Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Dr Jessica Otte, 🇨🇦 MD, CCFP, FCFP 🩺🌍🌱 @drotte.medsky.social · 1d

RTVS programs = incredible. Saw that at the JCC talk today. As one who stopped remote practice, one reason was not feeling able to manage occasional critical cases with the skills/confidence required. That’s a big barrier to sustaining rural work.

RTVS could (does) make all the difference!!!

1

Dr Jessica Otte, 🇨🇦 MD, CCFP, FCFP 🩺🌍🌱 @drotte.medsky.social · 1d

Yes. Some are better than others. Many suggest things that conflict with others.

Dr Jessica Otte, 🇨🇦 MD, CCFP, FCFP 🩺🌍🌱 @drotte.medsky.social · 2d

another TI @drug-evidence.bsky.social + collaborators publication:

It is possible to reduce the unnecessary over-use of TSH and related #thyroid tests!!! But it can be a challenge!

(DM me to ask how I know!)

qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/qhc/...

#choosingwisely #overtesting

1 2 5

Dr Jessica Otte, 🇨🇦 MD, CCFP, FCFP 🩺🌍🌱 @drotte.medsky.social · 5d

One + of covid-era delays: learned Rx like rituximab for MS in lower/less frequent doses are still effective = lower cost & easier for patient!

Opposite, nefarious: drug companies pushing higher doses of #cancer drugs than are needed, just for profit 🤮💰

#cancercapitalism #palliativecare #pallmed

2 3 6

Dr Jessica Otte, 🇨🇦 MD, CCFP, FCFP 🩺🌍🌱 @drotte.medsky.social · 22d

good question...probably not. The mechanism is likely related to neurotransmitters and their post-synaptic receptors being down-regulated.

Our group has done a fair bit of work on this: www.ti.ubc.ca/2025/06/18/1... and www.ti.ubc.ca/2025/07/17/1... are our recent efforts.

Therapeutics Initiative | [156] Antidepressant withdrawal syndrome – Update

www.ti.ubc.ca

1 1

Dr Jessica Otte, 🇨🇦 MD, CCFP, FCFP 🩺🌍🌱 @drotte.medsky.social · 22d

@cfpjournal.bsky.social ah! you do have a Bluesky account! Couldn't find it the other day, sorry about that, would have @'d you otherwise :)

2

Dr Jessica Otte, 🇨🇦 MD, CCFP, FCFP 🩺🌍🌱 @drotte.medsky.social · 23d

Our @drug-evidence.bsky.social team has worked so hard on Portraits www.ti.ubc.ca/portrait/ and we have RCT evidence that it improves prescribing patterns.

How excited, grateful, & proud we feel to be recognized by @ubcmedicine.bsky.social for our innovation in #CME

www.med.ubc.ca/news/faculty...

1 4

Dr Jessica Otte, 🇨🇦 MD, CCFP, FCFP 🩺🌍🌱 @drotte.medsky.social · 24d

. . . particularly in youth. I think tramadol carries a warning (in the USA anyway) of increased risk of suicide. We did not assess that in our paper - but none of the studies reported on it anyway. One has to look at population-level data and there are certainly a number of case reports that fit.

1

Dr Jessica Otte, 🇨🇦 MD, CCFP, FCFP 🩺🌍🌱 @drotte.medsky.social · 24d

I'm sorry you went through that, it must have been very frightening! Pharmacologically: the molecular structure and mechanism of action of tramadol, besides opioid-effect, is that of an SNRI (similar to venlafaxine). Increased suicidality can be a side effect of SSRI or SNRI antidepressants. . .

3 1

Dr Jessica Otte, 🇨🇦 MD, CCFP, FCFP 🩺🌍🌱 @drotte.medsky.social · 25d

tough! In Canada we don’t have “direct to consumer” marketing thankfully. People do see American TV ads but it is more the physicians who follow the myth that tramadol is “safer than opioids” who I suspect drive the prescribing trend. hopefully our article helps a bit

1

Dr Jessica Otte, 🇨🇦 MD, CCFP, FCFP 🩺🌍🌱 @drotte.medsky.social · 26d

that is a perfect summary! haha that is exactly what we found. Our inclusion of types/durations of pain and the durations of studies etc was perhaps overly broad, but there is so little out there that we decided it would be best to include it all.

1 2

Dr Jessica Otte, 🇨🇦 MD, CCFP, FCFP 🩺🌍🌱 @drotte.medsky.social · 26d

Took a few years... but we got it done and in print thanks to @cfpc-cmfc.bsky.social's CFP.

Tramadol (with or without acetaminophen) efficacy and harm: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

www.cfp.ca/content/71/9...

#tramadol #pain #palliativecare #opioids

Tramadol (with or without acetaminophen) efficacy and harm

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tramadol (with or without acetaminophen) in adult pain management compared with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opioids, and acetaminoph...

www.cfp.ca

2 6 15

Dr Jessica Otte, 🇨🇦 MD, CCFP, FCFP 🩺🌍🌱 @drotte.medsky.social · Aug 23

I also have questions!

NanaimoNewsNOW @nanaimonewsnow.bsky.social · Aug 22

Mid-Island MLAs were questioned regarding when the Nanaimo hospital will get a new patient tower and cardiac catheterization lab, promises made by Premier David Eby during last year's election campaign.

#Nanaimo

nanaimonewsnow.com/2025/08/22/p...

Promised new patient tower & cardiac care addressed by Nanaimo MLA’s

NANAIMO - Nearly a year after B.C.'s premier made significant healthcare promises for Nanaimo on the campaign ...

nanaimonewsnow.com

1

Dr Jessica Otte, 🇨🇦 MD, CCFP, FCFP 🩺🌍🌱 @drotte.medsky.social · Aug 19

oh #academictwitter where you at?!

When you get the abstract accepted but it says "you can do it as a poster"

x 2 in my case.

But... no..... I really need to TALK to youuuuuuuuu

#academic #conference #palliative #ohwell

a man and two women are standing next to each other in a room .

ALT: a man and two women are standing next to each other in a room .

media.tenor.com

2

Reposted by Dr Jessica Otte, 🇨🇦 MD, CCFP, FCFP 🩺🌍🌱

David Juurlink @davidjuurlink.bsky.social · Aug 13

Toronto-area MDs and pharmacists: Join us for Therapeutics Day 2025

- Relevant topics
- Great speakers (but also me)
- You will be fed
- You will get CE credits

Register here: tinyurl.com/mr447y5n

3 6

Dr Jessica Otte, 🇨🇦 MD, CCFP, FCFP 🩺🌍🌱 @drotte.medsky.social · Jul 31

🎆It's here!!!!! 🎆

10+ TEN years in the making!!!
Choosing Wisely BC!

We are the LAST but not LEAST province/territory.

healthqualitybc.ca/choosing-wis...

I'm so so so happy!

@healthqualitybc.ca @choosingwiselyca.bsky.social #lessismore #quaternaryprevention #choosingwisely

announcement form HQBC about Appropriate Care / Choosing Wisely hub in British Columbia

1 3

Reposted by Dr Jessica Otte, 🇨🇦 MD, CCFP, FCFP 🩺🌍🌱

Raywat Deonandan @deonandan.bsky.social · Jul 22

Just wait. The comments after the post will confirm this post's truth.

9 29 97

Dr Jessica Otte, 🇨🇦 MD, CCFP, FCFP 🩺🌍🌱 @drotte.medsky.social · Jul 19

a reasonably accessible explanation of overdiagnosis and why it matters in cancer screening:

iai.tv/articles/50-...

We are overcounting cancer cases by vast amounts | H. Gilbert Welch

iai.tv

1 4

Dr Jessica Otte, 🇨🇦 MD, CCFP, FCFP 🩺🌍🌱 @drotte.medsky.social · Jul 15

If it’s on purpose, that’s just good legacy planning 😉

ashley fairbanks @ziibiing.com · Jul 15

realizing that if you knew you were dying you could use the “send later” option on messages to haunt someone from beyond the grave

1

Dr Jessica Otte, 🇨🇦 MD, CCFP, FCFP 🩺🌍🌱 @drotte.medsky.social · Jul 14

Critical thinking skills 101. How do you know something is “true”?

Kids need to be able to reason.

1

Reposted by Dr Jessica Otte, 🇨🇦 MD, CCFP, FCFP 🩺🌍🌱

Nature @nature.com · Jul 2

This is how to have difficult conversations with vaccine sceptics

110 480 1.3K

Reposted by Dr Jessica Otte, 🇨🇦 MD, CCFP, FCFP 🩺🌍🌱

Timothy Caulfield @caulfieldtim.bsky.social · Jun 30

The sheer volume of harmful & exploitive BS?

Study finds 81% of cancer cures touted by TikTok videos are fake medicalxpress.com/news/2024-11...

From study: "...draw on a conspiratorial worldview to present various miracle cures..."

"...the app provides accessible avenues for monetization..."

Study finds 81% of cancer cures touted by TikTok videos are fake

As many as 81% of cancer cures touted by content creators on TikTok are fake, according to new research from City St George's, University of London.

medicalxpress.com

5 22 52

Dr Jessica Otte, 🇨🇦 MD, CCFP, FCFP 🩺🌍🌱 @drotte.medsky.social · Jun 28

Don't eat THIS.
Opened up the mozzarella and it was the same shade of violet as PUBS (purple urine bag syndrome). Had to wonder: "What in the fresh !$%#^* got in there?!"

No it isn't a UTI. It's pseudomonas fluorescens!

www.pagepressjournals.org/ijfs/article...

#medsky #purpleurine #purplecheese

a container of fresh mozzarella that turned purple!

1 5

Reposted by Dr Jessica Otte, 🇨🇦 MD, CCFP, FCFP 🩺🌍🌱

André Picard @picardonhealth @picardonhealth.bsky.social · Jun 26

#Disability tax credits are critical for some Canadians. But applying for them can cost thousands. Experts raise alarm that DTC companies are bilking applicants, by @thatemfagan.bsky.social www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... via @cbcnews.ca

Disability tax credits are critical for some Canadians. But applying for them can cost thousands | CBC News

As Canada launches its new disability benefit payments in July, medical and disability experts are raising alarms over barriers to obtaining the main eligibility requirement, the disability tax credit...

www.cbc.ca

5 20 33

Dr Jessica Otte, 🇨🇦 MD, CCFP, FCFP 🩺🌍🌱 @drotte.medsky.social · Jun 26

Well, it happened folks:

I received a “mild update.” ‼️

And they also request that I submit my manuscript, even if it’s by accident.

How should I proceed?!

PS is this low rent AI or a maltreated ESL laborer generating these emails?!

#scamjournals #academia #medacademia #predatorypublishing

A threatening nonsensical email from a scam or predatory journal

2