Finding Genius Podcast Richard Jacobs

How do doctors measure your liver function, kidney function, cholesterol levels, and heart disease? They use biomarkers, and David Wishart helps identify biomarkers with analytical chemistry, mass spectrometry, and other bioinformatics tools. He and his colleagues look at blood or urine and other biological fluids to help in the diagnosis and characterization of human diseases.

He explains
What characterizes a useful and reliable biomarker and how low false positive rates distinguish them, How the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve works and where common tests fall in the curve, What’s the history of biomarker testing and how it’s been improved, and How he’s meeting the challenging task of identifying Alzheimer’s biomarkers in his research. David Wishart is a professor in the Departments of Biological Sciences and Computing Science at the University of Alberta. He works with bioinformatics software, nanobiology, and machine learning in healthcare to fine tune the use of biomarkers in diagnostics.

He explains that historically, most biomarkers have been proteins. But developments in identifying cancer biomarkers, for example, have focused on metabolomics. “Cancer is very much a metabolic disorder,” he explains, “and some of the very first changes that happen in cancer are fundamental changes in metabolism.” Furthermore, tests can be combined, like a “gene test with a protein test with a chemical test,” and that improves sensitivity and the chances of catching a cancer earlier.
Neurodegenerative diseases pose a particular challenge, he explains. An Alzheimer’s biomarker is hard to identify because the consequences of the disease and causes are not always clear. Researchers are even pointing to microbiome connections and brain metabolism. Therefore, it may actually be a gut microbiome test that indicates Alzheimer’s. He adds, “we're finding, for instance, bile acids in the brains of Alzheimer's patients.”

He describes what other chemicals they’re finding and how this research might lead to better understandings of its pathogenesis and how earlier testing and prevention might be possible.

Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/30PvU9C

How should cancer be viewed while in the body. Research shows that it may be classified as a separate entity rather than a component of tissue. Listen in to learn:
The percentage of cells that do not metastasize How tumors coerce the surrounding healthy tissue to serve its needs How "clusters of death" interact with populations around the world Christos Chinopoulos, associate professor and project manager of the RPPA facility, joins us to discuss his work with finding metabolic pathways that differ in cancerous tissue when compared to healthy tissue.
Depending on the stage of development that cancer has reached, it is motivated by different factors within the body. Since the subject ultimately dies in the end, there must be other contributing factors along the path of growth and spreading.
Using promising new technologies like liquid biopsies, there may be a way to detect signs of cancer even earlier. From biomarkers like DNA, RNA, and lipids, early detection of afflicted tissue can be much simpler than previously thought possible.
For more information, visit rppa.hu.

Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/30PvU9C

Can the aging process actually be reversed or prevented? The answer to this age-old question is explored in today’s show.  
Tune in to learn:
What changes about the way DNA is read as we get older, and how this could hold the key to reversing cellular aging What differs between old and young tissues, and why they heal differently Whether it’s the loss of stem cells or the loss of function of stem cells that might explain the aging process New research on the biological basis of tissue rejuvenation potential suggests that developing therapeutics for the restoration of old and damaged tissues is possible.
With the use of machine learning, hundreds of thousands of small molecules are being screened for activities which promote rejuvenation and youthfulness in cells and tissues. Once identified, those small molecules are converted into pill form and given to mice that are aging rapidly, or that are likely to develop an age-related disease.
Researchers then look at whether these drugs really do create the desired effect: the delay, reversal, or prevention of tissue aging and disease.
Press play for an in-depth discussion of all this and more.

Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/30PvU9C

One of the biggest challenges is identifying kidney disease in the early and middle stages, says Prabir Roy-Chaudhury. He works to emphasize the importance of simple blood and urine tests for high-risk populations for earlier diagnosis, but also strives for better treatment once kidney failure sets in.

He discusses
Why his main interest is dialysis vascular access dysfunction, What are common issues, such as cardiovascular complications in kidney disease patients, How current tests like the GFR and albumin amounts are calculated and why they determine the kidney failure risk equation, and What should patients prioritize in treatment, from Vitamin D importance to new drugs and technologies. Prabir Roy-Chaudhury is a professor of medicine in the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension and co-director of UNC Kidney Center and specializes in uremic vascular biology.

He brings listeners online with the basics of kidney disease, who’s at risk, and what’s being done to make treatment better. We need our kidneys to rid our bodies of toxic byproducts and fluid, he says. If the kidneys can’t rid us of our byproducts, these uremic solutes accumulate in the blood and our systems suffer. That’s why doctors turn to other ways of filtrating these out of our bodies through dialysis.
That’s also where Dr. Roy-Chaudhury would like to see improvement. He explains both types of dialysis—hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis—describing their strengths and weaknesses. He adds that “my dream definitely would be for us to be in a slightly different place” with dialysis. He shares some good news towards that end: that the American Society of Nephrology has partnered with the FDA and Health and Human Services to produce public and private partnerships, such as the Kidney Health Initiative and the Kidney Innovation Accelerator, to improve these treatments.

Listen in to learn about these exciting projects that hope to dramatically change the quality of life for patients with kidney disease.

Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/30PvU9C

Are chemicals in your immediate environment the cause for specific adverse health implications of which you may have been previously unaware? Research shows that there may be a link between toxins common in objects in your home and ailments like cancer or other chronic diseases.

Listen in to learn:
How plasticizers affect brain development The toxins common in food packaging How to avoid buying potentially dangerous products Associate Dean for Research at NC State University, Heather Patisaul, stops in for a conversation about her research into the chemicals surrounding you that you may not have known were even present.
Chemicals commonly found in treatments for furniture, textiles, and even present in dust in your house have been shown in animal models to cause extremely damaging reactions in your body. Like pesticides, flame retardant chemicals found in furniture and other possibly flammable items in your house have neurotoxic properties and may contain incredibly carcinogenic components.
For some of the chemical groups known to cause adverse effects, the half-life can be in the range of years and even decades. Using data collected from individuals and animals, convincing governments and individuals has become the focus of precautionary steps as we advance.
For more information, patisaullab.wordpress.ncsu.edu.

Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/30PvU9C

"Our brain is designed to keep us safe, but a lot of our growth is outside of that comfort zone," says Jeremy Abramson. He uses this as a starting point for busy professionals on attaining positive high energy and peace.

He shares several suggestions with listeners, and discusses
How he begins to work with successful business executives who've come to a place where they don't have a clear identity, What advice he gives clients regarding integrative nutrition, attaining better sleep, and heightening their brain chemistry, and How he uses techniques from micro dosing to mixing medicinal mushrooms to help his clients be present in the moment and to help them stay true to their dreams. Podcast host Jeremy Abramson is chief energy officer and founder of Thrive University. He's a movement and mindset coach who helps executives and entrepreneurs unleash the potential that's been held back by the constraints of societal pressures.

He takes listeners back to the beginning of his own self-awakening when he realized he needed to find a different kind of balance. Through a series of difficult events, he realized that, "it's a day-by-day journey of tapping in and always asking the question, what can I do today, to really facilitate more change, to facilitate more growth?" Now he helps others explore these same questions.
He works with clients who feel caught and might even be in physical pain from stress and dissatisfaction.  He helps bring about "alignment in their life, like starting from the root cause." This comes through getting specific with their core values and what really matters to them. Then, he's able to show them the cost they're paying if they continue on the same path. He advises them on several levels, including working with micro dosing.

He works with what medications they may already be taking, such as SSRIs, to either supplement or reduce those medications through micro dosing and other methods. He explains some specifics for his process and shares success stories. Listen in for an inspiring take on how to coach others towards a better life.

Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: apple.co/30PvU9C