Mayo Clinic Talks

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Regis Fernandes, M.D.  We’ve known for some time that patients who have hypertension and diabetes are at increased risk for developing subsequent cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease. It’s now being thought that these health problems are related and interconnected, representing Kidney-Cardiovascular Metabolic Syndrome. They form a pathophysiologic triad driven by shared mechanisms where disease in one...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Joshua M. Romero, M.D.  Pickleball has become one of the fastest growing sports in the U.S., especially among older adults. This rapid rise in popularity has also resulted in a significant number and variety of sports-related injuries. It’s important for primary care clinicians to recognize the most common injuries and their risk factors. We should also discuss preventive...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Stacey Rizza, M.D.  Although vector-borne illnesses can be acquired by travel to distant parts of the world, some can be acquired here in the U.S. As a result, these infections become pertinent to primary care clinicians as they can produce serious complications. When should we suspect a vector-borne illness in a patient? How do we distinguish it from other viral syndromes?...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Stacey Rizza, M.D.  Lyme Disease is a tick-borne illness commonly seen in various parts of the country. Despite its common occurrence in the primary care practice, it’s associated with confusion and controversy. From the presenting symptoms, occasional ambiguous serologic results, to managing patients with persistent symptoms following treatment, primary...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Stacey Rizza, M.D.  We’ve now had our second outbreak of a potentially deadly infectious disease. Hantavirus has been diagnosed in several individuals and most recently just under 100 cases of Ebola Virus have been confirmed along with several hundred suspected cases. Ebola virus is caused by several species of the Ebola...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Benjamin Lai, M.D.  Substance use disorders are chronic and often relapsing conditions associated with compulsive substance use. They result from a complex interaction of chemistry within the brain, often combined with genetic and environmental issues. Common substances involve alcohol, stimulants, sedatives and opioids; opioids commonly prescribed by health care clinicians. Early identification of...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Michael Mueller, M.D.  Fibromyalgia is a chronic health problem commonly seen in a primary care setting. It can be challenging to diagnose and even more so to manage. It can have a devastating effect on a patient’s lifestyle, and patients will commonly go from provider to provider seeking relief for their...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D  Guest: Mark D. Tyson, III, M.D., M.P.H.  Bladder cancer is one of the most common malignancies worldwide, and primary care clinicians are often the first to evaluate patients with bladder cancer. The symptoms are usually subtle and may include either gross or microscopic hematuria. The decision in whether to investigate these presenting symptoms can often impact early diagnosis and the patient’s...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Stacey Rizza, M.D.  Hantavirus has been in the news lately. Although it’s rare, it can cause serious disease which can be life-threatening.  Early symptoms are similar to other common viral infections including fever, myalgias, headache, and fatigue. As a result, the ability to establish an early diagnosis is challenging. Who’s...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.   Guest: Joseph Murray, M.D.  Celiac Disease affects approximately 1% of the population worldwide and can present at any age, frequently with very subtle, atypical or at times entirely non-GI symptoms. The presentation can be extremely diverse and may involve a variety of organ systems. If not recognized and effectively treated, multiple potentially serious complications can...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Uma Thanarajasingham, M.D., Ph.D.  Systemic lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease with a variety of immunologic and laboratory abnormalities. It has numerous clinical manifestations potentially involving multiple organs. It’s known as the great imitator because it can mimic a variety of other diseases, and it’s not uncommon for patients to have symptoms for a number of years prior to a diagnosis being established. What symptoms...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Carl H. Cramer, III, M.D.  Kidney transplantation has significantly improved the outlook for children with end-stage renal failure. The journey these children follow to transplantation starts in primary care with the recognition of chronic kidney disease, timely referral to nephrology, and long-term coordination of care with the transplant team. What are the most common health conditions...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Rebecca Ameduri, M.D.  Most primary care clinicians see very few children with advanced heart failure or complicated congenital heart disease. However, when they are a part of our practice, they require timely referral and coordination with other medical specialties, as well as ongoing longitudinal and supportive care not only for the patient...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Lauren Jackson, M.D.  Deep brain stimulation is an established management option for Parkinson’s Disease. It’s a neurosurgical procedure in which thin electrodes are implanted into various areas of the brain and then connected to a pulse generator that produces electrical stimulation which modulates abnormal brain activity. The procedure has the potential to improve the quality of life in those with...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Forrest Sturgill, M.D.  Parkinson’s Disease is a relatively common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor symptoms such as bradykinesia, rigidity and resting tremor, as well as non-motor symptoms such as autonomic dysfunction, mood disorders and cognitive changes. The diagnosis is established with a medical history and physical exam. Parkinson’s is truly a disorder where the neurologist needs to...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Rodolfo Savica, M.D., Ph.D.  We commonly see Parkinson’s Disease in our older patients, but have you ever seen it present in a child or young adult? It can happen. Whereas Parkinson’s Disease in an older patient is likely to be idiopathic, we need to consider genetic conditions as well...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Vinaya Simha, M.B.B.S., M.D.  For years, we saw very little change in the management of type 2 diabetes. However, over the past decade, numerous new pharmacologic treatment options, innovations in glucose monitoring, and new insulin delivery systems have become available. We’ve also seen a new philosophy regarding the goals of diabetes management. What are the latest medications for diabetes...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Robert Pignolo, M.D., Ph.D.  Our population is aging as our life expectancy increases with time. In general, we’re living longer than those before us. Aging is an interesting concept; we all want to achieve old age, but it’s not something we look forward to. What we really want is to maintain our physical, mental and social well-being in order to achieve a high...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Bhanu Kolla, M.D.  We commonly take sleep for granted. That is, until our sleep quantity or quality is compromised. This can result in both mental and physical health problems, including daytime fatigue and sleepiness. Sleep disorders are quite common and often undiagnosed, yet they can contribute to diabetes, cognitive impairment, and cardiovascular disease, potentially...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Brittni A. Scruggs, M.D., Ph.D.  There are a variety of eye disorders which involve the retina, and they all have the potential to cause significant vision loss or blindness if not detected early. Two of the most common retinal disorders we see in primary care include diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration. Since most...

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D.  Guest: Stephen Kopecky, M.D.  Cardiovascular disease is highly prevalent in our society. Fortunately, we have a variety of treatment options to lower the risk of developing its complications. Over the past decade, there’ve been many changes in managing hyperlipidemia, one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular disease. This includes a change in assessing our patients’...