Staying #Up2Date 🚨

1: Stronger than Colon Cancer: Exercise Boosts Long-Term Survival After Chemotherapy 

This phase-3 trial assessed whether exercise after chemotherapy improved colon cancer outcomes. After 8 years, those assigned to a 3-year structured exercise program initiated soon after adjuvant chemotherapy had a significantly longer disease-free survival compared to control (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.55 to 0.93; P=0.02). Furthermore, 8-year overall survival was 90.3% in the exercise group versus 83.2% in the control group, underscoring the power of fitness in the fight against colon cancer.  

2: A Lifespan Perspective: What Autism Might Mean for Brain Health Later On

This Swedish cohort study investigated the association between ASD and future Parkinson disease (PD) risk. In over 2M individuals, PD occurred in 0.02% of those without ASD versus 0.05% in those with ASD (RR, 4.43 [(95% CI, 2.92-6.72]). After adjusting for various factors (sex, depression, SES, parental mental illness or PD), ASD remained consistently associated with increased risk of PD. These results suggest a potential shared etiology between neurodevelopmental disorders and PD

3: Rethinking Glucose Monitoring - Why Fingersticks Still Matter After Meals  

This RCT examined the accuracy of CGMs vs capillary sampling in measuring glycemic responses. Following testing with various foods and beverages, CGM-estimated fasting (0.9 + 0.6, P < 0.001) and postprandial glucose concentrations (0.9 + 0.5, P < 0.001) were higher than capillary estimates. Additionally, the degree to which CGM overestimated glycemic responses varied by participant, supporting capillary sampling to be prioritized for accurate quantification of glycemic response to various foods.

Before the Fever Hits 🧪

Canadian scientists use blood to diagnose sepsis  

What happened: A Canadian research team uses AI to create a test that detects sepsis before it becomes deadly.

Why it’s interesting: Sepsis kills about 50 million people worldwide, so treating it quickly is vital, as even an hour's delay can increase the risk of death by 8%. Until now, no single test could predict whether a patient with an infection will develop sepsis. This is because sepsis symptoms aren’t specific and can be mistaken for illnesses caused by the disease, like a fever, low blood pressure, and high heart rate.

But: Researchers from UBC and the National Research Council Canada (NRCC) think they’ve cracked the case. The team used AI to find 6 genes that stood out in patients who later developed sepsis. After analyzing blood samples from 586 previous patients, they found that those who developed sepsis within 24 hours had higher levels of those 6 genes. 

Testing patients with infections for the 6 gene “signature” could help doctors treat sepsis earlier — by starting antibiotics or moving patients into intensive care. The research team also wanted the test to be portable for emergencies or remote settings. So, the NRCC developed Powerblade: a small device that uses one or two drops of blood and extracts RNA to detect the 6-gene signature in under 3 hours. 

Using samples from 30 patients, Powerblade predicted sepsis in 92% of cases. While the results are promising, the tool hasn’t yet been tested in real time.

What’s next: Researchers hope to launch a CIHR-funded clinical trial this year to prove whether Powerblade can make it in the real world — and save lives.  

Hot Off The Press

1: 🩻 Contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) just proved it can catch more invasive cancers in dense breasts — nearly 4x more than ultrasound, and on par with MRI. A large UK trial suggests it could offer a faster, cheaper path to early detection. Game-changer for the 40% of women whose breast density masks tumors on standard mammograms.

2: 🇺🇸 🇦🇷The US and Argentina just launched a new global health alliance — no WHO, no strings attached. RFK Jr. and Argentina’s health minister say it’ll be science-driven and free from “totalitarian impulses.” The system is still in early planning stages, but both countries have formally begun WHO withdrawal and pledged to build an alternative rooted in national sovereignty and transparency.

3: 🔬CAR-T just landed a hit on glioblastoma. In a Phase 1 trial, 8 of 13 patients had measurable tumor shrinkage, and 4 stayed progression-free for over a year. The dual-target therapy — directed at proteins common on glioblastoma cells — was delivered into the spinal fluid and showed manageable side effects. It’s early, but marks rare progress against a cancer with few wins.

4: 🤖Turns out Gen Z isn’t as AI-fluent as everyone keeps insisting, especially outside major cities. A new Gallup poll found only 27% of young workers in rural areas have received any AI training, and most say they’re not ready to use it. So much for “digital natives.” Apparently growing up with TikTok doesn’t mean you can prompt an algorithm without panic-googling first.

Notable Numbers 🔢

1,562: wildfires have ignited across Canada as of June 1, 2025 — about average for this time of year. What’s not average: the damage. More than one million hectares have already burned, more than double the typical burn area by this time of year.

96: the age of Dorothy Lamont, a Nova Scotian who made headlines after placing a classified titled “Seeking a Physician.” She’s one of 6.5 million Canadians without a family doctor. The province has ramped up recruitment, adding almost twice as many doctors in 2024 as the year before, including 89 family physicians.

50%: the new US tariff on imported steel, announced by President Trump last week and effective today. The Canadian Steel Producers Association warns of “catastrophic” consequences for the $15 billion sector, which supports over 100,000 jobs. This tariff hike also applies to aluminum.

Picks

📺 Watch: the Pitt, a gripping medical drama set in a post-pandemic Pittsburgh hospital, which captures the pressure and humanity behind a fractured healthcare system. Catch up before season 2 airs on Max.

🤑Save: on your next home with mortgage perks designed for physicians:

• Scotiabank: Approves residents and early-career doctors based on projected income, with preferred rates and flexible options. Scotiabank Healthcare+

• CIBC: Offers projected income qualification, cash-back incentives,  preferred rates, and home equity solutions. CIBC Healthcare Banking

• RBC: Provides mortgage plans tied to growing income, dedicated healthcare advisors, and private banking for physicians. RBC - Private Banking

😂Laugh: at this video showing how doctors write “I love you”:

👂Listen: to the new episode of the White Coat, Black Art podcast. This week, a family doctor who quit medicine talks to the latest generation about why they shouldn’t. 

Relax

First Question: Opposite of proximal, anatomically

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