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<p>“Sound Medicine” announces its program for Oct. 27, with conversations about reducing infant mortality in minorities, prescribing psychotropic drugs for toddlers, living with cancer and shared medical appointments.</p>

On ‘Sound Medicine’: Psychotropic drugs for toddlers, shared appointments, and infant mortality

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INDIANAPOLIS — “Sound Medicine” announces its program for Oct. 27, with conversations about reducing infant mortality in minorities, prescribing psychotropic drugs for toddlers, living with cancer and shared medical appointments.

How is Pittsburgh reducing the infant mortality rate in minorities? Allegheny County, where Pittsburgh is located, has an infant mortality rate nearly triple the national average for minority babies. To help lower the infant mortality rate, Family-Nurse Partnership and Healthy Start were formed to provide expecting mothers in Allegheny County with home visits from registered nurses. Field producer Erika Beras takes “Sound Medicine” listeners on a home visit to a mother in Allegheny County.

Should toddlers take psychotropic drugs? In 2004, the FDA issued a warning that antidepressants can raise the risk for suicidal thoughts in kids. Tanya Froehlich, M.D., M.S., FAAP, conducted a recent study that showed depression, ADD and ADHD in toddlers taking psychotropic medication peaked between 2002 and 2005 and have since leveled off. Dr. Froehlich discusses the ramifications of prescribing psychotropic drugs to toddlers, the results of her study and the benefits using behavioral intervention instead of prescription medication for toddlers. Dr. Froehlich is an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati and a pediatrician at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

How does breast cancer affect women globally? Joanne Silberner, freelance reporter and journalism instructor at the University of Washington, traveled to Uganda, Haiti and India last year to do a series of stories on the global impact of cancer. In Uganda she met Gertrude Nakigudde, an accountant and founding member of the Uganda Women Cancer Support Organization. Both women are breast cancer survivors who had radically different experiences in their diagnosis, treatment and recovery. In a touching narrative, Silberner and Nakigudde compare and contrast their experiences with breast cancer.

Are human medications dangerous for pets? “Sound Medicine” healthy pets expert Elizabeth Murphy, DVM, discusses the potential ramifications of pets eating or taking prescription medications intended for humans. Dr. Murphy warns pet owners that anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen or aspirin can be fatal to cats and dogs, even in small doses. If a pet does eat human medication, Dr. Murphy recommends calling a veterinarian, visiting an emergency animal clinic or calling the ASPCA animal poison control hotline.

Are shared medical appointments beneficial? For several years the Cleveland Medical Clinic has been offering shared medical appointments for patients with chronic illnesses. Shared medical appointments allow doctors to maximize productivity as well as provide a built-in support group for patients. Marianne Sumego, M.D., a physician at the Cleveland Clinic, discusses how shared appointments function, the benefits of the appointments, and which patients gain the most from group appointments.

“Sound Medicine” covers controversial ethics topics, breakthrough research studies and the day-to-day application of recent advancements in medicine. It’s also available via podcast and Stitcher Radio for mobile phones and iPads and posts updates on Facebook and Twitter.

Co-produced by the IU School of Medicine and WFYI Public Radio (90.1 FM) and underwritten in part by Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, “Sound Medicine ” airs on the following Indiana public radio stations: WBSB (Anderson, 89.5 FM), WFIU (Bloomington, 103.7 FM; Columbus, 100.7 FM; Kokomo, 106.1 FM; Terre Haute, 95.1 FM), WNDY (Crawfordsville, 91.3 FM), WVPE (Elkhart/South Bend, 88.1 FM), WNIN (Evansville, 88.3 FM), WBOI (Fort Wayne, 89.1 FM), WFCI (Franklin, 89.5 FM), WBSH (Hagerstown/New Castle, 91.1 FM), WFYI (Indianapolis), WBSW (Marion, 90.9 FM), WBST (Muncie, 92.1 FM), WBSJ (Portland, 91.7 FM), WLPR (Lake County, 89.1 FM) and WBAA (West Lafayette, 101.3 FM).

“Sound Medicine” is also broadcast on these public radio stations across the country: KSKA (Anchorage, Alaska), KTNA (Talkeetna, Alaska), KUHB (Pribilof Islands, Alaska), KUAF (Fayetteville and Fort Smith, Ark.), KIDE (Hoopa Valley, Calif.), KRCC (Colorado Springs, Colo.), KEDM (Monroe, La.), WCMU (Mount Pleasant, Mich.), WCNY and WRVO-1 (Syracuse, N.Y.), KMHA (Four Bears, N.D.), WYSU (Youngstown, Ohio), KPOV (Bend, Ore.) and KEOS (College Station, Texas).

Please check local listings for broadcast dates and times.