Zoonotic diseases can spread from animals, including the ones we consume or keep as pets, including cats. Why are we talking about cats today? It is because of the increasing numbers of bird flu in the United States, cats of all shapes and sizes have come down with bird flu.

Bird flu was seen in poultry, where chickens have been affected, and even cows too. Why is it a concern for cats? This is because barn cats drink raw milk. In recent days, 20 wild cats at a Washington State animal sanctuary that ate infected birds and other reports of indoor cats dying from eating contaminated food have come out.

Why do cats get bird flu?

One of the leading causes is that unlike dogs, cats hunt for smaller prey, which includes birds and mice, carriers of bird flu. Dr Michael Bailey, the president-elect of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), in a guidance released for cat owners noted that by their very nature, cats have more "opportunity" to ger infected with bird flu.

“We don't know if the cats are more susceptible than anybody else,” he said. “It's just the fact they're exposed to higher viral burdens because of where they go.”

Reports say that domestic cats have been bird flu virus carrier since 2004. Kristen Coleman, an assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Health told a media outlet that before, about half of cats died, and now with the spreading of the bird flu even in cows, about 90% of them seem to be dying. Coleman has also been tracking the deaths. She has also shared 4 main tips to protect pets from bird flu which includes:

• Do not touch or allow pets to touch sick or dead animals or animal dropping
• Do not consume, or feed your pet, raw meat or milk
• Keep a close watch on free-roaming outdoor pets
• Immediately report rabies-like symptoms to a veterinarian

Are there symptoms of bird flu in cats one should look out for?

As per AVMA, pet owners must look out for signs like:

• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy
• Fever

Bird flu infection can also progress with neurologic signs, which includes:

• Tremors
• Seizures
• Not being coordinated
• Blindness

Cats may also suffer from:

• Severe depression
• Discharge from their eyes or nose
• Respiratory symptoms which includes rapid breathing, shortness of breath, and sneezing or coughing

Are humans at threat?

Sick animals may also be able to transmit influenza virus to humans through their saliva, excretion and other bodily fluids. People can also get infected by breathing in the virus or by touching something that has virus on it and then touching their eyes, mouth, or nose.

If you think your cat might have bird flu—or any other infectious disease—try to limit their contact with other pets and people in your household, especially those with weakened immune systems, until you get advice from a veterinarian, as recommended by the AVMA. While the chances of cats transmitting H5N1 to humans are extremely low, they aren’t zero.

According to CDC guidance, keep an eye on yourself and your family for flu-like symptoms and reach out to a healthcare provider if needed. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after handling your cat or cleaning their litter box and bedding.

Does a patient’s chances of serious outcomes differ if they are treated by a female doctor? A recent study looks into this hypothesis to ascertain the difference between chances of a patient dying under a male and a female doctor.

According to the study, hospitalised patients treated by female doctors have a lower risk of dying within 30 days. They are also less likely to be re-hospitalised than those treated by male doctors. The study is published in JAMA Network Open.

"Past research has largely focused on surgical patients and the admitting physician only. Our findings add to the growing body of research examining the relationship between physician sex and patient outcomes, broadening the evidence beyond surgical care to a wider range of medical conditions and other physicians," says Dr. Angela Jerath, an ICES scientist, and Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine at the University of Toronto's Temerty Faculty of Medicine.

After analysing the health records of 958,150 adults admitted to hospitals in Ontario, Canada, between 2008 and 2022, researchers found that the 30-day mortality rate was 12.3% among patients treated by female physicians, compared to 13.7% among those treated by male physicians.

The findings also show a small difference in hospital readmissions. The 30-day readmission rate was 18.6% for patients treated by female doctors and 18.9% for those treated by male doctors.

The researchers examined outcomes across seven common medical conditions, including heart attacks, pneumonia and other acute illnesses.

They also considered the number of hospital days during which patients received care from female doctors, recognising that several doctors may be involved in a patient's treatment during an admission.

Patients Treated By Female Doctors Are Less Likely To Die In A 30-Day Period

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After accounting for patient, physician and hospital characteristics, treatment by a female physician was linked with 12% lower adjusted odds of death within 30 days compared to treatment by a male physician.

The researchers also found that for every 10% increase in the proportion of hospital days managed by female physicians, the adjusted odds of 30-day mortality decreased by 7%. This was observed for most medical conditions that were studied. Atrial fibrillation was the only exception.

The difference in mortality was also seen at longer follow-up periods. Patients treated by female physicians had lower mortality at 90 days and one year.

The findings were observed among both male and female patients. Female patients treated by female physicians had the lowest adjusted 30-day mortality rate in the analysis.

Why Patients May Have Better Outcomes With Female Doctors?

The study did not establish why patients treated by female physicians experienced better outcomes. However, the researchers discussed possible differences in clinical practice and communication.

Female physicians may be more likely to engage in patient-focused communication, spend more time with patients, follow clinical guidelines and involve colleagues in decision-making.

These practices could influence how symptoms are studied, treatment decisions are made and coordinated during hospitalisation.

"The goal is not to favour one group of physicians over another but to identify practices and behaviours that may help improve care across the health system," says Jerath.

"An important strength of this study is that, unlike surgical care, patients admitted to hospital for medical conditions are generally assigned physicians based on rotating schedules rather than patient or referring physician preferences, helping to minimize referral bias."

Eli Lilly's experimental weight-loss drug retatrutide, being referred to as ‘Godzilla’, continues to outperform its rivals like Ozempic.

According to a recent head-to-head Phase 3 clinical trial involving adults with type 2 diabetes, it delivered more than twice the average weight loss achieved with Ozempic.

Ozempic Vs Retatrutide

Participants who took the highest dose of retatrutide lost an average of 20.9% of their body weight over 80 weeks, compared to 9.4% among those receiving Ozempic's highest approved dose for type 2 diabetes.

The trial, called TRANSCEND-T2D-2, involved more than 1,000 adults with type 2 diabetes. It compared once-weekly injections of retatrutide at doses of 9 mg and 12 mg with semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, at 2 mg.

At the end of 80 weeks, participants taking retatrutide 9 mg lost an average of 44.3 pounds (20.1 kg), while those receiving the 12 mg dose lost 47.4 pounds (21.5 kg). The Ozempic group lost an average of 20.9 pounds (9.5 kg).

The findings mark the first Phase 3 head-to-head comparison of retatrutide with another medicine in this class.

Also read: ‘Godzilla’ Drug Retatrutide Reverses Sleep Apnea In 1 In 4 Diabetes Patients

Retatrutide Also Improved Blood Sugar

The trial found that retatrutide also resulted in produced greater reductions in HbA1c, a measure of average blood glucose over approximately three months.

At 80 weeks, participants taking either dose of retatrutide recorded an average HbA1c reduction of 2.2%, compared to 1.8 % among those receiving Ozempic.

The experimental drug also resulted in greater improvements in cardiovascular risk factors like non-HDL cholesterol, triglycerides and systolic blood pressure.

Also read: Could GLP-1 Drugs Help Prevent Rupture Of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm? Study Finds 46% Reduction In Risk

Side Effects Of Retatrutide

The most commonly reported side effects of retatrutide were gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhoea, nausea, constipation, vomiting and indigestion.

Diarrhoea was reported in 28.3% of participants receiving the 9 mg dose and 32.7% receiving 12 mg, compared to 26.4% in the Ozempic group. Nausea occurred in 21.2%, 23.8% and 21.3% of participants, respectively.

Researchers also reported a higher incidence of dysesthesia, an abnormal sensation that can include tingling, burning or skin sensitivity, among participants taking retatrutide.

Treatment discontinuation because of side effects occurred in 4.8% of the 9 mg group and 7.9% of the 12 mg group, compared to 2.7% of the Ozempic group.

More About Retatrutide

Retatrutide is a once-weekly injectable drug that targets three hormone receptors involved in regulating appetite, blood sugar and metabolism. They are GLP-1, GIP and glucagon.

GLP-1 helps regulate appetite and blood sugar while slowing the process of stomach emptying. GIP also plays a role in glucose regulation and insulin release. Glucagon is involved in controlling blood glucose and energy metabolism.

Ozempic, manufactured by Novo Nordisk, acts on the GLP-1 receptor. Eli Lilly's Mounjaro and Zepbound, which contain tirzepatide, target both GLP-1 and GIP receptors.

Retatrutide remains an investigational drug and has not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or other regulatory authorities.

Eli Lilly plans to submit the drug for FDA approval in early 2027. The company said detailed results from the trial would be presented at a future medical meeting and published in a peer-reviewed journal.

The hype around GLP-1 weight loss drugs keeps growing due to numerous new benefits as well as side effects that are discovered every other day. A recent study found that the risk of aortic aneurysm rupture is significantly less among GLP-1 users. The study was published in the Journal of Vascular Surgery.

GLP-1 receptor agonists is a a class of medicines that is widely used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. Users have reported substantial weight loss results with the help of these medicines like Ozempic, Mounjaro, Zepbound and others.

Now, researchers have found that people with abdominal aortic aneurysms who used GLP-1 drugs had a 46% lower risk of rupture over five years compared with those who did not use these medicines. This means that GLP-1 drugs may also have cardiovascular benefit apart from diabetes and obesity.

The study analysed health records from 123 healthcare organisations in the US. It is based on more than 412,000 people diagnosed with abdominal aortic aneurysms who underwent imaging surveillance every six months.

After matching patients based on factors like age, sex, diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, heart disease and kidney disease, the researchers compared 13,722 GLP-1 receptor agonist users with an equal number of non-users.

GLP-1 Drugs Linked To Fewer Aortic Aneurysm Ruptures

Also read: ‘Godzilla’ Drug Retatrutide Reverses Sleep Apnea In 1 In 4 Diabetes Patients

After five years, aortic aneurysm rupture was recorded in about 1.6% of people taking GLP-1 drugs, compared to 2.4% of those who were not taking them.

The researchers reported a hazard ratio of 0.538, indicating a 46.2% lower risk of rupture among GLP-1 drug users after adjustment.

The difference was also observed at the two-year mark, when rupture occurred in 1.1% of GLP-1 users compared to 1.8% of non-users.

People taking GLP-1 drugs also had fewer elective aneurysm repairs. At five years, 2.1% of users underwent elective repair compared to 3% of non-users.

The study further found lower rates of major cardiovascular events like heart attacks, strokes and heart failure, as well as lower all-cause mortality among GLP-1 users.

What Is An Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm?

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An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) occurs when a section of the aorta, the body's largest artery, becomes enlarged or bulges due to weakening of its wall. It develops in the part of the aorta that passes through the abdomen.

Many abdominal aortic aneurysms do not cause symptoms and are detected during tests. However, as the aneurysm enlarges, its risk of rupture increases.

A ruptured aneurysm is considered to be a medical emergency as it can cause severe internal bleeding. Symptoms may include sudden, severe abdominal or back pain, dizziness, fainting and a rapid heartbeat.

Smoking, older age, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis and a family history of aneurysms are among the risk factors.

GLP-1 Drugs & Lower Risk Of Aortic Aneurysm Rupture Risk

GLP-1 receptor agonists work by mimicking the naturally occurring GLP-1 hormone. They help regulate blood sugar by stimulating insulin release when glucose levels are high, slowing the emptying of stomach and reducing appetite.

Some of their effects may also impact blood vessel health. Abdominal aortic aneurysms develop through several processes, including inflammation, damage to vascular smooth muscle cells and changes in the proteins that maintain the artery wall.

GLP-1 drugs have shown anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular benefits in older research. The researchers suggest these effects may help explain the lower rates of aneurysm-related complications observed in the study.

The findings are promising but do not conclusively prove that GLP-1 medicines prevent aneurysm rupture. This was a retrospective observational study, meaning researchers examined existing health records rather than randomly assigning patients to receive the drugs.

One important limitation was that aneurysm size was not included among the matching variables. Since aneurysm size is a major determinant of rupture risk, differences between the groups could have impacted the findings.