Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Geriatrics for January 2014. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Postmenopausal Hormone Rx May Cut Risk for Glaucoma
FRIDAY, Jan. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Use of estrogen-only postmenopausal hormone (PMH) treatment may help reduce the risk for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), according to research published online Jan. 30 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
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Deal Could Trade Tort Reform for Additional Health Reform
FRIDAY, Jan. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Physicians may be willing to make a trade in accepting some additional health reform efforts in exchange for tort reform, according to an article published in the January issue of Health Affairs.
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Improved Outcomes Seen With Ventricular Assist Devices
FRIDAY, Jan. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Among Medicare patients receiving implantation of ventricular assist devices (VADs) for advanced heart failure, mortality has decreased, but readmission rates did not change, according to research published online Jan. 29 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Inappropriate Use of Antibiotics in ERs Remains High for Adults
THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients presenting to the emergency department with acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI), inappropriate utilization of antibiotics has decreased for children, but not for adults, according to a study published online Dec. 16 in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.
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Improving Infection Control Could Mean No More White Coats
THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Health care personnel should consider their clinical attire, such as white lab coats, carefully with regards to risk of transmitting infection, according to guidelines published in the February issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.
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Model Can Predict Spine Surgery Complications
THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new model can predict the risk of medical complications, including major complications, after spine surgery, according to a study published in the Feb. 1 issue of The Spine Journal.
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Validation of Delirium Screening Tools in ER Lacking
THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Data about ideal screening for delirium in elderly patients presenting in the emergency department are scarce, according to a review published online Dec. 18 in the Annals of Emergency Medicine.
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Docs Prefer Tablets Over Smartphones for Reading Articles
THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Although physicians generally use smartphones rather than tablets for professional purposes, they are more likely to read articles from medical publications and access medically oriented webcasts/podcasts on tablets, according to the results of a survey conducted by Kantar Media.
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Report Reveals Payment Methods for Physicians
THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Many physicians in non-solo practice settings are paid using different methods, with just over half receiving all or most of their compensation from salary, according to a report from the American Medical Association.
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Glaucoma-Related Blindness Down From 1965 to 2009
THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The incidence of blindness due to open-angle glaucoma (OAG) decreased from 1965 to 2009, according to a study published in the January issue of Ophthalmology.
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Androgen Deprivation Therapy Can Take Emotional Toll
THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Changes in mental and emotional well-being occur in prostate cancer patients on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), according to research published in an upcoming issue of The Journal of Urology.
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Practices Must Engage Vendors for ICD-10 Updates Now
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Practice owners need to communicate with system vendors to coordinate International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) updates, according to an article published Dec. 25 in Medical Economics.
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Businesses Urge Change to ACA's Insurance Mandate
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Beginning in 2015, U.S. businesses with 50 or more workers must provide health insurance to "full-time" employees, meaning workers who log at least 30 hours a week, on average.
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Marital History and Support Linked to Bone Health
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Marital history, including disruptions and age at marriage, is associated with bone health in men, while marital support correlates with bone health in women, according to a study published online Jan. 15 in Osteoporosis International.
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High Estradiol Levels Linked to Dementia in Women
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Postmenopausal women with high estradiol levels have a two-fold higher risk of developing dementia, but the risk is 14-fold higher if they also have diabetes, according to a study published online Jan. 29 in Neurology.
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ASA Issues Top Five Choosing Wisely Recommendations
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The top five anesthesiology-related pain medicine issues that physicians and patients should question have been released by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) as part of the Choosing Wisely campaign.
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Handwashing Appears Best in Prevention of Common Cold
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The evidence relating to prevention and treatment of the common cold is frequently poor, but best evidence for prevention supports physical methods such as handwashing and possibly use of zinc supplements, according to a review published online Jan. 27 in CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
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Four Pillars Established for Promoting Primary Care Reform
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Four pillars have been identified for promoting primary care physician workforce reform, according to an article published in the January/February issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
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Risk of Flu-Linked Hospitalization Up for Adults With Diabetes
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Working-age adults with diabetes are at increased risk of all-cause hospitalizations associated with influenza, according to a study published online Jan. 24 in Diabetologia.
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Insurance Eligibility Headaches Expected With ACA
TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- With the influx of newly insured patients under the Affordable Care Act, physician practices should be prepared to spend even more time verifying coverage, according to an article published Jan. 2 in Medical Economics.
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Hearing Loss Linked to Accelerated Brain Atrophy
TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Older individuals with hearing problems have accelerated brain atrophy, particularly in the right temporal lobe, according to a study published online Jan. 9 in NeuroImage.
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Framework Established to Promote Safety of Care
TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A framework has been established to advance clinical learning environments that promote change in the quality and safety of care, according to a perspective piece published online Jan. 27 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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USPSTF: Draft Recommendations Issued for AAA Screening
TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has issued recommendations for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening. This draft recommendation statement is based on an evidence review published online Jan. 28 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Role of Vitamin D in Disease Prevention Is Uncertain
TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Supplementation with vitamin D to prevent disease does not appear to improve health outcomes, according to research published online Jan. 24 in The Lancet: Diabetes & Endocrinology.
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Yoga Provides Health Benefits for Breast Cancer Survivors
TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For breast cancer survivors, a 12-week yoga intervention improves fatigue and vitality and is associated with reduced levels of proinflammatory cytokines, according to a study published online Jan. 27 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Pesticide Exposure Linked to Alzheimer's Disease Risk
TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- People exposed to elevated levels of the metabolite of the pesticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) are at higher risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD), particularly if they carry a particular apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype, according to a study published online Jan. 27 in JAMA Neurology.
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Falls Top Car Crashes as Leading Cause of U.S. Spinal Injuries
TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Spinal cord injury rates in the United States are rising, and the leading cause now appears to be falls suffered by seniors rather than traffic crashes, according to a new study published in the Feb. 1 issue of the Journal of Neurotrauma.
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Exercise After Cancer Improves Survival in Men
MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Men who are physically active after a cancer diagnosis have significantly improved survival, according to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of Physical Activity & Health.
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CDC: Health Care Providers Shouldn't Rely on Rapid Flu Tests
MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Doctors should not rely entirely on rapid flu tests when determining if patients have the flu, U.S. health officials say.
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Circulating Uric Acid May Play Protective Role in Obesity
MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Circulating uric acid affects non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity (NEAC) and markers of oxidative stress in obese subjects, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in Diabetes.
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Top Ten Physician Challenges of 2014 Discussed
MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The top ten challenges for physicians in 2014 relate to payment for medical services and government mandates, as well as adapting to a changing patient population and the need to improve work-life balance, according to an article published Dec. 25 in Medical Economics.
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Hormone Therapy Linked to Reduced Arthroplasty Revision
MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Hormone replacement therapy use (HRT) is associated with a reduction in revision rates for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA), according to a study published online Jan. 22 in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
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Long-Term Exposure to Pollutants Ups Coronary Event Risk
MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Long-term exposure to particulate matter is associated with increased risk of acute coronary events, even at levels below the current European limit values, according to a study published online Jan. 21 in BMJ.
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Telomere Length Prognostic for 50 to 75 Year-Old Men With ACS
MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For men aged 50 to 75 years with acute coronary syndrome, short telomeres are independently associated with worse prognosis, according to a study published in the Feb. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
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FDA Wants to Update Food Labels
MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- America's food labels may get their first makeover in more than 20 years. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the agency is working toward publishing proposed rules to update nutrition labels and serving size information.
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'War on Cancer' Has Made Progress
FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- More people are being diagnosed with and dying from cancer, but this is largely the result of declines in mortality from other causes, according to a study published online Jan. 13 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Financial Value Overrides Health in Supersized Food Buys
FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- "Supersized" pricing increases the quantity of food purchased and consumed because of focus on financial value, while diminishing the importance of health effects, according to a study published in the Journal of Marketing.
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Writing a Blog Can Up a Doc's Visibility
FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Blogs can be a valuable tool to promote physician practices, according to an article published Dec. 17 in Medical Economics.
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Off-Hours Myocardial Infarction More Likely to Be Fatal
FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Off-hour presentation is linked with poorer outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI), according to research published online Jan. 21 in BMJ.
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Volume of Trauma Care Affects Geriatric Trauma Outcomes
FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For geriatric trauma patients, larger volumes of geriatric trauma care are associated with improved outcomes, according to a study published online Jan. 22 in JAMA Surgery.
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Physical Activity, Sedentary Time Linked to Heart Failure in Men
FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For middle-aged men, physical activity and sedentary time are associated with the risk of heart failure, according to a study published in the January issue of Circulation: Heart Failure.
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Most Patients at Diabetes Risk Consider Themselves Healthy
FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly 80 percent of patients at elevated risk for type 2 diabetes think they are in excellent or very good health, according to a new survey from the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
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Editorial Discusses Ultrasound in Point-of-Care Diagnostics
FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Ultrasound devices represent an important point-of-care diagnostic modality, which is increasingly being used in numerous specialties, according to an editorial published in the December issue of Global Heart.
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Medical Staff Performance Goals Should Be Clear, Attainable
THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Staff performance in medical practices needs to be appropriately managed and measured with performance goals, according to an article published Dec. 25 in Medical Economics.
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Added Prostate CA Criteria May Help ID Surveillance Candidates
THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Additional predictors, such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA) density and extent of cancer on biopsy, help guide selection of prostate cancer patients for active surveillance programs, according to research published in the February issue of The Journal of Urology.
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Results of Safety Efforts for Hospitalized Patients Are Mixed
THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Based on Medicare data for 2005 through 2011, adverse-event rates declined for patients hospitalized for some conditions, but not others, according to research published in the Jan. 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Legitimacy of Publishing Pharma-Funded Research Queried
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The question of whether to stop publishing research funded by the drug industry is addressed in a head-to-head piece published online Jan. 15 in BMJ.
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Higher Omega-3 Levels Linked to Larger Brain Volume
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- In postmenopausal women, a higher omega-3 index is associated with increased brain and hippocampal volume eight years later, according to a study published online Jan. 22 in Neurology.
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Phase 3 Studies Fail to Show Benefit of Drugs in Alzheimer's
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease, neither bapineuzumab nor solanezumab improves cognitive outcomes, according to two studies published in the Jan. 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Mediterranean Diet Lowers Risk of Peripheral Artery Disease
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts is associated with a lower risk of peripheral artery disease (PAD), according to a research letter published in the Jan. 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Kidney Injury Not Uncommon After Cardiovascular Intervention
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Acute kidney injury (AKI) is seen in about 7 percent of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and is associated with significant in-hospital mortality, according to research published in the Jan. 1 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Interventions.
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PCP Practices Not Well Organized for Providing Energy Balance Care
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Primary care physician (PCP) practices are not well organized for providing energy balance care, with considerable variation in provision of care between PCP specialties, according to a study published in the January/February issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion.
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Interhospital Transfer Less Likely for Uninsured Patients
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Uninsured patients are significantly less likely than insured patients to be transferred between hospitals, according to research published in the Jan. 21 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Hypertension Linked to Post-Cervical Fusion Readmission
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The readmission rate following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is 2.5 percent, and hypertension may increase the likelihood of readmission, according to a study published in the Jan. 15 issue of Spine.
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Some Medical Schools Offering Accelerated Training
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Some medical schools are offering an accelerated three-year program, according to a report from Kaiser Health News.
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More Federal Funding of Health Centers Mitigates Access Issues
TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Since 2000, increased federal funding for community health centers has helped low-income adults get access to primary care and dental care, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in Health Services Research.
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ACA Impact on Primary Practice May Depend on Location
TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The impact of Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on physicians' primary care practices will vary geographically, according to an article published Dec. 25 in Medical Economics.
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Researchers Examine FDA Decision Making Processes
TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The rationale behind the decision making processes of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is discussed in three articles published in the Jan. 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Abstract - Downing
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AAFP: Insufficient Evidence for Low-Dose CT Lung CA Screening
MONDAY, Jan. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- In contrast to a recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has concluded that there is currently insufficient evidence to recommend screening for lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography (CT) among high-risk individuals.
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Enjoyment of Life Tied to Functional Impairment in Elderly
TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Enjoyment of life is associated with future disability and mobility in the elderly, according to a study published online Jan. 20 in CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
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Survey IDs Factors Influencing Physician Job Satisfaction
TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Believing that they are delivering high-quality patient care is key to physician job satisfaction, according to an article published Dec. 10 in Medical Economics.
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Data Support Sedentary Time, Mortality Link for Older Women
TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For older women, increased sedentary time is associated with increased mortality risk after multivariate adjustment, according to a study published in the February issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
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Multiple Medications Increase Odds of Hospital Admission
TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The likelihood of unplanned admission is increased with polypharmacy, but the association is modified by the number of long-term conditions, according to a study published online Jan. 16 in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
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Medication Synchronization Program Ups Adherence
TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A community pharmacy-based medication synchronization program can improve medication adherence, according to a study conducted by the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA).
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Exposure to Sunlight May Help Lower Blood Pressure
TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Exposure to sunlight causes arterial vasodilation and lowers blood pressure (BP), according to research published online Jan. 20 in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.
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Anatomic, Not Ischemic, Burden Predicts Poor Outcomes in CAD
MONDAY, Jan. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with coronary artery disease treated with optimal medical therapy (OMT), anatomic, but not ischemic, burden predicts poor outcomes, according to a study published online Jan. 15 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Interventions.
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Statin Use Linked to Reduced Delirium in ICU Patients
MONDAY, Jan. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), statin use is associated with a reduced risk of delirium, according to a study published online Jan. 17 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
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AMA Launches Online Resource to Guide HTN Management
MONDAY, Jan. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- An online resource has been developed for improving the detection and management of high blood pressure. The resource is part of the American Medical Association's Improving Health Outcomes Initiative which aims to improve outcomes around heart disease, starting with the 30 million people who have uncontrolled hypertension.
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Doctor Urges Colleagues to Disclose Conflicts of Interest
MONDAY, Jan. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A campaign to encourage physicians to disclose potential conflicts of interest has sparked ire from doctors despite evidence that openness improves the doctor-patient relationship, according to a personal view piece published online Jan. 15 in BMJ.
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One-Fifth of Hospitalizations in Advanced GI Cancer Avoidable
FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with advanced gastrointestinal (GI) cancer, about 20 percent of hospitalizations are potentially avoidable, according to a study published online Jan. 13 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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PAs, NPs Are Effective in Team-Based Diabetes Care
FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) can effectively perform a range of roles on primary care teams caring for patients with diabetes, according to a study published in the November issue of Health Affairs.
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Long-Term Benefits Seen for Cognitive Training in Elderly
FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Advanced cognitive training is beneficial for elderly persons, with long-term improvements seen for reasoning and speed-of-processing training, according to a study published online Jan. 13 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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State Insurance Marketplaces Boost Outreach Efforts
THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Health insurance exchanges in five states with strong enrollment growth are ramping up efforts to reach even more uninsured Americans before the end of the Affordable Care Act's open enrollment period on March 31. The March 31 deadline is for people who want health coverage for 2014.
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Reliable Emotion Words ID'd to Assess Patient Experience
THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A reliable set of emotion words have been identified that can serve as a tool for experience-based design questionnaires in health care, according to a study published in the December issue of Healthcare.
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Heavy Drinking Speeds Cognitive Decline in Middle-Aged Men
THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For middle-aged men, heavy alcohol consumption (≥36 g/day) is associated with faster cognitive decline in all cognitive domains, compared with light-to-moderate alcohol consumption, according to a study published online Jan. 15 in Neurology.
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Experts Predict ACA's Areas of Primary Care Impact
THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The Affordable Care Act (ACA) will transform primary care, and predictions of this impact center around some common themes, according to an article published Dec. 25 in Medical Economics.
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Funding Losses Damaging Public Health Infrastructure
THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The effect of funding losses on state public health programs is assessed and described in a study published Nov. 14 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Preventing Chronic Disease.
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Survey Results Identify Drivers of Doctor Engagement
THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The results of a survey from the Physician Wellness Services and Cejka Search have identified the key aspects of doctor engagement.
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NCPA: Access to Controlled Substances Often Delayed
THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Most pharmacists report experiencing multiple delays or issues with their controlled substance orders, according to the results of the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) Controlled Substances Access Survey.
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FDA Warns Against Rx With High Levels of Acetaminophen
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is recommending that physicians stop prescribing and dispensing prescription combination drug products containing more than 325 mg of acetaminophen per tablet, according to a safety alert issued by the agency.
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Merck Recalls Cholesterol Drug Liptruzet
TUESDAY, Jan. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Packaging defects have prompted a recall of the combination cholesterol drug Liptruzet, produced by Merck & Co., temporarily affecting the entire U.S. stock.
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Wednesday Is Deadline for Feb. 1 Coverage Under ACA
TUESDAY, Jan. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- There's still time to enroll in a health insurance plan through one of the Affordable Care Act's new online marketplaces. Those who sign up by Wednesday will have coverage starting next month.
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Primary Care Work Environment Affects Nurse Practitioners
TUESDAY, Jan. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The organizational climate in primary care settings influences the professional practice of nurse practitioners (NPs), according to research published in the November issue of the Journal of Professional Nursing.
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More Than Two Million People Have Signed Up for ACA Coverage
TUESDAY, Jan. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly 2.2 million Americans had selected health plans through the federal and state marketplaces as of late December, and nearly one in four was a young adult, the Obama administration disclosed Monday.
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Nut Intake Inversely Linked to Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome
MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Nut consumption is inversely associated with obesity and with metabolic syndrome, with stronger associations seen for tree nuts, according to research published online Jan. 8 in PLOS ONE.
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Testosterone Often Initiated in Men With Normal Levels
MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Testosterone testing and supplementation have increased substantially over the last decade, with many men in the United States initiating treatment even though they have normal levels, according to a study published online Jan. 1 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
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CMS: New Rule Proposed for Contract Year 2015
MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A proposed rule has been issued that will strengthen protections, improve health care quality, and reduce costs for Medicare beneficiaries with private Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription plans, according to a report from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
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Parkinson's Gene Therapy Improves Motor Function
FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A triple gene therapy for Parkinson's disease is safe and improves motor function, according to a study published online Jan. 10 in The Lancet.
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Survival Improving After Hip and Knee Replacement
FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Short-term survival after elective total hip (THR) and total knee replacement (TKR) has greatly improved since the early 1990s, even though comorbidities have increased, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in Arthritis & Rheumatism.
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Survey: Fees, Reimbursement Top Physician Worries
FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The results of a new survey show that physicians are concerned about declining reimbursements and increasing administrative hassles, including negotiating with payers, obtaining prior authorizations, and cutting through government red tape, according to an article published Nov. 25 in Medical Economics.
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High Uric Acid Level Linked to Coronary Stent Restenosis
FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A high level of serum uric acid prior to implantation of bare-metal coronary stents predicts stent restenosis, according to research published in the Jan. 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
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EHR Use Linked to Doc-Reported Enhanced Patient Care
FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Use of electronic health records is associated with enhanced patient care overall, according to a study published online Dec. 21 in Health Services Research.
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CMS: Low Growth for National Health Expenditures in 2012
FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Overall national health expenditures were marked by a fourth consecutive year of low growth, according to a report from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
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Female Conveners Up Number of Women at Scientific Symposia
FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Having at least one woman on teams that convene scientific symposia increases the proportion of invited female speakers by 72 percent, compared with teams containing all men, according to a study published online Jan. 7 in mBio.
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ACP Introduces Free 'High Value Care' Case Studies
FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- In an effort to improve health care and eliminate wasteful practices, the American College of Physicians (ACP) has developed a series of High Value Care cases studies, available online for free.
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Transcatheter Valve Implantation Benefits Even Very Elderly
FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is associated with acceptable clinical outcomes, even among very elderly patients, according to a study published in the January issue of the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
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~9 Percent of Observation Services Stays Exceed 48 Hours
THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients whose care needs exceed standard outpatient care but do not qualify for admission, observation services (OS) stays are not usually longer than 48 hours, but prolonged stays are associated with a considerable increase in costs, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in Health Services Research.
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Drug Labeling Linked to Drug, Placebo Efficacy in Migraine
THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with episodic migraine, the information provided about drug/placebo impacts drug effects, according to a study published in the Jan. 8 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
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Administrative Demands Hurt Patient-Doctor Relationship
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Administrative demands on doctors, particularly primary care physicians, threaten the patient-doctor relationship, according to an article published Dec. 10 in Medical Economics.
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Smoking Rates Still Low for Most Health Care Professionals
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Compared with 2006 to 2007, smoking rates among health care professionals for 2010 to 2011 continue to be lowest in physicians and highest in licensed practical nurses (LPNs), according to a research letter published in the Jan. 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a theme issue on tobacco control.
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More Specialists Needed to Meet Needs of Aging Population
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- More specialist providers, including vascular surgeons and cardiologists, are needed to meet the care needs of a growing elderly population, according to research published in the November issue of Health Affairs.
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Importance of Religion Linked to Cortical Thickness
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The self-reported importance of religion or spirituality is associated with the thickness of certain brain regions, according to research published online Dec. 25 in JAMA Psychiatry.
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Review Suggests Psychological Benefits of Meditation
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Moderate evidence suggests that meditation is associated with improvements in anxiety, depression, and pain, according to a review and meta-analysis published online Jan. 6 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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U.S. Cancer Death Rates Decreasing Steadily
TUESDAY, Jan. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Cancer death rates have been decreasing steadily for the past two decades, with the magnitude of the decrease varying with age, race, and sex, according to a report published online Jan. 7 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
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AMA Urges Med Students to Be Agents of Health Care Change
TUESDAY, Jan. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Medical students are being encouraged to be agents of change in the health care system, according to a report from the American Medical Association (AMA).
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Mediterranean Diet + Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Cuts Diabetes Risk
TUESDAY, Jan. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A Mediterranean diet enriched with extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) is associated with reduction in the risk of new-onset diabetes among older adults at high risk for cardiovascular disease, according to a study published in the Jan. 7 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Post-Op Health Care Costs Up for Former, Current Smokers
TUESDAY, Jan. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Health care costs in the year following discharge for an inpatient surgical procedure are increased for former and current smokers, compared with never smokers, although there are no differences with smoking status in costs for the index hospitalization, according to a study published online Jan. 1 in JAMA Surgery.
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Smoking Cessation Reduces Risk of Cataract Extraction
TUESDAY, Jan. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Smoking cessation correlates with a reduction in the risk of cataract extraction, although the risk persists for more than 20 years, according to a study published online Jan. 2 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
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Performance Measures Developed for Adults Undergoing PCI
MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Performance measures have been developed for adults undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), according to a report published online Dec. 19 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Non-White Physicians Provide Disproportionate Minority Care
MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Non-white physicians provide a disproportionate share of care to underserved populations, according to a research letter published online Dec. 30 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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CDC Addresses Burden, Threat of Antibiotic Resistance
MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The burden and threats posed by antibiotic resistance infections are discussed in a report published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Romosozumab Increases Bone Mineral Density Post-Menopause
MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Romosozumab seems safe and effective for increasing bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density, according to a study published online Jan. 1 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Expanding Medicaid Coverage Ups Emergency Department Use
MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Expanding Medicaid coverage is associated with increased emergency department use, according to a study published online Jan. 2 in Science.
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Unrestricted Hospital Visiting Hours Up Patient Satisfaction
MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Open visitation improves the patient and family experience and does not cause interference for hospital staff, according to research published in the Journal for Healthcare Quality.
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AMA Details Top Five Federal Issues for 2014
MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the repeal of Medicare's failed sustained growth formula, and the proposed roll-out of the International Classification of Diseases, Version 10, top the list of federal issues expected to impact physicians and patients in 2014, according to a viewpoint piece published online Dec. 30 by the American Medical Association (AMA).
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Over 100 New Accountable Care Organizations Formed
FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- One hundred twenty-three new Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) have been formed by doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers, which will provide access to high-quality coordinated care for about 1.5 million Medicare beneficiaries, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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Warfarin Initiation Negatively Linked to Stroke in A-Fib Patients
FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with atrial fibrillation are at higher risk of having a stroke in the first month after initiating treatment with the anti-clotting drug warfarin, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in European Heart Journal.
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Hypothyroidism Not Tied to Cognitive Impairment in Aged
FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- There is no association between either clinical or subclinical hypothyroidism and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in the elderly, according to a study published online Dec. 30 in JAMA Neurology.
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Impact of Transitions in Doctors' Careers Discussed
THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Transitions and their associated challenges are encountered throughout a doctors' medical career, according to an editorial published online Nov. 26 in BMJ.
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Worsening of Shortage of Residency Slots Feared
THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Despite a looming physician shortage, the number of residency positions in the United States has not changed since 1996, creating a bottleneck that will become worse with further budget cuts, according to a blog post published Dec. 7 on KevinMD.com.
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CDC: Updated Guidance for HBV Vaccination for Health Workers
THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Health care personnel should be vaccinated against hepatitis B virus (HBV) if they anticipate exposure to blood or body fluids, and receive serologic testing to assess for antibody against the virus, according to updated guidelines published in the Dec. 20 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Alpha Tocopherol Seems Beneficial in Alzheimer's
THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease, alpha tocopherol is associated with slower functional decline versus placebo, according to a study published in the Jan. 1 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Docs Have Until Jan. 31 to Change Medicare Status
THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The deadline for making changes to Medicare participation status has been extended to Jan. 31, 2014, according to a report from the American Medical Association (AMA).
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C. difficile Is Carried on Hands of Health Care Workers
THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- After routine care of patients infected with Clostridium difficile, C. difficile spores were detected on the hands of about a quarter of health care workers (HCWs), according to research published in the January issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.
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