Staying #Up2Date 🚨

1: Stronger than Colon Cancer: Exercise Boosts Long-Term Survival After Chemotherapy 

This phase-3 trial assessed whether exercise after chemotherapy improved colon cancer outcomes. After 8 years, those assigned to a 3-year structured exercise program initiated soon after adjuvant chemotherapy had a significantly longer disease-free survival compared to control (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.55 to 0.93; P=0.02). Furthermore, 8-year overall survival was 90.3% in the exercise group versus 83.2% in the control group, underscoring the power of fitness in the fight against colon cancer.  

2: A Lifespan Perspective: What Autism Might Mean for Brain Health Later On

This Swedish cohort study investigated the association between ASD and future Parkinson disease (PD) risk. In over 2M individuals, PD occurred in 0.02% of those without ASD versus 0.05% in those with ASD (RR, 4.43 [(95% CI, 2.92-6.72]). After adjusting for various factors (sex, depression, SES, parental mental illness or PD), ASD remained consistently associated with increased risk of PD. These results suggest a potential shared etiology between neurodevelopmental disorders and PD

3: Rethinking Glucose Monitoring - Why Fingersticks Still Matter After Meals  

This RCT examined the accuracy of CGMs vs capillary sampling in measuring glycemic responses. Following testing with various foods and beverages, CGM-estimated fasting (0.9 + 0.6, P < 0.001) and postprandial glucose concentrations (0.9 + 0.5, P < 0.001) were higher than capillary estimates. Additionally, the degree to which CGM overestimated glycemic responses varied by participant, supporting capillary sampling to be prioritized for accurate quantification of glycemic response to various foods.

Trump Cuts Too Deep ✂️

The Trump administration’s attempt to improve American lives is putting them at risk

What happened: Since the Trump administration gained power, it has withheld $11 billion of direct federal support and eliminated 20,000 jobs at national health agencies. Experts say billions more could be slashed.  

Since the cuts, public health leaders have said the entire health system has become a shadow of what it once was. With measles, bird flu, and even whooping cough cases climbing daily, the US is struggling to keep up.

What’s at stake?

Disease prevention: State health departments are funded by federal and state tax money, and the Mecklenburg County department, responsible for protecting the public’s health, receives a budget of about $135 million. But leaders say it isn’t enough, as some employees work 12-14-hour days, especially if there’s an outbreak. They also work to improve prenatal care and educate people on HIV and mental health issues. 

The CDC: Thousands have been laid off at the CDC, including 8 employees who were responsible for the mobile vaccine program and 9 disease intervention specialists. A program offering free flu and COVID tests was also cut, and folks who depended on tobacco hotlines and programs for children who are deaf and hard of hearing have also been left stranded. While the HHS claimed the cuts would be beneficial, health officials argue that most of the cuts affect areas of healthcare that are most important today, like immunization. 

Public health funding: The pandemic brought forth a surge in funding to public health programs, but since COVID cases decreased, so did the money. Some states have lost over 100 employees as the funds dried up. In North Carolina, people in charge of wastewater monitoring that helped identify COVID variants (and bird flu) were let go. Physicians say the cuts put lives at risk as hospitals and other resources scramble to determine which programs should stay and which should disappear. 

Bottom line: Unfortunately, the cuts don’t end there. The Trump administration is still planning to cut millions more from the CDC’s budget, and public health leaders warn that the cuts will affect the country's response to new pandemics and old diseases.  

Hot Off The Press

1: 🩻 Contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) just proved it can catch more invasive cancers in dense breasts — nearly 4x more than ultrasound, and on par with MRI. A large UK trial suggests it could offer a faster, cheaper path to early detection. Game-changer for the 40% of women whose breast density masks tumors on standard mammograms.

2: 🇺🇸 🇦🇷The US and Argentina just launched a new global health alliance — no WHO, no strings attached. RFK Jr. and Argentina’s health minister say it’ll be science-driven and free from “totalitarian impulses.” The system is still in early planning stages, but both countries have formally begun WHO withdrawal and pledged to build an alternative rooted in national sovereignty and transparency.

3: 🔬CAR-T just landed a hit on glioblastoma. In a Phase 1 trial, 8 of 13 patients had measurable tumor shrinkage, and 4 stayed progression-free for over a year. The dual-target therapy — directed at proteins common on glioblastoma cells — was delivered into the spinal fluid and showed manageable side effects. It’s early, but marks rare progress against a cancer with few wins.

4: 🤖Turns out Gen Z isn’t as AI-fluent as everyone keeps insisting, especially outside major cities. A new Gallup poll found only 27% of young workers in rural areas have received any AI training, and most say they’re not ready to use it. So much for “digital natives.” Apparently growing up with TikTok doesn’t mean you can prompt an algorithm without panic-googling first.

Notable Numbers 🔢

79: the age Robert Jarvik, the creator of the first permanent artificial heart, was when he died. Jarvik was best known for creating the Jarvik-7, an artificial heart made from plastic and aluminum, in 1982. Jarvik suffered from Parkinson’s disease and left behind a wife and two children.

50%: the new US tariff on imported steel, announced by President Trump last week and effective today. The Canadian Steel Producers Association warns of “catastrophic” consequences for the $15 billion sector, which supports over 100,000 jobs. This tariff hike also applies to aluminum.

Picks

📺 Watch: the Pitt, a gripping medical drama set in a post-pandemic Pittsburgh hospital, which captures the pressure and humanity behind a fractured healthcare system. Catch up before season 2 airs on Max.

😂Laugh: at this video showing how doctors write “I love you”:

👂Listen: to the new episode of the White Coat, Black Art podcast. This week, a family doctor who quit medicine talks to the latest generation about why they shouldn’t. 

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