JAMA Medical News: Discussing timely topics in clinical medicine, biomedical sciences, public health, and health policy

Ajay J. Kirtane, MD, SM, a professor of medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, discusses late-breaking clinical research presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology in an interview with JAMA Medical News Director Jennifer Abbasi. Related Content: Heart Health Highlights From ACC—Marathon Runners and Mortality, Oral GLP-1 Drugs, and More

Axe Falls on Federal Health Workforce; Experts Say CDC Cuts Will Cost Lives Related Content: “Guaranteed Pandemonium” as HHS Secretary Slashes Federal Health Workforce Experts Say Abrupt and “Staggering” CDC Cuts Will Cost Lives

Diabetic retinopathy remains a leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide, and AI may facilitate screening, if such models continue to perform well when they are deployed in the real world. Coauthors Arthur Brant, MD, of Stanford University, and Sunny Virmani, MS, of Google join JAMA+ AI Editor in Chief Roy H. Perlis, MD, MSc, to discuss a new study published in JAMA Network Open. Related Content: Diabetic Retinopathy Is Massively Underscreened—an AI System Could Help Performance of a Deep Learning Diabetic Retinopathy Algorithm in India

A recent study published in JAMA Health Forum suggests that institutions may be able to deploy custom open-source large language models (LLMs) that run locally without sacrificing data privacy or flexibility. Coauthors Thomas A. Buckley, BS, and Arjun K. Manrai, PhD, from the Department of Biomedical Informatics at Harvard Medical School join JAMA+ AI Editor in Chief Roy H. Perlis, MD, MSc, to discuss. Related Content: Can Open-Source AI Models Diagnose Complex Cases as Well as GPT-4?

The US Is Suing Pharmacies for Aiding in the Opioid Crisis; Texas Measles Outbreak Spurs Call for Stronger Vaccine Advocacy; Study Finds Sleep-Related Infant Deaths Are on the Rise Related Content: US Government Sues Pharmacy Chains CVS and Walgreens for Their Alleged Role in the Opioid Epidemic Amid Texas Measles Outbreak, Clinicians Struggle to Offset Increasing Vaccine Hesitancy Amid Decreasing Infant Mortality, Sleep-Related Infant Deaths Are on the Rise

Correction: This podcast has been updated to add additional context on the frequency of false positives. Open neural tube defects affect approximately 1 in 1400 births. Daniel Herman, MD, PhD, of the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine joins JAMA+ AI Editor in Chief Roy H. Perlis, MD, MSc, to discuss a quality improvement study examining the need to continue to incorporate race in tests that screen for these defects. Related Content: Study Findings Question Value of Including Race in Prenatal Screening for Birth Defects Reassessing the Inclusion of Race in Prenatal Screening for Open Neural Tube Defects

Artificial intelligence (AI) in health care is advancing, despite concerns about how its use may impact health disparities. Dimitri Christakis, MD, MPH, chief health officer at Special Olympics, joins JAMA Associate Editor Yulin Hswen, ScD, MPH, to discuss AI's potential role in improving health care delivery for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Related Content: How AI Could Improve Health Care for People With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities How Artificial Intelligence Can Promote Inclusive Health

A recent study showed AI-assisted screening using a large language model tool reduced time to determine trial eligibility compared with manual methods. Author Alexander J. Blood, MD, MSc, cardiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Associate Director of the Accelerator for Clinical Transformation Research Group at Harvard Medical School joins JAMA Associate Editor Yulin Hswen, ScD, MPH, to discuss this topic and more. Related Content: Study Finds AI Can Quickly Prescreen Patients for Clinical Trials, Speeding Enrollment Manual vs AI-Assisted Prescreening for Trial Eligibility Using Large Language Models—A Randomized Clinical Trial

In a recent study published in JAMA Psychiatry, researchers reported that a machine learning model was able to stratify risk for subsequent diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder among individuals already receiving psychiatric treatment. Coauthor Søren Dinesen Østergaard, PhD, of Aarhus University in Denmark joins JAMA+ AI Editor in Chief Roy H. Perlis, MD, MSc, to discuss. Related Content: Machine Learning Model Shows Promise in Early Detection of Serious Mental Illness Predicting Diagnostic Progression to Schizophrenia or Bipolar Disorder via Machine Learning

AI can play a role in addressing language barriers in health care. In a recent Editorial in JAMA Network Open, Pilar Ortega, MD, MGM, of the University of Illinois College of Medicine, and coauthors emphasized the urgent need for integrating language equity into digital health solutions. Dr Ortega joins JAMA and JAMA+ AI Associate Editor Yulin Hswen, ScD, MPH, to discuss. Related Content: Researcher Proposes New Framework for Language Equity in Health Technology Language Equity in Health Technology for Patients With Non–English Language Preference Challenges to Video Visits for Patients With Non–English Language Preference

A recent report from the Engineering Research Visioning Alliance emphasizes the urgent need for engineering-directed research to mitigate the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance. Anita Shukla, PhD, a professor of engineering at Brown University, discusses its findings with JAMA Medical News Associate Managing Editor Kate Schweitzer and presents several key opportunities. Related Content: Five Engineering Advancements That May Help Solve the Growing Threat of Antimicrobial Resistance

Changes to CDC's Website Threaten Patients, Public Health; Landmark Study of Black Women and Cancer Launches Related Content: As Missing and Altered CDC Webpages Threaten Patient Care, Efforts Grow to Fill Information Gaps Landmark Study Aims to Enroll 100 000 Black Women to Investigate Their Cancer Risks and Outcomes

Lung ultrasound aids in the diagnosis of patients with dyspnea but requires technical proficiency for image acquisition. Cristiana Baloescu, MD, MPH, of Yale School of Medicine, joins JAMA Associate Editor Yulin Hswen, ScD, MPH, to discuss a new study published in JAMA Cardiology evaluating the ability of AI to guide acquisition of diagnostic-quality lung ultrasound images by trained health care professionals. Related Content: AI-Guided Lung Ultrasounds Could Help Nonexpert Clinicians Acquire “Expert-Level” Images Artificial Intelligence–Guided Lung Ultrasound by Nonexperts

A recent study in JAMA Network Open evaluates the use of machine learning algorithms to assess the management of urinary tract infection (UTI). Author Sanjat Kanjilal, MD, MPH, professor in the Department of Population Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare Institute, joins JAMA Associate Editor Yulin Hswen, ScD, MPH, to discuss this topic and more. Related Content: Researchers Use Machine Learning to Put Older Clinical Guidelines to the Test Use of Machine Learning to Assess the Management of Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infection

Digital health technologies, including patient portals, are widely used by older adults, as described in a recent study published in JAMA Network Open. Author Cornelius James, MD, of the University of Michigan joins JAMA+ AI Editor in Chief Roy H. Perlis, MD, MSc, to discuss the study and how it fits with his own experience in the clinic. Related Content: Study Finds Most Older Adults Use Digital Health Technologies, Plus Some Surprises Use of Digital Health Technologies by Older US Adults

How do patients feel about the quality of AI-generated responses to their messages to clinicians? Author Eleni Linos, MD, DrPH, of Stanford joins JAMA+ AI Editor in Chief Roy H. Perlis, MD, MSc, to discuss her recent study in JAMA Network Open that characterized satisfaction with these messages. Related Content: Study Finds People Prefer AI Over Clinician Responses to Questions in the Electronic Medical Record Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence–Generated Responses to Patient Messages

Weight-Loss Drugs Are Reshaping the Future of Bariatric Surgery; Are Compounded GLP-1 Drugs Safe? Will Renaming Some Cancers as Noncancers Hurt or Help? Related Content: What Does the Rise of GLP-1 Drugs Mean for Bariatric Surgery? Patients Are Flocking to Compounded Weight-Loss Drugs, but Are They Safe? Experts Are Debating Whether Some Cancers Shouldn't Be Called That

The burden of responding to clinician inbox messages may be a contributor to burnout. Eden English, MD, of UCHealth joins JAMA+ AI Editor in Chief Roy H. Perlis, MD, MSc, to discuss her recent study published in JAMA Network Open, which examined the use of large language models to reply to patient messages. Related Content: Researchers Tested an AI Tool That Drafts Responses to Patient Messages—Here's What They Found Utility of Artificial Intelligence–Generative Draft Replies to Patient Messages Are Artificial Intelligence–Generated Replies the Answer to the Electronic Health Record Inbox Problem?

With accelerating global adoption of AI, countries are developing ethical AI frameworks to prevent harm to the most vulnerable populations. Maria Villalobos-Quesada, PhD, from the University of Barcelona, discusses this and more with JAMA+ AI Associate Editor Yulin Hswen, ScD, MPH. Related Content: Study Finds Limited Evidence to Support More Than 40 Predictive Machine Learning Algorithms Used in Primary Care Availability of Evidence for Predictive Machine Learning Algorithms in Primary Care The Need for Continuous Evaluation of Artificial Intelligence Prediction Algorithms

American Indian and Alaska Native communities have higher rates of suicide than any other racial or ethnic group in the US. A recent study published in JAMA Network Open describes an AI-based suicide screening tool investigated in an American Indian community. Author Emily Haroz, PhD, of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, joins JAMA and JAMA+ AI Associate Editor Yulin Hswen, ScD, MPH. Related Content: How AI Could Help Clinicians Identify American Indian Patients at Risk for Suicide Performance of Machine Learning Suicide Risk Models in an American Indian Population

How can hospitals use early warning score tools to risk stratify patients without adding to alarm fatigue? Dana Edelson, MD, MS, of the University of Chicago joins JAMA+ AI Editor in Chief Roy H. Perlis, MD, MSc, to discuss a recent study published in JAMA Network Open that she coauthored, comparing 6 early warning scores designed to recognize clinical deterioration in hospitalized patients. Related Content: Researchers Compared Hospital Early Warning Scores for Clinical Deterioration—Here's What They Learned Early Warning Scores With and Without Artificial Intelligence

Chatbots may have a role in enhancing clinical care, but the best way to apply them remains a work in progress. Jonathen Chen, MD, PhD, and Ethan Goh, MD, MS, of Stanford, join JAMA and JAMA+ AI Associate Editor Yulin Hswen, ScD, MPH, to discuss their randomized clinical trial published in JAMA Network Open investigating the use of chatbots in clinical practice. Related Content: An AI Chatbot Outperformed Physicians and Physicians Plus AI in a Trial—What Does That Mean? Large Language Model Influence on Diagnostic Reasoning

Why COVID-19 Vaccines Don't Stop Transmission; Hospital-at-Home—But Make It Virtual Related Content: In Search of COVID-19 Vaccines That Elicit Mucosal Immunity and Stop Transmission The Next Step in Hospital-at-Home Care Could Be Virtual

In a recent Viewpoint published in JAMA, Michael Pencina, PhD, of Duke University, argued for a federated registration system for AI tools deployed in health systems. He joins JAMA+ AI Editor in Chief Roy H. Perlis, MD, MSc, to discuss his article, the Coalition for Health AI (CHAI), and more. Related Content: Health Systems Are Struggling to Keep Up With AI—A National Registration System Could Help A Federated Registration System for Artificial Intelligence in Health

In resource-limited settings, an integrated AI tool allows novice users to improve gestational age estimates. Jeffrey Stringer, MD, University of North Carolina, joins JAMA+ AI Editor in Chief Roy H. Perlis, MD, MSc, to discuss "Diagnostic Accuracy of an Integrated AI Tool to Estimate Gestational Age From Blind Ultrasound Sweeps." Related Content: The Low-Cost, Battery-Powered AI-Enabled Ultrasound Device That Could Improve Global Obstetric Care Diagnostic Accuracy of an Integrated AI Tool to Estimate Gestational Age From Blind Ultrasound Sweeps

Cardiologist Amit Khera, MD, chair of the American Heart Association's recent flagship meeting, discusses some of the most important clinical studies presented at the conference with JAMA Medical News Director Jennifer Abbasi. They touch on antiobesity drugs, new compounds to reduce lipoprotein(a), AI tools, and more. Related Content: Lp(a) Reduction, GLP-1s for Heart Failure, and More—Highlights From the AHA Scientific Sessions

Effective communication is essential in medicine, yet language barriers can result in suboptimal care. AI holds promise for bridging these gaps, enhancing outcomes, and reducing disparities. Casey Lion, MD, MPH, from the University of Washington School of Medicine, joins JAMA and JAMA+ AI Associate Editor Yulin Hswen, ScD, MPH, to discuss AI as an interpreter in the clinic. Related Content: Researcher Explores Using AI to Overcome Language Barriers With Patients Artificial Intelligence for Language Translation

How Antibiotic Underuse Is Driving Antimicrobial Resistance; What to Know About the XEC SARS-CoV-2 Variant Related Content: UN Meeting Highlights Antimicrobial Resistance “Epiphany”—Lack of Antibiotic Access Is a Key Driver What to Know About XEC, the New SARS-CoV-2 Variant Expected to Dominate Winter's COVID-19 Wave

A recent Special Communication published in JAMA points out that the FDA has already approved nearly 1000 devices using AI. Author Robert M. Califf, MD, commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration, joins JAMA+ AI Editor in Chief Roy H. Perlis, MD, MSc, to discuss AI regulation. Related Content: FDA Commissioner Robert Califf on Setting Guardrails for AI in Health Care JAMA AI Interview With Robert M. Califf, MD FDA Perspective on the Regulation of Artificial Intelligence in Health Care and Biomedicine

A recent JAMA Cardiology essay argues that medicine is not just a technical endeavor, it's also a moral endeavor, and a robot does not have moral agency. Coauthor Sarah C. Hull, MD, MBE, of Yale School of Medicine, joins JAMA and JAMA+ AI Associate Editor Yulin Hswen, ScD, MPH, to discuss the use of AI in managing decision-making in cardiac care. Related Content: AI Can't Worry About Patients, and a Clinical Ethicist Says That Matters Echoes of Concern—AI and Moral Agency in Medicine

Widespread adoption of AI raises questions about accountability, transparency, and reproducibility. Marcia McNutt, PhD, president of the National Academy of Sciences, joins JAMA Editor in Chief Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, PhD, MD, MAS, to discuss advancing scientific knowledge in the age of AI. Related Content: National Academies President on How to Use Generative AI Responsibly in Scientific Research

Researchers Are Exploring the Role of Shingles—and a Protective Role of Shingles Vaccine—in Dementia; Could the Body Roundness Index One Day Replace BMI? Related Content: Researchers Are Exploring the Role of Shingles—and a Protective Role of Shingles Vaccine—in Dementia Could the Body Roundness Index One Day Replace the BMI?

Getting genuinely useful new technologies, from wearables to clinical decision support, into the clinic has proven to be surprisingly challenging. Tanzeem K. Choudhury, PhD, of Cornell Tech joins JAMA+ AI Editor in Chief Roy H. Perlis, MD, MSc, to discuss how to take research into the real world in a way that is scalable and affordable. Related Content: How Health and Technology Sectors Can Collaborate on Better AI-Assisted Wearables

What hard lessons did the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) learn in 3 decades of EHR development, and what can it teach us about building better AI in medicine? Stephen Fihn, MD, MPH, of the University of Washington, and formerly a leader in the VA's EHR efforts, joins JAMA+ AI Editor in Chief Roy H. Perlis, MD, MSc, to discuss his experience at the VA building decision support tools and other technology. Related Content: The VA Was an Early Adopter of Artificial Intelligence to Improve Care—Here's What They Learned Hello, World—Introducing JAMA+ AI

European Society of Cardiology Vice President Carlos Aguiar, MD, discusses clinical research highlights from the largest scientific meeting in cardiovascular medicine, held recently in London. Updates include semaglutide findings, hypertension triple pills, and more. Related Content: Semaglutide Updates, Hypertension Triple Pills, and More—Heart Health Highlights From ESC Congress

Related Content: The Latest Research About Paxlovid: Effectiveness, Access, and Possible Long COVID Benefits New Guidance Helps Clinicians Use Pemivibart to Protect Immunocompromised Patients From COVID-19

Quarraisha Abdool Karim, PhD, and Salim S. Abdool Karim, MBChB, PhD, are the recipients of the 2024 Lasker-Bloomberg Public Service Award for their decades of work on AIDS in Africa. The infectious diseases epidemiologists recently reflected on their life's work in a conversation with JAMA Deputy Editor and infectious diseases physician Preeti Malani, MD, MSJ. Related Content: Thirty-Five Years of HIV Research in Africa—An Interview With Winners of the 2024 Lasker-Bloomberg Public Service Award AIDS in Africa—Impact of Research

Extreme heat and its health outcomes are becoming more common. Jeremy Hess, MD, MPH, an emergency medicine physician and professor at the University of Washington, and Andrew Phelps, former director of the Oregon Department of Emergency Management, join Jennifer Abbasi, director of JAMA Medical News, to discuss lessons learned from the unprecedented heat wave in June 2021. Related Content: As Extreme Heat Becomes More Common, the Unprecedented Pacific Northwest Heat Dome Offers Lessons

Here's What to Know About the New Mpox Global Emergency; Controversial FDA Decision Authorizes Menthol-Flavored E-Cigarettes Related Content: As Mpox Cases Surge in Africa, WHO Declares a Global Emergency—Here's What to Know Controversial FDA Decision Authorizes Menthol-Flavored E-Cigarettes Despite Risks to Youth

Sebastian Palmqvist, MD, PhD, and Wiesje van der Flier, PhD, cochairs of the 2024 Alzheimer's Association International Conference, speak with JAMA Medical News Lead Senior Staff Writer Rita Rubin, MA, about highlights from the annual meeting, including a blood test for Alzheimer disease, repurposing of a GLP-1 receptor agonist, and the possible brain risk from inhaling wildfire smoke. Related Content: A Blood Test for Alzheimer Disease, Repurposing GLP-1s, and Wildfire Smoke—Highlights From the AAIC

Social media is the focus of the US surgeon general's conversation with JAMA Editor in Chief Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, PhD, MD, MAS. She interviews Vivek H. Murthy, MD, MBA, to discuss the dangers of social media on youth mental health, highlighting its contribution to the epidemic of loneliness. This is part 2 of a 2-part Q&A. Related Content: US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy: To Protect Adolescents, Social Media Needs Warning Labels Social Media Needs Warning Labels: Q&A With Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy, MD, MBA US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy: Firearm Violence Is a Public Health Crisis Q&A With Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy, MD, MBA: Gun Violence Is a Public Health Crisis Q&A With Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy, MD, MBA: Gun Violence Is a Public Health Crisis

Endocrinologist Robert Gabbay, MD, PhD, the ADA's chief scientific and medical officer, speaks with JAMA Medical News about clinical research highlights from the annual meeting, including some of the latest data on blockbuster weight loss medications, “game-changing” diabetes technologies, and a new use for a familiar drug. Related Content: New Data on GLP-1s, Diabetic Retinopathy, and CGMs—Highlights From the ADA's Scientific Sessions