January 2014 Briefing - Internal Medicine

Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Internal Medicine for January 2014. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.

Deal Could Trade Tort Reform for Additional Health Reform

FRIDAY, Jan. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Physicians may be willing to make a trade in accepting some additional health reform efforts in exchange for tort reform, according to an article published in the January issue of Health Affairs.

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Postmenopausal Hormone Rx May Cut Risk for Glaucoma

FRIDAY, Jan. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Use of estrogen-only postmenopausal hormone (PMH) treatment may help reduce the risk for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), according to research published online Jan. 30 in JAMA Ophthalmology.

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Improved Outcomes Seen With Ventricular Assist Devices

FRIDAY, Jan. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Among Medicare patients receiving implantation of ventricular assist devices (VADs) for advanced heart failure, mortality has decreased, but readmission rates did not change, according to research published online Jan. 29 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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Four-Stage Model Developed to Prevent Young Adult Weight Gain

FRIDAY, Jan. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Application of a four-stage model facilitated development of a successful intervention to prevent excessive weight gain in young adults, according to research published online Jan. 23 in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.

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Melanoma Risk Up in IBD Independent of Biologic Therapy

FRIDAY, Jan. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with an increased risk of melanoma, independent of the use of biologic therapy, according to research published in the February issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

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Osteoporosis/Osteopenia Prevalent in Chronic Pancreatitis

FRIDAY, Jan. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Sixty-five percent of patients with chronic pancreatitis have osteoporosis or osteopenia, according to a meta-analysis published in the February issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

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Low Morbidity/Mortality Rates for Adult Tonsillectomy in U.S.

FRIDAY, Jan. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Adult tonsillectomy appears to be safe, with low rates seen for mortality and morbidity, according to a study published online Jan. 30 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.

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Vodka Implicated in Raising Premature Death Risk in Russians

FRIDAY, Jan. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Russians who drink vodka heavily have a higher risk of dying prematurely, according to a study published online Jan. 31 in The Lancet.

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Inappropriate Use of Antibiotics in ERs Remains High for Adults

THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients presenting to the emergency department with acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI), inappropriate utilization of antibiotics has decreased for children, but not for adults, according to a study published online Dec. 16 in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.

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Improving Infection Control Could Mean No More White Coats

THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Health care personnel should consider their clinical attire, such as white lab coats, carefully with regards to risk of transmitting infection, according to guidelines published in the February issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.

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Model Can Predict Spine Surgery Complications

THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new model can predict the risk of medical complications, including major complications, after spine surgery, according to a study published in the Feb. 1 issue of The Spine Journal.

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Validation of Delirium Screening Tools in ER Lacking

THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Data about ideal screening for delirium in elderly patients presenting in the emergency department are scarce, according to a review published online Dec. 18 in the Annals of Emergency Medicine.

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Docs Prefer Tablets Over Smartphones for Reading Articles

THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Although physicians generally use smartphones rather than tablets for professional purposes, they are more likely to read articles from medical publications and access medically oriented webcasts/podcasts on tablets, according to the results of a survey conducted by Kantar Media.

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Report Reveals Payment Methods for Physicians

THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Many physicians in non-solo practice settings are paid using different methods, with just over half receiving all or most of their compensation from salary, according to a report from the American Medical Association.

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Study IDs Cardiovascular Risk for 'Silent' Adrenal Tumors

THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with adrenal tumors of intermediate phenotype or subclinical Cushing's syndrome are at increased risk of cardiovascular events and mortality compared to those with stable non-secreting adrenal incidentalomas, according to a study published online Jan. 29 in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.

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Practices Must Engage Vendors for ICD-10 Updates Now

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Practice owners need to communicate with system vendors to coordinate International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) updates, according to an article published Dec. 25 in Medical Economics.

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Businesses Urge Change to ACA's Insurance Mandate

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Beginning in 2015, U.S. businesses with 50 or more workers must provide health insurance to "full-time" employees, meaning workers who log at least 30 hours a week, on average.

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Marital History and Support Linked to Bone Health

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Marital history, including disruptions and age at marriage, is associated with bone health in men, while marital support correlates with bone health in women, according to a study published online Jan. 15 in Osteoporosis International.

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High Estradiol Levels Linked to Dementia in Women

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Postmenopausal women with high estradiol levels have a two-fold higher risk of developing dementia, but the risk is 14-fold higher if they also have diabetes, according to a study published online Jan. 29 in Neurology.

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ASA Issues Top Five Choosing Wisely Recommendations

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The top five anesthesiology-related pain medicine issues that physicians and patients should question have been released by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) as part of the Choosing Wisely campaign.

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Telephone Delivery OK for BRCA1/2 Genetic Counseling

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The psychosocial outcomes of telephone genetic counseling are noninferior to standard in-person genetic counseling for BRCA1/2 gene testing, according to research published online Jan. 21 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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Handwashing Appears Best in Prevention of Common Cold

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The evidence relating to prevention and treatment of the common cold is frequently poor, but best evidence for prevention supports physical methods such as handwashing and possibly use of zinc supplements, according to a review published online Jan. 27 in CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.

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Four Pillars Established for Promoting Primary Care Reform

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Four pillars have been identified for promoting primary care physician workforce reform, according to an article published in the January/February issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.

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Risk of Flu-Linked Hospitalization Up for Adults With Diabetes

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Working-age adults with diabetes are at increased risk of all-cause hospitalizations associated with influenza, according to a study published online Jan. 24 in Diabetologia.

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Diabetes With Obesity Ups Liver Transplant Morbidity

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Morbidity is increased in the early postoperative phase following liver transplant for patients who have obesity with diabetes mellitus, according to research published online Jan. 7 in Liver Transplantation.

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Fear of Violence Hinders Women's Attempts at Safer Sex

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Women who fear intimate partner violence (IPV) report inconsistent condom use and difficulty in negotiating safer sex, according to research published in Women & Health.

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Insurance Eligibility Headaches Expected With ACA

TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- With the influx of newly insured patients under the Affordable Care Act, physician practices should be prepared to spend even more time verifying coverage, according to an article published Jan. 2 in Medical Economics.

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Hearing Loss Linked to Accelerated Brain Atrophy

TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Older individuals with hearing problems have accelerated brain atrophy, particularly in the right temporal lobe, according to a study published online Jan. 9 in NeuroImage.

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Framework Established to Promote Safety of Care

TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A framework has been established to advance clinical learning environments that promote change in the quality and safety of care, according to a perspective piece published online Jan. 27 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

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USPSTF: Draft Recommendations Issued for AAA Screening

TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has issued recommendations for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening. This draft recommendation statement is based on an evidence review published online Jan. 28 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Yoga Provides Health Benefits for Breast Cancer Survivors

TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For breast cancer survivors, a 12-week yoga intervention improves fatigue and vitality and is associated with reduced levels of proinflammatory cytokines, according to a study published online Jan. 27 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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Role of Vitamin D in Disease Prevention Is Uncertain

TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Supplementation with vitamin D to prevent disease does not appear to improve health outcomes, according to research published online Jan. 24 in The Lancet: Diabetes & Endocrinology.

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Pesticide Exposure Linked to Alzheimer's Disease Risk

TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- People exposed to elevated levels of the metabolite of the pesticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) are at higher risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD), particularly if they carry a particular apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype, according to a study published online Jan. 27 in JAMA Neurology.

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Case Series Describes Critical Illness Linked to MERS-CoV

TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with critical illness associated with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) present with acute severe hypoxemic respiratory failure and most have extrapulmonary manifestations, according to research published online Jan. 28 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Falls Top Car Crashes as Leading Cause of U.S. Spinal Injuries

TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Spinal cord injury rates in the United States are rising, and the leading cause now appears to be falls suffered by seniors rather than traffic crashes, according to a new study published in the Feb. 1 issue of the Journal of Neurotrauma.

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FDA Panel Considers First Pill for Ragweed Allergy

TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- There may be good news coming in the form of a pill for the millions of Americans who suffer from ragweed allergy. On Tuesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Allergenic Products Advisory Committee will consider whether to recommend approval of the first pill to prevent this annual scourge.

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Costs Cut With Workplace Wellness Disease Management

MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Workplace wellness programs, particularly those with a disease management component, can reduce monthly health care costs for members, according to a study published in the January issue of Health Affairs.

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Circulating Uric Acid May Play Protective Role in Obesity

MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Circulating uric acid affects non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity (NEAC) and markers of oxidative stress in obese subjects, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in Diabetes.

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Exercise After Cancer Improves Survival in Men

MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Men who are physically active after a cancer diagnosis have significantly improved survival, according to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of Physical Activity & Health.

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CDC: Health Care Providers Shouldn't Rely on Rapid Flu Tests

MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Doctors should not rely entirely on rapid flu tests when determining if patients have the flu, U.S. health officials say.

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Top Ten Physician Challenges of 2014 Discussed

MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The top ten challenges for physicians in 2014 relate to payment for medical services and government mandates, as well as adapting to a changing patient population and the need to improve work-life balance, according to an article published Dec. 25 in Medical Economics.

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Total Knee Arthroplasty Has Economic Benefit for Society

MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For a 50-year-old working person, the total economic cost to society for treatment of severe knee osteoarthritis is considerably lower with total knee arthroplasty than with nonoperative treatment, according to a study published in the Jan. 15 issue of The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.

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Hormone Therapy Linked to Reduced Arthroplasty Revision

MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Hormone replacement therapy use (HRT) is associated with a reduction in revision rates for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA), according to a study published online Jan. 22 in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

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FDA Wants to Update Food Labels

MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- America's food labels may get their first makeover in more than 20 years. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the agency is working toward publishing proposed rules to update nutrition labels and serving size information.

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Quinoa Consumption Seems Safe for Celiac Patients

MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with celiac disease, the addition of quinoa to a gluten-free diet for six weeks is well tolerated, according to a study published online Jan. 21 in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

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Long-Term Exposure to Pollutants Ups Coronary Event Risk

MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Long-term exposure to particulate matter is associated with increased risk of acute coronary events, even at levels below the current European limit values, according to a study published online Jan. 21 in BMJ.

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Telomere Length Prognostic for 50 to 75 Year-Old Men With ACS

MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For men aged 50 to 75 years with acute coronary syndrome, short telomeres are independently associated with worse prognosis, according to a study published in the Feb. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.

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'Buzzed' Drivers More Likely to Be Blamed for Crashes

MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Drivers with low levels of blood alcohol content (BAC) are more likely to be found at fault than sober drivers involved in crashes, according to research published online Jan. 7 in Injury Prevention.

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Online Fitness Tool Users Want Images Similar to Themselves

FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Incorporating images that reflect the user may make Internet-based physical activity promotion tools more acceptable to users, including young overweight African-American women, according to a study published Jan. 16 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Preventing Chronic Disease.

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'War on Cancer' Has Made Progress

FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- More people are being diagnosed with and dying from cancer, but this is largely the result of declines in mortality from other causes, according to a study published online Jan. 13 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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Financial Value Overrides Health in Supersized Food Buys

FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- "Supersized" pricing increases the quantity of food purchased and consumed because of focus on financial value, while diminishing the importance of health effects, according to a study published in the Journal of Marketing.

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Writing a Blog Can Up a Doc's Visibility

FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Blogs can be a valuable tool to promote physician practices, according to an article published Dec. 17 in Medical Economics.

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Off-Hours Myocardial Infarction More Likely to Be Fatal

FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Off-hour presentation is linked with poorer outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI), according to research published online Jan. 21 in BMJ.

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Volume of Trauma Care Affects Geriatric Trauma Outcomes

FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For geriatric trauma patients, larger volumes of geriatric trauma care are associated with improved outcomes, according to a study published online Jan. 22 in JAMA Surgery.

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Physical Activity, Sedentary Time Linked to Heart Failure in Men

FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For middle-aged men, physical activity and sedentary time are associated with the risk of heart failure, according to a study published in the January issue of Circulation: Heart Failure.

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Vitamin D Levels May Help Predict Prognosis in Multiple Sclerosis

FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D), a marker of vitamin D status, early in the course of illness may predict higher risk of increased disease activity and progression in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to research published online Jan. 20 in JAMA Neurology.

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Most Patients at Diabetes Risk Consider Themselves Healthy

FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly 80 percent of patients at elevated risk for type 2 diabetes think they are in excellent or very good health, according to a new survey from the American Diabetes Association (ADA).

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Sickle Cell Trait Affects Dosing of Anemia Medications in Dialysis

FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- African-American patients undergoing hemodialysis who carry hemoglobinopathy traits such as sickle cell trait require higher doses of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) than patients without these traits, according to a study published online Jan. 23 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

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Editorial Discusses Ultrasound in Point-of-Care Diagnostics

FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Ultrasound devices represent an important point-of-care diagnostic modality, which is increasingly being used in numerous specialties, according to an editorial published in the December issue of Global Heart.

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Medical Staff Performance Goals Should Be Clear, Attainable

THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Staff performance in medical practices needs to be appropriately managed and measured with performance goals, according to an article published Dec. 25 in Medical Economics.

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Bisphenol A Exposure Cost $3 Billion in 2008

THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- About $3 billion in health costs in 2008 could be attributed to bisphenol A (BPA) exposure, and removing BPA from all food uses could save nearly $2 billion annually, according to a study published online Jan. 22 in Health Affairs.

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Woman's Death Highlights Danger of Overlooking Dengue

THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The case of a Texas woman who died after becoming infected in New Mexico with the mosquito-borne dengue virus highlights a need for U.S. doctors to recognize the disease early, experts say. This is the third locally acquired dengue-related death in the United States, according to a report published in the Jan. 24 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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Community-Wide Preventive Isoniazid Tx Ineffective for TB

THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Community-wide isoniazid preventive therapy does not improve tuberculosis (TB) control in miners, according to a study published in the Jan. 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Reintubation After Cervical Fusion Up With 3+ Levels

THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients undergoing anterior cervical fusion (ACF), three-or-more-level fusions significantly predict the risk of unplanned reintubation, according to a study published in the Jan. 15 issue of Spine.

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Outbreak of Exposure to Novel Synthetic Cannabinoid Described

THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- An outbreak of exposure to a novel synthetic cannabinoid was rapidly controlled in Colorado, according to a letter to the editor published in the Jan. 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Few Dermatology Patients Engage in Skin CA Surveillance

THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Few dermatology patients engage in skin cancer screening behaviors, and most have poor knowledge about melanoma, with lower understanding among minority patients, according to a study published in the February issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

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Added Prostate CA Criteria May Help ID Surveillance Candidates

THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Additional predictors, such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA) density and extent of cancer on biopsy, help guide selection of prostate cancer patients for active surveillance programs, according to research published in the February issue of The Journal of Urology.

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Results of Safety Efforts for Hospitalized Patients Are Mixed

THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Based on Medicare data for 2005 through 2011, adverse-event rates declined for patients hospitalized for some conditions, but not others, according to research published in the Jan. 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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ALA: Much More Must Be Done to Lower Smoking Rates

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- State inaction and tobacco industry tactics are slowing tobacco control efforts in the United States, a new report from the American Lung Association (ALA) finds.

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Phase 3 Studies Fail to Show Benefit of Drugs in Alzheimer's

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease, neither bapineuzumab nor solanezumab improves cognitive outcomes, according to two studies published in the Jan. 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Higher Omega-3 Levels Linked to Larger Brain Volume

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- In postmenopausal women, a higher omega-3 index is associated with increased brain and hippocampal volume eight years later, according to a study published online Jan. 22 in Neurology.

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Legitimacy of Publishing Pharma-Funded Research Queried

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The question of whether to stop publishing research funded by the drug industry is addressed in a head-to-head piece published online Jan. 15 in BMJ.

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Hypertension Linked to Post-Cervical Fusion Readmission

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The readmission rate following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is 2.5 percent, and hypertension may increase the likelihood of readmission, according to a study published in the Jan. 15 issue of Spine.

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Persistent Mucosal Damage Ups Hip Fx Risk in Celiac Disease

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with celiac disease with persistent villous atrophy (VA) are at higher risk of developing hip fractures compared with patients with mucosal healing, according to a study published online Jan. 16 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

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Some Medical Schools Offering Accelerated Training

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Some medical schools are offering an accelerated three-year program, according to a report from Kaiser Health News.

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Chinese Herb Capsule May Help Reduce Progression to Diabetes

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A Tianqi capsule containing 10 Chinese herbal medicines significantly reduces the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in individuals with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), according to a study published online Jan. 16 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology amp; Metabolism.

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Interhospital Transfer Less Likely for Uninsured Patients

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Uninsured patients are significantly less likely than insured patients to be transferred between hospitals, according to research published in the Jan. 21 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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PCP Practices Not Well Organized for Providing Energy Balance Care

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Primary care physician (PCP) practices are not well organized for providing energy balance care, with considerable variation in provision of care between PCP specialties, according to a study published in the January/February issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion.

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Kidney Injury Not Uncommon After Cardiovascular Intervention

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Acute kidney injury (AKI) is seen in about 7 percent of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and is associated with significant in-hospital mortality, according to research published in the Jan. 1 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Interventions.

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MicroRNA Panels May Help ID Pancreatic CA From Whole Blood

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Two diagnostic panels based on microRNA expression from whole blood can distinguish, to some degree, patients with pancreatic cancer from healthy controls, according to a study published in the Jan. 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Mediterranean Diet Lowers Risk of Peripheral Artery Disease

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts is associated with a lower risk of peripheral artery disease (PAD), according to a research letter published in the Jan. 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Mistimed Sleep Disrupts Circadian Regulation of Gene Expression

TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Delaying sleep by just a few hours for several days reduces circadian gene expression in the blood six-fold without affecting centrally-driven melatonin circadian rhythms, according to a study published online Jan. 20 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Researchers Examine FDA Decision Making Processes

TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The rationale behind the decision making processes of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is discussed in three articles published in the Jan. 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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More Federal Funding of Health Centers Mitigates Access Issues

TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Since 2000, increased federal funding for community health centers has helped low-income adults get access to primary care and dental care, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in Health Services Research.

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ACA Impact on Primary Practice May Depend on Location

TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The impact of Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on physicians' primary care practices will vary geographically, according to an article published Dec. 25 in Medical Economics.

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AAFP: Insufficient Evidence for Low-Dose CT Lung CA Screening

MONDAY, Jan. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- In contrast to a recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has concluded that there is currently insufficient evidence to recommend screening for lung cancer with low-dose computed tomography (CT) among high-risk individuals.

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Enjoyment of Life Tied to Functional Impairment in Elderly

TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Enjoyment of life is associated with future disability and mobility in the elderly, according to a study published online Jan. 20 in CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.

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Survey IDs Factors Influencing Physician Job Satisfaction

TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Believing that they are delivering high-quality patient care is key to physician job satisfaction, according to an article published Dec. 10 in Medical Economics.

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Data Support Sedentary Time, Mortality Link for Older Women

TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For older women, increased sedentary time is associated with increased mortality risk after multivariate adjustment, according to a study published in the February issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

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Multiple Medications Increase Odds of Hospital Admission

TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The likelihood of unplanned admission is increased with polypharmacy, but the association is modified by the number of long-term conditions, according to a study published online Jan. 16 in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.

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Exposure to Sunlight May Help Lower Blood Pressure

TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Exposure to sunlight causes arterial vasodilation and lowers blood pressure (BP), according to research published online Jan. 20 in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.

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Firearm Access in Home Ups Suicide, Homicide Risk

TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Access to firearms is associated with increased risk for suicide and homicide, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis published in the Jan. 21 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Medication Synchronization Program Ups Adherence

TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A community pharmacy-based medication synchronization program can improve medication adherence, according to a study conducted by the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA).

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Lasers May Aid in Treatment of Onychomycosis

MONDAY, Jan. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Lasers may be a promising treatment for onychomycosis but larger studies are needed to determine optimal treatment conditions, according to a review published online Dec. 24 in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.

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Anatomic, Not Ischemic, Burden Predicts Poor Outcomes in CAD

MONDAY, Jan. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with coronary artery disease treated with optimal medical therapy (OMT), anatomic, but not ischemic, burden predicts poor outcomes, according to a study published online Jan. 15 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Interventions.

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Statin Use Linked to Reduced Delirium in ICU Patients

MONDAY, Jan. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), statin use is associated with a reduced risk of delirium, according to a study published online Jan. 17 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

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Sleep Disordered Breathing Common With Spinal Cord Injury

MONDAY, Jan. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Most patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) have sleep disordered breathing (SDB), according to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.

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Markers Other Than HbA1c Useful for Monitoring Diabetes

MONDAY, Jan. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Fructosamine and glycated albumin are markers of glycemic control that may complement hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in identifying risk of diabetes and its complications, according to research published online Jan. 15 in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.

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Single Questions Screen for Alcohol and Drug Dependence

MONDAY, Jan. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Asking patients single screening questions (SSQs) in the primary care setting is an effective method for identifying substance dependence, according to research published in the January issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

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Diet-Beverage Intake Up for Obese, Overweight Adults

MONDAY, Jan. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Overweight and obese adults drink more diet beverages than healthy-weight adults, but eat more solid-food calories and consequently have comparable total calorie intake, according to a study published online Jan. 16 in the American Journal of Public Health.

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AMA Launches Online Resource to Guide HTN Management

MONDAY, Jan. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- An online resource has been developed for improving the detection and management of high blood pressure. The resource is part of the American Medical Association's Improving Health Outcomes Initiative which aims to improve outcomes around heart disease, starting with the 30 million people who have uncontrolled hypertension.

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Doctor Urges Colleagues to Disclose Conflicts of Interest

MONDAY, Jan. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A campaign to encourage physicians to disclose potential conflicts of interest has sparked ire from doctors despite evidence that openness improves the doctor-patient relationship, according to a personal view piece published online Jan. 15 in BMJ.

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Caffeine Found to Enhance Memory Consolidation

MONDAY, Jan. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Caffeine enhances memory consolidation when given shortly after a learning task, according to a study published online Jan. 12 in Nature Neuroscience.

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Subjective Well-Being Similar for Those With, Without Children

FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Subjective well-being is similar for U.S. adults who live with and without children, according to a study published online Jan. 13 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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USDA: Americans Eating Better, Cutting Calories

FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- American adults are eating healthier diets, making better use of nutrition information on food labels, consuming more fiber and less cholesterol, and getting fewer calories from total fat and saturated fat, a federal government report says.

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CDC: About 42.1 Million Adults Smoke in the United States

FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- In the United States, approximately 18 percent of adults still smoke, according to a report published in the Jan. 17 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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One-Fifth of Hospitalizations in Advanced GI Cancer Avoidable

FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with advanced gastrointestinal (GI) cancer, about 20 percent of hospitalizations are potentially avoidable, according to a study published online Jan. 13 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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Traumatic Brain Injury Linked to Premature Death, Suicide

FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with a higher risk of premature death, especially from suicide, injuries, and assaults, according to a study published online Jan. 15 in JAMA Psychiatry.

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Genetic Factors Conferring Diabetes Don't Affect Progression

FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Genetic variants that predispose to diabetes are not associated with the rate of progression from diabetes to requirement of insulin treatment, according to a study published online Nov. 1 in Diabetes Care.

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Research IDs Serious Cardio Events Tied to Energy Drinks

FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Several adverse cardiovascular events following consumption of energy drinks have been reported in the literature, according to a review published in the Jan. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.

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PAs, NPs Are Effective in Team-Based Diabetes Care

FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) can effectively perform a range of roles on primary care teams caring for patients with diabetes, according to a study published in the November issue of Health Affairs.

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Long-Term Benefits Seen for Cognitive Training in Elderly

FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Advanced cognitive training is beneficial for elderly persons, with long-term improvements seen for reasoning and speed-of-processing training, according to a study published online Jan. 13 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

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State Insurance Marketplaces Boost Outreach Efforts

THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Health insurance exchanges in five states with strong enrollment growth are ramping up efforts to reach even more uninsured Americans before the end of the Affordable Care Act's open enrollment period on March 31. The March 31 deadline is for people who want health coverage for 2014.

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Reliable Emotion Words ID'd to Assess Patient Experience

THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A reliable set of emotion words have been identified that can serve as a tool for experience-based design questionnaires in health care, according to a study published in the December issue of Healthcare.

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FDA Warns of Fires From Some Cryogenic Wart Removers

THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Flammable over-the-counter wart removers have started fires, injuring at least 10 people in recent years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.

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J-Shaped Link for BMI and Mortality in Incident T2DM

THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For participants with incident type 2 diabetes, there is a J-shaped association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality, with a linear relationship seen among never smokers, according to a study published in the Jan. 16 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Heavy Drinking Speeds Cognitive Decline in Middle-Aged Men

THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For middle-aged men, heavy alcohol consumption (≥36 g/day) is associated with faster cognitive decline in all cognitive domains, compared with light-to-moderate alcohol consumption, according to a study published online Jan. 15 in Neurology.

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Long-Term Cervical/Vaginal CA, Death Risk Up With Treated CIN3

THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For women previously treated for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 (CIN3), the risk of acquiring or dying from invasive cervical or vaginal cancer is elevated, particularly among older women, according to a study published online Jan. 14 in BMJ.

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Experts Predict ACA's Areas of Primary Care Impact

THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The Affordable Care Act (ACA) will transform primary care, and predictions of this impact center around some common themes, according to an article published Dec. 25 in Medical Economics.

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Funding Losses Damaging Public Health Infrastructure

THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The effect of funding losses on state public health programs is assessed and described in a study published Nov. 14 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Preventing Chronic Disease.

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NCPA: Access to Controlled Substances Often Delayed

THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Most pharmacists report experiencing multiple delays or issues with their controlled substance orders, according to the results of the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) Controlled Substances Access Survey.

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Survey Results Identify Drivers of Doctor Engagement

THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The results of a survey from the Physician Wellness Services and Cejka Search have identified the key aspects of doctor engagement.

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Interferon-Free Combo of ABT-450, Ritonavir Helpful for Hep C

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Treatment with an interferon-free combination of the protease inhibitor ABT-450 with ritonavir, or daclatasvir plus sofosbuvir, is associated with high rates of sustained virologic response in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, according to two studies published in the Jan. 16 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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FDA Warns Against Rx With High Levels of Acetaminophen

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is recommending that physicians stop prescribing and dispensing prescription combination drug products containing more than 325 mg of acetaminophen per tablet, according to a safety alert issued by the agency.

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Pritelivir Safe, Effective for Genital HSV-2 Infection

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Pritelivir is safe and effective for treatment of genital herpes simplex virus (HSV)-2 infection, according to a study published in the Jan. 16 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Exposure to Some Phthalates Fell in the Last Decade

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Exposure to some phthalates has fallen over the last decade and may be associated with bans on their use, according to a study published online Jan. 15 in Environmental Health Perspectives.

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Weight Stigma May Have Negative Consequences

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Stigmatizing messages targeted at combating obesity may have negative effects, according to a study published in the March issue of the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.

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Intensive Monitoring Ups Surgical Treatment of CRC Recurrence

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients who have undergone curative surgery for primary colorectal cancer, intensive monitoring is associated with increased surgical treatment of recurrence compared with minimum follow-up, but does not reduce the number of deaths, according to a study published in the Jan. 15 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Baseline Factors Can Predict Return to Work With Sciatica

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Prognostic factors have been identified to predict return to work (RTW) among patients with sciatica, according to a study published in the Dec. 1 issue of The Spine Journal.

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Beliefs About Safety May Spark E-Cigarette Use in Young Adults

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Young adults who believe that electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are less harmful and can help people quit smoking are more likely to try them, according to research published online Jan. 7 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

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Program Cuts MRSA Rates at VA Long-Term Care Centers

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A national initiative to prevent methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection has successfully reduced MRSA health care-associated infections in Veterans Affairs long-term care facilities, according to a study published in the January issue of the American Journal of Infection Control.

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Merck Recalls Cholesterol Drug Liptruzet

TUESDAY, Jan. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Packaging defects have prompted a recall of the combination cholesterol drug Liptruzet, produced by Merck & Co., temporarily affecting the entire U.S. stock.

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Green Tea May Interfere With Antihypertensive

TUESDAY, Jan. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Drinking green tea may lessen the effects of the antihypertensive medication nadolol (Corgard), according to research published online Jan. 13 in Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics.

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Gene Mutation Not Linked to Vascular Complications

TUESDAY, Jan. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with gene mutations leading to elevated glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels have a low prevalence of clinically significant vascular complications, according to a study published in the Jan. 15 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Wednesday Is Deadline for Feb. 1 Coverage Under ACA

TUESDAY, Jan. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- There's still time to enroll in a health insurance plan through one of the Affordable Care Act's new online marketplaces. Those who sign up by Wednesday will have coverage starting next month.

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Primary Care Work Environment Affects Nurse Practitioners

TUESDAY, Jan. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The organizational climate in primary care settings influences the professional practice of nurse practitioners (NPs), according to research published in the November issue of the Journal of Professional Nursing.

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Avocado at Lunch Cuts Hunger in Overweight Adults

TUESDAY, Jan. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Eating a half of an avocado at lunch dampens appetite for the next several hours in overweight adults, according to research published online Nov. 27 in the Nutrition Journal.

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Artificial Sweeteners Produce No Glucagon Response

TUESDAY, Jan. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Artificial sweeteners do not produce any changes in glucose metabolism compared to a glass of water, according to a letter published in the December issue of Diabetes Care.

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More Than Two Million People Have Signed Up for ACA Coverage

TUESDAY, Jan. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly 2.2 million Americans had selected health plans through the federal and state marketplaces as of late December, and nearly one in four was a young adult, the Obama administration disclosed Monday.

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Nut Intake Inversely Linked to Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome

MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Nut consumption is inversely associated with obesity and with metabolic syndrome, with stronger associations seen for tree nuts, according to research published online Jan. 8 in PLOS ONE.

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Testosterone Often Initiated in Men With Normal Levels

MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Testosterone testing and supplementation have increased substantially over the last decade, with many men in the United States initiating treatment even though they have normal levels, according to a study published online Jan. 1 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

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Access to Medicaid-Accepting Substance Use Tx Centers Varies

MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Medicaid expansion to include substance use disorder (SUD) treatment does not guarantee access, particularly in underserved and rural counties, according to a study published online Dec. 25 in JAMA Psychiatry.

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Calories, Fat, Sodium in Restaurant Meals Quantified

MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- An adult meal at a typical full-service restaurant chain contains about 1,495 kcal, 28 g saturated fat, and 3,512 mg sodium, according to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.

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CMS: New Rule Proposed for Contract Year 2015

MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A proposed rule has been issued that will strengthen protections, improve health care quality, and reduce costs for Medicare beneficiaries with private Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription plans, according to a report from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

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Mismatched Organ Size Tied to Worse Heart Transplant Outcome

MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Worsened outcomes in sex mismatch heart transplantation may be related to mismatch in organ size, according to a study published online Jan. 8 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Heart Failure.

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CDC: Lung Cancer Incidence in U.S. Down From 2005 to 2009

MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- From 2005 to 2009, the incidence of lung cancer decreased among men and women in the United States, according to a study published in the Jan. 10 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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FDA Approves Mekinist Plus Tafinlar for Late-Stage Melanoma

FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Mekinist for use with another drug, Tafinlar, to treat advanced melanoma that is metastatic or unresectable.

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Parkinson's Gene Therapy Improves Motor Function

FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A triple gene therapy for Parkinson's disease is safe and improves motor function, according to a study published online Jan. 10 in The Lancet.

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Survey: Fees, Reimbursement Top Physician Worries

FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The results of a new survey show that physicians are concerned about declining reimbursements and increasing administrative hassles, including negotiating with payers, obtaining prior authorizations, and cutting through government red tape, according to an article published Nov. 25 in Medical Economics.

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Breastfeeding Linked to Reduced RA Risk in Chinese Women

FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For women from South China, breastfeeding is associated with reduced risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), especially a longer duration of breastfeeding, according to a study published online Jan. 6 in Rheumatology.

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High Uric Acid Level Linked to Coronary Stent Restenosis

FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A high level of serum uric acid prior to implantation of bare-metal coronary stents predicts stent restenosis, according to research published in the Jan. 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.

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EHR Use Linked to Doc-Reported Enhanced Patient Care

FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Use of electronic health records is associated with enhanced patient care overall, according to a study published online Dec. 21 in Health Services Research.

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Female Conveners Up Number of Women at Scientific Symposia

FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Having at least one woman on teams that convene scientific symposia increases the proportion of invited female speakers by 72 percent, compared with teams containing all men, according to a study published online Jan. 7 in mBio.

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CMS: Low Growth for National Health Expenditures in 2012

FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Overall national health expenditures were marked by a fourth consecutive year of low growth, according to a report from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

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ACP Introduces Free 'High Value Care' Case Studies

FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- In an effort to improve health care and eliminate wasteful practices, the American College of Physicians (ACP) has developed a series of High Value Care cases studies, available online for free.

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Extreme Runners Have Few Chronic Medical Conditions

FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Apart from asthma and allergies, ultramarathon runners have few chronic medical conditions and miss little time from school or work due to injuries, according to a study published online Jan. 8 in PLOS ONE.

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Only One in Six Adults Discuss Alcohol Use With Physician

THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The overall prevalence of ever discussing alcohol use with a health professional is 15.7 percent for U.S. adults, according to a report published in the Jan. 7 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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Extended Varenicline Use Ups Smoking Abstinence Rates

THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Extended use of the smoking cessation medication varenicline improves abstinence rates among the mentally ill, according to a study published in the Jan. 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a theme issue on tobacco control.

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Conventional Versus Intensive T1DM Tx Not Tied to Menopause

THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For women with type 1 diabetes, intensive versus conventional treatment is not associated with menopause risk, although greater insulin dose is associated with lower natural menopause risk, according to research published in Diabetes Care.

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~9 Percent of Observation Services Stays Exceed 48 Hours

THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients whose care needs exceed standard outpatient care but do not qualify for admission, observation services (OS) stays are not usually longer than 48 hours, but prolonged stays are associated with a considerable increase in costs, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in Health Services Research.

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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Best for Cancer Patients With Insomnia

THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is the preferred choice over mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for nonpharmacologic management of insomnia in patients with cancer, according to a study published online Jan. 6 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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Drug Labeling Linked to Drug, Placebo Efficacy in Migraine

THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with episodic migraine, the information provided about drug/placebo impacts drug effects, according to a study published in the Jan. 8 issue of Science Translational Medicine.

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Guideline Adherence Cuts Cancer Risk in Postmenopausal Women

THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- All-cause and cancer-specific mortality is lower in postmenopausal women who follow the American Cancer Society (ACS) Nutrition and Physical Activity Cancer Prevention Guidelines, according to research published in the January issue of Cancer Prevention Research.

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No Long-Term Benefit Seen for Smoking Cessation Combo Rx

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Combination treatment with varenicline plus bupropion sustained-release is initially more effective than varenicline alone in promoting smoking abstinence, but the results are not long-lasting, according to a study published in the Jan. 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a theme issue on tobacco control.

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FDA Approves Farxiga for Type 2 Diabetes

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Farxiga (dapaglifozin) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat adults with type 2 diabetes, the agency said Wednesday in a news release.

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Implantable Device Improves Moderate-to-Severe Sleep Apnea

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- An upper-airway stimulation device significantly reduces the severity of obstructive sleep apnea in patients who cannot receive continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment, according to a study published in the Jan. 9 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Experts Say Paleo Diet Is Worst, DASH Diet Is Best

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The controversial Paleo Diet was last on the 2014 "Best Diets List" from U.S. News & World Report, while the DASH plan was named the best overall diet.

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Internists Uncomfortable Caring for Childhood Cancer Survivors

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Many general internists are unfamiliar with care guidelines for childhood cancer survivors (CCSs) and, on average, are somewhat uncomfortable caring for these patients, according to a study published in the Jan. 7 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Administrative Demands Hurt Patient-Doctor Relationship

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Administrative demands on doctors, particularly primary care physicians, threaten the patient-doctor relationship, according to an article published Dec. 10 in Medical Economics.

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Smoking Rates Still Low for Most Health Care Professionals

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Compared with 2006 to 2007, smoking rates among health care professionals for 2010 to 2011 continue to be lowest in physicians and highest in licensed practical nurses (LPNs), according to a research letter published in the Jan. 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a theme issue on tobacco control.

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Workers' Compensation Data Captures Back Pain Experience

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Workers' compensation data can be used to capture a partial understanding of workers' low back pain (LBP) experiences, according to a study published in the Dec. 15 issue of Spine.

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Inverse Link for Alcohol Consumption, Multiple Sclerosis Risk

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Alcohol consumption is inversely associated with the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) in men and women, according to a study published online Jan. 6 in JAMA Neurology.

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Review Suggests Psychological Benefits of Meditation

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Moderate evidence suggests that meditation is associated with improvements in anxiety, depression, and pain, according to a review and meta-analysis published online Jan. 6 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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More Specialists Needed to Meet Needs of Aging Population

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- More specialist providers, including vascular surgeons and cardiologists, are needed to meet the care needs of a growing elderly population, according to research published in the November issue of Health Affairs.

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Importance of Religion Linked to Cortical Thickness

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The self-reported importance of religion or spirituality is associated with the thickness of certain brain regions, according to research published online Dec. 25 in JAMA Psychiatry.

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Tobacco Control Averted About 8 Million Deaths Since 1964 in U.S.

TUESDAY, Jan. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Tobacco control is estimated to have prevented eight million premature deaths since 1964 in the United States; and the prevalence of global smoking has declined since 1980, according to two studies published in the Jan. 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a theme issue on tobacco control.

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U.S. Cancer Death Rates Decreasing Steadily

TUESDAY, Jan. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Cancer death rates have been decreasing steadily for the past two decades, with the magnitude of the decrease varying with age, race, and sex, according to a report published online Jan. 7 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

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AMA Urges Med Students to Be Agents of Health Care Change

TUESDAY, Jan. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Medical students are being encouraged to be agents of change in the health care system, according to a report from the American Medical Association (AMA).

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Mediterranean Diet + Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Cuts Diabetes Risk

TUESDAY, Jan. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A Mediterranean diet enriched with extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) is associated with reduction in the risk of new-onset diabetes among older adults at high risk for cardiovascular disease, according to a study published in the Jan. 7 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Post-Op Health Care Costs Up for Former, Current Smokers

TUESDAY, Jan. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Health care costs in the year following discharge for an inpatient surgical procedure are increased for former and current smokers, compared with never smokers, although there are no differences with smoking status in costs for the index hospitalization, according to a study published online Jan. 1 in JAMA Surgery.

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Smoking Cessation Reduces Risk of Cataract Extraction

TUESDAY, Jan. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Smoking cessation correlates with a reduction in the risk of cataract extraction, although the risk persists for more than 20 years, according to a study published online Jan. 2 in JAMA Ophthalmology.

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AAFP Backs FDA Tentative Trans Fats Determination

TUESDAY, Jan. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has expressed their support for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's tentative determination regarding partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) as food additives.

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Performance Measures Developed for Adults Undergoing PCI

MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Performance measures have been developed for adults undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), according to a report published online Dec. 19 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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Herpes Zoster Is Risk Factor for Stroke in Young Adults

MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Herpes zoster (HZ) is an independent risk factor for vascular disease, including stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), and myocardial infarction (MI), particularly in those affected before the age of 40 years, according to a study published online Jan. 2 in Neurology.

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Non-White Physicians Provide Disproportionate Minority Care

MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Non-white physicians provide a disproportionate share of care to underserved populations, according to a research letter published online Dec. 30 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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Unrecognized MI Tied to Higher Noncardiovascular Mortality Risk

MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Unrecognized myocardial infarction (MI) is associated with long-term increased risks of cardiovascular and noncardiovascular mortality, according to a study published in the Jan. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.

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Narcolepsy May Be an Autoimmune Disease

MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Narcolepsy may be an autoimmune disease, and in some cases may be triggered by immune reactivity to a flu protein, according to a study published in the Dec. 18 issue of Science Translational Medicine.

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Health Law Calls for Calorie Counts on Vending Machines

MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- There may be a lot more counting of calories when people buy snacks from vending machines or order food in certain restaurants under rules currently being crafted as part of the final phase of the Affordable Care Act.

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Slower Eating Reduces Hunger but Not Necessarily Intake

MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- While slower eating speed reduces hunger, it does not significantly lower caloric intake in overweight/obese individuals, according to research published online Jan. 2 in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

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CDC Addresses Burden, Threat of Antibiotic Resistance

MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The burden and threats posed by antibiotic resistance infections are discussed in a report published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Romosozumab Increases Bone Mineral Density Post-Menopause

MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Romosozumab seems safe and effective for increasing bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density, according to a study published online Jan. 1 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Unrestricted Hospital Visiting Hours Up Patient Satisfaction

MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Open visitation improves the patient and family experience and does not cause interference for hospital staff, according to research published in the Journal for Healthcare Quality.

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Expanding Medicaid Coverage Ups Emergency Department Use

MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Expanding Medicaid coverage is associated with increased emergency department use, according to a study published online Jan. 2 in Science.

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Guidelines for Management of Menopausal Symptoms Issued

MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Evidence-based treatment guidelines for menopause management include personalizing treatment for optimal symptom relief, according to a Practice Bulletin published in the January issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

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AMA Details Top Five Federal Issues for 2014

MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the repeal of Medicare's failed sustained growth formula, and the proposed roll-out of the International Classification of Diseases, Version 10, top the list of federal issues expected to impact physicians and patients in 2014, according to a viewpoint piece published online Dec. 30 by the American Medical Association (AMA).

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Over 100 New Accountable Care Organizations Formed

FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- One hundred twenty-three new Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) have been formed by doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers, which will provide access to high-quality coordinated care for about 1.5 million Medicare beneficiaries, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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NSAID Diflunisal Slows Neurodegenerative Progression

FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent diflunisal slows the rate of neurodegenerative progression associated with familial amyloid polyneruopathy, according to a study published in the Dec. 25 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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New-Onset Sciatica Tied to Age, Obesity, Mental Workload

FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Management of obesity may prevent new-onset sciatica, according to a Japanese study published in the Dec. 15 issue of Spine.

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Urgent Care Can Be Opportunity for Practice Expansion

FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Many physicians are exploring expansion into urgent care as a means to grow their practice, but some important factors should be assessed before jumping in, according to an article published Nov. 25 in Medical Economics.

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Sleep-Disordered Breathing May Worsen Pregnancy Outcomes

FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Evidence from published observational studies suggests that maternal sleep-disordered breathing is associated with increased risk of gestational hypertension and gestational diabetes, according to research published in the January issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

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Performing Secondary Tasks Ups Crash, Near-Crash Risk

FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The performance of secondary tasks while driving is associated with increased risk of crashes and near-crashes, especially among novice drivers, according to a study published in the Jan. 2 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Warfarin Initiation Negatively Linked to Stroke in A-Fib Patients

FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with atrial fibrillation are at higher risk of having a stroke in the first month after initiating treatment with the anti-clotting drug warfarin, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in European Heart Journal.

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Most Women Experience Breast Cancer Postoperative Pain

FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Most women with unilateral non-metastasized breast cancer treated with breast conserving surgery or mastectomy with axillary surgery experience postoperative pain at 12 months, according to a research letter published in the Jan. 1 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Doctors Discuss Use of MenB Vaccine at Princeton University

FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The planned use of an experimental Neisseria meningitides serogroup B (MenB) meningitis vaccine at the University of Princeton has raised several contentious issues relating to vaccination, according to an ideas and opinions piece published online Dec. 24 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Hypothyroidism Not Tied to Cognitive Impairment in Aged

FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- There is no association between either clinical or subclinical hypothyroidism and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in the elderly, according to a study published online Dec. 30 in JAMA Neurology.

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Review Quantifies Benefits, Harms of Mammography

FRIDAY, Jan. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The benefits and harms of screening mammography have been quantified in a special communication published online Dec. 30 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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Increasing BMI Tied to Steady Increase in Health Care Costs

THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Health care costs increase steadily with increasing body mass index (BMI), with the increase starting at a BMI of 19, according to a study published online Dec. 9 in Obesity.

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Impact of Transitions in Doctors' Careers Discussed

THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Transitions and their associated challenges are encountered throughout a doctors' medical career, according to an editorial published online Nov. 26 in BMJ.

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Worsening of Shortage of Residency Slots Feared

THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Despite a looming physician shortage, the number of residency positions in the United States has not changed since 1996, creating a bottleneck that will become worse with further budget cuts, according to a blog post published Dec. 7 on KevinMD.com.

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CDC: Updated Guidance for HBV Vaccination for Health Workers

THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Health care personnel should be vaccinated against hepatitis B virus (HBV) if they anticipate exposure to blood or body fluids, and receive serologic testing to assess for antibody against the virus, according to updated guidelines published in the Dec. 20 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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Alpha Tocopherol Seems Beneficial in Alzheimer's

THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease, alpha tocopherol is associated with slower functional decline versus placebo, according to a study published in the Jan. 1 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Patient Experience of Service Quality Predicts CRC Survival

THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with colorectal cancer, satisfaction with quality of care is associated with survival, according to a study published in the November/December issue of the Journal for Healthcare Quality.

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Emotions Tied to Topographically Distinct Bodily Sensations

THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Emotions are associated with culturally universal, topographically distinct bodily sensations, according to a study published online Dec. 30 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Docs Have Until Jan. 31 to Change Medicare Status

THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The deadline for making changes to Medicare participation status has been extended to Jan. 31, 2014, according to a report from the American Medical Association (AMA).

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Pregnancy Tops List of Most Google-Searched Symptoms

THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The top 10 most Google-searched symptoms in 2013 included those for pregnancy, influenza, and diabetes, but not those for cancer or heart disease, according to an article published Dec. 18 in Medical Economics.

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C. difficile Is Carried on Hands of Health Care Workers

THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- After routine care of patients infected with Clostridium difficile, C. difficile spores were detected on the hands of about a quarter of health care workers (HCWs), according to research published in the January issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.

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Positive Outcomes With Improved Hemorrhoidectomy Information

THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients undergoing day-case hemorrhoidectomy, improved quality of patient information is associated with positive outcomes, according to a study published in the November/December issue of the Journal of Healthcare Quality.

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New Tool Assesses Quality of Work Relationships in the Clinic

THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The Work Relationships Scale (WRS) seems to be a valid tool for measuring the quality of relationships in primary care settings, according to a study published in the November/December issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.

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