All Podcasts – Johns Hopkins Medicine Podcasts

As the northern hemisphere enters full summer, many people shut their windows and turn on the air conditioning, or AC. William Checkley, a lung health expert at Johns Hopkins, says as with many things in life, it’s important to have … While AC is great at making us feel comfortable it’s also important for health, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Mismatch repair is just what it sounds like: when a cell divides and makes new DNA strands when a mistake is made it repairs them. Some types of cancers with a mismatch repair mutation may now be treated with an … Different types of tumors with a specific mutation may not need surgery, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Genetic analysis of most cancers is becoming more commonplace, and now identification of one specific mutation called a mismatch repair may allow people to avoid surgery entirely. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson explains. Nelson: What they started … Are there cancers where surgery may be entirely avoided? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

More types of gut bacteria, or greater diversity, the healthier your microbiome. That’s one message of a recent review looking at the impact of microbiome health on cancer. Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at Johns Hopkins explains how gut … Which types of cancer treatment are impacted by the gut microbiome? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

A recent review in the Journal of the American Medical Association asserts that the diversity of bacteria in your colon impact on the likelihood that you’ll develop cancer as well as how you may respond to treatment. William Nelson, director … If your gut microbiome isn’t healthy, is there anything that can be done about it? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

The wealth of bacteria resident on and in your body may have much to do with your overall health, including how you respond to different therapies for cancer. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson explains views from a … Your gut microbiome may have much to do with how you respond to cancer therapy, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Colorectal cancer screening, and rise in younger people, microplastics and cancer, immune checkpoint inhibitors and longterm toxicity, AI contributions to precision oncology and flattening of breast cancer survival rates.

Breathlessness clinic is a new approach at Johns Hopkins to assist people with chronic lung diseases to live their best lives with these often debilitating conditions. Anna Gersten, a lung expert and director of the clinic, explains who would benefit. … Who is suitable for a breathlessness clinic visit? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Being short of breath is a terrible feeling, most people agree, and it’s a feature of many lung diseases, especially as they progress. Lung expert Anna Gersten at Johns Hopkins describes how a breathlessness clinic came to be at Hopkins … What is a breathlessness clinic? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

High blood biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease found by the newly FDA approved blood test indicate the presence of two proteins in the brain called amyloid and tau. Abhay Moghakar, a neurologist and blood biomarkers expert at Johns Hopkins, says some … What are current studies doing when high levels of blood biomarkers for Alzheimer’s are found? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Let’s say you’ve taken the newly approved blood test for Alzheimer’s disease and the results indicate the presence of tau and amyloid in your brain, so you’re at risk.  Abhay Moghakar, a neurologist and blood biomarkers expert at Johns Hopkins, says … What are your options if a new blood test says you are at risk for Alzheimer’s disease? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

You may have heard of a new blood test for Alzheimer’s disease just approved by the FDA. Abhay Moghakar, a neurologist and blood biomarkers expert at Johns Hopkins, says even if you are older and have symptoms of the disease, … People who develop dementia as they age most often have a mixed type, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

A new blood test for Alzheimer’s disease isn’t a stand alone diagnostic tool. That’s according to Abhay Moghekar, a blood biomarkers expert and a neurologist at Johns Hopkins. Moghekar: You would still need the clinical input in the context of … A truly comprehensive test for Alzheimer’s disease may be on the horizon, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Will an FDA cleared blood test for Alzheimer’s disease ease or complicate diagnosis? Clearly in approving the test the FDA hopes for the former, yet the complete picture is more complex than that, says Abhay Moghekar, a blood biomarkers expert … Biomarkers alone don’t mean Alzheimer’s disease is present, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Positive results on the newly FDA cleared blood test for Alzheimer’s disease don’t necessarily mean you have the disease. That’s according to blood biomarkers expert Abhay Moghekar, a neurologist at Johns Hopkins. Moghekar: Whether that's the cause of your cognitive … If you get a positive result on the new blood test for Alzheimer’s disease, what does that mean? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

The FDA has just cleared a blood test to help make the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, which otherwise may require some fairly invasive methods. Blood biomarkers expert Abhay Moghekar, a neurologist at Johns Hopkins, says the test looks for the … Who is a candidate for the new blood test for Alzheimer’s disease? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

A blood test to screen for proteins related to Alzheimer’s disease has been cleared by the FDA, and it’s designed for people who are older than 55 years of age and have cognitive symptoms. Johns Hopkins neurologist Abhay Moghekar, a … What’s the basis of the new blood test to screen for Alzheimer’s disease? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

NPTX2 is a protein that’s pivotal for helping your brain decide to remember certain things and forget others, and when levels of it decline it suggests that neurodegenerative processes like dementia may be beginning. That’s according to research by Paul … A protein that’s made in your brain at night helps you remember things, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Many theories on how brain disorders like Alzheimer’s disease begin point to proteins called amyloid beta and tau as accumulating and disrupting the function of neurons. Research by neuroscientist Paul Worley and colleagues at Johns Hopkins points to declining levels … How do neurodegenerative diseases begin? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

You probably know how complex your brain function is, relying on a delicately balanced system full of proteins that act as signals and specialized nerve and structural cells. Turns out there is an interplay of some neurons being shut down … A change in a protein in the brain signals possible neurocognitive disorders, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

NPTX2 is the abbreviation for a protein found in the brain that may allow much more accurate prognosis of who’s at risk for developing neurocognitive disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. That’s according to Johns Hopkins neuroscientist Paul Worley, … Accurately predicting who’s at risk to develop Alzheimer’s disease may now be easier, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Proteins known as tau and beta amyloid have been part of the dialogue on Alzheimer’s disease development for many years, with methods to measure them and drugs to remove them active areas of research. Another protein involved in the process … What can proteins in the blood and elsewhere teach us about developing dementia? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Sickle cell disease was thought to be cured using gene therapy, but longer term follow up reveals that while the condition improves many are not cured. Now a new approach developed at Johns Hopkins and around the world uses ‘half-matched’ … Sickle cell disease should be treated with a half-matched donor approach, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Gene therapy for sickle cell disease has a breathtaking price tag of 2-3 million dollars per person, and for some people who receive it, is doesn’t actually cure the condition. That’s according to Richard Brodsky, a sickle cell expert at … Gene therapy for sickle cell disease often isn’t a cure, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Headlines have announced that sickle cell disease can be cured with gene therapy. Now there’s a better way developed at Johns Hopkins and other centers around the world, using what are called ‘half-matched donors,’ to give new bone marrow to … A new technique is better than gene therapy for curing sickle cell disease, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Bone marrow transplants used to be limited to just those people with sickle cell disease who could receive bone marrow from a matched donor. Rick Jones, an expert in blood disorders and cancers at Johns Hopkins, and colleagues have just … A new technique cures most people with sickle cell disease, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Sickle cell disease is a genetic abnormality that causes red blood cells to sickle instead of being round, and a host of problems result, including excruciatingly painful sickle cell crises. Rick Jones, an expert in blood disorders and cancer at … What’s the best way to cure sickle cell disease? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Improvements in breast cancer detection and treatment have resulted in improved survival, but now those improvements seem to have stalled, a new analysis shows. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, says two groups of women … Breast cancer survival rates have stalled, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are cancer drugs that for many have been a lifeline. Yet they are associated with a range of reactions that really need to be cataloged so they’re easier to recognize, some experts argue. Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer … Possible impacts of new cancer drugs need to be cataloged, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Microplastics you’ve inhaled and eaten are found all over your body, a recent study shows, and while no one knows exactly how they’re impacting your health, odds are they aren’t good for you. Kimmel Cancer Center director William Nelson at … How might microplastics be related to cancer risk? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Microplastics are formed from the breakdown of plastics in the environment, and they’ve now been found in many places in the human body, a new study reveals. William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, says it’s … Your body has microplastics in many places, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Breathing through your mouth makes health issues from dryer air even worse, says David Edwards, a respiratory health expert at Johns Hopkins. His recent study shows the deleterious impact of dry air on our respiratory system but says there are … There are things you can do to help protect your respiratory health even with dryer air and poor air quality, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

This month's topics include using symptom monitoring remotely to inform care of people with advanced cancer, painful neuropathy after some types of chemotherapy, best strategies for treating esophagus cancer, urinary DNA methylation testing for bladder cancer diagnosis.

Very tiny particles known as PM2.5 are a part of pollutants in the air, and have been shown to negatively affect health. Ditto for warming temperatures, which dry out our respiratory system, research by David Edwards, a respiratory health expert … How is poor air quality related to dry air and respiratory health? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Dry air just isn’t good for your respiratory health, new research by David Edwards, a respiratory health expert at Johns Hopkins, has shown. Dry air makes mucus thicker and harder to expel, and traps both toxins and pathogens in our … Does dry air contribute to more respiratory infections? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

When you’re in an environment where the air is dry, a whole cascade of responses renders you more susceptible to respiratory conditions and diseases. That’s according to research by respiratory health expert David Edwards at Johns Hopkins. Edwards: It's understood … How are dry air and respiratory disease connected? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

As our planet warms, relative humidity hasn’t changed much but evaporation rate has increased, so things are dryer. This is a prescription for increased respiratory problems, says David Edwards, a respiratory health expert at Johns Hopkins.  Edwards: We took airway … Dry airways and inflammation are linked, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Climate change and increasing temperatures are already taking a toll on your health, research by David Edwards, a respiratory health expert at Johns Hopkins, has shown.  Edwards: Airway mucosa is drying out, like the earth's top soil with warming temperatures, … What are increasing global temperatures doing to your airways? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

The volume of electronic messages and time spent in the EHR has increased exponentially and is widely recognized as a contributor to healthcare worker burnout. Learn about Johns Hopkins Medicine’s “Great 8” Epic training and provider support initiative and other … Ep. 13 Taming the EHR: work smarter and improve your work-life balance| Johns Hopkins Medicine Office of Well-Being Read More »

Findings on a routine EEG called sleep spindles may be helpful in determining if a nonresponsive person who’s had a brain injury will recover, a new study reveals. Susanne Muehlschlegel, a critical care neurologist at Johns Hopkins, says this may … How is the decision on how long to continue life sustaining treatment made? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

If someone has suffered a brain injury and is on life support, determining when to cease that treatment is challenging if they haven’t recovered consciousness, with a new study identifying something called sleep spindles, seen on EEG, as helpful. Johns … Is two weeks long enough to determine if someone will recover consciousness? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Deciding when to stop life sustaining treatment for someone who’s unconscious after brain injury may be easier now that a new study identifies sleep spindles, which can be seen on electroencephalograms, or EEGs, along with other testing, to predict who … How long should someone remain on life support? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Something called sleep spindles are spikes that show up in an electroencephalogram, or EEG, and may help predict whether someone  who’s had a brain injury will regain consciousness, new research shows. Johns Hopkins critical care neurologist Susanne Muehlschlegel says this adds … Sleep spindles may help discern who may regain consciousness, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

When a patient is not responsive following a traumatic brain injury it is very difficult to tell when or if they’ll recover. A recent study may help by identifying characteristic tracings on an electroencephalogram, or EEG, that may be associated … It’s always a challenge when someone is unresponsive to determine how active their brain is, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Shingles is a skin infection that results from reactivation of the virus that causes chicken pox. It can occur in areas like the eye where it may compromise vision, and is also associated with persistent and unremitting pain at the … The shingles vaccine is on the do not miss list, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Vaccines against human papilloma virus or HPV have been shown to dramatically reduce the rates of cervical cancer among recipients, data over decades now shows. Vaccine expert Anna Durbin at Johns Hopkins says males who receive the vaccine also reap … Vaccines against human papilloma virus reduce cancers, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

Among the many advances seen while Covid was rampant, mRNA vaccines stand out. That’s according to Anna Durbin, a vaccine expert at Johns Hopkins. Durbin: These mRNA vaccines are very safe. mRNA itself the way it's presented to you it's … After billions of doses, mRNA vaccines have demonstrated their safety, Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

The technology that produced the vaccines against Covid relies on a type of RNA known as messenger RNA. Johns Hopkins vaccine expert Anna Durbin explains why utilizing this approach stimulates an effective immune response. Durbin: What we like about mRNA … Why are mRNA vaccines effective? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

RNA stands for ribonucleic acid, and since the development of Covid vaccines a class of it known as ‘messenger RNA’ or mRNA for short has been much in the news. Anna Durbin, a vaccine expert at Johns Hopkins, explains a … What is RNA and how is it used in vaccines? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »

It’s probably not high on your fun list to go and get vaccinated, so can more than one vaccine be given at a time so you can minimize the number of visits you need? Yes, says Anna Durbin, a vaccine … Should you get more than one vaccine at a time? Elizabeth Tracey reports Read More »