UAB MedCast

Regenerative Medicine

RadioMD The #1 Source for Health Podcasts — Wed, 31 May 2017 14:51:06 +0000

Regenerative medicine is an interdisciplinary research and development program focusing on development of tissue constructs, regenerative matrices, and novel technologies and therapies to replace or repair both soft and mineralized tissues.

The potential positive impact of this new area of research for the eventual treatment of both vascular and cardiac diseases is considered high. For example, following a heart attack, it is important to replace both heart cells, as well as blood vessels, in order to prevent heart failure. NIH-funded research in the laboratories of Prabhu and Yu-Fai Chen, Ph.D., is designed to employ novel strategies for the delivery, survival and integration of precursor (stem) cells into the heart following a heart attack, for the repair and replacement of dead and/or damaged tissue.

Listen in as Sumanth D. Prabhu, MD explains that the potential positive impact of this new area of research for the eventual treatment of both vascular and cardiac diseases is considered high.

Transplant - Organ Regeneration

RadioMD The #1 Source for Health Podcasts — Wed, 10 May 2017 23:00:18 +0000

When our bodies have been injured or invaded by disease, they have shown us that they have an ability to attempt to heal whatever has been injured. A number of organs have the intrinsic ability to regenerate, a distinctive feature that varies among organisms.

Organ regeneration is a process not fully yet understood. However, when its underlying mechanisms are unraveled, it holds tremendous therapeutic potential for humans.

In this segment, Dr Devin Eckhoff, Director, Division of Transplantation at UAB Medicine, discusses organ regeneration and the potential for this research to solve an ever-growing need for donor organs.

Advanced Lung Disease/ARDs

RadioMD The #1 Source for Health Podcasts — Wed, 26 Apr 2017 23:34:50 +0000

The Advanced Lung Disease Service at UAB Medicine is one of the busiest ECMO providers in the Nation. Our highly trained physicians work with general practitioners and specialists from other fields to collaborate on the diagnosis and treatment of such lung diseases as cystic fibrosis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and lung cancer.

In this segment, Dr. Vincent G. Valentine, Professor, in the Department of Pulmonology at UAB Medicine, discusses Advanced Lung Disease/ARDs, who might be candidates for lung transplant and when to refer to a specialist.

Refractory Hypertension

RadioMD The #1 Source for Health Podcasts — Sun, 19 Mar 2017 18:15:38 +0000

Among patients with resistant hypertension (RHTN), there are those whose blood pressure (BP) remains uncontrolled in spite of maximal medical therapy.

Listen as Suzanne Oparil, MD discusses Refractory Hypertension.

Interventional Pulmonology: Medical Thoracoscopy

RadioMD The #1 Source for Health Podcasts — Sun, 19 Feb 2017 20:53:30 +0000

The UAB Interventional Pulmonology program, the first and only such program in Alabama, offers a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to a wide range of pulmonary and pleural diseases.

In this segment, Hitesh Batra, MD., discusses the only program in Alabama with the expertise to perform the full range of Interventional Pulmonology procedures, including Medical Thoracoscopy.

Hyperparathyroidism

RadioMD The #1 Source for Health Podcasts — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 23:37:27 +0000

Hyperparathyroidism occurs when the parathyroid glands produce too much parathyroid hormone, which can cause symptoms such as bone pain or tenderness, fragile bones, depression, forgetfulness, fatigue, frequent or excess urination, and kidney stones. The condition often is diagnosed before symptoms appear, and in most cases it can be treated successfully.

In this segment, Dr. Herbert Chen discusses Hyperparathyroidism and how The UAB Medicine Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism is consistently ranked among the top programs of its kind in the nation.

Introduction to ECMO: Types of Support and Indications for Treatment

RadioMD The #1 Source for Health Podcasts — Sun, 05 Feb 2017 20:45:20 +0000

According to the NIH, Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) indications and usage has strikingly progressed over the last 20 years; it has become an essential tool in the care of adults and children with severe cardiac and pulmonary dysfunction refractory to conventional management.

In this segment, Nirmal S. Sharma, MD., discusses an introduction to ECMO, and the indications of ECMO for cardiac and respiratory support.

Interventional Pulmonary Approach to Lung Nodules

RadioMD The #1 Source for Health Podcasts — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 00:14:01 +0000

Lung nodule management can be complex and require a multi-disciplinary approach to provide comprehensive care. Interventional pulmonology (IP) is an evolving field that utilizes minimally invasive modalities for the initial diagnosis and staging of suspected lung cancers.

Listen as Joseph Thachuthara-George, MD discusses lung nodules, and debulking the tumor.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

RadioMD The #1 Source for Health Podcasts — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 02:24:38 +0000

According to the NIH, an arterial aneurysm is defined as a focal dilation of a blood vessel with respect to the original artery. The risk of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) increases dramatically in the presence of the following factors: age older than 60 years, smoking, hypertension and Caucasian ethnicity. The likelihood that an aneurysm will rupture is influenced by the aneurysm size, expansion rate, continued smoking and persistent hypertension.

Listen as Adam W Beck, MD explains that the majority of AAAs are asymptomatic and are detected as an incidental finding on ultrasonography, abdominal computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging performed for other purposes.

HIV-Positive Kidney Transplantation

RadioMD The #1 Source for Health Podcasts — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 01:09:04 +0000

Research shows the opportunity to achieve transplant is especially vital for HIV-positive patients. HIV-positive patients on dialysis have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, infection complications and mortality, which is 5 to 15 percent for HIV-positive patients, depending on other comorbidities. UAB is one of 13 centers approved to perform HIV-positive to HIV-positive transplants out of the 272 kidney transplant centers in the U.S.

In this segment, Jayme Locke, MD explains the process by which an HIV patient is able to receive a kidney transplant.

Diabetes and Ocular Manifestations

RadioMD The #1 Source for Health Podcasts — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 01:27:07 +0000

According to the NIH, Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a important health problem that can carry with it Ocular complications. The complications associated with Diabetes are progressive and rapidly becoming the world's most significant cause of morbidity and are preventable with early detection and timely treatment.

In this segment, Shilpa J. Register, OD, discusses Diabetes and its resulting Ocular Manifestations.

Robotic Colorectal Cancer Surgery

RadioMD The #1 Source for Health Podcasts — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 03:05:06 +0000

UAB, has strived to incorporate robotic surgery into as many disciplines as possible, as this technology allows surgeons to perform many types of complex procedures with unprecedented control and precision. Robotic-assisted surgery usually leads to shorter hospital stays, faster recovery and minimized complications and functions as a safe platform for teaching surgical residents.

UAB has three of the da Vinci Si surgical systems, a next-generation robot that retains and builds on the core technology at the heart of the existing da Vinci and da Vinci S systems. UAB also has one of the newest Xi systems and will receive delivery of another this month. Da Vinci Xi is the next frontier for minimally invasive surgery.

Listen as Dr. Jamie Cannon discusses surgery for colorectal cancer using the da Vinci Si surgical system.

UAB Bariatric Surgery Program

RadioMD The #1 Source for Health Podcasts — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 00:48:53 +0000

In the United States, around 15.5 million people suffer from severe obesity, according to the National Institutes of Health, and the numbers continue to increase.

Bariatric surgery is indicated for patients who are morbidly obese and already have tried diets, exercise, and other non-surgical means of losing weight. The bariatric surgery program at UAB Medicine has been performing weight-loss procedures for more than 30 years, and it is the first American College of Surgeons Level 1 Bariatric Surgery Center in Alabama. This history, combined with our standing as a respected academic medical center, puts UAB Medicine at the forefront of weight-loss surgery.

Listen as Richard Stahl, MD, Medical Director of Bariatric Surgery at UAB Medicine discusses the Bariatric Surgery program and how physicians can refer a patient to the Bariatric Surgery program at UAB Medicine.

Administering Additional Antibiotics Prior to C Section

RadioMD The #1 Source for Health Podcasts — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 04:51:38 +0000

Infection is among the top five causes of maternal death in the United States, and cesarean delivery is the most common major surgical procedure, with up to five times the risk for infection than a vaginal delivery. Physicians at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and colleagues have discovered that administering the antibiotic azithromycin alongside the standard recommended antibiotic regimen, cefazolin, reduces infection rates by 50 percent for women who have a non-elective cesarean delivery.

"There are significant costs associated with infections," Tita said. "The reduction in readmissions, visits, fevers and overall antibiotic use due to the intervention was higher than we expected, and translates to reduced health care costs."

Listen in as Alan T.N. Tita, MD., explains that a major national goal is to reduce the risk of infection after surgery, and this finding is the culmination of investigative work over decades.

Minimally Invasive Surgery In The Treatment Of Colon And Rectal Disease

RadioMD The #1 Source for Health Podcasts — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 22:15:13 +0000

For some time now, there has been significant interest in understanding and defining the role of minimally invasive surgery in colorectal cancer. Laparoscopic surgery has been shown to have similar or better outcomes compared with open surgery.

Patients who choose UAB Medicine for their gastrointestinal cancer care will benefit from a pacesetting team of specialists, state-of-the-art technology, and many treatments not available at other centers. Our outstanding physicians and surgeons work with members of the departments of Radiation Oncology and Radiology and the divisions of Hematology/Oncology, Gastroenterology, and Endoscopy to provide you with the latest diagnostic and therapeutic options.

Listen in as Gregory Kennedy, MD explains the advantages of using minimally invasive surgery in the treatment of colon and rectal disease.

Intraocular Pressure (IOP) and Glaucoma Research

RadioMD The #1 Source for Health Podcasts — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 23:34:12 +0000

The pressure inside the eye, or intraocular pressure (IOP), has long been thought to play a dominant role in glaucoma; but recent work suggests that pressure from cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the optic nerve exiting the eye is also involved.

These pressures are not easy to measure, but Downs and his fellow researchers have developed a new system to wirelessly measure and record the IOP continuously in research subjects, and now want to extend that system to measure the pressure around the nerve exiting the eye.

Listen in as J. Crawford Downs, PhD, explains that using this system, he can definitively determine whether the pressure around the nerve is important in glaucoma, which could lead to new treatment approaches for the blinding disease.

Valve Replacement Options: Portico™ Transcatheter Aortic Heart Valve

RadioMD The #1 Source for Health Podcasts — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 02:01:56 +0000

The Portico™ Transcatheter Aortic Heart Valve offers outstanding control and accuracy for optimal patient outcomes with low rates of post-procedure pacemaker implantations, complications and paravalvular leak (PVL). The valve's unique delivery system provides controlled deployment for greater accuracy and precise placement.

Listen as Dr. Mark Sasse, MD., Associate Professor in Interventional Cardiology at UAB Medicine discusses valve replacement options.

Preventative Mastectomy

RadioMD The #1 Source for Health Podcasts — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 02:16:11 +0000

During the last 40 years, researchers have demonstrated that prophylactic mastectomy — whether contralateral or bilateral — can reduce the risk for breast cancer occurrence in women at high risk by nearly 95%.

Listen as Helen Krontiras, MD discusses UAB’s Lynne Cohen Preventive Care Program for Women's Cancer, which provides comprehensive risk assessment and prevention for breast, ovarian, and uterine cancer, arming patients with knowledge to make informed decisions about their cancer risk and care.

Autonomic Function Testing

RadioMD The #1 Source for Health Podcasts — Sun, 16 Oct 2016 18:59:48 +0000

Autonomic function testing is the category of electrodiagnostic and clinical neurophysiology testing that is employed in the evaluation of sympathetic and parasympathetic neural pathways. Examining the integrity of these pathways is necessary in objectively evaluating many neurologic and cardiac conditions like orthostatic hypotension, recurrent syncopal episodes, and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Neurologists often time need to evaluate the functions of the thinly myelinated and non-myelinated small nerve fibers. These population of fibers cannot be assessed by routine nerve conduction studies or electromyography. The presence of autonomic dysfunction is a key criterion for the diagnosis of a life threatening condition like multiple system atrophy that distinguishes it from other more benign parkinsonian syndromes.

Listen in as Mohamed Kazamel, MD, discusses the new autonomic function testing offered at UAB and why it is important for a differential diagnoses.

Learn more about Mohamed Kazamel, MD

The Latest Advances in Treatments for Aortic Stenosis

RadioMD The #1 Source for Health Podcasts — Tue, 06 Sep 2016 00:54:33 +0000

With the first and largest comprehensive heart valve program in the state, UAB Medicine provides continuing care for patients who have or are at risk for valve disease.

UAB was the first hospital in the state of Alabama to perform the TAVR procedure, in 2012. More than 500 total cases have been completed since then.

Listen in as Mark Sasse, MD explains Aortic stenosis and the progress made in treatments and advances.

Dissolving Heart Stents

RadioMD The #1 Source for Health Podcasts — Mon, 05 Sep 2016 22:47:48 +0000

The interventional cardiology team at UAB Hospital recently added to its longstanding reputation as a pioneer in the development and implementation of stents by becoming the first in Alabama to offer patients with coronary artery disease a new treatment option that disappears over time.

While stents are traditionally made of metal, the Absorb stent is made of a naturally dissolving material called polylactide, similar to dissolving stitches or sutures.

Listen in as Mark Sasse, MD explains that since the Absorb stent gradually dissolves, this may be a safer long-term option for patients because metal stents can clot and occlude the artery.

Guidelines for Pap Smear Screenings for Cervical Cancer

RadioMD The #1 Source for Health Podcasts — Sun, 28 Aug 2016 15:03:31 +0000

About 80 million U.S. women ages 25 to 65 — or 1.2 million women across Alabama — should be screened periodically by their health care providers for cervical cancer.

At present, the standard way to do that is a Pap smear alone, or co-testing using both a Pap smear and a human papillomavirus (HPV) test. Under the new guidance, the Pap smear, which dates back more than 80 years, would still be used for follow-up tests if an HPV test is positive. The Pap smear will still be used for primary screening of women under age 25.

At the UAB Medicine Women's Cancer Program, we use the most advanced facilities from board-certified gynecologic oncologists trained in surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Our experts design customized treatment plans for each patient's individual needs and use the latest technology to screen for and treat all types of women's reproductive cancers.

Listen in as Warner Huh, MD discusses the latest guidelines for Pap Smear Screenings for Cervical Cancer.

Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD)

RadioMD The #1 Source for Health Podcasts — Sun, 21 Aug 2016 01:23:03 +0000

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a problem present at birth that involves the structure of the heart, its valves, or blood vessels. It is the most common type of birth defect, affecting about one in 100 babies. Thanks to medical advances, increasing numbers of children with CHD are surviving into adulthood. Common problems associated with ACHD include difficulty with exercise, heart rhythm problems (arrhythmia), endocarditis (infection of the heart’s inner lining, often in the heart’s valves), heart failure, sudden cardiac arrest, stroke, and premature death.

As the only adult congenital heart disease program in Alabama and one of only a handful in the country, our expertise greatly increases the chances that symptoms will be identified early. This helps ensure that smaller problems are addressed before they develop into larger, more life-threatening issues such as heart failure, arrhythmia, residual congenital heart defects, endocarditis, and stroke.

Listen in as Marc G. Cribbs, MD explains that thanks to medical advances, increasing numbers of children with CHD are surviving into adulthood. In fact, the number of adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) now exceeds the number of children living with CHD.

Bronchiectasis: Diagnosis and Treatment

RadioMD The #1 Source for Health Podcasts — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 16:42:22 +0000

Bronchiectasis is defined as abnormal, irreversible thick-walled dilatation of the bronchi and represents the end stage of a variety of pathological processes.

Caused by the inflammatory reaction of the bronchi and their frequent chronic bacterial colonization. Bronchiectasis usually presents with recurrent lower respiratory tract infections and chronic mucopurulent sputum production.

Listen in as George Martin Solomon, MD discusses diagnosis and treatment options for Bronchiectasis.