Better Edge : A Northwestern Medicine Podcast For Physicians

In this episode of the Better Edge podcast, Anjan Tibrewala, MD, discusses his paper published in Circulation: Heart Failure, “Impact of Heart Transplant Allocation Change on Waitlist Mortality and Posttransplant Mortality in Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Devices.”The study’s results found that despite the 2018 heart transplant allocation change deprioritizing patients with LVADs, patients with LVADs are living longer on the heart transplant waitlist. Interestingly, the study also demonstrated that patients with LVADs have slightly higher mortality after heart transplant following the allocation change. Dr. Tibrewala discusses recent advances in LVAD technology and what’s next in advanced heart failure care.

Ziho Lee, MD, discusses how ureteral stricture disease management has evolved over the past decade, emphasizing the impact of minimally invasive surgical techniques. Dr. Lee shares insights on how his team developed a patient-reported outcome measure, detailing their approach, validation process and the potential implications for clinical practice.

In this Better Edge podcast episode, a multidisciplinary panel of Northwestern Medicine experts — R. Mark Wiet, MD, otologist and neurotologist; Nicholas Hac, MD, otoneurologist; Stephen T. Magill, MD, PhD, neurosurgeon; and Kevin Y. Zhan, MD, otologist and neurotologist — discusses advances in the management of acoustic neuroma. They explore detection, diagnosis and treatment options and outline the advantages of a multidisciplinary approach, while also engaging in a case-based discussion.Physicians who listen to this podcast may claim continuing medical education credit after listening to an episode of this program.

Join Larissa Pavone, MD, Mary Keen, MD, and Anton Dietzen, MD, as they discuss the significance of muscle tone in young pediatric patients. They explore the causes and manifestations of high muscle tone, including hypertonia, and share insights on managing spasticity, dystonia, and rigidity. Learn about the latest diagnostic approaches and therapeutic strategies to support early development in children with muscle tone abnormalities. Dr. Pavone is associate chief medical officer of Northwestern Medicine Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital; Dr. Keen is a pediatric PM&R specialist; Dr. Dietzen is medical director of Pediatrics at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital.

David W. Manning, MD, and Caroline P. Thirukumaran, PhD, both of Northwestern Medicine Orthopaedic Surgery join the Better Edge podcast. They delve into the CMS Orthopedic Patient-Reported Outcome (PRO) Performance Measure for Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) and Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA).   Dr. Manning and Dr. Thirukumaran provide an in-depth discussion on these performance measures:   The benefits and challenges Integrating them into clinical practice How they may affect patient outcomes and satisfaction The future of PRO measures in orthopaedic care Anticipated advances in the reporting process

Jennifer U. Miles-Thomas, MD, explores the diagnosis and treatment of overactive bladder in women. She covers: • Underlying causes• Impact on quality of life• The range of treatment options Dr. Miles-Thomas highlights the importance of personalized care, shared decision-making and guidelines-based management for effective diagnosis and treatment.

In this episode of the Better Edge podcast, Bruce K. Tan, MD, associate professor of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at Northwestern Medicine, discusses his recent research study titled, “Increased Autoreactivity and Maturity of EBI2+ Antibody-Secreting Cells from Nasal Polyps,” which sheds light on the cells’ role in predicting polyp recurrence after sinus surgery and the potential implications for diagnosing and treating nasal polyps. The findings also contribute to our understanding of immune response, antibodies and inflammation in respiratory conditions, highlighting the unique activation mechanisms and tissue-resident memory cells in the airway.

Quentin R. Youmans, MD, MSc, and Alyssa M. Vela, PhD, discuss a recent paper they co-authored that explores the importance of addressing the unique psychosocial and emotional challenges faced by patients with advanced heart failure.

Yvonne C. Lee, MD, shares key takeaways from her ACR Convergence presentation on sleep disturbances in patients with rheumatoid diseases. Additionally, Dr. Lee gives an overview of the meeting’s standout presentations.

Perry Xu, MD, discusses his paper, which was a retrospective analysis of HoLEP in patients who held or continued blood thinners. Dr. Xu explains: • The use of the holmium laser in the procedure• Common indications for blood thinner therapy• Intraoperative and post-op outcomes • The clinical implications of the study findings

Hiten D. Patel, MD, joins this episode of Better Edge to discuss his research on using AI to help more accurately detect and stage prostate cancer.

Nilay S. Shah, MD, MPH, explores how social factors and disparities affect cardiovascular health in Asian American subgroups. He emphasizes the need to understand and address these factors in patient care.

Surendra Basti, MD, Manjot K. Gill, MD, and Angelo P. Tanna, MD, share what you need to know from AAO 2024.

Mary Keen, MD, a pediatric physiatrist, shares her extensive experience with rare pediatric conditions. Dr. Keen discusses the challenges of diagnosing these conditions, helpful resources for the diagnostic process, multidisciplinary approaches, innovative treatments, and the role of exercise in managing mitochondrial disorders and other rare conditions.

Keith Summa, MD, PhD, assistant professor of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Northwestern Medicine, explores the intricate relationship between circadian rhythms and gastrointestinal health. Discover how disruptions in sleep and circadian alignment can affect metabolic processes, intestinal permeability and overall GI function. Dr. Summa also covers the latest research findings and their implications for conditions like obesity, diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease.

Sarah E. Chuzi, MD, and Courtney Bartelstein, PA-C, offer insights on the broad clinical and community impact of the COMPASS-HF program at Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute. COMPASS-HF, which stands for Comprehensive Palliative Care and Supportive Services for People with Heart Failure, seeks to support patients with advanced heart failure and their caregivers as they navigate a variety of symptoms, unique psychosocial challenges and complex decisions. 

Join Laura M. Kulik, MD, a gastroenterologist at Northwestern Medicine, as she explores the latest advances in liver cancer care. Dr. Kulik shares her expertise on emerging therapies and the role of collaborative management in this complex field.

Northwestern Medicine’s Srikanth N. Divi, MD, an orthopedic surgeon, and Najib El Tecle, MD, a neurosurgeon, discuss the transformative impact of AI on spine surgery. They explore how AI enhances diagnostic accuracy, reduces complications and improves surgical outcomes. Additionally, Dr. Divi and Dr. El Tecle delve into the critical aspects of AI in medical applications, including machine learning and imaging analysis.Learn more or refer a patient to the Northwestern Medicine Center for Spine Health 

Clyde W. Yancy, MD, MSc, discusses “Heart Failure in African American Individuals, Version 2.0,” his editorial recently published in JAMA. He emphasizes the importance of understanding genetic factors in predicting and managing heart failure in African American people, as well as the implications for genetic screening. Dr. Yancy highlights ways to address health disparities in cardiovascular care that Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute is putting into practice.

Robert E. Brannigan, MD, expands on the American Urological Association and American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s 2024 amendment to the male infertility guideline. As chair of these guideline amendments, Dr. Brannigan delves into recommendation updates, as well as their effect on diagnostic processes and how male infertility is evaluated.