The Pituitary World News Podcast

S11E12: Un programa de Inteligencia Artificial para la diagnosis precoz de la Acromegalia

En el podcast de hoy hablamos con el Dr. Manel Puig Domingo sobre un estudio innovador que él encabezó y que se describe en un artículo reciente publicado en la revista PITUITARY. El artículo plantea la posibilidad de que los algoritmos de IA y el aprendizaje automático podrían proporcionar un enfoque revolucionario para el diagnóstico temprano de esta enfermedad compleja, cuyo diagnóstico actualmente tarda un promedio de 6 a 10 años. El artículo describe un sistema de reconocimiento facial impulsado por IA, AcroFace, que podría detectar la acromegalia mediante el análisis de fotografías faciales. Estos hallazgos preliminares presentan un sistema con un 93% de precisión. Si la investigación avanza y el programa se valida e implementa, promete ahorrar años de enfermedad no detectada. Sin duda prevendrá el desarrollo de complicaciones de condiciones relacionadas, transformará la acromegalia de una enfermedad incapacitante diagnosticada tardíamente a una condición detectada tempranamente y más manejable sin las molestas comorbilidades, y servirá como modelo para otras enfermedades raras con características faciales.

S11E11: Game Changers: An AI Facial Recognition System that detects acromegaly 10 years before diagnosis

In today's podcast we talk with Dr. Manel Puig Domingo about an innovative study he spearheaded and outlined in a recent paper published in the journal PITUITARY.  The paper raises the possibility that AI algorithms and machine learning could provide a game-changing approach to the early diagnosis of this complex disease, which now takes an average of 6 to 10 years to diagnose. The paper outlines an AI-driven facial recognition system, AcroFace, that could detect acromegaly by analyzing facial photographs.   These early findings present a system that is 93% accurate.  If further research goes forward and the program is validated and deployed, it promises to save years of undetected disease. It will undoubtedly prevent the development of complications from related conditions, transform acromegaly from a late-diagnosed crippling disease to an early-detected, more manageable condition without the pesky comorbidities, and serve as a model for other rare diseases with facial features.

S11E10: For a clinicians perspective we talk with Dr. Kevin Yuen about Crinetics' new acromegaly drug Palsonify™.

In today's podcast, Dr. Kevin Yuen, a world-renowned neuroendocrinologist, frequent PWN contributor, and medical director of the Barrow Neurological Institute, discusses Crinetics' new acromegaly drug Paltusotine (Palsonify™). The drug was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Yuen explains how this new medication works and provides an excellent clinical perspective on his views to evaluating new therapies. Read Dr. Kevin Yuen's PWN articles here.

Trust But Verify: The Rise of AI-Generated Health Information

Can Artificial Intelligence make medical research easier to understand?  This AI-generated content (we hesitate to call it a traditional "podcast") was brought to our attention by one of Dr. Blevins' patients, who discovered it in a Facebook patient group. The creator used a well-known AI platform to analyze one of Dr. Blevins' recently published papers on PWN, translating the complex medical language into plain English with more accessible terms and less technical jargon. As you will hear, the platform generated a dialog. The goal was simply to better understand the content.  You can read Dr. Blevins' original paper, "The Evolution of Our Understanding of the Nuances of Pathologic Cortisol Secretion," [here].

After carefully reviewing the AI-generated content for accuracy, Dr. Blevins found that the platform did an excellent job of simplifying the material and making the language more approachable for patients and general audiences. Following thorough consideration, we decided to publish it on PWN—and here it is!

We Want to Hear From You

What are your thoughts on AI-generated medical content? Does this approach help bridge the communication gap between complex research and patient understanding? Please share your opinions with us at info@pituitaryworldnews.com or comment on this article.

S11E9: Dr. Lewis Blevins on Corcept's CATALYST Study: The Cortisol-Diabetes Link

In today's podcast, Dr. Lewis Blevins dives into the fascinating findings from a study by Corcept Therapeutics on the prevalence of hypercortisolism in people with type 2 diabetes. Results from this study, called CATALYST, were recently published by Corcept and presented at various scientific and medical conferences. Dr. Blevins explains the findings and offers his expert insight.

 

S11E8: Dr. Lewis Blevins on promising developments in cortisol management

In today's podcast, Dr. Lewis Blevins discusses relacorilant, a drug currently in development by Corcept Therapeutics for the treatment of hypercortisolism. Clinical trials to date have shown encouraging results, with improvements in blood pressure, glucose control, weight, and body composition. Corcept Therapeutics specializes in developing drugs that modulate the glucocorticoid receptor.  

Stay tuned for the next Podcast on hypercortisolism, diabetes, hypertension and weight management.  

S11E7: We dive into the new indications for Isturisa® with Recordati's Dr. Mario Maldonado

This is a very informative discussion about the new indications of the  Cushing's Drug Isturisa® (osilodrostat) with Dr. Mario Maldonado, who heads global development for endocrinology at Recordati Rare Diseases.  The Food and Drug Administration recently approved the drug for endogenous hypercortisolism (excessive production of cortisol in the body).  If you want to learn more about this fascinating subject, Dr. Maldonado gives us an insider's view of how companies recognize and make decisions to pursue new indications, the intricacies of studying, analyzing, and understanding data, and the advantages that AI may bring to accelerate the development of new therapies.

Our thanks to Dr. Maldonado and the Folks at Recordati for taking time from a busy conference to chat with us.

You don't want to miss this talk!

S11E6: Camurus: an inside look and my conversation with CEO Fredrik Tiberg

CAM2029 represents a significant advance replacing cumbersome deep muscle injections with a user-friendly pen device similar to modern insulin and GLP-1 delivery systems. The practical benefits are remarkable: monthly administration, storage at room temperature, and no more traveling with cooling equipment. These improvements may seem incremental to outsiders, but for patients managing acromegaly, they represent important quality-of-life enhancements. But I'll let Fredrik and the Camurus team tell you all about it in this podcast.

I met Dr. Tiberg at his new offices, toured the lab, and had a fantastic chat about the new drugs and the challenges and opportunities for people with rare diseases, and, importantly, for those working to make their lives a little bit better. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I did producing it.

S11E5: When It Looks Like Cushing’s But It Isn’t

We are delighted to welcome Dr. Leena Shahla to the Pituitary Podcast. She is the director of The Duke Pituitary Program. Today she joins PWN co-founder and medical director of the California Center for Pituitary Disorders at UCSF, Dr. Lewis Blevins, for an in-depth discussion about pseudo-Cushing's syndrome.

In the Duke Health web portal, Dr. Shahla says endocrinology captured her heart because it combines medical science with unique challenges. "My passion for solving puzzles drives my deep interest in pituitary disease, the most complex area of endocrinology." You can read more about Dr. Shahla, her practice and background here.

This is a fascinating discussion about a complex, often misunderstood condition by two of the leading experts in the field you won't want to miss it. Pseudo-Cushing's syndrome or non-neoplastic hypercortisolism is a medical condition in which people with this disorder display the signs, symptoms, and abnormal cortisol levels.  Common causes can include  pregnancy, alcohol use disorder, morbid obesity, polycystic ovarian syndrome, end-stage renal disease, severe major depressive disorder, and poorly controlled diabetes.

S11E4: Side effects of dopamine agonists: a discussion

In this podcast, Dr. Blevins reviews the side effects of dopamine agonist drugs. These are drugs that activate certain types of cells in the brain to regulate various functions, including hormone regulation, movement, and motivation. Dr. Blevins's discussion focuses on the drug cabergoline and its side effects, citing several research studies. This is a fascinating review of side effects you won't want to miss, even if you don't use or are unfamiliar with cabergoline and its use in treating prolactinomas.

For more information on prolactinomas and other pituitary disorders, visit pituitaryworldnews.org. Stay tuned for an upcoming book on prolactinomas, scheduled for release later this year.  While you’re there, browse through the website for more resources and explore our current selection of books on Cushing’s syndrome, diabetes insipidus, vasopressin resistance, and hypopituitarism—available for purchase.  Additionally, a new book focusing on pituitary tumors will be released later this month.

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