NB Hot Topics Podcast

Welcome to the Hot Topics Podcast from NB Medical with Dr Neal Tucker. Merry Christmas, everyone! This is a special edition on empathy in general practice. Does it matter, and what does the research tell us? Can not being a grinch in surgery make a difference to our patients and ourselves? 

We are joined by NB colleague Dr Andy Ward, who is also Associate Professor of Medical Education and an Honorary Senior Academic General Practitioner at the Stoneygate Centre for Empathic Healthcare at the University of Leicester, who is going to get us through the data and explain why empathy might help get us through the festive period in practice too.

References

Stoneygate Centre for Empathic Healthcare website

BJGP Just Do It! Ten Easy Ways To Enhance Empathy in the Consultation

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Welcome to the Hot Topics podcast from NB Medical with Dr Neal Tucker. In this episode, we have three new and interesting research papers to look at. 

First, new data on the effects of social media use and cognitive development in younger adolescents. Is it really a problem? Second, can a simple urine sample be as accurate as a smear test for identifying cervical HPV, and what do women feel about this? Finally, if you're struggling to sleep could Tai chi be better than CBT for insomnia? 

References

JAMA SM & cognitive development

JAMA Editorial

BJGP Urine vs smear for cervical HPV

BMJ Tai chi vs CBTi for insomnia

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Welcome back to the Hot Topics podcast from NB Medical with Dr Neal Tucker. In this episode, we look at three new pieces of research and have a special interview in conjunction with Prostate Cancer UK. 

First, do antidepressants have physiological side effects? How do they compare to each other, and how does this influence what we prescribe to whom?

Second, exercise is a key treatment for knee osteoarthritis, but which type is best? What should we recommend to our patients?

Third, how has PSA testing changed over the past two decades? Is there variation in testing in high-risk groups? Discussing this further, we are joined by Dr Bunmi Olajide, a GP with a special interest in cancer, and Kevin Howell, Black Health Equity Engagement manager for Prostate Cancer UK.

Resources

Lancet Anti-depressants and physiological side effects

BMJ Knee OA and Best Exercises

NEJM Knee pain and home exercises

BMJ PSA testing trends in England

PCUK PSA Consensus statement 2024

PCUK Guide for Counselling Patients on the PSA Blood Test

PCUK Online Education

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Welcome to the Hot Topics podcast from NB Medical with Dr Neal Tucker! In this episode, we talk about some real research rather than stuff made up by over-tanned heads of state. Three papers. 

First, can researchers fill the gap on whether anti-inflammatory reliever therapy is best for mild asthma? 

Second, how effective are SCAN pathways for suspected cancer in patients with non-specific symptoms who don't meet site-specific referral criteria, and what lessons can we learn from years of referrals?

Third, how do the numbers of licensed GPs differ from actual GPs working, and how does this all compare to what's happening with hospital consultants?

References

Lancet AIR for kids asthma

Lancet Primary Care SCAN referrals  

BMJ Trends in practising GPs

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Welcome back to the Hot Topics podcast from NB Medical with Dr Neal Tucker. In this new season, we chat to Dr Simon Curtis about the upcoming Autumn 2025 Hot Topics course, then discuss three new pieces of research.

First, in the Lancet, which are the best anti-hypertensives, what effect does increasing a dose actually have and how good are combinations? Second, in the NEJM, does giving all the drugs improve CKD outcomes? The case for finerenone and empagliflozin. Third, do ADHD drugs help outcomes beyond core symptoms such as accidents, suicide and crime? But can we rely on the research method used...?

References

Lancet Antihypertensive Efficacy Paper

NEJM Finerenone & Empagliflozin

Report on trends in CKD

BMJ ADHD meds & prevention of complications

www.nbmedical.com/podcast

Welcome to the Hot Topics podcast from NB Medical with Dr Neal Tucker. I hope you are all enjoying the summer and that your IT treats you well. In this podcast, we have two new studies to think about.

First, should children with gastroenteritis be given anti-emetics? Would ondansetron help and improve outcomes? 

Second, can methotrexate help knee osteoarthritis? It would be great if this would work, but hope only gets us so far. What does the research show? 

References

NEJM Ondansetron in GE in kids

JAMA Int Med Methotrexate and knee OA

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Welcome to the Hot Topics podcast from NB Medical with Dr Neal Tucker. While everyone tries to unpick the new NHS 10-year plan, we focus on the here and now with three new pieces of research.

We kick off with two gems in the BJGP - first, examining whether anti-depressants actually help with insomnia, and second, whether anti-depressants cause postural hypotension in older people, and which may be the worst. Finally, we look at a good news story, with data publishing on a new treatment for cancers linked to mismatch repair genes.

References

BJGP Insomnia paper

BJGP Anti-Ds and postural hypotension paper

NEJM dMMR gene cancer therapy 

www.nbmedical.com/podcast

Welcome to the Hot Topics podcast from NB Medical with Dr Neal Tucker. In this episode, we look at three new pieces of research with implications for general practice.

Firstly, can exercise prevent the recurrence of colorectal cancer? Short answer, yes. But how much exercise did you need to do, and what on earth is a MET? 

Secondly, what are the concerns around low-dose amitriptyline use for IBS from patients and GPs? How can we aid the discussion? 

Finally, can SLGT2 inhibitors improve liver disease? Is this the new treatment for our patients with MASLD (the condition formerly known as NAFLD? 

References

NEJM Exercise and CRC

METs Wikipedia

BJGP IBS & amitriptyline prescribing

BMJ SGLT2i & MASLD

NB Blog MASLD: The rebrand you never heard of

www.nbmedical.com/podcast

Welcome to the Hot Topics podcast from NB Medical with Dr Neal Tucker. In this edition, we look at three new pieces of research.

First, in the BMJ, a paper exploring whether a GP-led psychological intervention can help PTSD symptoms in our patients after ICU. Could this also be successful for other forms of trauma?

Second, in the Lancet, research looking at whether semaglutide can improve walking distance in patients with diabetes and intermittent claudication.

Finally, in the BJGP, can a practice-led physical activity intervention improve symptoms in survivors of cancer? Will anyone actually want to do it? The answer, and who, may surprise you.

References

Poor by Katriona O'Sullivan

BMJ PTSD paper

Lancet GLP1ra and PAD

BJGP Physical activity and cancer survivors

Moving Medicine

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Welcome to the Hot Topics podcast from NB Medical with Dr Neal Tucker. In this episode, we are joined by Dr Stephen Bradley, lead author of a new paper published in the BJGP looking at rates of CXR use in general practice and how this influences lung cancer stage at diagnosis and mortality. 

He discusses the findings of his research and how this might influence our practice. 

In other research, we look at a new paper in the BMJ on orthostatic HYPERtension - yes, you read that correctly - does treatment help, and does it really matter in the first place? And from the Lancet, research looking at the role of urodynamic studies in women with refractory overactive bladder - does it improve outcomes, or should it be stopped?

References

BMJ Orthostatic hypertension and BP treatment

BMJ OH editorial

Lancet Refractory overactive bladder & urodynamic studies

BJGP CXR in GP & lung cancer staging and mortality

www.nbmedical.com/podcast