Podcasts about Immunology

Branch of medicine studying the immune system

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Best podcasts about Immunology

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Latest podcast episodes about Immunology

A Conversation in Veterinary Pathology - The A.C.V.P. Podcast
S4E1 - A Conversation with Dr. Francisco Uzal

A Conversation in Veterinary Pathology - The A.C.V.P. Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2026 22:00


In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Francisco Uzal, an internationally recognized veterinary pathologist and a global leader in pathology education. He is a professor in Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology at the University of California, Davis, and Branch Chief at the California Animal Health and Food Safety Diagnostic Lab. Dr. Uzal has spent more than four decades in academic diagnostic pathology and is the CEO of the Davis Thompson Foundation, the world's largest organization dedicated to teaching veterinary and comparative pathology.  Join us as we learn more about Dr. Uzal's career, shaped by international collaboration, mentorship, and service. He is especially known for his work in diagnostic pathology and clostridial diseases, as well as for expanding access to education. Most importantly, Dr. Uzal is a passionate educator and advocate for the global pathology community, and we're thrilled to have him with us today. So stay right here for our conversation with Dr. Francisco Uzal.  ____ Links ACVP Errors in Publication Portal 2026 ACVP Annual Meeting  ____ ACVP Social Media Facebook - ACVP Meetings and Topics Instagram - americancollegevetpath X (Twitter) - @ACVP LinkedIn - AMERICAN COLLEGE OF VETERINARY PATHOLOGISTS ____ Music: Guestlist by Podington Bear, licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.  The contents of this audio do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP) or the participants' affiliations. Spoken audio content and associated photos are the property of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, 2026. 

Time to Transform with Dr Deepa Grandon
Surgery vs. Biologics for Nasal Polyps: What Doctors Know Now w/ Dr. Tassos Hantzakos & Dr. Dipa Sheth

Time to Transform with Dr Deepa Grandon

Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2026 56:19


When it comes to treating chronic sinus disease with nasal polyps…what's the best approach, surgery or biologics?Well, the answer is it's usually not either-or anymore.When patients are trying to manage these challenging conditions, some people opt for one or the other. But more physicians are finding that surgery and biologics aren't different paths. They are actually treatment protocols that complement each other.Surgery may remove the growths, but it doesn't necessarily stop the process of creating them in the first place. Biologics may suppress the inflammatory pathways driving recurrence, but they don't physically restore blocked sinus anatomy or remove bulky disease.We're entering a new phase of care where the question is no longer “surgery or biologics?” but how both can work together as part of a personalized strategy.Instead of treating every patient the same way, physicians are now looking deeper at the inflammatory pathways driving disease, recurrence risk, quality of life, and even how different biologics target different parts of the immune cascade.The shift is moving chronic sinus care away from a one-size-fits-all model and toward precision medicine that's designed around the individual patient.In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Tassos Hantzakos, staff physician in otolaryngology and residency program director at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, and Dr. Deepa Sheth, allergy and immunology specialist.Together, we break down how the treatment landscape for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps is evolving, why collaboration between ENT and allergy specialists is becoming essential, and how biologics are reshaping the future of inflammatory airway disease management.Things You'll Learn In This Episode Not just a surgical problemFor decades, treatment focused on physically removing nasal polyps, but many patients still experienced recurrence. Why does surgery alone often fail to stop the disease?Biologics are changing how we think about airway diseaseNew biologic therapies are targeting different parts of the inflammatory cascade. How do physicians decide which biologic is the best fit for a specific patient?The future of treatment is collaborative, not competitiveThe conversation is shifting away from “surgery versus biologics” toward integrated care between ENT surgeons and allergists. When should surgery come first, and when should biologics be introduced?Precision medicine is reshaping chronic inflammatory careDifferent patients may require different treatment approaches. How does identifying the root inflammatory driver completely change long-term management outcomes?Guest BioDr. Tassos Hantzakos is a staff physician in the Otolaryngology Department at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi's Integrated Surgical Institute, where he also serves as Program Director of the Otolaryngology Residency. His clinical expertise spans otolaryngology, rhinology, phonosurgery, laryngeal laser surgery, and voice disorders. Before joining Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Dr. Hantzakos served as a consultant within the Hellenic National Health System, Director of the Voice Clinic at NUKA, and Clinical Associate Professor at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine in the US. He has contributed to numerous international journal articles and textbooks and is actively involved in several professional societies, including the European Laryngological Society, the International Association of Phonosurgeons, the Voice Foundation, and the European Society for Swallowing Disorders. Outside of medicine, he enjoys spending time with his family, long-distance running, triathlons, and playing guitar and drums. Connect with him on LinkedIn. Dr. Dipa K. Sheth is an allergist-immunologist based in Washington, DC, and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Her clinical work focuses on allergy and immunology, with experience treating conditions such as chronic sinusitis, rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, drug hypersensitivity, and food hypersensitivity. Dr. Sheth received her medical degree and completed her internal medicine training at George Washington University, followed by a fellowship in Allergy and Immunology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and National Jewish Health. Her research has been published in journals including Frontiers in Allergy and Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Connect with her on LinkedIn. About Your HostHosted by Dr. Deepa Grandon, MD, MBA, a triple board-certified physician with over 23 years of experience working as a Physician Consultant for influential organizations worldwide. Dr. Grandon is the founder of Transformational Life Consulting (TLC) and an outspoken faith-based leader in evidence-based lifestyle medicine.Disclaimer ​​TLC is presenting this podcast as a form of information sharing only. It is not medical advice or intended to replace the judgment of a licensed physician. TLC is not responsible for any claims related to procedures, professionals, products, or methods discussed in the podcast, and it does not approve or endorse any products, professionals, services, or methods that might be referenced.Work With Me Learn More About My Soon-to-Launch Telemedicine PlatformExciting news. My virtual medical platform is launching soon! If you're looking for personalized, evidence-based care in allergy, immunology, and lifestyle medicine, stay tuned. Visit drdeepa-tlc.org and click on “Learn More” to join the waitlist and be the first to receive updates about services, membership options, and launch details.Precision care. Personalized guidance. Wherever you are.Devotionals Want to receive a devotional every week from Dr. Deepa? Devotionals are dedicated to providing you with a moment of reflection, inspiration, and spiritual growth each week, delivered right to your inbox. Visit drdeepa-tlc.org to subscribe for free.Trauma Courses Ready to deepen your understanding of trauma and kick-start your healing journey? Explore a range of online and onsite courses designed to equip you with practical and affordable tools. From counselors, ministry leaders, and educators to couples, parents, and individuals seeking help for themselves, there's a powerful course for everyone. Browse all the courses now to start your journey.

The Lab Report
Urolithin A with Dr. Anurag Singh

The Lab Report

Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2026 33:52


Anurag Singh MD, PhD. is a physician, researcher, immunologist, and one of the leading voices behind the science of Urolithin A – a gut microbiome metabolite. Urolithin A is crucial for mitochondrial health by stimulating mitophagy. Dr. Singh breaks down the science and explains his extensive research into how this postbiotic compound could play a major role in cellular energy and longevity. Whether you’re an athlete, a health optimizer, or just curious about the future of longevity science, this conversation with Dr. Anurag Singh is packed with cutting-edge, evidence-based insights you won’t want to miss. Today on The Lab Report: 3:05 Meet Dr. Anurag Singh and learn about Urolithin A 6:45 Substrates, prevalence, and specific gut commensal bacteria 9:40 Mitophagy and mitochondrial health 12:55 Immunology and aging 15:35 Urolithin A and muscle mass 17:45 Academic research a-ha moments 20:15 Clinical benefits of Urolithin A 23:00 Food based approach vs. supplementation 25:25 Safety and contraindications 27:00 Ranking your supplement stack 29:10 The Fireball Additional Resources: Timeline Mitopure Subscribe, Rate, & Review The Lab Report Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of The Lab Report, presented by Genova Diagnostics, with your hosts Michael Chapman and Patti Devers. If you enjoyed this episode, please hit the subscribe button and give us a rating or leave a review. Don’t forget to visit our website, like us on Facebook, follow us on X, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Email Patti and Michael with your most interesting and pressing questions on functional medicine: podcast@gdx.net. And, be sure to share your favorite Lab Report episodes with your friends and colleagues on social media to help others learn more about Genova and all things related to functional medicine and specialty lab testing. To find a qualified healthcare provider to connect you with Genova testing, or to access select products directly yourself, visit Genova Connect. Disclaimer: The content and information shared in The Lab Report is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in The Lab Report represent the opinions and views of Michael Chapman and Patti Devers and their guests.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let's Talk Wellness Now
Episode 265 – The Future of Healing: How Exosomes Re-Educate Your Body to Heal Itself

Let's Talk Wellness Now

Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2026 51:27


Dr. Deb Muth 00:04What if the future of healing isn’t about replacing cells, but about teaching your body how to heal itself again? We keep hearing the words stem cells and exoomes thrown around like they’re interchangeable, but they’re not. One is regulated, controversial, and often misunderstood. The other is rapidly emerging as one of the most exciting communication systems in human biology. Dr. Deb Muth 00:33And here’s the real question no one’s asking. Are we actually regenerating tissue or are we just stimulating the body to remember how it used to heal? Tired of being told your labs are normal, but you still feel terrible? At Serenity Healthcare Center, we don’t chase symptoms. We find the root cause. hormones, gut health, autoimmune conditions, chronic fatigue, brain fog. Dr. Deb Muth 01:02We use cuttingedge functional and regenerative medicine to get you real answers and a real path forward. This isn’t your average doctor’s office. This is medicine the way it was meant to be practiced. You deserve to feel like yourself again. Visit serenityhealthcarecenter.com to book your appointment today. Let us help you heal from the inside out. Dr. Deb Muth 01:28Welcome back to Let’s Talk Wellness Now. I’m Dr. Deb, your host. And if you’ve been following regenerative medicine, you’ve probably noticed the confusion. Patients are asking me every week, are exoomes stem cells? Are stem cells legal in the United States? I heard the FDA is shutting down all these clinics. Can I even get this therapy? Do I have to leave the country for treatment? Today, we’re cutting through the noise. This episode is not hype. Dr. Deb Muth 01:54It’s not sales. It’s education so you can understand the science, the regulatory reality, and the clinical difference between stem cell therapy and exoome therapy. And here’s what I want you to know right up front. Yes, these therapies are being used in the United States every single day. Yes, they’re being offered by highly trained physicians in integrative and regenerative medicine clinics across the country. Dr. Deb Muth 02:22Some are being used in FDA registered clinical trials. Some are being used in observational studies and some are being used in clinical practice under physician discretion. The landscape is nuanced and you deserve to understand it. So, grab your cup of coffee or tea and settle in for a deep dive into the most understood therapies in regenerative medicine. Dr. Deb Muth 02:43what they actually are, how they work, the regulatory landscape, and how they might support your body’s natural healing capacity. Let’s talk wellness now. So, let me start by asking you something. When you hear the word stem cell, what do you picture? Most people imagine damaged tissues magically regenerating or a torn meniscus growing back, cartilage reforming it into an arthritic joint or damaged brain tissue being replaced with healthy new beautiful cells. It’s a beautiful vision. Dr. Deb Muth 03:15And while it’s not quite that simple, the reality is actually more sophisticated and honestly more beautiful. Stem cells are powerful and they absolutely work, but the way they work and the mechanism by which they support healing is far more elegant and more so than most people really understand. And if you’re going to invest in regenerative therapy, you deserve to understand what you’re actually receiving. Dr. Deb Muth 03:44So, let’s start at the beginning. What are stem cells? At their core, stem cells are undifferentiated cells. That means they haven’t yet decided what they want to be when they grow up. Unlike a heart cell or a skin cell or a bone cell which have already committed to a specific function, stem cells exist in this beautiful state of potential. Dr. Deb Muth 04:05They have two remarkable abilities. First, they can self-renew. They can make copies of themselves, maintaining a reserve of these powerful cells throughout your lifetime. Second, they can differentiate under the right conditions. They can transform into specialized cell types. Bone cells, cartilage cells, nerve cells, muscle cells, even blood cells. Dr. Deb Muth 04:27This is why they’ve captured the imagination of the medical world. The potential is extraordinary. Now, there are several types of stem cells and understanding the differences matters tremendously for both understanding how they work and understanding how they’re regulated. Adult mezzenymal stem cells. We call these MSC’s are the most commonly used regenerative medicine. Dr. Deb Muth 04:54These come from bone marrow, atapost tissue, that’s fat, and other adult sources. They’re what we can call multi-potent, meaning they can become several types of cells, but not every type. A bone marrow stem cell isn’t going to become a brain cell, for instance. It has potential but it’s directed potential. Dr. Deb Muth 05:19Then we have perinatal stem cells. These come from umbilical cord blood cord tissue or something called Wharton’s jelly which is the gelatinous substance inside the umbilical cord. These cells are younger, more potent, and research by Weiss and colleagues published in stem cells back in 2006 showed that Wharton’s jelly derived MSC’s have superior proliferation and differentiation potential compared to bone marrow derived cells. Dr. Deb Muth 05:48They’re like comparing a 20-year-old athlete to a 50-year-old athlete. Both can perform, but one has more reserve capacity, more vigor, and more regenerative potential. And this isn’t this is very important because the perinatal sources umbilical cord tissue Wharton’s jelly amniotic tissue these are what many regenerative medicine clinics in the United States are using today and they’re using them because these tissues are incredibly rich in not just stem cells but growth factors cytoines and exoomes. Dr. Deb Muth 06:21Then there are embryionic stem cells. These are pur potent and they become any cell type in the body, but they’re highly regulated, ethically controversial, and honestly, they’re not being used in clinical practice in the United States outside of the very specific FDA approved research trials. Dr. Deb Muth 06:41So, when clinics talk about stem cell therapy, they’re almost never talking about embryionic stem cells. Now, here’s where it gets interesting and this is the part that changes everything about how we understand regenerative medicine. When you receive stem cell therapy, let’s say someone injects umbilical cord derived messenymal stem cells into your arthritic knee, those cells do not typically engraft or become new tissue in any permanent way. Dr. Deb Muth 07:12They don’t set up shop in your joint and start cracking out new cartilage cells for the rest of your life. So what are they actually doing then? Well, in 2011, researchers Arnold Arnold Kaplan and Dennis Korea published a landmark paper in stem cells translational medicine that fundamentally changed how we understand MSC therapy. Dr. Deb Muth 07:35They proposed that we should stop calling memal stem cells and start calling them medicinal signaling cells. Why? Well, because their primary therapeutic benefit doesn’t come from what they become. It comes from what they secrete. Think of stem cells as incredibly sophisticated biological pharmacies. When you inject them into damaged tissue, that arthritic knee, that inflamed autoimmune condition, that injured brain, that don’t just sit there passively, they sense the environment. Dr. Deb Muth 08:07They detect inflammation. They recognize the tissue damage and they understand that the immune dysregulation is present and they see that and respond. They start pumping out hundreds of bioactive molecules, growth factors that tell your cells to repair and rebuild, cytoines that modulate inflammation, chemocines that recruit your body’s own healing cells to the area. Dr. Deb Muth 08:32And these tiny membranes bound packages called extracellular vesicles, including exosomes, which we’re going to talk about extensively today as well. These secreted factors are giving instructions to your native cells. They’re saying, “Let’s reduce inflammation. Let’s modulate your immune response. Let’s promote angioenesis. Dr. Deb Muth 08:53” That’s the formation of new blood vessels, bringing nutrients and oxygen. Let’s stimulate your own resident stem cells to wake up and get to work. Reduce cell death in damaged tissue and restore normal cellular function. This is called paracrine signaling. It’s the cellto cell communication. And this is where the real therapeutic power lives. Dr. Deb Muth 09:14The stem cells themselves, many of them die within days to weeks, but the cascade of healing they trigger, the signals they send, the programs they activate in your own cells, those effects can last for months or even years. Now, this understanding is crucial because it explains why both stem cell therapy and exoo therapy can be effective. Dr. Deb Muth 09:38The stem cells are powerful not because they become new tissue but because of the signals they send and exoomes are those signals isolated and concentrated. The biggest misconception in regenerative medicine is that stem cells replace tissue and in reality they coach healing more than they become healing. They’re biological educators teaching your body to remember how it used to heal before chronic inflammation, toxicity, and disease turned off all those programs. Dr. Deb Muth 10:12So if stem cells don’t exactly end graft and become the new tissue, if their power is in their signaling and then next logical question is why do we need the cells at all? Well, if we could isolate the messengers themselves, what if we could deliver just the communication systems without any of the complexity of the living cells? Well, that’s exactly what exosomes are. Dr. Deb Muth 10:38And they represent the cutting edge of regenerative medicine. So, let me paint you a picture of how cells actually communicate. Because for most medical history, we had it wrong. For decades, textbooks taught us that cells talk to each other in two basic ways. through direct contact like shaking hands or releasing signaling molecules that floated through the extracellular space like messages in bottles, simple chemical messages. Dr. Deb Muth 11:09But in the 1980s and 90s, researchers started discovering something far more sophisticated. cells were releasing these tiny membrane bound packages like a biological FedEx envelope kind of you know it was filled with complex specific cargo and these packages could travel through the blood cross the barriers that normally keep things out like bloodb brain barrier and deliver their contents to distant cells with remarkable precision. Dr. Deb Muth 11:38These are called extracellular vesicles. And exoomes are one of the most therapeutic important types. So what exactly are exosomes? Well, they’re nanosized vesicles, typically 30 to 150 nanome in diameter. To put that into perspective, a human hair is about 100,000 nanometers wide. These are incredible and most impossibly tiny. Dr. Deb Muth 12:09They’re released by virtually all cells in the body, but the most therapeutically interesting exoomes come from mezenymal stem cells. And those medicinal signaling cells we just discussed. And according to a landmark review of Raposo and Stervogal, they published in the journal of cell biology in 2013, exoomes are not cellular debris. They’re not waste products. Dr. Deb Muth 12:35They are precisely engineered communication vesicles or vehicles. Think of them as sophisticated delivery systems carefully packed, carefully labeled, and sent to specific destinations. very specific instructions. Inside each of these exoomes, you’ll find an incredibly sophisticated payload. They are microRNAs. These are small RNA molecules that can literally turn genes off or on in the recipient cells. Dr. Deb Muth 13:06They can tell a cell to start making more collagen, to reduce inflammatory proteins, to activate repair programs that have been shut down by chronic disease for a very long time. There are messenger RNAs, actual templates for protein production. And exoome can deliver these instructions for making healing proteins. There are proteins themselves, growth factors, cytoines, enzymes, all the molecular tools a cell needs to heal. Dr. Deb Muth 13:34And there are lipids, specialized fats that help the exoome membrane fuse with targeted cells, delivering the cargo inside. When an exoome reaches its target cell, it can either fuse the cell membrane and deliver its contents directly inside like a Trojan horse, or it can bind to surface receptors and trigger signaling cascades, setting off a chain reaction of healing responses. Dr. Deb Muth 14:01Either way, it’s delivering very specific targeted instruction. And here’s what makes this so powerful. Those instructions are tailored to what this recipient cell actually needs. So, let me give you some concrete examples of what the research actually shows because this is where it really gets exciting. When researchers inject MSC derived exoomes into hearts that had experienced eskeeia, reprofusion, injury, that’s damaged blood flow being cut off and then being restored. Dr. Deb Muth 14:36Kind of like what happens during a heart attack. Something remarkable happened. A study by Lei and colleagues published in stem cell research in 2010 showed that exoomes significantly reduced the size of the damaged area, reduced inflammatory cytoines that drive tissue destruction and promoted tissue repair signaling. The exoomes were telling the heart cells stop the inflammatory cascade, activate your survival programs and repair the damage. Dr. Deb Muth 15:06In cartilage research, tow and colleagues published work in biioaterials in 2017 showing that exosomes derived from MSC’s could promote cartilage regeneration in osteoarthritis models. And the exoomes carried specific microRNAs that told condondroytes cartilage cells to proliferate and make more extracellular matrix, the structural framework of healthy cartilage. Dr. Deb Muth 15:30for autoimmune conditions. Research by Blazic and colleagues in Frontiers in Immunology in 2014 demonstrated that MSC derived exoomes could shift immune cell behavior from pro pro-inflammatory to regulatory. They could take an overactive self-attacking immune system and restore balance and promote tolerance. And perhaps most exciting brain research, a study by Zinn and colleagues published in the journal of extracellular vesicles in 2013 showed that MSC derived exoomes could cross the bloodb brain barrier. Dr. Deb Muth 16:07That protective shield around your brain that normally keep things out and promote neurological recovery in stroke models. They reduced brain inflammation, promoted neuroplasticity, supported the formation of neural connections, and for mitochondrial dysfunction, which underlies so many chronic conditions, Morrison and colleagues published research and scientific reports in 2017 showing that MSC derived exoomes can actually deliver functional mitochondria or mitochondrial components to damaged cells. They’re not Dr. Deb Muth 16:40just sending instructions, they’re sending spare parts. They’re restoring the cellular powerhouses to produce energy. So why are exoomes fundamentally different from stem cells? Well, exoomes contain no living cells. They can’t replicate. They can’t end graph. And they have virtually no risk of immune rejection or tumor formation. Dr. Deb Muth 17:03Concerns that exist elevate rarely with cellular therapies. They’re essentially biological software updates for your cells. As Fineian Pitiger wrote in their seinal review in stem cells in 2017, MSC derived exoomes represent the active ingredient of stem cell therapy delivered in a cellfree format. That’s the key insight in the in the therapeutic benefit of stem cells and it comes from what they excrete. Dr. Deb Muth 17:33Then exoomes are the secretion isolated, concentrated, and standardized. From a practical clinical standpoint, exoomes offer several compelling advantages. First, consistency. Because exoomes can be isolated, characterized, and standardized, each dose can be remarkably consistent. With living stem cells, there’s variability based on donor age, health status, processing methods, and one batch may be robust, but another might be weaker. Dr. Deb Muth 18:05With exoomes, you can measure the content, measure the potency, and ensure the quality control. Second is storage. Exoomes can be liophalized. They can be freeze-dried and stored at room temperature or refrigerated for extended periods. Stem cells require cryopreserv preservation, careful freezing, careful thawing. They’re fragile. Dr. Deb Muth 18:31Exoomes are remarkably stable. And third, their safety profile. Without living cells, the risk of adverse imunological reactions is dramatically lower. You’re not introducing foreign cells that your immune system might recognize and attack. You’re introducing molecular messages. Fourth is scalability. You can harvest millions, even billions of exoomes from stem cell cultures without ever injecting the cells themselves. Dr. Deb Muth 19:01And you can produce large quantities, standardize them, and make them available to patients. Now, there is a caution here in doing this. The scalability can produce rogue cells, and we want to be cautious of that. So, here’s what I need you to understand. Exoomes don’t force healing. They remind the body how healing works. Dr. Deb Muth 19:24They’re not replacing damaged cells. They’re re-educating the cells you already have. They’re turning back time on the biological programs that got turned off by inflammation, toxicity, trauma, time, and chronic disease. Your body knows how to heal. It’s done its entire life. Every cut that closed, every bone that mended, every infection you fought off, your body orchestrated that healing. Dr. Deb Muth 19:51The problem is that chronic disease, chronic inflammation, toxic exposures, poor nutrition, stress, all of these things disrupt the communication networks that coordinate healing. And exoomes restore that communication. They’re like rebooting a computer that’s frozen. They reset the system and remind it how it’s supposed to function. All right. Dr. Deb Muth 20:14So, this would not be complete if we didn’t talk about regulation because this is where a lot of confusion exists. And I want you to be given a real picture. Not fear-mongering, not pretending. There aren’t regulatory considerations, but the actual practical reality of how regenerative medicine is practiced in the United States today. Dr. Deb Muth 20:38Here’s what you need to understand. The FDA regulates these therapies and they have specific frameworks, but there’s important nuances between regulatory text enforcement priorities and actual clinical practice. And there are also state level regulations that provide additional pathways. The FDA regulates human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue based products. Dr. Deb Muth 21:05We call them HCT/PPS under two main pathways. Section 361 products are those that meet specific criteria. They’re minimally manipulated, intended for homologous use, meaning these tissues perform the same basic function in the recipient as it did in the donor. They’re not combined with non-tissue components and they’re either autotogus, meaning they come from your own tissue, or they have had minimal systemic effect. Dr. Deb Muth 21:38An example of a clear 361 procedure, your doctor harvests your own bone marrow, we call this PRP, performs minimally processing to or uh perform Yeah. performs minimal processing to concentrate the stem cells through a centriuge and injects it into your arthritic knee the same day. That’s autogus same day but minimally manipulated. Dr. Deb Muth 22:04This is unquestionably legal and is being done in regenerative medicine clinics across the country every single day. So there’s section 351 where products are those that don’t meet all the section 361 criteria. They’re classified as drugs or biologic products and they require FDA approval through clinical trials. Dr. Deb Muth 22:27Now here’s where this gets more nuanced. There are regenerative medicine clinics across the United States using stem cell and exoome therapies in different contexts. First FDA registered clinical trials. These are formal research studies with investigational new drug applications. Patients enroll in trials. They sign informed consents. Dr. Deb Muth 22:48They receive therapies as part of their structured research protocols. And this is completely legal and represents the gold standard for gathering evidence. Second is observational studies and registry programs. Many clinics are collecting systemic data on patient outcomes using these therapies even outside the FDA trials. Dr. Deb Muth 23:12They’re documenting results, tracking safety, and contributing to the growing body of clinical evidence. Third, there’s clinical practice under physician discretion. There are physicians using these therapies based on their own clinical judgment informed consent from patients and their interpretation of the regulatory framework particularly around minimal manipulation and homologous use. Dr. Deb Muth 23:34Now there are also state regulations that provide additional legal frameworks. So, for example, Florida has enacted the Right to Try Act and specific regenerative medicine legislation that allows physicians to offer certain stem cell therapies under the state oversight. Utah has passed similar legislation creating pathways for regenerative medicine products. Dr. Deb Muth 23:57And these state laws recognize that patients should have access to potentially beneficial therapies, particularly when used by trained physicians with appropriate informed consent. The regulatory question often centers around are these products minimally manipulated. Some products clearly are not. They’ve been cultured. Dr. Deb Muth 24:20They’ve been expanded in laboratories and those require FDA approval that they don’t have. The FDA has appropriately shut down clinics using those products. But there are other products that undergo processing that many physicians and manufacturers argue constitutes minimal manipulation. And these tissues are cleared, potentially fragmented or particulated to make them more suitable for injection, preserved using methods like cryopreservation or liophalization and packaged. Dr. Deb Muth 24:54But the cells are not cultured or expanded in the laboratory. The FDA has issued guidance suggesting that many of these processing steps constitute more than manipul minimal manipulation. But many physicians, particularly those who specialized in regenerative medicine for years, disagree with that interpretation and they believe that the processing qualifies as minimal manipulation and that the product should fall under section 361 when used for homologous purposes. Dr. Deb Muth 25:24Is there regulatory debate? Absolutely. The FDA and some clinicians have different interpretations of what constitutes minimal manipulation. But here’s the practical reality. There are hundreds of well-trained, bore certified physicians across the United States offering these therapies every single day. Dr. Deb Muth 25:42They’re doing so based on their understanding of the regulations, their clinical experience, their commitment to patient safety, and their belief that these therapies can help people who have exhausted conventional options. The FDA’s enforcement priorities have focused primarily on the most problematic cases. Clin clinics making blatant disease cure claims, products with documented safety issues, clear cases of cellular expansion and culture, or clinics operating with no medical oversight. Dr. Deb Muth 26:15Reputable regenerative medicine physicians are using products from companies that provide comprehensive documentation of their processing methods. third-party sterility testing, certificates of analysis showing bioactive content, and quality control measures that meet or exceed industry standards. Now, let me be very clear about something. Dr. Deb Muth 26:36Quality matters enormously. Not all stem cells and exoome products are created equal. Research by Burger and colleagues published in the Orthopedic Journal of Sports Medicine in 2021 analyzed 12 commercially available stem cell products and found that many contained zero viable cells, high levels of bacteria, endotoxins and inconsistent growth factor concentrations. Dr. Deb Muth 27:01This is why the company providing these biologic matters tremendously. You want products from manufacturers who provide transport documentation in sourcing and processing. Conduct third-party testing and sterility and potency. Offer certificates of analysis for each batch. Use standardized validated processing protocols. Dr. Deb Muth 27:24Have quality control measures that ensure consistency and don’t make outrageous cure claims or promise. The best regenerative medicine physician carefully vet their suppliers. They don’t use products from companies making unrealistic promises. They use products from manufacturers who are transparent, scientifically rigorous, and committed to quality. Dr. Deb Muth 27:46Now, you specifically ask about homologous use and collagen defects. So, let me address this directly for you. Under the FDA guidance, homologous use means the tissue performs the same basic function in the recipient as in the donor. So for connective tissue, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, fascia, all of that which are collagenrich structures using MSC’s or their derivatives could be considered homologous use. Dr. Deb Muth 28:17MSC’s in their native environment provide structural support to produce extracellular matrix including collagen. Using them to support healing in damaged collagen rich tissues like arthritic joints, torn tendons or degenerative ligaments is arguably the same basic function. So using exoomes derived from MSC’s to support collagen synthesis reduce inflammation and promote tissue healing in the same structures. Dr. Deb Muth 28:46Many practitioners argue this also qualifies as homologous use because you’re supporting the structure and function that MSC’s would naturally support. So here’s the bottom line on the regulatory reality. Regenerative medicine is available in the United States. It’s being offered by highly trained physicians in integrative and regenerative medicine clinics across the country. Dr. Deb Muth 29:11Some therapies are offered in FDA registered clinics and some are offered in observational studies. Some are offered in clinical practice under physician discretion, informed consent, and careful attention to safety. The regulatory landscape is evolving. There are ongoing discussions both federally and state levels about creating clearer pathways for these therapies. Dr. Deb Muth 29:32So, if you choose to go down this road, you want to work with physicians who understand the regulations, who use quality products from reputable manufacturers with rigorous testing and documentation, who are transparent about what they’re using and why, who discuss the current regulatory landscape honestly with you, and who prioritize your safety and truly informed consent above all else. Dr. Deb Muth 29:55This is not a lawless wild wild west. But it is also not as simple as everything is legal and unavailable. It’s a nuanced landscape that requires ethical knowledge. And these practitioners that have this knowledge have got to provide informed patients who understand both the potential benefits and the current regulatory context. Dr. Deb Muth 30:17So let’s have some fun here. Let’s talk about what really matters to you that are listening and that’s what conditions are being supported with these therapies. What does the research show and what are clinicians seeing in actual practice with patients? Because here’s what’s really important. We have both published research evidence and extensive clinical experience. Dr. Deb Muth 30:38And when the two align, that’s when we can feel confident and comfortable about using these approaches. So, let’s start where we have the most substantial evidence. joint health and muscularkeeletal conditions. For arthritis, we have good data. A systemic review by Tan and colleagues published in arthritis research and therapy in 2021 analyzed 20 randomized controlled trials in MSC therapy for knee osteoarthritis. Dr. Deb Muth 31:05They found significant improvements in pain and function particularly in mild to moderate disease. What’s really interesting is when researchers start analyzing whether it was the cells themselves or their secreted factors doing the work. They found that exoomeenriched preparations showed similar benefits to whole cell therapy. Dr. Deb Muth 31:26Now towen colleagues in the biioaterials paper from 2017 demonstrated that MSC derived exoomes could promote cartilage matrix synthesize and reduce inflammation markers. The exoomes carried microarnas that told cartilage cells to make more collagen and proteoglycans, the building blocks of healthy cartilage. Dr. Deb Muth 31:49In clinical practice, physicians are seeing patients with knee, hip, shoulder, and spinal arthritis, experiencing reduced pain, improved function, better motility, and in some cases, measurable improvements in their tissue. I want to share a story here with you because back in 2006, my husband was injured at work. Some of you might have heard me tell this story before. Dr. Deb Muth 32:11Um, he broke two discs in his back and underwent surgery very early on when we started using stem cells. They had put cages and plates in and they used MSC’s to put inside the cage to create a hardened bone so that he could have a fusion and hopefully not have any pain. At the time, what the physician didn’t realize or mistakenly did was he did not put any human bone mixed with these dead cadaavver bone MSC’s. Dr. Deb Muth 32:42And so the MSC’s never grew. They didn’t have anything to grow by. So the plates and the screws just kind of went back and forth for six months before he could see another physician that would look at him differently and understand what actually happened. That was very early on. Today we know so much more than we did before. Dr. Deb Muth 33:01Fast forward to 2014 when my husband was having problems and he couldn’t feel his legs, he couldn’t feel his feet. We decided to undergo uh exoo and stem cell therapy again and we saw a physician in Florida who harvested cells from his bone marrow and his blood and his fat and mixed that all together and then put that back into the back. Dr. Deb Muth 33:27and he had tremendous benefit from it. So, I tell this story because I want you to see the trajectory of how long this has been going on that we’ve been using this and we’re learning as we’re going and things are changing rapidly in this in this world. And so, what we know today and what I’m teaching you today may very well change in a month or six months or a year from now, but we have the foundation at least to understand what is helpful, what is not right now. Dr. Deb Muth 33:54But just be aware that if you’re embarking on exoome or stem cell therapy or MSC’s that you understand that this terrain is going to change. So back to my conversation about what other things can we treat? Well, we can treat tendon and ligament injuries, chronic tennis elbow, Achilles tendonopathy, rotator cuff tears, chronic planter fasciitis. Dr. Deb Muth 34:17These were researched by PA and colleagues in the American Journal of Sports Medicine in 2017 and it showed that bone marrow concentrate injections resulted in improved pain and function compared to steroid injections. Now this mechanism appears to be enhanced collagen remodeling and reduced chronic inflammation. Dr. Deb Muth 34:39These are structural collagenrich tissues using MSC’s or their derivatives for structural support which makes biological sense. It’s homologous use. It’s similar. So clinically we’re seeing athletes, active adults and people with chronic pain who failed physically um failed physical therapy, failed conservative treatments finding relief in this functional uh improvement in this functional world that we live in today. Dr. Deb Muth 35:07So, I want to be clear about what we’re doing here for joint and muscularkeeletal issues. We’re not growing completely new cartilage from scratch or severely destroyed joints. We’re not magically regenerating tissues that’s been gone for decades. That’s not possible here. What you’re doing when you’re using MSSE’s and exoomes is supporting the body’s natural ability to repair, reducing inflam inflammation and damage, and we’re driving progressive degeneration uh or we’re stopping the progressive degeneration. By reducing the Dr. Deb Muth 35:41inflammatory damage, we’re stimulating resonant stem cells that have been dormant. We’re improving blood flow and uh uh oxygen to the tissues like cartilage and tendons. and we’re organizing the body to start creating its own quality collagen as it heals. So, it’s a regenerative support, not a tissue replacement. Dr. Deb Muth 36:07But for many people, this support is lifechanging. So, let’s talk about autoimmune disorders now because this is one of the most exciting and unrecognized applications. autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, MS, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, Hashimoto’s, they all involve the immune system and the immune system is deregulated. Dr. Deb Muth 36:30And so basically your immune system is seeing this tissue as foreign and it’s attacking it. These MSC’s and their exoomes have profound immune modulatory properties. They don’t suppress the immune system like steroids or imunosuppressive drugs. They modulate it helping to restore balance. So for rheumatoid arthritis, research by Weang and colleagues in stem cells translational medicine in 2016 showed that MSC derived exoomes could shift the balance of immune cells, reducing pro-inflammatory TH7 cells that drive joint disruption uh and increase Dr. Deb Muth 37:08regulatory TE-C cells that maintain immune tolerance. So for MS, a clinical trial by Kasus and colleagues published in archives of neurology back in 2010 evaluated autotogus MSC therapy and MS patients and they found evidence of reduced disease activity, improved neurological function and decreased inflammatory uh lesions on MRI scans. Dr. Deb Muth 37:34The proposed mechanism is MSC’s and their exoomes reduce inflammatory cytoine production promote regulatory imu immune populations support remination of damaged nerves that is rebuilding the protective coating around the nerve fibers and it reduces bloodb brain barrier permeability which prevents immune cells from attacking their brain and spinal cord. Dr. Deb Muth 38:02And so for inflammatory bowel disease, the research by Barnholm uh sorry Barnhorn and colleagues in gut in 2020 showed that MS cell MSC derived extracellular vesicles could support mucosal healing and reduce inflammation in the gut lining. They appeared to restore intestinal barrier function, healing that leaky gut and modulating local immune responses. Dr. Deb Muth 38:30So in clinical practice, physicians are seeing patients with autoimmune conditions, experiencing reduced disease flares, decreasing the need for imunosuppressive medications, improving energy and quality of life, and in some cases extending periods of remission. But here’s what I want you to understand. Dr. Deb Muth 38:52When you see these therapies for autoimmune conditions, we are supporting immune regulation and reducing inflammatory damage. We are not treating or curing the disease in a conventional sense. These therapies work best as part of a comprehensive functional medicine approach that also addresses gut health because 70% of your immune system lives in your gut and environmental triggers like mold, heavy metals, chemical toxins that can drive autoimmune responses, chronic infections that can trigger immune disregulation, stress and nervous system imbalance. And Dr. Deb Muth 39:29these nutritional deficiencies are necessary to help improve the immune function. So regenerative therapy without addressing root causes is like bailing water out of your boat without plugging the hole. You might get temporary relief, but the underlying problem still remains. So let’s talk about neurological conditions. Dr. Deb Muth 39:52And this is where the science gets truly fascinating. for traumatic brain injury and concussion. Research by Zang and colleagues in the Journal of Neurot Trauma in 2015 showed that MSC derived exoomes could reduce brain inflammation, promote neuroplasticity, that’s the brain’s ability to rewire itself and improve cognitive outcomes in animal models. Dr. Deb Muth 40:17The exoomes crossed the bloodb brain barrier, delivered neuroprotective proteins and microRNAs. They reduced inflammation, supported mitochondrial function in injured neurons and promoted both new blood vessels from new blood formation and neurogenesis and the birth of new neurons occurred. Neurological recovery requires a multi-systematic approach. Dr. Deb Muth 40:42Exoomes may support neural repair, but they work best combined with hormone optimization, growth hormone, testosterone, thyroid, pregnnolone, mitochondrial support compounds like NAD, CoQ10, PQQ, carnitine, all of those things that we use traditionally in functional medicine. Now for stroke recovery, there was research by Zinn and colleagues in the journal of extracellular vesicles that showed MSC derived exoomes reduced the size of brain damage and improved neurological recovery in animal models. There was a Dr. Deb Muth 41:19Parkinson’s disease study done by Kimoji and colleagues in the movement disorders in 2018 that suggested that MSSE derived exoomes could support dopamineergic neuron survival and those are the cells that die in Parkinson’s and it can help to reduce neuroinflammation. Clinically, physicians are seeing improvements in patients with postconussion syndrome, chronic traumatic brain injury, early stage cognitive decline, and other neurodeenerative conditions. Dr. Deb Muth 41:52These are not cures, but meaningful improvements in cognitive function, mood, energy, and quality of life. Now, let’s talk about autism spectrum disorder very carefully here because this is a very sensitive but very important topic for families. There have been several clinical trials that have explored MSC therapy for autism. Dr. Deb Muth 42:16Liv and colleagues published research in stem cell translational medicine in 2013 showing improvements in social interaction, communication, and behavioral symptoms in children with ASD who received cord blood MSC’s. Dawson and colleagues in 2017 conducted randomized trial autotogus cord blood infusion and found modest improvements in social communication particularly in children with higher baseline immune dysregulation. Dr. Deb Muth 42:47The proposed mechanisms for modulation of neuroinflammation support the mitochondrial function because many children with autism show evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction, reduction of oxidative stress, improvement in gut brain access dysfunction and modulation of immune dysregulation. In clinical practice, some physicians are seeing improvements in some children, better eye contact, increased language development, reduced sensory sensitivities, improved social engagement, but responses vary significantly, and we cannot predict which children will benefit most. So for Dr. Deb Muth 43:26families considering regenerative approaches for autism, these therapies are supporting the body’s healing mechanisms, reducing neuroinflammation, supporting cellular energy production, modulating immune function. These should only be considered as part of a comprehensive biomedical approach that includes dietary interventions to address food sensitivities, support gut health, environmental toxin removal, particularly heavy metals and chemical exposures, gut healing protocols with targeted probiotics and nutrients, Dr. Deb Muth 44:00metabolic testing and targeted supplementation, and evidence-based on behavioral and developmental therapies. These therapies should only be pursued with practitioners who are honest about what we know and what we don’t know and who follow rigorous safety protocols who never promise cures and who view regenerative medicine as a tool in the comprehensive healing strategy, not a standalone miracle. Dr. Deb Muth 44:26Not only that, these therapies will most likely need to be given several times over the course of this person’s lifetime, possibly even on an annual basis. And this is really important because it is not a oneandone. It is not a one-sizefits-all, and it needs to be looked at as a long-term option for working with autism. So, since we’re looking at stem cells versus exoomes, living cells, with stem cell therapy, you’re receiving living cells that can survive in your body for days to weeks. Dr. Deb Muth 45:02With exoome therapy, there are no living cells, just biological messages they would have sent. So, replication stem cells can potentially replicate. Although therapeutically this happens minimally, exoomes cannot replicate. They deliver the cargo and then they are cleared by your body. With stem cells, it’s primarily paracrine signaling. Dr. Deb Muth 45:28They’re coaching your cells to heal. With exoomes, it’s pure signaling, pure reprogramming your cells without any cellular component. Stem cells as we talked about can be autotogus from your own bone fat, blood or um bone marrow or allergenic from umbilical cord tissue or Wharton’s jelly. Dr. Deb Muth 45:50Exoomes are typically derived from cultured MSC’s often from umbilical cord or bone marrow sources and both can be given by local injection for targeted treatment of joints and tissues and exoomes can be given intravenously for whole body systemic support. both have um low immun immunogicity. I can’t say that word today. Dr. Deb Muth 46:17But exoomes have even lower risk since they contain no cellular material. Now, it’s absolutely critical for you to understand that there are massive quality differences. We’ve talked about this earlier. I want you to be very aware of this and have a conversation with any of the practitioners that you’re considering undergoing this treatment with. Dr. Deb Muth 46:37Here is where it matters more than anything when you’re considering regenerative medicine, the quality of the products and the expertise of the practitioner. Because the reality is not all regenerative medicine products are created equal. We all know that when we take different supplements and not all practitioners understand these therapies at the same depth. Dr. Deb Muth 46:58You want to look for practitioners that are board certified or have some kind of specialized regenerative medicine training. You want to know their clinical experience. How much have they done these procedures? How long have they done this? You want honest communication about the evidence and the limitations in this. Dr. Deb Muth 47:17You want a comprehensive functional medicine approach to go along with these therapies. And you want somebody that’s transparent about their informed consent and their regulatory status. If you have people that are uh claiming that they can cure disease or giving you guarantees, that is not that is not a good practitioner to work with. Dr. Deb Muth 47:37If you have high pressure sales tactics, you need to decide today limited supply for a week. These are marketing manipulations. It’s not medical care. You want to be cautious of extremely low prices because quality regenerative products are expensive to source, process, and test. and store. And if somebody’s offering stem cells or exoomes for a few hundred dollars, seriously, you need to question the quality, the safety, and where they got this from. Dr. Deb Muth 48:09So before undergoing any regenerative therapy, make sure you’re having a very, very lengthy conversation with the person and so you truly understand exactly what you’re getting, how it’s going to be delivered, and what they’re going to do. If there’s one thing I want you to take away from today is that your body has remarkable capacity to heal when given the right biological signals and the right environment. Dr. Deb Muth 48:35Stem cells and exoomes are powerful tools for providing biological signaling that can reduce inflammation, modulate immune function, support tissue repair, and restore cellular communication that’s been disrupted by chronic disease and inflammation. These therapies are available in the United States through trained physicians working in FDA registered trials, observational studies, and clinical practice, and using quality products from manufacturers with rigorous testing and quality control. Dr. Deb Muth 49:04So before you invest in regenerative medicine, do your homework. Ask detailed questions about product quality and source. Verify the products come from reputable manufacturers with certificates of analysis, third-party testing. Work with experienced practitioners. And remember, no injection, no infusion, no biologic can overcome ongoing toxic exposure, chronic stress, poor nutrition, gut dysfunction, and inadequate sleep. Dr. Deb Muth 49:34True healing requires your body and you to actively participate in this healing. If you are unwilling to address the root causes and change the lifestyle factors that disrupted your health in the first place, the biologics can amplify your healing signals, but you have to create the internal environment where healing can actually happen. Dr. Deb Muth 49:56So, I hope this episode has helped you understand regenerative medicine more clearly. Share it with somebody who’s looking for healing beyond the conventional approaches. And until next time, this has been Let’s Talk Wellness Now. Have a blessed day. >> Welcome to Let’s Talk Wellness Now, where we bring expert insights directly to you. Dr. Deb Muth 50:16Please note that the views and information shared by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Let’s Talk Wellness Now, its management, or our partners. Each affiliate, sponsor, and partner is an independent entity with its own perspectives. Today’s content is provided forformational and educational purposes only and should not be considered specific advice, whether financial, medical, or legal. Dr. Deb Muth 50:41While we strive to present accurate and useful information, we cannot guarantee its completeness or relevance to your unique circumstances. We encourage you to consult with a qualified professional to address your individual needs. Your use of information from this broadcast is entirely at your own risk. Dr. Deb Muth 51:00By continuing to listen, you agree to indemnify and hold Let’s Talk Wellness Now and its associates harmless from any claims or damages arising from the use of this content. We may update this disclaimer at any time, and changes will take effect immediately upon posting or broadcast. Thank you for tuning in. We hope you find this episode both insightful and thought-provoking. Listener discretion is advised.The post Episode 265 – The Future of Healing: How Exosomes Re-Educate Your Body to Heal Itself first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

The OSA Insider
Episode 138: Student Engagement and Student Life with Dr. Tonya Webb

The OSA Insider

Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2026 23:49


Dr. Tonya Webb is a Professor of Microbiology and Immunology whose scientific work focuses on cancer immunotherapy. She is also the Assistant Dean for Student Engagement and Student Life in our Office of Student Affairs. What does this particular role mean? How does her office engage medical students, and how does she know when an initiative or project is working when it comes to enhancing student life? In this episode, we'll get to know Dr. Webb, all the hats she wears, and how she approaches meeting, engaging with, and helping our students.   

ImmunoTea: Your Immunology Podcast
ImmunoTea Episode 41 - Systems Immunology

ImmunoTea: Your Immunology Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2026 40:09


On this episode Lara and Vyanka talk to Professor Petter Brodin from the Karolinska Institute all about understanding variation in human immune systems and how immune networks function in health and disease. This is ImmunoTea: Your Immunology Podcast, presented by Dr Lara Dungan and Dr Vyanka Redenbaugh. This is the show where we tell you all about the most exciting research going on in the world of immunology. So grab a cup of tea, sit down and relax and we'll fill you in. Contact us at ImmunoTeaPodcast@gmail.com or @ImmunoTea on twitter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Highlights from The Pat Kenny Show
Ebola outbreak a global health emergency: What do we need to know?

Highlights from The Pat Kenny Show

Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2026 7:35


The World Health Organisation has declared the Ebola outbreak in the Congo and Uganda an international public health emergency, amid fears the virus could spread further across the region. Kingston Mills, Professor of Experimental Immunology in the School of Biochemistry and Immunology at Trinity College Dublin, joins Pat to discuss.

More Than Money
Carney's $25B Question and the New Retirement Reality

More Than Money

Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2026 38:03


On this week’s episode of More Than Money, Dave Popowich and Leanna Wachniak look at news stories affecting retirement, including a Statistics Canada discussion about nearly 1.2 million Canadians aged 65 and older are working or looking for work. They also discuss Robert Kiyosaki’s warning about U.S. boomers and explain why retirees should be careful not to get caught up in dramatic headlines. Then, Jim Stanford, Economist and Director at the Centre for Future Work, joins the show to break down Prime Minister Mark Carney’s proposed $25 billion Canada Strong Fund and what it could mean for Canadians and retirees. Next, Dr. Lorne Tyrrell, Professor of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Alberta, explains what Canadians should know about hantavirus. To close the show, Dave and Leanna walk through a fictional retired couple and how they would approach building a retirement plan around their goals, risks, and future decisions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aging-US
Anti-Aging Strategies Aim to Target Harmful Senescent Cells While Preserving Beneficial Ones

Aging-US

Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2026 5:22


BUFFALO, NY — May 15, 2026 — A new #review was #published in Volume 18 of Aging-US on May 4, 2026, titled “Cellular senescence: from pathogenic mechanisms to precision anti-aging interventions.” The study was led by first author Jian Deng and corresponding author Dong Yang from the Department of Targeting Therapy and Immunology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. In this comprehensive review, the authors examine how cellular senescence contributes to aging and age-related disease across multiple organ systems, while also highlighting the emerging complexity and functional diversity of senescent cell populations. Traditionally, senescent cells have been viewed primarily as harmful byproducts of aging, characterized by irreversible cell-cycle arrest and chronic inflammatory signaling. However, growing evidence suggests that some senescent cells also play beneficial physiological roles in tissue repair, embryonic development, and maintenance of tissue homeostasis. The review outlines how senescence develops in major tissues including the liver, lungs, kidneys, heart, adipose tissue, brain, and skin. Across these organs, aging-related cellular dysfunction is driven by a combination of oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, DNA damage, chronic inflammation, metabolic stress, telomere shortening, and environmental insults such as ultraviolet radiation and pollution. The authors describe how senescent cells accumulate in highly specialized cell populations—including hepatocytes, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, macrophages, astrocytes, and epithelial cells—where they can disrupt normal tissue architecture and promote chronic disease progression. Importantly, the article emphasizes that senescent cells are highly heterogeneous and should not be treated as a uniform population. Depending on the tissue context and biological environment, senescent cells may exert either protective or harmful effects. For example, certain senescent cells may help limit fibrosis or support wound healing, whereas others drive chronic inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, tissue degeneration, and cancer progression. This growing recognition of functional heterogeneity has prompted a major shift in anti-aging research away from indiscriminate elimination of senescent cells toward more selective and precision-based therapeutic strategies. “Based on these insights, this review summarizes the induction mechanisms of cellular senescence and the subsequent evolution of their functional phenotypes across diverse tissues.” Full press release - https://www.aging-us.com/news-room/precision-anti-aging-strategies-aim-to-target-harmful-senescent-cells-while-preserving-beneficial-ones Paper DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206375 Corresponding author - Dong Yang – yangdong@wchscu.cn Abstract video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkJRwF8mp4A Keywords - cellular senescence, aging mechanisms, functional heterogeneity, precision anti-aging To learn more about the journal, please visit www.Aging-US.com​​ and connect with us on social media at: Bluesky - bsky.app/profile/aging-us.bsky.social ResearchGate - www.researchgate.net/journal/Aging-1945-4589 X - twitter.com/AgingJrnl Facebook - www.facebook.com/AgingUS/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/agingjrnl/ LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/aging/ Reddit - www.reddit.com/user/AgingUS/ Pinterest - www.pinterest.com/AgingUS/ YouTube - www.youtube.com/@Aging-US Spotify - open.spotify.com/show/1X4HQQgegjReaf6Mozn6Mc MEDIA@IMPACTJOURNALS.COM

Biotech 2050 Podcast
Acadia CEO Catherine Owen Adams on Neurodegeneration, AI & Building Biotech Vision

Biotech 2050 Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2026 33:34


Synopsis: At the intersection of personal mission and biotech leadership, Rahul Chaturvedi sits down with Catherine Owen Adams, CEO of Acadia Pharmaceuticals, for a deeply personal and strategically rich conversation on leadership, commercialization, and the future of neuropsychiatry. From starting as a pharmacist in the UK to pivoting from R&D into commercial leadership at Johnson & Johnson, rising through Bristol Myers Squibb, and ultimately stepping into her first biotech CEO role at Acadia, Catherine shares how storytelling became the throughline of her career—transforming science into physician trust, investor conviction, and enterprise vision. In this episode, Catherine opens up about the personal family experiences with neurodegenerative disease that made Acadia's focus on CNS and rare disease feel like her “Goldilocks opportunity.” She offers a candid look at the realities of being a first-time CEO, managing investor ecosystems, building the right C-suite, balancing billion-dollar commercial execution with high-risk R&D, and navigating the emotional stakes of developing therapies for Parkinson's disease psychosis, Alzheimer's disease psychosis, Rett syndrome, and beyond. Rahul and Catherine also explore the seismic shifts reshaping biotech—from AI-powered commercialization and patient services to policy advocacy through BIO, FDA modernization, and the strategic pressures facing CNS innovation. This episode is both a masterclass in biotech leadership and a powerful reminder that the best CEOs don't just run companies—they tell stories that move science, markets, and patients forward. Biography: Ms. Owen Adams joined Acadia as Chief Executive Officer and as a member of our Board of Directors in September 2024. Ms. Owen Adams has over 25 years of executive level experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Prior to joining Acadia, Ms. Owen Adams served as Senior Vice President and General Manager, U.S., at Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), where she led a $20 billion commercial business, overseeing a large and diverse portfolio of promoted brands across Oncology, Cardiovascular, and Immunology. Previously, Ms. Owen Adams held the position of Senior Vice President, Head of Major Markets at BMS, where she led commercial operations leading 6,000 employees across 19 countries in Europe, Japan, and Canada during BMS's merger with Celgene. Prior to her tenure at BMS, Ms. Owen Adams spent 25 years at Johnson & Johnson (J&J), where she held leadership roles across global, U.S., and European business units, with her last position being President, Janssen Immunology U.S. Ms. Owen Adams began her career in R&D and manufacturing at AstraZeneca. Ms. Owen Adams currently serves on the board of directors of Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a publicly held company, and AssistRx, a privately held company. Ms. Owen Adams was formerly on the board of directors and chair of the compensation committee for Optinose PLC, a public specialty pharmaceutical company, and was on the board of directors of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospitals, a non-profit organization. Ms. Owen Adams earned a BSc. in Pharmacy from the University of Manchester, becoming a qualified pharmacist and member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (MRPhS).

FAACT's Roundtable
Ep. 281: Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) & Food Allergies

FAACT's Roundtable

Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2026 33:47 Transcription Available


Safe eating is at the heart of managing food allergies—but what happens when that vigilance starts to feel overwhelming, and food becomes a source of fear instead of nourishment? For many families, the line between necessary caution and something more serious can be hard to recognize. We are diving into the intersection of food allergies and Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, or ARFID. Joining us is Dr. Brian Vickery, Division Chief of Allergy & Immunology at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University, and Kaitlin B. Proctor, PhD, Assistant Professor at Emory School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, and board-certified psychologist at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta to unpack what this means for families and share insights from Dr. Vickery's latest research. Resources to keep you in the know:Psychology TodayAAAAI's People with Food Allergies May Be Susceptible to Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake DisorderFAACT's Behavioral Health Resource Center"When Medically Required Food Avoidance Goes Awry: A Conceptual Framework of ARFID as an Underrecognized Clinical Complication of Food Allergy" - Research paperFAACT's Roundtable Podcast can be found on Apple Podcast, Pandora, Spotify, Podbay, iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts.Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, BlueSky, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, and YouTube. Sponsored by: GenentechThanks for listening! FAACT invites you to discover more exciting food allergy resources at FoodAllergyAwareness.org!

Connections with Evan Dawson
Rochester ranks high for allergies. What should we know about triggers and treatment?

Connections with Evan Dawson

Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2026 51:16


Rochester was recently ranked the fifth worst American city for allergies. We sit down with members of the Golisano Children's Hospital Pediatric Allergy team to discuss how families can prepare for allergy season. They explain triggers, treatments, and how allergies affect children and schools. In studio: Jessica Stern, M.D., associate professor of allergy and immunology in the Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy/Immunology and Rheumatology; and the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at University of Rochester Medicine Katherine L. Tuttle, M.D., clinical director of the Department of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, associate program director of the Allergy and Immunology Fellowship, and assistant professor of pediatrics and medicine at University of Rochester Medicine ---Connections is supported by listeners like you. Head to our donation page to become a WXXI member today, support the show, and help us close the gap created by the rescission of federal funding.---Connections airs every weekday from noon-2 p.m. Join the conversation with questions or comments by phone at 1-844-295-TALK (8255) or 585-263-9994, email, Facebook or Twitter. Connections is also livestreamed on the WXXI News YouTube channel each day. You can watch live or access previous episodes here.---Do you have a story that needs to be shared? Pitch your story to Connections.

The Zero to Finals Medical Revision Podcast
Complement Disorders (2nd edition)

The Zero to Finals Medical Revision Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2026 7:12


This episode covers complement disorders.Notes: https://zerotofinals.com/paediatrics/immunology/complementdisorders/Questions: https://members.zerotofinals.com/Books: https://zerotofinals.com/books/The audio in the episode was expertly edited by Harry Watchman.

RTÉ - Drivetime
Hantavirus-hit cruise ship will head to Spain after three people evacuated

RTÉ - Drivetime

Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2026 26:56


Sarah Morris, freelance journalist in Spain; Christine Loscher, Professor of Immunology at DCU; Nick Pisa, reporter with The Daily Mail in Zurich; and Nyka Alexander, Manager of Communications on Emergencies at the World Health Organisation

Fast Metabolism Matters with Haylie Pomroy
Why You Have Brain Fog (and How to Clear It Fast)

Fast Metabolism Matters with Haylie Pomroy

Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2026 23:44


In today's episode, Haylie Pomroy sits down with Dr. Theoharis Theoharides, one of the world's foremost experts on mast cell activation syndrome and neuroinflammation, to break down what brain fog actually is, what is driving it at the cellular level, and what can be done about it. Dr. Theoharides explains how the brain's own immune cells, known as microglia, can become destructive when triggered by viral particles, spike protein, mold, or other inflammatory agents. He details how COVID spike protein can enter the brain through the blood-brain barrier and the olfactory nerve, persist for up to two years, and activate a cascade of neuroinflammation that disrupts memory, cognition, and mood. He also shares the latest developments in diagnostic tools, including SPECT imaging and an emerging biosignature panel designed to finally give patients measurable, objective evidence of what is happening in their brains. He walks through the most evidence-backed interventions his team is using to protect and restore brain cell function, including folinic acid, luteolin-based flavonoids, and hydroxytyrosol from olive leaves, and why supplement quality matters more than most people realize. If you have been told your brain fog is all in your head, this episode is for you. Tune in to Fast Metabolism Matters. If your body feels like it's running on empty, overburdened, or just not responding the way it used to, Haylie's latest book, Toxic Overload, tells you exactly what to do. Download your free digital copy today and start understanding what your body is trying to tell you.   Free Download: Get Your Copy of Toxic Overload

RTÉ - Drivetime
Hantavirus outbreak triggers global health response

RTÉ - Drivetime

Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2026 25:19


Guy Hedgcoe, Spain-based freelance journalist; Paul Moynagh, Professor of Immunology at Maynooth University; Simon Calder, travel writer; Captain Sean Boyce, marine pilot; and Eoghan De Barra, Senior Lecturer in Tropical Medicine and International Health at RCSI and Consultant in Infectious Diseases

The Zero to Finals Medical Revision Podcast
T-Cell Disorders (2nd edition)

The Zero to Finals Medical Revision Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2026 7:03


This episode covers T-cell disorders.Notes: https://zerotofinals.com/paediatrics/immunology/tcelldisorders/Questions: https://members.zerotofinals.com/Books: https://zerotofinals.com/books/The audio in the episode was expertly edited by Harry Watchman.

Rhesus Medicine Podcast - Medical Education

Anaphylaxis explained including anaphylaxis pathophysiology (immunologic vs non immunologic), clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment. Includes recognition of airway compromise, use of intramuscular adrenaline (epinephrine), biphasic anaphylaxis, refractory anaphylaxis, and the immunology underlying type 1 hypersensitivity reactions. PDFs available at: https://rhesusmedicine.com/pages/topicsConsider subscribing (if you found any of the info useful!): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRks8wB6vgz0E7buP0L_5RQ?sub_confirmation=1Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/rhesusmedicineBuy Us A Coffee!: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/rhesusmedicineTimestamps:0:00 What is Anaphylaxis?0:32 Anaphylaxis Pathophysiology4:08 Anaphylaxis Causes5:28 Anaphylaxis Symptoms7:44 Anaphylaxis Diagnosis8:32 Anaphylaxis TreatmentLINK TO MNEMONICS:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-XE7PiwGgE&list=PLGNSE_HvIV4t7a33bbHN1fq-j_tge0GmpLINK TO SOCIAL MEDIA: https://www.instagram.com/rhesusmedicine/ReferencesBMJ Best Practice (2025) Anaphylaxis – Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. Available at: https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-gb/501British Society for Immunology (2021) Anaphylaxis. Available at: https://www.immunology.org/public-information/bitesized-immunology/immune-dysfunction/anaphylaxisRCEMLearning (2023) Anaphylaxis. Available at: https://www.rcemlearning.co.uk/reference/anaphylaxis/Simons, F.E.R., Ardusso, L.R.F., Bilo, M.B., El-Gamal, Y.M., Ledford, D.K., Ring, J., Sanchez-Borges, M., Senna, G.E., Sheikh, A. and Thong, B.Y. (2018) World Allergy Organization anaphylaxis guidance 2018. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 141(2), pp. 419–420.e1. Available at: https://www.jacionline.org/article/S0091-6749(18)30571-2/fulltextTurner, P.J., Worm, M., Ansotegui, I.J. and El-Gamal, Y.M. (2024) IgE and non-IgE-mediated pathways in anaphylaxis. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12350582/Cardona, V., Ansotegui, I.J., Ebisawa, M., El-Gamal, Y., Fernandez Rivas, M., Fineman, S., Geller, M., Gonzalez-Estrada, A., Greenberger, P.A., Sanchez Borges, M., Senna, G., Sheikh, A. and Tanno, L.K. (2020) ‘World allergy organization anaphylaxis guidance 2020', World Allergy Organization Journal, 13(10), p. 100472. doi:10.1016/j.waojou.2020.100472.Please remember this podcast and all content from Rhesus Medicine is meant for educational purposes only and should not be used as a guide to diagnose or to treat. Please consult a healthcare professional for medical advice. 

The Zero to Finals Medical Revision Podcast
Cow's Milk Protein Allergy (2nd edition)

The Zero to Finals Medical Revision Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2026 8:30


This episode covers cow's milk protein allergy.Notes: https://zerotofinals.com/paediatrics/immunology/cowsmilkallergy/Questions: https://members.zerotofinals.com/Books: https://zerotofinals.com/books/The audio in the episode was expertly edited by Harry Watchman.

The Itch: Allergies, Asthma & Immunology
#154 - What Providers Need to Know About Uncontrolled Asthma

The Itch: Allergies, Asthma & Immunology

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2026 38:17


If you treat patients with asthma, this episode is for you. Not just allergists, but GPs, pediatricians, family medicine doctors, urgent care providers, and anyone who sees a patient with asthma in their practice. Dr. Cherie Zachary, current president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, joins Kortney and Dr. Payel Gupta to talk about why uncontrolled asthma remains a serious and largely preventable problem, and what providers can do differently starting with their next patient visit. What we cover in this episode about uncontrolled asthma The data behind the problem. ER visits, hospitalizations, and asthma deaths have not improved in years, and Dr. Zachary explains why that should concern every provider who treats asthma patients. An ER visit is a treatment failure. Dr. Zachary makes the case that any asthma patient who ends up in urgent care or the emergency room should trigger an immediate reassessment of their treatment plan, not just a course of steroids and a send-home. Five questions every provider should be asking. The episode walks through a standardized set of control questions designed to help providers catch uncontrolled asthma before it becomes a crisis, covering steroid use, ER visits, rescue inhaler use, nighttime waking, and daily activity limitations. Why patients normalize their symptoms. Providers hear what controlled asthma should actually look like, and why patients often don't volunteer the information needed to catch a problem. Who is most at risk. Dr. Zachary shares which patient populations are most likely to have uncontrolled asthma and least likely to be identified, and what providers can do to close that gap. More resources about uncontrolled asthma ControlYourAsthma.org  Free AAN Asthma Coach Program Find an allergist Understanding Oral Corticosteroid Overuse in Asthma Made in partnership with The Allergy & Asthma Network. Thanks to Sanofi-Regeneron for sponsoring today's episode.  This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical concerns.

Dr. Brendan McCarthy
Ultra-Processed Foods & Autoimmunity

Dr. Brendan McCarthy

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2026 18:30


Today, we're diving into autoimmunity—what it actually is, why it happens, and how ultra-processed foods may be contributing to the problem. Autoimmune disease is often misunderstood. Some will tell you diet has nothing to do with it. Others claim diet is the cure. The truth is more nuanced—and that's exactly what we explore in this episode. You'll learn: What autoimmunity really is (and why it's a case of mistaken identity) How inflammation and the immune system interact The critical role of gut health and the microbiome How ultra-processed foods disrupt intestinal integrity and immune signaling Why stress and hyper-palatable foods create a harmful cycle A practical experiment you can try to see how diet impacts your own biomarkers This isn't about selling supplements or pushing extremes. It's about understanding the science so you can make informed decisions about your health. As always, this episode is backed by scientific literature. Full citations are included below, with abbreviated versions available on shorter clips. If you're dealing with autoimmune symptoms—or just want to better understand how food impacts your immune system—this episode is for you.   Full citation list: Hall KD, et al. “Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake.” Cell Metabolism, 2019.     Supports the formulation argument: UPF intake increased spontaneous calorie intake and weight gain even with diets matched for presented calories, sugar, fiber, sodium, and macronutrients. This is your anchor for “hyper-palatability and formulation change physiology, not just psychology.”   Narula N, et al. “Association of Ultra-Processed Food Intake With Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Prospective Cohort Study.” BMJ, 2021.     Best human disease-level citation for the episode. Supports the claim that higher UPF intake is associated with greater IBD risk, making the gut-immune link clinically meaningful rather than purely theoretical.   Chassaing B, et al. “Randomized Controlled-Feeding Study of Dietary Emulsifier Carboxymethylcellulose Reveals Detrimental Impacts on the Gut Microbiota and Metabolome.” Gastroenterology, 2022.     Best emulsifier paper for human translation. Supports the claim that CMC can perturb the microbiota and metabolome and may contribute to barrier-hostile gut ecology in susceptible individuals.   Daniel N, et al. “Human Intestinal Microbiome Determines Individualized Responses to Dietary Emulsifier Carboxymethylcellulose.” Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 2024.     Useful nuance paper. Supports the point that emulsifier sensitivity is not identical across all people and that host-microbiome context matters.   Shil A, et al. “Artificial Sweeteners Disrupt Tight Junctions and Barrier Function in the Intestinal Epithelium Through Activation of the Sweet Taste Receptor T1R3.” Nutrients, 2020.     Best citation for the “sugar-free does not mean barrier-neutral” point. Supports direct epithelial barrier effects of common artificial sweeteners in experimental models.   Peng L, et al. “Butyrate Enhances the Intestinal Barrier by Facilitating Tight Junction Assembly via Activation of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase in Caco-2 Cell Monolayers.” Journal of Nutrition, 2009.     Classic mechanistic citation for butyrate. Supports the claim that loss of fermentable fiber and reduced butyrate production can weaken barrier function.   Kumar KP, et al. “The Interplay Between the Microbiota, Diet and T Regulatory Cells in Maintaining Intestinal Homeostasis.” Frontiers in Microbiology, 2023.     Useful for the tolerance language. Supports the argument that diet and microbial metabolites shape Treg biology and mucosal tolerance.   Haase S, et al. “Sodium Chloride Triggers Th17 Mediated Autoimmunity.” Frontiers in Immunology, 2019.     Key citation for high salt and autoimmune-prone immune skewing. Supports the claim that excess salt can promote pathogenic Th17 biology relevant to autoimmune disease.   Wilck N, et al. “Salt-Responsive Gut Commensal Modulates TH17 Axis and Disease.” Nature, 2017.     Strong bridge between salt, microbiome, and Th17 signaling. Supports the point that salt is not just a blood pressure story; it is also an immune-story.   Vitales-Noyola M, et al. “Analysis of Sodium Chloride Intake and Treg/Th17 Lymphocytes in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.” Journal of Immunology Research, 2018.     Helpful human-facing citation for salt and immune skewing in autoimmune populations. Use cautiously, but it strengthens translation from theory to autoimmune terrain.   Phuong-Nguyen K, et al. “Advanced Glycation End-Products and Their Effects on Gut Health.” Nutrients, 2023.     Good review for the AGE section. Supports the argument that AGE-rich processed foods may worsen oxidative stress, microbiota balance, and barrier function.   Chen Y, et al. “Dietary Advanced Glycation End-Products Elicit Toxicological Effects by Disrupting Gut Microbiota and Increasing Colon Permeability in Rats.” Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, 2021.     Useful mechanistic support for the processing-chemistry section. Reinforces the claim that dietary AGEs can alter microbial ecology and increase permeability.   Monteiro CA, et al. “Ultra-Processed Foods: What They Are and How to Identify Them.” Public Health Nutrition, 2019.   Dr. Brendan McCarthy is the founder and Chief Medical Officer of Protea Medical Center in Arizona. With over two decades of experience, he's helped thousands of patients navigate hormonal imbalances using bioidentical HRT, nutrition, and root-cause medicine. He's also taught and mentored other physicians on integrative approaches to hormone therapy, weight loss, fertility, and more. If you're ready to take your health seriously, this podcast is a great place to start.  

Rhesus Medicine Podcast - Medical Education

PDFs available here: https://rhesusmedicine.com/pages/rheumatologyConsider subscribing on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRks8wB6vgz0E7buP0L_5RQ?sub_confirmation=1Video Timestamps:0:00 What is Hereditary Angioedema?0:58 Causes of Angioedema1:49 Hereditary Angioedema Pathophysiology3:07 Hereditary Angioedema Types4:41 Hereditary Angioedema Symptoms6:29 Hereditary Angioedema Diagnosis7:29 Hereditary Angioedema TreatmentPlease remember this video and all content from Rhesus Medicine is meant for educational purposes only and should not be used as a guide to diagnose or to treat. Please consult a healthcare professional for medical advice. ReferencesPatient.info (2023) Hereditary angio-oedema. Available at: https://patient.info/doctor/dermatology/hereditary-angio-oedemaBritish Society for Immunology (n.d.) Angioedema due to acquired C1 inhibitor deficiency. Available at: https://www.immunology.org/public-information/bitesized-immunology/immune-dysfunction/angioedema-due-acquired-c1-inhibitorHAE UK (n.d.) Diagnosis and investigations. HAE UK. Available at: https://www.haeuk.org/what-is-hae/diagnosis-and-investigations/American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (2026) Immunomodulator medications. Available at: https://www.aaaai.org/tools-for-the-public/drug-guide/immunomodulator-medicationsKnyaMed (n.d.) Angioedema vs edema. Available at: https://knyamed.com/blogs/difference-between/angioedema-vs-edemaDermNet (2025) Hereditary angioedema. DermNet NZ. Available at: https://dermnetnz.org/topics/hereditary-angioedemaBork, K., Wulff, K., Witzke, G., Machnig, T. and Hardt, J. (2020) ‘Treatment of patients with hereditary angioedema with the c.988A>G (p.Lys330Glu) variant in the plasminogen gene', Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, 15(1), p. 52. doi: 10.1186/s13023-020-1331-8.Dickeson, S.K., Kumar, S., Sun, M.F., Cheng, Q., Sclafani, S., Verhamme, I.M., Kenne, E., Müller-Esterl, W., Renné, T. and Gailani, D. (2022) ‘A mechanism for hereditary angioedema caused by a lysine 311–to–glutamic acid substitution in plasminogen', Blood, 139(18), pp. 2816–2829. doi: 10.1182/blood.2021014167.Kozma, G.T., Gáll, Z., Hiripi, L., Bakk, E., Bodó, K., Varga, L. and Farkas, H. (2021) ‘Screening for plasminogen mutations in hereditary angioedema patients with normal C1-inhibitor levels', Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(6), p. 1162. doi: 10.3390/jcm10061162.Matafonov, A., Sun, M.F. and Gailani, D. (2022) ‘Bradykinin formation by mutant plasminogen', Blood, 139(18), pp. 2732–2733. doi: 10.1182/blood.2022015967.Steinmüller-Magin, L., Wulff, K., Witzke, G., Bork, K. and Magerl, M. (2023) ‘Mutant plasminogen in hereditary angioedema is bypassing FXII/kallikrein to generate bradykinin', Frontiers in Physiology, 13, p. 1090732. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1090732.Kaplan, A.P. (2019) ‘Hereditary angioedema: linking complement regulation to the coagulation system', Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 17(1), pp. 3–10. Available at: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6332742/

The Zero to Finals Medical Revision Podcast
Allergic Rhinitis (2nd edition)

The Zero to Finals Medical Revision Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2026 7:27


This episode covers allergic rhinitis.Notes: https://zerotofinals.com/paediatrics/immunology/allergicrhinitis/Questions: https://members.zerotofinals.com/Books: https://zerotofinals.com/books/The audio in the episode was expertly edited by Harry Watchman.

Fast Metabolism Matters with Haylie Pomroy
You're Not Picky — You're Having an Immune Response

Fast Metabolism Matters with Haylie Pomroy

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2026 40:39


In today's episode, Haylie Pomroy sits down with Dr. Theoharis Theoharides — Professor of Clinical Immunology and Executive Director of the Center for Excellence in Neuroinflammation Research — to dig into a topic that's finally getting the attention it deserves: multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) and its deep connection to mast cell activation. Dr. Theoharides explains what actually happens in the immune system when the body is exposed to everyday chemicals — from perfume and jet fuel to formaldehyde in clothing and mycotoxins in food. He walks through the biology of mast cells, why stress dramatically lowers your chemical reaction threshold, and why so many patients go undiagnosed or are dismissed as "just sensitive." Haylie brings her own personal experience with chemical sensitivity and autoimmune disease to the conversation, making this one of the most candid and clinically rich discussions we've had on the show. Whether you've been told your symptoms are in your head, or you've quietly suspected that your environment is making you sick, this episode is for you. Tune in to Fast Metabolism Matters — and finally get the science to back up what your body has been telling you all along.   Dr. Theoharis Theoharides is a Professor, Vice Chair of Clinical Immunology, and Director at the Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine-Clearwater, an Adjunct Professor of Immunology at Tufts School of Medicine, where he was a Professor of Pharmacology and Internal Medicine, and also the  Director of Molecular Immunopharmacology & Drug Discovery, and Clinical Pharmacologist at the Massachusetts Drug Formulary Commission (1983-2022). He received his BA, MS, MPhil, PhD, and MD degrees and the Winternitz Price in Pathology from Yale University and received a Certificate in Global Leadership from Tufts Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and a Fellowship at Harvard Kennedy  School of Government. He trained in internal medicine at New England Medical Center, which awarded him the Oliver Smith Award, "recognizing excellence, compassion, and service." Dr. Theoharides has 485 publications (46,491 citations; h-index 106), placing him in the world's top 2% of most cited authors, and he was rated the worldwide expert on mast cells by Expertscape. He was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical Honor Society, the Rare Diseases Hall of Fame, and the World Academy of Sciences. Website: https://www.drtheoharides.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/theoharis-theoharides-ms-phd-md-faaaai-67123735 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.theoharides/   Haylie Pomroy, Founder and CEO of The Haylie Pomroy Group, is a leading health strategist specializing in metabolism, weight loss, and integrative wellness. With over 25 years of experience, she has worked with top medical institutions and high-profile clients, developing targeted programs and supplements rooted in the "Food is Medicine" philosophy. Inspired by her own autoimmune journey, she combines expertise in nutrition, biochemistry, and patient advocacy to help others reclaim their health. She is a New York Times bestselling author of The Fast Metabolism Diet.   Learn more about Haylie Pomroy's approach to wellness through her website: https://hayliepomroy.com   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hayliepomroy  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hayliepomroy  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hayliepomroy/videos  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayliepomroy/  X: https://x.com/hayliepomroy   

The Zero to Finals Medical Revision Podcast
Anaphylaxis (2nd edition)

The Zero to Finals Medical Revision Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2026 11:30


This episode covers anaphylaxis.Notes: https://zerotofinals.com/paediatrics/immunology/anaphylaxis/Questions: https://members.zerotofinals.com/Books: https://zerotofinals.com/books/The audio in the episode was expertly edited by Harry Watchman.

The Zero to Finals Medical Revision Podcast

This episode covers allergy.Notes: https://zerotofinals.com/paediatrics/immunology/allergy/Questions: https://members.zerotofinals.com/Books: https://zerotofinals.com/books/The audio in the episode was expertly edited by Harry Watchman.

RTÉ - Drivetime
Should we have a free shingles vaccine for over 65s

RTÉ - Drivetime

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2026 3:49


Luke O'Neill, School of Biochemistry and Immunology at Trinity College Dublin

The Ripple Effect Podcast
Episode 579: The Ripple Effect Podcast (Dr. Alexander & Dr. Rose | WE ARE NOT MACHINES: Beyond Darwin & Algorithms)

The Ripple Effect Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2026 93:27


Dr. Jessica Rose & Dr. VN Alexander join The Ripple Effect Podcast for a deep, thought-provoking conversation that challenges mainstream assumptions about science, intelligence & reality itself. With backgrounds spanning computational biology, immunology, evolutionary theory & philosophy, they explore the limits of artificial intelligence, the complexities of living systems & why human consciousness cannot be reduced to algorithms. From questioning Darwinian orthodoxy to exposing the dangers of centralized technological power, this episode pushes beyond conventional thinking & invites listeners to reconsider what it truly means to be human in an increasingly artificial world.VN ALEXANDER, PhD (aka Tori):Website: https://vnalexander.com/IG: https://www.instagram.com/rednaxelairot/X: https://x.com/torialexander72Substack: posthumousstyle.substack.comThe Girlie Playhouse (Book): https://heresy-press.com/product/the-girlie-playhouse-by-v-n-alexander/DR. JESSICA ROSE:X: https://x.com/JesslovesMJKSubStack: https://jessicar.substack.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0EhWf2Vswdg7DwKKKZ34ngDOAC AI Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cn8HBj8QAbkDOAC AI Debate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMYQmGfTltYTHE RIPPLE EFFECT PODCAST:WEBSITE: http://TheRippleEffectPodcast.comSUPPORT:PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/TheRippleEffectPodcastPayPal: https://www.PayPal.com/paypalme/RvTheory6VENMO: https://venmo.com/code?user_id=3625073915201071418&created=1663262894MERCH: Store: http://www.TheRippleEffectPodcastMerch.comTHEORY 6 MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1w91xRlB4b2MJYyXXhJcyFSPONSORS:Descript – AI Video & Podcast Editor: https://descript.cello.so/l3sNyHZznJcOPUS A.I. Clip Creator: https://www.opus.pro/?via=RickyVarandasScott Horton Academy: https://scotthortonacademy.com/rippleeffectUniversity of Reason-Autonomy: https://www.universityofreason.com/a/2147825829/ouiRXFoLOFFICIAL YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRippleEffectPodcastOFFICIALTHE UNION OF THE UNWANTED: https://linktr.ee/TheUnionOfTheUnwanted

music phd paypal algorithms machines immunology darwinian podcast dr podcast editor jessica rose ripple effect podcast therippleeffectpodcast theunionoftheunwanted
MedPrepToGo: USMLE Step 1 Questions

This episode features Chris Breitigan reading 3 Immunology questions from our online qbank. Dr. Ted O'Connell Ted O'Connell, MD, FAAFP, is the Director of Medical Education for Kaiser Permanente Northern California. He is also an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the UC San Francisco School of Medicine.  Ted has authored over 20 medical textbooks, edited 10 additional textbooks, and has written over 900 textbook chapters as well as articles in peer-reviewed medical journals. Ted has been involved in medical education for over two decades, serving as Founding Program Director at the Kaiser Permanente Napa-Solano family medicine residency program for 10 years and the Program Director at the Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills residency program for 7 years. Ted is Editor-In-Chief of Elsevier's Clinical Key Student, an international medical education platform. Ted is also the award-winning host of several podcasts.  Dr. Raj Dasgupta Dr. Raj is a quadruple board-certified physician and associate professor at the University of Southern California. He was a co-host on the TNT series Chasing the Cure with Ann Curry, a regular on the TV Show The Doctors for the past 7 seasons and has a weekly medical segment on ABC news Los Angeles. Our Websites ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MedPrepToGo Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BookRevision.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. O'Connell's Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Dasgupta's Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Other Podcasts ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠USMLE Step 1 Questions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠USMLE Step 1 Ad-Free Bundle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Crush Step 1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Step 2 Secrets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Pearls⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Dr. Raj Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Beyond the Pearls Premium⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠USMLE Step 3 Review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Legal/Credits All information is for entertainment and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Baliga's Internal Medicine Podcasts
Reversing Heart Failure: Where immunology meets cardiology

Dr. Baliga's Internal Medicine Podcasts

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2026 4:05


A fascinating step forward in Nature—where immunology meets cardiology.

Dr. Chapa’s Clinical Pearls.
Livi Post-Sex Vaginal Device: Hmmmm

Dr. Chapa’s Clinical Pearls.

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2026 11:38


Livi by LiviWell is an FDA-cleared, single-use, soft polyurethane foam device designed to immediately absorb post-intercourse fluids (semen) to support vaginal health. Inserted like a tampon within 15 minutes post-coitus, it works in roughly 60 seconds to restore natural pH, helping to manage odor, dripping, and discomfort. Is this evidence-based? Listen in for details.1. https://www.biospace.com/press-releases/liviwell-secures-fda-clearance-for-livi-introducing-a-new-category-in-post-intercourse-vaginal-care#:~:text=Advertise-,LiviWell%20Secures%20FDA%20Clearance%20for%20Livi%2C%20Introducing%20a%20New%20Category,and%20other%20post%2Dintercourse%20fluids.2. Mngomezulu K, Mzobe GF, Mtshali A, et al. Recent Semen Exposure Impacts the Cytokine Response and Bacterial Vaginosis in Women. Frontiers in Immunology. 2021. 3. Abstract: ISSWSH/ISSM Joint Meeting 2025. Abstract citation ID: qdaf068.138 (155) SEMEN IS NOTTHEVAGINA'SFRIEND:ANOVEL POST-SEX TAMPON IMPROVES VAGINAL HEALTH PARAMETERS

Tiny Matters
[BONUS] Camel antibodies and colorful Greco-Roman statues: Tiny Show and Tell Us #44

Tiny Matters

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2026 16:12


In this episode of Tiny Show and Tell Us, we explore the strange world of camelid antibodies—tiny, heavy-chain-only immune molecules that turned out to be incredibly useful for research and medicine. Then we chat about archaeochemistry and how pristine white Greco-Roman statues were once "garishly" painted. Using modern chemical techniques, scientists are revealing traces of vivid pigments like Egyptian blue. But how definitive are these reconstructions? Drama!Check out Wow if True here or wherever you listen to podcasts!We need your stories — they're what make these bonus episodes possible! Write in to tinymatters@acs.org *or fill out this form* with your favorite science fact or science news story for a chance to be featured.A transcript and references for this episode can be found at acs.org/tinymatters.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Going anti-Viral
Immunology of HIV Cure and Beyond: Navigating Immunology Presentations at CROI 2026 – Dr John Frater

Going anti-Viral

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2026 27:35


In episode 74 of Going anti-Viral, Dr John Frater joins host Dr Michael Saag to discuss a presentation he gave at the 2026 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) entitled Immunology of HIV Cure and Beyond: Navigating Immunology Presentations at CROI 2026.  Dr Frater is a Professor of Infectious Diseases at the University of Oxford where he leads the HIV Reservoir and Cure Group. The aim of his research is to explore strategies for targeting the reservoir of latent HIV infection in treated individuals, with a specific interest in primary HIV infection. He is a lead investigator on several major HIV clinical studies, many of which include antiretroviral therapy treatment interruptions. His laboratory focus is on immune responses that may lead to viral control and the impact of viral variation. Dr Frater and Dr Saag discuss the basics of HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy as well as the barriers to HIV cure. They also address complexities of HIV latency and the challenges in identifying and eliminating latent reservoirs. Dr Frater addresses the promising strategies involving immune responses in targeting reservoirs and the role of early treatment in HIV cure.  0:00 – Introduction 2:15 – Basics of HIV infection and the barrier to HIV cure: latently infected cells3:56 – Why do some cells die after 1 day6:04 – Strategies to identify and eliminate latently infected cells8:52 – The role of immune responses in targeting reservoirs11:42 – Timing of reservoir establishment and early treatment 16:49 – Measuring the latent reservoir: challenges and methods18:16 – The London Patient and cure evidence22:14 – Future directions and hope for HIV cureResources: CROI 2026: https://www.croiconference.org/ View Dr Frater's presentation at CROI 2026: https://www.croiwebcasts.org/p/2026croi/croi/CR-55003 __________________________________________________Produced by IAS-USA, Going anti–Viral is a podcast for clinicians involved in research and care in HIV, its complications, and other viral infections. This podcast is intended as a technical source of information for specialists in this field, but anyone listening will enjoy learning more about the state of modern medicine around viral infections.Going anti-Viral's host is Dr Michael Saag, a physician, prominent HIV researcher at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and volunteer IAS–USA board member. In most episodes, Dr Saag interviews an expert in infectious diseases or emerging pandemics about their area of specialty and current developments in the field. Other episodes are drawn from the IAS–USA vast catalogue of panel discussions, Dialogues, and other audio from various meetings and conferences. Email podcast@iasusa.org to send feedback, show suggestions, or questions to be answered on a later episode.Follow Going anti-Viral on: Apple Podcasts YouTubeXFacebookInstagram...

Smart Money Circle
This Biotech CEO Created The RedTail Platform To Fight Cancer. Meet Eric Poma CEO of Calidi Bio $CLDI

Smart Money Circle

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2026 14:29


This Biotech CEO Created The RedTail Platform To Fight Cancer. Guest:Eric PomaCEO of Calidi Bio CLDI Company Name:Calidi BiotherapeuticsWebsite: https://www.calidibio.com/Ticker: NYSE: CLDIEric's Bio:Eric Poma, Ph.D. has served as Chief Executive Officer and board director of Calidi since April 2025 and brings more than 30 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, with a strong record of capital fundraising, big pharma collaboration agreements, and clinical program development.Prior to joining Calidi, Dr. Poma served as CEO of Molecular Templates (NASDAQ: MTEM), a clinical-stage biotech focused on the development of a novel class of therapeutic agents with unique biology in oncology. At Molecular Templates he raised over $250 million in equity financing and secured over $150 million in strategic capital through agreements with Takeda, Vertex and BMS. He previously served as Vice President, Business Development of Innovive Pharmaceuticals. Prior to that he held various senior level positions at Imclone Systems, Inc., primarily in business development. Earlier, Dr. Poma served as a Healthcare & Biotechnology Analyst with the healthcare fund Eagle Growth Investors, LLC.Dr. Poma received a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an M.B.A. from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.Company Bio:Calidi Biotherapeutics is a biotechnology company pioneering the development of targeted genetic medicines for cancer and other diseases through its RedTail platform. The company's lead compound, CLD-401, is a systemically delivered oncolytic virus that expresses high levels of IL-15 superagonist only in the tumor microenvironment. The company expects to file an IND to initiate clinical studies for CLD-401 by the end of 2026. The company continues to advance what the RedTail platform can achieve and will be presenting additional data throughout the year.

Pharma and BioTech Daily
Pharma Giants Transforming Through Strategic Acquisitions and AI

Pharma and BioTech Daily

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2026 4:45 Transcription Available


Good morning from Pharma Daily: the podcast that brings you the most important developments in the pharmaceutical and biotech world. Today, we're diving into a series of noteworthy advancements and strategic movements shaping the future of drug development and patient care.The pharmaceutical industry is seeing a flurry of mergers and acquisitions, reflecting a strategic push to enhance therapeutic portfolios. Biogen's $5.6 billion acquisition of Apellis Pharmaceuticals emphasizes its ambition to expand its immunology offerings and venture into kidney disease therapeutics. This move aligns with a broader industry trend where major players are investing heavily in acquisitions to bolster their pipelines and market positions. Similarly, Eli Lilly's $6.3 billion investment in Centessa Pharmaceuticals highlights its focus on diversifying its neuroscience portfolio, particularly in sleep disorder treatments. These strategic acquisitions underscore the high stakes and potential rewards associated with advancing treatments for neurological conditions.On the clinical front, United Therapeutics is making strides with its idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis program. A successful Phase 3 trial for Tyvaso positions it as a potential new standard in IPF treatment, paving the way for an FDA filing. This development underscores the company's ambition to secure blockbuster sales and expand its therapeutic footprint. However, AstraZeneca faced a setback when its Strensiq successor missed primary endpoints in a Phase 3 trial for treating rare metabolic diseases. This outcome illustrates the inherent risks in drug development, especially when expanding indications beyond existing pediatric uses.Regulatory scrutiny remains intense, with the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research issuing untitled letters to several companies over promotional practices. This action highlights the importance of compliance in marketing biologics and emphasizes ethical promotional strategies that align with regulatory standards. Meanwhile, GSK's Exdensur secured regulatory approval in China for asthma treatment, marking a strategic expansion into a key geographical market.Economic pressures are also influencing the industry, as seen with BASF Pharma Solutions announcing price increases for excipients and some active pharmaceutical ingredients due to rising energy and raw material costs. Such moves reflect broader economic challenges impacting the pharmaceutical supply chain, emphasizing the ongoing need for cost-effective solutions in drug manufacturing.In obesity treatment innovation, Ambrosia Biosciences has raised $100 million to advance its oral small-molecule GLP-1 therapy into clinical trials. This funding round highlights growing investor interest in next-generation obesity treatments that move beyond traditional peptide-based approaches.Moreover, artificial intelligence is increasingly being harnessed to enhance clinical trial design efficiency. Bristol-Myers Squibb's collaboration with Faro exemplifies how AI technologies are streamlining clinical research processes to improve patient outcomes and accelerate drug development timelines.In other developments, Merck has presented compelling phase 3 results for its PCSK9 inhibitor, showcasing superiority over other oral non-statin therapies for cardiovascular diseases. This positions Merck strategically within the cardiovascular market by offering promising alternatives for patients intolerant to statins.Despite these advancements, some companies face challenges. Astellas Pharma discontinued an early-stage trial for Sjogren's syndrome treatment due to developmental hurdles, while Lipella Pharmaceuticals and Io Biotech filed for bankruptcy after struggling to advance their pipelines past regulatory obstacles.On the financial side, Blackstone's closure of a $6.3 billion life sciences fund underscores robust investor confidence in biotecSupport the show

Ask Dr. Drew
Meningitis Outbreak: Dr. Jessica Rose Exposes “Plandemic 2.0” Fear Campaign & MenB Vax w/ Dr. Izabella Wentz and Ken McCarthy – Ask Dr. Drew – Ep 603

Ask Dr. Drew

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2026 72:22


A meningitis outbreak is sparking a massive media fear campaign reminiscent of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic – but Dr. Jessica Rose warns “don't just get in line like you did last time, please.” The computational biologist and immunologist warns that the public is being driven toward MenB vaccines that carry significant, underreported risks. By analyzing VAERS data and the recombinant technology inside these injections, Dr. Rose exposes the dangers of “molecular mimicry” and explains why injecting synthetic lipoproteins could trigger severe autoimmune responses. Internet pioneer and investigative author Ken McCarthy breaks down the historical and ongoing corruption of the medical industry. Dr. Izabella Wentz, acclaimed author of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, shares her expertise on combating the rise of medically-induced and environmentally-triggered autoimmune conditions, offering root-cause solutions for mystery illnesses. Dr. Jessica Rose is a Canadian researcher with a Bachelor's in Applied Mathematics and a Master's in Immunology from Memorial University of Newfoundland. She holds a PhD in Computational Biology from Bar Ilan University and completed postdoctoral research in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry. Find her at https://jessicasuniverse.com and follow at https://x.com/JesslovesMJK Ken McCarthy was one of the early pioneers of the movement to commercialize the Internet. Time Magazine credits him with being the first person to articulate the importance of “click-through rate” as a key metric. He's the author of over 10 books, including the bestselling What the Nurses Saw. Learn more at https://BrasscheckBooks.com and https://kenmccarthy.com Dr. Izabella Wentz, PharmD, FASCP is an internationally acclaimed thyroid specialist and licensed pharmacist who has dedicated her career to addressing the root causes of autoimmune thyroid disease, fatigue and mystery illnesses after being diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis in 2009. She received the PharmD. Degree (Doctor of Pharmacy) from the Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy at the age of 23. Dr. Wentz is the author of the #1 NYT bestseller “Hashimoto's Protocol” and multiple others. Learn more at https://thyroidpharmacist.com 「 SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS 」 • STRONG CELL – If you want to feel more like your younger self, go to https://strongcell.com/ and use code DREW for 20% off. • AUGUSTA PRECIOUS METALS – Thousands of Americans are moving portions of their retirement into physical gold & silver. Learn more in this 3-minute report from our friends at Augusta Precious Metals: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drdrew.com/gold⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or text DREW to 35052 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• FATTY15 – The future of essential fatty acids is here! Strengthen your cells against age-related breakdown with Fatty15. Get 15% off a 90-day Starter Kit Subscription at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drdrew.com/fatty15⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • PALEOVALLEY - "Paleovalley has a wide variety of extraordinary products that are both healthful and delicious,” says Dr. Drew. "I am a huge fan of this brand and know you'll love it too!” Get 15% off your first order at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drdrew.com/paleovalley⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • THE WELLNESS COMPANY - Counteract harmful spike proteins with TWC's Signature Series Spike Support Formula containing nattokinase and selenium. Learn more about TWC's supplements at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twc.health/drew⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 「 ABOUT THE SHOW 」 This show is for entertainment and/or informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Executive Producers • Kaleb Nation - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kalebnation.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • Susan Pinsky - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/firstladyoflove⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Content Producer • Emily Barsh - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/emilytvproducer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Hosted By • Dr. Drew Pinsky - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/drdrew⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I-80 Club
Picking Up The Pieces of Nebraska's Loss to Iowa | I-80 ROAD SHOW: Dancing with the 'Skers

I-80 Club

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2026 49:21


Jack and Kaleb dive into Nebraska's loss to Iowa and discuss what's next on a special edition of the Saturday Morning Coffee Show.The I-80 Club Road Show: Dancing with the 'Skers HOUSTON EDITION is brought to you by the Nebraska Alumni Association! For more info head to https://www.huskeralum.org/Thanks to our Community Partner and Voicemail Sponsor: Nebraska Pulmonary SpecialtiesThanks to our Community Partners: Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, AllSweep, Anderson Monument, Capital Dental, Husker Power Products, Katie McDonald Realty, Look Architectural Coatings, Sandstone Wealth Management, The Still, Sutton, Linder, and Sutton, and 1620 the ZoneThanks to our I-80 Club Road Crew: Lincoln Arneal, Matthew Callaway, Corey Day, Alex Henning, Cina Jelinek, Gerren Jolkowski, Mark Klabunde, Bret Lenhardt, Reese Pearson, Erik Pleshek, Jordan Schmidt, Bruce Shane, Lindsay Strizek, Joe Vandaventer, Connor Willingham, and One Eyed Eddy's Sports Bar in GreeleyMusic: Ian AeilloFor more from the I-80 Club, become a Patron and get bonus episodes, access to the I-80 Club Discord server, and so much more: patreon.com/i80clubSubscribe to the I-80 Club YouTube channel and don't miss any of our public episodes, see shorts, and other videos! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Asking Why
Episode 183: Dr. Shawn McNeil & Dr. Donard Dwyer | Unlocking Schizophrenia

Asking Why

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2026 56:45


This week Clint speaks with Dr. Shawn McNeil & Dr. Donard.  In this conversation they explore the latest research and clinical practices in psychiatry, focusing on schizophrenia, genetic testing, early detection, and the impact of AI on mental health.    Dr. Shawn McNeil hosts an Apple podcast, "Addiction Medicine: Beyond the Abstract" Addiction Medicine: Beyond the Abstract - Podcast - Apple Podcasts. A quarterly, interactive addiction journal club was discussed, paired with presentation Dr. McNeil discusses on his podcast. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/addiction-medicine-beyond-the-abstract/id1806152019   Biography Dr. Shawn McNeil is a physician and researcher at LSU Health Shreveport. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine and serves as Program Director of the Psychiatry Residency Program and Director of Neuroinformatics Research. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology and is board-certified in General Psychiatry and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. He completed his Psychiatry residency at LSU Health Shreveport and is a recipient of the Resident Recognition Award from the American Psychiatric Association (APA). He also completed his fellowship in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at LSU Health, serving as chief resident of the program.   Clinically, Dr. McNeil practices at Louisiana Behavioral Health where he serves as Chief Medical Officer. He also supervises residents at the Ochsner LSU Health Ambulatory Care Center. His primary research is clinical in nature. He is Principal Investigator on a clinical trial (Apathy in Schizophrenia, Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc.) at the LSU Health Psychiatry Research Clinic which is investigating the use of Lumateperone on motivation in patients with psychotic disorders. He previously worked on the Blüm Autism Study (sponsored by Curemark) and the Tapestry Autism Study (sponsored by Axial Therapeutics). He is also the Director of Clinical Research for the Louisiana Addiction Research Center.   Dr. McNeil serves as President of the Louisiana Psychiatric Medical Association (LPMA). He is on the editorial board of the Journal of Addiction Medicine (JAM) and is host of their podcast "Addiction Medicine: Beyond the Abstract". He is a 2018 recipient of the ASAM's Ruth Fox Memorial Endowment Scholarship. He has also served on the editorial board of the APA's American Journal of Psychiatry Resident's Journal and he has been recognized as a Fellow of the APA.   Dr. McNeil was previously a staff physician at the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center and treated veterans in the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Clinic. He continues to proudly serve as a Deputy Coroner of Caddo Parish, Louisiana.     Donard Dwyer, PhD Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine   Biography Donard Dwyer received his BS degree in Psychology from Tulane University, a Master's degree in education (MEd) from the University of Rochester and his PhD from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). In addition, to holding positions as a Research Scientist at the Max-Planck Society laboratories in Würzburg, Germany and Director of Immunology at a Cambridge biotechnology company, Dr. Dwyer has spent 32 years in academic research at UAB and LSU Health Shreveport. He is currently professor of Psychiatry and Pharmacology, Toxicology and Neuroscience at LSU Health Shreveport. In addition, he is Vice-Chair for Research in the Department of Psychiatry.   His research interests range broadly from the evolution of protein ligand-receptor interactions, the electronic properties of amino acids and regulation of glucose transport in neurons to behavioral genetics of motivation and movement in C. elegans and the genetic basis for schizophrenia and neuropsychiatric disorders. He is currently focused on the role of insulin signaling pathways in regulation of motivation in “suicidal” worms and characterization of the genetic architecture of schizophrenia with mathematical approaches. Finally, his laboratory is searching for drugs that produce neuroenhancement in cultured neurons as potential treatments for an array of neuropsychiatric conditions.     Medical Trial: https://www.lsuhs.edu/departments/school-of-medicine/psychiatry-and-behavioral-medicine/research   Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guests 02:27 Overview of Schizophrenia and Motivation Challenges 04:23 The New Drug Adalumid Teparone and Its Potential 07:50 Understanding Schizophrenia: Causes and Risk Factors 12:04 Genetics of Schizophrenia: Myths and Realities 16:20 Enrolling Patients in Clinical Trials 20:49 Genetic Testing and Personalized Medicine in Psychiatry 25:54 Early Signs of Psychosis in Children 30:50 Supporting Families and Community Resources 40:04 The Role of AI in Future Psychiatry 52:17 AI and the Risks of Artificial Relationships 56:35 Conclusion: Hope and the Future of Mental Health Care

RNZ: Saturday Morning
Dr Bali Pulendran: Closing in on a universal vaccine

RNZ: Saturday Morning

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2026 22:35


We're almost a month into autumn and there's a definite nip in the air which means that flu season - and the flu shot - isn't far away. Maybe you'll also be thinking about whether or not to get a COVID booster. But imagine if there was one vaccine that could protect you against both of those - and more. Well a recently published American study suggests that a universal vaccine may very well be possible. Dr Bali Pulendran is a Professor at Standford University's School of Medicine, Director of its Institute for Immunology, Transplantation and Infection and senior author of the study. He talks to Susie Ferguson about what this could mean in the face of another global pandemic.

I-80 Club
It's Over: Nebraska's Season Comes to a Heartbreaking End at the Hands of Iowa | Nebrasketball Hour

I-80 Club

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2026 144:24


The boys give their thoughts on Nebraska's brutal season ending 77-71 loss to the Iowa Hawkeyes.This broadcast is in association with 1620 the Zone. The I-80 Club Road Show: Dancing with the 'Skers HOUSTON EDITION is brought to you by the Nebraska Alumni Association! For more info head to https://www.huskeralum.org/ Thanks to our Community Partner and Voicemail Sponsor: Nebraska Pulmonary Specialties Thanks to our Community Partners: Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, AllSweep, Andrews Monument, Capital Dental, Husker Power Products, Katie McDonald Realty, Look Architectural Coatings, Sandstone Wealth Management, The Still, Sutton, Linder, and Sutton, and 1620 the ZoneThanks to our I-80 Club Road Crew: Lincoln Arneal, Matthew Callaway, Corey Day, Alex Henning, Cina Jelinek, Gerren Jolkowski, Mark Klabunde, Bret Lenhardt, Reese Pearson, Erik Pleshek, Jordan Schmidt, Bruce Shane, Lindsay Strizek, Joe Vandaventer, Connor Willingham, and One Eyed Eddy's Sports Bar in GreeleyMusic: Ian AeilloFor more from the I-80 Club, become a Patron and get bonus episodes, access to the I-80 Club Discord server, and so much more: patreon.com/i80clubSubscribe to the I-80 Club YouTube channel and don't miss any of our public episodes, see shorts, and other videos! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I-80 Club
Willl Nebraska Beat Iowa and Go To The Elite Eight? | Nebrasketball Hour

I-80 Club

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2026 38:39


Jack and Kaleb offer their final preview on Nebraska's game in Houston against Iowa.The I-80 Club Road Show: Dancing with the 'Skers HOUSTON EDITION is brought to you by the Nebraska Alumni Association! For more info head to https://www.huskeralum.org/Thanks to our Community Partner and Voicemail Sponsor: Nebraska Pulmonary SpecialtiesThanks to our Community Partners: Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, AllSweep, Andrews Monument, Capital Dental, Husker Power Products, Katie McDonald Realty, Look Architectural Coatings, Sandstone Wealth Management, The Still, Sutton, Linder, and Sutton, and 1620 the ZoneThanks to our I-80 Club Road Crew: Lincoln Arneal, Matthew Callaway, Corey Day, Alex Henning, Cina Jelinek, Gerren Jolkowski, Mark Klabunde, Bret Lenhardt, Reese Pearson, Erik Pleshek, Jordan Schmidt, Bruce Shane, Lindsay Strizek, Joe Vandaventer, Connor Willingham, and One Eyed Eddy's Sports Bar in GreeleyThe Nebrasketball Hour is proudly sponsored by Nebraska Realty! Stop in and view the real estate listings Tim Shanahan and Kurt Maly have to offer at Nebraska Realty in Wahoo. You'll appreciate great service and an enjoyable sales experience while working with the most aggressive, professional and friendly group of real estate agents in the area at Nebraska Realty. Call them today at 402-480-1708 or find them online at https://www.nebraskarealty.comMusic: Ian AeilloFor more from the I-80 Club, become a Patron and get bonus episodes, access to the I-80 Club Discord server, and so much more: patreon.com/i80clubSubscribe to the I-80 Club YouTube channel and don't miss any of our public episodes, see shorts, and other videos! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I-80 Club
LIFT OFF! Nebraska Comes To Houston For Sweet 16 | I-80 Club ROAD SHOW: Dancing with the 'Skers

I-80 Club

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2026 95:49


Less than 24 hours out from Nebraska/Iowa, the boys are back on the couch, ready for an incredible few days in Houston. Jack, Josh, Schaef, and Stibbs talk about Nebraska Iowa III, discuss what a loss (and win) would mean, dive into Pryce and Rienk, and so much more.The I-80 Club Road Show: Dancing with the 'Skers HOUSTON EDITION is brought to you by the Nebraska Alumni Association! For more info head to https://www.huskeralum.org/Thanks to our Community Partner and Voicemail Sponsor: Nebraska Pulmonary SpecialtiesThanks to our Community Partners: Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, AllSweep, Andrews Monument, Capital Dental, Husker Power Products, Katie McDonald Realty, Look Architectural Coatings, Sandstone Wealth Management, The Still, Sutton, Linder, and Sutton, and 1620 the ZoneThanks to our I-80 Club Road Crew: Lincoln Arneal, Matthew Callaway, Corey Day, Alex Henning, Cina Jelinek, Gerren Jolkowski, Mark Klabunde, Bret Lenhardt, Reese Pearson, Erik Pleshek, Jordan Schmidt, Bruce Shane, Lindsay Strizek, Joe Vandaventer, Connor Willingham, and One Eyed Eddy's Sports Bar in GreeleyMusic: Ian AeilloFor more from the I-80 Club, become a Patron and get bonus episodes, access to the I-80 Club Discord server, and so much more: patreon.com/i80clubSubscribe to the I-80 Club YouTube channel and don't miss any of our public episodes, see shorts, and other videos! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I-80 Club
How Are We Feeling About Nebraska/Iowa Part III? | I-80 ROAD SHOW: Dancing with the 'Skers!

I-80 Club

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2026 58:53


The guys hop on the couch for some thoughts just hours away from the Sweet 16 tilt between Nebraska and Iowa.The I-80 Club Road Show: Dancing with the 'Skers HOUSTON EDITION is brought to you by the Nebraska Alumni Association! For more info head to https://www.huskeralum.org/Thanks to our Community Partner and Voicemail Sponsor: Nebraska Pulmonary SpecialtiesThanks to our Community Partners: Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, AllSweep, Andrews Monument, Capital Dental, Husker Power Products, Katie McDonald Realty, Look Architectural Coatings, Sandstone Wealth Management, The Still, Sutton, Linder, and Sutton, and 1620 the ZoneThanks to our I-80 Club Road Crew: Lincoln Arneal, Matthew Callaway, Corey Day, Alex Henning, Cina Jelinek, Gerren Jolkowski, Mark Klabunde, Bret Lenhardt, Reese Pearson, Erik Pleshek, Jordan Schmidt, Bruce Shane, Lindsay Strizek, Joe Vandaventer, Connor Willingham, and One Eyed Eddy's Sports Bar in GreeleyMusic: Ian AeilloFor more from the I-80 Club, become a Patron and get bonus episodes, access to the I-80 Club Discord server, and so much more: patreon.com/i80clubSubscribe to the I-80 Club YouTube channel and don't miss any of our public episodes, see shorts, and other videos! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Immunology Podcast
Ep. 127: “MAIT Cell Responses” Featuring Dr. Mansour Haeryfar

The Immunology Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2026 69:31


Guest: Dr. Mansour Haeryfar is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at Western University. The Haeryfar Lab is dedicated to advancing our understanding of both conventional and innate-like invariant T cell responses in health and disease. Their research focuses on mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, with particular emphasis on exploring their therapeutic potential across a range of conditions. Featured Products and Resources: Explore scientific resources for your immunology research. Download a free wallchart on the production of CAR T cells. The Immunology Science Round Up Immune Imprinting Limits Flu Protection – Early flu infections imprint the immune system, biasing later responses and reducing effectiveness against new strains. Maternal Immunity Protects Newborns – Newborns with E. coli sepsis lack protective maternal antibodies, and maternal priming can provide protection. Building the Anti-Carbohydrate Repertoire – Anti-carbohydrate antibodies develop after birth into a diverse, antigen-shaped B cell repertoire. Engineering Better CAR T Responses – CAR T resistance to checkpoint therapy can be overcome by restoring c-Jun alongside PD-L1 blockade. Image courtesy of Dr. Mansour Haeryfar. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

The Skeptics Guide to Emergency Medicine
SGEM#506: Aww I'm Itchy…and I need a Second Generation Antihistamine

The Skeptics Guide to Emergency Medicine

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2026 25:08


Reference: Wong KH, et al. Improving Use of Oral Antihistamines in a Children's Hospital. Pediatrics. Feb 2026; Date: March 15, 2026 Guest Skeptic: Dr. Stephanie Kubala is an attending physician in the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She is double board-certified in both pediatrics and allergy and immunology. Case: A […] The post SGEM#506: Aww I'm Itchy…and I need a Second Generation Antihistamine first appeared on The Skeptics Guide to Emergency Medicine.

RTÉ - Morning Ireland
Kent students to be offered jab after meningitis outbreak

RTÉ - Morning Ireland

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2026 4:49


Christine Loscher, Professor of Immunology at DCU discusses an outbreak of meningitis in a university in Canterbury, Kent.

Let's Talk Wellness Now
Episode 258 – Investigational Peptides: What’s Promising, What’s Hype & What You Must Know

Let's Talk Wellness Now

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2026 58:29


Dr Deb Muth 00:03Well, welcome back to Let’s Talk Wellness Now. I am your host, Dr. Deb. And what is the most talked-about peptides in functional medicine? aren’t actually FDA approved. Not because they don’t work, but because no one’s funded the research to prove it yet. The truth is, some of the compounds that dominate wellness forums, BPC-157, TB-500, thymosin beta-4, epitalin, occupy a fascinating space between breakthrough science and unregulated experimentation. In today’s episode, we’re stepping into that grey zone, the world of investigational peptides, to separate mechanism from marketing. I’m going to walk you through the science that actually shows and where it stops, how to evaluate claims when human data don’t yet exist, and the quality, purity, and safety red flags that you need to recognise. Dr Deb Muth 01:06I created it in a previous episode, so go check that one out. And why honesty is the most important prescription in peptide medicine. If you’ve ever wondered whether these research-only peptides are the frontier of healing or the next functional medicine fad, this episode is for you. So grab your cup of tea or coffee, get comfortable, and let’s talk about what it really means to use peptides that are promising but still under investigation. So we’re going to break just for a second here and have a word from our sponsor. It is because of them that we stay on the air. So thank you for this. And we will be right back. Did you know sweating can literally heal your cells? Infrared saunas don’t just relax you. They detox your body, balance hormones, and boost mitochondrial energy. I’m obsessed with my Health Tech sauna. And right now, you can save $500 with my code at healthtechhealth.com slash dr-muth-req-25. Dr. Deb Muth 02:15All right, guys, welcome back. Let’s dive into investigational peptides, the evidence gap. So the following peptides we’re about ready to discuss are extensively in integrative, functional, and regenerative medicine circles. They may have intriguing mechanisms and promising preclinical data. However, they lack FDA approval, and the evidence quality varies dramatically. from interesting preliminary research to essentially no human data at all. And this distinction is really critical for maintaining scientific integrity. So let’s talk about immune-modulating peptides. There’s thymus and alpha-1, and this is an international story on the thymic peptides. Thymusin alpha-1, known as TA1, is marketed internationally as zidaxin. Dr. Deb Muth 03:16It’s a 28-amino acid polypeptide originally isolated from thymusin fraction 5, which was extracted from bovine thymus tissue. Modern production uses synthetic peptide synthesis. The thymus gland is located behind the sternum and is the primary site for T cell maturation, and thymic peptides like TA1 play roles in human system development and regulation. Now, I love thymus peptides. I love thymus glandular products. I’ve used thymus glandular products for decades. Ground-up animal thymus gland is basically what it is. There are a couple of different supplement companies that I’ve used over the years that are amazing with this. And they do a fantastic job, and they really do help to support the immune system. So when thymus peptides came out, it was really exciting because it took the whole idea of thymus support to a new level. Dr. Deb Muth 04:17The mechanism actually behind the thymus in alpha-1 is complex and involves multiple aspects of immune function. At the cellular level, TA1 enhances T cell maturation and differentiation, particularly the development of helper T cells and cytotoxic T cells. It modulates T cell receptor expression and can influence the balance between Th1 cell-mediated immunity and Th2 humoral immunity responses. And it also enhances the natural killer cell activity and modulates dendritic cell function, which are critical for antigen presentation. and initiation of adaptive immune responses. And on the cytokine level, TA1 influences production of interleukin-2, IL-2, interferon gamma, IFN-γ, and interleukin-10, IL-10. Dr. Deb Muth 05:19These create immune modulatory rather than simple immune stimulatory effects. This is a very important distinction because TA1 appears to help balance the immune system rather than simply ramping this up, which theoretically makes it safer in conditions where immune overstimulation would be a problem, such as an autoimmune disease. Hashimoto’s, autoimmune, lupus, Sjogren’s, any of those autoimmune diseases, we don’t want to overstimulate their immune system. So you want to use a product like this that’s non-stimulating. Now, the regulatory status on TA1 is geographically variable and represents one of the challenges in discussing this peptide with patients. It is not FDA-approved in the United States. However, it is approved in several other countries for specific conditions. Dr. Deb Muth 06:19In Italy, it’s approved for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C. In China, it’s approved for chronic hepatitis B and adjunct immune compromised patients receiving vaccinations or suffering from certain infections. It has an orphan drug designation in the United States for certain cancer indications, but its designation does not constitute approval. It simply provides regulatory incentives for further development. So the evidence base for thymosin alpha-1 is substantial in some areas but comes primarily from non-US populations and research groups, which creates challenges in evaluating quality and generalizable information. So in hepatitis B and C, multiple clinical trials, many conducted in China and Italy, have examined TA1 as an adjunct to antiviral therapy. Dr. Deb Muth 07:21A meta-analysis by Wu and colleagues published in the Journal of Viral Hepatitis in 2013 examined 23 randomized controlled trials, including over 2,000 patients with chronic hepatitis B. The analysis found that combining TA1 with nucleoside analogs like LAMVDUDE or an and TCAVAR improved the hepatitis antigen seroconversion rates by HBV DNA clearance compared to its nucleoside analogs alone. And the effect sizes were modest but statistically significant, with the HBE-AG seroconversion rates improving from about 24% with antivirals alone to 38% in combined therapy. Now in hepatitis C, early trials before the development of direct-acting antivirals showed that TA1 combined with interferon alpha improved sustained virological responses, and compared to interferon alpha, Dr. Deb Muth 08:30Furon alone, particularly in difficult-to-treat populations like those with a genotype one or a high viral load. However, the advent of highly effective direct acting antivirals that achieve SRV rates, sorry, SVR rates exceeding 95%, the role of TA1 in hepatitis C has become less clear. Now in sepsis and critical illness, more recent interest has focused on TA1 in severe cases of sepsis and septic shock. Ren and colleagues published a systematic review and meta-analysis in the Frontiers of Immunology in 2022, analyzing 18 randomized controlled trials, including 1787 patients with severe sepsis or septic shock the pooled analysis showed that ta1 administration was associated with reduced 28-day mortality relative risk at 0.70 meaning a 30 reduction in mortality compared to the standard care alone and the effect appeared Dr. Deb Muth 09:39most pronounced in patients with sepsis-induced immunosuppression measured by HLA-DR expression in monocytes. Now, this is amazing because going forward, we’re going to talk about something that’s commonly known as cytokine storm. Now, cytokine storm really became apparent since 2020 with the viral infection that we’re dealing with in the world today. But they were already looking at this kind of cytokine storm produced by sepsis or sepsis-induced immunosuppression. And it triggered this hyperinflammatory response called the cytokine storm. And many patients who survived the initial phase of the immune suppressed stata, characterized by a T cell exhaustion, reduced antigen presentation, and increased susceptibility to secondary infections. Thymusin alpha-1, TA1, may help restore this immune competence in this phase. However, it’s important to note that patient selection and timing are critical. Dr. Deb Muth 10:43Giving this immune stimulant during a hyperinflammatory phase could theoretically worsen outcomes. So you don’t want to give it to them while they’re in the flare up or the sepsis or the infection, but given to them during the immunosuppression phase afterwards might be beneficial. Now there is also some cancer immunotherapy that we see with TA1 and has been studied as an adjunct in cancer treatment with the hypothesis that it could enhance immune surveillance and response to tumors. And a comprehensive review of Garci and colleagues published in Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy in 2007 examined multiple trials in melanoma, lung cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and other malignancies. And the results were mixed. Some trials showed improvement in the immune parameters, increased CD4 in T-cells. improved lymphocyte proliferation responses and some actually showed trends toward improved progression free survival but overall survival benefits were inconsistent and the heterogeneity of the cancer types treatment protocols and outcome measures makes a definitive conclusion difficult as a vaccine adjunct several studies particularly from china have examined ta1 as an adjunct to enhance vaccine responses Dr. Deb Muth 12:11in immune-compromised populations, including the elderly, dialysis patients, and transplant recipients. The rationale is sound. These populations often mount suboptimal antibody responses to vaccines, and TA1’s immune-enhancing effects might improve protection. There are small trials. They have shown improvement in seroconversion rates of hepatitis B vaccines and influenza vaccine in these populations. And though large-scale confirmatory studies are limited, there is a possibility here. Now, on their safety profile, one of the appealing aspects of thymusin alpha-A TA1 is that it’s apparently favorable safety profile in clinical trials. There are some injection site reactions with a little redness, a mild discomfort, and most commonly reported adverse effects. is that their severe adverse events attributable to TA1 have been rare in published trials. However, comprehensive long-term safety data are limited Dr. Deb Muth 13:13And theoretically, concern exists that immune modulation could potentially trigger or exasperate autoimmune conditions in susceptible individuals. Though this hasn’t been clearly demonstrated in clinical trials, integrative medicine considerations for integrative practitioners concerning the thymus and alpha-1, several factors require careful thought. First, sourcing and quality control are critical concerns. Since it’s not FDA approved, TA1 available in the United States typically will come from a compounding pharmacy or an international supplier with variable quality assurance. And pharmaceutical grade product with certificates of analysis showing purity, sterility, and endotoxin testing is essential, but it is readily available from many of these companies. Second, patient selection matters immensely. TA1 should be considered in complex cases where conventional approaches have been insufficient, such as chronic viral infections not responding adequately Dr. Deb Muth 14:21to standard antivirals, post-viral syndromes with evidence of immune dysfunction, cancer patients with immune suppression in consultation with oncology, and it should generally be avoided in active autoimmune disease unless there’s a compelling rationale and close monitoring. Now, TA1 is not a standalone therapy. In cases of chronic viral infection, Comprehensive immune support includes addressing nutritional deficiencies, optimizing vitamin D levels to be between 50 and 80, adequate zinc, selenium, and vitamin A, optimizing gut health since 80% of our immune function is in the gut, you need to optimize gut function. Managing stress from the HPA access dysfunction, chronic cortisol elevation, suppression, and immunity, ensuring adequate sleep, immune memory consolidations during sleep, addressing any metabolic dysfunction, insulin resistance, repairs in the immune function, and the bottom line on thymus and alpha-1 is Dr. Deb Muth 15:26is that it represents legitimate medicine in other countries with a substantial evidence base in specific contexts, but it remains experimental in the U.S., and practitioners using it should provide comprehensive, informed consent about its regulatory status, evidence quality, and source verification. while ensuring it’s part of comprehensive protocols. It is not a magic bullet. And again, what you’re gonna hear me say quite often here is that many of these peptides should be used in conjunction with something else. They should not be used alone. And can peptides be stacked? The answer is yes, they can. So if somebody has an insulin resistance, or a metabolic dysfunction, they can tier TA1 with a GLP-1 like terzepatide or semiglutide. That is not a problem to do that. You need to just work with a practitioner that understands how to do that effectively. So let’s look at BPC-157. Dr. Deb Muth 16:26This is a phenomenon I love BPC-157. Let’s separate it from marketing to actual mechanism of actions here. So BPC-157 stands for Body Protection Compound 157. It is a chain of 15 amino acids that are described as a partial sequence of body protection compound, a protein found in human gastric juice. It has become one of the most hyped peptides in regenerative medicine inside the athletic performance and biohacking communities with claims ranging from healing tendons and ligaments to repairing gut lining or reversing organ damage. The challenge is separating the legitimate mechanisms of science from the marketing hype. The proposed mechanism of BPC-157 are biologically plausible and intriguing. The research suggests that it may influence several growth factor pathways, including vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGF, which promotes new blood vessel formation and has improved better supply of blood flow to injured tissues, theoretically accelerating healing. Dr. Deb Muth 17:40It may also affect fibrous blast growth factor, FGF, and transforming growth factor beta, TGF beta pathways. both involved in tissue repair and remodeling. And some studies actually suggest that BPC-157 modulates inflammatory cascades, potentially reducing excessive inflammation while promoting the resolution phase that allows tissue rebuilding. Now I want to talk just a few moments here about these different tests that we’re talking about tgf beta veg f for those of you who are in our mold world you are very familiar with these uh lab tests we do this to see if you have a mold exposure what’s happening to your body and it’s been very challenging to try to heal this part of the mold illness and manipulate these VEGFs and TGF betas. And so with the fact that BPC helps us modulate this inflammatory cascade, BPC can be very helpful in the world of mold or mycotoxin illness in repairing those parts of the body that have been damaged by the mycotoxins. Dr. Deb Muth 18:48Now there is animal research on BPC-157. It is extensive and primarily from a research group led by pre-drag, oh, I can never say these names, Cyrek at the University of Zagreb in Croatia. Published studies in animal models have shown accelerated healing in a remarkable variety of injury types. A 2011 paper by Chang and colleagues in the Journal of Applied Physiology demonstrated that BPC-157 improved therapy tendon healing in rats with Achilles tendon injuries, and the treated rats showed increased tendon outgrowth, better cell survival in the injured area, enhanced cell migration to the injury site, and improved biochemical strength of the healed tendon compared to controls. Multiple other animal studies have shown similar promising effects. Ligament tears, healing faster in rabbits, muscle damage recovering more quickly in rodent models, gastric ulcers healing in rats given experimental induced ulcerations, inflammatory bowel lesions improving in mouse models of colitis, and even bone to tendon healing showing enhancement in animal studies. Dr. Deb Muth 20:02The breadth of injury types showing benefit in preclinical models explains the enthusiasm of this peptide. However, this is critical. These animal studies, primarily in rodents and rabbits, animal models of injury healing don’t reliably translate to human clinical outcomes. And the doses used in these animal studies when converted to human equivalent doses vary widely. And optimal human dosing is completely unknown at this point. it is all considered experimental and perhaps most importantly there are essentially no peer-reviewed controlled clinical trials in human published in humans published in major medical journals in a 2001 review of arthroscopy and the journal of arthroscopic and related surgery specifically examined in the evidence of bpc 157 and other peptides in musculoskeletal medicine The authors concluded bluntly that BPC-157 lacks evidence from randomized controlled trials and has an unknown safety profile in humans. Dr. Deb Muth 21:09 They emphasized that the jump from animal data to recommending peptides for humans use bypasses the fundamental requirement for Phase I safety studies, Phase II dose-finding studies, and Phase III efficacy trials that would establish whether BPC-157 actually works in humans and whether or not it’s safe. The absence of human safety data is particularly concerning given BPC-157’s proposed mechanisms. Peptides that influence growth factor signaling and angiogenesis could theoretically have off-target effects. Uncontrolled angiogenesis, for instance, is a hallmark of cancer progression. Tumors require blood vessel formation to grow beyond a certain size. And while there’s no evidence that BPC 157 promotes cancer, The complete absence of long term human safety studies means we simply don’t know. This isn’t fear mongering. It’s acknowledging uncertainty and uncertainty exists and understanding that if you’re choosing to use peptides like BPC 157, you are doing it in an experimental model. Dr. Deb Muth 22:17We’re experimenting with the doses that are being used. And there is potential for it to cause cancer cells in your body to grow. And you need to be aware of this and understand the risks that you’re taking when you’re using an investigational or off label use peptide. Now, quality control issues with BPC also exist. It’s not FDA approved for any indication in the US. It’s not approved in any major regulatory jurisdiction worldwide. It’s marketed as a research chemical explicitly to bypass FDA oversight. And commercial sources selling BPC-157 range from compounding pharmacies, which have some quality standards but are not FDA inspected. You can take that for what you want to believe on that one. to overseas suppliers operating with absolutely no quality assurance whatsoever. If you are choosing to use BPC-157, you have to understand who’s manufacturing it for you, where you are getting it from, how pure it is. Dr. Deb Muth 23:26You want to make sure that you have the certificate of analysis and that it does not contain bacterial endotoxins that can contaminate the peptide or degrade the peptide and cause other issues for you. So when you talk about peptides with patients regarding BPC-157 or if you’re listening to this and you’re already using BPC-157 or other peptides, that are quote-unquote not for human consumption, an evidence-based response acknowledges both the appeal and the limitations. And you want to talk about the animal data that’s definitely showing some progress and some potential, but we don’t know what we don’t know in humans. If people are willing to take that risk, that is up to them to do that. But using BPC right now is experimental and people need to be aware of that. Are there evidence-based alternatives for patients with tendon or ligament injuries? Dr. Deb Muth 24:26And there are. There’s PRP, which has been studied in multiple randomized controlled trials. for conditions like lateral epicondylitis, tennis elbow, Achilles issues, patellar issues, knee issues. However, I want to caution you on this too. So the study that was done by Cox and colleagues in muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the Journal of 2014 showed modest benefits in pain and function compared to controls. And though the effects vary by injury type, PRP preparations can be helpful. You have to understand that a lot of times when people are doing PRP injections in their office, they are not doing it exactly the same way it was done in the study. And not to mention, if you’re using your own PRP to heal a ligament or a tendon or help your arthritis and you’re 60 or 70 years old, That is not good quality protein rich plasma. It is old protein rich plasma. And you’re not going to see necessarily the same benefits that you would see if you were using placental tissue or umbilical tissue. Dr. Deb Muth 25:33You also want to address the nutritional deficiencies or support that’s needed for connective tissue healing. And these are collagen peptides dosed at 15 grams a day. And this has been shown in a study by Shaw and colleagues in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2017 to augment collagen synthesis when combined with intermittent loading. Vitamin C is also an essential cofactor for collagen production and stabilization of collagen structure at a dose of around 500 to 1000 milligrams a day to support this process. You also need to have good adequate intake of copper and zinc. These are cofactors in collagen. Silica is also important. This comes from horsetail extract. This provides additional support as well. So more importantly, I think remembering that rehabilitation matters as well. Doing these protocols without doing some rehab is not going to get you where you want to go. Dr. Deb Muth 26:33There’s a research study by Alfredson and others for Achilles tendinopathy using the control lengthening of muscle tendon units under load to promote tendon remodeling and healing. These protocols have solid evidence and cost nothing beyond professional guidance from a physical therapist. They are important for patients seeking cutting edge regenerative approaches. Stem cell therapies, growth factors, concentrates derived from patients’ own tissues like PRP. These have a lot of good endogenous materials and they have good safety profiles. BPC-157 represents the perfect example of how promising Preclinical science gets marketed far beyond the evidence and it may eventually prove to be valuable. I think it will. But right now that determination does require some human studies and hopefully with the administration that we have right now and Bobby Kennedy, we will actually start to see some of that occur. Now the next peptide I want to talk about is TB4, thymus and beta-4. Dr. Deb Muth 27:36This is a wound healing peptide. It is a 43 amino acid peptide that’s naturally present in virtually all human cells except red blood cells. It’s actually one of the most abundant peptides in the human body, particularly concentrated in blood platelets, wound fluid, and many tissues. It’s naturally ubiquity makes it mechanistically interesting. The body wouldn’t produce it in such abundance if it didn’t serve a function. So the primary role of TB4 involves building G-actin. It’s a form of monomeric actin. And it’s structural protein that forms the microfilaments within the cells, providing cellular structure and enabling cell movement. TB4 prevents from F-actin filaments. I’m not going to talk too much about this. It’s really critical for wound healing as cells need to migrate into the injury sites. Dr. Deb Muth 28:37so the cell shape changes and the cellular response to the injury. So think of this as though you tore your meniscus and the body created all this TB4 to come to that injury to try to heal that site. That’s exactly what the TB4 is doing inside the body when there’s an injury. It’s been shown in research to help produce new blood vessel formation, promote endothelial cells, It helps modulate inflammatory cytokines, potentially reducing TNF-alpha, IL-1, and possibly protecting in programmed cell death, which we call apoptosis. And some studies suggest that it is cardioprotective in its effects in animal models of myocardial infarction, so heart attack, and neuroprotective in other models for brain injury. Now, these remain to be preliminary, but they are being seen. So the regulatory status on TB4 can create some confusion. Dr. Deb Muth 29:40The natural TB4 molecule itself is not FDA approved as a drug. However, TB4 based drug candidates called RGN259, formerly TB4, has been in the development by regen tree for corneal injuries of the dry eye disease. And as of recent updates, this drug is completed phase three trials for its neurotrophic keratopathy, severe corneal condition. But the FDA approval is still pending. So that means that the most advanced TB4-based pharmaceuticals hasn’t yet crossed the finish line for approval. The commercial peptide market further muddies the picture with TB500, which is often described as the synthetic fragment of TB4. However, this extract’s relationship between TB500 and TB4 varies depending on the source. Dr. Deb Muth 30:41So some claim that TB500 is identical to TB4, but positions 1 through 4 suggest it’s a different fragment. and the quality control across suppliers is not existent. So this confusion is part of why recommending TB500 becomes problematic for practitioners and patients, often because they aren’t certain what molecule they’re actually getting. The evidence base for TB4 in humans is limited, primarily to eye research, and the studies from Sohn’s and colleagues published in journals like Vitamins and Hormones in 2016 have examined topical TB4 for corneal injuries and neurotrophic keratopathy, dry eye, and other surface diseases. Now, these studies showed some promise in promoting this, and there is, however, a topical application to the cornea that is vastly different from a systemic injection. So for systemic use in wound healing, musculoskeletal issues, Dr. Deb Muth 31:42cardiac protection, neuroprotection, human clinical trials. There is scarce to non-existent evidence in humans. Most of the evidence remains in animal models or cell culture studies. And a review by Flip and colleagues in the Journal of Investigational Dermatology in 2006 detailed TB4’s effects on the matrix remodeling during wound repair in animal models, showing effects on collagen disposition, granulation, tissue reformation, and wound contraction. Another review by Ho and colleagues in expert opinion on biological therapy in 2007 discussed TB4’s potential in tissue regeneration and regenerative medicine, but noted the field remained largely blank. preclinical. So this is really important again to understand that there is just not enough human data. So there is a concern with cell division and migration. This theoretically exists Dr. Deb Muth 32:45for the potential effects on cancer cells, which would also rely on migration and division and other intended consequences of disrupting normal cellular architecture. These aren’t proven risks, but they are unexplored questions that we need to be aware of when we’re using peptides. This can cause cancerous tissue to grow. Very similar to what we talked about with BPC-157. These are also sold as research chemicals. There is no FDA oversight. So purity, potency, contaminations all still exist for these peptides. Now from an integrative perspective, the natural presence of TB4 in wound fluid and its biological roles in healing are legitimate science. in presence does not equal therapeutic utility. The body tightly regulates where and when and how much TB4 is present through natural production and bypassing that regulation with external dosing may or may not cause us to have beneficial or introduce risk. Dr. Deb Muth 33:49So we need to know that this is experimental use. Those people who are seeking wound healing and tissue repair the evidence-based approach of the body’s own capacity to heal is huge definitely want to be increasing your protein intake optimizing your zinc copper vitamin c and vitamin a and then managing glucose is really important during this time as well so let’s talk about a fun topic now and that’s growth hormone secretagogues this is the anti-aging hype machine these peptides in this category are things like semoralin ipameralin cjc 1220 1295 and others and among the most aggressively marketed in anti-aging and longevity medicine they all share a common goal stimulating the pituitary gland to release more growth hormone and the appeal is understandable. GH levels decline with age, and this decline is associated with increased fat mass, decreased lean muscle, reduced bone density, and other aspects of aging. Dr. Deb Muth 34:55The other times we’ll see growth hormone levels decline significantly is with chronic illness, and the logic is to restore youthful GH levels and youthful physiology. Now, semirelin from an FDA approved diagnostic to compound anti-aging product. Semirelin is a 29 amino acid peptide representing the first 29 amino acids of the full 44 amino acid human growth releasing hormone, GHRH. We talked about this on another episode of the podcast. And you can go back and listen to that one a little bit if you want. This fragment contains the complete biological activity of the full GHRH molecule and it binds to GHRH receptors in the anterior pituitary and stimulates growth releasing peptides, growth hormone releasing peptides. Semirelin was previously FDA approved as diagnostic testing of growth hormone secretion, essentially, to determine if the pituitary could still respond to GHRH stimulation in patients being evaluated for growth hormone deficiency. Dr. Deb Muth 36:06However, the manufacturer was discontinued and there was no longer an FDA approved semirelin product on the market in the United States. What exists now is semirelin available from compounding pharmacies used off label for anti-aging, body composition, and general growth hormone optimization purposes. This represents a significant gray area. Again, compounding medications serve a very important role, but they need to meet certain recommendations and regulations, as we’ve talked about in the past. You want to make sure that your compounding pharmacy that you’re obtaining semirelin from is qualified to do that, that they are doing best practices, and that you’re getting a good product. The theoretical advantage to semirelin over direct growth hormone administration is that it preserves more of the physiological growth hormone secretion patterns. Natural GH is released in pulses, primarily during sleep, not as a continuous elevation. Dr. Deb Muth 37:07So semirelin stimulates the pulses rather than providing a constant super physiological growth hormone level. And that pulsatile pattern is thought to reduce some of the side effects and metabolic concerns that we have with continuous growth hormone exposure. However, the evidence supporting semirelin for anti-aging and body composition in healthy adults is minimal. Most of the data comes from studies conducted in the 1990s when the FDA approved product existed. Not that that means it’s bad. We have drugs that have been in the market for over a hundred years that are still there, that still have the research and are still being used successfully and safely today. So we don’t want to let that really make us think that this product isn’t safe. So a 2006 review from Walker in Clinical Interventions of Aging suggested that semirelin might be a better approach than direct GH for adult onset growth hormone insufficiency, but they do acknowledge that the evidence was limited. Dr. Deb Muth 38:12And although we don’t have any large scale trials that we can examine for semirelin’s efficacy, it is now commonly prescribed. And the optimal dosing for anti-aging purposes is still unknown. It is considered experimental and it does vary from person to person, but it is still unstudied. The effects on cancer risk, cardiovascular disease, metabolic dysfunction over long time periods are also still unknown. I would argue that the side effects or the risk factors of not having growth hormone are equally as bad as the unknowns that we have here. We’re not looking to try to get super physiological doses. We’re trying to restore youthful GH levels. Typically, we’re not trying to restore back to a 20-year-old. We’re trying to restore back maybe 10 years. That is a better way of doing this. And I think that’s important for people to understand. Now, ipamirelin is the ghrelin mimicker. Dr. Deb Muth 39:12Ipamirelin is a pent-up peptide, five amino acid, that acts as a growth hormone secretagogue receptor, a GHS-R agonist. It mimics the action of ghrelin, the hunger hormone, that also stimulates growth hormone release. The proposed advantage over earlier secretagogues is that ipamirelin stimulates growth hormone release without significantly affecting cortisol, prolactin, or other glucose things, which can be increased by growth hormone secretagogues. The regulatory status is clear. Ipamirelin is not FDA approved for any indication. It’s sold as a research chemical. Human evidence is thin. It’s limited to single dose studies examining how quickly it’s absorbed and metabolized with minimal data on dosing and clinical outcomes. Now there are marketing claims for ipamirelin and they are extensive. Dr. Deb Muth 40:13It increases lean muscle mass, it decreases body fat, it improves sleep quality, faster recovery from workouts, enhanced injury healing, better skin quality. The evidence supporting these claims in humans is not available we don’t have it these are claims that are made by the effects that we know from growth hormone so it’s not necessarily a bad thing we know what growth hormone does we know growth hormone does all of these things if ipamorelin is a precursor to that it will obviously help improve those things making that correlation of what growth hormone does So there are safety concerns that mirror the same as any other growth hormone elevating therapy. It can cause fluid retention, joint pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and theoretically, can it increase calcium? cancer risks? It can because IGF-1 promotes cell proliferation and can inhibit apoptosis in cancer cells. Now remember, your body makes IGF-1. Dr. Deb Muth 41:15If it’s not making enough of it, that’s a problem. If it’s making too much of it, That’s a problem. So just understand that if you are adding these things, and especially in elevated doses, you are taking a potential risk. So there is also now CJC 1295 is a modified GHRH analog of 30 amino acid peptide based on GHRH structure, but with modifications. So it includes the addition of drug affinity complex, DACC, DAC, which involves conjugation with a small albumin binding molecule, dramatically extends the peptide’s half-life from minutes to as much as potentially a week or more. And this creates sustained growth hormone elevation rather than that pulsatile release. There are actually two versions of this. There’s CJC 1295 with DAC, longer acting version, and CJC 1295 without DAC, which is essentially a shorter duration of semirelin. Dr. Deb Muth 42:19And so when we’re comparing products, it is… only the difference between long acting and short acting. The human evidence for CJC 1295 is limited to a single published phase one study by Techman and colleagues in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism in 2006. And the study involves 18 healthy young adults showed that CJC 1295 with DAC produced a sustained elevation of GH and IGF-1 lasting several days after the injection. That’s essentially the entire published human evidence of this peptide. There are no phase two studies examining optimal dose. So that is all considered experimental. And there is no phase three studies examining clinical efficacy. So the sustained GH levels created by CJC 1295 with DAC raises specific concerns because the natural GH secretion It goes up and down, up and down, up and down. Dr. Deb Muth 43:19And that constant elevation may have a different metabolic and cellular effect. And we just really don’t know what that’s going to be yet. So we can understand that elevated IGF-1 levels can theoretically increase cancer concerns and metabolic risks. So rather than always injecting peptides, which are very expensive… You can do other things. And there was a study by Hartman and colleagues in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism in 1992 that demonstrated the 48-hour fast increased integrated growth hormone secretion five-fold through increased GH levels. Now, the problem with this is fasting for 48 hours is a challenge. And how long is it going to increase the growth hormone secretion without causing issues? Or in general, how long is it going to go up? Dr. Deb Muth 44:19So we have to be cautious about that as well. Sleep optimization is non-negotiable. The majority of growth hormone secretion occurs during sleep, slow wave sleep, typically the first sleep cycle, and poor sleep quality or insufficient sleep typically. can dramatically affect your growth hormone levels. And then high intensity interval training, HIIT resistance training can stimulate growth hormone as well. This was seen in a study by Godfrey and colleagues in sports medicine in 2003 and was examined in exercise-induced growth hormone responses to athletes. So we definitely see these kinds of things. So let’s talk about some longevity peptides now. These expand the telomere. So there’s epitalin and epithalamin and when these are used in anti-aging they can produce some amazing results. Dr. Deb Muth 45:22So epitalin is a synthetic terapeptide, just four amino acids. It was originally synthesized as a simplified version of epithalamine. a pineal gland extract containing multiple peptides. The synthetic four amino acid version was created to isolate what researchers believed might be the active anti-aging component. The mechanism produced for epitalin centers on telomere and telomerase, Telomeres are protective caps at the end of the chromosomes consisting of repetitive DNA sequencing. And every time a cell divides, telomeres shorten slightly because DNA polymers cannot fully replicate the ends of the linear chromosomes. So this progressive shortening acts as a molecular clock. After 50 or 70 divisions, the telomeres become critically short, triggering a cellular senescence. Dr. Deb Muth 46:22This telomere shortening is one mechanism of cellular aging and telomeres in the enzyme that can rebuild telomeres by adding these caps back onto the end of the chromosome. It’s active in stem cells, germ cells, and unfortunately in about 85 to 90% of the cancer cells. In most adult somatic cells, telomerase is inactive or present at very low levels, allowing the telomeres to shorten with division. The research on epitalin suggests it might activate this telomeres act telomeres process primarily from a research group led by Vladimir in Russia. Vladimir Kavasan in Russia. He is a huge peptide researcher or was he passed away with publications dating back to the early 2000s and a study published in bio gerontology in 2000 by Kavasan Dr. Deb Muth 47:25and colleagues examined the effect of epitalin on the lifespan of fruit flies, and they treated fruit flies that showed a modest increase in mean and maximum lifespan compared to its controls by approximately 10 to 15% lifespan extension in some experimental groups. And there were other studies in 2003 that examined epitalamine in a female Swiss-derived mouse. This was done by Ann Simove and colleagues. And the researchers reported that epitalin treatment was associated with increased lifespan as well. And the most cited mechanistic work comes from cell culture studies. And that is also Cavason’s group that published this research in 2003, showing increased telomeres activity in cultured somatic cells again. More recently, between 20 and 25, the series of publications have continued to explore epithelial effects on telomere dynamics in cell cultures. Dr. Deb Muth 48:32So there is a lot of research that’s been done. The mass majority has been done on epithelin. And most of it has been done by a single research group in Russia. There is some restrictions on some of the cell culture data that we’re seeing. And it does show that epithelin sometimes can be described as a regulating hormone. Carcadian rhythm for melatonin production, which is derived by the penile extracts. And however the evidence for this affects minimally and mechanistically unclear, the pineal gland primarily functions as melatonin secretion in that light-dark cycles. So Epithalin or epitalin is not FDA approved. It is not approved for any major regulatory jurisdiction. It is sold as a research chemical only. Dr. Deb Muth 49:33So you need to follow the same safety profiles that we’ve talked about in other episodes and in today’s episodes. And when we’re talking about epithalin, and we’re excited about it being an anti-aging science, we should balance this with the honesty and the evidence of the quality of that evidence. We don’t know its safety effect. We don’t know if it’s going to increase the risk of cancer. We can’t verify that. And we need to be using it in an experimental use of unknown risks only. Of course, diet, physical activity, stress management, sleep quality, all of those things are important for us to be looking at when we’re looking at these peptides. Now, I want to get into some of the brain peptides. This is the nootrophic frontier. C-Max and C-Lank, there is Russian pharmacology that’s done. C-Max and C-Lank represent an interesting case study in how different regulatory environments and research traditions Dr. Deb Muth 50:36create challenges in evaluating this evidence. Both peptides were developed in Russia, are approved for their specific indications and have substantial Russian language and literature supporting their use. However, the FDA approval in the United States is still not there. C-Max is a seven amino acid. It’s a synthetic analog. It is a fragment, particularly ACTH 4 through 10. It’s sometimes called the melanocortin effects because it involves the melanocortin receptors of the central nervous system. CMAX was developed by the Institute of Molecular Genetics of Russia Academy of Sciences and is approved in Russia for several indications, including acute stroke, transient ischemic attacks, cognitive disorders. It has Russian approval and is based on clinical trials primarily in Russia. Dr. Deb Muth 51:39It does help to increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF, a protein critical for neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to form new connections and adapt to the challenges. BDNF supports neuronal survival and promotes growth of these new neurons. C-Max also influences neurotransmitter systems, particularly dopamine and serotonin, and there is some research that suggests it affects on metabolism as well, and endogenous opioid peptides that involve pain reception and mood regulation. So it has some good potentials there. There is also C-Link, which is a hepatopeptide structurally similar to Tufts’ and an immune modulatory peptide. It was also developed in Russia and was approved for anxiety disorders as a neurotropic. Its effects involve anxiolytic effects, possibly through the GABAnergic system or the GABA system of the brain, and immune modulation. Dr. Deb Muth 52:44The Russian research is examined by C-Link for anxiety disorders. and finding reductions in anxiety without sedation. There is a dependency potential or cognitive impairment does not exist like it does with benzodiazepines with C-Link. So that is really good. And they do report attention and memory improvement using C-Link. There is a study that was done in neuroscience and behavioral psychology in 2018 that examined C-Linx effects and proposed that it exerts cytoprotective effects through BDNF pathways similar to C-Max. So both of these are Russian research-based They’re not wrong or fraudulent. It’s just that they are from Russia and we all have our concerns with Russia. However, that does not necessarily mean their research doesn’t hold quality. Dr. Deb Muth 53:49Neither peptide is approved by the FDA, and so you are using this off-label. The same rules apply for all of the other peptides that we’ve talked about that are produced off label. You want to do the same things that you would do with anything else. Good protein, omegas, B vitamins, acetylcarnitine, exercise, sleep, all of that still applies when we’re using these peptides. So I want to talk briefly about clinical decision and framework when we’re looking at this. First and foremost, we always want to go to FDA-approved peptides. Secondly, we would look at international approval with peptides that are established in other countries but lack FDA approval. And then preclinical evidence only or experimental peptides. These can be used, but they are not ethically recommended in the traditional medicine world. Dr. Deb Muth 54:50 If patients use them, we need to have appropriate counseling about the evidence surrounding them, the safety, and where to find them. how to find them and how to ask for these certificates of analysis. So I think it’s really good that we were exploring all these peptides and understanding what they are. There’s a lot of controversy out there. There’s a lot of concern out there. And what we can say with confidence is that peptides are powerful biological signaling molecules. Some peptide based medications, semi-glutide, triseptide, PT 141, Lupron that are all FDA approved. can dramatically improve outcomes in patients that are obviously selected for the correct ones. There are many other peptides that we address that are integrative and longevity space in the regenerative medicine. These peptides are all experimental. That does not automatically make them wrong. Dr. Deb Muth 55:50It just means that we need to be honest about what we’re doing with them and we need to be cautious with the patients so that they can make a decision to be part of an experimental study. in looking at how to use these peptides. So peptides are tools like any other tools. They work best in the hands of skilled people, and they are applied to appropriate situations, integrating into comprehensive approaches that address root causes. The most powerful peptide administered to a patient with untreated inflammation, hormonal chaos, nutritional deficiencies, and disorders of sleep will disappoint. The simplest evidence-based interventions apply. to a patient whose foundational physiology has been optimized. And this is the art of the science of peptide, right? If done right, respecting both the power of these molecules and the complexity of human beings that we are privileged to serve can make a difference in their lives. So thank you for listening to this episode. Dr. Deb Muth 56:52I hope this was helpful. If you can know of somebody that might benefit from this, please like, share, and subscribe. It means a lot to us. And I hope you join us for our next episode of Let’s Talk Wellness Now. Welcome to Let’s Talk Wellness Now, where we bring expert insights directly to you. Please note that the views and information shared by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Let’s Talk Wellness Now, its management, or our partners. Each affiliate, sponsor, and partner is an independent entity with its own perspectives. Today’s content is provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered specific advice, whether financial, medical, or legal. While we strive to present accurate and useful information, we cannot guarantee its completeness or relevance to your unique circumstances. We encourage you to consult with a qualified professional to address your individual needs. Dr. Deb Muth 57:54Your use of information from this broadcast is entirely at your own risk. By continuing to listen, you agree to indemnify and hold Let’s Talk Wellness Now and its associates harmless from any claims or damages arising from the use of this content. We may update this disclaimer at any time and changes will take effect immediately upon posting or broadcast. Thank you for tuning in. We hope you find this episode both insightful and thought-provoking. Listener discretion is advised.The post Episode 258 – Investigational Peptides: What's Promising, What's Hype & What You Must Know first appeared on Let's Talk Wellness Now.

ImmunoTea: Your Immunology Podcast
ImmunoTea Episode 39 - The Immunology of Pregnancy

ImmunoTea: Your Immunology Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2026 37:12


On this episode Lara and Vyanka talk to Dr Sylvie Girard from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota all about how maternal immune responses shape pregnancy outcomes and infant development. This is ImmunoTea: Your Immunology Podcast, presented by Dr Lara Dungan and Dr Vyanka Redenbaugh. This is the show where we tell you all about the most exciting research going on in the world of immunology. So grab a cup of tea, sit down and relax and we'll fill you in. Contact us at ImmunoTeaPodcast@gmail.com or @ImmunoTea on twitter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Autism Parenting Secrets
Smarter Folate = Better Brain Fuel

Autism Parenting Secrets

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2026 49:15


Welcome to Episode 298 of Autism Parenting Secrets. If your child has tried supplements that were supposed to help the brain but didn't move the needle, this episode may explain why.  This week, I'm excited to welcome back Dr. Theoharis Theoharides, known to many as Dr. Theo.  He is a physician-scientist with five advanced degrees and decades of pioneering research.  Long before neuroinflammation and immune-driven brain dysfunction became widely discussed, Dr. Theo was connecting mast cells, metabolism, and brain health.  In this conversation, we explore why some children can't properly use standard folic acid and how the right form of folate may support better language, focus, and regulation. The secret this week is…  Smarter Folate = Better Brain Fuel You'll Discover: Why standard folic acid may not reach the brain in up to 40 percent of children (9:21) How folate receptor antibodies and MTHFR mutations change the equation (12:17) Why gut inflammation must be addressed before increasing supplementation (18:23) The difference between folic acid, methylfolate, and folinic acid (22:45) Why folate supports language development but does not “treat autism” (50:51) About Our Guest: Dr. Theoharis Theoharides is Professor and Vice Chair of Clinical Immunology and Executive Director of the Center of Excellence for Neuroinflammation Research at Nova Southeastern University. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Immunology at Tufts School of Medicine. Dr. Theo has over 500 publications and is widely recognized as a leading expert on mast cells and neuroinflammation. He is the Founder and Scientific Director of Algonot LLC and has received 37 patents and trademarks. Learn more:www.mastcellmaster.comwww.drtheoharides.com References In This Episode: Algonot Center of Excellence for Neuroinflammation Research Folate Receptor Autoantibody (FRAT) Test Additional Resources: To learn more about personalized 1:1 support go to www.elevatehowyounavigate.com Take The Quiz: What's YOUR Top Autism Parenting Blindspot? If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends.

Science Friday
A Little Grime Can Boost Kids' Health. But What Kind?

Science Friday

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2026 17:25


You may have heard that a little dirt is good for kids. It helps them build up their immune systems, and sets them on a path to future health. But what kind of filth does the trick? Producer Kathleen Davis digs into the latest science on the benefits of exposing kids to the outdoors with microbiologist Jack Gilbert and pediatric epidemiologist Amber Fyfe-Johnson.Guests:Dr. Jack Gilbert is a microbiologist and professor at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and in the department of pediatrics in UC San Diego School of Medicine.Dr. Amber Fyfe-Johnson is an associate professor and pediatric epidemiologist at Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health at Washington State University.Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at sciencefriday.com. Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.