Staying #Up2Date 🚨

1: Small Dose, Big Question Mark - CBD and Liver Safety

This RCT examined whether daily use of CBD at doses similar to typical consumer use affects liver and endocrine health. Among 201 healthy adults, 5.6% of those in the CBD group had liver enzymes (ALT) reach 3x the upper limit of normal after 28 days. While no differences were seen between the CBD and placebo groups in endocrine and hormone levels, these findings suggest that even lower-dose CBD could pose health risks.

2: Targeted vs Nontargeted Screening for Hepatitis C in EDs

This RCT compared 2 types of hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening in EDs: nontargeted (offered to all patients) vs. targeted (offered based on risk assessment). Nontargeted screening identified significantly more new HCV cases across 3 urban EDs (RR, 1.34 [95% CI, 1.05-1.70]; P= .02). When it comes to effective screening, broader might be better!

3: GLP-1s Linked to Eating Disorders in Boys and Men

A cohort study of over 1500 males aged 15–35 found that 1.2% had used prescription weight loss medications, like GLP-1s, in the past year. These users tended to be older and have a higher BMI. Rates of eating disorder behaviour, including binge eating and purging, were also significantly higher among them, suggesting this group may have an increased risk of developing eating disorders. 

A Moody Connection ❤️

Why it’s so much more than just “PMS-ing”

What happened: A new study has found that premenstrual disorders are associated with a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Why it matters: Researchers looked at data from more than 3 million women in Sweden over 20 years and found that women who were diagnosed with premenstrual symptoms (PMS) or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) had an 11% higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease than those who didn’t. Women under the age of 25 had an even higher risk of developing heart disease at 24%.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death amongst women in the US, and a co-author of the study said the results are a reminder for people not to wait until they’re older to start taking care of their cardiovascular health. Symptoms of PMS and PMDD are mood swings, fatigue, and cramping. Oftentimes, to be diagnosed with either condition, the symptoms need to be “bad enough.” Researchers studied subtypes of cardiovascular diseases and discovered that arrhythmias and ischemic heart disease were the strongest associations with PMS and MDD.

But: The authors of the study didn’t find out why heart disease and PMS were linked, though they believe that premenstrual disorders might show other underlying physical conditions like inflammation, which could lead to increased buildup of plaque around the heart’s arteries. There were limitations to the research, like the study only being performed on white Sweden women. 

Still, physicians hope that the study puts more focus on women’s health and their risk for heart disease. High blood pressure is often underdiagnosed in women; having this information can pave the way for the diagnosis of cardiovascular issues in younger patients.

Bottom line: Despite its shortcomings, the study is the first step in putting women’s health at the forefront of doctors’ hearts and minds.

Hot Off The Press

1: 🫀For the first time, scientists have grown real, working blood vessels inside mini lab-grown organs, including hearts, lungs, and livers. The breakthrough brings these “organoids” much closer to the real thing. With better blood flow, they could more accurately mimic human biology, making them more powerful for drug testing, disease research, and maybe one day, building transplant-ready tissue.

2: 💊 The FDA is floating a bold trade: faster drug approvals in exchange for lower prices. It’s part of a push to close the gap between what Americans and other countries pay — and a rare moment where the US flirts with global models of price regulation. Meanwhile, playing hardball on the global stage, Trump has pledged to send “top-of-the-line weapons” to Ukraine via NATO. He warns Russia: strike a peace deal in 50 days, or face severe tariffs. 

3: 🦠 Drug-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus is getting more common and harder to treat. A new Lancet Microbe study found nearly 1 in 6 resistant cases involved multiple strains with different resistance genes, making treatment a guessing game. The biggest driver? Not clinical overuse — it’s fungicides sprayed on crops.

4: 🏃 Can’t sleep? Research has found that gentle exercise like tai chi, yoga, and jogging can help improve sleep. One doctor recommended that people who live with insomnia try different exercise activities to see which one works best for them.

Notable Numbers 🔢

29%: how much less parents speak to their children when distracted by phones, according to new research. The drop in parent-child interaction is linked to weaker emotional bonds and poorer language development — and the effects can even linger after the phone is put away.

14 million: the number of children globally who have never received a vaccine. There are many reasons why children continue to be unvaccinated, including lack of access and misinformation about the vaccine itself. Public health officials are calling on governments around the world to help fill the gaps.

130 mg/dL: Barbie’s blood glucose reading, visible on her in-doll phone app. The new Type 1 diabetes Barbie wears a glucose monitor and insulin pump — bringing awareness to the condition through play.

$200 million: the reported total pay package Meta used to lure a top Apple AI executive. It’s part of Zuckerberg’s push to build a "superintelligence" dream team and includes stock, bonuses, and loyalty clauses.

Postcall Picks ✅

✈️Travel: to one of these 20 top places to go this month — from beach-hopping in Vietnam to wildflower hikes through the Italian Alps to bear-spotting in South Africa. (Consider it your excuse to finally book that out-of-office.)

🎧 Listen: to a special episode of The Heart of Healthcare on digital health’s “evidence problem” — why proving tech works is harder than it sounds, and why trust might matter more than perfection.

🍽️ Eat: Spanakopita: the flaky Greek spinach and feta pie that’s surprisingly simple to make and perfect for summer dinners.

Taking the Pulse 🫀

A vacation can clear your head and protect your health. So this week, we want to know what time off means for you.

Take the poll below — and if you’re feeling reflective, we’d love to hear from you. After you vote, there’s space to share your thoughts:

• What does burnout look like?

• How do you avoid it?

• Got any tips for easing in (and out) of a holiday?

Relax

First Question: Lose one's composure and end up on a psychiatric hold

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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