Clinician's Roundtable

Host: Lee Freedman, MD Guest: Shelley Salpeter, MD Can metformin safely improve metabolic variables such as weight, lipids, fasting glucose and onset of outright diabetes? Will the improvement in these surrogate endpoints translate into fewer events? Dr. Shelley Salpeter joins host Dr. Lee Freedman to review the rationale for and data behind using metformin in high risk individuals to prevent the onset of type II diabetes mellitus.

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Nathaniel Soper, MD Innovations in minimally invasive surgery and endoscopy platforms are contributing to a promising procedural field called Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES). Dr. Nathaniel Soper, professor and chair of surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and one of the first surgeons in the United States to perform NOTES procedures, joins host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill. Does early research on NOTES methods give us a perspective on long-term outcomes following the procedure? Do NOTES procedures beget any changes in role for nurses and other key contributors in the operating room?

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Nathaniel Soper, MD Innovations in minimally invasive surgery and endoscopy platforms are contributing to a promising procedural field called Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES). Dr. Nathaniel Soper, professor and chair of surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and one of the first surgeons in the United States to perform NOTES procedures, discusses some of the early findings on NOTES procedures. Dr. Soper also shares his perspective as a fundamental contributor to the early stages of this nascent surgical research. Dr. Mark Nolan Hill hosts.

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Nathaniel Soper, MD Innovations in minimally invasive surgery and endoscopy platforms are contributing to a promising procedural field called Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES). Which patients are the most likely candidates for NOTES procedures? Dr. Nathaniel Soper, professor and chair of surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and one of the first surgeons in the United States to perform NOTES procedures, joins host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill.

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Nathaniel Soper, MD Innovations in minimally invasive surgery and endoscopy platforms are contributing to a promising procedural field called Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES). Dr. Nathaniel Soper, professor and chair of surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and one of the first surgeons in the United States to perform NOTES procedures, joins host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill. What are the most appealing benefits of NOTES? How do we anticipate patients will respond following a NOTES procedure?

Host: Maurice Pickard, MD Guest: Andrew Vickers, PhD How does the scientific researcher open his data yet still protect himself and advance his career? Dr. Andrew Vickers talks about data access, data sharing and the lack of a code of conduct for physicians releasing data. He reminds us that many scientific advances would not have occurred if not for shared data. Join host Dr. Maurie Pickard for an ethical discussion about open data.

Host: Maurice Pickard, MD Guest: Andrew Vickers, PhD Dr. Andrew Vickers discusses the continuing trend of medical reseachers refusing to release raw data after publication. What impact does this make on delaying the advancement of science? Are doctors viewing these results as their personal property? Is there a danger that the public's perception will be that clinical trials are for the benefit of the scientist's career rather then the patients? Join host Dr. Maurie Pickard for an interesting discussion.

Host: Paul Raeburn Guest: Prof. John Kastelein, Chief Scientific Officer, NewAmsterdam Pharma This special report from the 2008 American College of Cardiology conference features highlights of several leading research studies unveiled at the meeting, including the first release of scientific details of the ENHANCE trial. Several leading cardiologists, including ENHANCE trial principal investigator, Dr. John Kastelein, give host Paul Raeburn their candid reactions to the ENHANCE findings.

Host: Susan Dolan, RN, JD Guest: David Feldman, PhD Guest: Andrew Lasher, MD During this segment, Dr. David Feldman and Dr. Andrew Lasher offer expert advice about end-of-life care from their book, The End-of-Life Handbook. Susan Dolan hosts.

Host: Susan Dolan, RN, JD Guest: David Feldman, PhD Guest: Andrew Lasher, MD During this segment hear the coauthors of The End-of-Life Handbook, Dr. David Feldman and Dr. Andrew Lasher, offer their best advice for handling challenging issues surrounding the end of life.