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...
info_outline
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,...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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. 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 relapse. By analyzing blood-based metabolic signatures, her team is uncovering how these foods interact with biological pathways tied to chronic inflammation and neurodegeneration.
Dr. Dalla Costa also discusses the Nova classification of processed foods, the role of ceramides and other metabolites in cellular health, and how regional dietary patterns affect disease outcomes. She emphasizes the importance of adopting a Mediterranean-style diet and reducing ultra-processed food intake as a modifiable lifestyle factor that can complement established MS therapies.
Episode Highlights
Exploring Environmental Risk Factors for MS
Dr. Dalla Costa explains how her team investigates multiple environmental contributors to MS, including Epstein–Barr virus exposure, vitamin D levels, and now, ultra-processed food intake.
Ultra-Processed Foods and Disease Activity
Her findings show that MS patients with higher levels of ultra-processed food metabolites in their blood experience 30% more relapses and worse MRI lesion progression over five years.
Metabolic Signatures and Biomarkers
Dr. Dalla Costa outlines how measuring circulating metabolites in blood and urine offers an innovative way to assess dietary exposure objectively, bypassing unreliable food questionnaires.
Dietary Classification and Health Impact
The Nova system distinguishes between unprocessed, minimally processed, processed, and ultra-processed foods. Additives, preservatives, and colorants—while convenient—are linked to inflammation and metabolic stress.
Towards Personalized Nutrition in MS
Emerging evidence suggests that dietary modification could become a complementary approach in MS management. Dr. Dalla Costa envisions a future where AI and machine learning will personalize nutritional recommendations for patients.
Future Directions in Research
Her team plans to explore how ultra-processed foods affect the gut barrier, contribute to chronic inflammation, and potentially inform dietary policy and patient education globally.
Key Takeaway
Dr. Dalla Costa underscores that reducing ultra-processed food intake may serve as a simple yet powerful tool to support neurological health in MS patients. By combining validated therapies with mindful dietary choices, clinicians and patients can work together to mitigate inflammation and improve long-term outcomes.
Resources
Website: https://mdnewsline.com/
Newsletter: https://mdnewsline.com/subscribe/
Connect with Dr. Gloria Dalla Costa: Here