Zebra Mail · Issue #3 · 13 November 2026

The Weekly Dose, 13 Nov 2026

A new stroke pill, an inflammation flop and dinosaur blood.

Heart lessons, an old foe and a toothbrush that zaps.

🩺 The Weekly Dose

The FDA approved asundexian, the first factor XIa blocker: 26% fewer repeat ischaemic strokes in a 12,327-person trial. Bleeding was similar overall, higher over 75. The gentler-blood-thinner dream lives.
An IL-6 drug cut inflammation by about two-thirds, yet heart events were 17.6% versus 17.7% on placebo (6,376 people). Better blood test, same hearts.
TB made 10.6 million people ill in 2025, and cases in the Americas rose for a fifth straight year. Deaths are down 35% since 2015. Not retired yet.

Women with the highest PFOS levels had a 93% higher rate of ER-negative breast cancer. Case-cohort, 3,878 women, Journal of Clinical Oncology. Why it matters: this type has few known risk factors. Association, not cause; all had a sister with breast cancer.
Doxycycline in early pregnancy was linked to a 40–54% higher risk of pregnancy loss than amoxicillin. Claims cohort, ~225,000 pregnancies, Annals of Internal Medicine. Why it matters: worth asking about if pregnancy is possible. Association only.
Using cannabis just 1–5 days a month was linked to 40% higher odds of a past stroke. Survey snapshot, 442,906 US adults, AHA meeting abstract (not peer reviewed). Why it matters: "occasional" isn't proof of "harmless". Association only.

Fossil red blood cells from a 115-million-year-old Brazilian dinosaur still carried traces of haem. The slowest blood test on record.
Self-charging toothbrush bristles beat nylon on plaque and bleeding gums over 3 months (115 volunteers). Your mouth, now on the grid.
Humans breathe out about 2 billion tonnes of CO2 a year just by staying alive, up 74% since 1985. Please keep breathing anyway.

Stroke signs that vanish still count. A drooping face, weak arm or slurred speech, even briefly, means calling an ambulance (000 in Australia). Risk peaks in the days after a TIA.

In Smith-Magenis syndrome, melatonin peaks around midday instead of the small hours. Prevalence: at least 1 in 25,000. All 20 children in a 2001 study had the flipped clock.

14 Nov: World Diabetes Day: Banting's birthday. 🧩 themed puzzles
17 Nov: World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day, plus Prematurity Day. 🧩 themed puzzles
18–24 Nov: World AMR Awareness Week: keep antibiotics working. 🧩 themed puzzles
19 Nov: World Toilet Day: sanitation saves lives. 🧩 themed puzzles

Malady Wise · Think like a doctor.

General education, not personal medical advice.