Erik Greb

Student-Led Initiative Promotes Social Medicine in Canada Medical students in Ottawa have created a strategy to help fellow students learn about the challenges that disadvantaged communities face.

Two medical students at the University of Ottawa created a program that allows med students to support the services that community organizations provide. It highlights the importance of social determinants of health. www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...

Indigenous Canadians Lack Access to Cardiologic, Stroke Care Indigenous Canadians face long-standing neglect by the medical system, lack of access to quality healthcare, and worse cardiovascular and stroke outcomes.

Because of neglect, inaccessible resources, and lack of cultural sensitivity, Canada’s Indigenous population still faces major disparities in heart and stroke care. What is being done to reduce these disparities? www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...

Care Seeking for Concussion Varies by Material Deprivation Children with fewer advantages are much less likely than their peers to visit an emergency department after a concussion, data suggest.

ED visits for concussion have increased substantially in the past 10 years, but patients facing greater material deprivation are much less likely to seek care. What are the recent data and their clinical implications? @shannonscratch.bsky.social www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...

US Cuts Injure Canada’s Infectious Disease Surveillance Are cuts to US health and research budgets a chronicle of a Canadian communicable disease crisis foretold?

Canada is facing rising infectious disease rates — and US cuts to CDC data are making it harder to track and respond. Experts warn this could impair pandemic readiness and fuel health misinformation across the border. Read more. @amykaler.bsky.social www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...

Semaglutide Has Found Its STRIDE The STRIDE trial has laid the foundation for a paradigm shift in how we use GLP-1 RAs for symptomatic peripheral arterial disease.

The STRIDE trial illustrates the significant benefits that semaglutide has for patients with type 2 diabetes and peripheral arterial disease. This therapy could improve quality and quantity of life in these patients, says @drkevinfernando.bsky.social. #diabetes www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...

Partnership Promotes Indigenous Mothers’ Reproductive Health A partnership in Alberta reflects efforts by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to improve Indigenous health trajectories.

The Aunties Within Reach partnership, which is supported by CIHR, uses a community-integrated care model to provide reproductive health services to Indigenous communities in the Wood Buffalo region of Alberta. @smontesanti.bsky.social www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...

2 New Studies Show CVD Benefit of Portfolio Diet The plant-based, cholesterol-lowering diet is associated with a reduced risk for cardiovascular disease and mortality across diverse groups.

New Canadian studies suggest that the portfolio diet can reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease and mortality among diverse patient populations. Previous studies had examined only older White participants. @meaghankavanagh.bsky.social www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...

Mental Scars: The Toll of Solitary Confinement in Canada Canada’s attempt to address solitary confinement appears to exacerbate preexisting mental health issues among the incarcerated.

Despite the Canadian government's ostensible reforms, solitary confinement continues, with negative psychological effects on the most vulnerable people, including those with mental illness. Read our new report. www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...

Colorectal Cancer Linked With Adverse Sexual Health Outcomes Study findings highlight an unexpected outcome in colorectal cancer survivors: Significant sexual health issues.

New data show an increased risk for sexual health conditions in women with colorectal cancer, especially those with early-onset colorectal cancer (diagnosed in women younger than 50 years). www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...

Migraine Expert Renews Call for Prompt, Effective Management CGRP-targeting therapies should be considered earlier in the treatment of migraine, he says.

At the Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation Congress, Dr. David Dodick renewed the call for CGRP therapies to be used as first-line migraine treatments. The main reason that they're not used this way? Cost. www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...

Use of Oral Steroids to Treat MS Relapse Is Growing Intravenous and oral steroids have comparable efficacy, but the reliance on steroids to treat relapse is decreasing, data suggest.

The use of oral rather than intravenous steroids to respond to relapses in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis is growing, according to a study presented at the Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation Congress. www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...

Canadian Women’s Access to Mental Health Care Uneven About half of girls and young women with a mental health or substance use disorder accessed formal healthcare services in 2022, Statistics Canada data show.

About half of girls and women aged 15-29 with mental health or substance use disorder accessed formal healthcare support in 2022, according to Statistics Canada. Lesbian and bisexual women were more likely to receive counseling or medication. www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...

Recognizing and Treating Hyperprolactinemia Excessive production of prolactin can lead to subfertility and gonadal dysfunction, and treatment depends on the underlying cause.

The latest episode of the Medical Mentor podcast, featuring Dr. Kevin Fernando, examines how to recognize and treat hyperprolactinemia, which is associated with reduced fertility and even visual field defects. www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...

Australian Government Doubles Down on Urgent Care Clinics Having spent $759.9 million setting up 87 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, the Australian government makes a further $644 million commitment.

The Australian government is expanding its investment in Urgent Care Clinics to reduce pressure on strained emergency departments. Though this strategy may provide benefits, it also may leave deeper problems unaddressed. @racgppresident.bsky.social www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...

Flooding Triggers Major Melioidosis Outbreak in Australia Northeastern Australia is grappling with an unprecedented outbreak of the tropical bacterial infection melioidosis, which has been linked to heavy rainfall and flooding.

Australia has recorded its highest number of melioidosis cases, which are thought to have been promoted by high rainfall and flooding. These cases are putting pressure on hospitals that already are strained. www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...

Mixed Results for BC’s Opioid Standard for Noncancer Pain The standard is associated with both an accelerated decline in opioid prescribing and aggressive dose tapering.

An opioid prescribing practice standard for chronic noncancer pain was associated with accelerated declines in opioid doses in BC but also with more aggressive and inappropriate dose tapering, a new analysis showed. www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...

Case Closed? Study Rules Out Mystery Neurologic Syndrome “This is misdiagnosis, misdocumentation, and misinformation,” according to a researcher.

The evidence does not provide a basis for the diagnosis of a neurologic syndrome of unknown cause in New Brunswick, according to a new study. Nevertheless, the province's health officials will continue their investigation. www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...

Cannabis Use Changed Little in Canada After Legalization Legalization was not associated with a significant increase in cannabis use, and cannabis misuse decreased modestly.

Has legalization affected cannabis use in Canada? Data suggest a modest rise in cannabis use frequency and a slight decrease in cannabis misuse since legalization. What does this mean for public health? www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...

Keep Clocks on Permanent Standard Time, Says Canadian Group Data indicate that standard time aligns more closely with circadian rhythm than daylight saving time.

Has the bell tolled for Daylight Saving Time? Canadian researchers call for a switch to permanent Standard Time. The move would align our social clocks with the circadian rhythm and reduce the risk for negative health outcomes, they say. www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...

Nature Art Prescriptions Support Mental Health in Vancouver A first-of-its kind partnership in Canada enables clinicians to prescribe a visit to a nature-inspired art exhibition to support patients’ mental health and well-being.

Through a new program with @vanartgallery.bsky.social, physicians can prescribe a nature-inspired art experience to promote mental health. Data suggest that such experiences improve well-being and reduce anxiety. @drmelissalem.bsky.social www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...

Spike in Asthma ED Visits After Wildfires a ‘Wake-Up Call’ The large differences in emergency department visits between the first and second rounds of the 2023 wildfires may hold lessons for the future, a study suggests.

The Canadian wildfires in 2023 caused two smoke episodes. The first was associated with a 24% spike in asthma-related ED visits in Ontario, but the second was not. How can these data help us prepare for future wildfires? www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...

Rentable E-Scooter Injuries an Increasing Burden in Edmonton Rental e-scooter injuries are rising in a Canadian city, and many adults who present to the emergency department have multiple injuries, yet helmet use is uncommon.

E-scooter injuries are increasing in Edmonton: 32% of cases involve fractures, and 17% involve head injuries. Helmet use is rare (2.4%), but substance use is common (26%). How can clinicians respond to this problem? www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...

Safer Opioid Supply, Methadone Effective Treatment Options Patients who use opioids have better results but higher discontinuation rates with methadone than with safer opioid supply, according to a new study.

Both methadone and safer opioid supply reduce overdoses, infections, and healthcare costs but reach different patient groups. Methadone shows faster improvements, but SOS keeps patients engaged longer. Could combining them reshape opioid care? @taragomes.bsky.social www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...

Social Prescribing Is Easing Clinicians’ Load in Canada Social prescribing is making inroads across Canada, integrating healthcare, social services, and community support to benefit patients and lighten clinicians’ workloads.

Social prescribing can offer a timely, practical response to the constraints on time, resources, or support that clinicians often face. It can be a useful means of addressing nonmedical drivers of health. @garybloch.bsky.social www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...

Abortion Rates Stable in Canada but Spike Elsewhere Abortion rates in the United Kingdom and Europe have risen, while rates in Canada have remained stable, according to a new cohort study in Ontario.

Why were abortion rates from 2020 to 2023 stable in Ontario, while they increased substantially in the UK and Europe? Canada’s regulatory and policy approach may be a key factor, according to the authors of a new study. @drlschummers.bsky.social www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...

Childhood Obesity: New Canadian Guideline Published A clinical practice guideline that stresses a multidisciplinary approach is intended to help clinicians manage obesity in children and teens.

An updated guideline focuses on managing obesity in children and adolescents. It stresses behavioral and psychological interventions as the cornerstone of care and includes input from children and their families. @drsanjeevs.bsky.social @julie-stp.bsky.social www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...

Wage Dispute Unresolved After Australian Doctors Strike The doctors’ union agrees to suspend industrial action after a 3-day strike of nearly 6000 doctors employed by public hospitals in New South Wales.

The key issues remain unresolved after nearly 6000 Australian doctors employed by public hospitals in the state of New South Wales struck for 3 days in early April to protest inadequate pay and unsafe working conditions. www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...

Psychedelics: Experts Call for More Medical Education It’s time to close the gap between patient interest in psychedelic therapies and clinical education, researchers say.

Patient interest in and access to psychedelic drugs are increasing rapidly. Canadian experts are calling for more medical education so clinicians can better advise and treat patients who are interested in psychedelics. @mayoonthebrain.bsky.social @kryskow.bsky.social www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...

Australia Braces for Major Influenza, RSV, Pertussis Season Australians are preparing for significant numbers of respiratory infections this winter, as cases of influenza, RSV, and pertussis surge earlier than expected.

Australia is reporting high numbers of influenza, RSV, and pertussis infections well ahead of winter, with concerns that declining vaccination rates could contribute to a severe respiratory infection season. @julieleask.bsky.social www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...

Online Program Helps Women Improve Sexual Dysfunction Both mindfulness-based therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy appear to be effective, allowing users to decide which approach may work better for them.

An online program called eSense appeared to be effective for the treatment of sexual interest/arousal disorder in women, according to new research. It's associated with improved sexual desire and reduced sexual distress. @drloribrotto.bsky.social www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...