Expert Interviews

Panelists discuss why elinzanetant is likely to be associated with a lower risk of liver injury due to its distinct molecular structure compared to fezolinetant, and compare the adverse event profiles of the 2 drugs, highlighting that elinzanetant is more commonly associated with headache and fatigue while fezolinetant is linked to abdominal pain, diarrhea, insomnia, and back pain.

Panelists discuss why a warning about serious liver injury was added to the prescribing information for fezolinetant following a postmarketing case of drug-induced liver injury, and review updated guidelines for baseline liver testing, recommended monitoring, symptoms indicating the need to discontinue the medication, and key points for addressing patient concerns about liver health.

Panelists discuss how to simplify the physiology of KNDy neurons and neurokinin (NK) receptors for primary care physicians, explaining how NK3 antagonism reduces hot flashes, while NK1 antagonism helps alleviate sleep disturbances and night sweats, with fezolinetant and elinzanetant serving as key nonhormonal treatment options.

Panelists discuss how neurokinin 3 (NK3) receptors contribute to vasomotor symptoms (VMS) and how antagonism of NK3 receptors with drugs like fezolinetant can effectively reduce VMS, while also exploring the dual receptor action of elinzanetant, which blocks both NK1 and NK3 receptors to improve VMS and associated sleep disturbances.

Panelists discuss how KNDy neurons, which coexpress kisspeptin, neurokinin B (NKB), and dynorphin genes, play a crucial role in hormonal reproduction and the development of vasomotor symptoms (VMS) in menopause.

William Grady, MD, coauthor of the ECLIPSE trial, discusses how the Shield cfDNA blood-based test compares to traditional CRC screening methods.

COPD expert MeiLan K Han, MD, MS, says that in the absence of a definitive single tool to assess for COPD, probing patients for risk factors and symptoms is essential.

William Grady, MD, highlights the convenience and compliance of blood-based tests compared to colonoscopy and stool-based tests for colorectal cancer screening.

Cardiovascular comorbidities in adults with COPD are linked to poor outcomes including reduced QoL, increased hospitalizations, and greater risk of mortality, Han explains.

Michael Crotty, MD, an expert in obesity medicine, discusses GLP-1RAs in the context of weight loss, including the novel dual agonist survodutide.

Professor MeiLan Han, MD, MS, details inclusion of the 2 new medications and how the additions reflect a focus on disease heterogeneity and precision medicine in in COPD.

Geriatric psychiatrist and neurocognitive researcher George Grossberg, MD, highlights the mechanism of action for the new dextromethorphan/bupropion combination.

"It's a very rich pipeline because [agitation] is a very common and very debilitating symptom in Alzheimer's disease," Grossberg observed.

William Grady, MD, coauthor of the ECLIPSE clinical trial, discusses the study's rationale, methods, and key findings.

Antipsychotic medications are still used to treat potentially harmful acute agitation, George Grossberg, MD, explains, even though the adverse effects are well known.

Nondrug approaches to calming an adult with Alzheimer disease who is agitated should be prioritized over pharmacotherapy, geriatric psychiatrist George Grossberg, MD, counsels.

When a patient with Alzheimer dementia becomes agitated, check the physical environment for a trigger before pulling the trigger on a medication, dementia expert George Grossberg, MD, recommends.

The geriatric psychiatrist refers in this interview to agitation in Alzheimer disease, a significant neuropsychiatric symptom that should not be dismissed.

Agitation in Alzheimer disease is not limited to the later stages, geriatric psychiatrist George Grossberg, MD, explains; look for it across the spectrum.

Agitation is the most common disabling neuropsychiatric symptom experienced by individuals with Alzheimer dementia; Grossberg explains how common in this short interview.

ACIP recommendations for the most appropriate older population for the RSV vaccine has shifted and the NFID medical director explains why.

Rebecca Hartman, MD, MHP, assistant professor of dermatology at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, reviews new point-of-care detection technology.

Topical corticosteroids, once revolutionary for treatment of atopic dermatitis, are used just sparingly today; dermatologist Mona Shahriari, MD, lists the reasons.

Dermatologist Rebecca Hartman, MD, MPH, said that reliable point-of-care screening results can help reduce unnecessary specialist referral for benign lesions.

Not all atopic dermatitis requires treatment by a specialist, says this dermatologist, and she collaborates regularly with her primary care colleagues.

The DermaSensor skin cancer screening device was pitted against clinical impressions of lesions suspected with high confidence to be melanoma. Results, here.

Dermatologists at high volume dermatology centers referred suspicious lesions to pathology for biopsy and diagnosis. The results were compared with DermaSensor read-outs.

A rapid increase in the rate of melanoma diagnoses could be the result of multiple factors, explains the Harvard assistant professor of dermatology.

A bothersome skin lesion is typically first seen and assessed in primary care. An AI-based point-of-care device may help enhance triage, says Rebecca Hartman, MD, MPH.

Shahriari, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine, says greater understanding of the condition has expanded the population for the diagnosis.