Matt, Chris, and Don debate a new meta-analysis on calcium and vitamin D supplements for prevention of fractures, Matt explains why he hates null hypothesis significance testing, and Don alerts us to the dangers of listening to heavy metal.
In this special bonus episode, we have our first guest, Dr. Kate Grabowski, the author of the HIV incidence in Uganda study in episode 14. She talks with Matt about a few issues we got wrong and the wider impact of her work on HIV.
Matt, Chris, and Don weigh in on an area they finally have some expertise in (HIV) by reviewing a study of HIV prevention in Uganda, examine the difference between “efficacy” and “effectiveness,” and Matt gets dangerously close to a word we’re not allowed to say.
Matt, Chris, and Don try to act like grownups in discussing fecal transplants delivered through oral capsules, p-values are finally, though not fully taken on, and Chris reveals that “jellyfish ain’t babies".
Matt, Chris, and Don discuss a study that contradicts much of the previous evidence on heart stents for angina, Matt learns how angina is really pronounced while discussing ethics in medical research, and the three answer the question of just how bad Vegemite really is.
Matt, Chris, and Don 'run' through a study on exercise and academic achievement, then Matt drills Chris on why he’s so skeptical about observational studies, and Don seems to suggest it's ok to talk on the phone while crossing the street as long as you're in good shape.
Bonus content! Matt, Chris, and Don answer questions from a live audience.
Matt, Chris, and Don feed a live audience burritos before asking whether fat and carbs are killing us, wrestle with whether the ranking of a journal defines the quality of the articles within, and Chris finally teaches us why bees don’t use back scratchers.
Matt, Chris, and Don get checked into the boards on this new study on watching hockey and heart rates (seriously), get called for high sticking over their take on how big a study needs to be, and Chris warns us about the dangers of pizza deficiency syndrome. (Special episode with video!)
Matt, Chris, and Don decide whether school kids in Uganda can be taught to evaluate the validity of health claims (hey, isn’t that our job?), talk about generalizing study results and Chris finds the answers in rubbing his bald spot.
Matt, Chris, and Don drop their Halloween candy to debate whether H1N1 flu vaccine can cause spontaneous abortions, attempt to discern whether or not it is ok to divide up your data, and Matt has an anecdote about The Unbearable Lightness of Being.
Matt, Chris, and Don examine if artificial sweeteners are good or bad for your weight, pontificate on conflicts of interest in studies, and discuss what shall only be called “baloney” (so that we don’t get a PG-13 rating).
