Podcasts about sjogren

In this empowering conversation, Cheryl  and Dr. Kara Wada explore what it means to take charge of your health with conditions like Sjögren's syndrome and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). Dr Kara shares how her experience as a patient with Sjogren's taught her things she never learned as a allergist-immunologist doctor. They discuss practical strategies for rebuilding trust in your body, the critical role of understanding your core values, and how to find the right support — whether through programs like Rheum to Thrive or events like the Virtual Sjögren's Summit.  Together, they show how education, advocacy, and mindset shifts can help patients move from fear to confidence in managing their immune health. Episode at a glance: Sjogren's and MCAS 101: what is Sjogren's and MCAS? Dr. Kara Wada's personal journey: Sjögren's and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) and how it shaped her mission to empower patients. Understanding "Immune Confidence": learning to trust your body again after autoimmune and allergic disease diagnoses. The importance of patient advocacy and education: how Dr. Wada supports patients across multiple states through educational visits. Healthcare system issues: why are complex patients being given the short end of the stick, and what are some creative solutions? Upcoming events and opportunities: the Virtual Sjögren's Summit and Cheryl's evolving focus with Rheum to THRIVE. Finding balance between personal life and professional advocacy while living with chronic illness. Medical disclaimer:  All content found on Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Episode Sponsors Rheum to THRIVE, an online course and support program Cheryl created to help people with rheumatic disease go from overwhelmed, confused and alone to confident, supported and connected. See all the details and join the program or waitlist now!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of The Cordial Catholic, I'm joined, for an absolutely remarkable conversation, by Steve Sjogren, the founding pastor of one of the most influential churches in America, the Vineyard Church Cincinnati, to talk about his conversion to Catholicism. Steve not only founded and pastored one of the most influential churches in America, but was one of the founding pastors of the Vineyard Church movement from the beginning – worshipping alongside the likes of Bob Dylan and Keith Green in the earliest incarnation of the charismatic church movement in Los Angeles. Steve's story is one of servant leadership, radical evangelization, and following the Holy Spirit wherever he was led – including right into full communion with the Catholic Church. You're going to absolutely love Steve's story.For more from Steve Sjogren visit his website. Send your feedback to cordialcatholic@gmail.com. Sign up for our newsletter for my reflections on  episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and exclusive contests.To watch this and other episodes please visit (and subscribe to!) our YouTube channel.Please consider financially supporting this show! For more information visit the Patreon page.  All patrons receive access to exclusive content and if you can give $5/mo or more you'll also be entered into monthly draws for fantastic books hand-picked by me.If you'd like to give a one-time donation to The Cordial Catholic, you can visit the PayPal page.Thank you to those already supporting the show!A very special thanks to our Patreon co-producers who make this show possible: Amanda, Elli and Tom, Fr. Larry, Gina, Heather, James, Jorg, Michelle, Noah, Robert, Shelby, Susanne and Victor, and William.Beyond The BeaconJoin Bishop Kevin Sweeney for inspired interviews with Catholics living out our faith!Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the showFind and follow The Cordial Catholic on social media:Instagram: @cordialcatholicTwitter: @cordialcatholicYouTube: /thecordialcatholicFacebook: The Cordial CatholicTikTok: @cordialcatholic

Text Dr. Lenz any feedback or questions Sjogren's vs Fibromyalgia: Key Differences in Symptoms, Diagnosis, and TreatmentThe script explains why Sjogren's disease and fibromyalgia are often confused due to overlapping pain and fatigue, noting studies suggesting over 30% overlap, and stresses that accurate diagnosis guides appropriate treatment. Fibromyalgia is described as a central nervous system disorder driven by central sensitization, causing chronic widespread pain for at least three months, profound unrefreshing sleep fatigue, and “fibro fog,” with normal inflammatory and autoimmune labs. Sjogren's is presented as a systemic autoimmune disease targeting tear and salivary glands, causing measurable dry eyes and dry mouth (sicca), increased dental problems, and possible joint/muscle pain and organ involvement. The script contrasts diagnostic approaches (WPI/symptom severity vs antibodies, Schirmer's test, salivary flow, and minor salivary gland biopsy) and treatments (exercise/CBT/sleep and neurotransmitter meds vs dryness management, pilocarpine/cevimeline, hydroxychloroquine, and immunosuppressants).00:00 Invisible Pain Explained00:49 Why Diagnosis Matters02:41 Fibromyalgia Basics03:22 Fibro Symptoms Checklist04:57 What Fibro Is Not05:25 Sjogren's Core Signs07:05 Systemic Sjogren's Pain08:04 Sjogren's vs Fibro09:42 Testing and Lab Clues10:36 How Doctors Diagnose12:57 Treatment Roadmaps14:52 Key Takeaways and Advocacy16:12 Final EncouragementClick here for the YouTube Channel  Support the showWhen I started this podcast and YouTube Channel—and the book that came before it—I had my patients in mind. Office visits are short, but understanding complex, often misunderstood conditions like fibromyalgia takes time. That's why I created this space: to offer education, validation, and hope.  If you've been told fibromyalgia “isn't real” or that it's “all in your head,” know this—I see you. I believe you. This podcast aims to affirm your experience and explain the science behind it. Whether you live with fibromyalgia, care for someone who does, or are a healthcare professional looking to better support patients, you'll find trusted, evidence-based insights here, drawn from my 29+ years as an MD.Please remember to talk with your doctor about your symptoms and care. This content doesn't replace per...

This week on Dr. Frita LIVE!, we start with Donald Trump's new order on psychedelics and the major questions it raises about mental health treatment, ibogaine, safety, and how fast medicine should move when strong evidence is still limited. Then we turn to the very disturbing D4vd case and the urgent conversation around grooming, consent, victim blaming, and accountability. For that important segment, we'll be joined by special guest Areva Martin, multi-award-winning civil rights attorney, legal commentator, bestselling author, and the host of The Special Report, to help us look at the legal and social questions families need to understand.We also break down HHS, RFK Jr.'s proposed shake-up of the task force that influences mammograms, colonoscopies, and other preventive screenings, plus we'll spotlight Carrie Ann Inaba's hidden battle with Sjogren's disease in our Myth vs Fact segment, and discuss the Florida IVF embryo mix-up that has shaken trust in fertility care. Join us for the latest trending medical headlines and celebrity health news. This is an episode you won't want to miss!#HealthHappyLifePodcast #DrFrita #DrFritaLIVE! #CelebrityHealthNewsHere are a few helpful resources to help on your journey to wellness:▶️ Subscribe so you will never miss a YouTube video.

Steve Sjogren had an encounter with Jesus as a young man that led him to become involved with the pioneers of the Vineyard movement, eventually planting one of the most successful Vineyard congregations in the country in Cincinnati. However, a combination of burnout in ministry and dissatisfaction with whether or not he was doing Church the way Jesus intended led him to go deeper, and the more he looked into the riches of the Catholic Faith, the more he realized that everything he was trying to invent in his churches had been there in a fuller sense in the Catholic Church all along.

Salomé Mondelus Has Lupus, a Brain Tumor, and More Degrees Than ExcusesMeet Salomé Mondelus — Founder of Glow Foundation Alliance, nonprofit leader, realtor, immigration consultant, Toastmasters member, youth ministry director, and doctoral candidate serving women and youth facing severe skin diseases, autoimmune conditions, and related mental health challenges in Palm Beach County and beyond.Connect with Salomé: glowfoundationalliance.org---Kellen: Today on Diversified Game I have Dr. Glow, one year away from finishing her doctorate. Why did you start this nonprofit?Salomé: Glow started two years ago but the work has been going for seven years. There was a big gap in Palm Beach for people dealing with severe skin diseases and autoimmune conditions. It is based on my own journey. I have been dealing with this for 20 years.Kellen: Describe your personal journey.Salomé: I developed psoriasis in my 20s. After a biopsy they confirmed it. No cure. Stress triggers it. Confidence dropped fast. Then I developed arthritis, lupus, Sjogren's syndrome, PCOS. One autoimmune problem led to others. Now I see my doctors regularly. Nutrition is everything.Kellen: Who has been your support?Salomé: My husband married me knowing there was no cure. My cousin Fabiola, my church family. I am a youth ministry director. I have no biological children due to infertility but I am a mother of many.Kellen: Why is Cap-Haïtien safe to visit?Salomé: Okap protects itself. Beautiful beaches, history, good food. I travel there every year. Do your homework and go. There are parts of America that are not safe either.Kellen: How are you connecting this work globally?Salomé: You have to prove yourself first. Collaborate, build your track record, show donors the work. A lot of kids wear long sleeves in Florida heat hiding skin problems and low self-esteem. Mental health is a huge part of this. The trauma from stigma is its own chapter.Kellen: What do we need to do to help?Salomé: Contact your congresspeople. There is not enough funding for psoriasis and autoimmune diseases. Show more compassion. Most skin conditions are not contagious. If you cannot be kind, do nothing at all.Kellen: Can you do this full time?Salomé: That is the goal. I use real estate income to fund Glow. I also do immigration consulting and taxes with my husband. I lost my mom at 13. I am being the mentor I needed. Everything comes back to community.Salomé: I have degrees in psychology, supervision and management, and ethical leadership. I am finishing my doctorate, doing Toastmasters, planning a TED Talk, and writing my memoir. My dissertation becomes my book.Kellen: She said all of that with a brain tumor. Every excuse to stop and she keeps going. Share this. Somebody you know is suffering with something they have not told you yet.---Learn the mindset and moves that lead to real results: http://diversifiedgame.com/

Nutritionist Leyla Muedin discusses joint inflammation—its symptoms (swelling, pain, redness, warmth, morning stiffness, reduced range of motion) and why it is usually a sign of an underlying condition rather than a disease itself. She reviews common causes including osteoarthritis (cartilage wear and tear), rheumatoid arthritis (autoimmune synovium attack with prolonged morning stiffness and fatigue), gout (uric acid crystals, often in the big toe), psoriatic arthritis, injuries, autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus, ankylosing spondylitis, Sjogren's), infections such as septic arthritis requiring urgent care, and surrounding-tissue problems like tendonitis and bursitis. Lifestyle factors that worsen inflammation include excess weight, poor diet (including unaddressed food allergies; avoiding nightshades is suggested), insulin resistance contributing to gout, lack of exercise, smoking, and stress. Management strategies include rest, bracing, ice vs. heat, OTC anti-inflammatories, gentle low-impact exercise, anti-inflammatory foods, weight loss, treating root causes, and supplements such as glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, bromelain, turmeric, Boswellia, and quercetin.

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

Resources mentioned in this episode are available at: strsecrets.com/clinic If you want to increase your revenue, automate your day to day operations and spend more time with your kids: http://strsecrets.com/applyIf you want to join these live trainings:https://www.facebook.com/groups/STRentalsecretsThis is the first episode of the STR Portfolio Clinic. A brand new series where me and Mike Sjogren pull up real STR listings on screen and diagnose what's working and what's not. Live. In front of everyone. No filter.This episode is all about listings.We reviewed two real Airbnb properties from operators who volunteered to put their listings on the hot seat.First up is a brand new beach cottage in Oak Island, North Carolina. Second row from the ocean. Clean listing. But nobody's clicking on it. We broke down why and gave the owner a full game plan on the spot.Then we pulled up a riverfront property in Murphy, North Carolina. Fly fishing right off the deck. Beautiful area. Went an entire summer with zero bookings. It took about 10 seconds to see what was wrong.We also break down the ALE framework which stands for amenities, location, and experiences. This is the framework behind how we build listings across 30+ properties that generated over $5M in bookings last year.If your listing has been sitting or your bookings have slowed down, this episode will show you exactly what to fix and in what order.Want your listing or business reviewed on a future episode? Drop CLINIC in our DMsTIMESTAMPS:0:00 - What is the Portfolio Clinic0:55 - The ALE Framework: Amenities, Location, Experiences4:17 - Listing Review #1: Beach Cottage in Oak Island, NC5:09 - Photo feedback: It's clean but it's too white6:31 - How to use AI for sunset and lifestyle shots7:15 - Staging amenities: Reilly's beach property example8:41 - Who's your avatar and why it changes your photos9:12 - Sjogren: The wizard room hero image strategy10:33 - Using ChatGPT to create twilight shots11:38 - Interior updates vs working with what you have12:47 - Getting five star reviews on a new listing13:52 - The combined listing strategy for side by side properties16:58 - Aerial shot hack to show both properties17:48 - Listing Review #2: Riverfront A-Frame in Murphy, NC18:16 - Sjogren's first reaction: "I don't love this first photo"19:04 - Andy's story: Zero bookings since launch19:56 - Why you need to relaunch dead listings20:35 - Phone photos are killing your listing21:24 - What lifestyle photos this property actually needs22:47 - Comp analysis: What top properties in Murphy look like25:02 - Brutal feedback: The photos make it look dark and dated26:35 - Staging the deck and outdoor space28:41 - The game plan: Photos, relaunch, pricing, reviews29:42 - The Airbnb new listing push and why Andy missed it30:09 - Small changes that pay for themselves in one night30:47 - Insurance and liability for offering amenities33:23 - Bonus: Quick review of Christie's listing35:40 - What's coming next and the Freedom Factory event

Resources mentioned in this episode are available at: strsecrets.com/clinic If you want to increase your revenue, automate your day to day operations and spend more time with your kids: http://strsecrets.com/applyIf you want to join these live trainings:https://www.facebook.com/groups/STRentalsecretsThis is the first episode of the STR Portfolio Clinic. A brand new series where me and Mike Sjogren pull up real STR listings on screen and diagnose what's working and what's not. Live. In front of everyone. No filter.This episode is all about listings.We reviewed two real Airbnb properties from operators who volunteered to put their listings on the hot seat.First up is a brand new beach cottage in Oak Island, North Carolina. Second row from the ocean. Clean listing. But nobody's clicking on it. We broke down why and gave the owner a full game plan on the spot.Then we pulled up a riverfront property in Murphy, North Carolina. Fly fishing right off the deck. Beautiful area. Went an entire summer with zero bookings. It took about 10 seconds to see what was wrong.We also break down the ALE framework which stands for amenities, location, and experiences. This is the framework behind how we build listings across 30+ properties that generated over $5M in bookings last year.If your listing has been sitting or your bookings have slowed down, this episode will show you exactly what to fix and in what order.Want your listing or business reviewed on a future episode? Drop CLINIC in our DMsTIMESTAMPS:0:00 - What is the Portfolio Clinic0:55 - The ALE Framework: Amenities, Location, Experiences4:17 - Listing Review #1: Beach Cottage in Oak Island, NC5:09 - Photo feedback: It's clean but it's too white6:31 - How to use AI for sunset and lifestyle shots7:15 - Staging amenities: Reilly's beach property example8:41 - Who's your avatar and why it changes your photos9:12 - Sjogren: The wizard room hero image strategy10:33 - Using ChatGPT to create twilight shots11:38 - Interior updates vs working with what you have12:47 - Getting five star reviews on a new listing13:52 - The combined listing strategy for side by side properties16:58 - Aerial shot hack to show both properties17:48 - Listing Review #2: Riverfront A-Frame in Murphy, NC18:16 - Sjogren's first reaction: "I don't love this first photo"19:04 - Andy's story: Zero bookings since launch19:56 - Why you need to relaunch dead listings20:35 - Phone photos are killing your listing21:24 - What lifestyle photos this property actually needs22:47 - Comp analysis: What top properties in Murphy look like25:02 - Brutal feedback: The photos make it look dark and dated26:35 - Staging the deck and outdoor space28:41 - The game plan: Photos, relaunch, pricing, reviews29:42 - The Airbnb new listing push and why Andy missed it30:09 - Small changes that pay for themselves in one night30:47 - Insurance and liability for offering amenities33:23 - Bonus: Quick review of Christie's listing35:40 - What's coming next and the Freedom Factory event

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.

After my own autoimmune journey, I'm always inspired by stories of rapid healing. Wendy Presant went from struggling with dry eyes, fatigue, and joint pain to seeing major improvements in just two weeks on the Autoimmune Protocol. What struck me most was her message about protecting our kids: only 30% of autoimmune risk is genetic, meaning we can actually change our children's trajectory. She breaks down the gut-microbiome connection, shares which nutrient deficiencies directly cause symptoms like dry eyes, and gives you practical tools you can start using today. Whether you're dealing with Sjogren's or any autoimmune condition, Wendy's spider web analogy will change how you think about managing your health. For the complete show notes, links and transcripts, visit inspiredliving.show/232

To have Dr. Morse answer a question, visit: https://drmorses.tv/ask/ All of Dr. Morse's and his son's websites under one roof: https://handcrafted.health/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/handcrafted.health   00:00:00 - Intro - New Classes 00:07:34 - Concussion 00:19:12 - Clubfoot - Allergies - Astigmatism 00:35:34 - Thyroidectomy 00:52:10 - PTSD - Sjogren's Syndrome 00:07:34 - Concussion My daughter has had a series of concussions for more than five years now. 00:19:12 - Clubfoot - Allergies - Astigmatism At age 12, my foot began to hurt due to its shape, and my three middle toes were curled under. 00:35:34 - Thyroidectomy I've been considering whether it's possible for me to stop this medication. 00:52:10 - PTSD - Sjogren's Syndrome I have extreme PTSD which I am working on in therapy, and have Sjogren's syndrome.

Several years ago, Janene was at a golf tournament when something terrifying happened. Out of nowhere her feet began to burn, as if she were walking on hot coals. She discovered that blisters were spreading across her feet at an alarming rate, as if she were being burned by an invisible fire. As the blisters continued to spread she rushed to the doctor, but nobody had any idea what was going on. After several terrifying days she finally saw a dermatologist who diagnosed her with generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP). She went home with four creams, pain meds and steroids. Thankfully, this intervention helped bring this outbreak of GPP under control. In this episode of the Major Pain podcast, Janene talks us through her experience with generalized pustular psoriasis as well as her complicated chronic illness history. Along with GPP she has also been diagnosed with plaque psoriasis, lupus, Sjogren’s syndrome, Raynaud’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis. As a mother of twins, managing this many diseases has been a challenge. However, her experience with GPP was the most horrific medical trauma she has been through. That’s why she has devoted herself to spreading information and awareness about generalized pustular psoriasis, to help others find their way through this painful disease. Learn more about generalized pustular psoriasis at GPPandMe.com PlayWatch the episode on YouTube or Spotify, listen here on our website or on your favorite podcast platform. PODCAST LINKSWEBSITE: https://majorpainpodcast.comEMAIL: majorpainpodcast@gmail.comSUBSCRIBE: https://majorpainpodcast.com/subscribeSPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/5NDoD07WJmICdfdRKq0TyNAPPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/major-pain/id1562947550?mt=2&ls=1 SOCIAL MEDIAINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/majorpainpodcastTIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@majorpainpodcastYOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@MajorPainPodcastFACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/majorpainpodcast AFFILIATE LINKSRARE PATIENT VOICE: https://rarepatientvoice.com/MajorPainPodcastAMAZON SHOP: https://www.amazon.com/shop/majorpainpodcastNEURAHEALTH: https://www.neurahealth.co/majorpain

Drs. Jack Cush and Artie Kavanaugh preview the upcoming RNL 2026 meeting in Dallas, TX on February 7 & 8, 2026. Register at RheumNow.Live Below is the program: Saturday, February 7, 2026, 7:50 - 8:00 am Welcome & Introductions Drs. Cush and Kavanaugh 8:00 - 10:00 am POD I - Rheumatoid Arthritis: Achieving Better Outcomes 8:00 – 8:30 am Mortality in RA: A Story of Decline, Delay, or Plateau? Elena Myasoedova, MD 8:30 – 9:00 am The Mucosal Hypothesis of Rheumatoid Arthritis Kristen Demoruelle, MD 9:00 – 9:30 am ILD in RA – Recent Advances Jeffrey Sparks, MD 9:30 – 10:00 am Rheumatoid arthritis Faculty Q&A 10:00 - 10:15 am STEP 1: Placebos in Rheumatology Andreas Kerschbaumer, MD 10:15 -10:30 am STEP 2: Disease Modification in Osteoarthritis Tuhina Neogi, MD PhD 10:30 – 11:05 Break 11:05 - 12:10 pm POD II – Advancing Practice 11:05 – 11:30 am Obesity & Inflammation: Weight Management in Rheumatology Uzma Haque, MD 11:30 - 11:55 am Mitigating risk in Rheum Pts undergoing surgery Susan Goodman, MD 11:55 -12:10 pm Practice Panel Faculty Q&A 12:10 – 1:00pm Lunch 1:00 – 3:00 pm POD III – Decisions in Psoriatic Arthritis 1:00 - 1:30 pm Paradoxical Psoriasis and Strange Reactions Joseph Merola, MD 1:30 - 2:00 pm Why Do Plain X rays in Psoriatic Arthritis Arthur Kavanaugh, MD 2:00 - 2:30 pm IL-23 vs IL-17 inhibitors in PsA Andre Ribero, MD 2:30 - 3:00 pm Past, Present & Future of Gout Robert Terkeltaub, MD 3:00 - 3:30 pm Psoriatic Faculty Q&A 3:30 - 4:05 pm Break 4:05 - 4:20 pm STEP 3: Helicobacter Pylori update Byron Cryer, MD 4:20 - 4:35 pm STEP 4: History of Gout Robert Terkeltaub, MD 4:35 – 5:15 pm Keynote Address: 50 Years of Osteoporosis Michael McClung, MD 5:30 – 7:00 pm Reception Sunday, February 8, 2026 Day TOPIC Speaker 7:50-8:00 am Welcome & Introductions Drs. Cush and Kavanaugh 8:00 - 10:00 am POD IV – Staying Ahead of Spondyloarthritis 8:00 – 8:30 am Diagnosing Axial Spondyloarthritis in 2026 Denis Poddubnyy, MD 8:30 – 9:00 am Spondyloarthritis Complications Jessica Walsh, MD 9:00 – 9:30 am 2026 Advances in Spondyloarthritis Catherine Bakewell, MD 9:30 – 10:00 am Spondyloarthritis Faculty Q&A 10:00 – 10:15 am STEP 5: Asymptomatic Elevation of CK Rojit Agarwal, MD MS 10:15 – 10:30 am STEP 6: Update on Myositis Antibodies Rojit Agarwal, MD MS 10:30 – 11:05 am Break 11:05 – 12:10 am POD V – Highlights in Autoimmune Disease 11:05 - 11:35 am SMILE Study – Hydroxychloroquine in ANA+ Arthralgia Nancy Olsen, MD 11:35 – 12:05 am Sjogren's Treatment Landscape in 2026 Matthew Baker, MD 12:05 - 12:20 pm Autoimmune Faculty Q&A 12:20 – 1:25 pm POD VI - Large & Small Vessel Vasculitis 12:20 – 12:45 pm Embracing Relapses in PMR and GCA Michael Putman, MD 12:45 - 1:10 pm Small vessel vasculitis Clay Cockerell, MD 1:10 - 1:25 pm Vasculitis Faculty Q&A 1:30 pm Adjourn

Sjögren's syndrome is often dismissed as “just dry eyes and dry mouth”… but the truth runs deeper. For many, it's part of a much larger autoimmune picture — especially when thyroid disease joins the story. In this episode, we uncover how Sjögren's and Hashimoto's share roots, risks, misunderstood symptoms, and why so many people are caught in the middle without answers.In this episode you'll learn:Why Sjögren's and Hashimoto's frequently show up together — and what that means for diagnosis, treatment, and long-term health.The overlapping symptoms that get missed, including fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, and digestive issues — and how many are mistakenly labeled as “just thyroid.”How autoimmune conditions evolve — and what current theories suggest about triggers, immune dysfunction, viral links, and genetics.Sjogren's, thyroid medication, and your eyes, mouth, and gut — surprising ways oral dryness, inflammation, and malabsorption may affect treatment success.Practical strategies to support your immune system, protect moisture, reduce flares, and advocate for complete testing (not just TSH).What the science knows — and what researchers are still trying to understand about autoimmunity, progression, and hope for targeted therapies.If you've been told your symptoms are “in your head,” if you're managing thyroid treatment but still don't feel well, or if you've wondered whether something bigger is going on — this episode shines a light on the autoimmune overlap almost no one talks about.

They also reflect on new insights into mental health, cognitive dysfunction, and  the importance of the microbiome as part of lifestyle interventions. This episode offers hope, practical advice, and the latest research to help manage your condition more effectively.Episode at a glance:00:00 Introduction to Rheumer Has It00:30 Importance of the ACR Annual Conference03:02 Sessions on Patient Health Literacy and Support Groups07:10 Dietary Interventions and Microbiome Research10:54 Mental Health and Fatigue in Rheumatic Diseases15:50 Innovative Treatments: CAR T-Cell Therapy and Vagus Nerve Stimulation19:50 GLP-1 Medications and Their Benefits25:23 Cognitive Dysfunction in Rheumatic Diseases29:22 Spotlight on Sjogren's Disease31:50 Conclusion and Key TakeawaysMedical disclaimer: All content found on Arthritis Life public channels (including Rheumer Has It) was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Episode SponsorsRheum to THRIVE, an online course and support program Cheryl created to help people with rheumatic disease go from overwhelmed, confused and alone to confident, supported and connected. See all the details and join the program or waitlist now!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

NEPTUNUS: Ianalumab in Sjogren's  Pulmonary hypertension in Sarcoidosis 

"ROC-SpA Study"  Secukinumab vs Ustekinumab in PsA  RA ILD Prediction: simple as a dipstick?  Sjogren's Disease: PROs as a Filter for Precision Medicine  Why do patients stay in clinical trials?  Using Digital Apps to Modify Pain in axSpA  IgG4: Rare but Treatable! 

Safety of NSAIDs in Inflammatory Bowel Disease  Screen RA ILD Properly  Biologics Improve Sexual Function in axSpA  Catching PsA before it Starts  Multidimensional Pain inventory in Axial SpA  RA: Does upfront TNFi save heartache?  Novel Insights into Sjogren's Disease  New Paradigms in RA Treatment  Biomarkers in Still's and Macrophage Activation Syndrome  "The Power of Gamma Delta T Cell for Autoimmunity"  The Heartbreak of Sarcoidosis 

Putting Steroid Tapering into Practice in SLE  Tocilizumab Beats Methotrexate in GCA  GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in PsA: Mortality and MACE Safety of CAR-T  ILD in Patients with Connective Tissue Disease  SLGT-2 and GLP-1 in RA: More than Weight Loss  PsA Predictors  Ianalumab: Breakthrough Therapy in Sjogren's

Tyler O'Malley is the Vice President of Clinical Affairs, Bioinformatics, and Market Access at Exagen, Inc. Tyler shares his journey in the MedTech industry and discusses Exagen's innovative approaches to autoimmune testing solutions, including cutting-edge diagnostics for lupus and other diseases. With over a decade of experience, Tyler provides insights into the challenges and breakthroughs in the field, highlighting the significance of early diagnosis and personalized treatment, while also discussing the challenges and opportunities in effective leadership during different stages of company growth.   Guest links: https://exagen.com/ Charity supported: Save the Children Interested in being a guest on the show or have feedback to share? Email us at theleadingdifference@velentium.com.  PRODUCTION CREDITS Host & Editor: Lindsey Dinneen Producer: Velentium Medical   EPISODE TRANSCRIPT Episode 066 - Tyler O'Malley [00:00:00] Lindsey Dinneen: Hi, I'm Lindsey and I'm talking with MedTech industry leaders on how they change lives for a better world. [00:00:09] Diane Bouis: The inventions and technologies are fascinating and so are the people who work with them. [00:00:15] Frank Jaskulke: There was a period of time where I realized, fundamentally, my job was to go hang out with really smart people that are saving lives and then do work that would help them save more lives. [00:00:28] Diane Bouis: I got into the business to save lives and it is incredibly motivating to work with people who are in that same business, saving or improving lives. [00:00:38] Duane Mancini: What better industry than where I get to wake up every day and just save people's lives. [00:00:42] Lindsey Dinneen: These are extraordinary people doing extraordinary work, and this is The Leading Difference. Hello, and welcome back to another episode of The Leading Difference podcast. I'm your host, Lindsey, and I am so excited to introduce you to my guest today, Tyler O'Malley. Tyler serves as Associate VP of Clinical Affairs and Market Access at Exagen, Inc., a leader in autoimmune testing solutions. In his role, he oversees clinical trials, bioinformatics, and medical policy development for Exagen's current diagnostic portfolio and pipeline of proprietary solutions. With more than a decade of experience, O'Malley has contributed to more than a dozen clinical trials focusing on clinical validity and utility evidence for autoimmune diagnostics. His expertise is widely recognized with numerous publications in esteemed peer reviewed journals, and notably, he's the first author of one of the largest clinical utility studies in lupus diagnostics. O'Malley graduated from Georgia Gwinnett College with a Bachelor of Science in biology, concentrating in biochemistry. His 11 year career in research and development and medical affairs encompass medical science, education, assay development, and clinical research coordination. Well, welcome to the show, Tyler. I'm so excited to have you here today. [00:02:01] Tyler O'Malley: Thanks, glad to be here. [00:02:02] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah, absolutely. Well, I would love just starting off by telling us a little bit about yourself, your background, and what led you to MedTech. [00:02:11] Tyler O'Malley: Sure. So, I'm the Vice President of Clinical Affairs, Bioinformatics, and Market Access at Exagen. We're a specialty diagnostics company focused on autoimmune rheumatic diseases. So we develop proprietary testing technology for conditions like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, as well as many others. And yeah, our focus is trying to find solutions for patients who are dealing with what are many times challenging chronic diseases that can present themselves in very mysterious ways oftentimes. And so, these are challenges that patients have that have, for the most part, gone unsolved for many decades, and so there's a lot of opportunity out there. In terms of, myself, my background, I've been with Exagen for the past 11 and a half years. So I've been doing this for a while now, and I've worked in a couple of different areas within the organization, doing work within the lab assay development, as well as outside the lab doing clinical research, statistical analysis, which led to the bioinformatics role. And then as well as doing some work trying to align our clinical evidence with medical policy for our tests which is the market access role. So, a little bit of everything, but there are some through lines that I assure you do make some sense if you really think about it. [00:03:33] Lindsey Dinneen: Excellent. Excellent. Well, thank you for sharing a little bit about that. There's so much to dive into, but going back a little bit in your story, when you were thinking about careers-- you're a eager high school student ready to embrace college, and you're ready for the next step --is this something that you could have imagined yourself doing or has this always been a passion of yours? Or is this something you kind of found yourself in? [00:03:57] Tyler O'Malley: Not at all. So, no I, so I will say I've always been interested in autoimmunity. So that's always been something that has always piqued my interest, whether I was in high school or college. And so I guess in that sense, it's not a surprise. But the laboratory diagnostics component of it was not something that was on my radar when I was in high school or college. And I guess the journey to Exagen was, after graduating from high school, went and got a bachelor's degree in biology with a biochemistry focus. So, that's sort of my background there. And while I was getting the degree and focusing on biochemistry, I had the opportunity through a resource scholarship at Georgia Tech to work in a graduate lab, which was a really interesting experience where, you know, for a little over a year I had the opportunity to work alongside PhD candidates, postdocs, on a research project that was partially funded and get the experience and understand what it's like to work towards a PhD and what it would look like to kind of go down that path of graduate level research. And I think it had the opposite effect that it was intended to have in that it kind of showed me I didn't want to do that. So, I think in a lot of ways I was happy I had that experience 'cause it showed me before I went down that path that it was something I didn't wanna do. Nothing against it, I guess I wanted to do something that maybe had more of a translational impact, a little bit closer to the patient. And so, finished my degree, and at the time I was living in Georgia, so I finished my degree in Georgia, left and moved out to California, and ended up at Exagen by pure chance through a recruiter. And that was back in 2014, and basically just joined Exagen at the time when it was a smaller company, and grew with the company, and was fortunate enough to have the ability to learn a lot of different functions within the company as it grew, and there were a lot of different things that needed to be done a as the company was growing. And so it, it's been kind of a, an interesting ride since then. [00:06:08] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah, absolutely. And of course all of those different experiences, I'm sure, have woven their way in, like you said. Sometimes you have to kind of look for that line, but there is one that's, apparent when you look back. So, can you talk a little bit more about the company, what it does, especially in regards to its testing technology, and I'd love to hear about some of the innovation that's just coming out of this incredible organization you're a part of. [00:06:35] Tyler O'Malley: Sure. So our our testing, again, primarily focuses on addressing unmet needs in patients who have autoimmune connective tissue diseases. And specifically we have some proprietary technology around biomarkers that help diagnose systemic lupus. And lupus is kind of the prototypical autoimmune disease in that it can manifest in just about any different way. It can show up in your skin, your heart, your lungs, your kidneys, just about any way you can imagine, and sometimes in multiple different ways. And so in that way, it can be challenging to diagnose 'cause it can look like so many different things. And much of the testing that is used for lupus or has been used traditionally is very antiquated. Antibody tests that were developed many decades ago that have been refined to some extent over the years, but for the most part are not overly sophisticated. So, what Exagen has done over the past 15 or so years is brought forward some technology, that was originally licensed from University of Pittsburgh, looking at measuring a form of the complement system, which is a part of our immune system. It's a very ancient form of our immune system. It's a collection of proteins that come together to help fight off pathogens and help clear debris to keep our our immune system healthy. And what we're able to do is measure essentially the buildup of a complement fragment that builds up on your red blood cells and on your B lymphocytes. And what this does is it gives us a unique ability to detect lupus that's much more sensitive than the conventional means. And what that means, when I say sensitivity, is that it's able to pick up more lupus patients than the conventional testing. So, one way of thinking about this is like, if you have a hundred patients in a room that all have lupus, right? Because they've been assessed by a doctor, they've been clinically diagnosed, and you were to test them, and say your conventional test is 50% sensitive, meaning half of the room would test positive on this test and the other half would test negative. This test that we're talking about here, it would pick up two thirds of the room, right, as opposed to conventional testing, which would pick up fewer patients. So, that's the kind of technology that we're trying to develop here, which is trying to be more inclusive, pick up more patients sooner, give better insights to physicians to combine with their clinical assessments such that patients can get earlier treatments and hopefully stave off some of the more kind of disastrous outcomes of the disease that come with not getting treated soon enough and not getting treated appropriately for their symptoms. [00:09:31] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah, of course. That's incredibly important and I'm so glad that the company is working to create those solutions, like you said, because previous methods while maybe somewhat useful, are more antiquated at this point. And so it's really important to have these new strides in innovation. So as you're dealing with all of this, I'm sure that there are stories that have come up about real people having impacted lives because of the technology that your company is bringing. Do you have any examples that you could share with us about that? [00:10:05] Tyler O'Malley: Sure. Yeah, there's been a number of individuals that we've had the fortune of meeting over the years. And they come and share the story with our team. We like to bring folks in with, for example, when we bring on new sales team members, we try to bring on a patient just to be able to share their story. So, recently we had an individual, who is connected to someone who works in our organization-- again, just pure chance-- who happened to have a very unique story. So first of all, lupus, for those who don't know, is a condition that primarily affects women. Lupus is a disease that affects women at a ratio of nine to one, nine to one female to male or so, in other words, around 90% of lupus patients are women. But that's not to say that it isn't an issue for that subset of of men that do develop lupus. And in fact, the disease tends to be more severe in that 10% of lupus patients that are men. So this individual who we've had the chance to meet and hear his story, really interesting because he's-- you would never know if you met this guy-- because he's a CrossFit guy. He is probably the healthiest guy you can imagine looking at him. But he went a harrowing journey to get to his diagnosis. And it all started with, relatively -- well, I don't wanna downplay it-- but let's call it "less severe symptoms" like alopecia and rashes, things like this that sort of make you think, "Well, gee, that's strange," or "I wonder what that is all about." And then leading up to much, much more severe symptoms like severe edema and pericarditis that was ultimately life threatening. And ultimately, he was able to get the right testing and get to the right doctors, but it was not a short journey from the time that these symptoms initially presented themselves to the time where he was able to get to the test and to get to the right diagnosis and onto the right treatment. The good news is, he's in a much better place now after finding out what's causing his symptoms and getting to a treatment management plan that works for him and he's even back to getting to an exercise routine that works for him. It's maybe not exactly the same as what it was before, but I mean, that's the thing. Now, you can lead a relatively normal life with lupus. It wasn't that long ago, call it several decades ago, where the mortality rate for lupus was as high as 50% in the first year after diagnosis. Treatment advances have greatly improved that and have changed the lives of people who live with Lupus now, but it used to be a very severe diagnosis. It still is, but it's very manageable now. [00:12:54] Lindsey Dinneen: Wow. Yeah. And so catching it and having that answer to, like you said, really difficult health journey where you're just not sure what's going on. And I really appreciate you talking a little bit about how Lupus looks different and manifests itself differently in different circumstances so it can be difficult to initially diagnose. So I love the fact that the company is focusing on things like that, when caught early can maybe make a huge difference in somebody's life like the gentleman you mentioned. Thank you for sharing about that. So now your own career has been really interesting in that you have gotten to do a lot of different things within the company and learn so much. Now as you've continued to grow with the company, you've, I'm sure, developed a lot of different leadership skills along the way, and I'm curious what it's been like in that sense of your journey to embrace leadership and how do you go about it? What have you found works really well, and maybe what advice would you have for somebody who's a little bit earlier in their career? [00:13:58] Tyler O'Malley: Yeah. Really interesting question. And I, I guess, my experience was, I came into an organization that was, I think at the time, maybe in the entire company was maybe 60, 70 people. So, as you can imagine, it was a very flat organization. I reported directly to the Chief Scientific Officer when I first joined the organization as a relatively low level R&D employee. So that afforded me, I think, a unique opportunity because I was often involved with project planning and discussions that I don't know that you get that opportunity in different types of corporate settings. And I think what has proven very useful in terms of my development, and as I look back and reflect on kind of what's led me here is, I can just recall, so, so many times, especially early on in, in a startup-- which can sometimes be chaotic and there's a lot of moving parts and things are moving fast-- there would be times where I would be in meetings where I wasn't necessarily expected to do very much, I think, or contribute much. And I would just sort of observe, right? And I think there's so much you can learn through not just listening to the conversation, but the body language of the people around the table. The way that people present, the way that people take criticism, the way that they respond. It was almost like a, it was a lesson every day just watching that. And I think where I thrived and maybe added value at times was realizing when people were talking past one another and just, at times, trying to find a way to come into that and say, "Well, right, but did you consider maybe what this person was trying to communicate here?" And, you can't always resolve those sorts of situations, but sometimes you can. And that's really valuable when you can help two individuals get past an impasse like that. So, and I think it helps you build credibility doing that too, being a bridge builder in that sense. And, and I think, that was something I don't know-- whether intuitively or purely by accident, I don't know-- I figured out over time was that, maybe as a young person in your career, sometimes it can be easy to get caught up on sort of the X's and O's of your job, whatever it is that you're doing-- if you're a computer programmer, you're doing bioinformatics or whatever the case may be-- you can get really caught up in the technical skills that you're trying to hone and develop. But there's so many soft skills that you have to build as well at the same time. And there's the relationships that you build, as well, that you don't know when you're gonna need them or when they'll pay off. But things change at organizations and you're glad when you have those relationships when it comes time to need them. [00:16:51] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. Absolutely. Yeah. I love your discussion on the idea of being a bridge builder, because I've been thinking a lot about that recently where there's so much unintentional missed communication, just literally just passing by where, one person is saying something, the other person's saying something, and as an outsider, you're able to have a little bit of a distance to go, "Oh, you're kind of saying the same thing, but I'm not sure that you guys realize that, and here's how." Yeah, that translating is a really important skillset and a fun one when you can nail it down. So as you look towards the future of your own career and the company's trajectory, what are some things that you're looking forward to? [00:17:35] Tyler O'Malley: Well, we obviously have a number of exciting pipeline initiatives that bring a lot of energy to me as I think about what we're trying to do going forward. I'm excited about where the company is headed in terms of its trajectory. I've described my time at the company as, even though I've been at the same company for 11 and a half years or so, I really feel like I've worked for three different companies in that time, in that, there was a period of time that was a startup up until the point the company went public. And then there was this time from when the company was public, where we raised a lot of money, there were a lot of expectations and didn't exactly kind of work out exactly as we had hoped. And then there was a leadership change. And now we're sort of in this third phase now where the arrow's pointing up and we have realigned our strategy here and we found a way to be sustainable and to be able to continue to build on something where hopefully we can continue to find interesting technology that's out there. We have an ongoing partnership with, as an example, Johns Hopkins University to try to develop a test to help address lupus nephritis. So this is a particular form of organ manifestation of lupus. It's one of the more common manifestations of lupus, and one of the more devastating forms of lupus, in that almost 50% of lupus patients will have kidney involvement at some point in their disease. And as much as 10 to 20% of patients who do have lupus nephritis will go on to unfortunately develop end stage kidney disease and require dialysis or kidney transplant. So it's obviously life altering and can be, very impactful to individuals. So, to be able to work on something like that and be able to potentially alter the trajectory of someone's life in that way is pretty cool to think about. And, not everyone gets to do that. I mean, it's not that other jobs aren't meaningful, it's just not everyone gets the opportunity to do that kind of thing. And if you can also find joy in what you're doing in your job. I think that's also great too. I mean, it's really cliche, the things people say, and so I won't do it. The whole, like, " If you like what you do, you never work." Believe me, it's work. I do feel like I'm working sometimes, for sure, but I can't complain. I do, for the most part, have fun with what I'm doing. I'm fortunate enough, I have a great team of people, well-- three teams of people-- that I really enjoy working with, and being able to work with people and see them grow and develop and be a part of that is also super rewarding as well too. So, yeah, I'm just, I'm having a lot of fun. [00:20:26] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. Excellent. Wonderful. Well, gosh, I'm gonna pivot the conversation just for fun a little bit. Imagine that you were to be offered a million dollars to teach a masterclass on anything you want. Now, this could be within your industry, but it doesn't have to be. What would you choose to teach? [00:20:45] Tyler O'Malley: I think that-- maybe this is kind of fun, probably not-- but I think that ,I don't know why, and it's funny because it's-- I don't even know if this qualifies because I don't even know how I would teach it-- but I think I'm fairly good at guesstimating numbers and it's really useful in that it helps in a lot of different situations to be able to shortcut math. And to be clear, it's not that I'm doing long division in my head or anything like that, but it's, if you can kind of shortcut and get the approximate number, it can be really useful. And it's a nice kind of party trick too kind of thing. Again, I don't know how I would teach it 'cause it's sort of like it's up here, and I don't know how I would externalize that, but yeah, that's something I feel like would be kind of cool to figure out how I could teach that. [00:21:35] Lindsey Dinneen: Absolutely. Yeah. It's a superpower. So it would be very cool to try to then-- you've got this innate ability-- so then to try to break it down into how does somebody else develop the skill sets that you just sort of possess, and go from there. That would be really entertaining. I love it. Great answer. Okay. And then the next question is, how do you wish to be remembered after you leave this world? [00:21:59] Tyler O'Malley: Yeah. Well, that's a deep question. I think that the most meaningful impact that you can have is the impression you leave on the people that you interacted with, right? And I think, for me, I would just hope that the people that I've had the chance to spend time with-- obviously family, friends, people I worked with, people who worked on my teams-- I would just hope that as they would reflect on the time that we had together, that it would be a memory that was time well spent and that hopefully there are some good shared experiences that we had and that hopefully I left something that was meaningful. But as it relates to the work that we're doing, I hope that the impact that we're having-- some of it has a longer reach than even what we can see today, 'cause I think, truly being selfless is trying to build things that you'll never realize the benefit of: planting trees that you'll never sit under yourself. It's for someone else down the line in the future. [00:23:14] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. Yeah. I love thinking about it in those terms too: being willing to do your bits of good and let them go out into the world and not necessarily know the ripple effects and still use that as a worthwhile use of your time. I love that. And then final question, what is one thing that makes you smile every time you see or think about it? [00:23:39] Tyler O'Malley: Yeah, I think the easy answer is probably my kids. So I have two kids, and that's kind of the reprieve from the work life and kind of focusing on all this important stuff that we're trying to do here at work, but being able to kind of break away from that and focus on building them up and watching them grow and develop and become their own person is really cool. It's obviously a unique experience and it's a nice thing to be able to think about when you need something to kind of bring you back up. [00:24:12] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah, absolutely. Just a different way of looking at the world from such a fun perspective. I love that. [00:24:19] Tyler O'Malley: Yeah. [00:24:20] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. Well, Tyler, this has been such a great conversation. I so appreciate your time today telling us a little bit about your story, the company, and all the incredible work that you guys are doing to change lives for a better world. And we are so honored to be making a donation on your behalf as a thank you for your time today to Save the Children, which works to end the cycle of poverty by ensuring communities have the resources to provide children with a healthy, educational, and safe environment. So thank you so much for choosing that charity to support, and thank you so much for being here and thank you for doing what you do. [00:24:59] Tyler O'Malley: Thank you. It's it's been a pleasure. [00:25:01] Lindsey Dinneen: Excellent, and thank you also to our listeners for tuning in, and if you're feeling as inspired as I am, I'd love it if you'd share this episode with a colleague or two and we'll catch you next time. [00:25:14] Dan Purvis:  The Leading Difference is brought to you by Velentium Medical. Velentium Medical is a full service CDMO, serving medtech clients worldwide to securely design, manufacture, and test class two and class three medical devices. Velentium Medical's four units include research and development-- pairing electronic and mechanical design, embedded firmware, mobile app development, and cloud systems with the human factor studies and systems engineering necessary to streamline medical device regulatory approval; contract manufacturing-- building medical products at the prototype, clinical, and commercial levels in the US, as well as in low cost regions in 1345 certified and FDA registered Class VII clean rooms; cybersecurity-- generating the 12 cybersecurity design artifacts required for FDA submission; and automated test systems, assuring that every device produced is exactly the same as the device that was approved. Visit VelentiumMedical.com to explore how we can work together to change lives for a better world. 

Recorded at LTK Con 2025, this episode of More to Say brings together two powerhouse creators: Brittany Sjogren (@loverlygrey) of Loverly Grey, known for her fashion and lifestyle content and her knack for mixing affordable and luxury style, and Jen Reed (@thesisterstudioig) of The Sister Studio, known for her approachable, stylish finds and proving that dressing well doesn't always mean spending a lot. Together, Brittany and Jen share their insights on building engaged communities, growing influence, and creating meaningful connections with their audiences. They provide a masterclass in creator commerce, community-building, and leadership, offering both inspiration and actionable advice for anyone looking to grow their business, engage authentically, and make a lasting impact.WE DISCUSS:(00:00) Brittany Sjogren: The Power of Reels and Community Engagement(02:31) Insights from LTKCon: Creator Collaboration and Growth(05:38) Navigating Social Media Metrics and Creator Mindset(08:12) Building a Strong Community and Effective Content Strategy(11:09) The Importance of Authenticity in Content Creation(13:58) The Role of Gifting and Product Seeding in Influencer Marketing(19:20) Strategies for Growth and Overcoming Challenges(25:16) Creating a Connection with Your Audience(27:57) The Journey from Creator to Entrepreneur(33:41) Jen Reed: Finding Balance in Business and Personal Life(36:27) Giving Back to the Community(38:57) Advice for Aspiring Creators(42:06) The Future of Content Creation and TrendsLTK for CreatorsLTK for BrandsLearn more about More To SayWatch on YouTubeFollow and shop Amber's LTKFollow Amber on InstagramConnect with Amber on LinkedInFollow and shop Brittany's LTKFollow and shop Jen's LTKFollow Brittany on InstagramFollow Jen on Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we review the high-yield topic of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sjogren Syndrome ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠from the MSK section.Follow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Medbullets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on social media:Facebook: www.facebook.com/medbulletsInstagram: www.instagram.com/medbulletsofficialTwitter: www.twitter.com/medbullets

Elizabeth Jeffords, CEO and President of Iolyx Therapeutics, discusses dry eye disease and its connection to autoimmune conditions. The company's novel therapeutic topical immune modulator is designed to treat the root inflammation in the eye, which systemic drugs often fail to reach due to the blood-retina barrier. Patients with dry eye disease often have multiple comorbidities and are excluded from clinical trials, making this research even more significant in finding treatments for a growing population. Elizabeth explains, "Some people have physical dry eye, i.e., they have a dysfunction in their meibomian glands, and they can't make enough tears or those tears aren't the right composition. But more than half of the patients with dry eye have an underlying autoimmune disease. And they might know that, and they might not. So, patients with either Sjogren's disease or any of the thyroid conditions, patients with rheumatoid arthritis, MS, connective tissue dysfunction, most of those patients have some ocular comorbidities, and specifically, dry eye is probably one of the biggest ones." "Sometimes we treat the body, and we can treat autoimmune diseases successfully, but you don't really get most drugs into the eye. And so those alarm bells are still going off in the eye. And unfortunately, these patients with autoimmune disease tend to have more severe disease. They respond differently to the drugs that are out there today and probably most troublesome to us, and why Iolyx is really targeted these patients is that they get excluded from most of trials because they're just more difficult to treat, but they're also more difficult to treat because they have systemic medications that they're on, and most of those drugs get excluded." #IolyxTherapeutics #DryEyeDisease #Ophthalmology #AutoimmuneDisease #EyeCare #ImmunoOphthalmology #ClinicalTrials Iolyx.com Download the transcript here

Elizabeth Jeffords, CEO and President of Iolyx Therapeutics, discusses dry eye disease and its connection to autoimmune conditions. The company's novel therapeutic topical immune modulator is designed to treat the root inflammation in the eye, which systemic drugs often fail to reach due to the blood-retina barrier. Patients with dry eye disease often have multiple comorbidities and are excluded from clinical trials, making this research even more significant in finding treatments for a growing population. Elizabeth explains, "Some people have physical dry eye, i.e., they have a dysfunction in their meibomian glands, and they can't make enough tears or those tears aren't the right composition. But more than half of the patients with dry eye have an underlying autoimmune disease. And they might know that, and they might not. So, patients with either Sjogren's disease or any of the thyroid conditions, patients with rheumatoid arthritis, MS, connective tissue dysfunction, most of those patients have some ocular comorbidities, and specifically, dry eye is probably one of the biggest ones." "Sometimes we treat the body, and we can treat autoimmune diseases successfully, but you don't really get most drugs into the eye. And so those alarm bells are still going off in the eye. And unfortunately, these patients with autoimmune disease tend to have more severe disease. They respond differently to the drugs that are out there today and probably most troublesome to us, and why Iolyx is really targeted these patients is that they get excluded from most of trials because they're just more difficult to treat, but they're also more difficult to treat because they have systemic medications that they're on, and most of those drugs get excluded." #IolyxTherapeutics #DryEyeDisease #Ophthalmology #AutoimmuneDisease #EyeCare #ImmunoOphthalmology #ClinicalTrials Iolyx.com Listen to the podcast here

Breaking Free from People Pleasing: My Journey to Self-Care and HealingAre you always the “go-to person” for everyone else—yet secretly exhausted, burned out, and struggling with your health?

In this compassionate guide, Dr. Julius Birnbaum offers essential advice for navigating the complex world of various autoimmune diseases. This resource will help patients, caregivers, and health care professionals understand the diagnosis, management, and treatment of conditions like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome, and more.

In this episode of the Radical Health Rebel podcast, Divya Dhawan shares her personal journey with Sjogren's disease and how it led her to become a functional health practitioner. She discusses the importance of gut health, the role of diet and lifestyle in managing autoimmune conditions, and the need for movement in maintaining joint health. Divya emphasizes that joint pain is not an inevitable part of aging and that holistic approaches can lead to healing. She also provides practical steps for listeners to break the cycle of pain and improve their overall health.Chapters:00:00 Divya's Journey to Health Coaching05:01 Understanding Sjogren's Disease and Treatment Options07:17 Education and Training in Functional Health09:00 Functional Medicine vs. Conventional Medicine17:43 The Myth of Aging and Joint Pain24:18 Movement and Joint Health26:16 Harnessing Energy Through Movement27:35 The Power of Belief in Healing30:20 Understanding Inflammation and Joint Health32:41 The Gut-Joint Connection35:49 Dietary Impact on Inflammation37:47 The Carnivore Diet Debate42:27 Practical Steps for Pain Relief45:40 Finding the Right Movement for You51:02 Creating a Ripple Effect in Health AwarenessYou can find Divya @:https://www.sjogrenssolution.comhttps://www.instagram.com/sjogrensqueenhttps://www.facebook.com/divya.dhn https://www.linkedin.com/in/divya-dhawan-b645791b6/Send us a textSupport the showDon't forget to leave a Rating for the podcast!You can find Leigh @: Leigh's website - https://www.bodychek.co.uk/ Chronic Pain Breakthrough Blueprint - https://www.bodychek.co.uk/freepainguide/ Leigh's courses: StickAbility - https://stickabilitycourse.com/ Mastering Client Transformation (professional course) - https://www.functionaldiagnosticnutrition.com/mastering-client-transformation/

Episode Summary: In this chapter of the 100th episode of the 90 Miles from Needles podcast, host Chris Clarke welcomes the acclaimed author and environmental advocate Morgan Sjogren to the show. Broadcasting from the serene and historically rich landscapes of Bears Ears National Monument, Sjogren shares insights into her literary journey and environmental activism, reflecting particularly on the controversial legacy of uranium mining in the Four Corners region. This episode, part of a special series divided into six chapters, seeks to illuminate the intertwined narratives of public lands advocacy and environmental protection. Sjogren captivates listeners with an excerpt from her recent work, Path of Light, A Walk Through Colliding Legacies of Glen Canyon. She draws listeners into a reflective exploration of the desert's raw beauty and unyielding connection to historical and modern environmental challenges. Emphasizing the enduring impact of uranium mining, Sjogren articulates the environmental risks posed by abandoned mines and the broader implications for Indigenous communities, wildlife, and public lands. Her reading underscores the importance of understanding and addressing the consequences of past human endeavors on natural landscapes, advocating for thoughtful stewardship and conservation. Tune in for a powerful narrative that seamlessly blends the personal, geographical, and political narratives shaping the majestic desert regions. Key Takeaways: Discover the delicate dance between beauty and environmental harm in Glen Canyon, as Morgan reflects on the area's enduring scars and resilience. Learn about the long-term impacts of uranium mining on both the environment and Indigenous communities, highlighting the urgent need for systemic reforms. Explore the intricate legalities of staking mining claims and how archaic laws continue to shape land management policies today. Hear about Sjogren's eco-activism through staking a mining claim to challenge the status quo in land use policies. Appreciate the vital role storytelling and public discourse play in advocating for sustainable environmental policies and conservation efforts. Notable Quotes: "Finding beauty in the chaotic refuse brings me hope in a world that often appears doomed." – Morgan Sjogren"The lonesome road I walk now in Red Canyon ends in Lake Powell, a monument to the way humans are abandoning their relationship with the natural world." – Morgan Sjogren"The gusts briefly pause. Silence sits heavy on my chest, amplifying the rhythm of my thumping heart." – Morgan Sjogren"Uranium mining poses extensive threats to people, wildlife, and water sources long after the underground work is done." – Morgan Sjogren"It's as if the grains of sand are begging me to carry them away from here to journey with me." – Morgan Sjogren Resources: Morgan Sjogren's Book: Path of A Walkthrough, Colliding Legacies of Glen Canyon – Explore this insightful work published by Torrey House Press.Wild Words Substack – Subscribe to Morgan's dispatches from the desert through her evocative writing. Engage with this compelling episode of 90 Miles from Needles to gain a deeper understanding of the intersections of history, environmental activism, and public lands conservation. Stay connected for more thought-provoking episodes featuring passionate voices advocating for desert protection and environmental justice.Become a desert defender!: https://90milesfromneedles.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How does an intelligent agent go from idea to artifact? What can the process of art teach us about the evidence of design in the natural world? Today, medical illustrator and artist Jody Sjogren joins host Andrew McDiarmid to discuss the similarities between machines and living organisms and the insights art can give us about the mind of intelligent designers. This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation. Source

In this episode from Paloma Health, we dive into the surprising connection between thyroid disorders and your eye health. Whether you're dealing with dry, blurry eyes, bulging eyes, or double vision, your thyroid could be playing a role. Learn more about how hypothyroidism — often caused by Hashimoto's thyroiditis — can lead to dry, irritated eyes, and how hyperthyroidism, especially in Graves' disease, can result in more serious vision problems like thyroid eye disease (TED).We also discuss important questions like:Can Synthroid cause eye issues?What does yellow skin around the eyes really mean?Can you have both hypothyroidism and TED at the same time?What's the link between Sjogren's syndrome and Hashimoto's?If your eyes are sending signals, it might be time to look deeper — at your thyroid! Tune in to learn how to protect your vision and manage symptoms with proper thyroid care.NEED MORE INFORMATION? Can Thyroid Issues Cause Eye Problems?https://www.palomahealth.com/learn/thyroid-eye-problems Dry, Blurry Eyes and Hypothyroidismhttps://www.palomahealth.com/learn/dry-eyes-hypothyroidism Is Yellow Skin Around Eyes a Sign of a Thyroid Condition?https://www.palomahealth.com/learn/yellow-skin-thyroid-condition Can Synthroid Thyroid Medication Cause Eye Problems?https://www.palomahealth.com/learn/synthroid-eye-problems Can I Have Hypothyroidism and TED At The Same Time?https://www.palomahealth.com/learn/hypothyroidism-ted Sjogren's Syndrome and Hashimoto's Hypothyroidismhttps://www.palomahealth.com/learn/sjogrens-syndrome-hashimotos-hypothyroidism 8 Reasons Why Your Face Looks Puffyhttps://www.palomahealth.com/learn/8-reasons-why-your-face-looks-puffy ABOUT PALOMA HEALTH⁠⁠Paloma Health ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠is an online medical practice focused exclusively on treating hypothyroidism. From online visits with your provider to easy prescription management and lab orders, we create personalized treatment plans for you. Become a member⁠, or try our at-home test kit and experience a whole new level of hypothyroid care. Use code PODCAST to save $30 at checkout.Disclaimer: The $30 discount is only valid for first-time Paloma Health members and test kit users. Coupon must be entered at the time of checkout. Become a Paloma Member:https://www.palomahealth.com/pricing-hypothyroidism Paloma Complete Thyroid Blood Test Kit:https://www.palomahealth.com/home-thyroid-blood-test-kit

Artistic license has been used to promote Darwinian evolution since the late nineteenth century. Icons of evolution have appeared in textbooks, journals, magazines, and other visual media to promote a materialist worldview that is light on evidence and weighty on assumption. But in 2000, a book came along – Icons of Evolution – that finally exposed the myths, exaggerations, and outright fakery behind ten of the most infamous icons of Darwin’s theory. Today, host Andrew McDiarmid welcomes the illustrator of that ground-breaking book, medical illustrator and artist Jody Sjogren, to discuss her experience of bringing these famous icons to life and working with author Dr. Jonathan Wells on the project. Jody also shares some of her memories of Dr. Wells, Read More › Source

They discuss the complexities of managing overlapping conditions and the importance of a strong support system. Alice highlights the invaluable support she receives from her family, friends, church community, and online groups. They also talk about the challenges of explaining chronic illness to others, dealing with unsolicited advice, and finding comfort in relationships. This episode serves as a guide for both patients and their loved ones on fostering understanding and meaningful support.Alice also discusses the significance of finding specialized support groups, such as the 'Rheum to Thrive' community, led by Cheryl. Both Cheryl and Alice stress the importance of open communication, patience, and understanding in building effective support systems. Episode at a glance:Alice's Health Journey: Alice shares her experience living with and navigating multiple chronic conditions such as Rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome.The Importance of Support from a Strong and Diverse Support System: Cheryl and Alice discuss the importance of support from family and friends, church community, and online support groups. Finding and Building Support Systems: Cheryl and Alice discuss Cheryl's Rheum to Thrive Program and how a specialized community is valuable in building a support system.Dealing with Misunderstandings and Unsolicited Advice: Cheryl and Alice discuss how to maintain boundaries and navigate unsolicited advice.Reflections on Long-Term Relationships: Alice shares insights from over 50 years marriage.  Medical disclaimer: All content found on Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Episode SponsorsRheum to THRIVE, an online course and support program Cheryl created to help people with rheumatic disease go from overwhelmed, confused and alone to confident, supported and connected. See all the details and join the program or waitlist now! 

They discuss practical strategies for rebuilding trust in your body, the critical role of understanding your core values, and how to find the right support — whether through programs like Rheum to Thrive or events like the Virtual Sjögren's Summit. Together, they show how education, advocacy, and mindset shifts can help patients move from fear to confidence in managing their immune health.Episode at a glance:Sjogren's and MCAS 101: what is Sjogren's and MCAS?Dr. Kara Wada's personal journey: Sjögren's and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) and how it shaped her mission to empower patients.Understanding "Immune Confidence": learning to trust your body again after autoimmune and allergic disease diagnoses.The importance of patient advocacy and education: how Dr. Wada supports patients across multiple states through educational visits.Healthcare system issues: why are complex patients being given the short end of the stick, and what are some creative solutions?Upcoming events and opportunities: the Virtual Sjögren's Summit and Cheryl's evolving focus with Rheum to THRIVE.Finding balance between personal life and professional advocacy while living with chronic illness.Medical disclaimer: All content found on Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Episode SponsorsRheum to THRIVE, an online course and support program Cheryl created to help people with rheumatic disease go from overwhelmed, confused and alone to confident, supported and connected. See all the details and join the program or waitlist now! 

In this episode of The Health Advocates, we’re joined by Cristina Montoya, a registered dietitian, advocate, and patient living with both rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren’s disease. Cristina shares her diagnosis journey, the challenges of managing symptoms from childhood to adulthood, and how she uses her lived experience to guide others through nutrition and advocacy. We also hear from Erik Stone, Director of Data, Learning, and Evaluation at GHLF, who breaks down insights from a recent GHLF survey of people living with Sjögren’s. Together, they highlight the need for better education, tailored treatments, and more support for the Sjögren’s community. Among the highlights in this episode: 00:54: Cristina Montoya introduces herself, her background as a dietitian, and her personal experience living with rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren’s 01:39: Cristina explains how to pronounce “Sjögren’s” and offers a clear overview of what the disease is and how it progresses 04:04: Cristina shares her childhood experience with undiagnosed symptoms of Sjögren’s, including dry eyes, parotid swelling, fatigue, and difficulty swallowing 07:49: Steven asks about dietary considerations; Cristina explains how Sjögren’s affects the entire digestive tract and why food texture matters 10:25: Cristina offers ideas for eating leafy greens like kale and how smoothies can be adapted to reduce GI discomfort 13:23: Cristina shares what inspired her to become an advocate, describing herself as an “accidental advocate” who became active after attending her first patient conference in Canada 15:08: Cristina addresses common misconceptions, including that Sjögren’s is “just a dry mouth disease” and not disabling 17:38: Erik Stone joins the conversation to share GHLF’s survey findings: 84% of respondents want help managing symptoms and flares There’s still time to share your feedback — take our short survey here: https://us8.list-manage.com/survey?u=9d2bc7b86ce2e776e067d6fbc&id=92f785a222&attribution=false 20:24: Cristina reacts to the data and underscores the variability and impact of flares, especially for those without a co-occurring autoimmune condition 22:27: Cristina outlines the biggest needs in the Sjögren’s community: targeted treatments and improved management of fatigue, pain, dryness, and neuropathy 23:31: Cristina and Erik discuss who bears responsibility for education and call for better understanding at the medical school level Below are additional resources mentioned by Cristina during the episode: Sjogren's Advocate by Dr. Schafer: https://www.sjogrensadvocate.com/ The American College of Rheumatology, Sjogren’s Disease Experts, and Medical Educators Need to Step Up: https://bexiphd.com/blogs/news/the-american-college-of-rheumatology-sjogren-s-disease-experts-and-medical-educators-need-to-step-up Sjögren's Recognized as a Disease, What's Next for Patients and Research?: https://www.arthritisdietitian.com/post/sjogren-s-disease-what-s-next-for-patients-and-research Contact Our Host Steven Newmark, Chief of Policy at GHLF: snewmark@ghlf.org A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF. We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to podcasts@ghlf.org Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of 'Masks Off,' host Kim Gross addresses the strong correlation between autoimmune diseases and people-pleasing tendencies, especially among women. She cites Dr. Gabor Mate's observations about trauma being at the root of people-pleasing behaviors. Drawing from her own battle with Sjogren's syndrome, Kim shares her personal struggles of overextending herself to meet the needs of others at the expense of her own health and well-being. She recounts how her upbringing and family dynamics reinforced these tendencies and led to severe health issues. Kim eventually learned to prioritize self-care as a way to improve her condition and her relationships. She outlines practical steps and resources for listeners to start recognizing and transforming these harmful patterns, emphasizing the importance of awareness, ownership, and the arduous but rewarding journey of inner healing. The episode aims to inspire listeners to put themselves first and remove their people-pleaser masks in order to lead a more joyful and connected life.

Autoimmune diseases like lupus and Sjogren's disease are often associated with joint pain, fatigue, and organ involvement, but their impact on the nervous system is less commonly discussed. In this episode, Dr. Julius Birnbaum, a leading expert in neuro-rheumatology, joins us to explore the neurological manifestations of these conditions and what patients need to know. From brain fog and memory issues to more severe complications like neuropathy, Dr. Birnbaum explains how these diseases affect the brain and nerves, why symptoms can be challenging to diagnose, and the latest advancements in treatment. If you or a loved one live with lupus or Sjogren's and have experienced unexplained neurological symptoms, this episode provides clarity, validation, and expert insights on what to look for and how to advocate for proper care.   Donate to Support the Show: www.aiarthritis.org/donate   Episode Highlights: Understanding the link between autoimmune diseases and the nervous system. Common neurological symptoms in lupus and Sjogren's Why neurological symptoms are often overlooked or misdiagnosed. The latest research and treatment approaches for managing neurological complications. How to advocate for proper testing and care if you suspect neurological involvement.   Links & Resources Volunteer with AiArthritis : https://bit.ly/AiArthritisVolunteerApp   Follow AiArthritis on all social media platforms @IFAiArthritis Sign up for our Monthly AiArthritis Voices 360 Talk Show newsletter! HERE   Connect with our Cohost & Guest: Dr. Julius Birnbaum is a distinguished rheumatologist with 20 years of experience and the only physician in the U.S. trained as an internist, neurologist, and rheumatologist. He completed his medical training at Columbia, Mount Sinai, Jacobi Medical Center, and Johns Hopkins, where he later pioneered a Neuro-Rheumatology Clinic to treat complex neurological complications of autoimmune diseases. Dr. Birnbaum has authored over 30 publications in prestigious medical journals and has been a featured speaker at national and international rheumatology conferences. Currently, he serves as Associate Professor of Rheumatology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and Division Chief of Rheumatology at UPMC Mercy Hospital, where he continues to teach and mentor medical trainees. Outside of medicine, he enjoys sports like basketball, swimming, and running, which he shares with his wife and three children in Wexford, Pennsylvania.   Connect with Dr. Birnbaum: Book: Living Well With Autoimmune Diseases: A Rheumatologist's Guide to Taking Charge of Your Health - https://bit.ly/41XrpZR Website: https://www.juliusbirnbaum.com/   Leila is the Health Education Manager at the International Foundation for AiArthritis. She is a person living with Lupus and Sjögren's disease. She is passionate about inclusion and diversity in health education and meeting individuals where they are at in order to learn in a way that resonates with them.    Connect with Leila: Tiktok: @Lupuslifestyle.lei  

Learn about an autoimmune disease affecting millions with dry eyes, dry mouth, and other symptoms.

Together, they break down the latest research from the 2024 American College of Rheumatology conference, unpacking the science behind the gut microbiome and the Mediterranean diet. Cristina explains how these can impact inflammatory diseases like RA and Sjogren's—and why it's about more than just what's on your plate.They also tackle the big questions: Should you go gluten-free? Is the carnivore diet a miracle cure or just another fad? Is it worth having a restrictive diet if I'm stressed about food all the time? Cheryl and Cristina separate fact from fiction, debunking common diet myths so you can make informed choices without the confusion.But this conversation isn't just about food—it's about the bigger picture. Cristina shares her “Five C's” framework—Commitment, Consistency, Compassion, Courage, and Credibility—helping you stay on track while giving yourself grace. Plus, they dive into the importance of finding the right healthcare team and support system, so you never have to navigate RA alone.If you're looking for real talk, expert insights, and actionable tips to feel your best, this episode is a must-listen!*Content warning: discussion of disordered eating from minute 10:40-14:40Episode at a glance:Cristina's Journey: How dietitian Cristina was diagnosed with arthritis and Sjorgen's DiseaseBalanced Approach to Arthritis: Combine medication with smart lifestyle changes like diet and exercise for the best results.Gut Microbiome Matters: The health of your gut microbiome plays a key role in managing inflammation and supporting overall health.Cristina's Five C's Framework: Commitment, Consistency, Compassion, Courage, & CredibilityBuild Your Healthcare Dream Team: Collaborate with trusted specialists (rheumatologists, dietitians, occupational therapists) for comprehensive care.Avoid Quick Fixes: Don't fall for miracle cures; rely on evidence-based practices for long-term success.Specific Aspects of the Mediterranean Diet and Mediterranean Lifestyle: What makes it so helpful for inflammatory arthritis patients?Medical disclaimer: All content found on Arthritis Life public channels was created for generalized informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Episode SponsorsRheum to THRIVE, an online course and support program Cheryl created to help people with rheumatic disease go from overwhelmed, confused and alone to confident, supported and connected. See all the details and join the program or waitlist now! 

Send us a textEpisode Summary:In this episode of Midlife with Courage, Kim welcomes Emily Black, founder of a menopause-focused gummy supplement business. Emily shares her personal journey of being diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder, navigating perimenopause symptoms, and discovering alternative solutions for relief. She discusses the challenges of receiving proper medical support, the role of cannabis in symptom management, and how she developed her business to help other women.Key Topics:Emily's courageous decision to leave an 18-year marriageHer struggle with an autoimmune disorder (Sjogren's Syndrome) and menopause symptomsHow traditional medicine often dismisses women's health concernsThe benefits of cannabis (THC & CBD) for menopause symptoms like sleep and anxietyThe process of formulating and launching her gummy supplement businessConnect with Emily Black:WEBSITE-Still For Her***Midlife with Courage listeners will get a 20% discount on their first order by using the code "Courage"***DISCLAIMER-the information contained in this episode should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider before taking any supplements. Get your free ebook called Daily Habits for Hormonal Harmony by going to my website. This free guide will help you balance your hormones through some easy daily activities. Just add your email to the popup and your guide will be on its way to your inbox.From morning until bedtime, you can help yourself feel better! Support the showKim Benoy is a retired RN, Certified Aromatherapist, wife and mom who is passionate about inspiring and encouraging women over 40. She wants you to see your own beauty, value and worth through sharing stories of other women just like you.Would you like to get a "sneak" listen to each podcast? Subscribe to my website to get my weekly inspirational message and a link to that week's podcast a day ahead of everyone else! Just click the link below to get on the list! SUBSCRIBE WEBSITEFACEBOOK

Let's get to know our hosts a bit more. Dr. Kara Wada, MD is a board certified Allergy Immunologist. She also has Sjogren's disease. Did you know that Sjogren's affects about 1 in 100 people? Many of them are undiagnosed and suffer with chronic symptoms. 30-40% of the time, lab tests are normal. Listen here as Kara teaches us lessons about both a doctor and patient living with the disease. 

In this episode of the Bendy Bodies Podcast, Dr. Linda Bluestein welcomes Dr. Kara Wada, an allergy and immunology expert, to explore Sjogren's disease and its connection to hypermobility, dysautonomia, and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). They discuss why Sjogren's is one of the most underdiagnosed autoimmune conditions, its symptoms beyond dryness, and how it intertwines with POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) and EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes). Dr. Wada also dives into Sjogren's diagnostic challenges, emerging treatments, nutrition strategies, and the role of inflammation in fatigue and pain. Whether you're navigating autoimmune symptoms or looking for practical tools to manage them, this episode is filled with expert insights and actionable advice. Takeaways: Sjogren's is Massively Underdiagnosed – Up to 75% of people with Sjogren's remain undiagnosed, in part because its symptoms extend far beyond dryness and don't always present in a textbook way. Autoimmune Conditions & EDS Are Connected – Sjogren's, POTS, and MCAS frequently overlap due to their shared impact on the immune and nervous systems, making diagnosis and treatment complex. Dryness is Just the Beginning – Sjogren's can cause neuropathy, fatigue, dysautonomia, gastrointestinal issues, and even a higher risk of lymphoma, making it more than just an inconvenience. Current Treatments Are Limited but Improving – There are no FDA-approved medications specifically for Sjogren's, but promising treatments are currently in phase 3 trials, offering hope for better management Nutrition & Lifestyle Matter – Avoiding ultra-processed foods, prioritizing hydration, and incorporating anti-inflammatory nutrients can help manage symptoms and support immune function. Connect with YOUR Hypermobility Specialist, Dr. Linda Bluestein, MD at https://www.hypermobilitymd.com/. Thank YOU so much for tuning in. We hope you found this episode informative, inspiring, useful, validating, and enjoyable. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to level up your knowledge about hypermobility disorders and the people who have them. Past Episodes: https://www.bendybodiespodcast.com/linking-mast-cell-activation-autoimmunity-and-eds/ https://www.drkarawada.com/podcasts/becoming-immune-confident/episodes/2148563154 Join YOUR Bendy Bodies community at https://www.bendybodiespodcast.com/. Learn more about Human Content at http://www.human-content.com Podcast Advertising/Business Inquiries: sales@human-content.com YOUR bendy body is our highest priority! Learn about  Dr. Karen Wada Twitter: @CrunchyAllergy Instagram: @immuneconfidentmd TikTok: @immuneconfidentmd FB: @KaraWadaMD YT: @drkarawada Keep up to date with the HypermobilityMD: YouTube: youtube.com/@bendybodiespodcast Twitter: twitter.com/BluesteinLinda LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hypermobilitymd Facebook: facebook.com/BendyBodiesPodcast Blog: hypermobilitymd.com/blog Part of the Human Content Podcast Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Tuesday, October 1st, 2024Today, Donald Trump lies about the federal response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene while tapping local resources for a political visit to Valdosta Georgia; CBS News says it will not be responsible to fact check the candidates in tonight's Vice Presidential Debate; the DNC and Georgia Dems have sued the Georgia State Election Board for their hand count rule on the eve of the bench trial for other potential election violations which is set to begin today; Fulton  County Judge McBurney has overturned Georgia's six week abortion ban; the Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell says the US Economy is in solid shape as he plans to cut interest rates again; Kamala Harris' economic plan is more popular than Trump's; and Allison and Dana deliver your Good News. Go to drinkAG1.com/dailybeans to try AG1 and get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D3K2 AND 5 FREE AG1 Travel Packs with your first purchase.Harris Campaign Social Media Toolkit (kamalaharris.com)Give to the Kamala Harris Presidential CampaignKamala Harris — Donate via ActBlue (MSW Media's Donation Link)See What's On Your Ballot, Check Your Voter Registration, Find Your Polling Place, Discover Upcoming Debates In Your Area, And Much More! vote411.orgStoriesHarris cuts West Coast swing short for Hurricane Helene briefings (CNN)Kamala Harris's economic policy slate more popular than Trump's – poll (The Guardian)The Incredible Ruling Striking Down Georgia's Anti-Choice Law (MuellerSheWrote.com)Fed Chair Powell says the US economy is in ‘solid shape' with gradual rate cuts coming (AP News) Check out other MSW Media podcastshttps://mswmedia.com/shows/Subscribe for free to MuellerSheWrote on Substackhttps://muellershewrote.substack.comHave some good news; a confession; or a correction to share?Good News & Confessions - The Daily Beanshttps://www.dailybeanspod.com/confessional/From The Good NewsList: Ways to donate and help flood victims in Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene (BPR.org)BeLoved Asheville (belovedasheville.com)CatsOnACouch (Instagram)Online Passport Renewal (state.gov)VA Eastern Colorado health care (va.gov)Sjogren's syndrome Information (mayoclinic.org)Kris Kristofferson - "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" [Live from Austin, TX] (YouTube)Tony and Olivier Award Winner Gavin Creel Passes Away at 48 (broadwayworld.com)Check out the first 2 episodes of Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal.https://trumpsproject2025pod.com/A Special Excel Training From Generation Data for Daily Beans Listeners!Saturday, October 12 · 10am - 1pm PDTgenerationdata.org/daily-beansCheck Your Voter Registration!vote.orgThere is a new “Harris For President” Patreon tier:https://www.patreon.com/muellershewrote/membership Check out other MSW Media podcastshttps://mswmedia.com/shows/Subscribe for free to MuellerSheWrote on Substackhttps://muellershewrote.substack.com Follow AG and Dana on Social MediaDr. Allison Gill https://muellershewrote.substack.comhttps://twitter.com/MuellerSheWrotehttps://www.threads.net/@muellershewrotehttps://www.tiktok.com/@muellershewrotehttps://instagram.com/muellershewroteDana Goldberghttps://twitter.com/DGComedyhttps://www.instagram.com/dgcomedyhttps://www.facebook.com/dgcomedyhttps://danagoldberg.comHave some good news; a confession; or a correction to share?Good News & Confessions - The Daily Beanshttps://www.dailybeanspod.com/confessional/ Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:The Daily Beans on Apple PodcastsWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?Supercasthttps://dailybeans.supercast.com/OrPatreon https://patreon.com/thedailybeansOr subscribe on Apple Podcasts with our affiliate linkThe Daily Beans on Apple Podcasts

One of the hardest part of trusting God is leaving room for the mystery of God.How can we continue to faithfully follow Him when we are struggling to see evidence of His goodness in our story?In this episode, Lysa TerKeurst discusses the truths inside her new book, I Want to Trust You, but I Don't, with her friend Brittany Sjogren.Related Resources:We don't have to let the one who broke our trust break us. Sign up to receive “When the Person Who Hurt You Got Away With It: 3 Days to Moving Forward,” a FREE resource by Lysa TerKeurst, today!Get your copy of Lysa TerKeurst's new book, I Want to Trust You, but I Don't: Moving Forward When You're Skeptical of Others, Afraid of What God Will Allow, and Doubtful of Your Own Discernment, from the P31 Bookstore.You can stay connected with Lysa TerKeurst on Instagram at @LysaTerKeurst and Brittany Sjogren at @LoverlyGrey.Click here to download a transcript of this episode. Proverbs 31 Ministries is a nonprofit organization, and this podcast is funded thanks to the generous support of our one-time and monthly donors. To learn more about how to partner with us, click here!We want to hear how this podcast has impacted you! Share your story with us here.

Thank you for joining us for our 2nd Cabral HouseCall of the weekend! I'm looking forward to sharing with you some of our community's questions that have come in over the past few weeks…   Joanna: Hi Dr. Cabral, I hope this message finds you well and you're enjoying a beautiful summer! I've got two totally unrelated questions that I would love to get your take on: 1. Could you quickly explain what Sjorgren's syndrome is in your words, what could be causing it or what tests would help to find that out and what you would recommend if someone in your family suffered from that? 2. Could you see the drug industry investing more research into things like myostatin-inhibitors again to counteract the risks of muscle loss for people using GLP-1 agonists? Thanks for everything you do! Johann      Michael: Hey Steven, I haven't messaged in a long time I still have primary Addisons disease and take the regular hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone daily. I'm just after having an emergency shot of hydrocortisone because I have a gastro bug and I want to recover quickly. Have you any tips on this please? Just so tired of being scared to get sick with this illness.     Lisa: Does meat cause cancer specially like prostate cancer or any other cancer? Can you use diet to stop it without treatment? WIll a whole food plant base diet help it? Is it possible to get colon cancer within 2 years of having colonoscopy? Will a ct scan show it or pet scan?     Mindy: Hi! I enjoy listening to your podcast each day and really trust your advice. I was wondering if you've heard of or looked into the Jaspr air filter? It's more expensive than the air doctor and I'm wondering if it is really effective and worth the price. Thanks for all you do!     Pip: Hi Dr Cabral. I'm 35 and have been diagnosed with idiopathic cervical dystonia tremor. I've had it on and off for about ten years however this year it has got considerably worse and affects me daily in activities. The neurologist has referred me to another neurologist specialising in dystonia who will inject Botox into my neck muscle to relax it and stop the tremor. This is a three monthly treatment for the rest of my life. Apparently there is no cure but I'd like to think there is SOMETHING natural / alternative I can do to stop or reduce the tremor. I'd love to hear your suggestions? Thank you. Pip   Thank you for tuning into this weekend's Cabral HouseCalls and be sure to check back tomorrow for our Mindset & Motivation Monday show to get your week started off right!   - - - Show Notes and Resources: StephenCabral.com/3124 - - - Get a FREE Copy of Dr. Cabral's Book: The Rain Barrel Effect - - - Join the Community & Get Your Questions Answered: CabralSupportGroup.com - - - Dr. Cabral's Most Popular At-Home Lab Tests: > Complete Minerals & Metals Test (Test for mineral imbalances & heavy metal toxicity) - - - > Complete Candida, Metabolic & Vitamins Test (Test for 75 biomarkers including yeast & bacterial gut overgrowth, as well as vitamin levels) - - - > Complete Stress, Mood & Metabolism Test (Discover your complete thyroid, adrenal, hormone, vitamin D & insulin levels) - - - > Complete Food Sensitivity Test (Find out your hidden food sensitivities) - - - > Complete Omega-3 & Inflammation Test (Discover your levels of inflammation related to your omega-6 to omega-3 levels) - - - Get Your Question Answered On An Upcoming HouseCall: StephenCabral.com/askcabral - - - Would You Take 30 Seconds To Rate & Review The Cabral Concept? The best way to help me spread our mission of true natural health is to pass on the good word, and I read and appreciate every review!