Two guys talking **it - A Gastroenterology and Hepatology podcast

We're back for Season 2, and Jon and James kick things off with one of their favourite topics: Incretin mimetics. The gut is the biggest endocrine organ in the body, and the data in steatotic liver disease is now as good as anything we have in Hepatology for steatotic liver disease.

James and Jon cover the basic pharmacology, how to start and titrate these drugs in practice, what to tell patients about stopping them, the muscle loss question, endoscopy and anaesthesia, and a brief look at where the evidence is going across cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, sleep apnoea, IBD, and cancer. There is a lot going on with these drugs and this episode is the primer.

As always comments, questions, feedback and suggestions please send to:
X: @2guystalkingit
Email: 2guystalkingit@gmail.com
Chapters
00:00 Intro: Season 2 is here
03:00 What are incretins? The gut as endocrine organ
06:30 Origin story: Gila Monster and the GLP-1 breakthrough 08:30 The drugs: semaglutide, tirzepatide, and what's coming 10:00 How they actually work: satiety, the brain, and fat oxidation
12:00 Who to start: patient selection and caution groups
13:30 Lean MASH and Southeast Asian BMI thresholds
16:00 Exercise, muscle loss, and the resistance training argument
18:30 Side effects: nausea, constipation, lipase, mood
21:00 Endoscopy and anaesthesia: what to do
24:00 Titrating in practice: James's approach
28:00 Stopping the drug: weight regain and the SURMOUNT data
33:00 Personalising treatment: who can stop, who shouldn't 35:00 Eating disorders, body image, and screening
37:00 MASH data: ESSENCE and Synergy-NASH trials
39:30 Oral formulations: what's available and caveats
40:30 Where bariatric surgery still fits
42:00 Broader indications: IBD, CVD, CKD, cancer
45:00 Global obesity trends and the public health message 47:00 Wrap-up
Papers discussed
ESSENCE trial
Synergy-NASH trial
SURMOUNT-MAINTAIN
Tirzepatide and fat oxidation, Cell Metabolism 2025
GLP-1 receptor agonists and 13 obesity-associated cancers
SELECT trial
FLOW trial
SURMOUNT-OSA
STEP 9: Semaglutide in obesity and knee osteoarthritis
Psoriatic Arthritis paper

We're back. After a longer-than-planned hiatus involving life, work, and the general chaos of being two busy clinicians: Two Guys Talking $#it is returning for Season 2.

The spark? Jon got stopped in a hospital corridor by a non-gastro colleague who'd been listening to the IBS episode with Alex Ford and had shared it with her neighbour. Turns out the show has fans in unexpected places, and that was enough to get us back in front of a microphone.

Season 2 kicks off with one episode a month and a lineup that already has a few things in the works. Same format, same vibe, no Backstreet Boys cover. Glad to have you back.

As always comments, questions, feedback and suggestions please send to:
X: @2guystalkingit
Email: 2guystalkingit@gmail.com

Today we had the privilege of talking to a true superstar in the world of Hepatology.

Elliot B. Tapper MD is an Associate Professor in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of Michigan. He is Academic Chief of Hepatology. His primary goal is to empower patients to enjoy a high quality of life. He is an expert in the management of chronic liver disease, performance of clinical trials, and big data for the study of liver disease. He has developed strategies that reduce symptoms and improve quality of life and invented tools that have helped keep patients with cirrhosis at home and away from the hospital. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Hepatology Communications.

In this episode, A/Prof Tapper discusses his journey in hepatology, the impact of social media on medical education, and his innovative research on muscle cramps and pickle juice. He debunks common myths surrounding methotrexate and liver disease, explores the complexities of ammonia levels in hepatic encephalopathy, and shares insights on frailty in liver disease management. The conversation also touches on the evolving perspectives on antibiotic prophylaxis in cirrhosis and the critical importance of diagnostic paracentesis. Elliot emphasizes the positive aspects of hepatology and the exciting developments in the field.

As always comments, questions and feedback please send to: X: @2guystalkingit
Email: 2guystalkingit@gmail.com

Chapters
05:08 Introduction to Elliot and His Work
08:14 The Power of Social Media in Medical Education
11:10 The Fascination with Pickle Juice and Muscle Cramps
14:00 Innovative Research During COVID-19
17:01 Exploring Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions
20:04 Debunking Myths Around Methotrexate and Liver Disease
23:10 Addressing Misconceptions About Medications
25:56 The Impact of AI on Medical Literature
28:56 The Ammonia Debate in Clinical Practice
30:17 Understanding Ammonia as a Clinical Biomarker
37:28 Assessing Frailty in Liver Disease Patients
44:20 Reevaluating SBP Prophylaxis in Cirrhosis
49:03 The Importance of Diagnostic Paracentesis
52:34 The Positive Side of Hepatology

Keywords
Elliot Tapper, hepatology, liver disease, medical education, social media, muscle cramps, methotrexate, ammonia levels, frailty, antibiotic prophylaxis, diagnostic paracentesis

Today we’re talking bugs, bowels, and breakthroughs with A/Prof Gianluca Ianiro and Dr. Ben Mullish, two microbiome maestros who make poo science strangely fascinating.

A/Prof Gianluca Ianiro is an Associate Professor of Gastroenterology at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Rome and a Consultant at the Gastroenterology Unit of the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS. His clinical and research interests center on the gut microbiota, with a particular emphasis on fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and its applications in gastrointestinal disorders such as Clostridioides difficile infection and irritable bowel syndrome. Recognized as a leading expert in his field, Professor Ianiro has contributed extensively to international consensus guidelines and has been acknowledged for his work with the United European Gastroenterology Rising Star award. He also leads the Microbiome Clinic at Gemelli, translating cutting-edge microbiome research into clinical practice. 

Dr. Benjamin Mullish is a Senior Clinical Research Fellow in the Division of Digestive Diseases at Imperial College London and an Honorary Consultant in Hepatology and Gastroenterology at St Mary’s Hospital, part of the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. He is also an IPPRF Research Fellow within the Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction at Imperial College. His research focuses on the gut microbiome and faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), particularly in the context of liver disease and gastrointestinal infections.This conversation delves into the complexities of the microbiome, particularly the gut microbiome, and its significant role in health and disease.

We discuss the dynamic nature of the microbiome, the challenges in microbiome research, and the potential for microbiome-based therapeutics. They also explore the roles of prebiotics and probiotics, the future of microbiome diagnostics, and the potential future concept for specialised microbiome clinicians to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice.

As always comments, questions and feedback please send to: X: @2guystalkingit
Email: 2guystalkingit@gmail.com

Chapters
00:20 J + J Introduction
05:11 Introduction to the Microbiome  
07:16 Understanding the Gut Microbiome  
10:04 The Dynamic Nature of the Microbiome  
13:21 Factors Influencing the Gut Microbiome  
16:15 Clinical Relevance of Stool Microbiome  
19:24 Microbiome and Disease: Cancer and Liver Health  
22:12 Microbiome in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Metabolism  
25:20 Future Directions in Microbiome Research  
35:20 The Uncertainty of Microbial Therapeutics  
37:10 The Future of Microbiome Research  
42:41 Understanding Prebiotics and Probiotics  
56:49 The Need for Microbiome Clinician specialists

Today we welcome two world-leading dietitians to talk all things diet in IBD and IBS....

A/Prof Emma Halmos is a senior research dietitian at Monash University and the Alfred Hospital. Her scientific achievements have had a major impact in clinical practice nationally and internationally. The most notable was the pivotal feeding study that demonstrated the low FODMAP diet was efficacious in patients with IBS. A/Prof Halmos has been elected onto the D-ECCO (Dietitians of European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation) committee and is a leading coordinator for the first ECCO guidelines on nutrition in IBD. Her current role at Monash University is leading research on novel dietary therapy to treat IBD and IBS.

Dr CK Yao is a senior research dietitian at Monash University and the Alfred Hospital, and recent NHMRC emerging leader. In 2017, CK completed her PhD investigating dietary manipulation of gut microbial function and the application of gaseous biomarkers in patients with functional and inflammatory bowel disease. Dr Yao currently leads a research programme looking at optimising dietary strategies for patients with ulcerative colitis and those with an ileoanal pouch.We discuss the critical role of diet in managing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), particularly Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

We explore various dietary patterns, the impact of emulsifiers and ultra-processed foods, and the importance of personalized dietary advice. We talk about the significance of dietitians in guiding patients towards healthier choices. This conversation delves into the complexities of dietary recommendations for various gastrointestinal conditions, particularly focusing on the Mediterranean diet, Crohn's disease, and IBS. We discuss cultural influences on diet, the importance of personalized nutrition, and the emerging trends in dietary therapy. Finally we touch on the new ECCO Diet in IBD guideline that is set to be published soon.

As always comments, questions and feedback please send to: X: @2guystalkingit
Email: 2guystalkingit@gmail.com

Chapters
00:00 Introduction with J & J
4:20 On to our guests... Diet and IBD
05:50 Dietary Patterns for Disease Prevention
08:53 Therapeutic Diets and Active IBD
11:58 Controversies in Dietary Recommendations
15:02 The Impact of Emulsifiers and Ultra-Processed Foods
18:07 Practical Dietary Advice for Patients in IBD
21:02 Cultural Considerations in Dietary Recommendations
23:57 Food as Medicine: A Discussion
27:03 Exploring Diverse Dietary Patterns
30:13 Conclusion and Future Directions
32:26 Cultural Influences on Diet and Health
34:40 Dietary Recommendations for active Crohn's Disease
37:22 Understanding Pouch Patients
38:11 Initial Assessment for IBS Patients
44:25 Screening for ARFID
48:03 Emerging Dietary Trends in IBS
51:40 New Guidelines in IBD Nutrition

Papers discussed
Fitzpatrick JA, Gibson PR, Taylor KM, Anderson EJ, Friedman AB, Ardalan ZS, Smith RL, Halmos EP. Clinical Trial: The Effects of Emulsifiers in the Food Supply on Disease Activity in Crohn's Disease: An Exploratory Double-Blinded Randomised Feeding Trial. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2025 Apr;61(8):1276-1289.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39967287/
Fitzpatrick JA, Gibson PR, Taylor KM, Halmos EP. Development of Novel High and Low Emulsifier Diets Based upon Emulsifier Distribution in the Australian Food Supply for Intervention Studies in Crohn's Disease. Nutrients. 2024 Jun 18;16(12):1922. . https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38931276/
Halmos EP, Gibson PR. Controversies and reality of the FODMAP diet for patients with irritable bowel syndrome. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019 Jul;34(7):1134-1142. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30945376/

A FODMAP Gentle approach: https://www.monashfodmap.com/blog/gentle-fodmap-diet/
The SCOFF Questionnaire: https://ceed.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/SCOFF.pdf