The Scope Radio

Different hospitals treat end-of-life patients differently, which fascinates Dr. Amber Barnato. She asks several questions concerning this: Does the prolific use of ICU procedures coincide with patient wishes? What drives one hospital to use an iron lung to keep a patient alive at all costs, while another one almost never uses intensive care procedures on the terminally ill? She goes where no researcher has gone before and shares her findings.

It’s never easy to bring up the declining health of parents and loved ones, especially at a time that’s meant to be happy and celebratory. But Dr. Norman Foster, Director of the Center for Alzheimer’s Care, says there are many benefits to discussing the matter with the whole family around. He provides pointers for bringing the topic up and how to move forward with everybody involved.

Recursion Pharmaceuticals has developed a new method of drug discovery that they claim will lead to 100 new treatments for hard-to-treat rare genetic diseases within 10 years. Christopher Gibson, Ph.D., CEO of Recursion, explains the technology that allows them to rapidly screen through hundreds of candidate treatments for nearly any genetic disease. He also describes why they are opting to screen through old, already existing drugs, instead of developing new ones. Their approach has already led to identification of a potential therapeutic for cerebral cavernous malformation, a finding recently published in Circulation . Learn more.

Statistics reveal the optimal time for a baby to enter the world, but sometimes it doesn’t work out as planned. Dr. Kirtly Jones discusses the perfect timetable with high-risk pregnancy specialist Dr. Erin Clark. A nationwide study is under way to determine if elective induction of labor can have a positive effect on birthing outcomes. The study is currently seeking first-time expectant mothers for randomized trials.

There's a common skiing injury that can quickly develop into a chronic and painful condition if ignored. The problem is many times it’s shrugged off as a tweak or strain, so it goes untreated and develops into a life changing injury that might prevent you from skiing again. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. David Rothberg describes the symptoms of skiers thumb, how it happens and why it’s so important to get it looked at immediately after you first notice the symptoms.

Family dinners, holiday parties, jingle bells and presents! It’s that joyous time of the year again – but you’re feeling depressed and moody. Are you really depressed or just stressed? Psychiatrist Dr. Jason Hunziker talks about the signs and symptoms of holiday depression, why it’s common this time of year and tips for recapturing some holiday cheer.

Have you ever felt like something was wrong but you weren’t sure what? Patients who suffer from nebulous symptoms can’t always communicate their conditions concisely to their physician. Dr. Tom Miller contends that your doctor can usually figure it out. Reluctant patients often choose to live with a nagging problem or fear discovering something serious. Doctors, however, have time tested strategies and can generally offer reassurance for concerned patients.

It can be difficult to know the cause – and cure – for abdominal pain, especially in children. Dr. Cindy Gellner lists some common causes of abdominal pain as well as simple home treatments for the discomfort. Some of the causes might surprise you.

The choice to abstain from eating meat and other animal products can be a healthy alternative. Registered dietitian Kary Woodruff says it should be a well-informed decision. Some nutrients are hard to find in plants alone, and being aware of potential deficiencies can help steer vegetarians toward more balanced nutrition.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is known as the silent killer. It is colorless and odorless and can cause sudden illness and even death when not monitored. Carbon monoxide poisoning increases during the winter. Marty Malheiro from the Utah Poison Control Center discusses the causes and symptoms of CO poisoning and why many people mistake it for the flu. She also speaks about risk factors for dangerous levels of CO in the home, what to do if you suspect your home has too much CO and how to prevent CO from becoming a threat in your home.

An interview lets you accentuate your own personal brand. Medical student and nationally ranked cyclist Tim Mulvihill has been in the hot seat numerous times and shares what fellow Med-school applicants will encounter during the interview process. This high achiever with a unique perspective shares some positive advice about interviewing.

Whooping cough is a deadly disease, and it’s more likely your baby will get it now than ever. There were more cases in 2012 than in the previous 60 years. Newborns are especially vulnerable to it because they can’t get vaccinated until they are 2 months old. So how can you protect them? Listen to find out why Dr. Kirtly Jones says you should get the TDaP shot every time you are pregnant and what the rest of your family can do to prevent you child from getting this deadly disease.

Examination of DNA from 21 primate species – from squirrel monkeys to humans – exposes an evolutionary war against infectious bacteria over iron that circulates in the blood. Published in Science, these findings demonstrate the vital importance of an underappreciated defense mechanism, nutritional immunity, in fighting infectious disease. Matthew Barber, Ph.D., first author and postdoctoral fellow in human genetics at the University of Utah, describes the study and how it models an approach for uncovering reservoirs of genetic resistance to bacterial infections, knowledge that could be used to confront antibiotic resistance and emerging diseases.

The holidays can be stressful and bring down anyone’s mood temporarily. But how do you know when you’ve got Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and not just the Winter Blues? If your interest level drops, you prefer to be alone and you often pretend to be happy when you’re not, it might be SAD. Dr. Jason Hunziker from the University of Utah describes the symptoms of SAD and explains why it happens. He also discusses risk factors and potential treatments for SAD.

Young people who suffer strokes still have long lives ahead of them, and the goal of rehabilitation is to help recovering patients achieve their full potential. Stroke survivor Amy Steinbrech speaks with Dr. Steven Edgley, director of stroke rehabilitation, about striving to live a full life after such a major setback. Dr. Edgley shares advice and firsthand experience about the immense task returning to a high level of functionality presents. Amy is living proof.