Vitamin B6 is a common additive in supplements, energy drinks and breakfast cereals. In rare circumstances though, it can reach levels toxic levels and cause neurological symptoms the mimic neurodegenerative disease.

This year newsGP reported a case where a GP took magnesium supplements for muscle cramps and over the course of a few years resulted in vitamin B6 toxicity that caused peripheral neuropathy and difficulty walking.

Fortunately, vitamin B6 toxicity is rare but it is an important condition for doctors to be aware of particularly in the setting of patients presenting with peripheral neuropathy.

This is the story of vitamin B6.

Our special guest:

Our special guest is Dr David Kanowski who is a senior chemical pathologist at Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology.

This Medical Life podcast is available on all podcasting services and Spotify.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scleroderma is a disease characterised by the hardening and tightening of the skin and connective tissues. The first medical description can be traced back to the 1750s.

Our understanding has evolved over the centuries but the pathogenesis remains largely unknown. The disease as several forms including diffuse and localised. Symptoms include skin discoloration and tightness to more severe complications like organ dysfunction.

Fortunately we have several different treatment options available for patients that can assist them in managing this disease.

This is the story of Scleroderma.

Our special guest:

Our special guest is Dr. Daman Langguth, a renowned clinical and laboratory immunologist with deep expertise in autoimmune diseases. Dr. Langguth discusses the importance of recognising scleroderma’s symptoms, the critical nature of early diagnosis, and the latest advancements in treatment.

This Medical Life podcast is available on all podcasting services and Spotify. Help support us at https://www.patreon.com/ThisMedicalLife

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1901, the state of Montana organised for scientists and doctors to investigate a mysterious illness from the Bitterroot Valley called ‘Black measles’ and ‘Black typhus’. People of all ages were affected but predominantly those who worked in the brush and were exposed to tick bites. The investigators called it ‘tick fever’ and this particular strain had a mortality rate over eighty percent.

Today this disease is known as Rocky Mountain spotted fever. In Australia, it is sometimes called ‘spotted fever’ or ‘Queensland tick typhus’. It is caused by an obligate intracellular bacterial micro-organism (needs a cell to survive). This organism is very difficult to culture and can be even more difficult to diagnose but surprisingly easy to treat. Rickettsial disease is an under-recognised infection and important in the differential diagnosis of any patients presenting with fevers, headaches and rash.

This is the story of Rickettsia

Our special guest:

Our special guest is Professor Stephen Graves who is a medical microbiology and founder of the Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory (ARRL). He specialises is infectious diseases transmitted by ectoparasites such as ticks, lice, fleas and mites.

This Medical Life podcast is available on all podcasting services and Spotify.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.