1: Don’t Delay Cholecystectomy After Gallstone Pancreatitis

A cohort study of patients with gallstone-related acute pancreatitis assessed treatment plans to find the optimal choice for preventing recurrence and other complications. In 9,500 patients, 28.7% underwent cholecystectomy, 16.9% had ERCP only, and 54.4% received no interventions during their hospital visit for acute pancreatitis. Same-admission cholecystectomy was associated with the lowest rate of recurrence and gallstone-related complications when compared to the other two groups. These findings suggest that those fit for surgery should opt to have their gallbladder removed for the best long-term outcomes.

2: Short and Sweet: A New Look at Dual Antiplatelet Therapy after PCI

A systematic review and meta-analysis compared an abbreviated course of dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) to the standard course in patients with high bleeding risk after PCI. The study found that the shortened 1-3 month course was associated with a lower risk of bleeding and was notably not associated with an increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events when compared to a 6-12 month course. Further research is needed to confirm whether short-duration DAPT proves better long-term.

3: Smells like Ozempic has some other side effects…

A cohort study of 440K patients with type 2 diabetes found that those on GLP-1 receptor agonists had an increased risk of overall smell and taste disturbances (HR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.37-1.61) when compared to non-GLP-1 RA users. Given that these changes were persistent over 2 years of follow-up, these adverse events should be made known to patients and clinicians, as well as studied further to better understand the underlying mechanism.

From saving time to optimizing for your workflow, Dr.Bill helps physicians bill confidently from claim one. Simple billing software makes it easy to submit correctly, get paid faster, and stop second-guessing every code.

Trusted by over 13,000 Canadian physicians across 60+ specialties, Dr.Bill has become a lifesaver for new-to-practice doctors who would rather devote time to patients, not paperwork.

Start your free trial today and see the difference billing with a team of experts makes.

GLP-1s’ latest trick might help Canadians sleep easier

What happened: Health Canada has approved Zepbound, a weight-loss drug, to treat sleep apnea in adults with obesity.

Why it matters: In Canada, about 1/3 of adults live with obesity. Excess body fat, especially around the neck or throat, can cause the airway to collapse during sleep. That's the link Health Canada is now acting on: on June 11, Health Canada authorized Zepbound, making it the only GLP-1 drug approved in Canada for sleep apnea.

Zepbound’s active ingredient is tirzepatide, which helps reduce appetite. For sleep apnea, Zepbound is taken once weekly alongside a calorie-reduced diet and exercise.   

But: The drug isn’t here to replace CPAP. Among patients who weren't using CPAP, tirzepatide cut breathing interruptions by 25 per hour compared to placebo One researcher not involved in the study said that a reduction of 25-29 events per hour is a meaningful change, often putting patients into a lower severity category.

These are impressive findings, but more research is needed to see if tirzepatide could help sleep apnea patients who don’t have obesity. There are signs it could, but for now, that evidence is only anecdotal. 

Of course, it isn’t without downsides. Side effects are common, including nausea, vomiting, and constipation, while rare severe cases can involve pancreatitis or gallstones.

Bottom line: GLP-1s are starting to look like the Swiss Army knife of medicine: weight loss, diabetes, and now sleep apnea. Until we know more about long-term effects and who's most likely to benefit, CPAP shouldn't be packed away just yet. Zepbound looks like a sharp new blade in that knife, but not the whole tool—at least not yet.

1: ⚽ Canada is through to the Round of 16, and the run isn't over yet. Stephen Eustáquio's stoppage-time goal sealed a 1-0 win over South Africa in Los Angeles on Sunday, making this the deepest the men's national team has ever gone at a World Cup. Alphonso Davies, finally back on the pitch after injury kept him out of group play, came on in the 75th minute, just in time to remind everyone why his jersey sells out first. Canada faces the winner of Netherlands vs. Morocco in Houston on July 4. No pressure… just that the whole country has cleared its calendar.

🦇An 11-year-old Ontario boy died of rabies after bat contact at a cottage, according to a CMAJ case report published this week — the province’s 1st human rabies case since 1967. The boy was found with a bat on his face while sleeping, but no visible bite or scratch was noted and his family did not seek medical attention. Symptoms appeared nearly 3 weeks later and progressed rapidly; he died after 5 days in hospital. Physicians at McMaster Children's Hospital published the case to raise awareness: any skin contact with a bat warrants immediate medical evaluation. Post-exposure prophylaxis works extremely well before symptoms start. Once they do, rabies is almost always fatal. 

🧠 Longer breastfeeding is associated with lower ADHD symptoms in early childhood, according to a Norwegian study of more than 37,000 children born between 1999 and 2009. Researchers found that the longer a child was exclusively breastfed (up to the WHO-recommended 6 months) the lower their ADHD symptom levels at ages 3, 5, and 8. The pattern was dose-dependent: any breastfeeding was associated with fewer symptoms, but exclusive breastfeeding showed the strongest association. This was more pronounced in girls than boys across all age groups. Researchers suggest breast milk's mix of macronutrients, immune components, and bioactive compounds may shape early brain development, though the study is observational and the mechanisms remain under investigation.

👁️ A case report in BMJ Case Reports describes a young man who developed multiple retinal tears, bruising, and retinal dialysis after using a percussive massage gun on and around both eyes for several minutes at a time, every week, for 3 months — to relieve eye fatigue. He was successfully treated with laser therapy after seeking care promptly, though the authors note retinal dialysis can cause permanent vision loss if left untreated. They call for clear manufacturer warnings and flag an underappreciated history-taking point: unexpected retinal presentations are worth asking about wellness device use.

3 billion: how many people are on WhatsApp, which will soon allow accounts to switch to usernames, keeping phone numbers private. Usernames are already being snatched off the app, so if you want to grab your name before your mortal enemy does, act fast.

1 in 17: the estimated number of dementia cases that could potentially be prevented with the recombinant shingles vaccine Shingrix, according to a Brown University analysis of more than 500,000 Medicare beneficiaries. Older adults who received at least one dose were 24% less likely to be diagnosed with dementia over four years than unvaccinated peers.

11: how many times trailers containing millions of dollars’ worth of Tesla car and home batteries have allegedly been stolen straight from Tesla’s Nevada battery factory since last December. Not only have US shipping heists roughly doubled since 2022, they also seem more strategic. It takes skill to pluck cars barely off the assembly line, especially from the world’s most valuable automaker — over... and over... and over...

✈️ Read: why airplane cabins always seem just a little too cold. This fascinating explainer explores the science behind one of flying's most common complaints, and why finding the perfect cabin temperature is far more complicated than it seems.

🎓 Learn: how to spot the early warning signs of interstitial lung disease and lung cancer before they become easy to miss. This 30-minute accredited course walks through key clinical red flags, initial workup, and when to escalate to specialist care.

🌯 Make: these do-ahead campfire burritos built for maximum payoff with minimal effort. Prep ahead, heat over the fire, and you’ve got smoky, customizable comfort food with almost no cleanup.

🎧 Listen: why doctors burn out from trying to stay emotionally connected with patients, and what it takes to protect that connection without losing yourself in it. This podcast explores the idea of “regulating clinical empathy,” where the goal isn’t caring less, but learning how to stay present with suffering without absorbing it all.

🌡️ Navigate: Europe’s heatwave and what it means for summer travel plans across the continent. If a European vacation is on your summer list, this update breaks down how soaring temperatures are affecting destinations, itineraries, and day-to-day travel across peak season.

📺 Watch: why these 12 niche doctor specialties matter. A quick tour through lesser-seen paths in medicine and what they actually look like in clinical practice, especially for med students exploring specialty options.

First clue: Difficult to treat gram positive bacteria, for short

Need a rematch? We’ve got you covered. Check out our Crossword Archive to find every puzzle we’ve ever made, all in one place.

Think you crushed it? Challenge your physician friends to beat your time.

Want to reach thousands of Canadian physicians every week? Email [email protected] to learn more.