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Topoisomerase inhibitors and chronic pain

Meds

March 23, 2024

Topoisomerase inhibitors emerged in the American medical landscape in 1971, thanks to the discovery by Dr. Jim Wang of the E. coli omega protein. Topoisomerase I, an enzyme identified by Dr. Wang, plays a crucial role in DNA unwrapping from supercoiling. Supercoiling involves tightly wrapping DNA for storage and protection, requiring unwrapping for reading, a process in which topoisomerase is indispensable.

Topoisomerase comprises two main types, aptly named types I and …

The Alaska Air Flight 1282 door blowout and patient safety

P. Dileep Kumar, MD, MBA

Physician

March 23, 2024

Alaska Air Flight 1282 was on a trip from Portland to Ontario, California, on January 5, 2024. Barely six minutes into the flight, passengers heard a loud bang and a whoosh as the door plug in the middle section of the aircraft blew out. An unused exit door in the mid-part of the aircraft’s main cabin detached and fell out of the sky. One of the passengers sitting close to …

The truth about health care startups: financial sacrifices and emotional toll

Varun Verma, MD

Finance

March 23, 2024

The allure of joining a startup as a health care professional is undeniable. With over 70 percent of physicians now employed by health systems and other corporate entities – we often feel like invisible cogs in a machine and feel excluded from any opportunities to contribute to real change. Social media is seemingly filled with success stories of physicians founding or joining startups and being involved in innovation, impact, and …

Off-label prescriptions, side effects, and lawsuits: Navigating ethical and legal dilemmas

M. Bennet Broner, PhD

Meds

March 23, 2024

A recent TV advertisement attempted to recruit clients for a class action suit against a pharmaceutical manufacturer (PM) for a medication side effect (SE). The “cause of action” was unstated: was it the side effect’s existence or that the company failed to emphasize its severity?

The SE was acknowledged not only by the company but also the FDA, which nonetheless approved the medication (RX), determining that its benefits outweighed the side …

Navigating a medical school leave of absence [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

March 22, 2024

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!

We dive deep into the topic of taking a leave of absence from medical school with Stephanie E. Moss. Stephanie, a medical student who made the decision to take a break between her …

Fostering Black joy in an anti-DEI environment: community, resilience, and equity

Bernice Fokum, MD, Udoka Oji, MD, and Abdullah Pratt, MD

Physician

March 22, 2024

As Black History Month draws to a close, it is crucial to recognize the ongoing challenges faced by Black physicians and the importance of fostering diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and belonging in the medical field. National rhetoric condemning DEI efforts has made for an increasingly difficult environment for Black medical trainees to thrive. This Black History Month, we had the honor of hosting three events aimed at celebrating Black excellence …

Beyond the oath: the unaddressed challenge of physician impairment

Scott Ellner, DO, MPH

Physician

March 22, 2024

Despite their idealized oath to do no harm, physicians are still human, and as such, mistakes, errors, and the unpredictability of life still occur. Although the stories that grab headlines are of doctors intentionally harming patients, such instances are exceedingly rare. Far more prevalent, however, are the cases of physicians who begin their careers with the best intentions, only to encounter challenges along the way. According to the American Medical …

Challenging patients and the art of empathy

Dr. Puspha Raman

Physician

March 22, 2024

On a fine afternoon, my nurse came in and gave me a heads-up. “Doctor, the next one’s a bit of a handful. Made a fuss scheduling, complained about her old doctor endlessly at reception … doesn’t seem like a picnic.” I smiled reassuringly, reminding her (and myself) that non-judgmental care is the cornerstone of medicine. However, my mind let out a little sigh, knowing that the next half hour was …

Health care surges: the role of virtual care partnerships [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

March 21, 2024

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!

Join Lyle Berkowitz, a physician executive, as we explore the challenges faced by health systems during this time, from overcrowded emergency departments to increased demand for care. Lyle shares insights into traditional strategies …

Understanding seasonal affective disorder: more than just winter blues

Jasmine Kearse, MD

Conditions

March 21, 2024

As the summer sun bids its farewell, a distinct group of people seem to “fall back” as a mysterious change begins to take hold. Several individuals get caught in the embrace of the transitions of fall and winter, revealing a shift between their mood and energy levels. Ever felt a subtle dip in energy, a touch of melancholy, or an unexpected irritability as the days grow shorter? I’m here to …

Shedding some weight on the health care crisis

Tomi Mitchell, MD

Conditions

March 21, 2024

In today’s world, the term “obesity” is more than just a medical diagnosis—it’s a complex issue intertwined with personal experiences, societal norms, and systemic challenges. As a seasoned family doctor, I’ve witnessed firsthand the multifaceted nature of obesity and its profound impact on individuals’ lives. But beyond the clinical observations, I carry a personal history marked by struggles with weight and body image.

I’m a family doctor, and I have been …

Women of color face biases in endometriosis diagnosis and surgical treatment

Taytum Kahl

Conditions

March 21, 2024

March is endometriosis awareness month. Endometriosis, a disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus, affects 1 in 10 women, or 190 million individuals worldwide. Although endometriosis leads to chronic pain and fertility issues and can impact bowel, urinary, and sexual function, it may take up to 7 to 10 years after symptoms appear to be diagnosed …

Beyond the workout: the hidden struggle of diabetic gastroparesis

Ryan Ritchie

Conditions

March 21, 2024

The final three minutes of my hour-long elliptical workout were not easy. Pain spread across my stomach, causing me to row in a half-sitting motion, and my chest vacillated between violent coughs and the sorts of deep breaths people take when they think they’ve seen a ghost. Perspiration fell from my shirtless torso to the garage floor. The amount of sweat was not the kind my body produces from exercise. …

Intralymphatic immunotherapy and the future of allergy care [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

March 20, 2024

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!

Join Kara Wada, an adult and pediatric allergy and immunology physician. We’ll delve into the world of allergy treatments, exploring the challenges faced by millions dealing with seasonal and year-round allergies. From traditional methods like …

Physician burnout: a surgeon’s story of exhaustion, recovery, and systemic change

Julie Wei, MD

Physician

March 20, 2024

An excerpt from Safeguarding Physician Wellbeing.

There are numerous books written by physicians of various specialties, primary care, and subspecialists, on the topic of physician burnout. Most physician authors, like me, have been inspired to write a book due to personal experience with a high degree of burnout, and/or have had academic interests and research on the topic. Writing such books can be cathartic, intended as a warning for our …

Sepsis protocols coupled with rapid host response technologies are the key to improving patient outcomes

Robert Scoggins, MD, PhD

Conditions

March 20, 2024

Patients come into the emergency department (ED) with symptoms, not diagnoses. That’s when time is of the essence. Clinicians must quickly triage patients and establish an appropriate care pathway to obtain the best possible outcome. Most patients entering the ED are time-sensitive, requiring clear protocols for care. However, even some of the deadliest conditions still lack the necessary data, tools, and standards to quickly diagnose and effectively treat patients.

Over the …

A doctor’s journey: from student to healer, facing a mentor’s illness

Dr. Damane Zehra

Conditions

March 20, 2024

I had a teacher in my third year of med school. His name was Dr. T. He taught us pediatrics. At that time, he was the head of the department of pediatrics in the busiest teaching hospital in our city, where I was working. Every day, hundreds of children from far-flung areas are referred to our hospital with complications due to suboptimal treatment received in their local areas, as we …

Opioid prescribing, pain management, and patient advocacy [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

March 19, 2024

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes!

We delve into the complexities of opioid prescribing, pain management, and the opioid crisis with our guest, Richard A. Lawhern. As a patient advocate, Richard brings a unique perspective to the table. Join …

Physicians are being forced to pass polygraphs if they want to continue to practice

J. Wesley Boyd, MD, PhD

Physician

March 19, 2024

I am a former associate director in a state physician health program (PHP). I also hold faculty appointments at Baylor College of Medicine and Harvard Medical School in medical ethics and psychiatry.

There is a little-known nether realm inhabited by a subset of doctors who have or are suspected of having substance use disorders. These physicians often are referred to state PHPs which, because they’re generally considered voluntary in nature, have …

DEA overreach: a threat to doctors’ freedom in American medicine

L. Joseph Parker, MD

Meds

March 19, 2024

Today, doctors’ liberty and property are at risk when they choose to treat a patient. Not because of some new law but because of the misapplication of old ones. The current opioid panic has essentially given the DEA free rein to target any physician whose medical practice they disagree with. This has created a serious problem in American medicine and a unique danger to health care providers in this country. …

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