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.

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• Trends in Patient Portal Messages, Office Visits, and Telephone Encounters
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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.

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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.

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• Survivors of Cyanotic Congenital Heart Disease

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.

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• Point-of-Care Ultrasound for the Diagnosis of Pneumonia
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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.

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The GLP-1 receptor agonists reduce appetite and greatly facilitate weight loss. Robert Kushner, MD, of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine joins JAMA Deputy Editor Mary M. McDermott, MD, to discuss appropriate diet and exercise recommendations for patients receiving GLP-1 receptor agonists for weight loss.

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• Lifestyle Modification and Incretin-Based Therapy for Obesity
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Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which affects about 25 000 individuals in the US, causes progressive weakness but has varied presentations. Several FDA-approved medications are now available for ALS. Author John Ravits, MD, of UC San Diego School of Medicine joins JAMA Deputy Editor Mary M. McDermott, MD, to discuss current evidence regarding diagnosis and treatment of ALS.

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• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
• Pridopidine in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
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• Traumatic Brain Injury and Risk of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection affects around 254 million people worldwide and causes more than 1 million deaths annually. Author Anna Lok, MD, from the University of Michigan discusses HBV transmission, screening, and treatment with JAMA Associate Editor Beverly Forsyth, MD.

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• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis B Virus Treatment Gaps in the US
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• US Newborn Hepatitis B Virus Vaccination Rates