Low Back Pain: Diagnosis and Treatment

Transforming Communication Between Patients and Clinicians

Patient portal messaging continues to expand across health systems, and it has become an increasingly important method for patient-clinician communication. Authors Michal Mankowski, PhD, assistant professor, and Jane Long, MD, research resident, both from the Department of Surgery at NYU, discuss their new research letter with JAMA Deputy Editor Joseph Ross, MD, MHS. Related Content: * Trends in Patient Portal Messages, Office Visits, and Telephone Encounters [https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/10.1001/jama.2026.8690?utm_source=podcast_platforms&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=related_article_links] * National Trends in Patient Messaging—The Growing Electronic Inbox [https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/10.1001/jama.2026.8646?utm_source=podcast_platforms&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=related_article_links]

Low Back Pain: Diagnosis and Treatment

Nonspecific low back pain is a leading cause of disability, with most cases lacking a clear anatomic cause. This episode reviews risk factors, diagnosis, and current evidence-based treatments for acute and chronic low back pain. JAMA Deputy Editor Mary M. McDermott, MD, interviews author James McAuley, PhD, of the University of New South Wales. Related Content: * Low Back Pain [https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/10.1001/jama.2026.9631?utm_source=podcast_platforms&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=related_article_links] * What Is Low Back Pain? [https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/10.1001/jama.2026.10736?utm_source=podcast_platforms&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=related_article_links]

Survivors of Cyanotic Congenital Heart Disease

Cyanotic congenital heart diseases occur in approximately 0.2% of live births in the US, but survival to adulthood is common with current surgical interventions. JAMA Associate Editor David Simel, MD, MHS, speaks with author Michael Landzberg, MD, who coauthored a recent review in JAMA on this topic. Related Content: * Survivors of Cyanotic Congenital Heart Disease [https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/10.1001/jama.2026.8806?utm_source=podcast_platforms&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=related_article_links]

Point-of-Care Ultrasound for the Diagnosis of Pneumonia: A Review

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) accounts for 1.4 million emergency department visits and 740 000 hospitalizations annually in the US. Author Andre Kumar, MD, MEd, of Stanford University School of Medicine joins JAMA Deputy Editor Kristin Walter, MD, MS, to discuss the use of point-of-care ultrasound for diagnosis of CAP. Related Content: * Point-of-Care Ultrasound for the Diagnosis of Pneumonia [https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/10.1001/jama.2026.4782?utm_source=podcast_platforms&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=related_article_links] * Bedside Lung Ultrasound in Emergency (BLUE) for Evaluation of Dyspnea [https://edhub.ama-assn.org/jn-learning/video-player/10.1001/jama.2026.6399?utm_source=podcast_platforms&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=related_article_links]

Cesarean Delivery on Request

Cesarean delivery on maternal request requires individualized counseling. Reduced risks of pelvic floor disorders should be weighed against surgical risks and future risks including abnormal placentation. Author Marianna Alperin, MD, MS, from UC San Diego School of Medicine, discusses this and more with JAMA Deputy Editor Linda Brubaker, MD. Related Content: * Cesarean Delivery on Maternal Request [https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/10.1001/jama.2025.26633?utm_source=podcast_platforms&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=related_article_links] * Cesarean Delivery—Reply [https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/10.1001/jama.2026.6781?utm_source=podcast_platforms&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=related_article_links] * Cesarean Delivery [https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/10.1001/jama.2026.6779?utm_source=podcast_platforms&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=related_article_links]