087 - Osteoporosis / Melanoma Breakthrough / Travel Insurance
The Body of Evidence
Understanding Osteoporosis: Diagnosis and Impact
This chapter explores osteoporosis, highlighting its impact on hip fractures and recovery. It discusses the DEXA method for measuring bone density, emphasizing the importance of assessing specific areas like the hip and spine for accurate diagnosis.
What does the body of evidence say on the topic of osteoporosis? Plus: we look at a genuinely breakthrough therapy for metastatic melanoma, and Chris lets you in on a troubling “secret” when it comes to travel health insurance! You will also learn what a “dowager’s hump” is and hear Chris sing, and for that we formally apologize.
Block 1:
(2:01) Osteoporosis: what it is; bone cells and how they are assessed
Block 2:
(9:02) Osteoporosis: bone mineral density, T-score and Z-score; can doctors see signs of osteoporosis in the clinic; causes of osteoporosis; treating it: lifestyle changes, supplements, bisphosphonates, and Prolia; screening guidelines
Block 3:
(32:04) Breakthrough therapy for metastatic melanoma: TILs (vs. ipilimumab)
Block 4:
(47:53) Travel insurance caveat
* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.
* Assistant researcher: Nicholas Koziris
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References:
1) Estrogen does reduce the risk of hip fracture from osteoporosis: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.288.3.321
2) Exercise increases bone mineral density in post-menopausal women: https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-108-6-824 & https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.288.18.2300
3) Calcium and vitamin D supplementation and the risk of fractures: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2017.19344
4) Medications can reduce the risk of osteoporotic fractures: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2685995
5) Screening guidelines from the US Preventive Services Task Force: https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/osteoporosis-screening
6) Results from the phase III clinical trial comparing TILs to ipilumumab in advanced melanoma: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2210233
It’s Not Twitter, But It’ll Do:
1) Jonathan on the Martial Culture Podcast: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-martial-culture-podcast/episode/combating-pseudoscience-unscientific-thinkings-in-martial-arts-w-jonathan-jarry-209989826
2) Jonathan’s article on the Healy: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/critical-thinking-pseudoscience/healy-old-woo-new-clothes
3) The Hard Fork Podcast: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/04/podcasts/hard-fork-technology.html
4) The CTV Montreal News website: https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/video?binId=1.1332485
5) The CBC Player: https://www.cbc.ca/player/news
6) The CJAD website: https://www.iheartradio.ca/cjad
7) Odyssey TV: http://odysseytv.ca/
8) Chris on the CBC, interviewed about mpox: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mpox-outbreak-canada-plateau-1.6696842
Time Machine:
1) Our episode on childbirth: https://bodyofevidence.ca/042-childbirth-and-crowdfunding-quackery
2) Our interview on conspirituality: https://bodyofevidence.ca/interview-matthew-remski-on-conspirituality
Music Credits:
The following music was used for this media project:
Music: 3am Glowsticks by Tim Kulig
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9166-3am-glowsticks
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
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