Unbiased Science

On this episode of the pod, we return to our discussion on COVID-19. We present updates on the state of COVID-19 with regards to number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. We also provide updates on vaccine rollout and the percentage of the population that has been partially and fully vaccinated. We also share some CDC-generated forecasts for next month. We spend some time discussing variants-- in particular the B.1.1.7 variant (also known as the UK variant) which is now the dominant strain in the United States, and how it is shifting the dynamics of viral transmission. We spend some time discussing the increase in cases among children and young adults, and the implications for mitigation measures. We discuss the recent updates released by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna on long-term efficacy of the vaccines and, of course, discuss the latest on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine pause. We provide details from the recent ACIP meeting and what we expect to occur in the coming weeks. Finally, we recap some best practices and practical things you can do to continue to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.PLEASE NOTE: The discussion and information provided in this podcast are for general educational, scientific, and informational purposes only and are not intended as, and should not be treated as, medical or other professional advice for any particular individual or individuals. Every person and medical issue is different, and diagnosis and treatment requires consideration of specific facts often unique to the individual. As such, the information contained in this podcast should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and/or treatment by a doctor or other medical professional. If you are experiencing any medical issue or have any medical concern, you should consult with a doctor or other medical professional. Further, due to the inherent limitations of a podcast such as this as well as ongoing scientific developments, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information or analysis provided in this podcast, although, of course we always endeavor to provide comprehensive information and analysis. In no event may Unbiased Science or any of the participants in this podcast be held liable to the listener or anyone else for any decision allegedly made or action allegedly taken or not taken allegedly in reliance on the discussion or information in this podcast or for any damages allegedly resulting from such reliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s episode, we are continuing our discussion on Lyme disease. After a brief refresher of some key points from last week’s episode, we focus on the physical manifestations of Lyme disease, including signs and symptoms. We then discuss the diagnostic method, with an emphasis on some of the unreliable labs that use unproven tests to overreport Lyme diagnoses. We also cover the approved (and effective!) treatments for Lyme disease and why there is no longer an available vaccine. We switch gears to focus on the substantial controversy surrounding Lyme disease, especially with regards to unproven and disproven treatments, chronic Lyme disease, and some of the bad players in the world of Lyme, including clinicians and organizations that appear legitimate. We spend some time discussing the misnomer that is chronic Lyme disease, and why long-term and unproven treatments can be quite dangerous for people. We emphasize red flags to watch out for when trying to verify information you find online regarding Lyme disease and hope to equip you with a better understanding of this infection that is surrounded by misinformation.PLEASE NOTE: The discussion and information provided in this podcast are for general educational, scientific, and informational purposes only and are not intended as, and should not be treated as, medical or other professional advice for any particular individual or individuals. Every person and medical issue is different, and diagnosis and treatment requires consideration of specific facts often unique to the individual. As such, the information contained in this podcast should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and/or treatment by a doctor or other medical professional. If you are experiencing any medical issue or have any medical concern, you should consult with a doctor or other medical professional. Further, due to the inherent limitations of a podcast such as this as well as ongoing scientific developments, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information or analysis provided in this podcast, although, of course we always endeavor to provide comprehensive information and analysis. In no event may Unbiased Science or any of the participants in this podcast be held liable to the listener or anyone else for any decision allegedly made or action allegedly taken or not taken allegedly in reliance on the discussion or information in this podcast or for any damages allegedly resulting from such reliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s episode, we start our discussion about Lyme disease, an infection that is riddled with misconceptions and misinformation. First, we open the conversation with a primer on ticks as disease vectors, including an overview of different tick species and the array of different tick-borne pathogens that exist. We then discuss Lyme disease specifically, a bacterial infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi that is transmitted by specific species of ticks. We spend some time focusing on how the best offense is defense – and discuss best practices for avoiding tick bites, including tick checks, repellents, and pesticides that are effective. We elaborate on the infection process if you are bit by an infected tick, including which ticks are actually able to spread infection and how it occurs, as well as how infection is diagnosed and treated. At the end of the episode, we start our discussion on the different pathology of disease, as a primer for part 2, which will elaborate on illness itself and dispel many of the myths associated with Lyme disease.PLEASE NOTE: The discussion and information provided in this podcast are for general educational, scientific, and informational purposes only and are not intended as, and should not be treated as, medical or other professional advice for any particular individual or individuals. Every person and medical issue is different, and diagnosis and treatment requires consideration of specific facts often unique to the individual. As such, the information contained in this podcast should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and/or treatment by a doctor or other medical professional. If you are experiencing any medical issue or have any medical concern, you should consult with a doctor or other medical professional. Further, due to the inherent limitations of a podcast such as this as well as ongoing scientific developments, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information or analysis provided in this podcast, although, of course we always endeavor to provide comprehensive information and analysis. In no event may Unbiased Science or any of the participants in this podcast be held liable to the listener or anyone else for any decision allegedly made or action allegedly taken or not taken allegedly in reliance on the discussion or information in this podcast or for any damages allegedly resulting from such reliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s episode, we take a trip into the past to discuss the history of vaccines. We start with an overview of smallpox, a debilitating illness that has plagued humans for thousands of years, and how attempts to prevent smallpox resulted in the first rudimentary immunizations through the process of variolation. Over time, variolation evolved to the first instances of vaccinations, and we detail Edward Jenner’s famous accounts of using cowpox to immunize individuals against smallpox. From there, we discuss the rapid emergence of scientific advances regarding infectious diseases and vaccine technologies, tracking Pasteur’s and Koch’s work on Germ Theory of Disease and the development of rabies vaccinations. We summarize the progression and evolution of vaccines through the 19th and 20th centuries, highlighting some key examples. We discuss Diphtheria and the basis for toxoid vaccines, as well as the development of subunit vaccines which paved the way for the current vaccine technology era: using mRNA and viral vectors in vaccines. We wrap up with a summary of the global impact of vaccines, and how vaccinations have dramatically reduced the prevalence of illness and mortality of many infectious diseases around the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of the pod, we discuss the history of epidemiology. We kick things off with a definition of the term and clarify that epidemiology is not specific to infectious disease but rather all diseases, as well as their risk factors. We take a trip down memory lane and revisit the different eras of epidemiology including the sanitary era, the infectious disease era, the risk factor and black box epidemiology era, and what many call the eco-epidemiology era of today. We dig into some epidemiological case studies of yesteryear, including the famous case of John Snow and the Broad Street Cholera outbreak of 1854. We also highlight some other key players in the evolution of epidemiology as a science and the critical roles they played. We also briefly discuss Hill's causal criteria and their use (still today!) in strengthening our confidence in attributing a causal link to an association. We hope you enjoy!PLEASE NOTE: The discussion and information provided in this podcast are for general educational, scientific, and informational purposes only and are not intended as, and should not be treated as, medical or other professional advice for any particular individual or individuals. Every person and medical issue is different, and diagnosis and treatment requires consideration of specific facts often unique to the individual. As such, the information contained in this podcast should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and/or treatment by a doctor or other medical professional. If you are experiencing any medical issue or have any medical concern, you should consult with a doctor or other medical professional. Further, due to the inherent limitations of a podcast such as this as well as ongoing scientific developments, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information or analysis provided in this podcast, although, of course we always endeavor to provide comprehensive information and analysis. In no event may Unbiased Science or any of the participants in this podcast be held liable to the listener or anyone else for any decision allegedly made or action allegedly taken or not taken allegedly in reliance on the discussion or information in this podcast or for any damages allegedly resulting from such reliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's episode of the pod we talk about our respective careers in STEM. We discuss the paths that led us here, our education and training, and the different fields that one can pursue with advanced degrees in a STEM field ranging from academia to applied science. Andrea discusses her relatively linear path from a child fascinated by bugs to her PhD in immunology, and Jess describes her more circuitous route leading her to a DrPH. We welcome our first ever guest to the pod, Dr. Bill Gallo, a health economist and data scientist who left a decades-long career in academia to pursue an entrepreneurial venture. We discuss some of the challenges we faced along the way, as well as the things that keep us going. If you've ever considering pursuing a career in STEM, we encourage you to tune in!PLEASE NOTE: The discussion and information provided in this podcast are for general educational, scientific, and informational purposes only and are not intended as, and should not be treated as, medical or other professional advice for any particular individual or individuals. Every person and medical issue is different, and diagnosis and treatment requires consideration of specific facts often unique to the individual. As such, the information contained in this podcast should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and/or treatment by a doctor or other medical professional. If you are experiencing any medical issue or have any medical concern, you should consult with a doctor or other medical professional. Further, due to the inherent limitations of a podcast such as this as well as ongoing scientific developments, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information or analysis provided in this podcast, although, of course we always endeavor to provide comprehensive information and analysis. In no event may Unbiased Science or any of the participants in this podcast be held liable to the listener or anyone else for any decision allegedly made or action allegedly taken or not taken allegedly in reliance on the discussion or information in this podcast or for any damages allegedly resulting from such reliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's pod, we continued the fun of exploring the science (or lack thereof) behind some popular old wives' tales! We tackled the old adage (pun intended) that pulling out a grey hair will result in two more growing in its place. Next, we discuss whether it's safe to swim within an hour of eating. We then revisited a topic we've covered in the past-- taking vitamin C to "cure" a cold (we do a deep dive on our "Spilling the Immuni-Tea" episode if you want to check that out). Next, we tackle whether it's true that having heartburn in pregnancy means you'll have a hairy baby (you'll be reminded of one of our favorite phrases, "correlation, not causation"). We also discuss whether saltwater cures a sore throat and whether honey cures a cough. Next, we move to fruits and veggies-- does an apple a day really keep the doctor away, and can eating carrots improve your vision? You'll have to tune in to find out!PLEASE NOTE: The discussion and information provided in this podcast are for general educational, scientific, and informational purposes only and are not intended as, and should not be treated as, medical or other professional advice for any particular individual or individuals. Every person and medical issue is different, and diagnosis and treatment requires consideration of specific facts often unique to the individual. As such, the information contained in this podcast should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and/or treatment by a doctor or other medical professional. If you are experiencing any medical issue or have any medical concern, you should consult with a doctor or other medical professional. Further, due to the inherent limitations of a podcast such as this as well as ongoing scientific developments, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information or analysis provided in this podcast, although, of course we always endeavor to provide comprehensive information and analysis. In no event may Unbiased Science or any of the participants in this podcast be held liable to the listener or anyone else for any decision allegedly made or action allegedly taken or not taken allegedly in reliance on the discussion or information in this podcast or for any damages allegedly resulting from such reliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the pod, we take a little break from COVID-19 to debunk some common old wives' tales related to health. Lots of listeners wrote in with many great ideas, so this will be a two-parter! We kick things off by breaking down the old adage, "feed a cold, starve a fever" (and we recommend changing it to "feed a cold, feed a fever"). Next, we tackle the myth that you’ll get sick from being outside in the cold and/or going outside with wet hair in the winter (remember...correlation doesn't equal causation). Lots of people wanted us to discuss whether there's scientific support for drinking cranberry juice to treat and/or prevent urinary tract infections-- so we did! Finally, we talk about the [lack of] scientific evidence for putting raw cut onions on the soles of your feet to stave off a cold. Spoiler alert: that one really stinks! We hope you’ll tune in and enjoy!PLEASE NOTE: The discussion and information provided in this podcast are for general educational, scientific, and informational purposes only and are not intended as, and should not be treated as, medical or other professional advice for any particular individual or individuals. Every person and medical issue is different, and diagnosis and treatment requires consideration of specific facts often unique to the individual. As such, the information contained in this podcast should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and/or treatment by a doctor or other medical professional. If you are experiencing any medical issue or have any medical concern, you should consult with a doctor or other medical professional. Further, due to the inherent limitations of a podcast such as this as well as ongoing scientific developments, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information or analysis provided in this podcast, although, of course we always endeavor to provide comprehensive information and analysis. In no event may Unbiased Science or any of the participants in this podcast be held liable to the listener or anyone else for any decision allegedly made or action allegedly taken or not taken allegedly in reliance on the discussion or information in this podcast or for any damages allegedly resulting from such reliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s podcast episode, we get back to COVID-19 vaccine discussions, but with a different angle: focusing on the vaccine manufacturing, development, and deployment pipelines. We start with the U.S. and global statistics for vaccination rates, and then focus on a discussion of the parameters that impact the access to vaccines for countries around the world. We summarize the currently utilized vaccines globally and which countries are utilizing them, before focusing on the bottlenecks through the entire vaccine deployment process. We focus on bottlenecks encountered in manufacturing and supply chain of raw materials, bottlenecks with regard to personnel needed across all phases of a vaccination campaign, and bottlenecks involved with distribution and storage. We discuss some of the plans, both in the U.S. and globally, that are being implemented to address the current roadblocks, and some of the ways in which the world can address vaccine equity.PLEASE NOTE: The discussion and information provided in this podcast are for general educational, scientific, and informational purposes only and are not intended as, and should not be treated as, medical or other professional advice for any particular individual or individuals. Every person and medical issue is different, and diagnosis and treatment requires consideration of specific facts often unique to the individual. As such, the information contained in this podcast should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and/or treatment by a doctor or other medical professional. If you are experiencing any medical issue or have any medical concern, you should consult with a doctor or other medical professional. Further, due to the inherent limitations of a podcast such as this as well as ongoing scientific developments, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information or analysis provided in this podcast, although, of course we always endeavor to provide comprehensive information and analysis. In no event may Unbiased Science or any of the participants in this podcast be held liable to the listener or anyone else for any decision allegedly made or action allegedly taken or not taken allegedly in reliance on the discussion or information in this podcast or for any damages allegedly resulting from such reliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the pod, we take a little break from COVID-19 to discuss essential oils. We kick things off with a description of essential oils, their history, and their applications. We discuss some of the purported benefits of essential oils and touted medicinal applications. We then dive into the scientific evidence (or lack thereof) on the actual benefits of essential oils and the findings from studies that have been conducted (and the difference between human trials and in vitro studies). We talk specifically about a few commonly used essential oils such as lavender and tea tree oil. We discuss the lack of regulation of essential oils and implications for inaccurate labeling of products. Finally, we spend some time talking about the potential harms of essential oils to humans and animals that must be taken into consideration.PLEASE NOTE: The discussion and information provided in this podcast are for general educational, scientific, and informational purposes only and are not intended as, and should not be treated as, medical or other professional advice for any particular individual or individuals. Every person and medical issue is different, and diagnosis and treatment requires consideration of specific facts often unique to the individual. As such, the information contained in this podcast should not be used as a substitute for consultation with and/or treatment by a doctor or other medical professional. If you are experiencing any medical issue or have any medical concern, you should consult with a doctor or other medical professional. Further, due to the inherent limitations of a podcast such as this as well as ongoing scientific developments, we do not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information or analysis provided in this podcast, although, of course we always endeavor to provide comprehensive information and analysis. In no event may Unbiased Science or any of the participants in this podcast be held liable to the listener or anyone else for any decision allegedly made or action allegedly taken or not taken allegedly in reliance on the discussion or information in this podcast or for any damages allegedly resulting from such reliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices