Staying #Up2Date 🚨

Plant-Based Diets Work for Kids — With Careful Planning

A systematic review and meta-analysis compared health outcomes among children who follow vegetarian and vegan diets compared with omnivorous diets. In the 48K participants, vegetarian children consumed less energy, protein, fat, vitamin B12, vitamin D, and zinc, but more fibre, iron, folate, vitamin C, and magnesium. Vegans showed similar patterns, with calcium intake found to be particularly low as well. Although group averages for most nutrients and biomarkers remained within pediatric reference ranges, vegetarians were at higher risk of iron deficiency and anemia, and vegans had higher odds of vitamin B12 deficiency. These findings highlight the importance of careful dietary planning and supplementation in children following specific diets. 

A Viral Theory was Put to the Test — and Fell Short

A RCT of 120 participants with early symptomatic Alzheimer disease assessed whethervalacyclovir can provide clinical benefit in those with herpes simplex virus (HSV) seropositivity. When compared to placebo, the antiviral medication was not efficacious in slowing cognitive decline over 78 weeks. While some researchers have implicated HSV the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, valacyclovir is not recommended to treat individuals. 

Why We Built QuickChart

By: Dr. Joel Moktar

A few years ago, my clinics were running late almost every day.

I wasn’t rushing patient care, and I wasn’t inefficient. I was simply drowning in documentation. By the end of the clinic, I was already behind. Patients were waiting in the room, understandably frustrated as many had travelled hours to see me. Meanwhile, I was trying to balance being attentive during clinical encounters while trying to ignore the constant pressure of notes piling up in the background.

Practicing in Northern Ontario makes this problem even more acute. There are fewer specialists, complex patients, higher referral volumes, and limited downstream access. When one clinic runs late, it doesn’t stop there. The effects ripple outward — longer waitlists, delayed follow-ups, and more strain on an already stretched system.

Sound familiar? This is the unfortunate reality for many physicians across Canada. We know from the CMA Wellness Report that physicians spend, on average, 19 hours per week on paperwork. That’s time carved out of our evenings, weekends, and family life. And for many of us, it contributes directly to burnout. We all want to be present for our patients, but documentation increasingly feels like the thing is getting in the way. I used to joke with colleagues that it felt like I had an office job which would be occasionally interrupted by surgery, before returning to my paperwork.

I wanted to produce accurate, detailed medical notes but I also couldn’t afford the 2-3 hours per day I was spending dictating, editing, and catching up at night. Like many colleagues, I tried existing AI scribes and documentation tools. They helped, a little, but not enough. They struggled with complex cases, specialty-specific nuance, multimodal data, and flexible templates. Most still required significant cleanup after the fact.

Rather than accepting this as the cost of modern practice, decided to try something different. I partnered with my former University of Toronto medical school roommate, an electrophysiology cardiologist who is now practicing in London, to build our own solution.

We developed QuickChart.MD — a Canadian-built AI scribe designed around real specialty workflows and with the feedback from our friends and colleagues around us. The difference was immediate. Before QuickChart, I could see 15–20 consultations per day and still finish late. Today, I routinely see 25+ consults while spending the same amount of time with each patient.

In fracture clinic, using templates I’ve built myself, I can move efficiently through 60–70 patients and be done by 2 p.m., with high-quality documentation completed by the time I walk out the door. No dictating at night. No weekend catch-up. No backlog waiting the next morning.

I’ve used QuickChart to generate highly detailed operative reports — notes that still the standards for accuracy and completeness — but now take seconds instead of minutes. The cumulative effect is profound. My clinics run on time. My stress level is lower. And perhaps most importantly, my waitlist has started to shrink because I can actually see more patients.

When documentation becomes more efficient, physician time is freed up. Access improves. Patients are seen sooner. And in regions like Northern Ontario, that impact is real and measurable. QuickChart wasn’t built as a startup experiment, it was built out of necessity, by Canadian physicians, for Canadian practice realities. Today, physicians and healthcare providers across the country use it to reduce documentation burden without sacrificing note quality.

Hot Off The Press 🔥

1: 🧣 It turns out your parents were right, bundling up before going outside can help to prevent colds. A new study found a link between cold weather and viral illnesses. As temperatures drop outside, so does the temperature inside the nose, leaving the immune system at risk for contracting viruses. Researchers also found that dry skin, which is more common in the winter, can crack, allowing bacteria to enter the body. Children under 5 and older adults are particularly susceptible, as their immune systems are less robust.

2: 🦞 Good news for seafood lovers: lobster prices have taken a nosedive in Canada. Reduced export demand has left more lobsters for domestic markets, making it easier than ever to snag fresh, live lobster. Perfect timing for a holiday indulgence, whether you’re aiming for a fancy dinner or a dramatic Instagram post. Shell yeah — it’s a seafood win! But don’t wait too long, the catch won’t last forever.

3: 🦠 Flu season is hitting hard across Canada. New data shows influenza activity is high and climbing, with nearly 28 % of flu tests coming back positive nationwide and hospitalizations on the rise as H3N2 spreads. Emergency departments and pediatric units are seeing growing volumes, particularly among the very young and older adults as cases surge ahead of the holidays. Public health experts are urging vaccination and caution as healthcare systems brace for continued pressure through the winter.

4: 💬 The next time someone cuts you off on the highway, or you stub your toe, don’t be afraid to let the profanities fly. The latest research suggests that swearing triggers a state of disinhibition, allowing people to push themselves harder in tough situations. Letting an F-bomb loose could boost self-confidence and distract people from whatever task is bothering them… like when you have a mountain of paperwork. 

Boxing Day Sale

Luuna Scrubs is a medical apparel brand founded by Canadian nurses who understand the demands of long shifts and busy days.

This Boxing Day, upgrade your workwear with up to 50% off scrubs designed to work as hard as you do. Thoughtfully designed by nurses, Luuna Scrubs feature plenty of functional pockets, a comfortable fit, and a polished look. The scrubs are fur and lint resistant, helping you stay professional all shift long. Made with recycled materials, they support sustainability without sacrificing performance.

Enjoy free shipping on orders over $250 before tax and discounts. Don’t miss this Boxing Day sale. Sale starts Dec 26, 2025.

Notable Numbers 🔢

2: The number of dogs that have died due to avian influenza in Canada. The dog was brought to a veterinarian in Alberta after it ate a snow goose and died four days later. Veterinarians are asking Canadians to keep their pets inside and use leashes when going on walks. 

1 in 75: The number of Canadians who are rolling up their sleeves to give blood. If this number sounds low, it’s because it is. Canadian Blood Services is asking anyone over the age of 17 to consider donating blood as a way to give back this holiday season. 

11: the age of a Colorado girl who underwent a successful dual heart and liver transplant. The girl was diagnosed with congenital heart failure, which led to her liver failing. Dozens of specialists worked together and completed a 16-hour operation to save her. She’s now living a happy life at home!

Postcall Picks ✅

🩺 Streamline: clinic notes with QuickChart — a Canadian-built AI scribe that helps physicians finish documentation without sacrificing detail or spending evenings dictating

🎄 Read: the surprisingly weird history of mistletoe; a parasitic plant that went from ancient ritual object to an excuse for an awkward holiday kisses.

💰 Save: with a Boxing Day deals roundup hitting beauty, tech, kitchen, and home — worth a quick scroll before checkout.

🎧 Listen: to the Science Magazine Podcast episode highlighting 2025’s biggest scientific breakthroughs — from new gene‑editing tools and xenotransplants to surprising evolutionary discoveries and heat‑resistant crops.

🎥 Watch: a hospital holiday dinner where surgery mumbles through carving, the turkey may or may not be cooked, and infectious disease is definitely writing consult notes.

Relax

First clue: Provider who rounds one night a year, with 6 Across 🎅

Need a rematch? We’ve got you covered. Check out our Crossword Archive to find every puzzle we’ve ever made, all in one place.

Think you crushed it? Challenge your physician friends to beat your time.

Meme of the Week

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