Staying #Up2Date 🚨

1: The Hidden Risk of AI-Assisted Decision Making

An RCT of 44 physicians trained in AI literacy assessed whether physicians remain susceptible to false information, or “hallucinations,” generated by large language models (LLMs). Doctors exposed to erroneous LLM suggestions had a mean diagnostic accuracy of 73.3%, compared to 84.9% in those who received error-free diagnostic suggestions, despite being free to accept, modify, or reject suggestions. The findings offer a cautionary note: even those who completed a 20-hour program focused on critically evaluating AI outputs demonstrated substantial automation bias — the tendency to over-rely on automated outputs.

2: When Minutes Matter — Ketamine in Acute Depression and Suicidality

A systematic review and meta-analysis looked at the effects of ketamine on suicidal and depressive symptoms in 1K patients experiencing a major depressive episode. After 24 hours, patients who received a single ketamine infusion had significantly lower suicidal symptoms compared to controls. Within just four hours of infusion, ketamine also significantly reduced depressive symptoms. With related adverse events observed to be transient and reversible, ketamine appears to be a safe and effective option for reducing suicidal and depressive symptoms in an acute setting.

3: mRNA Vaccines Show Promise Beyond COVID-19

A phase 3 RCT found that an mRNA-based vaccine was superior to standard-dose influenza vaccines in adults 50+. Among 40K participants, RT-PCR-confirmed influenza illness was observed in 411 recipients of the mRNA vaccine (2.0%) compared to 557 of those who received the standard-dose comparator (2.8%). Injection-site pain, fatigue, headache, and myalgia were more common in the mRNA vaccine group, though most reactions were considered mild to moderate and transient. The findings suggest mRNA platforms may have a growing role beyond COVID-19.

Course of the Week

Optimizing Hepatic Encephalopathy Care Across Settings

Hepatic encephalopathy doesn’t end at discharge, and neither do the challenges. This free, 1-hour MOC Section 1–accredited webinar tackles one of the trickier aspects of cirrhosis management: keeping HE patients from bouncing back.

Three hepatology specialists walk through inpatient diagnosis, first-line lactulose, adjunctive rifaximin, and discharge planning that actually holds — standardized order sets, patient support programs, and real-world cases that translate directly to practice.

Hantavirus Hits Home 🦠

A rare virus, an unusual strain, an all-too-familiar response

What happened: Several Canadians were exposed to hantavirus during a recent South American cruise outbreak, and now health officials are drawing comparisons between this virus and COVID-19.

Why it matters: Hantavirus is a rodent-borne illness with fatality rates ranging roughly between 20% to 50%, depending on the strain. This outbreak caught international attention after about 150 people, including 4 Canadians, were exposed to the rare Andes strain — the only version that can spread from human to human —  on a cruise. Most hantavirus infections occur after exposure to aerosolized rodent urine or droppings and do not spread between people, making the Andes strain particularly unusual.

Symptoms can appear anywhere from 1 to 8 weeks after exposure and include severe fatigue, fever, muscle pain, nausea, and, in more severe cases, difficulty breathing.  And early symptoms can also closely resemble influenza or COVID-19, making travel history and exposure screening especially important in frontline assessments. There is currently no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine, with management relying largely on supportive care. There are currently 5 confirmed cases, and none of the exposed Canadians have developed symptoms. They’re currently isolating at home in Ontario. 

But: Unlike COVID-19, which is highly infectious and air-borne, hantavirus is spread by prolonged close contact, like tuberculosis or measles. That’s why contact tracing is so important. Infectious disease experts hope that tracing back to the source can help them determine who’s at risk of exposure and should isolate. 

Despite repeated reassurances from experts, including the WHO, and Argentina officially on rodent-trapping duty, social media is doing what it does best: spreading misinformation, fear, and speculation. Some are already preparing for “another lockdown.” Others claim the virus could “wipe out the entire human race.” Old anxieties are bound to resurface, with the revival of all-too-familiar, loaded terms: contact tracing, quarantines, and international coordination. Just 3 years after COVID-19 and the recent outbreak being called “a real-life simulation exercise,” public panic is inevitable.

Bottom line: Health officials continue to stress that the public risk remains low, but the outbreak is a reminder that even rare pathogens can trigger outsized concern when they behave in unexpected ways. Until more is known, it might still be wise to avoid that shed with the mouse droppings for now.

Hot Off The Press

1:🎗️ Canada’s endometriosis care is stuck in a decade-long waiting room. A new CMAJ editorial is calling the long diagnostic delay a total “systemic failure.” The fix? We need to stop obsessing over the “surgical gold standard” of laparoscopy, which currently acts as a major bottleneck for care. The authors want to pivot to symptom-based diagnosis in primary care, helping GPs “feel empowered” to start hormonal treatment right away, without surgical confirmation. The aim of this proposed shift: reduce disease progression, plus address the $1.8 billion annual productivity losses tied to Canada’s fractured referral system.

2: 🧬 HIV care in Canada just hit 2 very different milestones: 1 breakthrough, 1 breakdown. A new, cutting-edge treatment is setting up a man in Toronto to be the first Canadian declared cured. It’s not an easy treatment — it requires intense chemotherapy, a stem cell/bone marrow transplant, a donor with rare, virus-resistant cells, and $300,000 — but it’s hoped to inspire more innovative, less invasive treatments in the future. Meanwhile, Manitoba has declared a public health emergency as HIV rates continue to climb, with reported rates of roughly 3.5x the national average. Two versions of hope, albeit extremely uneven: eradication for 1, and a “good first step” for many.

3: ⚽ The FIFA World Cup 2026 is officially less than 30 days away, and Canada is splitting host duties between Toronto and Vancouver. The action kicks off at Toronto Stadium (BMO Field) June 12, when Canada opens against Bosnia and Herzegovina, then moves west to BC Place June 18 for Canada vs. Qatar. Can’t get to the matches? Both cities are launching official FIFA Fan Festivals: a new 10,000-seat open-air amphitheatre in Vancouver’s Hastings Park (PNE grounds), and watch parties at Toronto’s historic Fort York.

4: 🌌 The James Webb Space Telescope just spotted a pair of “planets that shouldn’t exist” — forcing astronomers to throw out the playbook on the origins of solar systems. 190 light-years away, this bizarre duo consists of 2 massive planets orbiting together so closely (and so far from their host star), they’re defying every model of gravity-driven formation. Scientists say this planetary paradox hints that the universe may build solar systems in far stranger ways than we ever imagined. Once again, even with the most advanced technology humanity has ever created, we’re reminded that we’re still just peering into a vast, mysterious dark room with a flashlight that barely reaches the corners.

Notable Numbers 🔢

10: the number of daily habits oncology experts personally follow to lower their own cancer risk, ranging from prioritizing strength training to strictly limiting ultra-processed foods. These specialists emphasize that while no magic bullet exists, these consistent lifestyle choices are exactly how they stack the deck in their own favour.

61%: the percentage of Canadians who now say economic growth should top environmental protection in national energy policy. This marks a significant shift from 7 years ago, when the majority favored the environment.

800 years: the age of baduanjin, an ancient Chinese exercise routine that a new clinical trial found lowers blood pressure as effectively as brisk walking. Adults with stage 1 hypertension //who practiced the gentle mind-body movements saw significant drops in systolic blood pressure within 3 months, a drug-free benefit that lasted an entire year.

Postcall Picks ✅

🥗 Make: this asparagus and Gruyère tart. Puff pastry, Dijon, melty Gruyère, and fresh asparagus. It’s elegant enough to feel fancy, simple enough that you’ll actually do it.

🎟️ Check out: the 2026 Canadian tour schedule to secure dates for upcoming major stadium shows across the country. 

⌚Pre-order: the new Google Fitbit Air by May 25th and score CA$50 in Google Store credit after it ships.

🎬 Watch: Doctor Mike taste-test protein snacks and separate the genuinely decent from the ultra-processed imposters.

🎧 Listen: to this episode of the Money Meets Medicine on “1 more year syndrome” — why many doctors keep working long after they’ve technically achieved financial independence.

📖 Read: how needing to pee might actually improve your gaming skills.

Relax

First clue: The “jab”

Give it a go

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.

Meme of the Week

Advertise with Postcall

Want to reach thousands of Canadian physicians every week? Email denis.bricov@mdbriefcase.com to learn more.