1: Does Skipping Vitamin K Come With A Cost? 

A cohort study of 2 million infants assessed rates of parental refusal of vitamin K prophylaxis and whether this had an impact on bleeding diagnoses during infancy. The number of infants who had no record of receiving the injection more than doubled from 2006 (0.66%) to 2021 (1.50%). Notably, infants without vitamin K administration had 1.5x higher odds of bleeding and 3x higher odds of intracranial bleeding during infancy when compared to those who received IM vitamin K at birth. These results highlight the significance of continued education for parents and healthcare providers about the evidence behind newborn prophylactic vitamin K and the risks that come with refusal. 

2: Can a Label Change What You Pick for Lunch?

An RCT of 6,210 adults looked at the effects of putting “ecolabels” on restaurant menus to promote healthy and sustainable choices. Using a traffic-light label to designate choices as red, yellow, or green depending on the item’s impact on greenhouse gas emissions, individuals ended up making selections with 30% lower greenhouse gas emissions from a sandwich restaurant and 15% lower at a burger restaurant. These ecolabels could be an effective and scalable strategy to promote more sustainable choices from fast-food restaurants - for both population and planetary health. 

3: Is Single-Dose Clesrovimab Safe Over 2 RSV Seasons in High-Risk Infants?

A phase 3 randomized trial evaluated the long-acting mAb clesrovimab against monthly palivizumab in 997 high-risk infants (prematurity, CLD, or CHD) in season 1, and followed 276 children receiving a second 210-mg clesrovimab dose in season 2. In season 1, adverse events (75.3% vs 79.6%) and medically attended lower respiratory infection rates (3.2% vs 3.4%) were comparable between clesrovimab and palivizumab groups. The second 210-mg dose was equally well tolerated with no drug-related SAEs, while maintaining target protective serum levels. For pediatric and neonatal clinical pharmacists, a single-dose alternative to monthly palivizumab offers an evidence-backed strategy to boost adherence and streamline seasonal RSV prophylaxis in high-risk infants.

Drug Shortages ⚠️

Semaglutide Injection

Zoloft

Newly Approved Drugs ✨

Aspen-Semaglutide: once-weekly treatment for adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus to improve glycemic control, in combination with diet and exercise.

The forecast may matter earlier than expected

What happened: As heat waves become harder to ignore, researchers say early-life heat exposure may have lasting effects on children’s brain development.

Why it matters: A new study in Environment International linked exposure to high temperatures during pregnancy and early childhood with slower growth of the thalamus, a brain region involved in processing sensory and motor information. The findings land as parts of Canada continue to see extreme summer temperatures, adding another layer to the health risks of heat.

The study followed more than 3,200 children from the Netherlands’ Generation R cohort. Researchers estimated outdoor temperatures during pregnancy and from birth to age 8.5, then analyzed MRI scans taken when the children were 10 and 14 years old. They measured the volume of 11 brain structures over time to see whether earlier exposure to heat or cold was associated with later brain development.

But: The study does not prove heat directly changes brain development, and it looked at outdoor temperatures rather than each child’s exact personal exposure. Still, the thalamus was the only brain region that consistently showed a connection with early heat exposure. Researchers say it may be especially sensitive because it develops early in pregnancy and has a rich blood supply.

Bottom line: Heat warnings may need a longer timeline. For pregnant people, infants, and young children, staying cool and out of extreme temperatures may matter well beyond the day’s forecast.

1:🥤 Think twice before reaching for that diet soda to power through your chart notes. A new study published in Neurology followed nearly 13,000 adults over 8 years and found that high consumers of popular artificial sweeteners – like aspartame, erythritol, and xylitol – experienced a 62% faster decline in thinking and memory skills. That gap equals roughly 1.6 extra years of brain aging, with the strongest associations popping up in adults under 60 and those with diabetes. Before you purge the breakroom fridge, keep in mind the study was observational and relied on self-reported diets, meaning it doesn't prove direct causation, though it might make you hesitate before tearing open that artificial sweetener packet. 

2: 🌮 A string of lawsuits has been filed against Taco Bell, its supplier Taylor Farms, and several franchisees following a massive multi-state Cyclospora outbreak in the US. American health officials traced the diarrhea-causing parasite back to contaminated Mexican-grown shredded iceberg lettuce served at restaurants across several states, prompting lawsuits, supply chain overhauls, and a whole lot of bad press. For Canadian readers craving a Crunchwrap, you can breathe a sigh of relief: Taco Bell Canada confirmed that the tainted supply chain never crossed the border, and public health officials report no linked outbreaks here at home.

3: 💊 Could an old-school antidepressant be a secret weapon against long COVID fatigue? An adaptive randomized trial of 399 adults evaluated the effect of fluvoxamine and metformin versus placebo over 60 days in patients with fatigue persisting at least 3 months post-infection. While metformin fell flat, participants taking fluvoxamine experienced significant, sustained reductions in fatigue severity at days 60 and 90, along with improved quality of life and fewer side effects than placebo. Before you start writing scripts en masse, keep in mind that the study evaluated a specific Brazilian cohort and measured self-reported fatigue without assessing other long COVID symptoms (though it gives clinicians a promising, low-cost target worth watching).

4: 🧠 How you sit during your downtime might matter just as much as how much you move. A long-term study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia analyzed data from nearly 1,700 adults over 20 years and found that frequent leisure-time TV watching in midlife was linked to smaller brain volumes in regions tied to memory, as well as higher rates of white matter damage. Interestingly, prolonged sitting at work showed the opposite pattern, correlating with larger brain volumes, likely because occupational sitting requires active problem-solving compared to passive screen time. While the findings show an association rather than direct causation, clinicians can use them to remind patients that substituting passive screen time with cognitively engaging seated activities (like reading or learning a skill) may help preserve brain health over time.

📚 Learn: how to optimize flu protection for your older patients this coming season. This 20-minute expert brief breaks down why adults 65+ are particularly vulnerable due to immunosenescence, compares available enhanced formulations, and provides practical EMR prompts and messaging strategies to boost vaccine uptake in your practice.

🌮 Make: these grilled beef tacos with watermelon and salsa verde. Thinly sliced, coriander-rubbed beef tenderloin meets a bright, refreshing mix of diced watermelon, cherry tomatoes, and crumbled feta. Top it all off with a zesty, homemade cilantro-and-lime salsa verde for the ultimate 30-minute summer taco night.

🎧 Listen: to The Holy Shiver, a captivating episode of Radiolab that investigates the biological mystery of goosebumps. The show dives deep into how a primitive mammalian survival instinct designed for cold and fear somehow evolved into a deeply emotional reaction to music, art, and awe.

💰 Save: on this portable propane pizza oven. It runs on standard gas tanks and reaches up to 850°F to crisp up 12-inch pies in about 60 seconds, making it a budget-friendly way to upgrade outdoor dinners without committing to a massive masonry setup.

📖 Read: this deep dive in The Walrus on why a new generation is treating aging like an optional inconvenience. The piece explores biohacking, stem cells, and longevity tech, unpacking how extending healthspan turned into a high-stakes obsession and asking how far we should go simply trying not to grow old.

This week’s question was inspired by a recent Reddit thread from a pharmacy student looking for advice before volunteering in a pharmacy for the first time. So we’re putting the question to the people who have been there — from students taking their first steps to pharmacists who have seen it all:

First clue: Lost traction

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 pharmacist friends to beat your time.

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