Staying #Up2Date 🚨

1: Silent Burdens of Survival: CKD and Hypertension in Childhood Cancer Survivors 

A retrospective cohort study over 27 years found that childhood cancer survivors (CCS) face a significantly higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) or hypertension. The cumulative incidence was 20.85% (95% CI, 18.75%-23.02%) in CCS vs. 8.05% (95% CI, 6.76%-9.49%) in the general pediatric population. These findings underscore the need for early screening and treatment to reduce late-stage complications and mortality in CCS.

2: Gene Therapy Shows Long-Lasting Promise in Hemophilia B

This phase-1 trial looked at the efficacy and safety of a novel adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene therapy for hemophilia B. Following single dose treatment, Factor IX levels — the clotting protein deficient in hemophilia B — remained stable over 13 years, producing sustained clinical benefit. With no long-term safety concerns flagged, AAV gene therapy shows strong potential for severe hemophilia B.

3: AI in Action: A Better Way to Catch Prostate Cancer 

This diagnostic study tested whether AI-assistance in MRI assessment could improve the diagnostic accuracy of clinically significant prostate cancer. Among 360 MRI scans of male patients, AI led to statistically superior improvements in detecting prostate cancer. Sensitivity improved  by 2.5% (95% CI, 1.1%-3.9%; P < .001), while specificity increased by 3.4% (95% CI, 0.8%-6.0%; P = .01). These results suggest that AI could help radiologists detect prostate cancer with greater precision.

A Remote Operation 🤖

Small step for a surgeon, huge leap for healthcare

What happened: A Florida doctor made history after operating on a patient 7,000 miles away.

Why it’s interesting: Fernando da Silva from Angola, Africa, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in March, and 3 months later, became the first patient approved by the FDA to undergo a groundbreaking human clinical trial called transcontinental robotic telesurgery.

Instead of scrubbing in, Dr. Vipul Patel performed the prostatectomy using a multi-million-dollar robot with enhanced visuals, nimble controls, and fibre optic cables. This allowed for a less invasive procedure and faster recovery time. Dr. Patel had his surgical team in Angola on standby in case of an emergency.

Dr. Patel was thrilled with the surgery and said doctors working in rural areas of the US could learn new procedures or help patients from a distance if needed. For example, EMTs could access surgeons inside an ambulance if they can’t reach a hospital.

What’s next: Dr. Patel plans to submit the data and his findings from the surgery back to the FDA for their teams to review. He hopes that the administration will be happy with his success and he’ll be able to do more telesurgeries.

Hot Off the Press

1: 💊 A sweeping Bloomberg investigation just put numbers to a problem many oncologists have raised for years: many cancer drugs don’t actually help patients live longer — and have a median launch price of about $25K/month. Since 2000, fewer than half of these FDA-approved drugs have shown a survival benefit for any approved use. Even fewer improve symptoms. The magic phrase? “Progression-free survival” — a metric critics say means little in real life.

2: 🛑 In a move that sounds illegal — and likely is — the Trump administration has quietly transferred personal data on millions of immigrant Medicaid enrollees to deportation officials, despite warnings from federal health officials. Meanwhile, RFK Jr. has rebooted the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel, stacking it with 2 members without medical degrees — including Robert Malone, a controversial figure who claims to have invented mRNA vaccines. So much for evidence-based medicine.

3: 🏩 The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) have announced they are revoking Biden-era guidance that allowed patients to have emergency abortions. While the law that requires hospitals to treat patients who can’t pay is still in effect, CMS is no longer asking states to perform abortions during emergencies. Experts worry that the new directive will cause fear and confusion among patients and doctors.

4: 🎮 Nintendo’s Switch 2 smashed records, selling 3.5 million units in 4 days — the fastest home console in history. Unlike its predecessor (which launched amid chip shortages and scalper chaos), Nintendo flooded shelves this time, with preorder verifications and reseller crackdowns in Japan. It’s a 180 from the PS5 era, which saw bot-driven scarcity and $2K eBay listings. Has Nintendo solved the console launch puzzle?

Notable Numbers 🔢

3: the number of people who have died after a deadly listeria outbreak caused by a heat-and-eat chicken alfredo meal from Kroger and Walmart. The outbreak began last August and has affected 17 people in 13 states. Officials have not yet identified the specific source of the contamination.

988: how many suicide hotline services for LGBTQ youth might get cut in 2026 if the White House gets its way. When asked about the potential cuts, a spokesperson for the White House Budget said they will still support suicide hotlines, but won’t let taxpayers pay for a service where children are encouraged to “embrace radical gender ideology” (a term adopted by the Trump administration).

29%: the percentage of people who are at risk of dying from cardiovascular disease due to cannabis use, according to a new study. With marijuana use surpassing drinking, experts are warning against the potential health effects.

Postcall Picks ✅

😄 Laugh: at this meme depicting the struggles of working in summer months:

🤑 Save: need some fresh air? Amazon’s got what you need with this air purifier, now 20% off!

👂Listen: to this episode of the White Coat Investor Podcast, where they interview an orthopedic surgeon who became a millionaire in just 7 years.

Relax

First Question: _____ pregnancy, where a non-viable mass develops in the uterus instead of a healthy embryo

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