Recorded Lectures

Facial flushing and increased heart rate after alcohol consumption is frequent among Asians. Approximately 560 million people, or 8% of the world population, suffer from this unpleasant response. This phenomenon is caused by a genetic deficiency of the aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2) gene which plays a critical role for alcohol detoxification. Contrary to a misunderstanding that alcohol flushing is a sign of “good health”, this reaction is a sign of acetaldehyde accumulation which is toxic. This presentation explains the biological cause of the alcohol flushing reaction and the related health issues for those carrying the alcohol flushing gene.

Functional medicine is an evidence-based, patient-centered system of medicine that treats illness at the root cause level. The focus is on restoring balance to the underlying dysfunction of cells, biochemistry, etc. Hear Susan Payrovi, MD, speak about using lifestyle habits along with natural supplements and complementary therapies to restore balance and treat chronic diseases.

Gastric cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide and is diagnosed in 27,000 Americans each year. In the United States, this burden falls disproportionately on ethnic minorities and immigrant communities, especially Asians. There exists no coherent national strategy for the early detection or risk attenuation of gastric cancer, even among identified high-risk groups. The under-recognition of gastric cancer risk among minority communities may be one of the most significant unaddressed healthcare disparities in the United States. 

Miscarriage has "come out of the shadows" and society has begun to talk about this very personal, distressing experience.  Women and/or partners who experience recurrent pregnancy loss have an especially emotional journey, during which they may feel very alone and lost. Drs. Williams and Shah review what is known about the mental health issues associated with recurrent pregnancy loss, shining a light on this particular fertility journey. They discuss approaches to decrease stress and improve mental health including nonpharmacologic interventions such as lifestyle changes, nutrition and psychotherapy, as well as clarify when medications may be needed to improve mood and anxiety symptoms. This talk also addresses how partners, friends and family can support women who are experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss.

Reproductive disorders are full of unanswered questions. At Stanford, we have several ongoing studies and clinical trials to help us improve our understanding and treatments for fertility and pregnancy loss. In this seminar, you will learn about studies for implantation failure, endometriosis, pregnancy outcomes after frozen embryo transfer, and how sickle cell disease impacts ovarian reserve. Several studies are ongoing and open to enrollment.

South Asians - people from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka - have a higher risk of heart and vascular disease than any other ethnic groups. Dr. Josan discusses heart disease in Asians and effective ways to prevent and treat heart disease in South Asians.

Pregnancy loss is common but repeat pregnancy loss only affects 2-5% of couples trying to build their family. There is no single cause of pregnancy loss that explains all cases therefore Stanford has assembled professionals from 10 different subspecialties to work together to help solve some of the most challenging cases. In this seminar, you will learn about genetic, hematologic, uterine, and male contributions to miscarriage and how we can treat couples affected by repeat pregnancy loss.

A third of U.S. adults have prediabetes, a condition where there are early signs that diabetes is developing. The leading causes of prediabetes are excess weight, lack of physical activity, and a diet too high in simple carbohydrates (like starches and sugars). Prediabetes is most often reversible and should be a call to action for changes in lifestyle that can keep diabetes from developing. Learn specific strategies to help overcome the challenges we face in changing patterns of physical activity, diet, stress management, and sleep.

Japan is the most rapidly aging developed society in the world. Dr. Ikeno discusses how Japan is innovating ways to solve the unmet needs of an aging society. 

Chronic Kidney Disease affects an estimated 37 million people in the U.S. Drs. Stafford and Taiwo discuss lifestyle changes and medical treatments that can have a positive impact on the disease and those living with it.

Thyroid Eye Disease can be a distressing effect of hyperthyroidism that changes the way the eyes look and sometimes how they function. Fortunately there are newly developed treatments that have the potential to change the course of the disease. Dr. Kossler discusses the causes and treatments available for Thyroid Eye Disease.