087 - Osteoporosis / Melanoma Breakthrough / Travel Insurance

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