a 24-hour period (< 8 meq/L, 8-12 meq/L, > 12 meq/L) and were followed for up to 90 days. The primary outcome was death or serious delayed neurologic events, such as brain damage, seizures, paralysis, or altered consciousness. The results suggest that there is likely a true independent association between slow sodium correction and adverse outcomes, and that current guidelines promoting slow correction of sodium levels should be re-evaluated accordingly.
Author Interviews, Autism, Nature / 16.01.2026

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_72018" align="alignleft" width="200"]Andrey Vyshedskiy, Ph.D.Neuroscientist from Boston University Dr. Vyshedskiy[/caption] Andrey Vyshedskiy, Ph.D. Neuroscientist from Boston University MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: Certain conditions, such as autism and Down syndrome, can limit a child’s ability to develop full language comprehension. In these cases, children often become “stuck” at a specific, quantized level of understanding:
  • Command Phenotype: Individuals at this level understand single words and simple commands but have difficulty combining nouns with adjectives or interpreting more complex instructions.
  • Modifier Phenotype: Individuals at this level can comprehend combinations of nouns and adjectives—for example, they can identify a small yellow pencil among pencils, straws, and Lego pieces of varying sizes and colors. However, they struggle with more complex language structures, such as sentences containing spatial prepositions, possessive pronouns, verb tenses, and narratives like fairy tales.
  • Syntactic Phenotype: Most children naturally progress to this most-advanced level of comprehension, characterized by the ability to understand full syntactic structures and more sophisticated language forms.
While the Command and Syntactic Phenotypes were anticipated by linguistics and developmental psychology, the distinct Modifier Phenotype was unexpected. Across several studies involving nearly 100,000 participants, these three phenotypes consistently emerged. Together with a recent longitudinal study of language development in over 15,000 participants, these findings highlight the critical importance of early engagement in syntactic conversations for the acquisition of the Syntactic Phenotype.
Aging, Author Interviews, Exercise - Fitness, Lancet / 14.01.2026

[caption id="attachment_71987" align="alignleft" width="200"]Ulf Ekelund Ph.D.Department of Sport Medicine, NSSS Oslo, Norway and Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo Prof. Ekelund[/caption] MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Ulf Ekelund Ph.D. Department of Sport Medicine, NSSS Oslo, Norway and Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response:  Previous research including our own (Dose-response associations between accelerometry measured physical activity and sedentary time and all cause mortality: systematic review and harmonised meta-analysis | The BMJ) have shown that physical activity of any intensity reduces the risk for all-cause mortality. However, it is unclear how many deaths can potentially be averted by small and realistic increases in physical activity. We estimated that 6% and 10% of all deaths might be preventable is all individuals in two hypothetical intervention scenarios increased their time in moderate to vigorous intensity activity by 5 min per day. The two scenarios were a “high-risk” comprising the least active 20% of the population and a “population based” approach comprising all but the most active 20% of the population (i.e. 80%). We also estimated that reducing sedentary time by 30 min/day might prevent 3·0% of all deaths in the high-risk approach and 7·3% in the population-based approach.  Our results should be interpreted as if all individuals increased their levels of physical activity by 5 min per day, 6% and 10% of all deaths might be preventable in the two risk scenarios, respectively. This does not mean that the individual risk is reduced by these percentages from small increases in physical activity, since individuals respond differently to increasing their activity levels.
Author Interviews, CMAJ, End of Life Care / 12.01.2026

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_71968" align="alignleft" width="200"]Sally Thorne RN, PhD, FAAN, FCAHS, FCAN, CMProfessor Emeritus, School of Nursing Dr. Thorne[/caption] Sally Thorne RN, PhD, FAAN, FCAHS, FCAN, CM Professor Emeritus, School of Nursing Co-Principal Investigator with : [caption id="attachment_71969" align="alignleft" width="133"]Dr. Barbara Pesut PhD, RNProfessor in the School of Nursing  Principal Research Chair in Palliative and End of Life Care Dr. Pesut[/caption] Dr. Barbara Pesut PhD, RN Professor in the School of Nursing Principal Research Chair in Palliative and End of Life Care University of British Columbia       MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Medical assistance in dying (MAiD) was legalized in Canada in June of 2016 for Canadians who were facing a reasonably foreseeable natural death and met an explicit set of eligibility criteria as determined by qualified health care providers (physicians or nurse practitioners). In 2021, the legislation was extended to include the possibility of MAiD for persons who were suffering from a ‘grievous and irremediable’ medical condition but for whom natural death was not immediately foreseeable. As assisted dying represented a significant change in available options for Canadians with terminal or chronic conditions, requiring significant practice adaptations and including numerous legal, social, ethical, moral implications, the health research community has been working in consultation with clinicians, service providers and governments to generate knowledge that ensures safe, ethical and equitable practice in this regard.
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, Cannabis, JAMA / 25.11.2025

Editor’ note:  Cannabis and THCA/HEMP CBD products should have an active ingredient list on the container and have a Certificate of Analysis (COA). Discuss your use of THC, Cannabis or CBD products with your health care provider.  Dosing of CBD is variable, especially since it is not FDA regulated. Cannabis/CBD may interfere with other medications and should not be used in individuals with certain health conditions, including liver issues. CBD skin care products can be absorbed through the skin and have similar effects. Do not use Cannabis products including edibles and CBD if you are pregnant, nursing or may become pregnant. Do not use cannabis products if driving or operating difficult or dangerous machinery. Children should not be exposed to cannabis or CBD products. [caption id="attachment_71501" align="alignleft" width="157"]Dr. Swartz Dr. Swartz[/caption] MedicalResearch.com Interview with: James A. Swartz, PhD Professor, Jane Addams College of Social Work University of Illinois Chicago MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: For the past 5 1/2 years, my project team has been charged with monitoring the public health effects of adult cannabis use legalization in Illinois. To fulfill that obligation, we have monitored state data and have tried to keep informed about ongoing research on cannabis legalization and public health. Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) rose to the surface of this continual monitoring through a growing number of publications indicating the prevalence of this condition was on the rise and clinical case reports. As context, for any readers unfamiliar with the clinical syndrome, CHS is a paradoxical reaction to long-term, heavy cannabis use. Instead of relieving nausea, cannabis in some people appears to trigger cycles of severe nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Patients often present repeatedly to emergency departments, undergo extensive workups, and only much later does someone connect the dots and consider CHS. Resource use is substantial. CHS visits often involve repeat ED presentations, imaging, laboratory testing, and sometimes hospital admission. Even though CHS is rarely life-threatening, it is not a trivial condition from either the patient’s or the system’s perspective.

Most of the existing literature has been case reports, small series, or single-center studies. Those reports clearly show that CHS can be debilitating and is frequently misdiagnosed, but they don’t tell us much about the bigger picture:

  • How often Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is showing up in emergency departments nationally
  • How those rates have changed over time, especially as cannabis policies and patterns of use have shifted
  • What the typical patient profile looks like at a population level

Our goal was to step back and use a large national emergency department database to describe CHS at scale in the United States from 2016 through 2022.

Author Interviews, Cannabis, JAMA, Opiods / 13.11.2025

[caption id="attachment_71419" align="alignleft" width="150"]MedicalResearch.com Interview with:Victoria Bethel, MSN Department of Public Administration and Policy University of Georgia, Athens Victoria Bethel[/caption] MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Victoria Bethel, MSN Department of Public Administration and Policy University of Georgia, Athens   MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: From the same pool of commercially insured patients, we found that cannabis dispensary openings were associated with reduced opioid prescribing among patients with non-cancer pain. For this study, we examined whether cannabis dispensary openings were also associated with reduced opioid prescribing among commercially insured patients who do have a cancer diagnosis. Similar to patients without cancer, we estimated reductions in opioid prescribing after medical and recreational cannabis dispensaries open. These findings may suggest that patients who experience cancer pain are able to manage their pain with cannabis instead of requiring opioids, although we cannot directly observe substitution.
Author Interviews, Cancer Research, JAMA, Weight Research / 02.11.2025

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_71229" align="alignleft" width="125"]Dr. Bian Jiang Dr. Bian Jiang[/caption] Jiang Bian, PhD Associate Dean of Data Science Walther and Regenstrief Professor of Cancer Informatics Professor of Biostatistics & Health Data Science Adjunct Professor, Biomedical Engineering and Informatics Chief Data Scientist, Regenstrief Institute Chief Data ScientistCustomize & Schedule Social Media Posts Indiana University Health [caption id="attachment_71230" align="alignleft" width="125"]Serena Jingchuan Guo Dr. Serena Guo[/caption] Serena Jingchuan Guo, MD PhD Assistant Professor Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy University of Florida College of Pharmacy [caption id="attachment_71231" align="alignleft" width="125"]Hao Dai, PhD Dr. Hao Dai[/caption] Hao Dai, PhD Postdoctoral Fellow Department of Biostatistics & Health Data Science Indiana University School of Medicine       MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: Obesity and type 2 diabetes are both known to increase the risk of several cancers. Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have become very popular for both glycemic control and weight loss, but their long-term effects on cancer risk are still unclear. Using a large real-world dataset, we emulated a target trial comparing more than 43,000 GLP-1RA users to matched non-users. We found that GLP-1RA use was associated with a significantly lower overall cancer risk.
Author Interviews, Cancer Research, Dental Research, JAMA, Microbiome, NYU/NYMC, 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, Dermatology, Hair Care, JAMA / 11.10.2025

[caption id="attachment_70946" align="alignleft" width="200"]dr-brett-king Dr. King[/caption] Brett King, MD, PHD  Dr. King was named an American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) “Patient Care Hero” for his work treating patients with severe alopecia areata Dermatology Physicians of Connecticut Fairfield, Connecticut MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Would you briefly explain the condition of Alopecia Areata? Response: Alopecia Areata (AA), an autoimmune form of hair loss, is common and its treatment has been revolutionized in the past ~3 years with approvals of 3 JAK inhibitors, bariticinib, ritlecitinib and deuruxolitinib. Prior to these approvals, off label treatments included the JAK inhibitors tofacitinib and ruxolitinib.   In a world of multiple treatments, especially when those treatments belong to the same medicine class, the question arises “If patients do not achieve treatment success with one medicine, might they achieve treatment success with another one?”
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, Cancer Research, Dermatology, JAMA / 06.10.2025

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_70681" align="alignleft" width="167"]Dr. Wheless Dr. Wheless[/caption] Lee Wheless, MD, PhD Assistant Professor Department of Dermatology Department of Medicine, Division of Epidemiology Vanderbilt University Medical Center Staff Physician Tennessee Valley Health System VA Medical Center MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Nicotinamide has been in use for skin cancer prevention for at least a decade. A more recent trial among solid organ transplant recipients (SOTR) specifically concluded that there was no benefit in this population. While that study had a number of issues, it really led dermatologists to question whether it was efficacious. This coupled with another study around the same time that suggested that metabolites of nicotinamide might increase the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). My group earlier this year conducted a similar study to this one showing that we really did not observe any increase in MACE at the population level. We then turned to address of the question of if nicotinamide was actually useful in reducing skin cancer risk.
Author Interviews, Heart Disease, NEJM / 06.10.2025

Aspirin in Patients with Chronic Coronary Syndrome Receiving Oral Anticoagulation

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_70865" align="alignleft" width="200"]Gilles Lemesle, M.D., Ph.DRadcliffe Cardiology Interventional Cardiologist Lille University Hospital, Lille, FR Prof. Lemesle[/caption] Gilles Lemesle, M.D., Ph.D Lille University Hospital, Lille, France Guillaume Cayla, M.D., Ph.D Université de Montpellier, France Martine Gilard, M.D., Ph.D Hospital Cavale Blanche, Brest, France   MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) and receiving long-term oral anticoagulation (OAC), mainly but not solely for atrial fibrillation, are at high risk of both atherothrombotic events on one side and bleeding events on the other side. Therefore, the optimal antithrombotic management for these patients with CCS requiring OAC after stenting is critical, especially in those patients at high residual atherothrombotic risk. Previous studies reported that in this specific context, the addition of antiplatelet therapy on top of OAC increases bleeding without a clear benefit on ischemic outcomes. Nevertheless, these studies presented several limitations, which restricted the applicability of their results in clinical pratice. They were indeed all open-labelled, included patients without stenting and/or at low atherothrombotic risk, and focused on Asian patients who have different atherothrombotic and bleeding risks as compared to Europeans. Thus, the rationale of the AQUATIC trial comes from the need to better identify the optimal antithrombotic regimen in high-risk patients with CCS and previous stenting, who receive long-term OAC, in order to optimize the atherothrombotic/bleeding risks in this population. The AQUATIC trial analyzed the efficacy and safety of adding aspirin to OAC, a combination that is still commonly used for this high-risk population in clinical daily practice.
Anemia, Author Interviews, Hematology, JAMA, Pain Research, Pediatrics / 03.09.2025

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_70522" align="alignleft" width="150"]Ibrahim Gwarzo, DrPH, MPH, MBBSResearch Scientist at Nemours Children’s Health Delaware Valley, Delaware USA Dr. Gwarzo[/caption] Ibrahim Gwarzo, DrPH, MPH, MBBS Research Scientist at Nemours Children’s Health Delaware Valley, Delaware USA MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Would you briefly explain the condition of sickle cell disease and why young people frequently present to the ER with severe pain? Response: Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects red blood cells. It is passed down as an autosomal recessive disorder, meaning a person must inherit the defective gene from both parents to have the disease. The condition primarily impacts hemoglobin, the protein responsible for carrying oxygen in red blood cells, which leads to changes in the shape and stability of these cells. The complications associated with the disease, including recurrent and severe pain episodes, are a direct result of these changes. These pain episodes are debilitating and unpredictable, resulting in frequent emergency department visits where they are typically treated with pain medications, including opioids. It is estimated that around 100,000 people in the United States have sickle cell disease, with about 40,000 being children. The disease has a significant prevalence in the Afro-Latino population.
Author Interviews, Geriatrics, JAMA, Pharmacology / 05.08.2025

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_70179" align="alignleft" width="220"]Emily G. McDonald MD MSc (Epi) FRCPCScientist | Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre Associate Professor of Medicine | General Internal Medicine | McGill University Health Centre Associate Chair of Quality and Safety | Department of Medicine | McGill University Director | Canadian Medication Appropriateness and Deprescribing Network Centre for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE) Montreal, QC Dr. McDonald[/caption] Emily G. McDonald MD MSc (Epi) FRCPC Scientist | Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre Associate Professor of Medicine | General Internal Medicine | McGill University Health Centre Associate Chair of Quality and Safety | Department of Medicine | McGill University Director | Canadian Medication Appropriateness and Deprescribing Network Centre for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE) Montreal, QC https://www.medsafer.org/ https://www.deprescribingnetwork.ca/   MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: Polypharmacy (taking multiple medications) is common among older adults and can lead to serious side effects like memory problems, falls, fractures, and hospitalization. Deprescribing (the process of stopping some medications that may no longer be beneficial or where the harms outweigh the benefits) is a great solution. This study found that an electronic tool to support prescribers increased deprescribing more than 3 times compared to usual care without the software support.
Accidents & Violence, Author Interviews, JAMA, USPSTF / 12.07.2025

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_69498" align="alignleft" width="200"]Dr. David Chelmow, M.D.Leo J. Dunn professor of obstetrics and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics-Gynecology Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine Richmond, Virginia Dr. Chelmow joined the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force in January 2022 Dr. Chelmow[/caption] Dr. David Chelmow, M.D. Leo J. Dunn professor of obstetrics and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics-Gynecology Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine Richmond, Virginia Dr. Chelmow joined the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force in January 2022 MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: Intimate partner violence, also known as domestic violence, affects millions of people in the United States and can have devastating consequences for one’s health and wellbeing. Clinicians can make a real difference for those affected—evidence shows that there are screening tools that can detect intimate partner violence in women, including those who are pregnant, as well as interventions that work to reduce future violence. As a result, the Task Force recommends that clinicians screen all women of reproductive age, including those who are pregnant and postpartum, for intimate partner violence and refer those who screen positive to ongoing services so they can get the care they need to stay safe. The Task Force also recognizes that caregiver abuse of older and vulnerable adults is an important issue. Unfortunately, right now there is not enough evidence to recommend for or against screening for caregiver abuse and neglect of older and vulnerable adults, so we are calling for more research in these important areas.
Author Interviews, JAMA, Osteoporosis, USPSTF / 24.06.2025

[caption id="attachment_69170" align="alignleft" width="200"]Dr-Davis_Esa Dr. Davis[/caption] MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Esa M. Davis, M.D., M.P.H. Vice chair, USPSTF Professor of Family and Community Medicine Senior Associate Dean of Population and Community Medicine University of Maryland School of Medicine MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings? Response: Osteoporosis causes bones to become weak and break or fracture more easily. It is more common as people age and can lead to serious disability, chronic pain, loss of independence, and even death. The Task Force looked at the evidence and found that all women who are 65 and older should be screened for osteoporosis. Menopause causes hormone changes that affect a person's bone density and causes their bones to break down faster than they can rebuild, thereby increasing a person's risk of osteoporosis. As a result, women younger than 65 who have already gone through menopause and have at least one additional risk factor for osteoporosis should receive a formal risk assessment to determine whether they should then be screened. It's important to note that men can also get osteoporosis and have similar risk factors as women, but unfortunately there is not enough evidence to determine whether or not screening and then treating men can help prevent fractures.
Accidents & Violence, Annals Internal Medicine, Author Interviews, CDC, Emergency Care / 16.04.2025

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: The Study Authors at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention MedicalResearch.com: How were the states selected in this analysis and how does this compare to firearm injuries in other states Response: Jurisdictions included were part of CDC’s Firearm Injury Surveillance Through Emergency Rooms (FASTER) program: District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia. FASTER collected near real-time emergency department data for firearm and violence-related injuries from 2020 to 2023. This timely state- and local-level data can support hospitals and health systems in responding to health problems and improving clinical services.
Author Interviews, Cognitive Issues, JAMA, OBGYNE, Pediatrics / 15.04.2025

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_67904" align="alignleft" width="150"]Samson Nivins PhDPost-doc | Neonatology Karolinska Institutet Developmental Neuroscientist Liggins Institute Dr. Nivins[/caption] Samson Nivins PhD Post-doc | Neonatology Karolinska Institutet Developmental Neuroscientist Liggins Institute   [caption id="attachment_67905" align="alignleft" width="150"]Ulrika Ådén PhDProfessor of Neonatology Department of Women's and Children's Health Karolinska Dr. Ådén[/caption] Ulrika Ådén PhD Professor of Neonatology Department of Women's and Children's Health Karolinska     MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Children born preterm are at higher risk of cognitive impairment during childhood and later in life. However, an important unresolved question is whether these impairments primarily reflect genetic susceptibility or are driven by the biological consequences of being born too early. Cognitive development is known to have a strong heritable component (~70 %), and previous studies have attempted to disentangle genetic and environmental contributions, for example through sibling comparison designs. Although informative, such approaches have inherent limitations. In this study, we aimed to investigate long-term cognitive outcomes across a range of gestational age groups including very preterm, moderately preterm, late preterm, and early term, compared to children born full term. Importantly, we accounted for genetic influences as well as a range of potential confounding factors, including prenatal risks and child-specific factors. This approach provides a more nuanced understanding of the extent to which cognitive outcomes associated with preterm birth reflect biological versus inherited risk.
Alzheimer's - Dementia, Author Interviews, Diabetes, JAMA, Weight Research / 09.04.2025

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_67848" align="alignleft" width="150"]Dr. Catriona Reddin MDFourth year Specialist Registrar in Geriatric Medicine  and an Irish Clinical Academic Training (ICAT) fellow University Hospital Galway, Galway, Ireland Dr. Reddin[/caption] Dr. Catriona Reddin MD Fourth year Specialist Registrar in Geriatric Medicine  and an Irish Clinical Academic Training (ICAT) fellow University Hospital Galway, Galway, Ireland   MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Dementia is a leading cause of disability globally, which is projected to affect approximately 75 million people by 2030. Diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for dementia, it was unclear if glucose lower therapies reduce the risk of dementia. The research, a systematic review and meta-analysis of 26 clinical trials involving over 160,000 participants, found that while most glucose-lowering therapies were not significantly associated with a reduction in dementia risk, one class of drugs—GLP-1Ras—was linked to a significant reduction.
Author Interviews, Infections, NEJM, STD / 06.03.2025

MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_66982" align="alignleft" width="150"]Dr. lenka_vodstrcil Dr. Vodstrcil[/caption] Lenka Vodstrcil PhD Senior Research Fellow Deputy Head, Genital Microbiota and Mycoplasma Group President, Sexual Health Society of Victoria Associate Editor, Sexually Transmitted Infections School of Translational Medicine, FMNHS, Monash University Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, The Alfred Hospital Melbourne School of Population & Global Health, University of Melbourne [caption id="attachment_66983" align="alignleft" width="150"]STM - Catriona Bradshaw Dr. Bradshaw[/caption] Catriona Bradshaw MMBS(Hons), PhD, FAChSHM, FAHMS Professor (Research), Head of Research Translation and Mentorship and of The Genital Microbiota and Mycoplasma Group Melbourne School of Translational Medicine, Monash University and Alfred Hospital Principal Research Fellow at the Burnet Institute   MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: One in three women globally have bacterial vaginosis (BV), a condition that causes a malodourous discharge, and associated with serious gynaecologic and obstetric sequelae (including miscarriage and preterm birth) and increases the risk sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV. Women with symptoms are treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics, however, over 50% of women experience BV recurrence within 3-6 months. The recurrence rate is even higher at 60-80% among women with an ongoing regular partner. Current practice is to simply retreat women experiencing BV recurrence with the same antibiotics, which leaves them (and clinicians) frustrated and distressed. We and others have accumulated a body of evidence to show that BV has the profile of an STI. BV-associated bacteria are detected in men in the distal urethra and on penile-skin, and couples share these organisms. However, to date, has not been recommended for BV as it is for other STIs. This is largely because men do not usually have any symptoms, and past partner-treatment trials in the 1980s and 1990s, which only used oral antibiotics for men, failed to prevent BV recurrence, which was taken as conclusive evidence against sexual transmission. Reviews of these trials have since identified their limitations. Given the evidence of male carriage of BV-associated bacteria at two genital sites, we hypothesised that both sites needed to be targeted with antimicrobial therapy to prevent re-infection post-treatment. The aim of our study was to assess if male partner-treatment concurrently with female treatment using a combination of oral and topical antibiotics for the first time, would decrease BV recurrence over 12 weeks compared to the current standard practice of treating women only.