Finding Genius Podcast

Dr. Theodore Belfor, dental innovator and expert, discusses a wide variety of dental issues with a special emphasis on airway issues, snoring causes and effect, as well as snoring treatment. Dr. Belfor graduated from the New York University School of Medicine. He works in Catskill, NY and specializes in General Dentistry. Dr. Belfor discusses airway issues, daytime and nighttime, from stuffy noses to more serious airway problems. As Dr. Belfor states, chronic rhinosinusitis is an extremely common problem. This persistent, nagging health issue is defined by the presence of at least two of four major symptoms, such as facial pain and/or pressure, hyposmia/anosmia, nasal drainage, and sometimes nasal obstruction, for at minimum—12 consecutive weeks. He explains how the cilia (tiny hairs in our noses) along with mucus, trap the bacteria. But when our sinuses are working properly, these bacteria can be neutralized in most cases. However, when chronic rhinosinusitis occurs, there is a sort of broken link in this chain of defense, and the body will go into its normal defenses, which equates to swelling and inflammation. Dr. Belfor explains the function of nitric oxide, and the jaw, and how the system can become overextended, enabling polyp growth possibilities and more. Dr. Belfor discusses misalignment, airway and snoring issues, etc. including information on breathing systems. Further, he explains the many possibilities for care and treatment, often without surgical procedures. He talks about the ways to 'turn the genes on' to get the body to respond, and improve functioning. He expounds upon the processes of 'toning the airway' as well as the difficult problems posed by snoring and sleep apnea. Continuing, the airway expert talks in detail about anatomy, and the physical components that contribute to dental and airway issues. In this podcast: What are the main contributors to airway breathing issues? How to 'turn genes on' to get the body to respond to issues How does a nasal obstruction impact breathing?

Dr. Eleftherios Mylonakis, the Charles C.J. Carpenter Professor of Infectious Disease and Professor of Medicine at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University as well as Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at Brown, delivers an in-depth overview discussing microbial pathogenesis and host responses. Dr. Mylonakis is an infectious disease specialist who has brought his wealth of experience to multiple hospitals in the New England area, including Massachusetts General Hospital and Miriam Hospital. Dr. Mylonakis earned his medical degree from University of Athens and has been practicing medicine for over 20 years. Dr. Mylonakis discusses his extensive work in infectious diseases and drug discovery. He explains the types of diseases, and their research in resistant bacteria, with special attention given to Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which refers to a group of Gram-positive bacteria that are distinct, genetically, from other types/strains of Staphylococcus aureus. And MRSA, unfortunately, is resistant to numerous antibiotics. The research doctor discusses this particular bacteria, where it lives, and how it functions. As he states, our skin works as an effective barrier from this bacteria entering our bloodstream, but a scratch on the skin, and trauma from an accident, etc. can help the bacteria penetrate and then it can possibly spread through the bloodstream. Dr. Mylonakis explains how to identify virulence factors, and he expounds upon the current research regarding the microbiome, and how disruption could lead to colonization. Resistance traits are an important part of the research, and it is crucial to study the relationships. The noted doctor talks in detail about diagnostics, and the time we wait for cultures, to understand what is going on. Most labs wait up to 5 days, which creates a difficult situation because time is of the essence in order to effectively treat toxicity and infection. Wrapping up, Dr. Mylonakis explains the process to treat infections after diagnostics. In this podcast: How to identify virulence factors What types of bacteria are resistant to antibiotics An explanation of microbial pathogenesis

Greg Lowry, the Walter J. Blenko, Sr. Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, provides an overview on the importance of nanotechnology, environmental science nano impact factor, considerations regarding current research, and more. Lowry is deputy director of the NSF/EPA Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (CEINT). Additionally, he is on the editorial board for Environmental Science: Nano and Nature: Scientific Data. Lowry earned his B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of California at Davis (UC Davis), and an M.S. in civil and environmental engineering from University of Wisconsin in Madison. Continuing his education path, Lowry earned a Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering from Stanford University. Lowry's intensive research focuses on multiple scientific areas, such as environmental geochemistry, environmental nanotechnology, and nanochemistry. Lowry discusses their research and goal to make agriculture more sustainable. He states that agriculture is very inefficient, and as world populations are expanding at an incredible rate, more work has to be done to increase sustainability, making plants more efficient, making them more resilient to climate change, etc. Lowry talks about his work on wheat, corn, tomato, and more, discussing how they engineer nano materials to deliver nutrients to plants more efficiently, aiding in their growth, especially in difficult climate or soil conditions. Lowry discusses specific examples of their work, with plants and trees, and the effectiveness of getting nutrients into them. He explains how they have developed coatings on their nano particles that allow them to infiltrate the plant, which overrides the plant's systems that may fight infiltration, and thus successfully providing nutrients while avoiding any detrimental effects to plant health. Continuing, Lowry states that as we increase population in the billions, plant sustainability will be key to feeding the world's population. In this podcast: What are nanoparticles and what can they do? How will increasing populations put a strain on food supplies? What can we do to increase plant sustainability?

All humans are susceptible to breathing problems—regardless of age, health status, or lifestyle. Why is this so? According to Dr. Steven Park, it's a pretty simple reason: we can talk. In order to talk, the soft tissues in the throat have to be exactly that—soft or "floppy." This softness, while allowing for speech, also makes the tissue susceptible to caving while we sleep, which leads to snoring. When the tissues cave entirely, a person stops breathing altogether, and may or may not develop sleep apnea. Both snoring and sleep apnea expose people to a greater risk of stroke, high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes, weight gain, acid reflux, sinus infections, fatigue, anxiety, headaches…the list continues. Over the course of his career as an ear, nose, and throat doctor, Steven Park has seen countless patients whose problems were in one way or another related to their quality of sleep, and he aims to educate people on the causes and effects of snoring. On today's episode, Dr. Park discusses a number of fascinating topics that likely have some relevance to your life or the lives of your loved ones. Tune in to discover: How the temporary cessation of breathing during sleep tells the body that it's under stress, thereby invoking a physiologic stress response Why someone who experiences breathing cessation multiple times in a single night might not be found to have sleep apnea, but something called upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) The many ways in which you can address your breathing problems or seek obstructive sleep apnea treatment Press play to learn more and be sure to check out Dr. Park's book, Sleep Interrupted: A Physician Reveals the #1 Reason Why So Many Of Us Are Sick and Tired.

Rob Taub is not only a respected figure in film, radio, television, and journalism but also an advocate for type 2 diabetes and ambassador for a joint venture between the American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association called Know Diabetes By Heart, which aims to educate people about diabetes and heart disease. Taub believes that a lack of understanding surrounding the body and how it functions in sickness and in health, as well as what it needs in order to function properly, greatly contributes to the growing sickness of American adults and kids today. On today's episode, you will learn: The degree to which genetics contribute to the development of diabetes What Taub has personally found to be the best treatment for type 2 diabetes treatment Why diabetes is on the rise despite an increase in the availability of pharmaceuticals to treat it Learn more by visiting knowdiabetesbyheart.org.

Nearly half of the adult U.S. population suffers from some form of periodontal disease, which can result in the rapid destruction or slow reduction of bone, inflamed soft tissues, abscesses, and tooth loss. In the past, bone grafting—a procedure which is both time-consuming and expensive—was the only known method of getting bone back in the places where it should be. Now, a different technology is available: low-level laser therapy (LLLT). With the use of LLLT, bone regrowth can be obtained for less money, in less time, and provides more comfort to the patient than bone grafting and accelerated orthodontics techniques. But that's not all: the benefits of low-level laser therapy are wide-ranging, and have been shown to be effective in treating nearly any ailment which can improve with tissue regeneration. The technology has been used in both human and veterinary medicine, and shows great promise as a safe, affordable, and effective medical treatment. On today's episode, Dr. John Hendy joins the podcast to discuss all the ins and outs of LLLT, including how he has incorporated it into his work with patients. By tuning in, you will learn: What it feels like to receive LLLT How LLLT can direct nerves away from tooth decay, thereby potentially preventing the need for root canal procedures How the combination of high-energy and low-level energy laser therapy work to combat even the most severe cases of periodontal disease

In recent years, interest in organoid technology has exploded. More than ever before, scientists, researchers, and the public at large are beginning to appreciate the value that organoids can contribute to the understanding and clinical treatment of diseases, as well as drug development. In 2009, the first-ever paper on this technology was published, and on today's episode, CEO of Hubrecht Organoid Technology (HUB) in the Netherlands, Robert Vries, PhD dives into the details and complexity of how it's grown since then. He explores with us the different types and functions of organoids, how they are made, and where this field of research is headed in the near future. Interested in the details of all this and more? Tune in to discover: Why mimicking a cancer tumor is virtually impossible without the use of adult stem cells How organoid technology could change the gold standard in drug development and research in toxicology How induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) differ from adult stem cells For more information, check out https://hub4organoids.eu/.

Associate Professor in the Computer Science and Operations Research Department at the University of Montreal, Irina Rish, PhD focuses her work on the intersection between artificial intelligence (AI) and neuroscience, researching the ways in which our knowledge of neuroscience can improve AI, and how AI models can aid our understanding of neuroscience. On today's podcast, you will discover: How the brain differs from artificial neural networks and deep learning What will be needed in order to achieve broad AI Under what conditions neurogenesis occurred in a study using rat models Learn more about Dr. Rish's work by visiting https://mila.quebec/en/person/irina-rish/.

Eduard Willms, Postdoctoral Scientist at La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia, provides an overview of the types of extracellular vesicles, and the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs). Willms research is focused on the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in cellular communication. Willms holds a BSc in Pharmacy and a DPhil in Physiology. He has intensively studied EV heterogeneity in an effort to more fully understand the specific roles of various types of EVs released by cells. Willms explains how he got into the study of exosomes—membrane bound extracellular vesicles that are created in the endosomal compartment of nearly all eukaryotic cells. Starting with some fascinating early experiments during his education years studying pharmacy, Willms was intrigued by what he was learning, and was hooked on cellular study from then on. Willms explains cellular communication, discussing hormones and neurotransmitters, etc. Willms talks about his interest in extracellular vesicle heterogeneity, and looking at what types of vesicles are secreted by cells. What kind of vesicle is able to enter a cell and deliver its messages? Willms talks about how the systems work, and how EVs might be used to deliver therapeutics or drugs into the cells. As he states, it is important to know which kinds of vesicles could be successful in delivering these messages, and ultimately—deliver therapeutics. Continuing, the noted research scientist expounds upon the cellular environments and discusses possible stability issues in regard to EVs. He talks about biodistribution in lab studies and the life of EVs, essentially concerned with how long they can perform these important duties. Wrapping up, Willms discusses what they have observed in various populations of vesicles, and the relative possibilities, explaining organelles and structures. In this podcast: What are extracellular vesicles? How can EVs be used to deliver therapeutics into cells? How do cells communicate?

Not more than twenty years ago, only four or five blood cancers could be defined; today, hundreds of different types of lymphoma, leukemia, and myeloma cancers have been characterized—each one with a unique molecular structure and genome. As a result, an enormous amount of data has become available in the area of research and development for cancer drugs. According to Panna Sharma, CEO of Lantern Pharma, there is no better place to apply the tools of machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI). "There could be more permutations of chemical compounds than there are galaxies, so it's a perfect problem area for AI," says Sharma. He goes on to explain why some drugs—despite being extremely effective for some people—don't stay on the market. In addition to depriving patients access to a drug which could truly help them, this also represents a significant financial loss, considering that hundreds of millions of dollars can go into the development of a single cancer drug. The technology being employed by Lantern Pharma has the ability to identify which drugs have worked for some people in the past, why they worked, and how to use this information as a predictive measure of what may (or may not) work for any given patient with a particular type of cancer. Sharma is a wealth of knowledge, and discusses the details of all this and more, including: How many cancer drugs are already built in to the Lantern Pharma model How many gene expression profiles there are within a given tumor The importance of understanding a tumor's response to a given drug and how Lantern Pharma is trying to elucidate this in prostate cancer Learn more at https://www.lanternpharma.com/.