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Health Check

Latest episodes

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Nov 6, 2024 • 26min

Tuberculosis returns as top infectious disease

A new global report has found that tuberculosis is once again the leading infectious disease causing mortality around the globe, as covid cases recede. We find out what can be done to tackle the issue, and what lessons have been learned in the fight against this pernicious, but largely curable, illness. Also on the show, are we seeing the first cases of locally transmitted Mpox outside of the African continent? And FND, or functional neurologic disorder – the most common disorder you’ve probably never heard of.Image Credit: KATERYNA KON/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
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Oct 30, 2024 • 26min

Weight loss gold rush

Claire Wilson, a science writer, discusses the global implications of egg donation, shedding light on diverse regulations and practices worldwide. Katie Palmer, a health technology correspondent, investigates the telehealth boom and its role in online prescriptions for weight-loss drugs, raising concerns about patient safety. Miranda Walpert, Director of Mental Health at the Wellcome Trust, reveals the promising outcomes of avatar therapy for psychosis, highlighting how personalized avatars help patients confront intrusive voices and improve their mental health.
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Oct 23, 2024 • 26min

Organ transplant in HIV+ patients

A new study from America looks at the safety of organ transplants between people with HIV. Its promising results raise the potential for expanding access to life-saving treatments.This week's show also examines a surprising resurgence of scurvy, a disease often associated with historical poverty. Is the current cost of living crisis contributing to nutritional deficiencies? Plus, an update from the Africa CDC reveals encouraging news about the Marburg virus outbreak, but a grim warning about the spread of Mpox. Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producer: Margaret Sessa Hawkins
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Oct 16, 2024 • 26min

Rapid malaria diagnoses

Can rapid diagnostic tests make a difference in the fight against malaria? A new study tries to quantify the real-world difference these tests are making.Also on the show, what can we learn from a single documented case of a medical anomaly: like the recent study of a break dancer presenting with a thickened skull. And Claudia learns to surf – all in the name of health. Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producer: Margaret Sessa-Hawkins
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Oct 9, 2024 • 26min

Micro RNA wins Nobel

The discovery of Micro RNA has won the Nobel Prize for medicine. We learn more about what micro RNA is, how it contributes to gene regulation, and what that means for our health.Also on the programme, there has been an outbreak of Marburg virus in Rwanda, and the pharmaceutical company Gilead is making a revolutionary HIV medication available to countries that need it most. But does this good news story have an unexpected downside. We learn more on Health Check.
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Oct 2, 2024 • 26min

Mpox widens its reach

As mpox continues to spread to new places, we find out how the vaccine rollout is going and what more needs to be done to help both contain and better understand the virus.Also on the show; why the first medication approved to treat schizophrenia in decades has the world of psychiatry excited, and how finding out what doesn’t work in health care can be just as useful as knowing what does. Plus, can laughter help treat dry eye disease? Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producer: Margaret Sessa-Hawkins and Katie Tomsett
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Sep 25, 2024 • 26min

Vector-borne diseases

As vector-borne diseases begin to spread more widely around the world, we look at why, what the effects are, and what can be done.Also on the program, a new study has examined the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic, what did they find, and how is this different from previous papers? And can space flight age you? A new study tries to find out.Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producer: Margaret Sessa-Hawkins and Katie Tomsett
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Sep 18, 2024 • 26min

Polio Vaccination in Afghanistan

The Taliban has denied reports that they are halting polio vaccines in Afghanistan – so what is going on? We take a look at what is happening in the country, and how it could effect polio eradication efforts worldwide. Also on the show, an important U.S. pathogen database loses funding, and why placebos that cause you pain may be more effective.Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producer: Margaret Sessa-Hawkins and Katie Tomsett
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Sep 11, 2024 • 26min

Haiti: Healthcare in the Midst of Conflict

As Haiti expands its state of emergency to cover the entire country, we take a look at the deterioration of the country’s healthcare system.Also on the show, how does long covid affect children, is a global twin book just down to IVF, and we hear from you about objects associated with grief that have sentimental importance.Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producer: Margaret Sessa-Hawkins
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Sep 4, 2024 • 26min

The race to distribute Mpox vaccines

Explore the arrival of MPox vaccines in Africa and the hurdles in their distribution. Delve into the intriguing question of whether catching up on weekend sleep can truly benefit heart health. Discover the latest research on snakebite treatments using heparin, showcasing its promise. Hear amusing tales of snake encounters in Australia that add a lighthearted touch. Finally, weigh the balance between innovative weight loss drugs and traditional health practices in the face of evolving health challenges.

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