The Body of Evidence (Dr. Christopher Labos and Jonathan Jarry)

What does the body of evidence say on age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and how to treat the #1 cause of blindness in North America? Plus: which vaccines are available this fall to prevent respiratory tract infections, and a look at whether blue-light-blocking glasses will make a difference in your life!

Block 1:

(2:15) AMD: how common it is, what happens in the eye, risk factors

Block 2:

(9:20) AMD: dry AMD versus wet AMD, how to diagnose it, how to prevent it, AREDS supplements, VEGF inhibitors, lasers, rehabilitation

Block 3:

(25:54) Fall vaccines: COVID, influenza, and RSV

Block 4:

(40:19) Blue-blocking glasses

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl

* Assistant researchers: Aigul Zaripova and Ali Baghirov

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

To make a one-time donation to our show, you can now use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

1) General background on AMD: https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/age-related-macular-degeneration & https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/amd-macular-degeneration

2) Prevalence of AMD by age: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0161642000005807

3) Rotterdam study: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.294.24.3101

4) EYE-RISK consortium about the Mediterranean diet: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2018.08.006

5) The Beaver Dam Eye Study on smoking and AMD: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2014.04.040

6) A Prospective Study of Cigarette Smoking and AMD in Women: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/409082

7) AREDS study: https://doi.org/10.1001%2Farchopht.119.10.1417

8) AREDS 2 study: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/1684847

9) Study linking beta-carotene to cancer in smokers: https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/62.6.1427s

10) Omega-3s in the VITAL study: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/fullarticle/2772366

11) Background on anti-VEGF therapies: https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/anti-vegf-treatment-of-macular-degeneration-science-based-success/

12) NEJM paper comparing ranibizumab to bevacizumab: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1102673

13) 10-year outcomes of anti-VEGF therapy in AMD: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjophth-2023-001328

14) Cochrane review of monthly versus as-needed treatment: https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD012208.pub2

15) Cochrane review on complement inhibitors for AMD: https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd009300.pub3

16) Pegcetacoplan for AMD: https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/pegcetacoplan-a-new-treatment-for-macular-degeneration/

17) Cochrane review on photodynamic therapy for AMD: https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD002030.pub3

18) Stem cells for AMD: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1609583 & https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/this-clinics-experimental-stem-cell-treatment-blinded-patients-four-years-later-the-government-is-still-trying-to-shut-it-down/2019/04/03/432d6d04-ff2f-11e8-83c0-b06139e540e5_story.html & https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/patients-blinded-by-stem-cells-update/

19) Jonathan’s article on blue-blocking glasses: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/medical-critical-thinking/feeling-blue-about-evidence-blue-blocking-glasses

It’s Not Twitter, But It’ll Do:

1) Jonathan’s article on current trends in pseudoscience: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/critical-thinking-pseudoscience/whats-trending-world-pseudoscience

2) Jonathan quoted in the New York Times about RFK Jr.: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/12/technology/rfk-jr-campaign-vaccines.html

3) Annual meeting of the Association des communicateurs scientifiques du Québec: https://www.acs.qc.ca/activite/2171-.html?month=&year=&tri=H&page=1

4) Chris’ book, on sale now: http://doescoffeecausecancer.com/

5) Chris’ upcoming panel at Concordia University: https://icare.mbmc-cmcm.ca/events-media-coverage/cafe-scientifique/

Chris and Jonathan speak to Joey Fox, an engineer and the chair of the Indoor Air Quality Advisory Group for the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers. COVID-19 is not over, as both Jonathan and Chris can testify. How can we better protect ourselves from the coronavirus and other respiratory viruses? By improving our air! Joey Fox explains the difference between HEPA and MERV filters, why “UV in a box” is not a good idea, and how to make sense of the different air cleaners you can buy (and make yourself!). We all care about clean drinking water. It’s time we cared about clean air as well.

(2:12) Aerosols vs. droplets

(4:49) How long can respiratory particles linger in the air?

(6:41) Medical dogma and the COVID-19 pandemic

(17:20) How Joey dodged COVID when his daughter got sick

(19:40) Air quality in schools

(22:11) HEPA vs. MERV filters: what to looks for

(24:45) Don’t say it’s airborne! or the politicization of public health

(27:29) UV light to disinfect the air

(32:09) Is the air in your kid’s school good enough?

(33:52) Which CO2 monitor to buy

(34:20) Improving air quality at home

(37:42) Corsi-Rosenthal boxes and PC fan box air cleaners 

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

 To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Links:

1) Joey Fox’s blog: https://itsairborne.com/

2) Clean Air Stars: https://cleanairstars.com/

3) The Ontario Society of Professional Engineers’ Indoor Air Quality website: https://ospe.on.ca/indoor-air-quality/

It’s not the “blues” you’re having, but the “mean reds.” It can be hard to spot the signs of an impending burnout, and Dr. Emma Jones knows all about it. As a medical student, she started being depressed and she never fully got over it, which resulted in a burnout as a practicing physician caring for children with cancer. But she found a way out and the means to prevent a future burnout from happening so that she can act as a lighthouse for others.

Become a supporter of our show today either on Patreon or through PayPal! Thank you!

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Email us your questions at thebodyofevidence@gmail.com.

Assistant researcher: Aigul Zaripova, MD

Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl

Rod of Asclepius designed by Kamil J. Przybos

Chris’ book, Does Coffee Cause Cancer?: https://ecwpress.com/products/does-coffee-cause-cancer

Obviously, Chris is not your doctor (probably). This podcast is not medical advice for you; it is what we call information.

Links:

1) Emma Jones’ website: https://www.emmajonesmd.com

2) Emma Jones’ book, The Phoenix Blueprint, about burnout: https://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Blueprint-Emerging-Stronger-Healthcare/dp/1957255358/

Jonathan and Chris speak to Julie Robitaille, a Ph.D. student investigating endocrine disruptors in waste water and the president of the student committee of the Intersectoral Centre for Endocrine Disruptors Analysis.

We’ve all heard of them: chemicals that mimic hormones and that are found in everyday products. What are they doing to human health? Many of these endocrine disruptors play important roles in the products we buy, but what we are learning about many of them makes us wonder why they have been so poorly studied given their ubiquity. Should you avoid BPA in plastic? What if its replacement is worse?

(1:11) What the endocrine system is

(6:06) What endocrine disruptors are

(7:00) Julie’s academic background

(8:19) The role of plastic in our lives

(10:02) Why we use BPA and what we know about its risk

(14:38) The difficulty of studying the effects of endocrine disruptors in humans and other potential culprits of ill health

(16:58) What the contraceptive pill does to fish

(20:49) The public discourse on endocrine disruptors

(23:07) Banning endocrine disruptors and the problem with current regulatory approaches

(29:56) How to avoid endocrine disruptors when shopping and what we know about paper receipts

(33:30) Some compounds have a reason to be there. Others, not so much.

(37:25) Who is most vulnerable to the effects of endocrine disruptors

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Links:

1) The website of the Intersectoral Centre for Endocrine Disruptor Analysis: https://www.ciape-iceda.ca/?lang=en

2) The Centre’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ciape.iceda/

3) The Centre’s Twitter account: https://twitter.com/CIAPE_ICEDA

4) The McGill study on BPS migrating from labels into food: https://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/channels/news/fresh-produce-contaminated-toxic-bpa-chemicals-found-food-labels-study-finds-346889

Chris and Jonathan welcome back to the show journalist Brooke Binkowski from Truth or Fiction to discuss the Joe Rogan/Spotify controversy and how we got here. The discussion includes what makes someone a journalist in 2022 and how reactionaries and extremists were early adopters of the Internet.

2:10 Addressing common accusations

3:44 The saga

5:26 The mainstreaming of falsehoods

8:21 Lack of responsibility and JAQing off

10:06 The aesthetics of masculine rationality and The X-Files

15:15 From harmless folklore to antisemitism

18:35 What makes someone a journalist

26:31 Moderating audio content

29:20 The 1988 Internet and surf Nazis

36:14 Monster Island, Galt’s Gulch, and Ram Ranch

42:13 The Spotify seal of approval and YouTube’s feeble moderation

46:08 The next five years of reactionary populism

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

And patrons will get a bonus segment from this interview in a week!

Links:

1) The Daily podcast on the Joe Rogan saga: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/11/podcasts/the-daily/joe-rogan-spotify.html

2) Jonathan’s article on Joe Rogan: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/covid-19-health-and-nutrition-pseudoscience/science-vs-joe-rogan

3) The open letter to Spotify: https://spotifyopenletter.wordpress.com/2022/01/10/an-open-letter-to-spotify/

4) Aaron Rabinowitz’s article on Monster Island: https://www.skeptic.org.uk/2020/10/monster-island-free-speech-experiment/

5) God Awful Movies’ review of Atlas Shrugged, Part 1: https://www.stitcher.com/show/god-awful-movies/episode/337-atlas-shrugged-part-one-90134592

6) Truth or Fiction: https://www.truthorfiction.com/

7) Brooke on Twitter: https://twitter.com/brooklynmarie

Chris and Jonathan speak to Dean Tania Bubela from Simon Fraser University, an expert on scientific innovations and intellectual property. The big question: as we try to get COVID-19 vaccines into more arms and in a more equitable fashion worldwide, should the patents pharmaceutical companies have on these vaccines be lifted? And what would a better system look like when the next pandemic hits us?

3:45 What is a patent?

8:00 Patents in biomedicine

12:58 To lift or not to lift COVID-19 vaccine patents?

17:15 The potential of the mRNA platform

28:30 Bill Gates, his love of IP, and the Oxford University-AstraZeneca deal

35:34 A better system involving public-private partnerships

40:51 Do we need pharma?

46:22 Does pharma deserve our trust?

If you want to apply to be our social media manager, you can find the details here: https://bodyofevidence.ca/looking-for-part-time-social-media-manager

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Links:

1) Tania Bubela on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bubela_tania

Jonathan and Chris talk to David Scales, MPhil, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of medicine at Weill Cornell and the chief medical officer at Critica. Misinformation is everywhere and it is causing actual harm. But what can we do about it beyond recognizing the problem? Dr. Scales mentions a scientific solution that transposes to social media what we know can work in an in-person setting.

(3:34) Infodemiology

(8:54) Will artificial intelligence create a “fake news” problem?

(13:06) Vaccine hesitancy post-COVID

(17:59) Is misinformation a “disease” or a symptom?

(22:20) Top-down vs. grassroots approaches

(28:23) Social media vs. misinformation

(33:54) A scientific solution

(51:15) AI bots to the rescue?

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Links:

1) The book Dr. Scales mentioned: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51152447-caste

2) The Victor Pickard paper on public media funding in different countries: https://doi.org/10.1177/19401612211060255

3) The EMMIE program: https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/advice-and-prevention/vaccination/motivational-interviewing-in-maternity-for-the-immunization

4) Critica’s proposed protocol for countering scientific misinformation online: https://criticascience.org/the-critica-protocol/

5) The Critica website: https://criticascience.org/

6) David Scales on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tnfalpha.bsky.social

Chris and Jonathan talk to Vincent Denault, who researches nonverbal communication. Are there human lie detectors? Is someone lying when their eyes are shifty? And more importantly, do people in positions of power believe the pseudoscience of lie detection?

(2:54) What is nonverbal communication?

(7:09) Vincent thought he could become a human lie detector

(9:45) Is there a clear way to know when someone is lying?

(18:30) Lie to Me and The Mentalist

(22:53) Hollywood’s love affair with body language

(30:14) Is there a dictionary for nonverbal communication?

(31:26) Reading politicians’ body language

(34:57) How good are we at detecting lies?

(36:00) The polygraph

(44:08) Are judges, lawyers and cops aware of this BS?

(49:31) Nonverbal communication in healthcare

(52:51) Let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Links:

1) Vincent’s website: http://vincentdenault.ca/

2) Vincent on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/vincedenault/

It’s the case of the woman who was too tired to “par-tay!” What is afflicting her? It’s something that we don’t about enough. Plus: what is happening with avian flu and should you keep using Q-tips in your ears to remove earwax?

A Block: The Case of the Woman Who Was Too Tired to Party

(0:58) A woman falls asleep at work and has a constant headache. It also took her much longer than four years to complete her undergrad. What could be causing this?

B Block: Avian Flu

(25:36) An update on the avian flu situation

C Block: Earwax

(36:03) What should you do about your earwax? Use it as lip balm? Actually….

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl

* Assistant researcher: Aigul Zaripova

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

To make a one-time donation to our show, you can now use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

1) Inspection Canada webpages on avian flu: https://inspection.canada.ca/animal-health/terrestrial-animals/diseases/reportable/avian-influenza/facts-about-avian-influenza/eng/1356193731667/1356193918453 & https://inspection.canada.ca/animal-health/terrestrial-animals/diseases/reportable/avian-influenza/latest-bird-flu-situation/hpai-in-livestock/eng/1711895796746/1711895797730

2) Nature News Explainer on avian flu: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-01036-1

3) WHO surveillance page on avian flu: https://www.who.int/westernpacific/wpro-emergencies/surveillance/avian-influenza

4) Case report on the man who caught H5N1: https://www.cdc.gov/ncird/whats-new/human-infection-H5N1-bird-flu.html

Jonathan and Chris speak to Dr. Justin Sanders, the director of palliative care at McGill, on the topic of medical assistance in dying (MAiD). What are the arguments for and against MAiD? And what do we make of the thornier aspects of euthanasia, like its intersection with disability rights and the conflict of interest at the heart of a government that funds both assisted suicide and palliative care?

(2:30) What is palliative care?

(10:21) The history of MAiD in Canada

(15:34) Sedation vs. MAiD

(19:30) The need for control at the end of life

(21:15) The arguments for MAiD

(23:34) Feeling like a burden

(27:33) MAiD vs. disability rights

(36:20) The social safety net and the government’s conflict of interest

(41:55) Most people don’t want to die

(44:22) MAiD for mental illness

(49:25) Tenfold increase in Canadians receiving MAiD

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Links:

1) Carter v. Canada: https://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/14637/index.do

2) Information on medical assistance in dying in Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/medical-assistance-dying.html

3) CTV’s coverage of the expansion into mental illness: https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/the-issue-of-expanding-assisted-dying-eligibility-has-already-been-decided-senator-1.6313740

4) The 2021 report on MAiD services in Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/medical-assistance-dying/annual-report-2021.html

Menopause: definition, early menopause, hot flashes, gabapentin, clonidine, CBT, mindfulness, exercising, phytoestrogens, black cohosh, acupuncture, and hormone replacement therapy // Magic mushrooms versus antidepressants // A rant about merchants of doubt

* Jingle by Joseph Hackl

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

* Assistant researcher: Nicholas Koziris

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

1) Age at menopause: https://academic.oup.com/humrep/article/16/9/2014/2915909

2) Age at menopause: https://doi.org/10.1097/gme.0b013e31820ed6d2

3) Ethnicity as a predictor of menopause: https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwn046

4) Ethnicity as a predictor of menopause: https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/153.9.865

5) Complementary therapies for menopause: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0029-7844(02)02005-7

6) Complementary therapies for menopause: https://doi.org/10.1097/gme.0b013e318199d5e6

7) Non-hormonal treatment for hot flashes: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK72751/

8) Cochrane review of phytoestrogens: https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd001395.pub4

9) Cochrane review of black cohosh: https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD007244.pub2

10) Cochrane review of acupuncture: https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd007410.pub2

11) Women’s Health Initiative study: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/195120

12) New trial comparing psilocybin to escitalopram for depression: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2032994

13) Jonathan’s video about the psychedelic renaissance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlYDMbxAdoo

14) Our episode on nootropics: https://bodyofevidence.ca/053-smart-drugs-and-fluoride

15) Our episode on antidepressants: https://bodyofevidence.ca/029-antidepressants-and-fluoride

Music Credits:

Tribute To Commondore by Frank Schröter

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/7791-tribute-to-commondore

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Arthritis: what it is; osteoarthritis vs. inflammatory arthritis; rheumatism; the risks and benefits of treatments // biosimilars, the “generic drugs” of biologics // Q&A: Chris’ qualms about omega-3 supplements for your heart // The Health Canada Ministry of Truth // Natural products claiming to cure cancer

* Jingle by Joseph Hackl

* Additional original music by Seth Donnelly

* Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Reference:

1) Cochrane review on exercise for arthritis: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26405113

2) Aquatic exercise and arthritis: https://www.cochrane.org/CD005523/MUSKEL_aquatic-exercise-people-osteoarthritis-knee-or-hip

3) Weight loss and arthritis improvement: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17204567

4) Tylenol meta-analyses:

https://www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h1225

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(17)31744-0/fulltext

5) Review on topical NSAIDs: https://www.cochrane.org/CD007402/SYMPT_topical-non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory-drugs-acute-musculoskeletal-pain-adults

6) Capsaicin as a treatment for chronic pain: https://www.cochrane.org/CD007393/SYMPT_capsaicin-applied-skin-chronic-neuropathic-pain-adults

7) Corticosteroids injections:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26490760

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28510679

8) Knee braces and orthotics: https://www.cochrane.org/CD004020/MUSKEL_braces-and-orthoses-for-osteoarthritis-of-the-knee

9) Duloxetien for knee pain: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26176791

10) Glucosamine and chondroitin: https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa052771?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%3dwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

11) Trials fo knee surgery for arthritis: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1505467

12) The omega-3 for cardiovascular disease meta-analysis: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31567003?fbclid=IwAR31Z3qq07L9RULPuvFVyzTKavjgde3Mgl_A2LD7BTtw2u4ZZNvat8wAzEU

13) The CTV report on homeopathy: https://bit.ly/2IlNRSx

14) Bad Science Watch report on natural health products and cancer claims: https://badsciencewatch.ca/natural-health-product-retailers-sell-cancer-cures/

Music Credits:

Meanwhile in Bavaria by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4028-meanwhile-in-bavaria

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Countdown by Alexander Nakarada

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4865-countdown

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Imagefilm 036 by Sascha Ende

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/2941-imagefilm-036

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Chris and Jonathan speak to Dr. Ian Hussey, the Chief Recommender for the ERROR project. It turns out that scientific papers are not flawless: they can contain mistakes. What happens when people are paid to go and find these mistakes? You’re about to find out!

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

1) The ERROR project website: https://error.reviews/

Jonathan and Chris talk to Dr. Barbara Hofer and Dr. Gale Sinatra, the authors of the book Science Denial: Why It Happens and What to Do About It. It’s a course in skepticism 101 as they discuss decision-making, doing your own research, and the post-truth era.

1:46 Why write a book about science denial now?

4:50 Irrational decision-making

6:17 Politicizing science and manufacturing doubt

16:30 Just asking questions and doing your own research

22:51 How to refute misconceptions and a note on the backfire effect

30:43 Patience and empathy in the time of the pandemic

32:38 Algorithmic literacy

33:55 Are the deniers aware of the true reasons for their science denial?

36:00 The post-truth era

39:32 Solutions for harm reduction

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Links:

1) The book Science Denial: https://www.sciencedenialbook.com/

2) The Debunking Handbook: https://www.climatechangecommunication.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/DebunkingHandbook2020.pdf

We wrap up the year with a new case challenge. A 38-year-old radiology technician has a strange rash just above… his buttocks! Who’s to blame?

Was it the dog? Was it his job? Or is it the special person in his life?

Also: Chris learns about socks!

Yet also: we say the phrase “ass crack.” We had to!

And also also: an important announcement.

Become a supporter of our show today either on Patreon or through PayPal! Thank you!

http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/

https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE

Email us your questions at thebodyofevidence@gmail.com.

Assistant researcher: Aigul Zaripova, MD

Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl

Rod of Asclepius designed by Kamil J. Przybos

Chris’ book, Does Coffee Cause Cancer?: https://ecwpress.com/products/does-coffee-cause-cancer

Obviously, Chris is not your doctor (probably). This podcast is not medical advice for you; it is what we call information.

Jonathan and Chris interview Dr. Elisabeth Bik, a science detective who has dedicated herself to identifying and reporting image duplications in the scientific literature that can be due to errors… or to fraud. This interview is part of a continuing series on bad science, including the special “Science Is a Human Enterprise” (part 1 and part 2) and the interview with Dr. Brian Nosek.

1:16 How Dr. Bik became a science detective

3:28 Duplications

10:43 Music or no music?

11:10 Screening 20,000 papers for duplications

16:38 Speed versus accuracy in the age of COVID

17:41 The failures of peer review

21:37 Dr. Bik’s frustration

24:55 Justice League versus Paper Mill

34:33 Make a wish for a healthier science

39:27 Dr. Bik’s drinking game

43:02 How fraudsters may cheat automation in the future

46:05 Will the cockroaches scare the public?

* Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Links:

1) Dr. Bik’s paper on screening 20,000 articles for duplications: https://mbio.asm.org/content/7/3/e00809-16

2) Dr. Bik on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MicrobiomDigest

3) Dr. Bik’s website: https://scienceintegritydigest.com/

4) PubPeer: https://pubpeer.com/

The wellness industry has a very specific customer base in its crosshairs: women. And many journalists are covering this relationship in a dangerously superficial way. Underwater spinning? Fun! CBD-infused leggings? Why not? But there’s a dark underbelly to the promises of wellness solutions, and journalist Rina Raphael has documented it diligently and with a great deal of compassion in her book, The Gospel of Wellness. Jonathan talks to her about how wellness is portrayed in the media and why women listen to its siren call.

Become a supporter of our show today either on Patreon or through PayPal! Thank you!

http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/

https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE

Email us your questions at thebodyofevidence@gmail.com.

Assistant researcher: Aigul Zaripova, MD

Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl

Rod of Asclepius designed by Kamil J. Przybos

Chris’ book, Does Coffee Cause Cancer?: https://ecwpress.com/products/does-coffee-cause-cancer

Obviously, Chris is not your doctor (probably). This podcast is not medical advice for you; it is what we call information.

Links:

1) Rina Raphael’s Substack: https://welltodo.substack.com

2) Rina Raphael’s book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59808064-the-gospel-of-wellness

3) Rina Raphel’s website: https://www.rinaraphael.com

What does the body of evidence say on the topic of cholesterol? Plus: we look at the claim that a multivitamin can preserve your cognitive functions as you age, and we cover that study that allegedly shows aluminum in vaccines causes asthma!

Block 1:

(3:04) Cholesterol: what cholesterol is, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, how fat is digested, HDL cholesterol

Block 2:

(10:44) Cholesterol: triglycerides, how LDL is calculated, do you need to fast before a blood test, attempts at increasing HDL, how to lower LDL

Block 3:

(22:38) Cocoa extract or multivitamin for preserving cognition (and a digression on cocoa vs cacao)

Block 4:

(39:13) Aluminum in vaccines and a reported link to asthma

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

* Assistant researcher: Nicholas Koziris

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

To make a one-time donation to our show, you can now use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

1) Systematic review and meta-analysis on reducing LDL cholesterol: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2556125

2) Safety of lowering LDL cholesterol in patients starting with very low levels: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/fullarticle/2695047

3) HPS2-THRIVE trial on niacin + laropiprant: https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa1300955

4) AIM-HIGH trial on niacin: https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa1107579

5) CETP inhibitor torcetrapib increases mortality: https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa0706628

6) Meta-analysis of the data on boosting HDL levels: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.g4379

7) The COSMOS-Mind paper: https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.12767

8) Our episode on chocolate: https://bodyofevidence.ca/013-chocolate-and-influenza

9) The original COSMOS papers: https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqac055 & https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqac056

10) The USPS statement on vitamin supplements: https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/vitamin-supplementation-to-prevent-cvd-and-cancer-preventive-medication

11) Cochrane reviews on vitamins and cognition: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD011906.pub2/full & https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD011905.pub2/full

12) Helen Branswell’s STAT News coverage of the aluminum-asthma paper: https://www.statnews.com/2022/09/27/possible-link-aluminum-childhood-vaccines-asthma-risk-caveats/

13) The aluminum-asthma paper: https://els-jbs-prod-cdn.jbs.elsevierhealth.com/pb/assets/raw/Health%20Advance/journals/acap/Aluminium_Exposure_Article-1664288052690.pdf

14) Our episode on asthma: https://bodyofevidence.ca/080-asthma-screen-time-exercise-motivation

Time machine:

1) Our episode on fat: https://bodyofevidence.ca/015-fat-and-denialism

2) Our episode on dementia: https://bodyofevidence.ca/079-dementia-long-covid-no-vax-tax

What does the body of evidence say on acne and how to treat it? Plus: you’re going to want to pay attention to this latest study if you have food allergies, and Chris answers listeners’ questions about when to exercise, whether spinal cord stimulators work, and why some older adults are told that surgery would mess with their brain.

A Block: Acne

(0:59) Who gets acne; what causes acne; what are the risk factors for acne; how to treat both mild and moderate-to-severe acne.

B Block: New Food Allergy Drug

(34:16) A drug already approved to treat asthma, omalizumab (Xolair), can work against food allergies, including peanut allergy.

C Block: Answering Emails

(47:32) Questions about when is the best time to exercise (and whether or not you should be fasting); the benefits of spinal cord stimulators for people dealing with chronic pain; and why some older adults are being denied surgery.

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl

* Assistant researcher: Aigul Zaripova

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

To make a one-time donation to our show, you can now use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

Prevalence of acne

1) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2007.06.045

2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5788264/

Genetics as a cause of acne

3) https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-1747.2002.19621.x

Psychological toll of acne

4) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2008.07.013

5) https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2133.1997.18131897.x

Diet and acne: the impact of milk

6) https://doi-org/10.1016/j.jaad.2004.08.007

7) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2007.08.049

8) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17083856/

9) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2016.04.030

10) https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.13835

Diet and acne: the role of carbohydrates (or glycemic load)

11) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2007.01.046

12) https://doi.org/10.1111/ced.12673

13) https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-4632.2009.04002.x

14) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2009.07.043

15) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2009.07.043

Stress and acne

16) https://doi.org/10.1001/archderm.139.7.897

Overview of acne treatments

17) https://doi.org/10.1067/mjd.2003.618

18) The clinical trial of Xolair for food allergies: https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2312382

19) The Nature News Explainer on Xolair and food allergies: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00586-8

It’s Not Twitter, But It’ll Do:

1) Jonathan on The Current to talk about wellness and skepticism: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-63-the-current/clip/16040098-how-tell-wellness-trends-wrong

Infertility: why we’re having fewer babies, sperm counts, myths and facts, the blame game, and infertility treatments // RNA vaccines // COVID-19 mega-update: convalescent plasma, chloroquine, remdesivir, blood vessel disease hypothesis, children with Kawasaki-like complication, antibody tests, and face shields.

* Jingle by Joseph Hackl

* Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

1) Prevalence of infertility according to the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nsfg/key_statistics/i.htm#impaired

2) Age and female fertility: https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2014/03/female-age-related-fertility-decline

3) Causes of infertility: https://www.bmj.com/content/291/6510/1693

4) Declining sperm counts: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28981654/

5) Boxers versus briefs: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30102388/

6) Laptops and sperm counts: https://academic.oup.com/humrep/article/20/2/452/603276

7) Stress and infertility: https://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.d223

8) Zinc for infertility: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2758450

9) Success rates of IVF: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30032255/

10) Add-on therapies for IVF: https://bit.ly/2NmAx3C

11) Convalescent plasma randomized trial: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2766943

12) The on-going Canadian trial for convalescent plasma against COVID-19: https://www.blood.ca/en/convalescentplasma

13) The Guardian investigation into the Surgisphere chloroquine paper: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/03/covid-19-surgisphere-who-world-health-organization-hydroxychloroquine

14) The latest preliminary report on remdesivir: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2007764

15) The Elemental blog post on the blood disease hypothesis: https://elemental.medium.com/coronavirus-may-be-a-blood-vessel-disease-which-explains-everything-2c4032481ab2

16) The Lancet’s review and meta-analysis of face shields for SARS and MERS: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31142-9/fulltext

Music Credits:

Blockbuster 2  by Rafael Krux

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5618-blockbuster-2-

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Dawn Of The Apocalypse  by Rafael Krux

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5627-dawn-of-the-apocalypse-

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

End Of Days  by Rafael Krux

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5405-end-of-days-

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

What does the body of evidence say on the topic of asthma? Plus: how much time children spend in front of screens, and how to nudge people to go to the gym.

Block 1:

(3:15) Asthma: wheezing, similar diseases, how asthma is diagnosed

Block 2:

(10:53) Asthma: exercise-induced “asthma,” what is asthma, cold and thunderstorms as triggers, allergies, infections, treatments

Block 3:

(29:31) Screen time in children

Block 4:

(40:06) Nudging people to go to the gym

To leave a rating and/or review on iTunes (please do!!),

1) Click here: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-body-of-evidence/id980972442

2) Click on “Listen on Apple Podcasts” toward the top, under “Health & Fitness”

3) It will prompt you to open iTunes. Allow the pop-up and switch to iTunes

4) In iTunes, click on “Rating and Reviews”

If you already listen on an Apple device, you should be able to leave a review by accessing the show on that device’s native podcasting app.

* Jingle by Joseph Hackl

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

* Assistant researcher: Nicholas Koziris

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

To make a one-time donation to our show, you can now use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

1) Episode 43 on allergies: https://bodyofevidence.ca/043-allergies-and-organic-food

2) The 2019 Global Initiative for Asthma report: https://ginasthma.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Whats-new-in-GINA-2021_final_V2.pdf

3) How will new recommendations from the GINA report affect practice in Canada: https://www.cmaj.ca/content/192/17/E456?ijkey=00df329033338403c174cbb90af80401afad6136&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha

4) GINA FAQ on asthma: https://ginasthma.org/about-us/faqs/

5) Trial on combined budenoside-formoterol as needed in mild asthma: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1715274

6) Systematic review and meta-analysis on screen time in children 5 years and younger: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/2789091

7) American Academy of Paediatrics’ guidelines on screen time: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/Where-We-Stand-TV-Viewing-Time.aspx

8) Canadian Paediatrics Society’s guidelines on screen time: https://caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/behavior-and-development/screen-time-and-young-children

9) Megastudy on nudging people to go to the gym: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-04128-4

Music Credits:

Lofi Chill Hip-Hop by WinnieTheMoog

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6347-lofi-chill-hip-hop

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Tutorial 2 by Frank Schröter

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/8965-tutorial-2

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Ambient Relaxing Background by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/9007-ambient-relaxing-background

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Over The Rainbow by Sascha Ende®

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/319-over-the-rainbow

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

What does the body of evidence have to say on the topic of endometriosis? Plus: Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for children ages 5-11, and we go over why an aspirin a day is no longer suggested for many older adults.

Block 1:

Endometriosis: what it is and what might be causing it (2:59)

Block 2:

Endometriosis: risk factors, how common it is, diagnosis, treatments (8:37)

Block 3:

FDA approves Pfizer’s COVID vaccine for children 5-11 years old (26:18)

Block 4:

An aspirin a day to prevent cardiovascular disease? (40:19)

* Jingle by Joseph Hackl

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

* Assistant researcher: Nicholas Koziris

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

To make a one-time donation to our show, you can now use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

1) Flow diagram of treatment of endometriosis from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada: https://sogc.org/common/Uploaded%20files/SOGC%20Endometriosis%20COVID19%20Update-%20Endo%20Group%20Edits%20April%2018%202020.pdf

2) Use of CA-125 to diagnosis endometriosis: https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1471-0528.14055

3) Cochrane review of blood tests to diagnose endometriosis: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD012281/full

4) Cochrane review of laparoscopic surgery to treat infertility associated with endometriosis: https://www.cochrane.org/CD011031/MENSTR_laparoscopic-surgery-pain-and-infertility-associated-endometriosis

5) Endometriosis time to diagnosis: https://academic.oup.com/humrep/article/18/4/756/596537

https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(19)30002-X/fulltext

6) FDA news release on authorization of Pfizer’s vaccine: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-authorizes-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine-emergency-use-children-5-through-11-years-age

7) Pfizer’s press release on its trial of its COVID-19 vaccine in children: https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-and-biontech-announce-positive-topline-results

8) United States Preventive Services Task Force updated recommendation on aspirin for primary prevention: https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/draft-recommendation/aspirin-use-to-prevent-cardiovascular-disease-preventive-medication

Music Credits:

Dreams Of Success (loopable) by chilledmusic

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/8459-dreams-of-success-loopable-

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Jonathan and Chris speak to Olivier Drouin, MD, MPH, a paediatrician and researcher in Montreal. The risk-benefit analyses regarding children, COVID-19, and the vaccines have received a lot of attention by journalists, parents, and peddlers of misinformation alike. “Myocarditis” is now a “boogeyword.” Olivier weighs in on how COVID affects children, the safety of the vaccines, and what to do about schools.

1:20 Not *that* Olivier Drouin

2:36 How COVID affects children

6:00 Risk factors

9:29 How Omicron affects children

13:25 Speculating on increased diabetes diagnoses

16:19 Vaccine safety in children and the focus on peri- and myocarditis

24:04 Vaccine hesitant parents

28:29 The school debate

41:58 Our elected officials

47:00 Research beyond COVID

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Links:

1) Olivier Drouin on Twitter: https://twitter.com/olivierdrouinmd

2) Olivier Drouin on Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=%22Olivier+Drouin%22&btnG=

3) Olivier Drouin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivierdrouinmd/

4) Jonathan’s article on COVID aerosols and ventilation/filtration: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/covid-19/covid-19-air-both-problem-and-solution

Exceptionally, we are releasing this month's patron-only bonus episode, Digressions, on the main feed. Chris answers a patron's question about fever delirium (is that really a thing or a Hollywood invention?), and we dig into a paper that claims to show that a cheap diabetes drug, metformin, can be used to prevent long COVID.

We do this type of bonus episode every month for our patrons. If you would like to contribute to the show and gain access to future Digressions (as well as our extensive back catalogue of patron-only bonuses), sign up at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/overview

Thank you!

Jonathan and Chris speak to Dr. Andrea Love, a microbiologist, immunologist, science communicator, and the director of the American Lyme Disease Foundation. The tick-borne illness known as Lyme disease is everywhere: on the news, on social media… but is it really near you? Dr. Love separates facts from fiction when it comes to Lyme disease, both the acute infection and the alleged chronic condition.

Correction (2024/07/24): Dr. Love wanted to correct a statement she made. She said that tick-borne relapsing fever does not occur in the U.S., but she meant that it did not occur in the eastern U.S. It does occur in western U.S. states but is caused by a different Borrelia species and spread by different ticks, so there is no overlap with Lyme disease. 

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

1) Andrea Love’s Substack, Immunologic: https://www.immunologic.org

2) American Lyme Disease Foundation website: https://aldf.com

A limited series on sport science hosted by student athlete Sophie and featuring two experts: Dr. Christopher Labos, cardiologist and regular co-host of this podcast, and Nick Tiller, who holds a doctorate in exercise physiology. Together, they will answer Sophie’s questions while dispelling myths that athletes—and anybody getting into fitness—are likely to hear.

This is part 2 of 4. The topic: recovery. Are ice baths useful to recover from a workout? What about stretching and massages? And what three simple recommendations will do most of the heavy lifting when it comes to exercise recovery?

(0:30) Intro

(1:31) Vox pop

(4:06) How do we measure recovery?

(6:54) Ice baths

(11:53) Whole-body cryotherapy

(14:36) Contrast baths and compression garments

(19:38) Stretching, massages, TheraGun

(27:44) Three simple recommendations to recover

Opening music: “Energetic Upbeat” by WinnieTheMoog

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6033-energetic-upbeat

Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

End title music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Drinking water: alkaline, thirst, bottled, lead // Interview with Olivier Bernard (thepharmafist.com) on vitamin C, harassment, and winning the John Maddox Prize // Vaping update: EVALI and popcorn lung

* Vox pop by Sarah Swinwood

* Jingle by Jillian Correia of Roctavio Canada

* Additional music by Seth Donnelly and Kevin MacLeod of Incompetech.com.

* Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

1) The JAMA study on water intake and kidney function: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2680548

2) Filter numbers: http://info.nsf.org/Certified/DWTU/listings_leadreduction.asp; http://www.nsf.org/consumer-resources/water-quality/water-filters-testing-treatment/standards-water-treatment-systems

3) Places where you can test your water in Quebec: http://www.ceaeq.gouv.qc.ca/accreditation/PALA/lla03.htm?fbclid=IwAR2u1zqvmnb03uklvROVsjCPsLqljFdUcjO2qv3tM0XMyQJhRCRzLokkCMA#outaouais

4) SWET Trial: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21324289

The laying on of hands. The stethoscope. The “does it hurt when I press here.” We are all familiar with the physical exam a doctor does when investigating our symptoms. But in the 21st century, with access to ultrasound and MRI, are these old-fashioned techniques still relevant or just cool parlour tricks? Returning guest Niko joins Chris to discuss the evidence behind hands-on maneuvers taught to medical students to help diagnose a variety of conditions. Warning: you may be shocked.

JAMA’s series on the Rational Clinical Examination: https://jamanetwork.com/collections/6257/the-rational-clinical-examination

(4:44) Scenario #1: A torn meniscus or ligament in the knee

Lachman test: https://www.physio-pedia.com/Lachman_Test

McMurray test: https://www.physio-pedia.com/McMurrays_Test

(17:20) Scenario #2: Carpal tunnel syndrome

Tinel’s test: https://www.physio-pedia.com/Tinel%E2%80%99s_Test

Phalen’s test: https://www.physio-pedia.com/Phalen%E2%80%99s_Test

(24:29) Scenario #3: Meningitis

Brudzinski’s sign of meningitis: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/imagepages/19069.htm

Kernig’s sign of meningitis: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/imagepages/19077.htm

(32:41) Scenario #4: Abdominal aortic aneurysm

(38:13) Scenario #5: Pneumonia

Whispered pectoriloquy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whispered_pectoriloquy

(45:45) Scenario #6: Appendicitis

McBurney’s point: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McBurney%27s_point

Rovsing’s sign: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rovsing%27s_sign

Psoas sign: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psoas_sign

Obturator’s sign: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obturator_sign

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

* Assistant researcher: Nicholas Koziris

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

To make a one-time donation to our show, you can now use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

What does the body of evidence say on microplastics and their impact on our health? Plus: we talk about what we have learned about long COVID since 2020, and we discuss the very first approval for a clinical application of the gene-editing technology known as CRISPR.

A Block: Microplastics

(0:58) What are micro- and nanoplastics; microplastics in the environment and in our bodies; how they get into humans and animals; the infamous study that was retracted; occupational exposure to microplastics versus casual exposure; eating microplastics by consuming seafood; can they cause infertility; BPA and BPS; the latest study on microplastics; are plastic water filters bad; should you avoid bottled water; alternatives to single-use plastic bottles.

B Block: Long COVID Update

(37:55) The problems with diagnosing it; how to treat it; the involvement of the mitochondria; probiotics for long COVID; should people with long COVID exercise; the COVID vaccine protects against long COVID; direct-to-participant digitized clinical trials.

C Block: CRISPR Therapy Approved

(56:22) CRISPR therapy approved in the UK and US for sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia. Jonathan initially mischaracterizes the therapy as repairing the mutation. Chris corrects him. Don’t email us, thank you!

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl

* Assistant researcher: Aigul Zaripova

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

To make a one-time donation to our show, you can now use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

1) Background on micro- and nanoplastics: https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/christopher-labos-is-bottled-water-bad-for-your-health

2) The recent study published in PNAS: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2300582121

3) The retracted study: https://www.nature.com/articles/nature.2017.21929

4) The WHO 2022 report on microplastics: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240054608

5) What kind of reusable bottle is best: https://wapo.st/3O1yy3R

6) Review article on long COVID from a Chinese team: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-023-01640-z

7) Mitochondria are involved in long COVID: https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.abq1533

8) Dr. Eric Topol’s commentary on the mitochondria paper: https://erictopol.substack.com/p/long-covid-mitochondria-the-big-miss

9) The positive clinical trial on probiotics for long COVID: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(23)00685-0

10) Exercising can be bad for long COVID: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-44432-3

11) At least 3 doses of the COVID vaccine seem to provide a 70% reduction in the risk of getting long COVID: https://erictopol.substack.com/p/sotp-state-of-the-pandemic

12) What happened to the NIH RECOVER Long COVID initiative funds: https://erictopol.substack.com/p/long-covid-mitochondria-the-big-miss

13) Direct-to-participant digitized clinical trials: https://erictopol.substack.com/p/long-covid-mitochondria-the-big-miss

14) Information on CASGEVY: https://pi.vrtx.com/files/patientpackageinsert_exagamglogene_autotemcel.pdf

It’s Not Twitter, But It’ll Do:

1) Jonathan’s article on mindfulness meditation: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/critical-thinking-health-and-nutrition/mindfulness-meditation-often-fails-scientific-test

2) Jonathan’s article on the graveyard of skeptical projects: https://www.skeptic.org.uk/2024/01/the-graveyard-of-skeptical-projects-suggests-its-funding-not-talent-that-were-lacking/

3) Chris featured at Darwin Day on February 10th for the Humanist Association of Toronto: https://www.humanisttoronto.ca/events-1/hat-forum-240127-g3ja3-3g8g9

4) Chris being interviewed at Indigo Pointe-Claire by Ken Connors on February 17: https://www.facebook.com/drlabos/posts/926877516110207

Chris and Jonathan talk to Michelle Cohen, MD, CCFP, FCFP, an assistant professor at Queen University’s Department of Family Medicine and a staff physician at Lakeview Family Health Team. Dr. Cohen provides gender-affirming care and is here to dispel myths surrounding trans people, especially the panic around the mistaken idea that children are being rushed to transition. If you have a child who is questioning their gender identity, make sure to listen to this episode before reading what the media typically reports on trans issues.

Of note, the “1 Million March for Children” is scheduled to take place on September 20th across Canada. It is part of our current anti-trans panic, with the organizers claiming to “peacefully protest against the push for LGBT ideology in schools.”

(2:10) What is gender-affirming care and how easy is it to access?

(8:39) Gender vs. sex

(13:44) Estrogen is not just for women

(19:08) Children are not being rushed through trans medical care

(23:15) Puberty blockers are not just for trans teens

(28:27) Transition surgeries are not happening for teens under the age of legal majority

(31:31) Is “trans” the new “emo?”

(35:30) Intersex people and non-consensual surgeries

(37:24) The media fuels the trans panic, which has ties to the anti-vaccine movement

(42:46) Canadian transphobia: imported or homegrown?

(45:28) Your kid is questioning their gender. Now what?

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Links:

1) The anonymous National Post editorial: https://nationalpost.com/opinion/np-view-canada-must-slow-down-and-reform-transgender-treatments-for-minors

2) The San Francisco Chronicle article by Soleil Ho: https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/article/new-york-times-trans-18214925.php

3) Michelle Cohen on X (formerly known as Twitter): https://twitter.com/DocMCohen

4) Michelle Cohen on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/docmcohen.bsky.social

5) Michelle Cohen on Informed Opinions: https://informedopinions.org/view-expert-profile/?expert-id=45189

Chris and Jonathan speak to Ken Milne, the host of the Skeptics’ Guide to Emergency Medicine and a physician who practices rural emergency medicine in Ontario.

What is it like treating patients away from major urban centres? It may actually be better in some ways! Also, the trio tackles the unfolding crisis in which Canadian emergency departments are temporarily closing due to a lack of proper resources. When doctors complain they lack beds, they don’t mean furniture.

(2:06) The Batdoc and the Flash

(2:50) What is rural emergency medicine?

(19:52) ER vs. Scrubs vs. M*A*S*H vs. House, MD

(24:45) The crisis in Canada’s emergency medicine departments

(48:48) The future of our healthcare system

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Links:

1) Ken’s website: https://thesgem.com/

2) Ken’s Twitter profile: https://twitter.com/TheSGEM

Chris and Jonathan welcome back Dr. Jonathan Howard to talk about the doctors who repeatedly said the pandemic was ending and who became anti-vaccine in the process. When doctors become brands, narcissism can easily lead them and their fans astray, as these media figures chase an ever elusive limelight. Dr. Howard has been tracking their claims and predictions and brings the receipts.

(2:38) Dr. Vinay Prasad, pre-pandemic

(8:41) ZDoggMD, Marty Makary, and Vinay Prasad on vaccine boosters

(12:01) Paediatric COVID vaccines

(15:00) An appeal to civility on the one hand, mockery on the other

(16:56) Dr. John Ioannidis and basic math

(27:22) “You have to accept it”

(32:27) Classic anti-vaccine talking points

(36:10) “Where’s the RCT?”

(39:37) Jonathan Howard’s connection to the anti-vaccine movement

(41:53) Audience capture

(44:49) Charisma and credibility

(49:33) New York City denialism

(51:36) Ron DeSantis’ Vaccine Accountability Roundtable

(55:41) Self-reflection

A quick note on sound quality: the clicking sound on Dr. Howard’s end very quickly disappears. The rest of the audio is not up to our usual standards, and for this we apologize. Audio engineering is closer to magic than science, it seems.

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Links:

1) The ZDoggMD Show episode you hear at the beginning: https://youtu.be/cNcVCFLhbAs?t=42

2) Dr. Jonathan Howard’s articles on Science-Based Medicine: https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/author/jonathanhoward/

3) Dr. Jonathan Howard on Twitter: https://twitter.com/19joho

Jonathan and Chris speak to Stephan Guyenet, Ph.D., the author of the book The Hungry Brain and the creator of the health book review site Red Pen Reviews, about hunger, obesity, and the highs and lows of debating a journalist on one of the biggest platforms on the Internet.

0:00 Introduction

2:00 How evolution shaped our brain

3:20 Hunger

9:00 The disconnect between hunger and energy needs

15:12 The stressed-out brain of an obese mouse

18:54 Weight loss drugs targeting the brain

21:50 It’s a thermostat… but not really

28:00 Stress and obesity

29:44 Debating journalist Gary Taubes on The Joe Rogan Experience

36:14 False balance on massive platforms

39:32 Rhetoric and the unstructured debate

44:42 Stephan’s eating habits

47:54 Informative reviews of health and nutrition books

51:40 Rewards: food, sex and gold

* Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Links:

1) Stephan’s book, The Hungry Brain: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29243729-the-hungry-brain

2) Stephan’s website: https://www.stephanguyenet.com/

3) Stephan Guyenet on Twitter: https://twitter.com/whsource

4) Red Pen Reviews: https://www.redpenreviews.org/

5) Stephan on the Joe Rogan Experience: https://youtu.be/vA3QavPp1Ho

Diabetes: different types and what to do about them // Mask misinformation // To bank or not to bank your newborn’s cord blood

* Jingle by Jillian Correia of Roctavio Canada

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

* Assistant researcher: Nicholas Koziris

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

1) The DiRECT Study: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(17)33102-1/fulltext

2) The DiRECT Study, Two-Year Follow-Up: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(19)30068-3/fulltext

3) 2017 JAMA study on lifestyle interventions: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2648632

4) LABS study on bariatric surgery: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/fullarticle/2664662

Music Credits:

Cinema Blockbuster Trailer 14 by Sascha Ende

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4662-cinema-blockbuster-trailer-14

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

What does the body of evidence have to say on the topic of fibromyalgia? Plus: assorted topical discussions about mixing COVID vaccines, the tiny/maybe/it’s nothing increased risk of myocarditis and pericarditis with the RNA vaccines, and long-term immunity following COVID vaccination.

Block 1:

Fibromyalgia: what could be causing it? (3:00)

Block 2:

Fibromyalgia: diagnosing and treating it (10:02)

Block 3:

Mixing and matching COVID vaccines (28:20)

Block 4:

Myocarditis and pericarditis with the RNA vaccines (38:40)

Long-term immunity from COVID vaccines (51:35)

If you want to apply to be our social media manager, you find the details here: https://bodyofevidence.ca/looking-for-part-time-social-media-manager

* Jingle by Joseph Hackl

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

* Assistant researcher: Nicholas Koziris

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

To make a one-time donation to our show, you can now use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

1) Prevalence of fibromyalgia: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23203795/

2) Diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20461783/

3) Misdiagnosis of fibromyalgia, comparing physicians to criteria-based diagnosis: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/acr.23731

4) FM/a blood test for fibromyalgia (Science-Based Medicine post): https://www.skepdoc.info/a-blood-test-for-fibromyalgia/

5) FM/a blood test for fibromyalgia (AAFP article): https://www.aafp.org/afp/2021/0501/p566.html

6) Economic benefits after receiving a fibromyalgia diagnosis: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18311794/ and https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23024016/

7) Exercise for fibromyalgia: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28636204/

8) UK preprint on mixing and matching COVID vaccines (Com-COV trial): https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3874014

9) Ed Yong’s article on how the immune system is where intuition goes to die: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/08/covid-19-immunity-is-the-pandemics-central-mystery/614956/

10) Nature paper on long-term immunity after receiving a COVID vaccine: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03738-2

What does the body of evidence say on the topic of gluten, celiac disease, and non-celiac gluten sensitivity? Plus: a puzzling finding in nutritional epidemiology is painted as a conspiracy, and the FDA is getting sued by people who claim the abortion drug mifepristone was wrongly approved… twenty years ago.

Block 1:

(2:26) Gluten: what gluten is, what celiac disease is, whether or not it’s an allergy, the genetic cause, the solution, and how to test for it

Block 2:

(10:04) Gluten: gluten sensitivity (NCGS) and other explanations for its symptoms, including FODMAPs

Block 3:

(26:12) A mystery for the ages: is ice cream… good for you?

Block 4:

(43:53) The lawsuit against the abortion drug mifepristone

* Jingle by Joseph Hackl

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl

* Assistant researcher: Nicholas Koziris

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

To make a one-time donation to our show, you can now use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Jingle Lyrics:

FODMAPs! Woo-oo!

It’s not gluten, it really is

FODMAPs! Woo-oo!

Unless you have celiac, it’s really

FODMAPs! Woo-oo!

F-f-f fructose, lactose, fructans

Found in bread and dairy and fruits

If you feel ill, just avoid these

FODMAPs! Woo-oo!

Some foods have a lot of them, it’s 

FODMAPs! Woo-oo!

Other foods are low in them, it’s

FODMAPs! Woo-oo!

References:

1) Alan Levinovitz’s The Gluten Lie: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23280245-the-gluten-lie

2) Cancer incidence in people with celiac disease: https://doi.org/10.1053/gast.2002.36585

3) Testing for gluten-related disorders: https://doi.org/10.1155/2011/642452

4) Trends in gluten avoidance: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2016.10.012

5) First gluten sensitivity trial mentioned: https://doi.org/10.1038/ajg.2010.487

6) Second gluten sensitivity trial mentioned, with FODMAPs: https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2013.04.051

7) Crossover trial of non-celiac gluten sensitivity in children: https://doi.org/10.1038/ajg.2017.483

8) The Atlantic article on the ice cream problem: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2023/05/ice-cream-bad-for-you-health-study/673487/

9) Scientific American’s write-up on the legal case surrounding mifepristone: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/mifepristone-is-safe-a-court-ruling-reducing-access-to-it-is-dangerous/

It’s Not Twitter, But It’ll Do:

1) Jonathan’s interview in the Tribune: https://www.thetribune.ca/sci-tech/combatting-pseudoscience-with-reason-and-rationality-030423/

2) Dr. Jonathan Howard’s book, We Want Them Infected: https://redhawkpublications.com/We-Want-Them-Infected-p547021769

3) Chris’ article on the misguided use of honey to treat allergies: https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/christopher-labos-no-eating-honey-wont-help-your-seasonal-allergies

Music Credits:

The following music was used for this media project:

Music: Wish For Victory by MusicLFiles

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/8102-wish-for-victory

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

In this special episode, Jonathan asks Chris to rank medical specialties from super-amazing to garbage! You totally won’t believe the specialty he ranks at the very top! But hey, while he’s ranking them, you might learn a thing or two about what these different breeds of doctors do! The recording ran long, so we’re splitting this into two episodes. Part 2 will be released at some point in the future. Subscribe so that you don’t miss it!

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

What does the body of evidence say on fevers and whether or not we should treat them? Plus: more and more children are getting invasive streptococcal disease, and Chris fulfills two dreams of his: to become Dr. House and to write a book!

Block 1:

(1:47) Fever: what a fever is; the role the hypothalamus plays; why we shiver

Block 2:

(7:36) Fever: why fevers start; whether high fevers mean a worse condition; whether fevers help you fight an infection; febrile seizures; whether you should treat a fever; what a normal body temperature is; where you should stick that thermometre

Block 3:

(22:32) A rise in cases of invasive streptococcal disease in children

Block 4:

(32:21) Chris becomes House, MD. Play along!

* Jingle by Jillian Correia of Roctavio Canada

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl

* Assistant researcher: Nicholas Koziris

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

To make a one-time donation to our show, you can now use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

1) XKCD cartoon on killing cancer cells: https://xkcd.com/1217/

2) Meta-analysis on the risks and benefits of fever reduction in adults: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35820685/

3) Prognosis of febrile seizures in children: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18692714/

4) The use of fever medication to prevent recurrent febrile seizures in children:

a) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23702315/

b) https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/142/5/e20181009/38533/Acetaminophen-and-Febrile-Seizure-Recurrences?autologincheck=redirected#

c) https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD003031.pub3/full

5) Normal variation in body temperature: https://www.bmj.com/content/359/bmj.j5468

6) Diagnostic accuracy of ear thermometers: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32398036/

7) CBC’s report on streptococcal disease in Waterloo, Ontario: https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6847676

8) The Medscape Emergency Medicine Case Challenge: https://reference.medscape.com/viewarticle/855744

It’s Not Twitter, But It’ll Do:

1) Jonathan’s article on the Big Pharma gambit: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/medical-critical-thinking-health-and-nutrition/what-big-pharma-accusation-gets-right-and-wrong-about-drug-industry

2) Conspirituality: How New Age Conspiracy Theories Became a Public Health Threat: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/713402/conspirituality-by-derek-beres-matthew-remski-and-julian-walker/9781039005532

3) Chris’ Gazette article on coronary artery calcium: https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/christopher-labos-calcium-deposits-in-the-arteries-not-always-a-worry

4) Chris wrote a book called Does Coffee Cause Cancer? Pre-order it now! https://ecwpress.com/products/does-coffee-cause-cancer?_pos=1&_sid=e672b52c1&_ss=r

Car safety: the evidence behind seatbelts, air bags, booster seats, winter tires, and turning right on red // the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine saga, with the risk of blood clots explained // the claim that 1 in 3 people with COVID-19 will develop a neuropsychiatric condition.

* Jingle by Jillian Correia of Roctavio Canada

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

* Assistant researcher: Nicholas Koziris

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

1) Causes of death according to the CDC: https://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/leadcause.html

2) Traffic safety facts from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812683

3) Booster seat use in older children in Washington state: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5522634/

4) The danger of premature graduation to seat belts for young children: https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/105/6/1179

5) A new measure making winter tires mandatory in Quebec: http://conf.tac-atc.ca/english/resourcecentre/readingroom/conference/conf2010/docs/k2/fournier-e.pdf

6) Hilda Bastian’s article on the risk of clotting with AZ’s vaccine: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/03/astrazeneca-vaccine-blood-clot-issue-wont-go-away/618451/

7) The Lancet Psychiatry study on neuropsychiatric outcomes of COVID-19 patients: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(21)00084-5/fulltext

Music Credits:

Dark Secrets (DECISION) by Sascha Ende®

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/246-dark-secrets-decision-

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Funny Adventures by WinnieTheMoog

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6048-funny-adventures

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Chris and Jonathan discuss Australia’s COVID-19 response with epidemiologist Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz and compare it to Canada’s. Do lockdowns work? Are school closures necessary? Have we learned anything about how to manage a pandemic? The answers often turn out to be, “It depends….”

1:47 Gid in the eye of the European storm

3:45 Australia’s immediate response to COVID-19

5:52 Canada’s jet-lagged mandate to quarantine travellers

8:00 Was Australia lucky?

10:33 The May 2020 outbreak

14:58 Australians do love their laws / Right-wing liberals

20:00 Contact tracing in Quebec and Australia

25:45 The best approach to contain a pandemic

29:25 Did we learn anything?

35:12 Do lockdowns work?

38:30 Do lockdowns cause more benefits or harm?

40:45 Are school closures necessary?

44:55 The problem with the news

49:04 Predictions

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Links:

1) Gid M-K on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GidMK

2) Gid M-K’s blog on Medium: https://gidmk.medium.com/

3) Gid M-K’s podcast, Sensationalist Science: https://soundcloud.com/senscipod

Chris and Jonathan welcome back to the show Paul Ingraham, the founder of PainScience.com. He charts his early days as a woo believer, his transformation into a skeptic, and the thing that got him in trouble with his massage therapy regulatory body: tone. Do healthcare regulators care for snark? Is it their role to tone-police their members? The Internet took many regulators by surprise and some overreacted. How do you kick the foxes out of the henhouse of massage therapy if the rule is that foxes should be treated as hens?

No time stamps for this one. It’s a story that goes from “crack” addiction to growing out of the adolescent phase of skepticism to the difference between evidence-based medicine and science-based medicine. And for the first time ever, our podcast has been turned all the way up to 11.

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Links:

1) Paul Ingraham’s website: https://www.painscience.com/

2) Paul Ingraham’s Science-Based Medicine post on why he quit being a massage therapist: https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/why-i-quit-my-massage-therapy-career/

Stomach ulcers: what causes them, what doesn’t, why they’re like ninjas, the usefulness of cameras, and how to treat them without resorting to surgery // the debate over airborne transmission of the novel coronavirus and how the virus affects children // COVID-19’s impact on blood vessels and what’s happening with “long haulers” // A word about Plandemic: InDoctorNation

* Jingle by Jillian Correia of Roctavio Canada

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

1) Ed Yong’s article on COVID-19 long haulers: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/08/long-haulers-covid-19-recognition-support-groups-symptoms/615382/

2) Jonathan’s article on coronavirus patent disinformation: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/covid-19-pseudoscience/patently-false-disinformation-over-coronavirus-patents

Music Credits:

Sings In The Fields  by Rafael Krux

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5302-sings-in-the-fields-

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Cursed Intro  by Rafael Krux

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5624-cursed-intro-

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Countdown by Alexander Nakarada

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4865-countdown

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Time Is Now by Sascha Ende

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/395-time-is-now

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Jonathan and Chris talk to Tom Thumb, the author of the book Science for Hippies. How do you have productive conversations with people who believe that we can never truly know anything and that everything happens for a reason? Tom shares his experience being a rational hippie trying to get his friends to think more scientifically, especially in the middle of a pandemic!

(1:41) Why a science book for hippies?

(7:11) Natural immunity and germ denialism

(10:55) What science communicators get wrong

(17:21) Trust and meeting experts in person

(22:02) “We can never truly know anything”

(24:38) “Everything happens for a reason”

(31:48) The squishy middle

(33:11) Quantum woo and science envy

(39:27) Tom’s most embarrassing story

(47:57) Tips on being more humble

(50:31) Science and magic

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Links:

1) Tom’s book, Science for Hippies: https://scienceforhippies.com/

2) Tom’s personal website: https://tomthumb.org/

One day, Trysha Gellis’ heart just stopped pumping blood. She lost consciousness and almost died… but CPR saved her life. Today, we hear her story and our medical experts explain what doctors do to investigate what went wrong with her heart on that day. Thankfully, it involves cute anesthesiologists.

* Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

1) Living Proof CPR Training: https://www.livingproofcpr.com

2) Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada’s CPR Videos: https://www.heartandstroke.ca/get-involved/learn-cpr

Previously, on the Body of Evidence: Jonathan asked Chris to rank medical specialties from super-amazing to garbage! As Chris finds himself lounging on a beach in Greece, we release the conclusion to this special episode. You will learn so much about pathology, cardiology and other specialties, and you will finally hear which branches of medicine Chris thinks are GARBAGE! (sort of… for him… ‘cause he doesn’t like them… but we need doctors to do those things so….)

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Music Credits:

Cinema Blockbuster Trailer 6 by Sascha Ende®

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/288-cinema-blockbuster-trailer-6

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

On a special live recording of The Body of Evidence, Jonathan sits down in conversation with Lewis, a reformed conspiracy theorist from Liverpool who tumbled down the rabbit hole during the COVID-19 pandemic. How should you talk to the conspiracy theorist in your life if you want to make progress? There’s no better person to answer this question than someone who was at the other end of this.

The two discuss the strange alignment between gym bros and yoga moms—and the “cosmic Scousers” in Liverpool—that fed into the protests against public health measures, and they talk about how fast you can get a “diploma” on Telegram.

And how critical thinking really is an aspiration.

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

What does the body of evidence say on air quality and how to protect ourselves from airborne pollution? Plus: a birth control pill becomes easier to access in the Republic of Gilead, and Chris returns to the hot seat to help a lawyer with blood-streaked loose stool!

Block 1:

(2:11) Air Quality: forest fires and their causes; major air pollutants; what causes air pollution; improvements in air quality

Block 2:

(8:56) Air Quality: what the air quality index is; why there are different indices in different countries; whether poor air quality leads to poor health outcomes; biomass air pollution; how we can protect ourselves

Block 3:

(24:03) An over-the-counter birth control pill in the USA

Block 4:

(33:15) Chris becomes House, MD. His patient: a lawyer with blood-streaked loose stool

•  
• Jingle by Jillian Correia of Roctavio Canada

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

To make a one-time donation to our show, you can now use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

1) Basics of air quality: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/air-pollution/research-science/about/air-quality-overview.html

2) Sources of air pollution: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/environmental-indicators/air-pollutant-emissions.html

3) Quantifying the risk of air pollution: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/1104975

4) The WHO’s estimates of premature deaths worldwide in 2019 due to poor air quality: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ambient-(outdoor)-air-quality-and-health

5) The Air Quality Index: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/air-quality-health-index/about.html & https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/air-quality-health-index/understanding-messages.html & https://www.epa.gov/outdoor-air-quality-data/how-aqi-calculated

6) Report on the health effects of air quality: https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/news/reducing-air-pollution-uk-progress-report-2018

7) The Harvard Six Cities study: https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.200503-443OC

8) Cochrane review on individual-level interventions to reduce exposure to air pollution: https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD013441.pub2

9) The case of the 36-year-old lawyer with blood-streaked loose stool: https://reference.medscape.com/viewarticle/993938_1

It’s Not Twitter, But It’ll Do:

1) Jonathan’s article on transcranial direct current stimulation: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/medical-critical-thinking-technology/brain-zapping-may-probably-appear-be-doing-something

2) Jonathan on the Conspirituality podcast to discuss Andrew Huberman: https://www.conspirituality.net/episodes/163-the-huberman-paradox-jonathan-jarry

3) Jonathan is now on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jonathanjarry.bsky.social

4) Chris wrote a book called Does Coffee Cause Cancer? Pre-order it now! https://ecwpress.com/products/does-coffee-cause-cancer?_pos=1&_sid=e672b52c1&_ss=r

What does the body of evidence say on the topic of gun control? Plus: we address why more and more children are accidentally getting poisoned with cannabis, and we wonder if a vaccine against RSV might be around the corner!

Warning: discussions of suicide in the first half. If you need help, please reach out: https://talksuicide.ca/.

Block 1:

(2:42) Gun control: gun deaths, where the data comes from, violent crime vs. suicide

Block 2:

(11:47) Gun control: the Canadian situation, rising rates of gun crimes, accidental gun deaths, research into gun violence, quality of the evidence for specific policies

Block 3:

(26:27) Unintentional cannabis poisonings in children

Block 4:

(36:49) RSV vaccines

* Jingle by Jillian Correia of Roctavio Canada

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

* Assistant researcher: Nicholas Koziris

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

To make a one-time donation to our show, you can now use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

1) Gun violence data from the American Public Health Association: https://www.apha.org/-/media/Files/PDF/factsheets/200221_Gun_Violence_Fact_Sheet.ashx

2) Canadian statistics: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2022001/article/00009-eng.htm & https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/csj-sjc/jsp-sjp/wd98_4-dt98_4/p4.html#a41

3) Public health approach to gun violence prevention: https://efsgv.org/learn/learn-more-about-gun-violence/public-health-approach-to-gun-violence-prevention/

4) RAND Corporation, What Science Tells Us About the Effects of Gun Policies: https://www.rand.org/research/gun-policy/key-findings/what-science-tells-us-about-the-effects-of-gun-policies.html

5) RAND Corporation, The Science of Gun Policy: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2088-1.html

6) RAND Corporation, Gun Policy in America: https://www.rand.org/research/gun-policy.html

7) Study on edible cannabis legalization and unintentional poisonings in children: https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmc2207661

Time machine:

1) Our episode on stomach ulcers: https://bodyofevidence.ca/063-stomach-ulcers-and-covid-19

2) Our interview with Brennen McKenzie on pets: https://bodyofevidence.ca/interview-brennen-mckenzie-on-pets

What does the body of evidence say on LASIK, the use of lasers to correct vision? Plus: many men on PreP are abandoning condoms as STIs are becoming more common, and Chris tells us if krill oil can cure arthritis of the knee. Also, Jonathan briefly imitates Alex Jones.

A Block: LASIK

(0:59) How lasers are used in medicine; LASIK and its cousins; how to choose; effectiveness, satisfaction, and side effects.

B Block: HIV PrEP and STIs

(28:18) How does pre-exposure prophylaxis against HIV works, and what is simultaneously happening with condom use (going down) and rates of STIs (going up). Also, what is Doxy-PEP?

C Block: Krill Oil for Knee Osteoarthritis

(44:45) An Australian trial of krill oil for arthritis of the knee came to the conclusion that… well, what do you think?

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl

* Assistant researcher: Aigul Zaripova

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

To make a one-time donation to our show, you can now use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

Comparisons of LASIK and its related techniques:

1) DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174810 

2) DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrs.2007.07.026 

3) DOI: 10.1136/bjo.2007.131748 

4) DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2017.03.013 

5) DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD012687.pub2 

Outcomes from LASIK:

6) DOI: 10.1016/s0161-6420(99)00148-7 

7) DOI: 10.1016/s0161-6420(00)00528-5 

8) doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2016.4587

UpToDate entries pertaining to HIV, PrEP, and Doxy-PEP:

9) https://www.uptodate.com/contents/hiv-pre-exposure-prophylaxis

10) https://www.uptodate.com/contents/primary-care-of-gay-men-and-men-who-have-sex-with-men

11) https://www.uptodate.com/contents/prevention-of-sexually-transmitted-infections

12) https://www.uptodate.com/contents/hiv-infection-risk-factors-and-prevention-strategies

13) Statistics Canada survey of sexually active 15-to-24-year-olds: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-003-x/2020009/article/00001-eng.htm

14) Increased rates of STIs according to Public Health Agency of Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/report-sexually-transmitted-infection-surveillance-canada-2019.html

15) Systematic review and meta-analysis on sexual risk behaviour in men who use PrEP: https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciy182

16) Australian trial on krill oil for knee osteoarthritis: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2024.6063

It’s Not Twitter But It’ll Do:

1) Jonathan’s article about Lumina to avoid dental cavities: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/medical-critical-thinking-technology/reports-death-dental-cavities-are-greatly-exaggerated

2) The Skeptics’ Dictionary: https://www.skepdic.com/

What does the body of evidence say on the topic of MSG? Plus: we dig into a new study that alleges that artificial sweeteners are associated with a higher risk of cancer (but But BUT!), and will we keep boosting people against COVID every four months?

Block 1:

(2:05) MSG: what it is, where it comes from, and where it is used

Block 2:

(8:41) MSG: what it tastes like, the story of how it was maligned, and whether or not it causes harm

Block 3:

(27:26) New study on artificial sweeteners and cancer, and its pitfalls

Block 4:

(39:11) Forever boosters for COVID-19

* Jingle by Jillian Correia of Roctavio Canada

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

* Assistant researcher: Nicholas Koziris

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

To make a one-time donation to our show, you can now use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

1) The original paper on “Chinese-restaurant syndrome:” https://doi.org/10.1056/nejm196804042781419

2) The Colgate University article on Dr. Howard Steel: https://news.colgate.edu/magazine/2019/02/06/the-strange-case-of-dr-ho-man-kwok/

3) This American Life’s episode on Dr. Steel and Dr. Kwok: https://www.thisamericanlife.org/668/the-long-fuse

4) The only other scientific paper penned by Dr. Kwok: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0022-3476(67)80272-5

5) Study on intravenous administration of MSG: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.163.3869.826

6) Study #1 on MSG and flushing: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0190-9622(86)70161-8

7) Study #2 on MSG and flushing: https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/130.4.1058s

8) Study on MSG and headaches: https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-016-0639-4

9) The FDA’s findings on MSG: https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/questions-and-answers-monosodium-glutamate-msg

10) Adam Ragusea’s video on MSG: https://youtu.be/E-POAKKH5IM

11) New study on artificial sweeteners and cancer risk: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003950

12) Second COVID booster has ‘marginal benefits’ in small study: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/972198

13) Jonathan’s article on a pan-coronavirus vaccine: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/covid-19/future-proof-coronavirus-vaccine

Music Credits:

Shine Of Happiness by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/7537-shine-of-happiness

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Jonathan and Chris speak to Dr. Lindsay Duncan, a kinesiologist and co-director of the Theories and Interventions in Exercise and Health Psychology laboratory at McGill University. In light of the upcoming Summer Olympics, what are banned substances and why are they banned? How common is supplement use among athletes? And do superhero movies—with actors undergoing dramatic body transformations in a short amount of time—alter expectations in the gym?

1:45 Why are some competitive advantages allowed but not others?

5:17 The next frontier: gene editing

6:43 Banned substances cleared for medical use

11:29 Common performance-enhancing drugs

13:51 THC and alcohol

18:49 The possibility of accidental exposure

20:37 Protecting athletes from harm

26:09 Supplement use is incredibly common

29:04 The superhero physique

33:33 Celebrity trainers

36:48 Sleep and rest

40:25 Athletes’ use of social media

41:46 Preventing drug use in young athletes

44:22 Stripping away hype without affecting motivation

If you want to apply to be our social media manager, you find the details here: https://bodyofevidence.ca/looking-for-part-time-social-media-manager

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Links:

1) Lindsay Duncan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LindsayDuncan9

What does the body of evidence say about smoking cessation? Does counselling make a difference and, if so, what kind? Is vaping effective as a way to quit smoking? And did you know there are drugs that have been shown to help give up the habit? Chris attempts to pronounce their names and is left with one question: is his veranda clean?

Become a supporter of our show today either on Patreon or through PayPal! Thank you!

http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/

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Email us your questions at thebodyofevidence@gmail.com.

Assistant researcher: Aigul Zaripova, MD

Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl

Rod of Asclepius designed by Kamil J. Przybos

Chris’ book, Does Coffee Cause Cancer?: https://ecwpress.com/products/does-coffee-cause-cancer

Obviously, Chris is not your doctor (probably). This podcast is not medical advice for you; it is what we call information.

References:

Reducing vs. quitting smoking

1) Gerber Y, Myers V, Goldbourt U. Smoking reduction at midlife and lifetime mortality risk in men: a prospective cohort study. Am J Epidemiol. 2012 May 15;175(10):1006-12. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwr466. Epub 2012 Feb 3. PMID: 22306566.

2) Nina S. Godtfredsen, Claus Holst, Eva Prescott, Jørgen Vestbo, Merete Osler, Smoking Reduction, Smoking Cessation, and Mortality: A 16-year Follow-up of 19,732 Men and Women from the Copenhagen Centre for Prospective Population Studies, American Journal of Epidemiology, Volume 156, Issue 11, 1 December 2002, Pages 994–1001, https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwf150

Behavioural interventions for smoking cessation

3) Cahill K, Lancaster T, Green N. Stage-based interventions for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Nov 10;(11):CD004492. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004492.pub4. PMID: 21069681.

4) Stead LF, Koilpillai P, Fanshawe TR, Lancaster T. Combined pharmacotherapy and behavioural interventions for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Mar 24;3(3):CD008286. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008286.pub3. PMID: 27009521; PMCID: PMC10042551.

5) Hartmann-Boyce J, Hong B, Livingstone-Banks J, Wheat H, Fanshawe TR. Additional behavioural support as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019 Jun 5;6(6):CD009670. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD009670.pub4. PMID: 31166007; PMCID: PMC6549450.

6) Hartmann-Boyce J, Livingstone-Banks J, Ordóñez-Mena JM, Fanshawe TR, Lindson N, Freeman SC, Sutton AJ, Theodoulou A, Aveyard P. Behavioural interventions for smoking cessation: an overview and network meta-analysis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021 Jan 4;1(1):CD013229. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD013229.pub2. PMID: 33411338; PMCID: PMC11354481.

7) Anthenelli RM, Benowitz NL, West R, St Aubin L, McRae T, Lawrence D, Ascher J, Russ C, Krishen A, Evins AE. Neuropsychiatric safety and efficacy of varenicline, bupropion, and nicotine patch in smokers with and without psychiatric disorders (EAGLES): a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Lancet. 2016 Jun 18;387(10037):2507-20. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30272-0. Epub 2016 Apr 22. PMID: 27116918.

Network meta-analysis of medications and e-cigarettes

8) Lindson N, Theodoulou A, Ordóñez-Mena JM, Fanshawe TR, Sutton AJ, Livingstone-Banks J, Hajizadeh A, Zhu S, Aveyard P, Freeman SC, Agrawal S, Hartmann-Boyce J. Pharmacological and electronic cigarette interventions for smoking cessation in adults: component network meta‐analyses. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2023, Issue 9. Art. No.: CD015226. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD015226.pub2. Accessed 04 November 2024.

What does the body of evidence say about rabies? Well, for one, it is the human disease with the worst case-fatality rate. Once you develop the symptoms, your outlook isn’t good. But its long incubation period makes it easy to do something that may not be intuitive: to give the infected person a vaccine… after they’ve been bit.

Special guest star: Tobi.

Become a supporter of our show today either on Patreon or through PayPal! Thank you!

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Email us your questions at thebodyofevidence@gmail.com.

Assistant researcher: Aigul Zaripova, MD

Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl

Rod of Asclepius designed by Kamil J. Przybos

Chris’ book, Does Coffee Cause Cancer?: https://ecwpress.com/products/does-coffee-cause-cancer

Obviously, Chris is not your doctor (probably). This podcast is not medical advice for you; it is what we call information.

References:

1) Information on the rabies vaccine: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/canadian-immunization-guide-part-4-active-vaccines/page-18-rabies-vaccine.html

2) WHO expert consultation on rabies: https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/272364/9789241210218-eng.pdf?sequence=1

What does the body of evidence say about mold? Or if you’re part of the Commonwealth, mould? Some mould can make you sick, especially by triggering allergic symptoms, but beware of people selling you a service to detect mould in your home because there is no established “safe” threshold yet. How can you prevent mould from growing where you live? And how do you take care of it once you’ve spotted it?

Become a supporter of our show today either on Patreon or through PayPal! Thank you!

http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/

https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE

Email us your questions at thebodyofevidence@gmail.com.

Assistant researcher: Aigul Zaripova, MD

Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl

Rod of Asclepius designed by Kamil J. Przybos

Chris’ book, Does Coffee Cause Cancer?: https://ecwpress.com/products/does-coffee-cause-cancer

Obviously, Chris is not your doctor (probably). This podcast is not medical advice for you; it is what we call information.

References:

1) Health Canada’s Guide to addressing moisture and mould indoors: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/addressing-moisture-mould-your-home.html

2) Guidance for Clinicians on the Recognition and Management of Health Effects Related to Mold Exposure and Moisture Indoors: https://health.uconn.edu/occupational-environmental/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2015/12/mold_guide.pdf

3) The EPA’s Course on mold: https://www.epa.gov/mold/mold-course-chapter-1

What does the body of evidence say on erectile dysfunction? Plus: why was a woman in need of a heart transplant was denied the procedure, and what happens when you have advanced HIV and you catch mpox?

Block 1:

(2:06) Erectile dysfunction: definitions, how common it is, causes

Block 2:

(9:13) Erectile dysfunction: the psychological angle, figuring out what’s causing it, treatments, the blue haze effect, cardiac risk, prevention, all-natural sexual enhancers

Block 3:

(25:38) Transplant denial because of refusal to get vaccinated

Block 4:

(35:31) Mpox + advanced HIV = bad

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl

* Assistant researcher: Nicholas Koziris

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

To make a one-time donation to our show, you can now use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

1) The Massachusetts Male Aging Study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10647654/

2) Efficacy and side effects of sildenafil: https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.162.12.1349

3) Safety of sildenafil (Viagra) after heart attack: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjcard.2003.09.030

4) Addition of testosterone for erectile dysfunction: https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-157-10-201211200-00004

5) Natural health products contaminated with Viagra: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/196675

6) Mother denied transplant due to vaccination status: https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/no-jab-no-heart-mother-denied-transplant-due-to-vaccination-status/news-story/5580aca526744d15fe1a25e595ef7d76

7) Mpox in people with advanced HIV infection: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)00273-8

8) CBC coverage of the mpox study: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/15-per-cent-death-rate-severe-lesions-reported-in-patients-with-mpox-alongside-advanced-hiv-study-1.6756429

It’s Not Twitter, But It’ll Do:

1) Jonathan interviewed for Fast Company on the Liver King: https://www.fastcompany.com/90839190/liver-kings-fall-ancestral-living-need-a-new-dad

2) Jonathan writing about digital amnesia: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/critical-thinking-technology/digital-amnesia-has-been-exaggerated

3) Jack Lawrence’s Skeptics in the Pub talk on ivermectin: https://youtu.be/1Nvp-zyLfaQ

4) Chris’ article on biotin: https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/christopher-labos-take-biotin-for-most-better-to-save-your-money

A limited series on sport science hosted by student athlete Sophie and featuring two experts: Dr. Christopher Labos, cardiologist and regular co-host of this podcast, and Nick Tiller, who holds a doctorate in exercise physiology. Together, they will answer Sophie’s questions while dispelling myths that athletes—and anybody getting into fitness—are likely to hear.

This is part 4 of 4. The topic: fitspiration. Influencers on social media showing off their toned bodies and posing on a beach can encourage you to go to the gym, but how can you judge if what they say is based on solid evidence… or if it’s all lies, exaggerations, and undeclared sponsored content?

(0:29) Intro

(1:03) Influencers are not your friends

(5:12) What credentials should I look for in a fitness influencer?

(8:43) Sponsorships not disclosed

(9:50) Looks beget credibility

(13:44) How to read a scientific paper

(20:47) What to do to protect yourself from fitness misinformation

Opening music: “Energetic Upbeat” by WinnieTheMoog

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6033-energetic-upbeat

Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

End title music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Fingers on buzzers! It’s the first (and possibly last) episode of What’s in a Name: Medical Edition! Join host Jonathan and his three contestants in figuring out the origin of common words used in biology and medicine! It’s fun, we swear!

In the hot seat: social media manager Melissa, medical resident Niko, and cardiologist Chris!

Who will win? Who will lose? Will their egos recover? Do points even matter? What are the rules again? You’ll hear about biceps, botulism, and that disease that got its name from a really old poem!

It’s What’s in a Name: Medical Edition!

Recorded in late December, 2021.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

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Music Credits:

Dark Secrets (DECISION) by Sascha Ende®

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/246-dark-secrets-decision-

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

You thought your toddler was a handful. Have you heard of the She-Hulk toddler? You will learn what GPA means in a patient chart and how menstruation can be used to judge the health of a country, while Chris tries to figure out what is wrong with this tiny but ferocious patient.

Also: an announcement that will change The Body of Evidence forever….

Warning: this episode contains medical discussion of genitals.

A Block: The Case of the She-Hulk Toddler

(0:58) She has the strength of two toddlers! Also, puberty seems to have kicked in. What is going on with her?

B Block: Announcement

(32:29) Chris and Jonathan announce something.

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl

* Assistant researcher: Aigul Zaripova

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

To make a one-time donation to our show, you can now use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Chris and Jonathan speak to two guests about the slow collapse of the body of evidence on ivermectin for COVID-19, with a particular focus on the oft-cited Elgazzar randomized controlled trial. Their first guest is Jack Lawrence, a Master’s student and disinformation researcher, who took the Elgazzar paper apart, finding evidence of plagiarism and of potential data fraud. Their second guest is Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz, an epidemiologist, who appraised the Elgazzar study, the Carvallo “study,” and many others, and who reveals some of the telltale signs of scientific fraud.

Guest #1: Jack Lawrence

3:06 Jack reads the Elgazzar study

5:55 A plagiarized introduction

7:46 The paper’s claims

11:57 Skimming a paper versus actively looking for fraud

24:45 Deaths didn’t add up

31:23 The Guardian’s coverage

36:10 A broken system

Guest #2: Gid M-K

41:28 Most likely a fraud

46:34 Is this dataset real?

52:41 The Carvallo “study” may never have taken place as described

58:11 IVMMeta.com, an anonymous pseudoscientific website

1:04:16 Churning out bad meta-analyses

1:07:07 Gid’s verdict on ivermectin for COVID-19

1:12:23 Maintaining trust in science in the face of fraud

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Links:

1) Jack Lawrence on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JackMLawrence

2) Jack Lawrence’s TimPoolClips account: https://twitter.com/TimPoolClips

3) Jack Lawrence’s blog post on the Elgazzar paper: https://grftr.news/why-was-a-major-study-on-ivermectin-for-covid-19-just-retracted/

4) Gid M-K on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GidMK

5) Gid M-K’s podcast, Sensationalist Science: https://soundcloud.com/senscipod

6) Gid M-K’s first blog post on the ivermectin saga: https://elemental.medium.com/ivermectin-for-covid-19-an-update-5e913bb49483

7) The Elgazzar study: https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-100956/v3

8) Nick Brown’s blog post about the Elgazzar study: https://steamtraen.blogspot.com/2021/07/Some-problems-with-the-data-from-a-Covid-study.html

9) The Guardian’s coverage of the Elgazzar study: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/jul/16/huge-study-supporting-ivermectin-as-covid-treatment-withdrawn-over-ethical-concerns

10) The BuzzFeed investigation into the Carvallo “study”: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/stephaniemlee/ivermectin-covid-study-suspect-data

11) IVMMeta website: https://ivmmeta.com/

The Body of Evidence is releasing an episode of HFMA’s Voices in Healthcare Finance podcast, which features an interview with Dr. Christopher Labos on the topic of weight bias in healthcare, including what health indicators to focus on instead of weight and how to help patients who are at risk improve their health outcomes without explicit or implicit fat shaming.

If you enjoy Voices in Healthcare Finance, you can find the show and subscribe to it here: https://hfma.podbean.com/

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Not so long ago, natural health products sold in Canada—which include a slew of dietary supplements of dubious effectiveness—were not regulated. When Kat McLeod got poisoned via the herbal supplement she was taking, she was offered a choice: sue the Canadian government or help them draft stronger regulation.

The Body of Evidence reached out to Olsy Sorokina to report on this story. She will tell you how natural health products are regulated in Canada and what the latest legislation, Vanessa’s Law, means to consumers and to the natural health industry. And don’t worry: Chris and Jonathan appear throughout.

Story producer: Olsy Sorokina

Interviewed for this story: Kat McLeod and Timothy Caulfield

Become a supporter of our show today either on Patreon or through PayPal! Thank you!

http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/

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Email us your questions at thebodyofevidence@gmail.com.

Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl

Rod of Asclepius designed by Kamil J. Przybos

Chris’ book, Does Coffee Cause Cancer?: https://ecwpress.com/products/does-coffee-cause-cancer

Obviously, Chris is not your doctor (probably). This podcast is not medical advice for you; it is what we call information.

What does the body of evidence have to say on the topic of blood pressure? Plus: what seems to be causing multiple chemical sensitivity, and we come face to face with the difficulty of deciding if an activity is risky or not when you’re fully vaccinated.

Block 1:

Blood pressure: what the numbers mean (2:27)

Block 2:

Blood pressure: should you treat it, what to aim for, how to treat it, how best to measure it (8:56)

Block 3:

Multiple chemical sensitivity, what happens when tests come back negative, and the ethics of prescribing placebos (28:11)

Block 4:

Question about the HPV vaccine and the immune system (45:56)

Wrong numbers in Ottawa Heart Institute study scare people (48:12)

Is this risky? (53:16)

* Jingle by Jillian Correia of Roctavio Canada

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

* Assistant researcher: Nicholas Koziris

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

To make a one-time donation to our show, you can use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

1) John Hay quote: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20776269/

2) Oslo study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7001898/

3) MRC study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2861880/

4) SPRINT study: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1511939

5) ACCORD study: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1001286

6) STEP trial: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2111437

7) SSaSS study on salt substitute: https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2105675

8) ALLHAT trial: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/195626

9) ACC/AHA systematic review: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29133355/

10) Jonathan’s article on the INSPQ report on multiple chemical sensitivity: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/health/zeroing-cause-multiple-chemical-sensitivity

11) The INSPQ report on MCS (French only): https://www.inspq.qc.ca/publications/2729

Music:

Fanfare for Space by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3736-fanfare-for-space

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Guitar Hero by Alexander Nakarada

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4807-guitar-hero

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Good Ideas For A New Startup by MusicLFiles

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/8159-good-ideas-for-a-new-startup

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

What does the body of evidence have to say on the topic of the immune system? Plus: the omicron variant and its accompanying public health measures, and we go over what happens when scientists try to fulfill one of the promises of science: replicating results.

Block 1:

(2:46) Immunity: what it does, self versus non-self, antigens, HLA, innate versus adaptive, fever, skin

Block 2:

(12:07) Immunity: Geert Vanden Bossche, eosinophils, neutrophils, G-CSF, immune boosters, vitamin C, antibodies, T and B cells, immune memory, vaccines

Block 3:

(30:40) Omicron, public health measures, and booster doses

Block 4:

(48:34) Reproducibility of cancer studies

* Jingle by Joseph Hackl

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

* Assistant researcher: Nicholas Koziris

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

To make a one-time donation to our show, you can now use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

1) Driving doggos: https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-15864761

2) Explanatory videos on the immune system: https://www.osmosis.org/learn/Introduction_to_the_immune_system

3) Understanding how vaccines work: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/conversations/understanding-vacc-work.html

4) Understanding how COVID-19 vaccines work: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/how-they-work.html

5) Cochrane review on vitamin C for the common cold: https://www.cochrane.org/CD000980/ARI_vitamin-c-for-preventing-and-treating-the-common-cold

6) Measles vaccine information: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/canadian-immunization-guide-part-4-active-vaccines/page-12-measles-vaccine.html#p4c11a4 and https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/measles-rubella-surveillance/2021/week-46.html

7) Interview with Dr. Paul Offit for New York Mag’s Intelligencer: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/12/omicron-dr-paul-offit-is-skeptical-of-boosters-for-all.html

8) Brian Nosek paper 1: https://elifesciences.org/articles/67995

9) Brian Nosek paper 2: https://elifesciences.org/articles/71601

10) New Scientist article: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2300455-investigation-fails-to-replicate-most-cancer-biology-lab-findings/

11) Amgen’s paper on the lack of replicability of cancer research: https://www.nature.com/articles/483531a

12) Jonathan’s paper on circulating microRNA signatures for cancer: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5528532/

Music Credits:

Just Deep 2 by Sascha Ende®

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/312-just-deep-2

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Flu: Cold vs. flu; the anatomy of a virus; when viruses make a MegaZord; diagnosing, preventing and testing for the flu // coronavirus disease COVID-19 // update on talc and ovarian cancer

* Vox pop by David Lonstein

* Jingle by Jillian Correia of Roctavio Canada

* Additional music by Seth Donnelly and Kevin MacLeod of Incompetech.com.

* Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Jonathan’s upcoming public events: https://jonathanjarry.com/category/events/

And Chris will be at ComSciConCan 2020: https://comscicon.com/comscicon-can-2020

Reference:

1) JAMA paper on talc and ovarian cancer: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2758452

Chris, Jonathan, and a mystery guest get together for an old-fashioned radio play. Are hot dogs and other red meat really as bad for your health as cigarettes? A doctor without a name boards an airplane and is soon asked to answer this question. It involves risk, hazard, and a budding romance.

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

* Assistant researcher: Aigul Zaripova

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Music:

Jazzy Comping 2 by Agnese Valmaggia

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/8550-jazzy-comping-2

Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Links:

1) To buy Chris’ book: https://doescoffeecausecancer.com/

Morgan Sweeney, who has collaborated with us in the past, has created a podcast that uses storytelling set in the Forgotten Realms of Dungeons & Dragons to teach people about the ways of the human brain. It’s called Magic of the Mind, and we are sharing its second episode, on perception and attention, because we, uh, have cameos in it. Enjoy!

To listen to more episodes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/magic-of-the-mind/id1498237612

Magic of the Mind website: magicofthemind.ca

Magic of the Mind on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MagicoftheMind1

Chris and Jonathan interview Jen Novakovich, a science communicator and cosmetic chemist, on everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the safety and efficacy of cosmetics and over-the-counter beauty products… and the drivel you need to be warned against.

2:03 Jen’s career path

4:20 Reversing the signs of aging

7:21 How much should you pay for a moisturizer?

9:37 The regulation of therapeutic claims

13:02 Topical vitamin C or niacinamide?

15:24 Hyaluronic acid or glycerin

16:55 Snail mucin

18:26 Coenzyme Q10

19:32 Tea extract

20:30 Collagen

21:09 Sunscreen and its detractors

25:15 It’s the dose that makes the poison

27:00 How sensitization can lead to skin allergy

31:28 Exfoliants

35:56 The issues with the clean beauty movement

38:00 Animal testing

42:10 When should you throw out makeup?

45:21 Lipsticks and sunscreen

46:48 Can lip balm cause a dependence?

51:20 The new hand sanitizers

53:26 Toxic sanitizers recalled

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Links:

1) Jen Novakovich’s Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/theecowell/

2) Jen Novakovich’s podcast: https://www.theecowell.com/

3) Hand sanitizers recalled by Health Canada: https://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2020/73385a-eng.php#affected-touches

What does the body of evidence say on Ozempic and its impact on diabetes and obesity? Plus: can you trade in your antidepressant for a jog, and Chris returns to the hot seat to diagnose a teenage boy who fell during a baseball game!

Block 1:

(2:22) Ozempic/Wegovy: GLP-1 receptor agonists; the difference between them; Mounjaro; Trulicity; diabetes biology; glucagon-like peptides 1 and 2; the problem with GLP-1; DPP4 inhibitors

Block 2:

(12:33) Ozempic/Wegovy: The venom of the Gila monster; how semaglutide became a blockbuster drug; weight loss; the numerous clinical trials; the impact on the stock prices of dialysis companies; downsides; the Internet craze

Block 3:

(27:03) Is running as beneficial for depression as medication?

Block 4:

(36:42) The case of the baseball player’s heart

* Jingle by Joseph Hackl

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl

* Assistant researcher: Aigul Zaripova

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

To make a one-time donation to our show, you can now use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

1) History of GLP-1 receptor agonists: https://www.statnews.com/2023/09/30/weight-loss-ozempic-nobel-prize-science/

2) Liraglutide vs. exenatide: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61267-7

3) Meta-analysis of GLP-1 receptor agonists: https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.12849

4) A brief summary of the SUSTAIN studies, all 11 of them, which demonstrated the efficacy of semaglutide and its cardiovascular benefit: https://diabetes.medicinematters.com/semaglutide/type-2-diabetes/a-quick-guide-to-the-sustain-trials/12206922

5) A brief summary of the STEP trials, all 10 of them, which tested semaglutide as a weight loss medications even in non-diabetics: https://diabetes.medicinematters.com/semaglutide/obesity/quick-guide-step-trials/18854832

6) Announcement that the FLOW trial is being stopped prematurely: https://www.novonordisk.com/news-and-media/news-and-ir-materials/news-details.html?id=166327 & https://www.investors.com/news/technology/novo-nordisk-stock-pops-after-hinting-weight-loss-drug-treats-kidney-disease/

7) GI side effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2023.19574

8) Gid M-K’s Slate article: https://slate.com/technology/2023/10/exercise-depression-anxiety-treatment-effectiveness-ssris-research.html

9) Study on running to treat depression: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032723002239?via%3Dihub#s0065:~:text=https%3A//doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2023.02.064

10) Details on the DEA-Quebec app to find an AED near you: https://www.jacquesdechamplain.com/en/major-update-to-the-dea-quebec-application/

11) Government of Canada’s definition of a pesticide: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/reports-publications/environmental-contaminants/human-biomonitoring-resources/glyphosate-in-people.html

It’s Not Twitter, But It’ll Do:

1) Jonathan’s article on how natural health products and dietary supplements are regulated: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/critical-thinking-health-and-nutrition/false-reassurance-dietary-supplement-regulation

2) Jonathan’s article on fentanyl: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/medical-critical-thinking/you-wont-die-touching-fentanyl

3) Chris’ article in Medscape about the COSMOS study: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/996926

4) Chris’ Gazette article on coated vs. uncoated aspirin: https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/christopher-labos-the-bare-facts-about-coated-aspirin

What does the body of evidence say on the topic of sexually transmitted infections? Plus: should you worry about monkeypox, and what is going on with mysterious cases of liver inflammation in children?

Block 1:

(2:15) STIs: nomenclature, HIV, rising cases

Block 2:

(8:57) STIs: why cases are increasing, who should be screened, treatment options, antibiotic resistance, confections, cold sore outbreaks

Block 3:

(23:29) Monkeypox

Block 4:

(36:45) Mysterious liver inflammation in children and possible link to COVID-19

* Jingle by Joseph Hackl

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

* Assistant researcher: Nicholas Koziris

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

To make a one-time donation to our show, you can now use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

1) Public Health Agency of Canada’s 2018 report on sexually transmitted infections in Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/report-sexually-transmitted-infections-canada-2018.html

2) Summary table from the California Public Health Department about recommended STI screening in different groups: https://bit.ly/3sFxeJ0

3) Uptake of STI screening: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5814a2.htm

& https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29985985/

4) CDC treatment guidelines and recommendations on co-treatment: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6950a6.htm

5) Acyclovir for treatment of genital herpes: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6088819/

6) Topical antivirals for cold sores: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9134943/

7) Episode 61 of our podcast on HIV: https://bodyofevidence.ca/061-hiv-and-covid-19-therapies

8) Episode 72 of our podcast on liver disease: https://bodyofevidence.ca/072-liver-disease-sleep-disorder-grab-bag

9) Jim Downs’ article in The Atlantic on tiptoeing around the issue of monkeypox and men who have sex with men: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/05/monkeypox-outbreak-spread-gay-bisexual-men/643122/

Music Credits:

Dead Spaces by Tim Kulig

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/9319-dead-spaces

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

The Legion by Alexander Nakarada

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4912-the-legion

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Will Montreal soon lose what little fluoridated tap water it has? Why do we even put fluoride in the drinking water in the first place? And do the arguments voiced to take it away from citizens even… hold water?

Become a supporter of our show today either on Patreon or through PayPal! Thank you!

http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/

https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE

Email us your questions at thebodyofevidence@gmail.com.

Assistant researcher: Aigul Zaripova, MD

Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl

Rod of Asclepius designed by Kamil J. Przybos

Chris’ book, Does Coffee Cause Cancer?: https://ecwpress.com/products/does-coffee-cause-cancer

Obviously, Chris is not your doctor (probably). This podcast is not medical advice for you; it is what we call information.

References:

1) The Montreal Gazette article about the proposal to stop adding fluoride to the West Island’s tap water: https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/montreal-aims-to-stop-fluoridating-west-island-water-in-2025

Chris and Jonathan look at the already-infamous 2023 Cochrane review on masks, which many people are claiming shows that “masks don’t work.”

References:

1) The Cochrane review: https://www.cochrane.org/CD006207/ARI_do-physical-measures-such-hand-washing-or-wearing-masks-stop-or-slow-down-spread-respiratory-viruses

2) Tom Jefferson’s interview by Maryanne Demasi: https://maryannedemasi.substack.com/p/exclusive-lead-author-of-new-cochrane

3) Tom Jefferson’s own Substack blog post about the review: https://trusttheevidence.substack.com/p/escaping-from-social-and-other-media?r=208v9e&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

What does the body of evidence say on lupus, the autoimmune disease that famously imitates so many other illnesses? Plus: a new study shows that Tylenol in pregnancy is not associated with neurodevelopmental problems, and Chris revisits the topic of red meat following a listener’s question.

A Block: Lupus

(0:57) How common lupus is; what may be causing it; what lupus looks like; how complicated its diagnosis is; what treatment options exist

B Block: Tylenol in Pregnancy

(34:27) Is Tylenol use in pregnancy really responsible for autism, ADHD, and intellectual disability? A new study says no.

C Block: Red Meat

(50:13) Are the harms of eating red meat regularly nowhere near as bad as we were told?

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl

* Assistant researcher: Aigul Zaripova

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

To make a one-time donation to our show, you can now use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

Lupus epidemiology:

1) https://www.lupuscanada.org/living-with-lupus/what-is-lupus/

2) https://doi.org/10.1177/096120339500400303

3) https://doi.org/10.1038/s41584-021-00668-1

Causes of lupus:

4) DOI: 10.1002/art.22510 

5) DOI: 10.7326/0003-4819-142-12_part_1-200506210-00004

6) https://doi.org/10.1097/bor.0b013e32833c6297

7) https://doi.org/10.1016/0190-9622(90)70020-i

8) https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.2007.084582

9) DOI: 10.1177/0961203306069346

What lupus looks like in a patient:

10) https://dermnetnz.org/topics/cutaneous-lupus-erythematosus

11) https://dermnetnz.org/topics/discoid-lupus-erythematosus

12) doi: 10.2147/CCID.S269288 

13) https://dermnetnz.org/topics/raynaud-phenomenon

14) DOI: 10.1097/01.md.0000091181.93122.55 

15) DOI: 10.1002/art.39070 

How to manage lupus:

16) DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2015-207726

17) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12784392/

18) DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2014.12.025

19) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autrev.2017.02.005

20) DOI: 10.1191/096120398678919778

21) https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.2008.101766

22) DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa035471

23) https://doi.org/10.1191/0961203305lu2039oa

24) DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD010668.pub2 

25) DOI: 10.1002/art.27233

26) DOI: 10.1002/art.34359

27) DOI: 10.1136/lupus-2018-000284

28) DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1912196

29) https://ash.confex.com/ash/2023/webprogram/Paper180547.html

30) https://doi.org/10.1016/C2009-0-02062-5

31) Study on Tylenol in pregnancy: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2024.3172

What does the body of evidence have to say on the topic of dementia or, to use a more recent term, major cognitive disorder? Plus: what (little) we know about long COVID, and we go over arguments for and against the no-vax tax that was recently debated in Quebec.

Block 1:

(3:04) Dementia: types of memory

Block 2:

(11:53) Dementia: Alzheimer’s, ApoE, vascular dementia, Lewy body disease, frontotemporal dementia, how to screen for and diagnose dementia, treatments, vitamin E, ginkgo, Aduhelm, preventative measures

Block 3:

(32:32) Long COVID: prevalence, symptoms, scientific challenges, hypotheses, vaccination

Block 4:

(49:35) No-vax tax debate

* Jingle by Jillian Correia of Roctavio Canada

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

* Assistant researcher: Nicholas Koziris

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

To make a one-time donation to our show, you can now use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

1) Cochrane review on cholinesterase inhibitors: https://www.cochrane.org/CD001190/DEMENTIA_donepezil-people-dementia-due-alzheimers-disease

2) Cochrane review on memantine: https://www.cochrane.org/CD003154/DEMENTIA_memantine-treatment-dementi

3) Cochrane review on vitamin E: https://www.cochrane.org/CD002854/DEMENTIA_use-vitamin-e-treatment-mild-cognitive-impairment-and-alzheimers-disease-ad

4) Vitamin E and heart failure: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15769967/

5) Vitamin E and mortality: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15537682/

6) Ginkgo biloba: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD003120.pub3/full

7) Aduhelm: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2111320

8) Jimmy Fallon and Paris Hilton on NFTs: https://youtu.be/5zi12wrh5So?t=222

9) Impossible MoCA: https://twitter.com/juliareillymd/status/1237531126723252225

10) Jonathan’s article on long COVID: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/covid-19/debilitating-puzzle-box-long-covid

11) Post-COVID Care Centers: https://www.survivorcorps.com/pccc

12) Public Health Agency of Canada’s living systematic review on long COVID: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.06.03.21258317v2

13) Canadian paper on the experiences of people living with long COVID: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.20.22269617v1

14) Long COVID hypotheses: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2021.698169/full

Music Credits:

Heroic Trailer  by Rafael Krux

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5359-heroic-trailer-

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

A limited series on sport science hosted by student athlete Sophie and featuring two experts: Dr. Christopher Labos, cardiologist and regular co-host of this podcast, and Nick Tiller, who holds a doctorate in exercise physiology. Together, they will answer Sophie’s questions while dispelling myths that athletes—and anybody getting into fitness—are likely to hear.

This is part 3 of 4. The topic: supplements. Which dietary supplements have been proven beneficial through scientific studies? Is caffeine a fat burner? And are supplements even safe to take?

(0:29) Intro

(1:09) Vox pop

(4:28) The 5 or 6 dietary supplements supported by science

(6:20) What outcome are you interested in improving?

(7:32) Will caffeine help you burn fat?

(8:56) The food first approach

(13:28) Chris wants to bench-press 10 lbs, which supplements should he take?

(15:33) The quick fix mentality of supplements

(16:08) Supplements are sometimes contaminated or adulterated

(19:55) How supplements are regulated (or not)

(25:05) Can supplements burn fat?

(29:20) L-carnithine

(30:21) Boosting your immune system with vitamin C

(32:05) Can you boost your metabolism?

Opening music: “Energetic Upbeat” by WinnieTheMoog

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6033-energetic-upbeat

Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

End title music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Changing lifestyle habits: advertising, taxes, behavioural counselling, incentives, text messages, apps, scared straight, genetic information, city design // Delaying the second COVID-19 vaccine dose // COVID-19 update: colchicine, rapid tests, children and variants.

* Jingle by Jillian Correia of Roctavio Canada

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

* Assistant researcher: Nicholas Koziris

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

1) Food marketing to children: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC416565/

2) Generalizable and robust TV advertising effects: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3273476, https://freakonomics.com/podcast/advertising-part-1/, https://freakonomics.com/podcast/advertising-part-2/

3) American Heart Association’s 7 ideal lifestyle factors: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4556343/

4) Cigarette taxes: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0204416

5) Cigarette tax in Colombia: https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/28/4/374

6) Cigarette tax in China: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(15)70095-1/fulltext

7) Cigarette tax in Lebanon: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5115647/

8) Cigarette tax in Korea: https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/25/2/141

9) Sugar tax in Philadelphia: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2733208

10) Sugar tax in Spain: https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-019-7908-5

11) Cochrane review on smoking cessation: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD013229.pub2/abstract

12) Review of smoking cessation apps: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21335258/

13) Cochrane review on encouraging exercise: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD010392.pub2/full

14) Implementing sidewalks: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24380471/

15) The walking school bus: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3164094/

16) Impact of new bike lanes: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23334767/

17) Recess in elementary school: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3074953/

18) Gym class: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17328052/

19) Chris’ Montreal Gazette article on delaying the second vaccine dose: https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/christopher-labos-risks-of-altering-vaccination-protocols-are-unknown

20) Annals of Internal Medicine modelling study on alternative dose allocation strategies: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/m20-8137

21) McGill OSS live stream with Dr. Don Sheppard: https://youtu.be/peursUpKnx8

22) Report from Israel about effectiveness of one dose: https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n217

23) BBC article about Israel vaccine fears ‘out of context and inaccurate’: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-55734257

24) Press release for colchicine trial: https://www.icm-mhi.org/en/pressroom/news/colchicine-reduces-risk-covid-19-related-complications

25) Pre-print manuscript for colchicine trial: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.01.26.21250494v1

26) Spartan Bioscience says Health Canada approves rapid COVID-19 test: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/spartan-bioscience-covid-19-test-approved-1.5885284

Music Credits:

End Of Summer by Frank Schröter

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6633-end-of-summer

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Dramatic Riser  by Rafael Krux

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5401-dramatic-riser-

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Dramatic Trailer  by Rafael Krux

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5633-dramatic-trailer-

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Cinema Blockbuster Trailer 15 by Sascha Ende

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4952-cinema-blockbuster-trailer-15

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Cinema Blockbuster Trailer 13 (99FIRE-FILMS AWARD) by Sascha Ende

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3137-cinema-blockbuster-trailer-13-99fire-films-award-

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Jonathan and Chris discuss the impact of racism within the Canadian healthcare system with Dr. OmiSoore Dryden, an associate professor at Dalhousie University and the current holder of the James R. Johnston Chair in Black Canadian Studies. They talk about the effect of the pandemic on minorities and racialized groups, and why there’s more to Africa than elephants.

1:58 A Chair in Black Canadian Studies

4:40 Black medical students

11:14 The pandemic’s effect on minorities

17:08 The grey economy

18:07 Biological versus socioeconomic risk factors

28:48 How to have conversations about systemic racism

32:53 Canada’s “universal healthcare”

38:00 The meaning of anti-racism

43:00 #GotBlood2Give and the barriers to donating blood

53:23 The tainted blood scandal

55:42 Racism is impacting your patients’ lives

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Links:

1) OmiSoore Dryden’s personal website: https://omisooredryden.com/

2) OmiSoore Dryden’s profile at Dalhousie University: https://medicine.dal.ca/departments/department-sites/community-health/our-people/our-faculty/omisoore-dryden-.html

3) OmiSoore Dryden on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JRJCHAIR

4) Her article in The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-discriminates-against-black-lives-through-surveillance-policing-and-the-absence-of-health-data-135906

5) Jonathan’s article about race and biology: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/health-general-science/are-you-there-race-its-me-dna

When it comes to health and medicine, there are so many decisions to make and so much misinformation out there. Dr. Christopher Labos and Jonathan Jarry look at the body of evidence on these topics to tell you what’s solid, what’s iffy… and what’s crapola. The jingles, comedy, and bickering help the medicine go down.

Jonathan and Chris speak to Dr. Matthew Cameron, a local anesthesiologist who does a lot more than local anesthesias! They discuss the ins and outs of putting people to sleep; how safe epidurals really are; and whether or not you need to worry about waking up paralyzed in the middle of an operation (spoiler alert: no). Also, Jonathan is told about “blood patches” for the first time and can’t believe this is a real thing.

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Chris and Jonathan interview Dr. Ivan Oransky, the co-founder of Retraction Watch which tracks retractions of scientific papers. They discuss how papers get published, how they get retracted, and what a better system might look like.

1:29 How scientific papers get published

3:44 Journals are businesses with a bizarre business model

13:52 No more COVID-related retractions than expected

17:10 Science by press release in part to prevent insider trading

20:04 Jade amulets against COVID-19

26:33 Zombie papers

30:43 A dramatic increase in retractions but they are still rare

36:50 Why are mistakes caught after publication?

42:20 Going to science heaven

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Links:

1) The Retraction Watch website: https://retractionwatch.com/

2) Retraction Watch on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RetractionWatch

3) Ivan Oransky on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ivanoransky

4) The Retraction Watch newsletter: https://us12.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=4f35c1f2e9acc58eee0811e78&id=a15d7de264

5) Jonathan’s article on the jade amulet: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/covid-19-critical-thinking-pseudoscience/paper-argues-amulet-may-protect-covid-should-it-have-been-published

6) Retraction Watch’s original article on the jade amulet: https://retractionwatch.com/2020/10/29/amulets-may-prevent-covid-19-says-a-paper-in-elsevier-journal-they-dont/

7) The jade amulet paper’s retraction notice: https://retractionwatch.com/2020/11/16/co-authors-of-paper-on-covid-19-and-jade-amulets-blames-the-online-press-and-social-media-for-misinterpretation-in-retraction-letter/

8) The Surgisphere retractions: https://retractionwatch.com/2020/06/04/lancet-retracts-controversial-hydroxychloroquine-study/

A new editorial calls pesticides “the new smoking.” This is based on a recent study comparing pesticide use in U.S. counties and cancer incidence. But do counties get cancer? We investigate the issue to see if we should worry about pesticides and if young adults are really getting more cancer than they used to.

Become a supporter of our show today either on Patreon or through PayPal! Thank you!

http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/

https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE

Email us your questions at thebodyofevidence@gmail.com.

Assistant researcher: Aigul Zaripova, MD

Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl

Rod of Asclepius designed by Kamil J. Przybos

Chris’ book, Does Coffee Cause Cancer?: https://ecwpress.com/products/does-coffee-cause-cancer

Obviously, Chris is not your doctor (probably). This podcast is not medical advice for you; it is what we call information.

References:

1) The Medscape article: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/cancer-risk-are-pesticides-new-smoking-2024a1000h2n?form=fpf

2) The new study: https://doi.org/10.3389/fcacs.2024.1368086

What does the body of evidence say on the topic of vitamin supplements? We pilot a new format for the show and ask for your feedback! Let us know your thoughts on Facebook, Twitter, Patreon, or via email at thebodyofevidence@gmail.com

(6:34) The story of scurvy and how its cause, a vitamin deficiency, was harder to “science” than you may remember, with author Stephen R. Bown. 

(22:48) The porous regulations that allow vitamin supplements to be sold and how Mel Gibson played a key role in this system, with health policy expert Timothy Caulfield.

(35:27) Chris and Jonathan explain what each vitamin does, what happens if you’re deficient, and whether or not vitamin supplements are necessary.

* Jingle by Joseph Hackl

* Vox pop by Thanos Michailopoulos

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl

* Assistant researcher: Nicholas Koziris

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

To make a one-time donation to our show, you can now use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

1) Chris’ article “It Hasn’t Been a Good Year for Vitamin D”: https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/christopher-labos-it-hasnt-been-a-good-year-for-vitamin-d

2) Vitamin D supplementation and cardiovascular risk: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamacardiology/fullarticle/2735646

3) VITAL study: https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa1809944

4) AMATERASU trial: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2019.2210

5) D2D study on vitamin D and type 2 diabetes: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31173679/

6) The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s Final Recommendation Statement from June 2022: https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/vitamin-supplementation-to-prevent-cvd-and-cancer-preventive-medication

7) Recommendation Statement as published in the Journal of the American Medical Association: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2793446

Music Credits:

Peter Sandberg / Étude No 1 for String Quartet

Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen / Rise to Power

National Anthem Worx / Rule Britannia

Silver Maple / Unspoken

Bonnie Grace / We Still Have Courage

Wendy Marcini / The Cast

Wendy Marcini / The Scam

Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen / The Stakeout

Farrell Wooten / Margin of Error

All courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Can cranberry juice help prevent UTIs… or will any liquid do? Also: a new drug has been tested to treat the symptoms of menopause and it looks pretty good. As Chris and Jonathan appraise these studies, you will learn about the importance of placebo arms in clinical trials.

Correction: it turns out that urine is not sterile. Even the bladder has bacteria in it! https://www.livescience.com/health/is-pee-sterile

Become a supporter of our show today either on Patreon or through PayPal! Thank you!

http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/

https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE

Email us your questions at thebodyofevidence@gmail.com.

Assistant researcher: Aigul Zaripova, MD

Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl

Rod of Asclepius designed by Kamil J. Przybos

Chris’ book, Does Coffee Cause Cancer?: https://ecwpress.com/products/does-coffee-cause-cancer

Obviously, Chris is not your doctor (probably). This podcast is not medical advice for you; it is what we call information.

References:

1) The network meta-analysis published in European Urology Focus on cranberries to prevent UTIs: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405456924001226

2) The 2023 meta-analysis on cranberries for UTIs: https://www.cochrane.org/CD001321/RENAL_cranberries-preventing-urinary-tract-infections

3) Write-up on the recent meta-analysis in Medscape: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/its-juice-cranberries-uti-prevention-2024a1000ei4?ecd=mkm_ret_240814_mscpmrk-OUS_ICYMI_CA_etid6740662&uac=300018BV&impID=6740662

4) The OASIS 1 and 2 trials on elinzanetant for menopausal vasomotor symptoms: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2822766

How can you as a patient better navigate the healthcare system? Chris takes you through the labyrinth from his side of the gurney. From the emergency department to the hospital bed, from your regular doctor visit to your medical record, the secrets to medical success and happiness (and how to win friends and influence people) will be shared! Money back guarantee!

0:00 Apology

2:03 Corrections on our special episode on blood

6:09 Visiting the Emergency Department (or ER or A&E)

22:40 Being admitted to the hospital

32:46 The doctor will see you now

46:00 Your medical record

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Links

1) Our previous episode about the healthcare system: http://bodyofevidence.ca/special-the-healthcare-system

2) Our appearances on CTV Montreal News (the clips are usually uploaded Thursdays and Fridays around 1:30PM ET): https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/video?binId=1.1332485

Chris and Jonathan were interviewed on stage by a reporter from the McGill Tribune newspaper as part of their annual conference on journalism and the media. They discuss how they met, their respective backgrounds, the challenges of podcasting, and many more.

Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

What does the body of evidence say on measles, that scourge we thought we’d gotten rid of? Plus: do you need to drink AG1 every day for the rest of your life, and Chris explains what doctors do and don’t control when you see them at the clinic.

A Block: Measles

(0:57) How many people have measles; how measles is transmitted; how the disease progresses; complications; vaccination; treatments

B Block: AG1

(34:27) AG1 by Athletic Greens: what it contains and whether or not there’s good evidence that you need it

C Block: A Day in the Life of a Doctor

(50:13) Do doctors decide how many patients they see in a day? The answer may surprise you!

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl

* Assistant researcher: Aigul Zaripova

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

To make a one-time donation to our show, you can now use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

Origin of the measles virus:

1) https://virologyj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1743-422X-7-52

Measles epidemiology:

2) https://www.cdc.gov/measles/hcp/index.html

3) https://www.cdc.gov/measles/downloads/measlesdataandstatsslideset.pdf

4) https://www.cdc.gov/measles/downloads/IntroToMeaslesSlideSet.pdf

5) https://doi.org/10.1086/368114

6) https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.o2844

7) https://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/measles/news/covid-impact-on-measles-vaccination.html

8) https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6642a6.htm

Clinical progression of the disease:

9) https://dermnetnz.org/topics/measles

10) https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/22421609

11) https://dermnetnz.org/topics/measles-images

12) https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02004-3

Atypical measles:

13) https://www.nature.com/articles/nm918

Complications from measles:

14) https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aay6485

State of measles in Canada:

15) https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/measles/surveillance-measles/measles-rubella-weekly-monitoring-reports.html

State of measles in the United States:

16) https://www.cdc.gov/measles/cases-outbreaks.html

17) Jonathan’s article on AG1: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/critical-thinking-health-and-nutrition/you-probably-dont-need-green-ag1-smoothie

It’s Not Twitter, But It’ll Do:

1) Jonathan’s article on leaky gut syndrome: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/medical-critical-thinking/you-probably-dont-have-leaky-gut

2) Appearances on CTV Montreal News: https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/video?binId=1.1332485

3) Chris will be in Ottawa on April 13: https://allevents.in/ottawa/dr-labos-live-in-person/200026332496559?ref=eventlist-cat

4) Jonathan will be at WeCanReason on May 4: https://wecanreason.com/

Breast cancer screening: self-exams, mammograms, ductal carcinoma in situ, Angelina Jolie // The book “Bottle of Lies” and the safety of generic drugs // When cancer research misses its target

* Vox pop by Morgan Sweeney

* Jingle by Joseph Hackl of Voodoo Jazz

* Additional music by Seth Donnelly and Kevin MacLeod of Incompetech.com.

* Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

1) The Malmö Study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3142562

2) The Canadian National Breast Screening Study: https://www.bmj.com/content/348/bmj.g366

3) The 2012 Lancet Study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23117178

4) The Cochrane Collaboration Review: https://www.cochrane.org/CD001877/BREASTCA_screening-for-breast-cancer-with-mammography

Chris and Jonathan discuss expertise and intellectual humility with Alan Levinovitz, a professor of religion, frequent guest on A User’s Guide to Cheating Death, and the author of the book Natural. As facts, arguments, and content flood our attention, how can we know whom to trust when our health is at stake? This month’s drinking game revolves around the word “adjudicate.” Drink responsibly!

1:11 The Anthony Fauci lie

2:14 A theologian on expertise

9:12 Tribalism

16:04 John Ioannidis and COVID-19

21:34 ScientificConsensus.com

26:09 The onslaught of contrarian content

32:30 People should be suspicious of sexiness in their epidemiology

35:25 When your job is to uncover hidden truths….

39:30 A looming epistemic crisis and how to avoid it

49:16 On intellectual humility

57:33 Twitter hiatus

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Links:

1) Alan Levinovitz on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlanLevinovitz

2) Alan Levinovitz’s book, Natural: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/50128614

3) Thorpe’s Science editorial on the value of debating science in the public arena: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/371/6526/213/tab-pdf

Jonathan and Chris speak to Nick Tiller, PhD, a physiologist interested in exercising and the marketing hype that often surrounds the topic. They discuss the few supplements that can improve your workouts, as well as the gadgets that probably won’t. Bookending their conversation is the important question: what is the best exercise?

2:35 Common misunderstandings around exercising

4:43 Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS)

11:28 Creatine supplements

13:49 Caffeine

14:50 Glucose supplements and sports drinks

18:31 Protein intake

21:08 Beta-alanine supplements

22:34 Kinesio tape, aka placebo tape

28:09 Placebos and sports performance

33:10 Cristiano Ronaldo’s brand deals

40:13 Methylene blue

43:22 Ultramarathons: are they good for you?

51:34 What is the best type of exercise?

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Links:

1) Nick Tiller on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NBTiller

2) Nick Tiller’s website: https://www.nbtiller.com/

3) Nick Tiller’s Skeptical Inquirer columns: https://skepticalinquirer.org/category/the-skeptics-guide-to-sports-science/

4) Jonathan Jarry’s website, announcing his UK tour: https://www.jonathanjarry.com/

What does the body of evidence say on the topic of healthcare-acquired infections? Plus: CBD is put on trial to see how well it does against the symptoms of advanced cancer, and the world’s elites reveal their most damning secret: they don’t think COVID is just a bad cold.

Block 1:

(2:02) Nosocomial infections: what they are, difference from iatrogenic infections, what the US did to reduce them, types of infections

Block 2:

(9:51) Nosocomial infections: hand hygiene, disposable equipment, single-patient rooms, bed cleaning, ventilation, antibiotic-resistant bacteria (MRSA, VRE), decolonization protocols, C. difficile, #DeathToAllSinks, UV light, copper

Block 3:

(32:13) Clinical trial of cannabidiol against placebo for the symptoms of advanced cancer [We briefly mention the Hawthorne effect. It turns out to be a phrase we probably shouldn’t use. See here.]

Block 4:

(42:13) Davos’ COVID measures

* Jingle by Joseph Hackl

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl

* Assistant researcher: Nicholas Koziris

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

To make a one-time donation to our show, you can now use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

1) Chris’ proof that you can, in fact, live a perfectly normal life after donating a kidney: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa0804883

2) Nosocomial infections are particularly prevalent in ICUs: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/184963

3) Medicare no longer pays for hospital-acquired infections: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/184963

4) Hospital-wide hand hygiene programs do work to reduce hospital infections: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(00)02814-2/fulltext

5) Washing hands properly for 30 seconds is necessary to kill bacteria like VRE: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/infection-control-and-hospital-epidemiology/article/abs/recovery-of-vancomycinresistant-enterococci-on-fingertips-and-environmental-surfaces/FBFBC3EABFA22A7A28420AFB2CCACC51

6) The REACH study found that hospitals implementing a new cleaning bundle reduced VRE but not C. difficile infections: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(18)30714-X/fulltext

7) MRSA decolonization with chlorhexidine baths does reduce infections in the ICU: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa1207290 & https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30850112/

8) Basic infection control measures do work for C. difficile as well, even if regular alcohol disinfectants do not: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/central/doi/10.1002/central/CN-01604607/full

9) Ultraviolet light can also be used as an adjunctive disinfection agent: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5935446/

10) UV-C light can also be caused to clean the air as a COVID mitigation strategy: https://ghdcenter.hms.harvard.edu/keeping-public-spaces-safe

11) Sinks as a source of outbreaks: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34438134/

12) Scott Gavura’s Science-Based Medicine article: https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/cbd-oil-fails-to-improve-symptom-control-in-advanced-cancer/

13) The clinical trial on CBD for advanced cancer symptoms: https://doi.org/10.1200/jco.22.01632

14) World Economic Forum’s Guidance on Health Measures: https://www3.weforum.org/docs/AM23_Health_and_Safety_Measures.pdf

15) “Billionaires at Davos Don’t Think COVID Is a Cold:” https://slate.com/technology/2023/01/davos-covid-precaution-uv-lights-air-filters.html

16) “The Last Holdouts:” https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/26/us/covid-masks-risk.html

17) What Bonnie Henry said about masking: https://twitter.com/frozen/status/1614053203800383489

18) Gregg Gonsalves’ article in The Nation: https://www.thenation.com/article/society/orwellian-white-house-covid-policy/

It’s Not Twitter, But It’ll Do:

1) Jonathan talking about so-called complementary and alternative medicine on the Yoga Meets Movement Science podcast: https://www.jennirawlings.com/podcast/whats-the-deal-with-complementary-alternative-medicine

2) Jonathan’s article on the low-oxalate diet: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/critical-thinking-health-and-nutrition/demonization-dietary-oxalate-has-begun

3) Death Panel podcast, “COVID Year Three:” https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-death-panel/episode/covid-year-three-unlocked-210210266

4) Chris’ Gazette article about Canada’s new alcohol guidelines: https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/christopher-labos-new-guidelines-reflect-fact-that-alcohol-isnt-good-for-you

5) Chris on CTV talking about alcohol: https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2591451

Time Machine:

1) Our episode on fibromyalgia: https://bodyofevidence.ca/073-fibromyalgia-mixing-vaccines-myocarditis-risk

2) Our interview on CPR: https://bodyofevidence.ca/interview-trysha-gellis-and-jacqueline-joza-on-cpr-and-sudden-cardiac-arrest

HIV: what is it, how do you get it, and what can medicine do about it // What we have learned about chloroquine, remdesivir and convalescent plasma against COVID-19 // Sex and cigarettes, as they relate to the pandemic

* Jingle by Jillian Correia of Roctavio Canada

* Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Our scientific references seem to have gotten lost in the time vortex this month, and for that we apologize. If you need clarifications or proofs, don’t hesitate to contact Chris!

Music Credits:

“February”

by Vibe Mountain

Available through YouTube Studio Audio Library

Dantes Dream by MusicParadise

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5061-dantes-dream

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Chris and Jonathan speak to Dr. Swapnil Hiremath, a hypertension specialist and staff nephrologist at the Ottawa Hospital. As they discuss high blood pressure and how to treat it, they make their way to a highly contentious clinical trial, the Hygia trial, which allegedly compared two times of day when to take blood pressure medication. Its results are a little too perfect to be believed.

3:35 What is high blood pressure and what is “essential” hypertension?

8:34 The two numbers of blood pressure

10:45 How antihypertensive drugs work

13:38 How our body metabolizes a drug

17:30 The intense debate over when to take blood pressure medication

21:59 The contentious Hygia trial

32:47 Is the Hygia trial… the Hygia project?

35:02 Considering fraud

41:21 The best time to take medication

44:38 “One simple trick to reduce your risk of heart attacks by 60%!”

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Links:

1) Swapnil Hiremath on Twitter: https://twitter.com/hswapnil

2) The nephrology journal club: https://www.nephjc.com/

3) Swapnil Hiremath’s podcast: https://www.nephjc.com/freelyfiltered

It’s the case of the injured water-skier, which gets Chris to talk about painkillers (NSAIDs, opioids, and Tylenol) and how quickly you lose muscle mass when you’re injured. Plus: a cancer update! Should you pay thousands of dollars for a full-body scan to make sure you don’t have cancer? Can you legally send poop through the mail? And how can we make Pap smears obsolete?

Jonathan couldn’t speak much, so Aigul stepped up as co-host!

A Block: The Case of the Injured Water-Skier

(0:58) A man survives a water-skiing accident with two fractures, but he’s still in pain two months later. Is this normal or is he malingering?

B Block: Cancer Update

(28:24) Full-body MRIs promoted by Kim Kardashian: should you pay for one?

(36:29) Colorectal cancer screening test available for free in Quebec

(41:22) Is cervical cancer coming to an end?

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl

* Assistant researcher: Aigul Zaripova

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

To make a one-time donation to our show, you can now use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Episode 100 will be an “Ask Us Anything” special. Email us your questions at: thebodyofevidence@gmail.com.

References:

1) La Presse’s report on full-body MRIs (in French): https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/sante/un-examen-a-2500-qui-seme-le-doute/2024-02-10/vante-par-des-influenceurs-critique-par-le-corps-medical.php

2) Montreal Gazette coverage of free colorectal screening tests in Quebec: https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/quebec-to-make-free-home-based-test-available-for-colorectal-screening

3) Chris’ article about cervical cancer: https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/christopher-labos-we-can-now-envision-the-end-of-cervical-cancer

Jonathan and Chris speak to Anna Merlan, a senior reporter with Motherboard and the author of the book Republic of Lies: American Conspiracy Theorists and Their Surprising Rise to Power.

How has the anti-vaccine movement changed since the COVID-19 pandemic? Its influencers deny the “mainstream narrative” on vaccine safety, which makes them prone to embrace other conspiracy theories. And what happens when one of their leading figures makes a run for the American presidency?

(1:18) Today’s anti-vaccine influencers

(7:09) Malice versus stupidity

(8:20) The anti-vaxx media ecosystem

(10:46) Doctors becoming anti-vaccine

(12:23) RFK Jr. for the presidency

(20:20) Contradictions in the conspiracy world

(23:50) How do you responsibly interview an anti-vaxxer (or a cholesterol-denying doctor)?

(29:44) Debating vaccine safety

(39:41) Are all anti-vaxxers conspiritualists?

(46:02) How profitable is the anti-vaccine industry?

(48:48) How much opposition to vaccines is due to the needle?

(53:59) Reconciling Pharma skepticism and a pro-vaccine stance

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

 To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Links:

1) Anna Merlan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/annamerlan

2) Anna Merlan on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/annamerlan.bsky.social

3) Anna Merlan’s Vice News author page: https://www.vice.com/en/contributor/anna-merlan

4) Anna Merlan’s email address: anna(dot)merlan(a)vice(dot)com

Guest host Morgan Sweeney asks Chris and Jonathan about blood! You will learn that blood is not a magical elixir but rather “water and stuff.” Featuring references to Archer, The Simpsons, Ryan George, and a recurring digression into Stephen King’s work, for some reason. After discussing King’s IT, it’s becoming obvious that The Body of Evidence is no longer a family-friendly show.

1:38 Why blood?

3:35 Handling blood is fine but this other bodily fluid?

5:12 Blood transfusions are not always blood transfusions

13:37 The theory behind why women have fewer heart attacks

14:46 Blood is transport

16:07 Where’s the DNA?

19:10 Chris’ medical license gets revoked

22:51 Criteria for donating blood

28:00 HIV and blood donations

34:02 The bad incentives of blood money

38:26 Chris’ kitchen blood drive

40:30 Stephen King’s The Dead Zone

43:47 The Shining traumatized Jonathan

44:46 It ends with children, uh, having a….

49:30 Blood: keep it on the inside

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Links

1) Morgan’s podcast, Magic of the Mind: http://magicofthemind.ca/

2) Canadian Blood Services: https://www.blood.ca/en

3) Ryan George’s Pitch Meeting for IT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dw4u2A9F4g

Music Credits

Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

Chris and Jonathan speak to Paul Ingraham, a former massage therapist and author of the website PainScience.com, about the many myths surrounding massages. It will blow your socks off.

1:14 Training as a massage therapist

3:22 Chris wants to massage people

4:47 PainScience.com

10:29 Chris’ big massage reveal

11:43 Increasing circulation

17:46 Tightness

22:00 Do massages detox or toxify the body?

30:25 Post-exercice massages

34:07 Inflammation

36:43 May the fascia be with you

39:46 The endorphins that weren’t there

42:45 Tiger Balm and Its Rubefacient Orchestra

45:28 Clearing the C-spine

46:22 Does Paul recommend massages (and chiropractic)?

49:59 Massages for depression and anxiety

51:50 The complex puzzle of chronic pain

54:47 Paul takes us to his site

* Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

Links:

1) Paul Ingraham’s website: https://www.painscience.com/

2) 34 Surprising Causes of Pain: https://www.painscience.com/articles/surprising-ways-to-hurt.php

Chris and Jonathan speak to Anne Borden, Amanda Seigler, and Melissa Eaton who are campaigning against phony autism cures.

0:55 Alternative treatments for autism and why they exist

3:28 Going undercover on Facebook

5:00 MMS or the bleach cure

11:00 The pushback against activism

12:31 How social media companies have responded

14:10 Chelation therapy

23:45 Pro-science celebrities

26:00 Special diets

27:40 The medical community and applied behaviour analysis (ABA)

34:24 Humane interventions for autism

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

The petition against toxic “cures” in the US:

https://www.change.org/p/united-states-congress-bring-legislation-against-toxic-cures-in-the-united-states-eaa2029c-36c3-4d4d-97ca-08f0a06e1f84

Links:

1) Autistic Self Advocacy Network: https://autisticadvocacy.org

2) Foundations for Divergent Minds: https://www.divergentminds.org

3) Autistic Inclusive on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/autisticinclusivemeets/?eid=ARCCGmkCnb1ATBL515bePaUSQV_8izJNK01wQ1Ku9NXFjiD2a6Cs60-92t8dG3_WXfB1pUWkF23ArXuA&timeline_context_item_type=intro_card_work&timeline_context_item_source=100008073797054&fref=tag

Social:

1) Melissa Eaton on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissa.eaton.98

2) Amanda Seigler on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amanda.seigler.3517

3) Anne Borden on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AgainstCures

4) Anne’s podcast: http://noncompliantpodcast.com

Chris and Jonathan speak to Brooke Binkowski, journalist and managing editor for Truth or Fiction, about social media’s misinformation problem and why we need more journalists to figure out what’s real from what’s fake. This interview contains more political opinions than the rest of our show because of the subject matter.

0:38 Brooke gets hoisted by her own petard

3:21 Social media became a source of news

4:02 The danger posed by Alex Jones

6:26 Two points of view on Plandemic

14:00 Collaborating with Facebook on fact checking

27:23 The radicalization coalition

34:40 Social media’s influence on newsrooms

38:33 Brooke’s dream of reparations

41:49 Free speech on the Internet

45:19 How to solve the fact-checking problem

50:40 The magical power of journalism

54:10 The soft science hard sell

57:18 On finding credible sources

1:02:09 “Get it back!” But how?

* Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Big thanks to ThatMTLGuy for the microphone loan to save Chris from subpar sound quality.

Links:

1) Truth or Fiction: http://www.truthorfiction.com

2) Brooke on Twitter: https://twitter.com/brooklynmarie

3) Brooke on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brooke.binkowski

4) Where that SWAT team Plandemic footage came from: https://www.truthorfiction.com/researcher-behind-retracted-paper-launches-anti-fauci-campaign/

5) Study on the anti-vaccine movement on Facebook: http://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2281-1

Breastfeeding: its history, the quality of the evidence for it, and the alleged benefits to the baby and to the mother // Placebos in vaccine trials // Are we overreacting to COVID?

* Jingle by Joseph Hackl

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

1) Breast feeding rates according to the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/reportcard.htm

2) Historical trends in breastfeeding: https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/131/2/421S/4686960

3) Breastfeeding for pain control: https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/122/3/e716.long, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12511452/ and https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11927701/

4) Cochrane review on skin-to-skin care: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD008435.pub3/full

5) Sucrose and warmth for analgesia: https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/135/3/e607

6) Formula vs. donor breast milk for preventing NEC: https://www.cochrane.org/CD002971/NEONATAL_formula-versus-donor-breast-milk-feeding-preterm-or-low-birth-weight-infants

7) WHO review on short- and long-term benefits of breastfeeding: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/95585

8) Systematic review on breastfeeding practices and infant mortality: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26249674/

9) Belarus study on obesity: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23483175/

10) Cochrane review on optimal duration of exclusive breastfeeding: https://www.cochrane.org/CD003517/PREG_optimal-duration-of-exclusive-breastfeeding

11) Jonathan’s article about placebos used in vaccine trials: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/covid-19-health/placebos-used-vaccine-trials-do-not-please-everyone

12) Jonathan’s article about Sweden and the pandemic: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/covid-19-health/which-sweden-do-you-want-believe

Music Credits:

Amazing Plan by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3358-amazing-plan

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Harmony  by DreamHeaven

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6497-harmony-

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Liver disease (2:29 for part 1, 11:13 for part 2) // sleep disorder (28:42) // The omega-3 war (41:55), coffee and colorectal cancer (45:37), and RNA vaccines and myocarditis (48:44).

* Jingle by Jillian Correia of Roctavio Canada

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

* Assistant researcher: Nicholas Koziris

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

References:

1) Jonathan’s article on the OURA ring: https://mcgill.ca/oss/article/covid-19-health-technology/magical-ring-was-claimed-predict-covid-19

2) Coffee consumption and colorectal cancer prognosis: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/article-abstract/2777346?utm_campaign=articlePDF&utm_medium=articlePDFlink&utm_source=articlePDF&utm_content=jamaoncol.2020.8479

Music Credits:

Lofi Chill Hip-Hop by WinnieTheMoog

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6347-lofi-chill-hip-hop

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Morning Rhythm  by Rafael Krux

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5338-morning-rhythm-

License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

As the year comes to an end, Jonathan recruits three doctors—Chris, Niko, and Aigul—and invites them to solve two perplexing cases.

These mysteries involve a lot of (necessary?) rectal exams; the blood of witches; activated charcoal; farting patients; controversial diagnoses; tales from the ER that border on true crime; and diagnosing brain injuries through the bum!

The take-home lesson here is always check sphincter tone on a patient, even if they are barely conscious! Or something like that.

Correction: Niko was speaking off the cuff about activated charcoal possibly binding iron. We are told that it does not do it well and should not be used in the event of iron poisoning!

* Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!

It’s Not Twitter But It’ll Do!

1) The Fern documentary on the Healy that Jonathan was interviewed for (part 1): https://youtu.be/A_Y5kdEpcu4?si=GJpqn1seZ0A7JJWB

2) Dr. Jonathan Howard’s new podcast, We Want Them Infected: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/we-want-them-infected-podcast/id1716215618

3) WeCanReason conference 2024 in Calgary: https://wecanreason.com/

4) 502 Conversations with Dr. Christopher Labos: https://youtu.be/3opqhZgcNjU?si=V2TbVeRbqUgwOclT

5) The Skeptic Zone podcast with Dr. Christopher Labos: https://youtu.be/r_eRVOTUv6I?si=EYa2GTVu7-JfTGBx&t=255

6) Chris’ appearance at the Whodunit bookstore in Winnipeg on January 21: https://whodunitbooks.ca/events/32868