Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / Patient Communication, Anti-Aging Risks, and Prenatal Health Insights

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Patient Communication, Anti-Aging Risks, and Prenatal Health Insights · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

• 0:00
  Welcome to Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow, where we explore the latest medical and health news from around the globe.
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  I'm Dr.
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  Chi-Ming Chow, your host, and today we're diving into a fascinating study about how the
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  way patients write messages to their doctors may affect the kind of response they receive.
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  This is particularly relevant in today's digital age, where patient portals have become
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  a primary means of communication between patients and healthcare providers.
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  A recent study published in the journal JAMA Network Open sheds light on how the writing
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  style of patient messages can influence whether or not they receive a response directly from
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  their doctor.
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  The study analyzed over three million patient message threads from a major electronic health
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  record system and found some intriguing patterns.
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  The study, led by Dr.
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  Mitchell Tang from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, highlights
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  that messages starting with a formal greeting like "Dear Dr.
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  Liu" or using expressive punctuation, such as multiple question marks or exclamation marks,
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  are more likely to get a direct response from the intended doctor.
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  Interestingly, messages that begin with a doctor's first name receive even higher
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  response rates.
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  Dr.
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  Tang's research also points out that longer messages, which often contain more details or
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  complexity, are more likely to be escalated to the doctor rather than being handled by a
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  triage team.
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  This suggests that the length and detail of a message may act as a proxy for its complexity,
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  prompting more direct attention from the physician.
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  However, the study also revealed some disparities in response rates, particularly
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  among historically marginalized groups such as non-White patients and those without a college
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  education.
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  Dr.
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  Tang emphasizes that these disparities may be influenced by writing style but also reflect
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  broader systemic issues that need addressing.
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  He suggests that the healthcare system itself needs to improve to reduce these disparities,
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  rather than simply coaching patients to change their writing style.
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  One interesting takeaway from this study is the potential role of artificial intelligence in
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  addressing these communication challenges.
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  Dr.
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  Tang speculates on the possibility of using artificial intelligence tools to help patients
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  draft their messages in a way that might level the playing field and ensure more equitable
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  communication between patients and healthcare providers.
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  In summary, while the study underscores the power of writing style in patient-doctor
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  communication, it also calls for systemic changes to address underlying biases and
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  disparities.
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  As we continue to rely more on digital communication in healthcare, understanding
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  these nuances can help improve the quality of care and patient satisfaction.
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  Today, we're tackling a pressing issue that could have significant implications for cancer
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  treatment.
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  A new study from the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine has raised
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  concerns about the use of over-the-counter anti-aging supplements, which are taken by
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  millions of Americans.
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  While these supplements, particularly vitamin B3 derivatives like nicotinamide
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  mononucleotide, nicotinamide riboside, and nicotinamide, are popular for boosting energy
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  and reducing chemotherapy side effects, the study suggests they might actually impair
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  cancer treatment.
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  The researchers found that these compounds, which help the body produce NAD+, a molecule
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  essential for cellular energy and repair, might inadvertently assist cancer cells in surviving
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  chemotherapy.
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  The study, published in the journal Cancer Letters, specifically examined the impact on
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  pancreatic cancer, a disease known for its low survival rates.
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  In laboratory and animal model settings, these supplements appeared to protect cancer cells
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  against common chemotherapy drugs, such as oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and gemcitabine.
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  Tumors that would typically be destroyed by these drugs were able to survive thanks to the
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  boost in NAD+ levels provided by the supplements.
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  Dr.
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  Jordan Winter, the lead author of the study, emphasizes that while these supplements are not
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  deemed dangerous for healthy individuals, they pose a significant risk for patients undergoing
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  active cancer therapy.
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  The research underscores the complex nature of cancer treatment and the potential dangers of
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  assuming that 'natural' equals safe.
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  The study's findings serve as a critical reminder for the medical community to screen
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  patients for supplement use and encourage further research into how NAD+ precursors
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  interact with cancer therapies.
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  Dr.
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  Winter advises patients to consult with their oncologists before taking any over-the-counter
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  supplements, especially during chemotherapy.
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  While the study relied on laboratory environments and animal models, which means the
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  results may not fully translate to human patients, it highlights an important area of
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  concern.
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  The supplements are not inherently dangerous for those using them for wellness, but for
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  cancer patients, they may present serious risks when taken alongside active chemotherapy.
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  It is crucial to note that this research focused on pancreatic cancer, and the effects
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  of these supplements on chemotherapy for other cancer types or with different drug
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  combinations remain to be seen.
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  As the study only evaluated short-term cellular responses, further investigation is needed to
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  understand the long-term impact on cancer patients.
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  In our next segment, we turn our attention to a recent study that examines the relationship
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  between prenatal pesticide exposure and autism traits in children.
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  This research, published in JAMA Pediatrics, provides new insights into a topic that has
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  been under the scientific microscope for some time.
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  While previous studies have suggested that organophosphate pesticides might be linked to
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  neurodevelopmental issues in children, this new study sheds light on the complexity of these
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  relationships.
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  The study, conducted by Dr.
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  Haleigh Cavalier and colleagues at New York University Langone Health, focused on low
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  levels of prenatal exposure to organophosphate pesticides, particularly chlorpyrifos and other
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  similar compounds.
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  The researchers analyzed data from a large cohort of mother-child pairs in the United
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  States, measuring specific metabolites in the mothers' urine during pregnancy.
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  Interestingly, they found no significant association between these low levels of
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  pesticide exposure and autism-related traits in the children.
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  This finding remained consistent even after adjusting for various factors, including diet
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  and differences between boys and girls.
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  However, it is crucial to note that the researchers emphasized that these results do
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  not imply that pesticide exposure is safe at higher levels.
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  In fact, the study highlights the need for further research into how higher exposures,
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  especially in agricultural settings, might impact neurodevelopment.
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  Organophosphate pesticides are commonly used in agriculture and are often detected in
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  population samples due to their presence in conventional produce.
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  The study found that switching to an organic diet could significantly reduce levels of these
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  metabolites in the body.
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  This underscores the importance of dietary choices in managing exposure to potentially
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  harmful substances.
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  While the Environmental Protection Agency in the United States had previously revoked
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  tolerances for chlorpyrifos, legal challenges have led to a complex regulatory landscape.
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  The European Union, on the other hand, has banned its use due to concerns over safety.
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  This discrepancy between regions highlights the ongoing debate over the safety of these
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  chemicals and the need for continued vigilance and research.
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  The study also brings attention to the variability in findings across different
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  studies and populations.
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  Some earlier research pointed to potential risks associated with high prenatal exposure,
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  especially in agricultural communities, while other studies found no such links in more
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  general populations.
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  This suggests that the context of exposure, including levels and sources, plays a
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  significant role in determining potential impacts.
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  In conclusion, while this study provides reassurance that low-level exposure to
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  organophosphate pesticides may not be a significant driver of autism-related traits, it
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  also calls for a nuanced approach to understanding environmental influences on
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  neurodevelopment.
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  Further research should consider genetic susceptibility, higher exposure levels, and the
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  effects of combined chemical exposures to paint a clearer picture of these complex
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  interactions.
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  Our final story today highlights a significant step forward in women's heart health research.
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  Dr.
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  Shelley Zieroth has been appointed as the new chair in women's clinical heart health
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  research, a role established through a collaboration between Research Manitoba, St.
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  Boniface Hospital, and the Heart & Stroke foundations.
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  This position aims to advance our understanding and treatment of heart disease specifically as
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  it affects women.
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  Dr.
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  Zieroth's work will focus on developing a comprehensive women's heart care program in
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  Manitoba.
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  Her mission is to address the unique challenges women face regarding heart health, an area that
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  has historically been under-researched and often misunderstood.
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  The creation of this research chair signals a growing recognition of the need for dedicated
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  resources and research into women's cardiovascular health.
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  It aims to bridge the gap in knowledge and improve outcomes for women who are often
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  underrepresented in clinical trials and research studies.
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  With cardiovascular disease being a leading cause of death among women, this initiative is
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  both timely and crucial.
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  By tailoring research and care to meet the specific needs of women, Dr.
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  Zieroth and her team hope to develop more effective prevention and treatment strategies.
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  As Dr.
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  Zieroth embarks on this vital work, her research will likely provide new insights into
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  how heart disease manifests differently in women compared to men.
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  This could lead to more personalized and effective approaches to care, ultimately
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  improving the quality of life for women across Manitoba and beyond.
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  In closing, the establishment of this research chair is a promising development for women's
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  heart health.
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  It underscores the importance of gender-specific research in medicine and the
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  need for continued investment in understanding how diseases uniquely impact different
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  populations.
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  That wraps up today's episode of Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow.
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  I hope you found these stories as insightful as I did.
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  Join us again tomorrow as we continue to explore the latest developments in medical and
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  health news.
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  Until then, stay informed and take care of your health.