Innovation, Access, and the Future of Cardiac Care
MD Newsline
In this episode of MD Newsline, Dr. Quentin Youmans, a heart failure cardiologist at Northwestern Medicine, explores the rapidly evolving landscape of advanced heart failure care. He shares insights into guideline-directed medical therapy, emerging device-based interventions, and the growing role of personalized medicine in improving outcomes for patients with complex cardiovascular disease. Dr. Youmans also addresses health disparities, access challenges, and the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration in modern cardiology. Episode Highlights Advances in Guideline-Directed Medical...
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From Awareness to Action: Cancer Prevention & Patient Empowerment
MD Newsline
In this episode of MD Newsline, Dr. Aruna Anupindi, a consultant clinical oncologist based in Oxford, UK, joins the podcast to discuss evolving trends in breast and prostate cancer care. Specializing in breast and urological cancers, Dr. Anupindi shares insights from her clinical practice, highlights key takeaways from recent oncology conferences, and reflects on the growing importance of early detection, personalized therapies, and quality of life in cancer treatment. She also addresses disparities in screening uptake, emerging treatment strategies aimed at reducing chemotherapy exposure,...
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AI in Oncology: Building Smarter Clinical Trials and Closing Data Gaps
MD Newsline
In this episode of MD Newsline, Dr. Arsela Prelaj, a thoracic oncologist and AI researcher at the Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori in Milan, Italy, explores the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence in oncology. Drawing from her background in medical oncology and bioengineering, Dr. Prelaj discusses how AI is revolutionizing clinical trial design, improving trial success rates, and expanding patient access to innovative therapies. She shares real-world examples of how machine learning, large language models, and synthetic data are being integrated into cancer research, while also...
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How Parity and Breastfeeding May Guard Against Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
MD Newsline
In this episode of MD Newsline, Dr. Sherene Loi, a medical oncologist and laboratory head at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, Australia, discusses groundbreaking research published in Nature exploring how pregnancy and breastfeeding influence immune protection against triple-negative breast cancer. Dr. Loi shares insights into how reproductive history reshapes the immune system, particularly T cell activity, and how these findings may inform future prevention strategies, screening approaches, and immunotherapy development. Episode Highlights: The Immune System’s Role in...
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Axial Spondyloarthritis: From Inflammatory Back Pain to Targeted Therapy
MD Newsline
In this episode of MD Newsline, Dr. Joel Wright, a rheumatology fellow at UCLA, provides an in-depth, practical discussion on axial spondyloarthritis and related spondyloarthritides. Dr. Wright breaks down evolving disease definitions, diagnostic challenges, imaging interpretation, and modern treatment strategies, while emphasizing a holistic, patient-centered approach to care. The conversation highlights how early recognition and individualized therapy can significantly improve long-term outcomes. Episode Highlights Defining Axial vs. Peripheral Spondyloarthritis Dr. Wright explains the...
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Vitamin D, Epstein-Barr Virus, and MS Risk
MD Newsline
In this episode of MD Newsline, Dr. Marianna Cortese, a medical doctor and epidemiologist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, shares groundbreaking research on the link between vitamin D, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS). Her work, conducted within the U.S. military cohort, sheds new light on racial, genetic, and environmental factors influencing MS development and potential prevention strategies. Dr. Cortese discusses how vitamin D levels and immune response modulation play a role in MS prevention, and how EBV infection—now recognized as the...
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Living With HS: Tameka Carter’s Journey to Diagnosis and Treatment
MD Newsline
In this episode of MD Newsline, patient advocate Tameka Carter shares her personal journey living with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a chronic, painful inflammatory skin condition often misdiagnosed for years. Tameka discusses the early signs of HS, the emotional and physical toll of delayed diagnosis, and the importance of finding a specialist who truly listens. She offers valuable insight into treatment decision-making, lifestyle changes, and the critical role of self-advocacy in managing a lifelong condition. Episode Highlights Early Symptoms and Delayed Diagnosis Tameka reflects on...
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How Ultra-Processed Food Impacts MS Progression
MD Newsline
In this episode of MD Newsline, Dr. Gloria Dalla Costa, a researcher at Harvard University, shares groundbreaking insights into the role of ultra-processed foods in multiple sclerosis (MS) progression. Drawing from her research on environmental and metabolic risk factors, Dr. Dalla Costa discusses how dietary habits may influence inflammation, disease activity, and long-term neurological outcomes in MS patients. Her work reveals compelling evidence that higher consumption of ultra-processed foods correlates with increased inflammatory markers, worsened MRI outcomes, and a greater risk of...
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Biomarkers in Multiple Sclerosis: Tracking Disease Progression
MD Newsline
In this episode of MD Newsline, Dr. Ahmed Abdelhak, Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of California, San Francisco, explores the cutting-edge world of fluid biomarkers in multiple sclerosis (MS). With over a decade of experience as an MS clinical scientist, Dr. Abdelhak shares his expertise on the evolving role of biomarkers in understanding, predicting, and managing MS progression. He breaks down how markers like neurofilament light chain (NFL), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and chitinase (CHIT1/CHIT3) offer insights into the underlying neuroinflammatory and...
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Optic Neuritis, MS Differentials, and Modern Treatment Pathways
MD Newsline
In this episode of MD Newsline, Dr. Nilüfer Kale, Head of the Department of Neurology at Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey, provides an in-depth look into optic neuritis, multiple sclerosis (MS), and related demyelinating disorders. She discusses the pathophysiology, diagnostic challenges, and treatment evolution of these conditions—offering valuable insights for clinicians managing autoimmune neuroinflammatory diseases. Dr. Kale also highlights the importance of accurate differential diagnosis, the role of neuroimaging and biomarkers, and how advancements in...
info_outlineIn this episode of MD Newsline, Dr. Martin Kaiser, Consultant Hematologist at the Royal Marsden Hospital and Professor of Hematology at the Institute of Cancer Research, London, discusses groundbreaking advances in the diagnosis and management of high-risk multiple myeloma. Drawing insights from the OptiMUM trial and related studies, Dr. Kaiser explores how genetic profiling, long-term treatment intensity, and personalized approaches are transforming patient outcomes. He also examines the challenges of treatment accessibility, the promise of T-cell–based therapies, and the evolving role of AI and MRI technology in hematology.
Episode HighlightsUnderstanding High-Risk Myeloma Dr. Kaiser explains that multiple myeloma varies greatly between patients, with high-risk myeloma representing the most aggressive form. Recent progress in genetic diagnostics now enables clinicians to identify these patients more accurately using chromosomal translocations, deletions, and point mutations such as TP53.
New Guidelines and Diagnostic Tools He highlights a newly published international guideline that promotes the use of advanced genetic and molecular tools to define high-risk myeloma. This progress allows for more precise risk stratification and individualized care planning.
The OptiMUM Trial: Redefining Treatment Duration Dr. Kaiser shares results from the OptiMUM trial, which demonstrated that maintaining treatment intensity beyond the initial six months leads to dramatically improved outcomes—nearly tripling progression-free survival and significantly extending overall survival. He emphasizes that balancing side effects with efficacy is key, and patient feedback plays a central role in long-term management.
Inclusivity in Clinical Research The OptiMUM study included 39 hospitals across the UK, including community and rural centers, ensuring that data represented diverse and underserved populations. This broad inclusion provides strong evidence for the real-world effectiveness of intensive therapy.
Emerging Therapies and the Future of Care Dr. Kaiser discusses T-cell–based treatments, including CAR-T cells and bispecific antibodies, which are showing remarkable efficacy in relapsed or refractory myeloma. He anticipates their movement into earlier lines of therapy, potentially reshaping high-risk myeloma management in the coming years.
Balancing Quality of Life and Long-Term Treatment Sustained therapy requires careful patient–physician collaboration. Dr. Kaiser stresses the importance of listening to patients, managing side effects proactively, and individualizing care to maintain adherence without compromising quality of life.
Monitoring and Diagnostics Innovations He describes advances in whole-body MRI and minimal residual disease (MRD) testing, which provide earlier and more sensitive detection of relapse. Combined with regular blood monitoring, these innovations support proactive, precision-guided care.
Looking Ahead: AI and Genomic Insights Dr. Kaiser envisions AI-driven imaging and data analysis as the next frontier in myeloma diagnostics. By combining genetic, epigenetic, and imaging data, AI tools could soon enhance diagnostic speed, accuracy, and personalization in clinical practice.
Key Takeaway
Dr. Martin Kaiser emphasizes that high-risk myeloma care is entering a new era—defined by genomic precision, long-term treatment optimization, and advanced diagnostics. By sustaining therapy intensity and improving diagnostic access, clinicians can achieve longer remissions and better survival outcomes. Collaboration among healthcare systems, researchers, and patients remains vital to ensure equitable access to these life-extending innovations.
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