Staying #Up2Date 🚨

1. Guideline Watch 👀

An update to the primary stroke prevention guidelines is here! The guidelines address the social determinants of health, list sex/gender specific risks, endorse the Mediterranean diet, and recommend GLP-1 receptor agonists in those with diabetes or high cardiovascular risk. There’s even a plug for the American Heart Association’s Essential 8. 

2. Chronic Painful Pancreatitis 

In this Dutch cohort study, 88 patients with painful chronic pancreatitis were randomized to early surgery vs. endoscopy. At 16 months follow-up, patients in the surgery group reported less pain and greater satisfaction compared to the endoscopy group. After the initial 18-month follow-up, 26% patients in the early surgery group underwent re-interventions vs. 44% patients in the endoscopy-first group. 

3. GLP-1 receptor agonists in HFpEF

In the SUMMIT trial, patients with heart failure preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and BMI 30 were assigned to tirzepatide vs. placebo. At 52 weeks, heart failure worsening or cardiovascular death was lower in the tirzepatide group (10% vs 15%, HR 0.62); the KCCQ-CSS clinical score was also lower in the trizepatide group by ~7 points. Gastrointestinal adverse events and discontinuation were more frequent with tirzepatide group.

Real Food, Fake Food

How your favorite foods might be causing more harm than good

What happened: A new study from John Hopkins has found that more than half of calories consumed at home by adults come from ultra-processed foods.

Why it’s interesting: Colorings, emulsifiers, artificial flavors, and sweeteners are all ingredients in ultra-processed foods. While researchers knew that a large portion of Americans diets come from ultra-processed foods, it wasn’t clear where the calories were consumed.

Eating high amounts of high processed food has been linked to health conditions like cardiovascular disease, obesity and colorectal cancer. A common misconception is that ‘junk food’ like chips and candy are the only types of ultra-processed foods that folks are eating. However, according to doctors a lot of ultra-processed foods can be found at the grocery store. They include pre-packed meals that can sometimes be found in the frozen section.

The study found that about one-third of all calories come from eating foods away from home. The reason for the hike could be because ultra-processed foods are easier and faster to prepare, and are less expensive than fresh ingredients.

There are ways to decrease the amount of ultra-processed food in ones diet. Dietitian’s don’t recommend going cold turkey but instead say supplementing a few things like snacks with fresh foods can be a good way to start. Meal planning or making your own versions of your favorite foods are also great ways to cut back on ordering out.

But: The authors of the study did note that the study has limitations including possible reporting bias, (participants may not have disclosed eating foods they believe aren’t good for them) and the study period took place pre-pandemic and doesn’t account for the at-home food consumption during that time.

Bottom line: Coming up with strategies to help lower the intake of ultra-processed foods can help Americans live longer and healthier lives.

Hot Off The Press

1: ⚕️ UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, was fatally shot in a targeted attack outside a Manhattan hotel on his way to an investor conference. Thompson, who led the nation’s largest health insurer, kept a low profile despite overseeing $281 billion in revenue and shaping how millions of Americans access healthcare. Luigi Mangione, 26, has been arrested in Pennsylvania in connection with the killing, while carrying a manifesto which included phrases like “These parasites had it coming.“

The news of the shooting sparked heated reactions online — for example: “If you would like to appeal the fatal gunshot, please call 1-800-555-1234 with case #123456789P to initiate a peer-to-peer within 48 hours.”

2: 🇺🇸 Donald Trump is calling for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and suggests the US may withdraw from NATO if allies don't meet military spending commitments. In a recent interview, he also indicated that military aid to Ukraine could be cut. His comments have raised alarms among Ukraine and NATO allies but have sparked cautious support from Russia, with President Zelensky calling for a "just and robust peace."

3: 🏥 Brazil president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, is recovering in intensive care after undergoing emergency surgery due to a brain bleed that was detected in an MRI scan. According to his doctors, Lula had to have a 3cm hole made into his skull to drain the blood. The bleed was caused by a fall the President had in October while taking a shower.

4: 💗 A new study has found that breast cancer rates have increased in women of all ages, with the highest being women aged 20 to 30 and those over 75. Researchers say one of the reasons for the spike could be linked to COVID-19 as it caused some women to skip or delay their mammogram appointments.

5: ❌ After weeks of backlash, health insurer Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield announced they will not change their policy that would have limited reimbursements for anesthesia during medical procedures. Had it gone through the company would only reimburse doctors based on time limits set by the insurer.

Notable Numbers 🔢

17: the amount of people who have died in Mexico from contaminated IV feeding bags. The victims were underweight premature babies and a 14 year old. According to investigators the contamination happened at a plant in the city of Toluca that manufactured the IV nutrition mixture. The company was shut down and the production of the IV bags were halted.  

$9M: the amount awarded to Louisiana nursing home residents after they were kept in a warehouse during hurricane Ida.

Postcall Picks ✅

 😂 Laugh: at this meme about how doctors really listen to music!

🤑 Save: Still looking for last minute holiday gifts? Check out NBC’s list of sales categories like beauty, wellness, home, and more!

📖 Read: Women In White Coats, a book about how the first women doctors changed the world of medicine by Olivia Campbell. It’s on sale now on Amazon!

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