Staying #Up2Date 🚨

1: Metastatic Recurrence in Young Cancer Patients

A cohort study looked at patterns of metastatic recurrence in adolescents and young adults with cancer. Among those who originally presented nonmetastatic disease, the cumulative incidence of metastatic recurrence was highest among patients with sarcoma (24.5%; 95% CI, 22.6%-26.6%) and colorectal cancer (21.8%; 95% CI, 20.3%-23.4%). Patients with a higher stage at diagnosis were also more likely to experience recurrence. Because survival after metastatic recurrence is worse than for those who present with metastatic disease, it’s clear that we need to continue improving remission surveillance in younger populations.

2: Ditching Dual-Antiplatelet Therapy Earlier in Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) Recovery 

An RCT explored an earlier withdrawal of aspirin after successful PCI in 3K patients with acute coronary syndrome. While the standard of care is typically 12 months of dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin and a potent P2Y12 inhibitor) following PCI, withdrawing aspirin in the first 4 days post-op was found to be noninferior with respect to mortality and resulted in fewer bleeding events. These results suggest that scrapping aspirin early in PCI recovery may yield superior outcomes. 

3: GLP-1s May Trim Pounds… and Trigger a Persistent Cough

A cohort study of 400K individuals on GLP-1s found that the drug was associated with increased risk of developing a chronic cough compared to those on other diabetes medications  (aHR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.08-1.16). Further research is needed to confirm this adverse effect and it’s underlying mechanisms.

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Brain Gains 🧠

A new study is redefining the phrase “act your age”

What happened: A massive new brain-mapping study suggests the brain hits 4 major developmental milestones, and the final “adulting” upgrade doesn’t roll out until around age 32. Translation: your 28-year-old patient who still lives with roommates may actually be right on schedule.

Why it’s interesting: Researchers looked at brain scans from about 4,000 people aged 1 to 90. The scans mapped neural connections and how they evolve across the lifespan. The results surprised them, revealing 5 broad phases, separated by 4 pivotal turning points where the brain shifts onto a new trajectory at around the ages of 9, 32, 66, and 83 years old. This is a slight change from what doctors were taught to believe, which is that puberty ends before the age of 20. 

The team found that the childhood period of development runs from birth to about age 9, then it transitions into the adolescent phase, lasting until around age 32. (So the next time someone tells you you’re being childish you can say it’s because you’re still growing up). The 2nd phase lasts the longest, more than 3 decades, as the brain’s neural waves shift into adult mode. At about 66, the brain enters an “early aging” stage, with “late aging” settling in around 83.

The study also found that from infancy through childhood is busy with “network consolidation” — essentially pruning back excess neural connections so the strongest, most active ones survive. During this period, overall wiring efficiency dips, even as grey and white matter grow at high speed. The result: cortical thickness reaches its peak and the brain’s folding patterns settle into place.

During the adolescent era white matter continues to grow, refining the brain’s communication networks. It’s also when the connections across the whole brain — which are related to cognitive function — increase greatly. The brain remains on a constant trend of development over a long period of time, rather than staying the same throughout.

But: Before you start celebrating: no, this doesn’t make any of us younger. What it does do, researchers say, is open the door to better understanding how the brain shifts during major life stages — childbirth, parenthood, and aging. It may also shed light on why so many mental health conditions emerge during the extended “adolescent” window, potentially helping identify risk factors earlier.

Bottom line: The brain is a complex organ and just when you think you have it all figured out, it throws you a curve ball — or — forces you to rethink everything you were taught in med school.

Hot Off The Press 🔥

1: 💉 The WHO released its 1st-ever guideline on GLP-1s for obesity, conditionally recommending semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide as long-term treatment for adults with a BMI of 30 or higher. It’s a major endorsement, but one stacked with caveats: long-term data gaps, high costs, and health systems already straining to meet demand. WHO’s real warning shot is about equity — without coordinated purchasing and price drops, these drugs could widen the global health gap faster than they shrink waistlines.

2: 🫁 A rare respiratory disease might be hiding in plain sight in parts of Quebec, and researchers think they’ve finally figured out why. A McGill team has traced a newly identified genetic variant linked to Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia back more than 300 years to a single ancestor, and it appears surprisingly common in some Quebec regions. Because this version of the disease often shows up as lifelong congestion, chronic sinus issues, or a persistent wet cough, many people never get diagnosed. Experts say clinicians should keep an eye out and consider targeted genetic testing so patients can get earlier, more accurate care.

3: ✈️ Planning a trip to the UK? Canadians will soon need more than just a passport — starting Feb. 25, 2026, travellers must get an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before boarding, or airlines can refuse departure. It’s not a visa, just a quick digital permit for short stays that costs about $30 CAD, but it’s now a mandatory extra step for everyone, including kids. So if Britain is on your 2026 travel list, you’ll want to add “apply for ETA” to your pre-trip checklist.

4: 🐕 2 dogs went viral this week for nosing out medical emergencies: a Missouri rescue pup who wouldn’t stop burying her head in her owner’s neck the day before a CT confirmed an aneurysm, and a UK golden retriever who barked her people awake mid–cardiac arrest, buying the seconds needed to start CPR. There’s no evidence dogs can sniff out unruptured aneurysms (TikTok, calm down), but trained medical dogs can detect illness-related odours — so this latest CPR save is the real deal.

Notable Numbers 🔢

$80,000 USD: the estimated auction price for a magnum of Dom Pérignon 1961 served at Charles and Diana’s 1981 wedding, making it one of the most collectible royal champagnes ever.

115,000: the size of a San Francisco restaurant’s customer-notes database — the kind of intel OpenTable is now piloting across its entire network. The new AI tool lets restaurants examine your spending choices before you even walk in, raising questions about “personalized service” being just surveillance with shinier plating.

€600–€1,000: the average monthly cost of seaside rentals for retirees in Greece, helping make it the world’s top retirement destination for 2026.

Postcall Picks ✅

📺 Watch: this Milestones to Millionaire video, which features a dermatology resident who reached a $750,000 net worth before finishing training. See how early saving, smart investing, and leveraging the time value of money can set you up for financial freedom

⏱️ Reclaim your time: with Aeon. Tired of admin overload? Aeon is the intelligent EMR designed to minimize non-clinical work. Stop spending evenings on paperwork and start focusing on patient care. Simplify your practice and sign up today.

🎧 Listen: to the CIHI podcast, which shows how a new 911 pilot in Ottawa gives dispatchers instant access to medical data, cutting response‑time info gaps from minutes to seconds and improving emergency care.

🍝 Make: roasted red pepper penne with ricotta — a smoky, creamy pasta that comes together quickly, using roasted red peppers, garlic, onion, and ricotta blended into a silky sauce over penne for a simple, comforting weeknight dinner.

😂 Laugh: when your patient has a red suit, a bag of presents, and a chronic cookie habit… Santa’s “check-up” is officially on your schedule.

Relax

First clue: Well-suited for a task

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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