Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Geriatrics for October 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.
Spinal Surgery Varies by Region in the United States
FRIDAY, Oct. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Surgery for low back pain caused by spinal stenosis varies depending on where in the United States you live, according to a Dartmouth Atlas Project report.
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'Informal Care' for Older Americans Tops $500B Annually
FRIDAY, Oct. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Each year, people across the United States spend an estimated 30 billion hours caring for older relatives and friends, which costs $522 billion, according to a RAND Corporation study published online Oct. 7 in Health Services Research.
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Almost One in Five Americans Plagued by Constant Pain
FRIDAY, Oct. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Almost one-fifth of Americans suffer from chronic pain, a large new survey reveals, with the elderly and women suffering the most. The findings were published in the October issue of the Journal of Pain.
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Vitamin D Deficiency Common in Men With Erectile Dysfunction
FRIDAY, Oct. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For men with erectile dysfunction (ED), vitamin D deficiency is common, especially among those with arteriogenic etiology, according to a study published in the November issue of the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
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Physician-Dentist Collaboration Recommended in Diabetes Care
FRIDAY, Oct. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Dentists are uniquely placed to identify patients with diabetes, and those with diabetes who are at risk for complications, according to an article published in the October issue of Clinical Diabetes.
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Fewer Malpractice Claims Paid in the United States
THURSDAY, Oct. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The number of medical malpractice payments in the United States has dropped sharply since 2002, according to a new study. And compensation payment amounts and liability insurance costs for many doctors declined in recent years. These findings were published online Oct. 30 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Would Alternative Payment Plan Cut Medical Bills?
THURSDAY, Oct. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- New research supports replacing the traditional way of reimbursing doctors for care -- paying for each service provided -- with an alternative system that gives a set amount of money to health care organizations for patient care. The study was published in the Oct. 30 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Stroke Prevention Guidelines Re-Emphasize Healthy Lifestyle
THURSDAY, Oct. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- New guidelines from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association reinforce the idea that a healthy lifestyle is key to the primary prevention of stroke. The guidelines were published online Oct. 29 in Stroke.
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Adrenal Sex Hormone Level May Predict Heart Disease Risk
THURSDAY, Oct. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Blood levels of the adrenal sex hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate (DHEA-S) may predict an increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in elderly men, according to a study published in the Oct. 28 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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AMA Code of Ethics Offers Guidance for Physicians
THURSDAY, Oct. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The American Medical Association (AMA) Code of Ethics and other articles provide guidance for physicians in relation to public health emergencies, according to a report from the AMA.
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Depression Influences Post-Op Satisfaction in Older Patients
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For older patients undergoing revision lumbar surgery, preoperative depression influences patient satisfaction two years after surgery, according to research published in the Sept. 1 issue of Spine.
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ADT May Up Heart-Related Deaths in Prostate Cancer Patients
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) may increase heart-related mortality in men with prostate cancer who also have certain heart conditions, according to research published online Oct. 29 in BJU International.
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Voters' Views on Affordable Care Act Split Along Party Lines
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Americans' opinions about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are sharply divided along political lines, according to research published online Oct. 29 in the New England Journal of Medicine. The findings come from 27 public opinion polls conducted by 14 organizations.
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High Milk Intake Linked to Increased Mortality Risk
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Men and women who drink three glasses of milk or more every day may have a higher mortality risk than those who drink less than one glass per day, according to new research published online Oct. 28 in The BMJ.
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Mortality Risk Higher in Normal-Weight Diabetes Patients
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- In older adults with type 2 diabetes, muscle size may mediate the association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality, according to research published online Oct. 14 in Diabetes Care.
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Less Competition Among Docs = Higher Medical Costs
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Competition between medical practices helps keep health care costs lower, according to a study published in the Oct. 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Frequent Readmissions, High Costs After Cardiac Arrest
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Frequent readmissions and high inpatient costs are seen among older survivors of in-hospital cardiac arrest, according to a study published online Oct. 28 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
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Metformin Beats Other T2DM Meds for Initial Treatment
TUESDAY, Oct. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who are initially prescribed metformin are less likely to eventually need other medications to control their blood glucose, according to research published online Oct. 27 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Noneconomic Damages Caps Cut Malpractice Payments by 15%
TUESDAY, Oct. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Adoption of noneconomic damages caps reduces average malpractice payments by 15 percent, according to research published in the October issue of Health Affairs.
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Ankle, Knee Strength Generation Slower With Diabetic Neuropathy
TUESDAY, Oct. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- When walking up and down stairs, patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) are slower at generating strength at the ankle and knee compared to control participants, which may increase the risk of falls, according to a study published online Oct. 14 in Diabetes Care.
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Brain Injuries in Older Age Could Boost Dementia Risk
TUESDAY, Oct. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A mild concussion after age 65 may increase the risk of developing dementia, according to a new study published online Oct. 27 in JAMA Neurology.
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Prescription Painkillers Fueling Overdose Cases in ERs
TUESDAY, Oct. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new report estimates more than two-thirds of emergency department visits for overdoses of narcotic drugs involve prescription medications. The study was published online Oct. 27 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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USPSTF: More Evidence Needed for Thyroid Screening
TUESDAY, Oct. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has concluded that there is currently insufficient evidence to assess the benefits and harms of thyroid screening. These findings form the basis of a draft recommendation statement based on an evidence review published online Oct. 28 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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'Prehabilitation' Before Surgery May Aid Recovery
TUESDAY, Oct. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Exercising, eating a healthy diet, and learning relaxation techniques before colorectal cancer surgery appear to speed a patient's recovery, according to a small study published in the November issue of Anesthesiology.
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Kidney Stones May Increase Fracture Risk
TUESDAY, Oct. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Urolithiasis patients may be at increased risk for fractures and may require treatment to protect their bone health, according to a new study published online Oct. 23 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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CDC Issues Revised Interim U.S. Guidance on Ebola
MONDAY, Oct. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Today, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a revision of their Ebola guideline document -- Interim Guidance for Monitoring and Movement of Persons with Ebola Virus Disease Exposure.
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New York, New Jersey Ease Ebola Quarantines
MONDAY, Oct. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Faced with pressure from the White House and criticism from infectious disease experts, the governors of New York and New Jersey have eased their quarantine measures that required all medical workers returning from West Africa who had contact with Ebola patients to be forced into isolation.
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Lab-Created Cocoa Drink May Improve Memory Loss
MONDAY, Oct. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A lab-created cocoa drink appears to improve normal age-related memory loss, according to a small new study. The findings have been published in the Oct. 26 issue Nature Neuroscience.
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Healthy Lifestyle Independently Tied to Lower CHF Risk in Women
MONDAY, Oct. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Living a healthy lifestyle may decrease the risk of heart failure among women, even in the absence of antecedent coronary heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes, according to research published in the Oct. 28 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Pharmacoinvasive STEMI Strategy Best for Smokers, Nonsmokers
FRIDAY, Oct. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, a pharmacoinvasive strategy after fibrinolysis is beneficial for smokers and nonsmokers, according to a study published in the Oct. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
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Seniors Should Remove Dentures at Bedtime
FRIDAY, Oct. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Seniors who wear their dentures when they sleep are at increased risk for pneumonia, according to a study published online Oct. 7 in the Journal of Dental Research.
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NT-proBNP Modestly Improves CVD Risk Prediction in Women
FRIDAY, Oct. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) modestly improves cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk prediction for women, according to a study published in the Oct. 28 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Study Estimates Costs at 10 Years After Stroke
FRIDAY, Oct. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For stroke survivors, annual direct costs are comparable at 10 years and between three to five years for ischemic stroke but are higher at 10 years after hemorrhagic stroke, according to a study published online Oct. 23 in Stroke.
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Airborne Transmission of Ebola Highly Unlikely
FRIDAY, Oct. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- People face no threat of airborne transmission of Ebola, according to a panel of Ebola experts gathered by the New England Journal of Medicine for an issue briefing Wednesday.
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New York City Health Officials Confirm First Ebola Case
FRIDAY, Oct. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- New York City health officials said Thursday that a health care worker who recently returned from West Africa has tested positive for Ebola. The patient, identified as Craig Spencer, M.D., by city officials, had been working with Doctors Without Borders helping to treat Ebola patients in Guinea, one of three West Africa countries hit hard by the disease.
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Coworker Response 'Crucial' in Workplace Bullying Resolution
THURSDAY, Oct. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Targets of workplace bullying can offer chaos, report, or quest narratives about their experiences, and coworker response plays a role in narrative development, according to a study published online Sept. 25 in Management Communication Quarterly.
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Aspirin May Cut Mortality in Nonmetastatic Prostate Cancer
THURSDAY, Oct. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Daily aspirin use, even at low doses, may reduce mortality among men with high-risk nonmetastatic prostate cancer, according to research published online Oct. 20 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Mortality Declines for Aortic Dissection Patients
THURSDAY, Oct. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Over the last decade, mortality rates for patients undergoing surgical repair for aortic dissection have improved, according to a study published online Oct. 21 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
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Doctors Often Unaware Their Patients Have Catheters
THURSDAY, Oct. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Doctors don't always know about the presence of a central venous catheter in their patients, according to research findings published in the Oct. 21 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Hospital Study Addresses 'Alarm Fatigue'
THURSDAY, Oct. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Monitoring devices among intensive care patients set off 2.5 million alarms in one month at a U.S. hospital, a new study of "alarm fatigue" reveals. The research was published online Oct. 22 in PLOS ONE.
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U.S. Ranks Last Among Wealthy Nations in Health Care Access
THURSDAY, Oct. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. health care system ranks last compared to other industrialized nations when it comes to affordability and patient access, according to a new survey published in the Oct. 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Americans Report Distrust of Medical Profession
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Americans are less trusting of the medical profession than people in many other countries -- even though they often like their own doctor, according to a new report. The findings were published in the Oct. 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Team-Based Approach Can Improve Hypertension Control
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A team-based approach using evidence-based principles can be incorporated into practice workflow to improve hypertension control, according to a practice story published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
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Recalled Supplements Linger on U.S. Store Shelves
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Two-thirds of dietary supplements recalled by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration because they contained banned ingredients remained on store shelves at least six months after they were recalled, according to a research letter published in the Oct. 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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U.S. Residents Back From Ebola-Affected Areas to Be Tracked
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Public health officials plan to actively monitor all U.S. residents returning home from one of the three Ebola-affected nations in West Africa, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Wednesday.
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APIC Provides Resources for Ebola Management
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Resources are available to increase protection against Ebola transmission, according to a report from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).
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Drinking Sugary Sodas May Promote Aging at Cellular Level
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Drinking sugar-sweetened sodas may affect cellular aging by shortening telomere length, according to research published online Oct. 16 in the American Journal of Public Health.
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Hospice Doesn't Offset Intensive End-of-Life Ovarian Cancer Care
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Increasing use of hospice in the final days of ovarian cancer does not offset intensive end-of-life care in older women, according to a study published online Oct. 6 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Drug Coupons Shrink Patients' Costs Considerably
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Drug coupons could reduce patients' out-of-pocket costs by 60 percent, according to a study published in the October issue of Health Affairs.
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Depression Tied to Worse Lumbar Spine Surgery Outcomes
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Depressive symptoms are associated with poorer long-term outcome in patients undergoing surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), according to research published in the Oct. 1 issue of The Spine Journal.
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Few With Diabetes + Normal Heart Imaging Have CAD Events
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- High-risk asymptomatic patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and normal myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (MPS) have a low rate of first manifestations of coronary artery disease (CAD); however, patients with DM and abnormal MPS have a seven-fold higher rate of progression to overt or silent CAD despite therapy. These findings were published in the Oct. 1 issue of JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging.
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Hospital Conversion to For-Profit Status Ups Financial Margins
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Hospital conversion to for-profit status is associated with improvements in financial margins, but has no effect on process quality metrics or mortality rates, according to a study published in the Oct. 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Price Transparency Platform Linked to Lower Claims Payments
TUESDAY, Oct. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Access to an employer-sponsored private price transparency platform is associated with reduced total claims payments, according to research published in the Oct. 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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CDC: 'Think Ebola' and 'Care Carefully'
TUESDAY, Oct. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued updated guidelines for the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by health care workers when caring for patients with Ebola, along with a reminder to health care workers to "Think Ebola" and to "Care Carefully."
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Twice-Yearly Doctor Visits Help Control Hypertension
TUESDAY, Oct. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Twice-yearly visits to the doctor can help keep hypertension under control better than only seeing the doctor once a year, according to a study published online Oct. 20 in Circulation.
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Parkinson's Meds May Spur Compulsive Behaviors
TUESDAY, Oct. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Medications commonly used to treat Parkinson's disease may raise the risk of impulse control disorders such as compulsive gambling, compulsive shopping, and/or hypersexuality, according to a new review published online Oct. 20 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Law Requiring Release of Health Information Upheld
TUESDAY, Oct. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A state law that requires plaintiffs to release relevant protected health information before proceeding with allegations of medical liability has been upheld by a federal appeals court, according to the American Medical Association (AMA).
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Review: Many Common Symptoms Unrelated to Disease
TUESDAY, Oct. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- At least one-third of common symptoms have no disease-related explanation, according to a narrative review published in the Oct. 21 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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High-Dose Resveratrol Aids Bone Mineral Density
TUESDAY, Oct. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- High-dose supplementation with resveratrol (RSV) improves bone mineral density in obese men with metabolic syndrome, according to a study published online Oct. 16 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
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High-Intensity Statins Cut Diabetic Atherosclerosis
TUESDAY, Oct. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- High-intensity statin therapy can alter the progressive nature of diabetic atherosclerosis, according to a study published online Sept. 4 in Diabetes Care.
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Unplanned Hospitalizations With GI Cancer Patients Common
TUESDAY, Oct. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Unplanned hospitalizations among elderly patients with gastrointestinal cancer are common, according to research published online Oct. 6 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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3-Minute Diagnostic Assessment Accurately IDs Delirium
MONDAY, Oct. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A three-minute diagnostic assessment (3D-Confusion Assessment Method [CAM]) has high sensitivity and specificity for identifying delirium, according to a study published in the Oct. 21 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Viewpoint: Getting United States Prepared for Ebola Outbreak
MONDAY, Oct. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A case of delayed Ebola diagnosis in Dallas and subsequent infection of health care workers has highlighted the lack of preparedness for a U.S. outbreak of the disease, according to a viewpoint piece published online Oct. 17 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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New MCAT Shifts Focus, Will Include Humanities
MONDAY, Oct. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) has been revised, and the latest changes, including more humanities such as social sciences, are due to be implemented next April, according to a report from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
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Patient Resources for Ventricular Assist Devices Info Suboptimal
FRIDAY, Oct. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Materials related to left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) discuss benefits, but less often discuss risks and rarely present alternate treatment options, according to a study published online Oct. 14 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality & Outcomes.
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Volume of Patient-to-Doc E-mails Up From 2001 to 2010
FRIDAY, Oct. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- From 2001 to 2010 the volume of patient-to-physician electronic messages increased, but the rate per-capita stabilized, according to research published in the October issue of Health Affairs.
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Obama Appoints Ron Klain As 'Ebola Czar'
FRIDAY, Oct. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- President Barack Obama on Friday appointed Ron Klain, a former chief of staff to Vice President Joe Biden, as Ebola "czar" to oversee the federal government's response to the presence of virus in the United States.
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Specialized Care Centers May Be Needed to Contain Ebola
FRIDAY, Oct. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Specialized medical centers may be necessary to adequately treat and contain the Ebola virus in the United States, according to an ideas and opinions piece published online Oct. 16 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Years of Endurance Exercise May Raise A-Fib/Flutter Risk
FRIDAY, Oct. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Cumulative years of regular endurance exercise are associated with an increased risk for atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter, according to a study published in the Oct. 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
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Many Docs Believe Mobile Health Apps Can Improve Patient Care
FRIDAY, Oct. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A Manhattan Research survey recently found that many physicians believe digital communication technologies, including mobile apps, can be used to improve patient outcomes, according to an article published Oct. 8 in Medical Economics.
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CMS Announces Two New Initiatives to Improve Care
THURSDAY, Oct. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Two initiatives have been announced to help improve the quality of post-acute care in nursing homes and ensure safe delivery of quality care to home health patients, according to a report published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
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Overdetection of PSA Recurrence After Radical Prostatectomy
THURSDAY, Oct. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Prostate-specific antigen recurrence (PSA-R) may be overdetected after radical prostatectomy (RP), according to research published in the Oct. 15 issue of Clinical Cancer Research.
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Ebola Workshop Scheduled for Nov. 3 in Washington, D.C.
THURSDAY, Oct. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- At the request of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council will host a workshop to discuss research needed to prepare for handling the occurrence of Ebola virus disease in the United States, according to a press release from the National Academies.
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Limiting Malpractice Claims May Not Curb Costly Medical Tests
THURSDAY, Oct. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Malpractice reform may not keep physicians from ordering unnecessary and expensive tests, according to a study published in the Oct. 16 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Change in Doc, Public Attitudes Needed to Cut Overtreatment
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Reform of malpractice laws as well as inclusion of patients in medical decision making may help reduce overdiagnosis and overtreatment, according to an article published online Oct. 14 in The BMJ.
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Second Health Care Worker in Dallas Tests Positive for Ebola
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A second health care worker who helped treat a patient who died of Ebola last week at a Dallas hospital has tested positive for the disease, health officials said Wednesday morning.
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CDC Takes Steps Toward Hospital Preparedness for Ebola
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has sent new resources to Dallas to support the highest standard of infection control, according to a news release issued by the organization Tuesday.
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Performance Measures Don't Influence Readmission
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Skilled nursing facility (SNF) performance measures are not consistently associated with the risk of readmission or death within 30 days for Medicare beneficiaries receiving postacute care at a SNF, according to a study published in the Oct. 15 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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FDA Approves Urinary Prosthetic Device for Women
TUESDAY, Oct. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A device to help women with impaired detrusor contractility (IDC) urinate has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
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Resident Proficiency in High-Value Care Is Hard to Test
TUESDAY, Oct. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The high-value care (HVC) subscore on the Internal Medicine In-Training Examination (IM-ITE) helps assess resident knowledge of HVC, but additional tools are needed to measure proficiency in practice, according to research published online Oct. 14 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Considerations for CMS Coverage of Lung Cancer Screening
TUESDAY, Oct. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The benefits and potential harms of low-dose computed tomography (CT) screening for lung cancer are discussed in relation to the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) evaluation of screening coverage. The two clinical reviews were published online Oct. 13 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Mental Stress Affects Heart Differently in Men, Women
TUESDAY, Oct. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- There are clear, measurable physical differences from mental stress in men and women, according to a study published in the Oct. 21 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Obesity Appears to Speed Aging of the Liver
TUESDAY, Oct. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Extra pounds cause the liver to age faster, potentially explaining why obesity is linked to diseases like liver cancer and insulin resistance, new research suggests. The study appears online Oct. 13 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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Smoking-Related Illnesses in U.S. Total 14 Million
TUESDAY, Oct. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Cigarette smoking accounts for approximately 14 million major medical conditions that plague the lives of U.S. adults, according to a new government report published online Oct. 13 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Sudden Cardiac Death a Risk for Women Living Near Major Roads
TUESDAY, Oct. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Women who live near major roads may be at increased risk for sudden cardiac death, according to a new study published online Oct. 13 in Circulation.
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Health Officials Reviewing Ebola Procedures at Dallas Hospital
MONDAY, Oct. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Federal and local health officials said Monday that they were re-examining infection-control efforts at the Dallas hospital where a nurse contracted Ebola while caring for America's first diagnosed victim of the deadly disease.
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Texas Hospital Worker Tests Positive for Ebola
MONDAY, Oct. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A health care worker who helped treat the Liberian man who died of Ebola in a Dallas hospital last week has tested positive for the virus, public health officials reported Sunday.
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Love Your Coffee? You May Have Been Born That Way
MONDAY, Oct. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- People who consume large amounts of coffee may have genetics to thank for their cravings, according to a study published online Oct. 7 in Molecular Psychiatry.
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Yoga Pose May Help Reduce Spinal Curve of Scoliosis
MONDAY, Oct. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Asymmetric strengthening with yoga may reduce abnormal spinal curvature in patients with scoliosis, according to research published in the September issue of Global Advances in Health and Medicine.
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Combining Healthy Habits Equals Greater Reduction in CRC Risk
MONDAY, Oct. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A few healthy habits could reduce the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), according to a study published online Oct. 10 in BMC Medicine.
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FDA: Akynzeo Approved for Chemo-Related Nausea/Vomiting
FRIDAY, Oct. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The combination drug Akynzeo (netupitant and palonosetron) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat nausea and vomiting among people undergoing chemotherapy, the agency said Friday in a news release.
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High Cholesterol Tied to Prostate Cancer's Return
FRIDAY, Oct. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- After surgery for prostate cancer, elevated levels of cholesterol and triglycerides may be linked with greater risk of the cancer's return, new research suggests. The findings were published online Oct. 10 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
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Medicines Are Biggest Culprit in Fatal Allergic Reactions
FRIDAY, Oct. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Over half of allergy-related deaths are caused by medications, while less than 7 percent are caused by food allergies, according to research published online Sept. 30 in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
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Americans Increasingly Anxious About Ebola
FRIDAY, Oct. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- One-quarter of Americans now view Ebola as a major public health threat to the United States, with many saying they'd change their travel plans due to Ebola fears, a new Harris Poll/HealthDay survey reveals.
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Specialty Drugs May Be Worth the Higher Costs
FRIDAY, Oct. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Despite high costs, specialty drugs may provide value that balances the price difference compared with traditional drugs, according to research published in the October issue of Health Affairs.
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Alternative Beats Conventional ABI Method for Predicting PAD
FRIDAY, Oct. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Ankle-brachial index (ABI) detected by an alternative method involving the lower of two systolic ankle pressures (LABI) is more sensitive and better for predicting peripheral artery disease (PAD), according to a study published in the Oct. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
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Anticoagulation Use in Urology Patients Requires Pre-Planning
FRIDAY, Oct. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Perioperative planning is needed for decisions of timing of anticoagulation therapy in patients undergoing urological procedures, according to a review published in the October issue of The Journal of Urology.
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Five Healthy Lifestyle Choices Cut Women's Stroke Risk
THURSDAY, Oct. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Women who follow five healthy habits can cut their stroke risk in half, new research suggests. The study was published online Oct. 8 in Neurology.
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Five Major U.S. Airports to Screen Travelers for Ebola
THURSDAY, Oct. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Five major U.S. airports will begin screening travelers entering the country from the three West African nations hit hardest by the ongoing Ebola epidemic, federal health officials announced Wednesday.
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Reducing Residency Work Hours Doesn't Affect Patient Outcomes
THURSDAY, Oct. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Duty-hour reforms have not adversely affected hospital mortality or length-of-stay of patients cared for by new attending physicians who were partly or fully exposed to reduced duty hours during residency, according to research published in the October issue of Health Affairs.
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Risk of Upper GI Bleeding Varies for Drug Combinations
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Concomitant use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), low-dose aspirin or cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) selective inhibitors with other drugs can increase the risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB), and the magnitude of interaction varies according to drug combination, according to a study published in the October issue of Gastroenterology.
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Dallas Ebola Patient Has Died, Hospital Officials Confirm
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Thomas Eric Duncan, the Liberian national who was the first person diagnosed with Ebola in the United States, died Wednesday morning at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas.
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CDC: U.S. Life Expectancy Hits Record High of Nearly 79 Years
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Average life expectancy in the United States reached an all-time high of 78.8 years in 2012, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Wednesday. For people 65 years old in 2012, life expectancy was an additional 19.3 years, up slightly from the year before. Women age 65 and older in 2012 can expect to live another 20.5 years, while men may get around an additional 18 years.
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Laxative Type Might Influence Colorectal Cancer Risk
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The type of laxative a person takes might be a factor in their odds for colorectal cancer, according to a study published in the October issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
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AAFP Urges Docs to Check Accuracy of Open Payments Data
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) urges family doctors to check the accuracy of the first set of data published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Open Payments transparency program.
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Tips Provided for Maximizing Use of Patient Portals
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Patient portals should be designed to meet patient priorities and promoted in order to maximize their use and boost practice efficiency, according to an article published Oct. 1 in Medical Economics.
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About Half of All U.S. Hospital Patients Receive Antibiotics
TUESDAY, Oct. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- About half of all U.S. hospital patients receive antibiotics, and these drugs are commonly the ones more likely to promote the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, according to a new study, led by researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and published in the Oct. 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a theme issue on infectious disease. The CDC also funded the study.
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MRI May Spot Early Signs of Mental Decline
TUESDAY, Oct. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan that measures blood flow in the brain may help predict which older adults are at risk for future memory loss, according to a study published online Oct. 7 in Radiology.
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Cancer Diagnosis Can Take Toll on Mental Health
TUESDAY, Oct. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- One out of three people diagnosed with cancer also wind up struggling with a mental health disorder such as anxiety or depression, according to a German study published online Oct. 6 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Obama Considers Tighter Ebola Screening for Travelers
TUESDAY, Oct. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- President Barack Obama said Monday that his administration is preparing additional screening measures to prevent the Ebola epidemic in West Africa from gaining a foothold in the United States.
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Docs More Likely to Prescribe Unneeded Antibiotics Later in Day
TUESDAY, Oct. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Doctors are more likely to prescribe unnecessary antibiotics for respiratory infections as the day progresses, according to a research letter published online Oct. 6 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Handheld U/S Beats Physical Exam for Heart Abnormalities
TUESDAY, Oct. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with suspected cardiac abnormalities, handheld ultrasound (HHU) is more accurate for diagnosis than physical examination, according to a study published online Sept. 17 in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging.
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CDC Team Assisting Ebola Response in Dallas
MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Experts from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have arrived in Texas and are working closely with Texas state and local health departments to investigate the first Ebola case in the United States, according to a news release issued by the agency.
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Chasm Exists Between Cultural, Medical Definitions of Obesity
MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Cultural definitions of body size terms differ from a participant's actual body size, according to a study published in the September-October issue of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.
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Heart Bypass Patients May Not Need Tight Glucose Control
MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients might not need to follow strict glucose control after their surgery, according to a study published in the October issue of the Annals of Thoracic Surgery. Some previous research suggested that high glucose after CABG and other types of heart surgery was associated with increased risk of health problems and death, but more recent research has found that might not be the case.
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States Encouraged to Use Physician Assistant Workforce
MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Physician assistants (PAs) have an important role in the provision of health care and their role should be encouraged by appropriate state legislation, according to a report from the National Governors Association.
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Gout Independently Associated With Diabetes Risk
MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Gout appears to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, especially in women, according to a study published online Oct. 2 in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.
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Impact of Physician Payments Sunshine Act Discussed
MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The Physician Payments Sunshine Act is causing concern for manufacturers and providers, as well as physicians, according to a health policy brief published online Oct. 2 in Health Affairs.
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Research Suggests Stroke Risk Up With β-Blockers in Select Patients
MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients without prior myocardial infarction (MI) with no heart failure, β-blocker use is not associated with lower cardiovascular events, and there may be an increased risk of stroke for patients without previous events but with multiple cardiovascular risk factors, according to a study published online Sept. 30 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
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Study Clarifies LMWH Treatment for Cancer-Related DVT
MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Results of a randomized trial support the role of residual vein thrombosis (RVT) as a factor in determining the optimal duration of anticoagulant therapy in cancer patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower limbs. These findings were published online Sept. 29 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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CHD Risk in Diabetes Correlates With BMI Seven Years Earlier
MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) over seven years increases with higher body mass index (BMI) at baseline among patients with diabetes, with a U-shaped association between BMI at the last visit and the risk of CHD among women, according to a study published online Sept. 23 in Diabetes Care.
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Physician Payments Found Not to Favor Procedures
FRIDAY, Oct. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Physician Fee Schedule does not systematically provide higher valuation of physician work per unit time for procedure/test codes than for evaluation and management (E/M) codes, according to a study published online Sept. 18 in the Annals of Surgery.
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Only DM Duration Independently Tied to Microvascular Events
FRIDAY, Oct. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with type 2 diabetes, age or age at diabetes diagnosis and diabetes duration are independently associated with macrovascular events and death, but only duration of disease is independently associated with microvascular events, according to a study published online Sept. 17 in Diabetologia.
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Walking Protects Against Functional Limitation in OA
FRIDAY, Oct. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For individuals with or at risk of knee osteoarthritis, walking is associated with reduced incidence of functional limitation over two years, according to a study published in the September issue of Arthritis Care & Research.
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Major Bleeds Found to Be Rare for Patients With Stable CAD
FRIDAY, Oct. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Major bleeding events are rare in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD); however, concomitant antiplatelet therapy (APT) when oral anticoagulation is required increases bleeding risk -- an independent predictor of mortality -- and should be reconsidered in select patients, according to research published in the Oct. 7 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Transient Ischemic Attacks May Lead to PTSD
FRIDAY, Oct. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) may not cause lasting physical damage but they may increase the risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a study published online Oct. 2 in Stroke.
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Aerobic Exercise Boosts Quality of Life for Dialysis Patients
FRIDAY, Oct. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Aerobic exercise may improve the physical and mental health of patients on maintenance hemodialysis and may also extend their lives, according to a study published online Oct. 2 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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Lung Cancer Screening Found Cost-Effective for Medicare
FRIDAY, Oct. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) is a low-cost and cost-effective strategy for screening Medicare beneficiaries for lung cancer, according to a study published in the August issue of American Health & Drug Benefits.
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'High-Intensity' Hospitals Save More Elderly After Surgery
THURSDAY, Oct. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Failure-to-rescue rates for elderly patients after major surgery are lower at hospitals with "high care intensity" compared with hospitals that display less intensity, according to research published online Oct. 1 in JAMA Surgery.
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Remission of T2DM Without Bariatric Sx Found to Be Rare
THURSDAY, Oct. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For adults with type 2 diabetes, remission is possible without bariatric surgery, but rarely occurs, according to a study published online Sept. 17 in Diabetes Care.
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Medical Errors Should Be Used to Improve Patient Care
THURSDAY, Oct. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Medical errors occur and should be used to help improve medical processes, according to a report from the American Medical Association.
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Hydrocodone Combo Products Reclassified As Schedule II
THURSDAY, Oct. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new rule taking effect Oct. 6 reclassifies hydrocodone combination products as Schedule II controlled substances, which will impact prescribing practices for these products, according to a report from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
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Providers Received Billions From Drug/Device Companies
THURSDAY, Oct. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- About 546,000 doctors and 1,360 teaching hospitals in the United States received billions of dollars from drug and medical device makers in the second half of 2013, according to data released Tuesday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The financial benefits ranged from research grants to trips, and totaled nearly $3.5 billion from August through December last year, the Associated Press reported.
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No Genetic Proof Vitamin D Guards Against Type 2 Diabetes
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- There's no genetic evidence that high levels of vitamin D can prevent type 2 diabetes, according to research published online Oct. 1 in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.
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Social Support May Be Key to Heart Attack Recovery
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Young and middle-aged heart attack survivors are more likely to have poor health and low quality of life if they have fewer family and friends to support them in their recovery, according to a study published online Sept. 30 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
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CDC Confirms First Patient Diagnosed With Ebola in U.S.
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The first confirmed case of Ebola has surfaced in the United States, involving a man who recently flew here from Liberia, federal health officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced late Tuesday.
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Burnout on the Job Isn't Just About the Work
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Work, non-work, and individual factors explain a considerable part of psychological distress, depression, and emotional exhaustion, according to a study published online July 24 in Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology.
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