Staying #Up2Date 🚨

1. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) accuracy

In this prospective substudy of 1500 participants, correlations between HbA1c level and average glucose were significantly different in non-Hispanic black participants than in other racial or ethnic groups. Across average glucose values ranging from 100 to 250 mg/dL, HbA1c results were higher in non-Hispanic Black participants than in non-Hispanic white participants by 0.2 to 0.6 percentage points. This may have implications for over-diagnosis/treatment of some non-Hispanic Black patients. 

2. Vitamin D stands for Don’t

The Endocrine Society published updated Vit D supplementation guidelines in 2024, saying that there is no clear benefit from supplementation in asymptomatic individuals with low levels, except in those aged 1-18, pregnant individuals, etc. Routine supplementation is also discouraged, except in pregnant individuals, the elderly (≥75), and those with high-risk prediabetes. Daily dosing of 1000 IU is suggested in older adults. The guidelines emphasize low daily doses over high intermittent doses and advocate for fortified foods or supplements.

3. Testosterone supplementation: yay or nay

In the TRAVERSE trial , 5,200 middle-aged and older men with low testosterone levels <300 ng/dL received testosterone gel or placebo. Since then, several sub-studies showed that testosterone supplementation only modestly improved libido and mood, whereas higher rates of fractures have been reported. Overall, these findings argue against providing testosterone supplementation for age-related testosterone decline.

Alcohol’s Cancer Connection 🍻

Why having just one more drink may do more harm than good

What happened: A new report by the US Surgeon General found a link between drinking alcohol and cancer.

Why it’s interesting: The report found that having any type of alcohol, including beer, wine or spirits, can increase the risk for at leave seven different types of cancer. The list includes breast cancer, esophagus, larynx, liver, and mouth cancer.

In the US, alcohol consumption is the third leading cause of cancer after tobacco and obesity. The surgeon general stated that for some cancers like breast and mouth, the risk of developing the disease is higher if people only have one or fewer drinks per day. Like most health issues other factors like biological, economic, or environmental play a role in whether or not someone is more likely to have cancer.

Despite ongoing evidence, less than half of Americans 18 or over know about the risk associated with cancer and alcohol. The surgeon general suggests that alcohol companies update their warning labels to reflect new findings. The current label hasn’t been updated since 1988, and only specifies warnings about pregnancy and operating vehicles while under the influence.

But: There is more research that needs to be done like how alcohol contributes to the development of cancer. Cancer experts are also asking for more information on how many drinks per day participants had on average, so they can better understand the biological impact.

Bottom line: Having more knowledge on the possible affects that alcohol has on the body is important as it gives folks the opportunity to make educated choices.

Hot Off The Press

1: 🤝 A new federal proposal is asking makers of medical devices that quickly measure oxygen levels in the blood to prove that their products work for patients of color. Studies have shown that darker skin can sometimes throw off the accuracy of readings, and in some cases the device could overestimate Black patients’ oxygen levels, which could result in treatment delays. The FDA is recommending 25% of patients in each study have a darker complexion to improve results.

2: 👁️ Childhood myopia rates have tripled since 1990, and projections suggest over 740 million cases by 2050. A review of 276 studies links this rise to more screen time and less outdoor activity, trends worsened by the pandemic. Even one extra hour outside per week could reduce a child’s risk by 14% — a simple intervention worth recommending.

3: 💳 President Biden isn’t done with the US yet as his administration has announced they will ban medical debt on credit reports. The rule will remove almost $49 billion in medical bills from the credit card reports of about 15 million people. A representative from the bureau’s director said people who are sick shouldn’t have to choose between their health and their savings. But the incoming Trump administration could abolish the rule as they believe it could increase risk in the financial system.

4:🤒 Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is on the rise in China. Health officals in the country are rolling out new measures to monitor and manage any future spreading. The disease has similar symptoms to cold and influenza, but if untreated can lead to complications like pneumonia for those with weakened immune systems.

Notable Numbers 🔢

37,500: the number of NIH principal investigators in the US who can now double-check their work. This replication initiative, supported by Congress, offers up to $50,000 to researchers to validate studies with big health potential (think testing a heart drug on mice) to see if the results hold up. So far, interest is pretty lackluster, but the NIH hopes this experiment-experiment will pave the way for more reliable science. One catch? The results aren’t public.

100: how old former US President Jimmy Carter was when he died. Carter passed away on Dec. 29th and since then news outlets across the country have spoken about his liberal values and his want for peace.

1494: the year syphilis debuted in Europe, sparking centuries of blame games and mysteries about its origins. A new Nature study digs deep (literally) into ancient DNA from pre-Columbian skeletons in the Americas, and suggests that syphilis-causing bacteria were already thriving there before Columbus set sail. The findings also suggest that the disease only became sexually transmitted around the time of European contact.

Postcall Picks

🤑 Save: on scrubs with Uniform Advantage’s 20% sale until January 16th! Use code NY25 to save.

💪 Fitness: is a goal this year? Here are the trends that experts hate (courtesy of The New York Times).

🤣 Laugh: at the service that doesn’t talk about boneless organs:

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