In this episode from our archives, originally posted on September 16, 2020, The Curious Clinicians examined why the savory flavor umami is SO DELICIOUS. Dig in! Show notes: https://curiousclinicians.com/2020/09/16/episode-9-why-is-umami-so-delicious/ CME: https://vcu.cloud-cme.com/course/search?p=4000&curriculum=Curious%20Clinicians Audio edited by…

The Curious Clinicians are on tap to ask, why does chronic alcohol use cause macrocytosis? Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com. Medical student Giancarlo Buonomo is our producer.…

Welcome to NephMadness 2024! In collaboration with Things We Do For No Reason (TWDFNR), we are excited to promote the start of this amazing medical education opportunity. Inspired by the "March Madness" college basketball tournament, NephMadness is a "a free online, CME-granting, evidenced-based, noncommercial learning initiative that leverages the…

The Curious Clinicians examine why the genetic mutations leading to hereditary hemochromatosis might have offered an evolutionarily advantage to our Neolithic ancestors. The answer relates to an old breakfast stalwart- cereal and milk! Read the show notes here. Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com. This episode is sponsored by Audible! New …

On this episode from our archive, originally posted on March 15, 2022, The Curious Clinicians examine why cirrhosis predisposes to SBP, and why bacterial translocation across the bowel wall into ascites doesn’t actually occur! Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours…

The Curious Clinicians investigate the history and mechanisms of how thalidomide caused embryopathy in the late 1950s and early 1960s in over 10,000 babies across the world. Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Cl…

On this episode from our archive, originally posted on February 16, 2022, The Curious Clinicians investigate why antiphospholipid antibodies can be falsely positive during acute illness or thrombosis. Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5…

In this episode, we investigate the reasons why we don't (and don't need to) transfuse to normal hemoglobin levels. Read the show notes on our website here. And subscribe to our new Substack! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morg…

The Curious Clinicians are currently on a holiday break, but we'll be back with new content in 2024! In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this episode from our archive, originally posted December 10, 2022. We told the story of a tiny carbohydrate called alpha-gal, delving into unsettling meat allergies after tick bites, ancient viruses, allergic reac…

In this episode, we examine how sickle cell trait protects against malaria, in multiple ways. Read the show notes on our website here. And subscribe to our new Substack! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com. Ou…

Today we reach back into The Curious Clinicians archives, just in time for Thanksgiving. In this episode, originally posted in November 2021, Hannah, Avi, and Tony examine whether tryptophan from turkey actually causes the infamous Thanksgiving food coma. The answer might surprise you... Check out the episode's show notes here. Click here to obtain…

In this episode, we explore why ACE inhibitors treat scleroderma renal crisis so effectively (and why bilateral nephrectomy used to be the treatment of choice…). Read the show notes on our website here. And subscribe to our new Substack! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC …

In this episode, The Curious Clinicians ask why a ketogenic diet can help control seizures in refractory epilepsy? Read the show notes on our website here. And subscribe to our new Substack! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morga…

For this episode, The Curious Clinicians ask why patients with bioprosthetic heart valves don't require immunosuppression? Read the show notes on our website here. And subscribe to our new Substack! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Cla…

On this episode, The Curious Clinicians learn about why hyperthyroidism is associated with atrial fibrillation. Read the show notes on our website here. And subscribe to our new Substack! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan o…

On this episode, The Curious Clinicians explore the liver's incredible ability to regenerate after injury or resection. Read the show notes on our website here. And subscribe to our new Substack! Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair …

This week, The Curious Clinicians are bringing back an episode from the archive that was originally posted in December, 2021. Tony joined Dr. Adam Rodman as a guest on the Bedside Rounds podcast. We were thrilled to share that episode here. How can we medically tell whether or not someone is alive or dead? The answer is more complicated than you’d …

On this episode, The Curious Clinicians investigate why alcohol both causes a burning sensation when you first swallow it (hint: the mechanism has something to do with chili peppers) and why you get a general sense of total body warmth within the next few minutes. Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours…

On this episode, The Curious Clinicians examine an intriguing question - why are babies protected from infection and colitis by C. Diff? We'll touch on factors relating to immunology, microbiology and human development. Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or A…

On this episode, The Curious Clinicians are joined by Dr Christopher Worsham, co-author of a fascinating and insightful new book, Random Acts of Medicine, which explores the use of natural experiments to better understand healthcare and is now out in hardcover! Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com.…

This week, we reach back into the archive for an episode from 2021 (the first in a two-part series related to the eyes) where Tony, Hannah, and Avi explored why Wilson disease can present with Kayser-Fleischer corneal rings. Remember to pick up CME/MOC credit just for listening to the episode! Check out the show notes for this episode and read Avi'…

On this episode, The Curious Clinicians dive into musical history, examining what might have caused German composer Ludwig van Beethoven's infamous deafness. Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of No…

In this episode, The Curious Clinicians learn about why pneumonia takes weeks to resolve on chest x-ray, whereas symptoms generally resolve much sooner. Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderl…

This episode originally aired April, 2021, where The Curious Clinicians examined why some patients feel short of breath specifically when bending over, aka "bendopnea". You can read the show notes for this episode on our website. Don't forget to pick up CME/MOC credits, courtesy of VCU Health. Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.…

In this episode, The Curious Clinicians examine why upper gastrointestinal bleeding raises BUN. The answer involves experiments where participants were asked to drink blood (!) and the 700 sextillion (7 x 1023) amino acids that comprise the hemoglobin content in a liter of blood. Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Cre…

In this episode, The Curious Clinicians tackle why alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency can cause chronic liver disease. Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com. This episode is sponsored by Be…

In this episode, The Curious Clinicians investigate whether atrial fibrillation should be considered a risk factor for PE. Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com. This episode was sponso…

In this episode, The Curious Clinicians investigate the mysterious blood brain barrier, and how dexamethasone has a seemingly miraculous ability to treat cerebral edema caused by brain tumors. Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours).…

In this episode, The Curious Clinicians investigate why tricuspid valve endocarditis is more common in persons who inject IV drugs. Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com.…

In this episode, The Curious Clinicians take things to heart and unpack both why rheumatic heart disease so often involves heart valves, and why the mitral valve is by far the most commonly affected. Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 …

In this episode, The Curious Clinicians investigate why meperidine treats rigors. Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp! You can give online the…

In this episode, The Curious Clinicians examine why weight training increases muscle size. Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com. This episode was sponsored by Green Chef!…

The Curious Clinicians took a quick holiday break and will be back with new episodes next week! This episode, originally posted May, 2022, explores why obstructive sleep apnea can cause nocturia. Check out the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5…

In this episode, The Curious Clinicians examine why patients with liver injury or dysfunction have conjugated hyperbilirubinemia. Why is this particular function (conjugation) seemingly spared in liver disease? "Hop" in for the ride! Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.…

In this episode, The Curious Clinicians tell the alpha-gal story, delving into the unsettling meat allergies after tick bites, ancient viruses, allergic reactions to an anti-cancer antibody, and xenotransplantation. Read the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM …

In this reboot of episode 38, just in time for Thanksgiving, The Curious Clinicians examine whether tryptophan from turkey actually causes the infamous Thanksgiving food coma. The answer might surprise you! Check out the episode's show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or…

In this episode, The Curious Clinicians explore why heart failure with preserved ejection fraction leads to sodium retention. Check out Tony's companion tweetorial here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com.…

In this reboot of episode 30, The Curious Clinicians investigate why some people absolutely love cilantro while others taste soap if they try to eat it. Enjoy! Check out the show notes on our website. Don't forget to pick up your CME/MOC credits, courtesy of VCU Health! Sound editing by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.…

Why can heparin cause hyperkalemia? On this episode of The Curious Clinicians, they explore that question and many more fun facts about this age old anticoagulant. Check out the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair M…

Is oral furosemide absorption affected by “gut edema” in acute heart failure? In this episode, The Curious Clinicians break down the evidence around this age-old medical teaching pearl. Check out the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). A…

On this episode, The Curious Clinicians explore why and how tumors in bones cause pain, with surprising results. Check out the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com.…

On this episode, The Curious Clinicians examine why elevated triglycerides in the blood can cause pancreatitis. Check out the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com.…

On this episode, The Curious Clinicians investigate why rhabdomyolysis very commonly causes acute kidney injury, while hemolysis does not. Check out the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com.…

The Curious Clinicians outline a new theory about what, if any, genetic syndrome Abraham Lincoln may have had. Check out the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com.…

The Curious Clinicians look into why pulmonary emboli cause hypoxemia. The answer may surprise you… Check out the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com.…

The Curious Clinicians learn about why Wenckebach heart block has such a unique morphology. They also explore how Karel Frederik Wenckebach first identified the rhythm in a patient, years before the atrioventricular node was even discovered. Check out the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician A…

The Curious Clinicians unpack why potassium is often repleted to levels >4 mEq/L. Check out the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of Nodderly.com.

The Curious Clinicians post our 50th episode this week! We cover why cefepime (and other beta-lactam antibiotics) can cause neurotoxicity. Thank you for joining us on this medical curiosity journey and thank you to the team that has helped take the podcast to the next level, including audio editor extraordinaire Clair Morgan from Nodderly and the V…

On this episode, The Curious Clinicians explore why obstructive sleep apnea can cause nocturia. Check out the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.5 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.5 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.5 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of nodderly.com.…

On this episode, The Curious Clinicians investigate exactly why we can often diagnose respiratory infections with urinary antigen tests… Check out the show notes here. Click here to obtain AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (1.00 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (1.00 hours), or ABIM MOC Part 2 (1.00 hours). Audio edited by Clair Morgan of nodderly.com.…