Staying #Up2Date 🚨

1. Back to Square One for Low Back Pain Treatments 

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, researchers evaluated non-surgical and non-interventional treatments for adults with low back pain. Out of 56 treatments, NSAIDs helped with acute low back pain — but only slightly more than placebo. For chronic pain, exercise, taping, and antidepressants showed modest benefits, with moderate certainty.

2. Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy (GAHT) and Mental Health

This cohort study examined associations between GAHT and mental health morbidity in transgender, nonbinary, and gender diverse (TGD) adults. At baseline, 15.3% of 3592 TGD patients had moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms. After 4 years, those prescribed GAHT had significantly lower risk of depressive symptoms (adjusted risk ratio, 0.85; 95% CI,  0.75-0.98), supporting the value of gender-affirming care for TGD adults. 

3. Cu2+ Contraception 2.0: New Option for Copper IUD

This ongoing phase-3 trial assessed the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of Miudella, a novel low-dose copper IUD. Over 3 years, Miudella’s Pearl Index was 0.94 (95% CI 0.43-1.78), with low rates of expulsion and discontinuation for bleeding and pain. Recent FDA approval of Miudella gives patients another choice for long-acting contraception. 

4. Sounding Off: Hearing Loss (HL) and Falls

A systematic review and meta-analysis of over 5 million patients across 27 studies found that HL was linked to greater odds of falling – both cross-sectionally (OR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.37-1.6, I² = 64%) and longitudinally (RR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.06-1.29, I² = 69%). With a rapidly aging global population, the connection between hearing and fall risk deserves closer attention.

Blood Test Bias 🩸

How one blood test failed to give a diagnosis

What happened: A new study has found that the blood test for ovarian cancer misses some Black and Native American patients.

Why it matters: In the US, about 20,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year. Native American women have the highest rate of ovarian cancer, while Black women have a lower chance of survival in comparison to white women.

The study looked at a test called CA-125 that measures a tumor marker in the blood. Doctors can use it to determine if a woman with a suspicious lump should be referred to a cancer specialist.

Researchers looked at data from more than 200,000 women with ovarian cancer from 2004 to 2020 who received the CA-125 blood test. They found that Black and Native American patients were 23% less likely to have an elevated CA-125 level at ovarian cancer diagnosis compared with white patients. This could be because the thresholds were set too high, so it didn’t detect the non white women who had ovarian cancer. This gap in testing could delay treatment for some women, causing the cancer to worsen.

It isn’t exactly known why the test works for some and not others, and researchers guess it’s because of a harmless genetic variation that’s more common in people of African, Caribbean, and Middle Eastern descent.

But: Even though this research is a great example of underlying bias in medicine, the Trump administration’s attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion might threaten any further research on these issues. Many universities have received letters telling them their funding has been cut for violating the president’s orders.

Bottom line: Every patient deserves to be treated equally regarding care, and research shouldn’t be limited based on one administration’s decision.

Hot Off The Press

1: ⏰ Trump wants more time — for TikTok. He’s urging Congress to delay a bill that could force the app’s sale, framing it as a matter of free speech. Meanwhile, TikTok is juggling controversies of its own: quietly removing a “chubby” face filter after backlash and facing criticism over videos encouraging ADHD self-diagnoses — a complicated backdrop for free speech arguments, as the platform faces growing scrutiny over how its algorithm shapes both self-image and mental health.

2: 💊 MIT engineers have developed a new way to inject higher doses of certain drugs into patients with less pain. They do it by injecting them as a suspension of tiny crystals, and once it’s under the skin, the crystals assemble into a drug depot that could last for months or years. They hope this new strategy will eliminate the need for frequent drug injections.

3: 🇺🇸 New US research confirms what public health experts feared: abortion bans enacted after the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision — which overturned Roe v. Wade — led to more unwanted or unsafe pregnancies carried to term, resulting in both more live births and more infant deaths. The burden wasn’t evenly shared: Black infants in states with bans died at a rate 11% higher than expected. Researchers say these bans are reversing decades of progress in infant health — and disproportionately harming already disadvantaged communities.

4: ❌ At least 24 termination letters from the NIH were sent to university researchers telling them funding has been canceled as they don’t meet the “priorities” of the current administration. Many of the studies include LGBTQ+ and diversity and inclusion issues. A federal judge has issued a nationwide order blocking the NIH from going further with the cuts, but it’s unclear if the order will affect those who’ve already received letters.

Notable Numbers 🔢

327: the number of confirmed measles cases in Texas alone. Almost all cases come from unvaccinated individuals or those who don’t know their vaccination status. 40 people have been hospitalized so far, and the CDC and Texas health officials are asking residents to get vaccinated or check their status as soon as possible.

90%: of US cities saw their freeze-free season lengthen between 1970 and 2024 — a key factor in longer allergy seasons. As the climate warms, higher CO₂ levels and fewer frosty days are creating ideal conditions for pollen-producing plants. Translation: more sneezing, earlier.

Postcall Picks

😂 Laugh: at this meme about the circle of life!

🤑Save: on Easter decorations and more with Wayfair’s Easter sale!

👂Listen: to a new episode of the White Coat Investor Podcast. This episode discusses retirement and 401Ks!

Relax

First Question: Inhibiting this causes renal efferent arteriole dilation.

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