Show Me the Science
Show Me the Science is the new podcast from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. Our podcast features stories that highlight the latest in groundbreaking research, clinical care and education at Washington University.
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Newly approved drug may slow progression of Alzheimer’s
08/04/2023
Newly approved drug may slow progression of Alzheimer’s
In this episode, Washington University researchers discuss the Food and Drug Administration’s recent full approval of the drug Leqembi (lecanemab) and what it could mean to the future of Alzheimer’s disease treatments. The drug is approved for use in people with mild dementia from Alzheimer’s disease, but researchers at Washington University’s , believe the drug, along with other medications in clinical trials, one day may help prevent the development of memory loss and problems with thinking in people who have Alzheimer’s pathology in the brain but who have not yet developed clinical symptoms of the disease. , a professor of neurology and director of clinical trials at the Knight ADRC, says that although Leqembi doesn’t cure Alzheimer’s disease, it slows the decline in memory and thinking, and it also slows the progression of the disorder by removing some amyloid plaques from the brain. , director of the Knight ADRC, says with amyloid PET brain scans, blood tests and cerebrospinal fluid tests to detect problems before clinical symptoms of Alzheimer’s appear, it soon may be possible to delay or even prevent the development of Alzheimer’s dementia in some people at high risk. The podcast, “Show Me the Science,” is produced by at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
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Can psychedelic drugs help treat mental illness?
06/30/2023
Can psychedelic drugs help treat mental illness?
In this episode, we discuss new research into psychedelic drugs as potential therapies for psychiatric illness. Several studies have suggested that drugs, such as psilocybin, may be useful in treating problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction and depression. Psychiatry researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have been using a brain-imaging technique called precision functional mapping to learn how psilocybin affects certain networks in the brain. Principal investigator , an associate professor of child psychiatry, says scientists have suspected since the 1950s that there may be benefits from some psychedelic drugs, but because the drugs were classified as schedule one substances, researchers weren’t allowed to study them. Recently, that has changed and Nicol, with fellow psychiatry researcher , gave a lecture sponsored by Washington University’s , outlining some potential benefits of psychedelics in addressing hard-to-treat psychiatric problems. Using high-tech brain scans, they have been able to see what happens in the brain when a person takes psychedelic drugs, and they’ve found that the drugs cause more rapid changes than other medications used in psychiatry. What they want to learn next is whether the responses they’ve observed in brain scans translate into similar responses in the clinic, which could lead to improved mental health. They are planning to participate in a phase 3 clinical trial using psilocybin to treat people with treatment-resistant depression. The podcast, “Show Me the Science,” is produced by at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
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Advocating for science and truth
06/02/2023
Advocating for science and truth
In this episode, we hear from two physician-scientists who have been leaders in the U.S. effort to deal with two medical crises that emerged almost 40 years apart: HIV/AIDS and COVID-19. Anthony S. Fauci, MD, the recently retired director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), spoke to Washington University School of Medicine’s 2023 graduating class. His role at NIH made him a leader in the worldwide effort to understand and develop treatments for HIV/AIDS, beginning shortly after the virus first was recognized. Also, in those early days of HIV/AIDS, , tested emerging therapies at the School of Medicine’s AIDS Clinical Trials Unit, which he oversaw. Powderly, now the Larry J. Shapiro Director of the , co-director of the , and the J. William Campbell Professor of Medicine and director of the at the School of Medicine, points to key similarities and differences between the nation’s response to HIV/AIDS and to COVID-19. In both cases, he says, the key to a successful response involved embracing science and battling against theories that are untrue. In his Commencement speech, Fauci told the 110 newly minted physicians who graduated this spring that they must push back on destructive forces that dispute science. He advised the new doctors to push back with civility, but also with all of the strength they can muster. While he was at Washington University, Fauci also spoke to the St. Louis press corps about the end of the COVID-19 emergency and where we go from here. The podcast, “Show Me the Science,” is produced by at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
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Making connections through storytelling
05/15/2023
Making connections through storytelling
In this episode, we visit a recent event sponsored by the at the School of Medicine. Called “In Our Words: Connection,” the storytelling event brought together 12 faculty members, medical students, residents and fellows who told stories about how their lives have been affected by medicine as caregivers, those receiving care or otherwise. The idea behind the evening was to share stories and assist physicians and trainees in better understanding that they face many of the same challenges that their patients and colleagues face. Knowing that can help prevent burnout among physicians and help them to provide better care for their patients. , is a fellow who works with cancer patients, many of whom know their time is short. Her story detailed a meeting several years ago with a patient whose only goal was to make it back home one more time to be with her children and her dogs. Podany made it her mission as a provider to help her patient do just that. We also hear from , an associate professor of medicine in the . Riek was preparing to give birth to her second child when she discovered a lump in her breast. Her story dealt with how cancer can rob patients of the feeling that they have any control over their lives. The podcast, “Show Me the Science,” is produced by at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
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Maternal mortality rates are spiking. How can the trend be reversed?
04/17/2023
Maternal mortality rates are spiking. How can the trend be reversed?
In this episode, we report on the disturbing spike in maternal mortality rates in recent years. Although rates of maternal death have long been higher in the U.S. than in other wealthy countries, the rate recently reached its highest level since 1965. The number of deaths of mothers has risen from 17.4 deaths per 100,000 births in 2018 to 20.1 deaths in 2019 and 23.8 in 2020 — the first year of the pandemic. Then in 2021, the most recent year for which statistics are available, there were 32.9 deaths per 100,000 births. In all, about 1,200 people died during pregnancy, or within six weeks of giving birth, a 40% increase from the previous year. , an associate professor of at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, says the groups most likely to be affected by these rising numbers are poor. Many tend to live far away from medical care, and many are members of minority groups. The maternal death rate among Black Americans was 69.9 per 100,000, 2.6 times higher than the rate for pregnant white Americans. Carter says physicians and scientists at Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Hospital are working hard to provide good prenatal care, but she explains that when people get pregnant, they often already have serious health issues that can contribute to maternal death, such as diabetes or hypertension, and put them and their babies at risk. She says the time to try to intervene is before chronic illnesses develop and make an eventual pregnancy risky. That, she says, will require an intentional focus from health-care professionals and systemic changes in how health care and other social services are provided in the United States. The podcast, “Show Me the Science,” is produced by at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
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International effort aims to help those at risk for serious psychiatric illness
03/13/2023
International effort aims to help those at risk for serious psychiatric illness
In this episode, we report on a major international study involving psychiatry researchers from the School of Medicine who are working to identify causes and effects of the early stages of schizophrenia in young people — an illness characterized by significant changes in thoughts, feelings and behavior that may include a loss of contact with reality. The goal is to improve early diagnosis and treatment to potentially prevent the most devastating effects of the disorder. The study’s principal investigator is , a professor of psychiatry. He has , where he works with young people to identify biomarkers in the blood and the brain that . He also studies potential drug targets for treating such conditions. In addition, Mamah and his colleagues have expanded their efforts to East Africa. Working with collaborators in Kenya, the researchers are launching a site in Africa to study young people at risk for schizophrenia in hopes of learning more about what causes the illness, as well as how to potentially prevent it. Mamah previously has collaborated with researchers at the Africa Mental Health Research and Training Foundation, and now the scientists are working to identify and compare risk factors for schizophrenia in patients from North America and from Africa. The podcast, “Show Me the Science,” is produced by at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
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Recognizing, caring for dementia patients in the emergency department
01/31/2023
Recognizing, caring for dementia patients in the emergency department
In this episode, we head to the . Doctors in most emergency departments around the country are dealing with fewer COVID-19-positive patients than before, but they continue to be faced with a different epidemic of sorts: the 20% to 30% of patients with dementia-related cognitive issues who seek emergency care. As the U.S. population ages, it’s more common for emergency physicians to find themselves treating older people who are living with dementia. Further, during the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic, such patients were not allowed to have relatives stay with them to help navigate and better understand what is happening during their visits to the emergency department. While completing his medical training, , a professor of emergency medicine, had a bad emergency department experience involving his grandfather, who was suffering from dementia at the time. For more than two decades since then, Carpenter has looked for ways to make the emergency department experience easier for those who are living with dementia and their family members and caregivers. He is part of a national effort known as the , which stands for Geriatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network. The organization is studying ways to better identify and serve older patients with dementia. Carpenter says it’s essential to improve emergency care for people living with dementia because as the U.S. population continues to age, the number of such people seeking treatment in emergency departments will continue to increase. The podcast, “Show Me the Science,” is produced by at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
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Brain-related issues can linger after patients recover from COVID-19
12/21/2022
Brain-related issues can linger after patients recover from COVID-19
In this episode, we learn more about one of the leading problems associated with long COVID-19. Those who have been infected with the virus are at increased risk for a range of neurological conditions in the first year after an infection. Research conducted at the School of Medicine and the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care System has found that strokes, cognitive and memory problems, depression, anxiety and migraine headaches are more common in people who have had COVID-19 than those who haven’t. The most common neurological symptom, called brain fog, makes it more difficult for some people to remember things such as names, daily tasks or where they parked the car. , a clinical epidemiologist, says that since the pandemic began, COVID-19 has contributed to more than 40 million new cases of neurological disorders worldwide. Infections even have been associated with movement disorders — from tremors and involuntary muscle movements to epileptic seizures — hearing and vision problems, and issues with balance and coordination. We also speak with , director of the Center of Neuroimmunology & Neuroinfectious Diseases at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Her team studied the brains of hamsters and brain tissue from people who died of COVID-19 infections and found that although the virus doesn’t seem to get into neurons directly, it does increase the numbers of immune cells, called microglia, in brain structures important to learning and memory, potentially explaining why some of those structures in the brain may not function as well during and after COVID-19 infections. The podcast, “Show Me the Science,” is produced by at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
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Treating the whole patient all at once
11/22/2022
Treating the whole patient all at once
In this episode, we visit the team at the . It was launched to improve outcomes for patients with orthopedic issues. For example, if someone needs hip-replacement surgery, that person also can receive help losing weight, stopping smoking and taking other actions to make it more likely the outcome from their surgery will be as good as possible. The center uses dietary counseling, physical therapy, massage, acupuncture and behavioral therapy to prepare some patients for surgery, while helping others improve without surgical intervention. In addition to orthopedic issues, health professionals at the center work with cancer patients, long COVID-19 patients and others. The idea, according to , a professor of orthopedic surgery and the center’s medical director, is to treat the whole patient and to do it all in one place. Specialists at the center work together to apply the “pillars of lifestyle medicine including using food as medicine, encouraging physical activity and exercise, addressing sleep issues, managing stress and addressing anxiety and depression, avoiding risky substances such as tobacco, and encouraging patients to make positive social connections. The center has had more than 200 patients come through its doors the last few years, and the outcomes for those patients suggest the approach is working. The podcast, “Show Me the Science,” is produced by at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
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Updated boosters and progress toward a nasal vaccine
10/19/2022
Updated boosters and progress toward a nasal vaccine
As we get deeper into autumn and winter approaches, we discuss COVID-19 vaccines. New boosters have been developed to rev up the immune system not only to fight the original strain of the virus but also to boost the immune system against more recent omicron strains of SARS-CoV-2. In this episode, we discuss the boosters — now approved for use in children as young as 5 — with infectious diseases specialist , an associate professor of medicine and medical director of Washington University’s . New vaccines may be on the horizon, too. A nasal vaccine developed by Washington University scientists recently was approved for emergency use in India, and that technology has been licensed to Ocugen, a U.S.-based biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing novel gene and cell therapies and vaccines. Ocugen plans to seek approval for the nasal vaccine in the U.S., Europe and Japan. The nasal vaccine was developed by Washington University virologist and immunologist , the Herbert S. Gasser Professor of Medicine and a professor of molecular microbiology, and of pathology & immunology; and , the Distinguished Professor of Radiation Oncology. The hope is that the nasal vaccine will stoke the immune response in the nose and throat so that the virus never gets farther into the body. Current vaccines require a person to be infected before antibodies revved up by the vaccine can fight it. As a result, Diamond and Curiel say a nasal spray may be more effective at preventing infections and at keeping vaccinated people from spreading the virus to others. The podcast, “Show Me the Science,” is produced by the at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
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What if it’s not COVID-19?
08/30/2022
What if it’s not COVID-19?
If you were coughing, running a fever and felt short of breath, what would you think? Those are common symptoms of COVID-19. But not everyone with such symptoms is infected with the virus. In this episode, we tell the story of a Michael Moffitt, a young man who grew up in St. Louis but was been working in the oil and gas fields of New Mexico. He got sick in November 2020 with a cough, fever and shortness of breath, initially leading his doctor to assume he had COVID-19. Moffitt's tests for the virus came back negative, but for weeks, his health-care providers in New Mexico wondered whether the tests were accurate. He was being treated with antibiotics, but when Moffitt lost 30 pounds in three weeks and needed supplemental oxygen, he knew he needed another opinion. After his wife and mother-in-law drove 14 hours to bring him to St. Louis, Moffitt saw infectious diseases specialist an associate professor of medicine and a specialist in fungal infections. Spec put him in the hospital and quickly solved the medical mystery. Moffitt had a fungal infection, likely acquired while exploring caves in New Mexico. Spec started him on strong antifungal medications, and he fully recovered. Spec says the majority of people who have symptoms of COVID-19 actually do have that viral illness. But when treatments don’t work, he says, it’s important for doctors to think a little differently and consider other factors that may cause illness. Many people have fungal infections in their lungs at some point in their lives, he says. Most of those infections are asymptomatic or feel like bad colds, but in some instances, the infections can become life-threatening without proper treatment. The podcast, “Show Me the Science,” is produced by the at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
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New COVID-19 variants causing re-infections
08/03/2022
New COVID-19 variants causing re-infections
Infections and hospitalizations are rising again. During this latest wave of COVID-19 infections, many fully vaccinated people are getting sick, as are people who previously were sick with the virus, even those infected in the very recent past. The new strains of omicron — BA.4 and BA.5 — have stricken some well-known, fully vaccinated people, including President Joe Biden and Dr. Anthony Fauci. In this episode, we speak with , the J. William Campbell Professor and co-director of the Infectious Diseases Division at Washington University. Powderly says the recent increases in cases and hospitalizations are a reminder that, even after two-plus years, the pandemic is not over. Vaccines seem to protect many people from serious disease, but infections among those who are fully vaccinated have become more common as BA.4 and BA.5 have become the virus’s dominant strains. , an infectious diseases specialist and an associate professor of medicine at Washington University, is among those testing new vaccine boosters engineered specifically to target those new strains. Presti, medical director of the university’s Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Unit, says it’s still too early to be certain but that the updated boosters seem to provide better protection than the currently FDA-approved vaccine. Of course, how long protection provided by the updated booster might last may depend on how quickly the virus continues to evolve. The podcast, “Show Me the Science,” is produced by the at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
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Giving stroke patients a hand
07/18/2022
Giving stroke patients a hand
Brain-computer interfaces connect activity in the brain to an external device by means of a computer. Research has shown it’s possible to use such interfaces to move robotic arms and perform other tasks. Almost 30 years ago, Washington University researcher , a professor of neurosurgery, demonstrated that he could hook electrodes to the brains of epilepsy patients who were waiting to have brain surgery, and those patients then could play video games just by thinking about moving things on a screen. Over the years, Leuthardt’s team has learned to detect similar brain signals noninvasively. He co-founded the Washington University startup company to develop a brain-computer interface to help stroke patients recover function in their hands and arms. In this episode, we learn about that device, known as the IpsiHand Upper Extremity Rehabilitation System. The IpsiHand involves a sort of cap that picks up brain signals from a stroke patient and transmits the signals to an exoskeleton fitted over the patient’s paralyzed hand. While wearing the system, patients think about moving the affected hand, and the IpsiHand translates that intention into actual hand movement. Over time, the patient’s brain slowly learns how to move the hand by itself. In addition to Leuthardt, we’ll also speak to a man who helped test an early version of the device years after a stroke left him unable to use his right hand. After working with the IpsiHand, the stroke patient, Mark Forrest, regained enough use of his right hand that he was able to build himself a boat. We’ll ride on that boat with him as he catches some fish and discusses his recovery. The podcast, “Show Me the Science,” is produced by the at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
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Long COVID-19 a lasting battle for many
06/22/2022
Long COVID-19 a lasting battle for many
As many as 30% of those who get COVID-19 will continue to have problems in the weeks and months after their infections. Long COVID-19 is defined as a condition in which issues persist for at least three months. But for many, the difficulties last much longer. Extreme fatigue, shortness of breath and what many call brain fog lead the list of long-term complications. Some people also develop heart problems, diabetes, psychiatric issues and trouble with pain in the weeks and months following the initial illness. In this episode, we speak with , an assistant professor of medicine and director of the at the School of Medicine. The clinic was designed specifically to work with so-called long-haulers. She says many of her patients are frustrated at their inability to get back to life as they knew it before COVID-19. We also hear from one of Lyons’ patients, Michelle Wilson. She’s a nurse who became ill with COVID-19 in November 2020 and is still having problems with fatigue, shortness of breath and other difficulties. And we’ll hear from epidemiologist , an assistant professor of medicine at Washington University who treats patients in the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care System. He has found that vaccination provides some protection against long COVID-19, but just as vaccinated people still can get breakthrough infections, they also can develop long COVID-19. It’s not as common in vaccinated people, but there’s still a significant risk. The podcast, “Show Me the Science,” is produced by the at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
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Pandemic fuels use of alcohol, opioids
05/17/2022
Pandemic fuels use of alcohol, opioids
In this episode, we discuss issues that were problems long before anyone ever heard of COVID-19: alcohol use disorder and opioid overdose. Both seem to have gotten worse during the pandemic. Alcohol sales rose during the early days of lockdown, and they’ve remained high. , the Alumni Endowed Professor of Psychiatry, says another issue is that with some people losing their jobs while millions more have worked from home, some of the guardrails that have kept people from drinking too much have just gone away. She expects the fallout from the pandemic, in terms of alcohol use, will continue being felt for years to come. And just as the pandemic has fueled alcohol problems, deaths from drug overdoses have continued to climb, with more than 107,000 overdose deaths reported in the U.S. during a recent 12-month period. One issue, according to Kevin Xu, MD, a resident in psychiatry and , an associate professor of emergency medicine and director of the Division of Medical Toxicology, is that many who use opioids are not prescribed a drug that can reduce cravings and lower risk of future overdose. That drug, buprenorphine, is prescribed for only about half of the patients treated for opioid use disorder, and it’s used even less frequently in people who use opioids along with other substances, such as cocaine, alcohol or methamphetamine. The podcast, “Show Me the Science,” is produced by the at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
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As 'Show Me the Science' turns 2, we look back at 2 years of a pandemic
04/26/2022
As 'Show Me the Science' turns 2, we look back at 2 years of a pandemic
But for this episode, we’re sticking with COVID-19. In 2020, when the pandemic shut down much of the country, our very first guest on “Show Me the Science” was , a professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases. He also was our first guest of our second season of podcast episodes last year. And we’ve brought him back again, for year three. As the pandemic first gripped the St. Louis area, Lawrence was worried whether there would be adequate ventilators, ICU beds and medical staff to care for patients with COVID-19. A year later, in spring 2021, he was touting vaccines as a potential way out of the pandemic. Now, after having to deal with the delta and omicron variants of the virus, and with new worries about an even more infectious version of omicron, Lawrence has thoughts on moving forward as well as what people got right and wrong during the first two years of the pandemic. He also has some ideas regarding where we may be headed. The podcast, “Show Me the Science,” is produced by the at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
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Long COVID can affect every organ system in the body
04/01/2022
Long COVID can affect every organ system in the body
The death toll isn’t the only staggering statistic from the first two years of the pandemic. What’s become increasing clear is that some COVID-19 patients don’t get well right away. Since the earliest days of the pandemic, we’ve heard of survivors who continue to experience shortness of breath, extreme fatigue, lingering difficulty with taste and smell, and brain fog. But researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the Veterans Administration have found that other problems also affect people long after infection with the virus. In a series of studies, epidemiologist , an assistant professor of medicine who treats patients in the VA St. Louis Health Care System, has found that following COVID-19 infection, people are more likely to develop kidney problems, heart issues, diabetes and mental health difficulties such as depression and anxiety. The percentage of patients who go on to have those issues is relatively low, but with so many people having been infected, the absolute number of people with lingering problems is in the millions. Meanwhile, another team of researchers at Washington University School of Medicine found that those who tested positive for the virus are more likely to report problems with peripheral neuropathy, which is characterized by pain and tingling in the hands and feet. , an associate professor of anesthesiology and chief of clinical research at the Washington University Pain Center, found that nearly 30% of patients who tested positive for COVID-19 also reported neuropathy problems, and in 6% to 7% of those patients, the problems persisted for up to three months. The podcast, “Show Me the Science,” is produced by the at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
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Adjusting the nation's COVID-19 response
03/08/2022
Adjusting the nation's COVID-19 response
With the pandemic death toll approaching 1 million people in the United States, Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and a Washington University alum, visited Washington University School of Medicine on March 2 and March 3, 2022. As part of the Department of Medicine’s weekly Grand Rounds series, she sat down with the J. William Campbell Professor of Medicine and co-director of the Division of Infectious Diseases, for a conversation about the challenges and successes of the pandemic. During the conversation with Powderly, Walensky answered questions about COVID-19 and noted that her earlier experiences as a physician working during the HIV/AIDS epidemic influenced her thinking about this newer public health crisis. She says the AIDS epidemic demonstrated that infectious diseases tend to weigh more heavily on some communities than others, and that this unequal burden is rooted in social inequities. She also praised the rapid development and deployment of COVID-19 vaccines, even as she admitted that vaccination rates need to improve in the U.S. and around the world in order to help the planet emerge from the pandemic. And she told trainees that, as difficult as the last two years have been for health-care providers, she wanted them to remember that a pandemic like the one we have been experiencing is exactly what that they trained for. The podcast, “Show Me the Science,” is produced by the at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
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Can we communicate more effectively about vaccines?
03/01/2022
Can we communicate more effectively about vaccines?
More than 900,000 people in the United States have died of COVID-19, and over the last year, almost all of those deaths have been among unvaccinated people. Still, many people remain unvaccinated, and many say they are not sure whether they can trust the things public health officials say about COVID vaccines. Washington University infectious diseases specialist , a professor of medicine, recently recalled similar issues with communication and trust in a . In the essay, Geng discussed a patient he worked with years ago who was convinced that HIV didn’t cause AIDS. That patient saw no need to take anti-retroviral medication when it became available, even as he got progressively sicker. But Geng continued talking to this patient and, eventually, he changed his mind. Geng writes that similar efforts are needed to ease the fears of people who have very real concerns about the safety of COVID vaccines. He writes that “no disembodied message (even if crafted by marketing experts) can compete with someone you know who will pull up a chair.” Although Geng says he understands it’s difficult for doctors to make time for heart-to-heart talks with every anxious patient, he also says it’s clear from the low rates of vaccination that something has to change; and he believes deeper, more empathetic conversations between doctors and patients could be an important step. The podcast, “Show Me the Science,” is produced by the at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
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Fighting burnout in health care
02/16/2022
Fighting burnout in health care
With U.S. hospitals crowded with COVID-19 patients for almost two years, the pandemic’s relentlessness has pushed many doctors, nurses and other health-care professionals to the brink. Many have decided to leave the field or question whether to remain. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have launched a research project as part of a new program funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The goal is to reduce burnout and promote mental health and wellness among those in the health-care workforce. Psychiatrist , is the study’s principal investigator. She says the fact that the pandemic has dragged on for so long makes it especially difficult to handle. And co-investigator, psychiatrist , the director of wellness, engagement and outreach for the Department of Psychiatry, says the culture within health care — that although workers are willing to go to great lengths to help others, they don’t like to ask for help themselves — presents a major challenge. The School of Medicine is trying to change that culture as it trains the next generation of health-care professionals. , the senior associate dean and vice chancellor for medical education, says the school is working hard to identify potential burnout in students and to encourage them to seek help when problems arise. The podcast, “Show Me the Science,” is produced by the at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
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Highly contagious omicron is a roller coaster
02/02/2022
Highly contagious omicron is a roller coaster
The omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 arrived in the United States around Thanksgiving. Within a few weeks, it was the dominant variant in the country, and hospitals suddenly were crowded with COVID-19 patients again. More patients were hospitalized in the St. Louis region as the omicron wave hit than at any other time during the pandemic. The good news is that although there have been breakthrough infections in vaccinated people — even in those who received booster shots — omicron doesn’t make most quite as sick as earlier strains of the virus. Virologist and immunologist , has found in animal studies that omicron does not attack lung tissue in the way prior strains did. Diamond also found that some of the monoclonal antibodies that worked as treatments for other strains of the coronavirus are not effective against omicron. The FDA recently withdrew its emergency use authorization for two of those antibodies, so they no longer can be used to treat COVID-19 patients. Diamond says that although omicron doesn’t make most people as sick as prior strains, it still makes many very sick and is deadly for some. And he says there’s no guarantee that future variants won’t evolve to be as infectious as omicron and as deadly as earlier strains. The podcast, “Show Me the Science,” is produced by the at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
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Why the omicron wave is different
01/26/2022
Why the omicron wave is different
When SARS-CoV-2 first arrived, it was as if a raging wildfire had been blown by a strong wind through dry, flammable timber. So says , an immunologist at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. As a population, he says, we were completely vulnerable to the virus because no one’s immune system had seen it before. In the two years since the virus first appeared, millions of infections and vaccinations have been able to tamp down some of the flames, and Ellebedy says that process should continue in the coming weeks and months. He’s looking forward to new vaccines being tested that are designed specifically to fight the omicron variant. He says if society wants to return to a more normal way of living, it’s important to vaccinate as many people as possible, as soon as possible, throughout the country and the world. But it’s also important to update vaccines to make them more effective. Ellebedy says that although he has no idea whether omicron will be the last of the major COVID-19 variants, he is confident that if another variant does arise, it will be more similar to omicron than to former variants, so he says omicron-derived vaccines should be beneficial even as the virus continues to evolve. The podcast, “Show Me the Science,” is produced by the at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
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Hospitalized patients with COVID reach record levels
01/12/2022
Hospitalized patients with COVID reach record levels
Although there seems to be evidence that infections with the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 are somewhat milder, you wouldn’t know that from the number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital. A post-holiday spike in cases has seen the number of inpatients at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children’s Hospital rise to levels higher than any seen since the pandemic began. In this episode, a pair of Washington University physicians report that because of the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, people with other ailments — from sports injuries to heart issues — are having to wait longer to be seen in the emergency department and for hospital beds to open up. , a professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases and BJC Healthcare vice president and chief quality officer, says it’s getting harder for the health-care system to keep up with the rising number of patients. Meanwhile, , a professor of pediatrics in the Division of Infectious Diseases, says that even with the current surge, it’s important to keep kids in school if at all possible. Both Babcock and Newland say that although breakthrough infections have occurred, vaccinations are keeping most people out of the hospital. They are encouraging all who are not fully vaccinated and boosted to get those vaccinations as soon as possible, to avoid crowds and to wear masks in public to try to slow the spread of the virus. The podcast, “Show Me the Science,” is produced by the at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
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Another pandemic holiday season
12/20/2021
Another pandemic holiday season
The omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 is here, but it’s the delta variant that has been driving a rapid increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations in recent weeks as people get out into the world more, antibody responses from vaccines wane, and families travel and gather in larger groups. As cases surge and hospitalizations increase, health-care workers are facing a second holiday season with emergency rooms and intensive care units (ICUs) crowded with COVID-19 patients. , an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, spent Christmas Day 2020 in the ICU. At the time, she hoped that what were then newly available vaccines would make 2021 markedly better. As she works with COVID-19 patients this year, Nguyen says she is doing her best to convince them and their family members to get vaccinated. Meanwhile, , a professor of surgery and of emergency medicine, says that although she and her colleagues are tired, they’re still committed to working hard to give patients what they need to get better. She says if more people could see what she sees, she’s convinced almost everyone would get vaccinated and wear a mask. For now, both Nguyen and Osborn say that they, unfortunately, expect to remain busy for the foreseeable future. The podcast, “Show Me the Science,” is produced by the at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
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Omicron has arrived
12/09/2021
Omicron has arrived
A few weeks ago, no one had heard of the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2. Since its recent discovery by scientists in South Africa, infections with the variant have been found in dozens of U.S. states and countries around the world. Scientists are scrambling to understand whether the new variant, which houses several mutations on the spike protein that infects cells, might be able to evade protection from current vaccines. Virologist and researcher , an associate professor of medicine, recently completed experiments in mice in which her team tested the efficacy of vaccines against an earlier SARS-CoV-2 variant, the beta variant. She plans to use the same strategy to test the vaccines against omicron. Meanwhile, , an associate professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases, says omicron is likely not the last worrisome variant that will be discovered. But he says old, reliable mitigation techniques — such as wearing a mask, avoiding big crowds and staying home from work when you don’t feel well — will remain effective, no matter how infectious omicron turns out to be and no matter how many new viral mutations appear. The podcast, “Show Me the Science,” is produced by the at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
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What's up with boosters?
11/18/2021
What's up with boosters?
Over a million kids ages 5 to 11 have had the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and a growing number of older people are getting booster shots. Although the official recommendation limits the booster to those over age 65, with weakened immune systems or who have jobs that put them at high risk for exposure to the novel coronavirus, that's expected to change soon. Some states and cities already have begun recommending boosters for everyone over age 18. There’s little doubt boosters are helping to protect some people, according to , an infectious diseases specialist and an associate professor of medicine at Washington University. Presti says boosters rev up antibodies and provide protection as the months pass and the pandemic lingers. The medical director of the Infectious Disease Clinical Research Unit and co-director of the Center for Vaccine Research at the university, Presti recommends that anyone eligible for a booster get one. But how much do boosters really help, especially people who have compromised immune systems? That’s a key question for , a rheumatologist and assistant professor of medicine who treats patients with autoimmune conditions. He has found that when those with compromised immune systems get the vaccine, their responses are only about one-third as strong as in people with stronger immune systems. Kim says it’s unclear how much extra shots will help, but he says if some patients skip immune-suppressing medications for a couple of weeks when they get a shot, it might make vaccines more effective, though further study is needed. The podcast, “Show Me the Science,” is produced by the at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
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Vaccines approved for younger kids
11/03/2021
Vaccines approved for younger kids
COVID-19 has killed more than 5 million people around the world, with more than 740,000 dead in the United States. Although the virus is far more deadly in older people than in children, more than 650 kids have died of COVID-19 in the United States. Meanwhile, during the surge caused by the delta variant, hospitalizations of children increased fivefold. Some 90% of the 12- to 17-year-olds hospitalized for the illness? were unvaccinated, and none of the hospitalized children under age 12 were vaccinated because they were not eligible. Until now. The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention have authorized emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. Infectious diseases specialist , a professor of pediatrics, called the authorization a “ginormous” development in the fight against COVID-19. Newland has been involved in the vaccine trials in younger patients, and he says that as more young children are able to be vaccinated, fewer and fewer will require hospitalization. And he says better protection for kids also will provide better protection for the adults with whom they live. The podcast, “Show Me the Science,” is produced by the at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
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Remaining resilient while the pandemic drags on
10/21/2021
Remaining resilient while the pandemic drags on
Even as the numbers of COVID-19 cases around the country decline again, with cooler weather and people moving back indoors, we’re being warned about the possibility of another swing upward in cases. Such an increase would represent yet another wave of illness during this pandemic. And after all these months, the stress is getting to many people. Groups particularly vulnerable to such stress are older adults — who face the greatest risk from the virus — and young children. But as the pandemic continues, we’ve been hearing more about resilience in these groups. In this episode, we speak with a pair of experts on resilience. Psychiatrist , director of the at Washington University, recently was awarded a $9.1 million grant from the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study resilience in older adults, as well as the pandemic’s potential cognitive and emotional effects on them, such as depression, anxiety and even dementia. His team is looking in particular at the impact? of exercise and mindfulness on resilience in seniors. We also speak with , an associate professor of child psychiatry, about resilience in children and adolescents. During the pandemic, they’ve faced changes in schooling and in how they are allowed to interact with friends. Some kids can’t get vaccinated yet, but almost all are back at school, in person. She says adult mentors who can point out to children when they are doing well and provide examples of resilience are important in helping kids remain hopeful as we head toward an uncertain future. The podcast, “Show Me the Science,” is produced by the at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
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Boosters? Vaccines for kids? Where do we stand heading toward winter?
09/30/2021
Boosters? Vaccines for kids? Where do we stand heading toward winter?
Recently, the federal government decided that vaccine booster shots will be made available for Americans 65 and older, those with compromised immune systems and others in high-risk jobs. In addition, Pfizer has submitted data asserting its vaccine is safe and effective for children ages 5-12. The next step could be an emergency use authorization from the Food & Drug Administration, allowing younger children to be vaccinated. Despite breakthrough infections involving vaccinated people, suggesting the shots don’t prevent infection in everyone, health officials say vaccines continue to protect the vast majority of people from severe disease. Meanwhile, in the St. Louis region, sporting events, concerts, restaurants and theatrical productions are drawing crowds again. At some such events, patrons are asked to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to get in the door. But health officials in the region continue to worry that crowded events combined with high COVID-19 case numbers and the start of the flu season could make for a dangerous fall and winter. In this episode, we speak with two leaders in the field of infectious diseases: , the Adolphus Busch Professor of Medicine and at Washington University, and , the J. William Campbell Professor of Medicine, the Larry J. Shapiro Director of the and co-director of the Infectious Diseases Division. Both say that despite the highly infectious delta variant, we are winning in the fight against COVID-19 at the moment. But they warn that the game isn’t over yet. And neither expects we’ll be getting rid of our masks anytime soon. The podcast, “Show Me the Science,” is produced by the at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
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Shutdowns in COVID-19's early days helped St. Louis area avoid thousands of deaths
09/17/2021
Shutdowns in COVID-19's early days helped St. Louis area avoid thousands of deaths
In March 2020, the first cases of COVID-19 were reported in the St. Louis region, and health officials in St. Louis County and the city of St. Louis issued emergency orders to try to halt the virus’ spread. A new study from researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis determined that those orders may have saved hundreds of lives and prevented thousands of hospitalizations. An analysis conducted by infectious diseases specialist , a professor of medicine, indicates that had the orders been delayed by as little as two weeks, the number of deaths in the city and county could have increased almost sevenfold. Geng says it’s important to be proactive and do whatever possible to stop a virus’ spread, especially in the early days of a pandemic. Over time, restrictions may become more reactive to a given scenario, in response to peaks in the spread of infection. Now confronted with the highly infectious delta variant, public health officials again have been considering stricter measures to slow the number of infections, hospitalizations and deaths. The podcast, “Show Me the Science,” is produced by the at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
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