Staying #Up2Date 🚨

1: Mixed Incontinence, Matched Outcomes 

This RCT compared the effectiveness of two procedural-based treatments for mixed urinary incontinence: intradetrusor onabotulinumtoxinA vs midurethral sling, in 137 women. After 6 months, both groups showed improvement in urogenital distress inventory scores, with no significant difference between treatments. The takeaway: patients’ preferences can help guide management. 

2: Don’t Mix Weed and Womb 

A systematic review and meta-analysis of over 1 million pregnant women across 51 studies found that prenatal cannabis use was associated with increased risk of low birth weight (OR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.41-2.18), small for gestational age (OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.36-1.81), and preterm birth (OR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.26-1.83). These findings underscore the need for patient counselling and stronger public health messaging around cannabis use in pregnancy. 

3: CAR-T, Take Two: Enhanced Lymphoma Therapy after Previous Failure

This clinical trial evaluated the safety, feasibility, and early efficacy of an anti-CD19 enhanced CAR-T therapy (huCART19-IL18) in 21 lymphoma patients with previous CAR-T failure. At 3 months post-infusion, 81% had complete or partial response (90% CI, 63-93), with no unexpected adverse events detected. The results point to a promising efficacy and safety profile.

A Change In Care 🏥

Pediatricians are changing the way they treat children whose parents struggle with addiction

What happened: Almost 19 million children in the US have at least one parent with a substance abuse disorder.

Why it’s interesting: The study used data from a 2023 National Survey and found that about 7.6 million children live in a home with a parent who has either a moderate or severe substance use disorder, while about 3.4 million live with a parent who has multiple substance use disorders. 

Looking deeper, 12 million of those parents have an alcohol use disorder. Even though alcohol is seen as more socially acceptable, researchers say more attention should be paid to the rising number of children who are exposed to parents with an alcohol addiction.

 So, what's next? While the rise in numbers is concerning, pediatricians have begun taking extra steps to care for children with parents experiencing substance abuse disorder. One Boston doctor said when they’re caring for a young person, they’re making sure they’re asking questions and screening for depression, anxiety and ADHD. These mental health concerns are more common in kids of parents with addiction.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is recommending that pediatricians ask patients or their parents about their family’s history of substance use so that they can educate them about the risks and provide them with treatment if necessary.

Bottom line: Parents who struggle with addiction may struggle to ask for help due to the stigma around the disease, and researchers hope this study helps doctors change the way they address these issues so that parents get the help they need. 

Hot Off The Press

1: 🇺🇸 President Trump just signed an executive order to lower US drug prices — tying them to international benchmarks and authorizing direct-from-manufacturer sales. The move targets countries accused of undercutting US prices and could open the door to cross-border importation. Pharma stocks jumped, but analysts warned the shift could raise costs for hospitals and employers.

2: 💉 A new NEJM trial just gave tirzepatide a major edge over semaglutide. Among adults with obesity (but not diabetes), tirzepatide led to greater weight and waist reductions over 72 weeks — with average weight loss hitting 20.2%, compared to 13.7% on semaglutide. GI side effects were common in both groups.

3: 🏥 Pancreatic and colorectal cancers are rising fastest among younger adults — especially those aged 15–34, according to a retrospective study published in JAMA. Pancreatic cancer rates in that group have been climbing over 4% a year. It’s still uncommon, but clinicians may need to look twice when younger patients show red-flag symptoms.

4: 🐌 A deadly parasite once limited to sub-Saharan Africa is creeping into Europe — and climate change may be helping it spread. Schistosomiasis, a waterborne disease carried by snails, has caused over 120 cases in Corsica and is now appearing in Spain and Portugal. Experts warn that warming waters and reduced global aid could set the stage for wider outbreaks.

Notable Numbers 🔢

90 days: how long the US and China will pause their escalating trade war. After intense negotiations, both countries agreed to slash their tariffs — and markets rallied fast. Political economist Gavin Fridell says the breakthrough opens up space for negotiations with Canada — and could even improve Canada’s trade relations with China.

14%: the increased risk of heart or blood vessel disease in women with a history of infertility. A new meta-analysis of over 3.5 million participants found that infertility isn’t just a reproductive concern — it may be an early warning sign for cardiovascular issues, especially in younger women and those undergoing fertility treatments.

27%: the decline of drug overdose deaths in the US last year. It’s the lowest level seen in the previous five years, and researchers say they’re cautiously optimistic about the low rate.

Picks

😂Laugh: at this meme about useless organs:

🤑Save: Got a green thumb? Amazon’s got what you need to make this garden season the best yet.

👂Listen: to the newest episode of the White Coat Investor Podcast! This week they delve into the different ways to pay for medical school debt.

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