Staying #Up2Date 🚨

1: Higher mortality among youth with neurodevelopmental conditions
A cohort study of more than 800,000 children found significantly higher mortality in those with neurodevelopmental conditions (adjusted HR 4.67, 95% CI 4.13–5.28). The risk was especially high for female youth (aHR 9.69) and for those with learning or motor disorders (aHR 8.50) or intellectual disabilities (aHR 8.27). Most deaths were medical, injury-related, or from suicide — a stark reminder of how much better access and coordination of mental health care are still needed for this vulnerable group.

2: Mood on the menu: keto and mental health
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 50 studies found ketogenic diets were linked to small-to-moderate improvements in depressive symptoms — but the evidence for anxiety remains murky. Researchers say better-quality trials are needed before prescribing keto as a mental health intervention. For now, the results hint that cutting carbs might do more than change a waistline.

3: High HbA1c, higher risk
A cohort study of 280k general surgery patients found those with diabetes — or even undiagnosed diabetes-range HbA1c levels — faced higher odds of complications and mortality after surgery. About 36% had diagnosed diabetes, while 6.4% had elevated HbA1c without a diagnosis. The findings strengthen the case for routine pre-op glucose screening to catch silent hyperglycemia before it adds surgical risk.

Slimmer Waistline, Lighter Wallet

Generic versions of popular weight-loss drugs could soon hit Canadian shelves

What happened: Novo Nordisk’s exclusivity on semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, may soon expire in Canada, opening the door for lower-cost generics.

Why it matters: Right now, Canadians are shelling out between $300 to $500 a month for GLP-1 drugs. Ozempic is approved for diabetes, Wegovy for weight loss — both made by Novo Nordisk. Once exclusivity ends, generic versions could enter the market and drive prices down.

The timing couldn’t be better: earlier this year, GLP-1 shortages left many patients scrambling to fill prescriptions. A McGill physician said generics could ease the burden for both patients and prescribers, making access simpler and more affordable.

Experts estimate that if semaglutide goes generic, prices could drop from roughly $400 to under $100, depending on market competition. While Health Canada hasn’t approved any generics yet, the process should be swift — no need for new clinical trials when the drug’s already established.

But: It’s not just Canada seeing price shifts. South of the border, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk reached a deal to expand US Medicare coverage for Zepbound and Wegovy — offering eligible patients a $50 copay. Meanwhile, the TrumpRx program, launching next year, will let uninsured Americans buy directly from manufacturers at discounted rates, starting around $350 and dropping to $245 over two years.

Bottom line: When it comes to GLP-1s, cheaper doesn’t mean lesser, it means more Canadians can afford the care that helps manage both weight and diabetes.

Page-A-Friend Giveaway Winner 🎉

Congrats to Brienna Wells from Kamloops, winner of last week’s $100 Parallel Coffee gift card! 👏

“My name is Brienna Wells, and I'm currently in my final year of NP training at Thompson Rivers University, with plans to practice as a family primary care NP in Kamloops. I look forward to opening the weekly Postcall newsletter each week—it's always entertaining, enlightening, and relevant to current events. I especially appreciate that it's Canadian!”

A huge thank you to all our Postcall readers — we couldn’t do this without you! 🫶

The winner of the $250 Luuna Scrubs gift card will be announced next week. Stay tuned, and congrats to everyone participating in our Page-A-Friend Giveaway!

Hot Off The Press

1: 🎗️ Canada just launched its first bilingual website for cancer clinical trials. The Canadian Cancer Society and Quebec’s Clinical Research Organization in Cancer have teamed up on Cancer Trials Canada — a one-stop site helping patients and providers find active studies across the country. With 1 in 4 Canadians diagnosed with cancer unaware of clinical trials, the platform aims to close that gap by listing eligibility details, contact info, and live support. A small digital step — but a big move toward more equitable access to research and care.

2: 🏥 After nearly 30 years, Canada has officially lost its measles elimination status following a persistent, multi-provincial outbreak that began over a year ago. Cases have appeared from Alberta to the Northwest Territories, mostly in under-vaccinated communities. The Public Health Agency of Canada is now working with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), provinces, and local partners to ramp up vaccination and improve surveillance. Elimination can be regained once transmission of this strain stops for at least 12 months — a stark reminder of how fragile herd protection really is.

3: 🦷 Scientists may be on the verge of a dental game-changer. A new protein-based gel appears to repair and regenerate enamel by mimicking how teeth naturally form — acting as a scaffold for calcium and phosphate. Researchers say a product could hit the market as soon as next year, potentially preventing decay, sensitivity, and tooth loss on a global scale.

4: 💺 Airport lounges have always been status symbols. Now, they’re just louder about it. Lounge visits jumped 31% last year, outpacing air traffic growth. The upgrade spree doesn’t stop there: luxury brands now make up 41% of duty-free sales, with Louis Vuitton, Hermès, and Dior opening boutiques and cafés in terminals from JFK to Heathrow. Exclusive shopping malls, or just gilded holding pens for people with too many miles and not enough sleep?

5: 📉 Canada’s economy is feeling wobbly. A recent Bank of Canada survey of financial leaders suggests there’s about a 1 in 3 chance the country could enter a recession in the next 6 months. Nearly 90% of respondents say GDP is running below potential, with trade tensions, weaker consumer spending, and a softer housing market cited as the biggest risks. Even with the central bank’s recent rate cut, experts warn the economic road ahead could be bumpy.

Notable Numbers 🔢

🩺 89%: how much higher the 5-year heart failure risk was for people with insomnia who used melatonin nightly for a year or more, compared with those who didn’t. The preliminary AHA data also linked long-term use to higher hospitalization and mortality rates — a surprising turn for a supplement long seen as harmless. Maybe it’s time “natural” stopped meaning “risk-free.”

$1 trillion: the potential payout Elon Musk could earn from Tesla’s newly approved 10-year performance package — a deal that would make him the world’s first trillionaire if he meets every target. Those goals include producing 20 million electric vehicles and deploying 1 million human-like robots. Investors seem convinced he can turn Tesla into an AI powerhouse… while the rest of us are wondering how we feel about a robot folding our laundry.

🧬 97: the age at which James Watson, co-discoverer of DNA’s double helix, has died. His 1953 discovery with Francis Crick reshaped biology and, in a way, set the stage for today’s AI-fuelled biotech revolution.

Postcall Picks ✅

📘 Read: a CBC Marketplace investigation uncovering how some car dealerships tack hidden fees onto supposedly “all-in” prices — from bogus admin costs to mystery add-ons. A timely reminder to always ask for a full breakdown before signing anything.

🎓 Learn: about No Infant Left Unprotected: Action-Ready Strategies for RSV Season 2025-26 — a quick, practical CME course offering evidence-based tips to protect your tiniest patients this RSV season, from prevention to early intervention.

👂 Listen: if you’re thinking about a side hustle. You’re not alone — 36% of US physicians already have one. Coffee & Contracts breaks down how to boost your income (and your freedom) while staying in your employer’s good books.

🍴 Make: Sheet-Pan Mediterranean Salmon — dinner in 25 minutes. Packed with omega-3s, roasted veggies, and zero cleanup regret. Brain food meets weeknight survival.

🎧 Save: during Best Buy Canada’s Early Black Friday sale, with deals on standing desks, TVs, headphones, and more.

📺 Watch: this video explaining Peto’s paradox; why massive, long-lived Bowhead whales rarely get cancer despite having trillions of cells and decades of mutation risk.

@dr.cal.ur.science.pal

I FKNG LOVE WHALES AAAAA #science #biology #cancer #fyp

Relax

First clue: Vasectomy, informally

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.

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