EMJ Podcast: Insights For Healthcare Professionals

In Part 2, we explore the role of the skin barrier in food allergy development, from how environmental allergen exposure can drive sensitisation to whether early skincare can help prevent disease. Drawing on studies such as SEAL and recent European eczema guidelines, it also tackles common misconceptions and parental concerns, including topical steroid withdrawal and how best to provide reassurance.

Timestamps:

00:54:02 – Skin allergen exposure

03:50 – Optimising the skin barrier

06:46 – Proactive treatment of atopic eczema

08:17 – Applying treatments

11:41 – Topical steroid withdrawal

Helen Brough joins the Saranya to reflect on her work in paediatric food allergy, from personal experiences that shaped her career to landmark studies like LEAP, EAT, and ProNuts that transformed prevention and management. This episode explores early allergen introduction, evolving approaches to treatment, and what's driving the rise in food allergies in children.

Timestamps:

00:53 – Raising children with atopy

02:18 – Antibiotic exposure at birth

03:08 – Prevention of peanut allergies

05:22 – Introducing other allergens

08:09 – Multi-nut/sesame allergy

10:41 – Immunotherapy for severe allergies

13:36 – Prevalence of food allergies

In this short rapid-fire episode, Helen Brough answers key questions on food allergy, covering common triggers, peanut allergy myths, early allergen introduction, and whether allergies can be outgrown. It also touches on immune development, common mistakes, biomarkers, and future breakthroughs.

Description: Meghan Azad discusses the challenges of translating microbiome science into public health strategies. From policy gaps to social inequalities, this episode explores how evidence can be turned into meaningful support for families.

Timestamps: 02:20 – Critical windows 04:50 – Health inequalities 07:30 – Policy interventions 10:10 – Future directions

This episode examines how infant nutrition influences microbiome development and links to asthma risk. Azad discusses key discoveries from cohort studies and the role of early-life exposures in shaping disease trajectories.

Timestamps: 02:40 – Microbiome development 05:10 – Asthma risk link 07:50 – Feeding transitions 10:20 – Clinical counselling

In this episode of Hema Now, Giancarlo Castaman explores the evolution of haemostasis and haemophilia care, reflecting on how advances in understanding coagulation biology have transformed treatment strategies for patients with bleeding disorders. From the challenges of managing rare disorders and balancing bleeding and thrombosis risks, to the promise and limitations of gene therapy, this discussion highlights the innovations shaping the future of the field.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction

01:34 – Origins in haemostasis research

02:49 – Haemophilia care through decades

05:40 – Challenges managing rare disorders

07:19 – Priorities leading haemostasis advancement

10:18 – Gene therapy future challenges

14:35 – International networks improving outcomes

16:40 – Balancing bleeding thrombosis risks

18:30 – Emerging therapies transforming haemophilia

21:03 – Future haemostasis research priorities

Azad explores the biological complexity of human milk and its role in shaping infant immunity. From immune-active components to variation in milk composition, this episode examines how early nutrition programs long-term health outcomes.

Timestamps: 02:30 – Milk composition explained 05:20 – Immune components role 08:10 – Variation in milk 10:40 – Growth and outcomes

In this rapid-fire episode, Azad addresses common myths around breastfeeding, microbiome development, and infant feeding practices. A concise overview of the key factors shaping early immune health.

In the final episode, Pranav Garimella explores glomerular and cystic kidney diseases, including IgA nephropathy and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Discover how personalised medicine, biomarkers, and earlier diagnosis are shaping the future of care in these complex conditions.

Timestamps:

01:11 – Current treatment for IgA nephropathy

02:24 – SGLT2 inhibitors

03:38 – Cystic kidney disease diagnosis

In Part 2, Pranav Garimella discusses major advances in diabetic kidney disease management. Learn how sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and novel therapies are reshaping disease progression, and why early intervention is critical to improving long-term outcomes.

Timestamps:

01:07 – Practice-changing developments

05:10 – GLP-1 agonists

07:00 – Early intervention

08:43 – Unmet needs