September 2014 Briefing - Geriatrics

Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Geriatrics for September 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.

Acupuncture May Not Help Chronic Knee Pain

TUESDAY, Sept. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Acupuncture doesn't improve knee pain any more than sham acupuncture, according to a new study published in the Oct. 1 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Spinal Cord Stimulation Feasible for Diabetic Neuropathy

TUESDAY, Sept. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (PDPN), spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a successful treatment, according to a study published online Sept. 11 in Diabetes Care.

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β-Blockers Equivalent in Long QT Syndrome Genotype 1

TUESDAY, Sept. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with long QT syndrome (LQTS), different β-blockers are effective for reducing the risk for first cardiac event in LQT1, but only nadolol is effective in LQT2, according to a study published in the Sept. 30 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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Fish Oil Supplements Don't Prevent Recurrence of A-Fib

TUESDAY, Sept. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- High doses of fish oil supplements won't prevent recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF), Canadian researchers report. The study, funded by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Quebec, was published in the Oct. 7 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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FDA Criticized Over Implanted Medical Device Approval Process

TUESDAY, Sept. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Patients are receiving medical implants that may not have been rigorously tested before or after their approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, two new studies contend. The findings were published online Sept. 29 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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AHA: Consider Radiation Risks of Heart Imaging Procedures

TUESDAY, Sept. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Doctors need to make sure patients understand the radiation-related risks of heart imaging tests before sending them for such procedures, a new American Heart Association scientific statement says. The statement was published online Sept. 29 in Circulation.

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American Academy of Neurology Issues Opioid Guidelines

TUESDAY, Sept. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The risks of opioids outweigh their benefits for treating chronic noncancer pain such as chronic headaches, low back pain, and fibromyalgia, according to a new statement from the American Academy of Neurology (AAN).

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'Just-in-Time' Methodology Can Reduce Patient Waiting Times

MONDAY, Sept. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Having trainee physicians review cases prior to clinic hours can reduce patient waiting times, flow times, and clinic session times, according to a study published online Sept. 16 in Pain Medicine. The management process studied was first popularized by Toyota in Japan.

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AMA Launches Three Programs for Physician Wellness

MONDAY, Sept. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Physicians' personal health is a global concern and three initiatives are being developed to encourage positive change, according to a report from the American Medical Association (AMA).

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ACC Withdraws One Choosing Wisely Recommendation

MONDAY, Sept. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers have withdrawn one of the previous Choosing Wisely recommendations from April 2012, according to a report from the American College of Cardiology (ACC).

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Untreated Sleep Apnea May Raise Risk of Surgical Complications

FRIDAY, Sept. 26, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Screening and treating patients for obstructive sleep apnea before they have surgery may reduce their risk of cardiovascular complications by more than half, according to a study published in the October issue of Anesthesiology.

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NIH Funds Study of Malpractice Risk, Cardiac Testing Incentives

FRIDAY, Sept. 26, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The National Institutes of Health has granted $2 million to study the effect of malpractice risk and financial incentives on cardiac testing.

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Stress Might Be Even More Unhealthy for the Obese

FRIDAY, Sept. 26, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Recurring emotional stress may trigger a stronger biochemical response in overweight people, possibly increasing their risk of chronic illnesses such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes, according to new study published online Aug. 5 in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.

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Experiences Trump Things, Even Before Purchase

FRIDAY, Sept. 26, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- People derive value from the anticipation of purchasing something, and this anticipation tends to be greater for an experiential purchase than for a material purchase, according to a study published online Aug. 21 in Psychological Science.

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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Beats Tai Chi for Insomnia

FRIDAY, Sept. 26, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is better than tai chi for late-life insomnia, according to a study published in the September issue of SLEEP.

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Depression Linked to Worse Bypass Grafting Outcomes

FRIDAY, Sept. 26, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with established ischemic heart disease undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), depression is associated with increased mortality and poor cardiovascular outcomes, according to a study published in the Sept. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.

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Targeted Therapy May Help Relieve 'Complicated Grief'

THURSDAY, Sept. 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For people mired in grief after a loved one's death, a specially designed therapy may work better than a standard treatment for depression, according to a study published online Sept. 24 in JAMA Psychiatry.

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Can Media Multitasking Alter Your Brain?

THURSDAY, Sept. 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Multitasking with smartphones, laptop computers, and other media devices could change the structure of your brain, according to a study published online Sept. 24 in PLOS ONE.

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NSAIDs Tied to Risk of Venous Thromboembolism

THURSDAY, Sept. 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may increase risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), according to new research published online Sept. 24 in Rheumatology.

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Blood Test Might Predict Speed of Recovery From Surgery

THURSDAY, Sept. 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Measuring the activity of subsets of white blood cells immediately after surgery might reveal which patients are likely to recover quickly and those who won't, a preliminary study suggests. The report was published in the Sept. 24 issue of Science Translational Medicine.

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Memory Slips in Senior Years May Signal Dementia Risk

THURSDAY, Sept. 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Healthy elderly people who begin reporting memory lapses are significantly more likely to be diagnosed with dementia roughly a decade later, according to a study published online Sept. 24 in Neurology.

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ACP Launches Program for Nonvalvular A-Fib Management

THURSDAY, Sept. 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new program is being developed to help patients recognize the signs and symptoms of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), according to a report from the American College of Physicians (ACP).

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Kidney Disease Doesn't Bar Thrombolytic Therapy in Stroke

THURSDAY, Sept. 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Intravenous (IV) thrombolytic therapy for acute ischemic stroke (IS) is not contraindicated in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to research published online Sept. 23 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

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New Clinical Guidelines Developed for NSTE-ACS

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- New guidelines for management of patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) have been developed and published online Sept. 23 in Circulation.

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Diabetes Rates Leveling Off in the United States

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Overall adult diabetes rates appear to have leveled off during the past four years in the United States, in stark contrast to the two decades prior, which saw a doubling of the chronic disease, according to research published in the Sept. 24 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Report Identifies Game Changers for U.S. Health Care

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Imagine if doctors and hospitals got paid for providing better care, not more care, and patients had better data for making informed health choices. A new report suggests that's the direction the U.S. health system is headed.

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Most Doctors Are Over-Extended or at Full Capacity

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Most physicians report being over-extended or at full capacity, according to a survey conducted by Merritt Hawkins for The Physicians Foundation.

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Clinical Practice Guideline Issued for Comorbid Conditions in CVD

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Comorbid conditions must be considered when applying clinical practice guidelines to the treatment of cardiovascular disease, according to an article published online Sept. 11 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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Review: Desmopressin Offers Modest Benefit for Nocturia

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Desmopressin offers a modest benefit for treating nocturia in generally healthy adults, according to a systematic review published in the September issue of The Journal of Urology.

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FDA Warns Doctors of Danger From 'Fake' Drugs

TUESDAY, Sept. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The number of "rogue" wholesale distributors selling fake or unapproved prescription drugs is growing, so doctors need to be vigilant when purchasing medicines, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Tuesday.

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Generic Discount Drug Program Use Has Increased Over Time

TUESDAY, Sept. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Use of the generic discount drug program (GDDP) for filling prescriptions with generic drugs has increased since its introduction, according to a research letter published online Sept 22 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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Reduction of Overuse of Non-ICU Cardiac Telemetry Feasible

TUESDAY, Sept. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Efforts to reduce overuse of non-intensive care unit (ICU) cardiac telemetry correlate with reductions in telemetry use and considerable cost savings, according to a research letter published online Sept. 22 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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Healthy Behaviors May Prevent ~80 Percent of Heart Attacks

TUESDAY, Sept. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Five recommended health behaviors may prevent four out of five heart attacks in men, according to a study published in the Sept. 30 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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NIH Adds $10M to Encourage Gender Balance in Clinical Trials

TUESDAY, Sept. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. National Institutes of Health is investing $10 million in additional funding in scientific trials to encourage researchers to consider gender in their preclinical and clinical studies.

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Statins May Improve Hemorrhagic Stroke Outcomes

TUESDAY, Sept. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Patients taking statin medication while in the hospital for a hemorrhagic stroke are more than four times more likely to survive than people who aren't taking the drugs, according to a new study. The findings were published online Sept. 22 in JAMA Neurology.

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Health Conditions Expected to Worsen Due to Climate Change

MONDAY, Sept. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new study warns that rising temperatures and altered weather patterns in the United States may soon exacerbate many existing health risks. The study was published online Sept. 22 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, ahead of the United Nations' summit on climate change, which kicks off Tuesday in New York City.

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One in 15 Family Docs Focus Time on Emergency/Urgent Care

MONDAY, Sept. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Approximately one in 15 family physicians spend at least 80 percent of their time in emergency or urgent care, with higher percentages seen for doctors in rural areas, according to a report published by the American Academy of Family Physicians. The findings were published in the July-August issue of the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine.

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Redundant Antimicrobial Therapy Is Pervasive, Costly

MONDAY, Sept. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Redundant use of antimicrobial therapy is pervasive in U.S. hospitals and is associated with considerable, potentially avoidable, health care costs, according to a study published in the October issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.

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Doctor Describes Importance of Interpretation in Patient Care

MONDAY, Sept. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Understanding patients is important for all doctors, including those working with patients with limited English proficiency, according to an article published in the September/October issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.

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Adults Over 45 Not Meeting U.S. Muscle Strengthening Guidelines

MONDAY, Sept. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Less than one-quarter of adults over 45 meet the muscle-strengthening recommendations set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, according to a study published Sept. 18 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Preventing Chronic Disease.

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E-Cigarettes Don't Help Cancer Patients Quit Smoking

MONDAY, Sept. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Smokers with cancer who used e-cigarettes along with traditional cigarettes were more dependent on nicotine than those who didn't use the devices, a Memorial Sloan Kettering study found. These patients were also just as likely -- or less likely -- to have quit smoking than patients who didn't use e-cigarettes.

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Tight Glucose Control Doesn't Prevent Strokes Long Term

FRIDAY, Sept. 19, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A six-year study of people with type 2 diabetes shows that intensively lowering blood pressure has a long-lasting effect in preventing heart attacks, strokes, and deaths, but intensive blood glucose control does not. The findings were published online Sept. 19 in the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with presentation of the findings at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Vienna.

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Sales Influence Consumer Food Shopping Habits

FRIDAY, Sept. 19, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Consumers are more likely to buy high-calorie foods (HCF), but not low-calorie foods (LCF) on sale, according to a study published in the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Preventing Chronic Disease.

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Systemwide Changes Needed to Restrain Health Care Spending

FRIDAY, Sept. 19, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Systemwide changes are necessary to prevent excessive health care spending, and so are tools to help consumers make better, more informed medical choices, according to a white paper published in June by Vitals.

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Recent Increase in Liver Injury From Herbs, Supplements

FRIDAY, Sept. 19, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The proportion of liver injury cases resulting from herbals and dietary supplements (HDS) has increased significantly in the last decade, according to a study published online Aug. 25 in Hepatology.

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Study Explores Docs' Roles in End-of-Life Hospitalizations

FRIDAY, Sept. 19, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Family physicians have several distinct roles in preventing and guiding hospitalization at the end of life, according to a study published in the September/October issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.

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Presence of Peers Ups Health Workers' Hand Hygiene

FRIDAY, Sept. 19, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The presence of other health care workers improves hand hygiene adherence, according to a study published in the October issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.

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Vitamin K Antagonist + Clopidogrel Feasible for PCI

FRIDAY, Sept. 19, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Vitamin K antagonists (VKA) combined with clopidogrel may be a better alternative to triple anticoagulant therapy in patients on long-term VKA undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and stenting, according to a review published in the Sept. 23 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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Vitamin E Supplements Do Not Appear to Prevent Cataracts

FRIDAY, Sept. 19, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Daily supplements of selenium or vitamin E don't seem to protect against the development of age-related cataracts among men, according to a study published online Sept. 18 in JAMA Ophthalmology.

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CDC: Add PCV13 As Routine Vaccination in Older Adults

FRIDAY, Sept. 19, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have released a Category A recommendation for revised routine pneumococcal vaccination in older adults. The recommendation has been published in the Sept. 19 issue of the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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Family Squabbles Can Derail Recovery From Cancer Surgery

FRIDAY, Sept. 19, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Cancer patients burdened by stress and family conflicts before surgery may face a higher risk for complications following their operation, according to a study published in a recent issue of the Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery.

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CDC: Almost Everyone Needs a Flu Shot

THURSDAY, Sept. 18, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Less than half of all Americans got a flu shot last year, so U.S. health officials on Thursday urged that everyone 6 months and older get vaccinated for the coming flu season. "It's really unfortunate that half of Americans are not getting the protection from flu they could get," said Thomas Frieden, M.D., director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, during a morning news conference.

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Strategies Can Help Docs Lower Their Tax Burden

THURSDAY, Sept. 18, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Strategies are presented to help physicians lower their tax burden in an article published Sept. 2 in Medical Economics.

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Migraines in Middle Age Tied to Increased Risk of Parkinson's

THURSDAY, Sept. 18, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Migraines in midlife may be associated with increased odds of developing Parkinson's disease or other movement disorders in later years, according to research published online Sept. 17 in Neurology.

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FDA Panel: Limit Testosterone Drug Use

THURSDAY, Sept. 18, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- There is little evidence that testosterone replacement therapy effectively treats normally declining levels of the hormone in aging American males, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel said Wednesday.

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Internists Report Considerable EMR-Linked Time Loss

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Use of electronic medical record (EMR) systems is associated with considerable loss of free time per clinic day, according to a research letter published online Sept. 8 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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Doctors Promoting Transparency With Patients

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Efforts to increase transparency among doctors are underway, according to an article published in The Boston Globe.

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Most Treatments for Acute VTE Appear Safe, Effective

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Almost all the various treatment options for acute venous thromboembolism are equally safe and effective, according to research published in the Sept. 17 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Screening Elderly Women for Breast Cancer Questioned

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Including women older than 70 in national breast cancer screening programs won't lead to a sharp reduction in advanced forms of the disease, according to researchers who published their study findings online Sept. 15 in The BMJ.

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CDC: Opioid-Related Deaths Quadrupled in Past Decade

TUESDAY, Sept. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The number of Americans dying from accidental overdoses of opioid analgesics jumped significantly from 1999 to 2011, according to a September data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

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AACR: Targeted Drugs Among Successes Against Cancer

TUESDAY, Sept. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- About 14.5 million U.S. cancer survivors are alive today, compared to just three million in 1971, the American Association for Cancer Research reported Tuesday.

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FDA Approves Movantik for Opioid-Induced Constipation

TUESDAY, Sept. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Movantik (naloxegol) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat opioid-induced constipation, the agency said Tuesday.

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Blood Pressure Seems to Stay Lower Longer in Fitter Men

TUESDAY, Sept. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Aerobic exercise leading to strong cardiorespiratory fitness can delay a man's onset of age-related high blood pressure, researchers report in the Sept. 23 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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Over a Quarter of Hospital Orders Classified As Defensive

TUESDAY, Sept. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- More than one-quarter of hospital medicine services were rated by ordering physicians as at least a partially defensive order, according to a research letter published online Sept. 15 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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ACP Releases Guideline for Tx of Female Urinary Incontinence

TUESDAY, Sept. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The American College of Physicians (ACP) has presented evidence and provided clinical recommendations for the nonsurgical management of urinary incontinence (UI) in women. The clinical practice guideline has been published in the Sept. 16 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Medicare Patients' Outcomes Better With Generic Statins

MONDAY, Sept. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Prescribing generic instead of brand-name statins may improve adherence to therapy and cardiovascular outcomes in Medicare beneficiaries, according to research published in the Sept. 16 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Watchful Waiting May Not Be Best for Black Men With Prostate CA

MONDAY, Sept. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Watchful waiting may not be suitable for all men with early-stage prostate cancer, especially black patients, according to research published in Urologic Oncology.

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New Role of Patient As Consumer Requires Market Changes

FRIDAY, Sept. 12, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The new consumer retail market in U.S. health care is necessary and will benefit consumers, and as consumers take on more costs of care, access to information to help them make informed decisions is crucial, according to a recent white paper published by Vitals.

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Errata Frequently Seen in Medical Literature

MONDAY, Sept. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Errata, including those that may materially change the interpretation of data, are frequent in medical publications, according to a study published in the August issue of The American Journal of Medicine.

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INR Variability Predicts Warfarin Adverse Effects

MONDAY, Sept. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Unstable anticoagulation predicts warfarin adverse effects regardless of time in therapeutic range, according to a study published online Sept. 2 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

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Poverty Tied to Increased Respiratory Hospitalization Rate

FRIDAY, Sept. 12, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Household income is tied to significant differences in hospitalizations for ambulatory-care-sensitive respiratory conditions, according to a study published in the September/October issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.

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Highly Sensitive Troponin Test IDs Asymptomatic Heart Damage

FRIDAY, Sept. 12, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) test may be helpful in identifying early heart damage, eventually standing alongside cholesterol tests as a standard screening tool for heart disease risk, according to researchers who presented their study findings online Aug. 22 in Circulation.

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Researchers Support Lung Cancer CT Screen in Older Patients

FRIDAY, Sept. 12, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Individuals aged 65 to 74 years with a history of smoking should not be excluded from screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) for lung cancer, according to researchers who published their study findings online Sept. 9 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Review: ASA to Prevent Primary CVD Should Be Individualized

FRIDAY, Sept. 12, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Prescribing aspirin for primary cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention should be judged on an individual basis by health care providers, according to an article published online Sept. 1 in Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine.

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Glycemic Control Linked to Lumbar Surgery Complications

FRIDAY, Sept. 12, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) undergoing degenerative lumbar spine surgery, suboptimal glycemic control contributes to increased risk of complications and poor outcomes, according to a study published in the Sept. 15 issue of Spine.

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Non-Vitamin K Oral Anticoagulants Vary in Assay Effects

FRIDAY, Sept. 12, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants exhibit variable effects on coagulation assays, according to a study published in the Sept. 16 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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Factors ID'd for CRC Risk Stratification With Positive FIT

THURSDAY, Sept. 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Fecal hemoglobin concentration, sex, and age can be used to classify the risk of advanced colorectal neoplasia among individuals with positive results from fecal immunochemical tests (FITs), according to a study published in the September issue of Gastroenterology.

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Half of Staff Believe Dignified Death Possible in Cancer Centers

THURSDAY, Sept. 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- About half of cancer center staff members perceive that a dignified death is possible for cancer patients on their wards, according to a study published online Sept. 8 in Cancer.

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Physician Describes Impact of Malpractice Suit

THURSDAY, Sept. 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A family doctor who was involved in a malpractice suit describes the impact on her practice of medicine in an article published online in the September/October issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.

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Fear About Disease Progression Prompts ER Returns

THURSDAY, Sept. 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Perceived inability to access timely follow-up care and uncertainty and fear about disease progression are the main reasons for return visits to the emergency department, according to a study published online Sept. 2 in the Annals of Emergency Medicine.

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Physician, System Factors Affect CAD Detection Rates

THURSDAY, Sept. 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Nonclinical factors account for considerable variation in the detection of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) with coronary angiogram, according to a study published online Sept. 2 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality & Outcomes.

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AB Blood Type May Be Linked to Risk of Memory Loss

THURSDAY, Sept. 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Blood group AB and higher factor VIII are associated with increased incidence of cognitive impairment, according to a study published online Sept. 10 in Neurology.

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Statins May Provide Microvascular Benefit in Diabetes

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Statins may help prevent microvascular complications associated with diabetes, according to research published online Sept. 10 in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.

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Evidence Lacking for Efficacy of Implantable Devices

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- High-quality evidence for the effectiveness and safety of recent and ostensibly high-value implantable devices in major joint replacement is lacking, according to a study published online Sept. 9 in BMJ.

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Benzodiazepine Use Linked to Increased Alzheimer's Risk

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Benzodiazepine use is associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease, with exposure density correlating with increased strength of association, according to a study published online Sept. 9 in BMJ.

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Reanalyses of RCTs Can Lead to Different Conclusions

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- More than one-third of the small number of reanalyses of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have implied conclusions different from those of the original articles, according to a study published online Sept. 9 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Long-Term Statins Benefit Familial Hypercholesterolemia

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Long-term statin use among children with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is associated with normalization of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) progression, according to a research letter published online Sept. 9 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Outdoor Activity Contributes to Exfoliation Syndrome

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Cumulative lifetime outdoor activities may contribute to exfoliation syndrome (XFS), according to a study published online Sept. 4 in JAMA Ophthalmology.

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For Some, Health Insurance More Costly Than Uninsured Penalty

TUESDAY, Sept. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For some young people in the United States, the cost of paying a penalty for not buying health insurance will be lower than the lowest-cost insurance, according to a study published online Sept. 9 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Meds of Questionable Benefit Often Prescribed to Elderly

TUESDAY, Sept. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Medications of questionable benefit are often prescribed for patients with advanced dementia, adding substantially to the costs of care, according to research published online Sept. 8 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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ASCO/CCO Issue New Guidelines for Advanced Prostate Cancer

TUESDAY, Sept. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Guidelines, issued jointly by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and Cancer Care Ontario (CCO) in Canada, highlight recent advances in treating hormone-therapy-resistant advanced prostate cancer. The guidelines were published Sept. 8 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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Comparative Studies Lacking for Osteoporosis Drugs

TUESDAY, Sept. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Good-quality evidence supports the efficacy of several medications for osteoporosis, but the comparative effectiveness of these drugs is unclear, according to research published online Sept. 9 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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MI, CHD Incidence for Adults With Diabetes Decreases

TUESDAY, Sept. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- From 1998 to 2010 there was a decrease in the incidence rates of hospitalized myocardial infarction (MI) and coronary heart disease (CHD) among adults with diabetes mellitus in Western Australia, according to a study published online Aug. 26 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

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Report Explores Patients' Portal Preferences

MONDAY, Sept. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Patients want portals that include features such as appointment scheduling, viewing test results, and checking prescription refills, and are frustrated with unresponsive staff and poor interfaces, according to a report published by Software Advice.

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Peri-Op Melatonin Doesn't Cut Post-Op Delirium in Elderly

MONDAY, Sept. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For elderly patients undergoing acute surgery for hip fracture, perioperative melatonin does not reduce the incidence of delirium, according to a study published online Sept. 2 in CMAJ, the Journal of the Canadian Medical Association.

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Spinal Manipulation, Exercise Best for Neck Pain in Seniors

MONDAY, Sept. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The combination of spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) with home exercise (HE) is most effective for neck pain in older patients, according to a study published in the Sept. 1 issue of The Spine Journal.

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Single-Dose, Injected Flu Treatment Shows Promise

MONDAY, Sept. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new single-dose, injected drug appears safe and effective at helping ease flu symptoms, according to an analysis of Phase II and Phase III clinical trials. The research, funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and drugmaker BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, was presented Saturday at the American Society for Microbiology meeting in Washington, D.C.

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Health Care Spending Expected to Rise in 2014 Through 2023

MONDAY, Sept. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- While health spending growth was slow in 2013, health spending is expected to increase in 2014 and remain higher through 2023, according to a study published online Sept. 3 in Health Affairs.

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Is Soy a Foe to Women With Breast Cancer?

MONDAY, Sept. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Soy protein may increase activity in genes linked to breast cancer growth -- at least in certain women who already have the disease, according to research reported in the September issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

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Abdominal Fat Most Strongly Linked to Hypertension Risk

FRIDAY, Sept. 5, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The association between obesity and the development of hypertension appears to be driven specifically by visceral adiposity, according to research published in the Sept. 9 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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More Leisure Physical Activity Tied to Lower Heart Failure Risk

FRIDAY, Sept. 5, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Higher leisure time physical activity is associated with a lower risk of developing heart failure, according to a study published online Sept. 2 in Circulation: Heart Failure.

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Diabetes May Increase Risk of Visual Loss Post-Spinal Fusion

FRIDAY, Sept. 5, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Though rare, some patients are at higher risk for perioperative visual loss (POVL) after spinal fusion surgery, according to a study published in the Sept. 1 issue of The Spine Journal.

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High Potassium Intake in Older Women Tied to Lower Stroke Risk

FRIDAY, Sept. 5, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- High potassium intake in older women is associated with lower stroke and all-cause mortality risk, according to a study published online Sept. 4 in Stroke.

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Sitting Less May Lengthen Telomeres

FRIDAY, Sept. 5, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Reducing sitting time may result in lengthening of telomeres, according to research published online Sept. 3 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

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Nearly 10 Percent of Americans Admit to Illicit Drug Use

FRIDAY, Sept. 5, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly 10 percent of Americans aged 12 and older were illicit drug users in 2013, and almost 20 million said they used marijuana, making it the most widely used drug, U.S. health officials reported Thursday. Two states, Colorado and Washington, permit the recreational use of marijuana.

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Blog: Seven Most Common Physician Social Media Misses

THURSDAY, Sept. 4, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The most common physician social media misses and missteps can be avoided, allowing doctors to take advantage of marketing opportunities on all major social media channels, according to the author of a recent Vitals blog.

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Little Evidence of Testosterone Drugs' Benefits or Risks: FDA

THURSDAY, Sept. 4, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- There is little evidence that testosterone drugs are either beneficial or pose serious health risks to men, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says in a review posted online Wednesday.

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Bisphosphonate Use Ups Atypical Femoral Fracture Risk

THURSDAY, Sept. 4, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Bisphosphonate use, especially over a long duration, is associated with increased risk of atypical femoral fracture, according to a study published in the Sept. 4 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Sleep Quality Tied to Brain Atrophy Over Time

THURSDAY, Sept. 4, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Sleep quality is associated with longitudinal measures of cortical atrophy, according to a study published online Sept. 3 in Neurology.

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