Good morning Postcallers. Enjoy the warmth of your bed this morning, as exactly 112 years ago (on Apr. 14, 1912), the R.M.S. Titanic struck an iceberg off the coast of Newfoundland and sank, taking the lives of over 1,500 people.

Here’s the chill weekend roundup hot off our laptops! (6 minute read)

1. Frontline Tales

2. Gender-affirming doesn’t stand up to scrutiny in the UK

3. Is it legal or a good idea to use student loan money for a downpayment?

4. Ozempic doesn’t lead to suicidal ideation

5. Revolution in blood testing

6. Despite the inflation, which 7 things are cheaper?

7. The Postcall Games: Crosswords and Image Challenges

Frontline Tales ⛺️ 

These stories are sourced from Postcall readers as well as across the internet. Next week we’ll be back with “Guess What I Saw Today.” Have a riveting tale of your own? Send us your best story from the OR, ED, or clinic (anonymized, obviously).

Speed Reads 🚤 

1: ♀️ ♂️ The NHS in England has started restricted gender-affirming treatments for minors, following a review by Dr. Hilary Cass which cites that evidence for treatments has been “built on shaky foundations.”. This policy aligns with northern European countries like Finland and Sweden, which have also imposed stricter regulations due to rising demand and complex mental health considerations. Many advocacy groups have criticized the changes as harmful to transgender rights.

2:🤰🏻Canadian researchers have developed a natural supplement that helps prevent postpartum blues and reduce symptoms of postpartum depression. The blueberry extract in the supplement replenishes essential neuro-chemicals in the brain to support a healthy mood. 66% of patients who received 4 doses experienced either no symptoms or minor symptoms of postpartum blues. The product hasn’t been approved in Canada yet but is said to hit the shelves in the US next week.

3: 🚀 Iran launched a large-scale missile attack on Israel last night, in retaliation for an Israeli strike on Iran's consulate in Damascus. Most missiles were intercepted by Israel's aerial defenses and no injuries were reported, as President Biden reiterated America's steadfast commitment to Israel's security.

4: 👂️ How do you get rid of a timeshare that was gifted to you? Is it legal or a good idea to use student loan money for a downpayment? Should you pay off your mortgage early? What about non compete contracts? This week’s White Coat Investor pod is filled with goodies.

5: 💉 European regulators and the U.S. FDA haven't found any link between diabetes and weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, and increased suicidal thoughts. Some user had reported self-harm, but so far the evidence suggests they might even pose less risk than older medications.

6: 📉 Speaking of Ozempic… a Chinese drugmaker has created a similar version, and is now seeking approval to sell it under the name Jiyoutai in China. This development poses a potential challenge to Novo Nordisk, especially since Ozempic's sales in China have been soaring and has grown to be a significant part of the drug's global market.

7: 🤫 Donald Trump will make history as the first former president to stand trial on criminal charges when his hush money case opens Monday with jury selection. Importantly, it’s the only one of four criminal cases against Trump that could reach a verdict before voters decide in November whether to send him back to the White House.

Insight of the Day 💡 

We’re all wondering - when are we going to get a break on these prices? Our friends at Chartr have done the math, and it turns out now’s probably a great time for some things, but the cost of driving to get ‘em will probably eat the savings.

2024’s Bloody Revolution 🩸 

We all love our basic metabolic panels, but changes are happening that are growing the market. Today, we’ve got the update on two major trends that are revamping the blood testing scene, and you don’t need to complete your hematology residency to get a look at what’s happening.

1. DIY tests are coming

Thanks to the pandemic, at-home test kits are booming. In the UK, some pharmacies are offering on-site cholesterol testing via the PocDoc app, prescribing as needed. And some health practitioners are monitoring a patient’s real-time blood pressure with pharmacy or Amazon-bought gadgets. 

Though kits are especially useful when it comes to long waitlists and those with limited healthcare access, doctors caution against DIY-ing your health without expert approval. Last year, UK’s Royal College of GPs warned against unaccredited blood tests claiming to detect genetic abnormalities and predict remaining "healthy years."

2. AI/Software

While current tests measure only a few proteins at a time, companies like Nautilus and SomaLogic aim to decode the entire proteome for faster, more precise diagnoses.

AI and blood testing’s 2024 achievements include:

• An AI model trained to predict septic shock likelihood based on molecular signatures.

• UCLH’s new lung cancer diagnostic method: achieving 96% accuracy in detecting various cancers and pinpointing tissue of origin through blood sample analysis.

Accuracy isn’t guaranteed, as users can mishandle DIY kits, and AI’s “black box nature” complicates understanding their decisions. And we all remember the last time a tech person tried to run blood tests without the proper scientific background (Theranos lost $600M of investors’ funds). But in the next few years, if science is done properly, we could be in for some bloody brilliant discoveries.

Laugh of the Day

🕹️ Game ⛳️

Welcome to this week’s crossword!

First question: What happens when a patient presents you with acute confusion and known decompensated liver disease?

Enjoyed our puzzle? Send it along and flex on em.

Image Challenge 📸 

Source: Originally published on NEJM

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