Mayo Clinic Talks

Mayo Q & A: COVID-19 Variants and the Evolving Science

This episode is shared from Mayo Clinic Q&A and was recorded in February, 2021

Guest:  Gregory A. Poland, M.D. (@drgregpoland) 

Host: Halena M. Gazelka, M.D. (@hmgazelkamd)   

People may be curious, confused or critical of what seem to be changing messages related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group, reminds folks that messages change because data changes and the science evolves.

"As we learn new science, we use that science to modify our recommendations," says Dr. Poland. "It's not that scientists are flip-flopping. It is that new data allows us to begin expanding those recommendations."

For instance, COVID-19 cases and deaths in the U.S. are currently declining. But, Dr. Poland says, there are new data predicting the possibility of another surge of COVID-19 infections in March because of U.K. variant transmission.

In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast Dr. Poland talks about several issues, including the U.K. variant, vaccine development and the public’s COVID-19 fatigue.

AskMayoExpert COVID-19 Resources: https://askmayoexpert.mayoclinic.org/navigator/COVID-19

Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

COVID-19 Miniseries Episode 66: Monoclonal Antibody Treatment for COVID-19

Guest: Ravindra Ganesh, M.B.B.S., M.D. and Raymund R. Razonable, M.D. 

Host: Amit K. Ghosh, M.D. (@AmitGhosh006) 

In this episode, Ravindra Ganesh, M.B.B.S., M.D. and Raymund R. Razonable, M.D. join Amit K. Ghosh, M.D. to review the use of monoclonal antibody as a new antiviral agent in the treatment of COVID-19 infection. 

Who is most likely to benefit from monoclonal antibody infusions? Drs. Ganesh and Razonable, discuss recent studies on monoclonal antibody infusions in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 infections. Also discussed are the logistical challenges faced and the innovative solutions that were implemented while administering this therapy, particularly navigating the acceptance of treatment, its real and perceived side effects, and lack of awareness due to inequity and poverty. Research on the development of subcutaneous or intramuscular administration for prophylaxis against COVID-19 in patients at high risk for complications or at high risk for being exposed to SARS-CoV-2 is also discussed in this episode. 

Additional resources: 

• AskMayoExpert COVID-19 Navigator: https://askmayoexpert.mayoclinic.org/navigator/COVID-19 
• Weinreich DM, Sivapalasingam S, Norton T, et al. REGN-COV2, a neutralizing antibody cocktail, in outpatients with Covid-19. N Engl J Med 2021;384:238-251. 
• Chen P, Nirula A, Heller B, et al. SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody LY-CoV555 in outpatients with Covid-19. N Engl J Med 2021;384:229-237. 
• Gottlieb RL, Nirula A, Chen P, et al. Effect of Bamlanivimab as Monotherapy or in Combination With Etesevimab on Viral Load in Patients With Mild to Moderate COVID-19: A Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA. Published online January 21, 2021. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.0202 
• An EUA for Bamlanivimab—A Monoclonal Antibody for COVID-19. JAMA. Published online December 11, 2020. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.24415 
• Monoclonal Antibodies: Update on this COVID-19 Experimental Therapy  https://discoverysedge.mayo.edu/2021/02/17/monoclonal-antibodies-update-on-this-covid-19-experimental-therapy/ 

Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd. 

COVID-19 Miniseries Episode 65: Restoring Function for Long-Haulers

Guest: Greg Vanichkachorn, M.D., M.P.H.

Host: Amit K. Ghosh, M.D. (@AmitGhosh006)

For some patients who have had COVID-19, symptoms of the disease may last long after the infection is over. Long-haulers syndrome due to COVID-19 could include profound fatigue, shortness of breath, and long-term neurological complaints, including headache, dizziness, or weakness. Mayo Clinic has launched the COVID Activity Rehabilitation Program, or CARP, to help these patients return to daily life and work. CARP is not just for folks who are trying to get back to work, but for anyone trying to get back to their baseline life.

In this episode, Dr. Greg Vanichkachorn, a Mayo Clinic preventive, occupational and aerospace medicine specialist who leads the CARP program, gives an overview of COVID long haulers and how post-COVID symptoms affects patients. He also shares the goals and results of Mayo Clinic CARP program.

Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

Answers From the Lab: The Impact of COVID-19 Variants

This episode is shared from Answers from the Lab and was originally published February 2, 2021. 

Guest: Matthew J. Binnicker, Ph.D. (@DrMattBinnicker)

Host: William G. Morice, II M.D., Ph.D. (@moricemdphd)

Matthew Binnicker, Ph.D., vice chair of practice for Mayo Clinic's Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, joins William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, for this week's "Answers From the Lab" leadership update. In this episode, Dr. Binnicker and Dr. Morice discuss the impact that emerging COVID-19 variants could have on virus testing, vaccine and spread.

For more, follow the Mayo Clinic Labs on Twitter @mayocliniclabs or visit https://news.mayocliniclabs.com/podcast/answers-from-the-lab/ to check out all of their episodes.

COVID-19 Miniseries Episode 64: Leveraging Community Care for Scalable Outpatient Management of COVID-19

Guest: Ravindra Ganesh, M.B.B.S., M.D.

Host: Amit K. Ghosh, M.D. (@AmitGhosh006)

The Mayo Clinic COVID Frontline Healthcare Team (CFCT) is an integrated team comprised of doctors and support staff, including nurses, remote monitoring technicians, medical assistants, and desk staff. These teams are responsible for evidence-based management of all newly diagnosed COVID-19 patients. We’re joined by CFCT Codirector Ravindra Ganesh, M.B.B.S., M.D., to discuss the essential roles of CFCT’s during the pandemic.

Topics include how they:

1. Notify all patients who receive a COVID positive test result in Mayo/Mayo Clinic Health service in the Midwest region through phone call or portal messaging with attached questionnaire
2. Conduct outpatient monitoring and follow-up as well as identify patient at high risk for decompensation
3. Prevent COVID positive patients from coming to the Mayo Clinic facilities by remote monitoring and risk assessment
4. Reinforce social isolation recommendations from public health to all COVID positive patients and assess safety to come off isolation

Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

COVID-19 Miniseries Episode 63: Mayo Clinic Q&A - #AskTheMayoMom about Sports Participation During COVID-19

This episode is shared from Mayo Clinic Q&A and was recorded in February, 2021

To claim credit visit: https://ce.mayo.edu/covid19podcast 

Guest:  David B. Soma, M.D. (@DrDaveSoma); Talha Niaz, M.B.B.S.

Host: Angela C. Mattke, M.D. (@DrAngelaMattke)

There are many benefits to sports participation for children and adolescents. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, activities such as youth sports have been put on hold or modified to decrease the spread of COVID-19. Also, the scientific community is learning about when it is safe to return to sports participation following COVID-19 infection.  

On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, "Ask the Mayo Mom" host and Mayo Clinic pediatrician, Dr. Angela Mattke is joined by Dr. David Soma, a pediatric sports medicine physician at Mayo Clinic Children's Center, to discuss sports participation during the COVID-19 pandemic and what you need to know about return to play after COVID-19 infection. Also joining Drs. Mattke and Soma is Dr. Talha Niaz, a pediatric cardiologist at Mayo Clinic. 

AskMayoExpert COVID-19 Resources: https://askmayoexpert.mayoclinic.org/navigator/COVID-19 

Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd. 

COVID-19 Miniseries Episode 62: Mayo Clinic Q&A: COVID-19 Virus, Variants and Vaccines Update

This episode is shared from Mayo Clinic Q&A and was recorded in February, 2021

To claim credit visit: https://ce.mayo.edu/covid19podcast 

Guest:  Gregory A. Poland, M.D. (@DrGregPoland)

Host: Halena M. Gazelka, M.D. (@hmgazelkamd)   

When it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group, says there's some good news. "Case numbers are falling, masking and distancing do work, and we can control this if we do it right." 

 

However, the not so good news is that variants are showing up in over 30 countries and are reportedly more transmissible. There also seems to be a reduction in vaccine efficacy against the new variants. 

"This is a desperate race between vaccine and virus, between time and opportunity, and we dare not lose that opportunity," emphasizes Dr. Poland. 

In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Poland discusses how COVID-19 viruses mutate into new variants. He also discusses recent COVID-19 research conducted by the NFL, plus he touches on the future of individualized vaccines. "I can see the development of a coronavirus vaccine against multiple types of coronavirus, including the one that causes the common cold, and very likely combine that with the influenza vaccine."

AskMayoExpert COVID-19 Resources: https://askmayoexpert.mayoclinic.org/navigator/COVID-19

Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

COVID-19 Miniseries Episode 61: Mayo Clinic Q&A: Picking Up the Pace With Rollout of COVID-19 Vaccines

This episode is shared from Mayo Clinic Q&A and was recorded in January, 2021. 

To claim credit visit: https://ce.mayo.edu/covid19podcast 

Guest:  Gregory A. Poland, M.D. (@drgregpoland) 

Host: Halena M. Gazelka, M.D. (@hmgazelkamd) 

The distribution kinks for COVID-19 vaccines are getting ironed out, says Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group.

"It's a logistics nightmare, but now you're seeing a plan to administer 1 million doses a day and I think that's very achievable," says Dr. Poland. "And the production of the vaccine is just going to accelerate."

Dr. Poland also repeats the reminders about preventing transmission of COVID-19:

• Wear a mask.
• Wash your hands.
• Keep your social distance. 

"The current estimates are that in the next four weeks, we'll probably have about another 100,000 deaths," adds Dr. Poland. "It's stunning when you think about 1 out of every 860 Americans has now died of this."

In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Poland talks more about the rollout, transmission and herd immunity, as well as fertility issues related to COVID-19, survivor brain fog and more.

AskMayoExpert COVID-19 Resources: https://askmayoexpert.mayoclinic.org/navigator/COVID-19 

Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd. 

Want to Know About Pediatric Enuresis? Well, Urine Luck

Guest: Patricio Gargollo, M.D. (@pgargollo)

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. (@ChutkaMD)

Enuresis is relatively common in children, estimated to be present in as many as 5 to 10% of 7-year-olds. This represents up to 7 million children in the United States. As you can imagine, it carries significant social implications for the child. Our guest for this podcast is Dr. Patricio Gargollo, a pediatric urologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. Gargollo will address the natural history of enuresis, how to evaluate the child with enuresis, how often it represents a structural urologic problem and how often a treatable cause is found. Practical advice for parents of children with enuresis is also discussed.

Specific topics:

• Potential for children with enuresis to have bladder control problems when they develop into adulthood.
• Social impact of enuresis on a child.
• Potential risk factors and causes of enuresis.
• The role of genetics and enuresis.
• The natural history of enuresis.
• How often a structural urologic problem is found to explain enuresis.
• Pharmacologic treatment options.
• The evaluation of a child with enuresis.

Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

Answers From the Lab: National COVID-19 Strategy

This episode is shared from Answers from the Lab and was originally published January 28, 2021. 

Guest: William G. Morice, II M.D., Ph.D. (@moricemdphd) 

Host: Bobbi S. Pritt, M.D. (@ParasiteGal) 

William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, joins the "Answers From the Lab" podcast for his weekly leadership update. In this episode, Dr. Morice and Bobbi Pritt, M.D., discuss the new nationwide strategy that the Biden administration is rolling out to combat COVID-19.

For more, follow the Mayo Clinic Labs on Twitter @mayocliniclabs or visit https://news.mayocliniclabs.com/podcast/answers-from-the-lab/ to check out all of their episodes.

COVID-19 Miniseries Episode 60: Restoring Joy to Healthcare

Guest: Eric J. Cleveland; Danielle M. Teal (@dteal)

Host: Amit K. Ghosh, M.D. (@AmitGhosh006)

Joy has been defined as a human emotion — a state created as we experience positive, poignant, reflective and connective moments. It is transient, never persisting but imparting ripples that impact us long after the moment.

Now more than ever there is a need to develop mindful initiatives that brings joy in our personal lives and in the workplace. In this episode we speak with Eric Cleveland and Danielle Teal, two leaders of the Joy at Mayo Clinic (J@M) initiative. We will discuss the joy equation, the Institute of Health Improvement’s (IHI) Framework for Improving Joy in Work and discuss examples of pragmatic initiatives that can bring joy at both the individual and team levels.

Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

COVID-19 Miniseries Episode 59: Mayo Clinic Q&A - Expert Updates on COVID-19 Vaccines

This episode is shared from Mayo Clinic Q&A and was recorded on January 11, 2021. 

To claim credit visit: https://ce.mayo.edu/covid19podcast 

Guest:  Gregory A. Poland, M.D. (@drgregpoland) 

Host: Halena M. Gazelka, M.D. (@hmgazelkamd) 

The U.S. rollout of COVID-19 vaccines is reportedly ramping up with news that nearly all available doses will soon be released to the American public. 

"The new COVID-19 variants are traveling quickly, and this is a warning that we need to take precautions," says Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group. 

Dr. Poland says these new variants are a consequence of an RNA virus being transmitted from human to human. "Even after we get our vaccines, we still need to wear masks out in public. We still need to maintain physical distancing. And we still need to wash our hands until about 80% of people get their COVID-19 vaccines," Dr. Poland emphasizes.In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Poland goes into detail about the COVID-19 vaccines, including "sterilizing immunity," testing for antibodies after receiving the vaccine, the possibility of booster doses in the future and much more. 

AskMayoExpert COVID-19 Resources: https://askmayoexpert.mayoclinic.org/navigator/COVID-19 

Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd. 

Adult Eating Disorders

Guest: Leslie A. Sim, Ph.D., L.P. (@DrLeslieSim)

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. (@ChutkaMD)

A variety of eating disorders can occur in adults and they are associated with multiple potential health complications, including an increased risk of death. Some studies report that up to 20% of those with Anorexia Nervosa will die as a result of the condition. Would you recognize an eating disorder in the patients you see? What clues should you look for? In this week’s Mayo Clinic Talks, we’ll speak with Dr. Leslie Sim, a psychologist at the Mayo Clinic. We’ll discuss who is most likely to develop an eating disorder, important “red flag” symptoms, questions you should ask patients to help confirm a diagnosis, and how we should approach a patient we suspect has an eating disorder.

Topics discussed:

• Definition of an eating disorder
• Important “red flag” symptoms that may indicate an eating disorder
• Health complications that can occur as a result of an eating disorder
• Who is most likely to have an eating disorder
• The genetic component to eating disorders
• Clues from their childhood that suggest patients may have an eating disorder as an adult
• Events which can trigger an eating disorder
• When we should suspect an eating disorder
• How we should approach a patient we suspect has an eating disorder
• Management of eating disorders
• Effectiveness of treatment

Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

COVID-19 Miniseries Episode 58: Mayo Clinic Q&A - #AskTheMayoMom about COVID-19 and School Children

This episode is shared from Mayo Clinic Q&A and was recorded in January, 2021.

Guests: Emily R. Levy, M.D. (@EmilyLevy797); Nipunie S. Rajapakse, M.D., M.P.H. (@nrajapakseMD)

Host: Angela C. Mattke, M.D. (@DrAngelaMattke)

Around the world, COVID-19 vaccinations are underway, but only in adults. Pfizer's vaccine has been authorized for ages 16 and up, while Moderna's vaccine is currently authorized for ages 18 and up. Vaccines are generally tested in adults first to ensure they are safe for pediatric trials. Both Pfizer and Moderna now have clinical trials underway to study the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in children. 

This edition of the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast features an #AskMayoMom episode hosted by Dr. Angela Mattke, a pediatrician at Mayo Clinic Children's Center. Joining Dr. Mattke to discuss COVID-19, vaccines and children are Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse, a Mayo Clinic pediatric infectious diseases physician, and  Dr. Emily Levy, a Mayo Clinic pediatric critical care and infectious diseases expert. Dr. Levy also discusses multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, also known as MIS-C.

AskMayoExpert COVID-19 Resources: https://askmayoexpert.mayoclinic.org/navigator/COVID-19

Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd. 

Motion is Lotion: Staying Healthy While Working Remote

Guest: Corey M. Kunzer, P.T., D.P.T., SCS, (@KunzerCorey) and Edward R. Laskowski, M.D. (@DrEdSportsMed)

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. (@ChutkaMD) 

Over the past decade more individuals have begun working remotely; the numbers have increased dramatically this past year with the COVID-19 pandemic. While there are some advantages to working remotely, there are also some potential problems associated with it. Those working from home often develop a variety of musculoskeletal problems including low back and neck pain, as well as shoulder and extremity discomfort. Drs. Edward Laskowski, a physician and Corey Kunzer, a physical therapist, both in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Mayo Clinic will discuss some of the musculoskeletal problems associated with working remotely.

Specific topics discussed:

• Frequency of musculoskeletal problems associated with working from home
• Differences between working at home vs. the traditional office
• Issues to consider when selecting a desk and chair
• Recommended positions of the monitor, keyboard and mouse
• Benefits of a standing workstation or working while walking on a treadmill

Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

Can Nutritional Supplements Turn You into an All-Star?

Guest: Andrew Jagim, Ph.D. (@AJagim)

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. (@ChutkaMD) 

Billions of dollars per year are spent in the U.S. on nutritional supplements to enhance performance. Multiple nutritional supplements are commercially available and are marketed for enhancing endurance, building muscle strength, improving exercise efficiency, and decreasing the potential for injury. Do these supplements actually deliver the benefits they claim? Are they safe? What age athletes are taking these supplements?  We’ll discuss these topics and more with Dr. Andrew Jagim, the director of sports medicine research at the Mayo Clinic.

Specific topics:

• Recommended approach to the athlete who wants to improve their performance
• Potential benefits of nutritional supplements for athlete's
• Age of athletes taking nutritional supplements
• Selecting a high-quality nutritional supplement
• Reliable web sites reviewing the available nutritional supplements including potential benefits and safety
• Review of commonly taken nutritional supplements
• Nutritional supplements which have potential harm

Additional Resources:

• Mayo Clinic Proceedings Article: https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(20)30363-3/fulltext
• NIH – Office of Dietary Supplements: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/ExerciseAndAthleticPerformance-HealthProfessional/
• International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN): https://www.sportsnutritionsociety.org/
• Third-Party Testing Information: https://examine.com/

Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

Mayo Clinic Q&A: Opioid Crisis Worsens During COVID-19 Pandemic

This episode is shared from Mayo Clinic Q&A and was recorded in December, 2020. 

Guest: Tyler Oesterle, M.D., M.P.H. (@OesterleMD) 

Host: Halena M. Gazelka, M.D. (@hmgazelkamd) 

Stress, isolation and limited access to resources are fueling rising rates of substance abuse and overdoses during the COVID-19 pandemic. While coronavirus has been the focus of so much attention this year, the opioid crisis has continued unabated and has even worsened. More than 40 states have reported increases in opioid related deaths, according to the American Medical Association. 

On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Tyler Oesterle, a psychiatrist and addiction expert at Mayo Clinic, discusses opioid use disorders and treatment options, including virtual medicine available during the pandemic. 

AskMayoExpert COVID-19 Resources: https://askmayoexpert.mayoclinic.org/navigator/COVID-19 

Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd. 

Mayo Clinic Q&A: COVID-19 Mortality Study Shows Effectiveness of Team-Based Care

This episode is shared from Mayo Clinic Q&A and was recorded in December, 2020. 

Guest: John (Jack) C. O'Horo, M.D., M.P.H. (@jcohoro) 

Host: Halena M. Gazelka, M.D. (@hmgazelkamd) 

A recent Mayo Clinic study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedingsfound that patients with COVID-19 who received care at Mayo Clinic had lower mortality rates than the national average. Mayo Clinic patients were treated using an integrated, team-based approach for patient monitoring and treatment. 

On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. John O'Horo, a Mayo Clinic infectious diseases physician and the study's first author, discusses the study results and explains how the Mayo Clinic Model of Care improves outcomes for patients. 

AskMayoExpert COVID-19 Resources: https://askmayoexpert.mayoclinic.org/navigator/COVID-19 

Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd. 

Addressing the Burdens of Family Caregivers

Guest: Alisha Morgan, D.O. (@AAMORGAN_DO)

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. (@ChutkaMD)

It’s estimated that there may be over 30 million individuals in the U.S. who provide ongoing care to older adults, half of these to family members with some form of dementia. The majority of these caregivers are female and a significant percentage of these caregivers have their own major health problems. This has become a major social and economic issue in the care of our geriatric patients. Dr. Alisha Morgan, a family medicine and hospice physician at the Mayo Clinic joins us to address the challenges associated with being a caregiver, how healthcare providers should assess caregiver burden, potential financial resources available to assist caregivers, and interventions to reduce the impact of stress on caregivers.

Specific topics:

• Morbidity and mortality of care givers
• The amount of time caregivers devote to assisting older adults
• Financial burden of providing chronic care to older adults
• How primary care providers should acknowledge caregivers
• How primary care providers should evaluate
• How caregiver stress should be provided
• Available financial resources for caregivers

Caregiver Resources: https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/entertainment/books/2015-04/Caregivers_Excerpt.pdf

Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

COVID-19 Miniseries Episode 57: Transcending the Valley of Death - COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Update

This episode was recorded on December 18, 2020. 

To claim credit visit: https://ce.mayo.edu/covid19podcast 

Guest: Gregory A. Poland, M.D. (@drgregpoland) 

Host: Amit K. Ghosh, M.D., M.B.A. (@AmitGhosh006) 

It is projected that by March of 2021 1:700 Americans will have died of COVID-19. The historic pace of COVID-19 vaccine development was made possible by the countless sacrifices of many individuals across healthcare, research, health and human services, the Department of Defense, and other key sectors. This interprofessional collaboration required many to set life aside and work tirelessly to bring an effective vaccine to market, quickly. While mRNA vaccines have been in development since the 1990s, the COVID-19 vaccine efficacy rate of 95-100% across studied ages, race and ethnicities, and comorbidities is unprecedented. The questions left to answer are, how long will the efficacy last? In larger population studies, what is the safety/allergy/hypersensitivity profile? What impact does the vaccine have on asymptomatic carrier spread? Who shouldn’t get the vaccine? Dr. Greg Poland breaks down everything you need to know about the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. 

Additional Resources:

• Mayo Clinic Vaccine Research Page
  https://www.mayo.edu/research/labs/vaccine-research-group/overview 
• Vaccine education spectrum disorder: the importance of incorporating psychological and cognitive models into vaccine education 
• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X11011881 
• AskMayoExpert COVID-19 Resources: https://askmayoexpert.mayoclinic.org/navigator/COVID-19 

Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd. 

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Guest: Matthew L. Carlson, M.D. (@MatthewLCarlso1)

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. (@ChutkaMD) 

Issues surrounding hearing loss are discussed with Dr. Matthew Carlson, an ENT physician from the Mayo Clinic. Specific topics discussed include the following:

• Types of hearing loss (conductive vs. sensorineural)
• Social impact of hearing loss
• Symptoms patients notice with gradually progressive hearing loss
• Tinnitus and it’s management
• Causes of sensorineural hearing loss
• High frequency tone loss and problems with speech discrimination associated with sensorineural hearing loss
• Hearing loss associated with loud noise exposure (acoustic injury and chronic noise exposure)
• Hearing loss associated with the use of firearms
• Common everyday activities which may result in hearing loss
• Management of sensorineural hearing loss (hearing aids, cochlear implants)
• Recent advances and improvements in hearing aids

Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

Immunizations: Let’s Get to the Point

This episode was recorded on October 23, 2020.

Guest: Robert M. Jacobson, M.D. (@RobertJMD)

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. (@ChutkaMD)

It’s estimated that immunizations have saved more lives and prevented more disabilities than any other medical intervention. They’re also extremely cost effective and their benefits far outweigh the very small risks they carry. Yet there are individuals who choose to believe that immunizations are potentially harmful. Our guest for this podcast is Dr. Robert Jacobson, a Mayo Clinic pediatrician and expert in the field of immunizations. We cover topics including an update on the COVID-19 vaccine and when it will realistically be available on a large scale for the population. Other important issues discussed include which vaccines are important for children and adults and whether it’s safe to administer multiple vaccines at one time. Finally, many of the concern promoted by the anti-vaccine movement are discussed and dispelled.

Specific topics discussed:

• Variety of vaccines in development for COVID-19
• Novel techniques being use in the development of the COVID-19 vaccine
• Timing on the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine
• Important immunizations for children
• Important immunizations for adults
• Anti-vaccine concerns and myths surrounding vaccines
• Updates on the age recommendations for the HPV vaccine

Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

COVID-19 Miniseries Episode 56: Mayo Clinic Q&A - How Messenger RNA Vaccines Work

This episode is shared from Mayo Clinic Q&A and was recorded in December, 2020. 

To claim credit visit: https://ce.mayo.edu/covid19podcast 

Guest: Gregory A. Poland, M.D. (@drgregpoland) 

Host: Halena M. Gazelka, M.D. (@hmgazelkamd) 

The first COVID-19 vaccines to reach the market are likely to be messenger RNA vaccines, or mRNA. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mRNA vaccines work by teaching cells in the body how to make a protein that triggers an immune response. Unlike many vaccines that use a weakened or inactivated form of a virus, mRNA vaccines do not use the live virus that causes COVID-19. 

On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious diseases expert and head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group, explains how mRNA vaccines work, gives a status update on the pandemic and answers listener questions.

AskMayoExpert COVID-19 Resources: https://askmayoexpert.mayoclinic.org/navigator/COVID-19 

Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd. 

COVID-19 Miniseries Episode 55: Mayo Clinic Q&A - Managing the COVID-19 Surge

This episode is shared from Mayo Clinic Q&A and was recorded in November, 2020. 

To claim credit visit: https://ce.mayo.edu/covid19podcast 

Guest:  Elie F. Berbari, M.D. 

Host: Sanjeev (Sanj) Kakar, M.D. (@sanjkakar)

The current COVID-19 surge numbers could worsen in coming days as experts prepare for a post-Thanksgiving holiday increase in cases. Increased positivity rates lead to more people needing hospitalization, straining the health care system and medical staff.

On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Elie Berbari, chair of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Mayo Clinic, explains how Mayo Clinic is managing staff, supplies and space during the COVID-19 surge.

AskMayoExpert COVID-19 Resources: https://askmayoexpert.mayoclinic.org/navigator/COVID-19 

Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd. 

Be Safe Not Sorry: Teaching Patients Proper Handwashing Technique

Guest: Gregory A. Poland, M.D. (@drgregpoland) 

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. (@ChutkaMD) 

Many of us learned how to wash our hands at a very early age and have relearned the importance and proper technique periodically along the way. Research suggests that many people may not be doing it correctly. Dr. Greg Poland a Professor of Medicine in Infectious Disease at the Mayo Clinic joins us for National Hand Washing Awareness Week to discuss some tips and tricks to share with your patients to ensure they’re reaching the full potential of this life-saving technique. He’ll also answer questions like does it matter if the water is hot? Is handwashing with soap more effective than anti-bacterial gel or lotions? And, when should we be washing our hands? 

Additional resources mentioned (not an endorsement or affiliation): 

Glo Germ: Visual Tool for Handwashing 

• https://www.glogerm.com/  

Jimmy Kimmel and Guillermo Learn How to Wash Their Hands 

• https://youtu.be/sJfsyhQ0oBs 

Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.