October 2014 Briefing - Internal Medicine

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

Brain Imaging Changes Precede Clinical Manifestation of CVD

FRIDAY, Oct. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Brain imaging changes in association with vascular risk factors precede clinical manifestation of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease, according to research published in the Oct. 1 issue of JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging.

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Generic Meds May Help Breast Cancer Patients Stick to Therapy

FRIDAY, Oct. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Access to generic aromatase inhibitors (AIs) improves the chances that breast cancer patients will stick with their drug treatment, according to research published in the November issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

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Tinnitus-Linked Symptoms Improved With D-Cycloserine

FRIDAY, Oct. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A putative neuroplasticity-enhancing drug, D-cycloserine, in conjunction with a computer-assisted cognitive training (CT) program improves self-reported tinnitus-associated cognitive deficits, according to a study published online Oct. 30 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.

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Vitamin D Deficiency Common in Men With Erectile Dysfunction

FRIDAY, Oct. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For men with erectile dysfunction (ED), vitamin D deficiency is common, especially among those with arteriogenic etiology, according to a study published in the November issue of the Journal of Sexual Medicine.

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Eczema Linked to Increased Risk of Bone Fracture

FRIDAY, Oct. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Eczema may increase the risk of bone fractures and joint injuries, according to research published online Oct. 29 in JAMA Dermatology.

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Almost One in Five Americans Plagued by Constant Pain

FRIDAY, Oct. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Almost one-fifth of Americans suffer from chronic pain, a large new survey reveals, with the elderly and women suffering the most. The findings were published in the October issue of the Journal of Pain.

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Physician-Dentist Collaboration Recommended in Diabetes Care

FRIDAY, Oct. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Dentists are uniquely placed to identify patients with diabetes, and those with diabetes who are at risk for complications, according to an article published in the October issue of Clinical Diabetes.

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'Informal Care' for Older Americans Tops $500B Annually

FRIDAY, Oct. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Each year, people across the United States spend an estimated 30 billion hours caring for older relatives and friends, which costs $522 billion, according to a RAND Corporation study published online Oct. 7 in Health Services Research.

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Leprosy Still Occurs in the United States, CDC Reports

THURSDAY, Oct. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Leprosy, although quite rare, continues to appear in the United States, according to research published in the Oct. 31 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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Two Bariatric Surgery Techniques Compared

THURSDAY, Oct. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A comparison of two of the most common types of weight loss surgery indicates that laparoscopic gastric bypass helps patients shed more excess pounds than adjustable gastric banding, but carries a higher risk of short-term complications and long-term hospitalizations. The study was published online Oct. 29 in JAMA Surgery.

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Brain Scans Yield Clues to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

THURSDAY, Oct. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- There are clear differences in the brains of people with chronic fatigue syndrome and the brains of non-affected people, new research indicates. In the study, published online Oct. 29 in Radiology, patients with chronic fatigue syndrome had less overall white matter than the people who didn't have the condition.

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Fewer Malpractice Claims Paid in the United States

THURSDAY, Oct. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The number of medical malpractice payments in the United States has dropped sharply since 2002, according to a new study. And compensation payment amounts and liability insurance costs for many doctors declined in recent years. These findings were published online Oct. 30 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Ketogenic Diet May Help Adults With Refractory Epilepsy

THURSDAY, Oct. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A ketogenic diet could help control refractory epilepsy in adults, according to research published online Oct. 29 in Neurology.

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Would Alternative Payment Plan Cut Medical Bills?

THURSDAY, Oct. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- New research supports replacing the traditional way of reimbursing doctors for care -- paying for each service provided -- with an alternative system that gives a set amount of money to health care organizations for patient care. The study was published in the Oct. 30 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Oral Bisphosphonate Use Cuts Risk of Post-Implant Revision Sx

THURSDAY, Oct. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients undergoing total joint replacement, oral bisphosphonate use is associated with a reduction in the risk of revision surgery, according to a study published in the November issue of Arthritis & Rheumatology.

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Stroke Prevention Guidelines Re-Emphasize Healthy Lifestyle

THURSDAY, Oct. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- New guidelines from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association reinforce the idea that a healthy lifestyle is key to the primary prevention of stroke. The guidelines were published online Oct. 29 in Stroke.

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Higher HbA1c Without DM Linked to Advanced CAC Progression

THURSDAY, Oct. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Among individuals without diabetes, a higher level of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is associated with advanced coronary artery calcification (CAC) progression, according to research published online Oct. 16 in Diabetes Care.

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Adrenal Sex Hormone Level May Predict Heart Disease Risk

THURSDAY, Oct. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Blood levels of the adrenal sex hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate (DHEA-S) may predict an increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in elderly men, according to a study published in the Oct. 28 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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AMA Code of Ethics Offers Guidance for Physicians

THURSDAY, Oct. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The American Medical Association (AMA) Code of Ethics and other articles provide guidance for physicians in relation to public health emergencies, according to a report from the AMA.

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Pre-Angiography High-Dose Statins Cut Contrast-Induced AKI

THURSDAY, Oct. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients undergoing coronary angiography, pretreatment with high-dose statins reduces the risk of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CIAKI), according to a meta-analysis published in the Nov. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.

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Depression Influences Post-Op Satisfaction in Older Patients

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For older patients undergoing revision lumbar surgery, preoperative depression influences patient satisfaction two years after surgery, according to research published in the Sept. 1 issue of Spine.

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ADT May Up Heart-Related Deaths in Prostate Cancer Patients

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) may increase heart-related mortality in men with prostate cancer who also have certain heart conditions, according to research published online Oct. 29 in BJU International.

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Voters' Views on Affordable Care Act Split Along Party Lines

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Americans' opinions about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are sharply divided along political lines, according to research published online Oct. 29 in the New England Journal of Medicine. The findings come from 27 public opinion polls conducted by 14 organizations.

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Clinical Illness, Outcomes for Ebola in Sierra Leone Reviewed

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with Ebola virus disease (EVD) from Sierra Leone, the incubation period for is six to 12 days and case fatality 74 percent, according to a study published online Oct. 29 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

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High Milk Intake Linked to Increased Mortality Risk

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Men and women who drink three glasses of milk or more every day may have a higher mortality risk than those who drink less than one glass per day, according to new research published online Oct. 28 in The BMJ.

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Mortality Risk Higher in Normal-Weight Diabetes Patients

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- In older adults with type 2 diabetes, muscle size may mediate the association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality, according to research published online Oct. 14 in Diabetes Care.

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After Breast Cancer, Depression Risk Lingers

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Women who survive breast cancer face a higher risk of depression that can linger and require antidepressants, according to a new study published online Oct. 27 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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Vitamin D May Not Prevent Return of Vaginosis After All

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new study suggests that high doses of vitamin D may not help prevent the return of bacterial vaginosis (BV). The research was published in the November issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

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Less Competition Among Docs = Higher Medical Costs

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Competition between medical practices helps keep health care costs lower, according to a study published in the Oct. 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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FDA Cautions Against 'Undeclared' Food Allergens

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Some food labels may not reliably list all possible food allergens, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency added that these "undeclared allergens" are the leading cause of FDA-requested food recalls.

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Women Less Likely to Get Hemodialysis Than Men in ESRD

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Women aren't treated with dialysis as often as men when they have end-stage renal disease, according to research published Oct. 28 in PLOS Medicine.

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Frequent Readmissions, High Costs After Cardiac Arrest

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Frequent readmissions and high inpatient costs are seen among older survivors of in-hospital cardiac arrest, according to a study published online Oct. 28 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

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Metformin Beats Other T2DM Meds for Initial Treatment

TUESDAY, Oct. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who are initially prescribed metformin are less likely to eventually need other medications to control their blood glucose, according to research published online Oct. 27 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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Noneconomic Damages Caps Cut Malpractice Payments by 15%

TUESDAY, Oct. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Adoption of noneconomic damages caps reduces average malpractice payments by 15 percent, according to research published in the October issue of Health Affairs.

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Ankle, Knee Strength Generation Slower With Diabetic Neuropathy

TUESDAY, Oct. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- When walking up and down stairs, patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) are slower at generating strength at the ankle and knee compared to control participants, which may increase the risk of falls, according to a study published online Oct. 14 in Diabetes Care.

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Brain Injuries in Older Age Could Boost Dementia Risk

TUESDAY, Oct. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A mild concussion after age 65 may increase the risk of developing dementia, according to a new study published online Oct. 27 in JAMA Neurology.

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Prescription Painkillers Fueling Overdose Cases in ERs

TUESDAY, Oct. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new report estimates more than two-thirds of emergency department visits for overdoses of narcotic drugs involve prescription medications. The study was published online Oct. 27 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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USPSTF: More Evidence Needed for Thyroid Screening

TUESDAY, Oct. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has concluded that there is currently insufficient evidence to assess the benefits and harms of thyroid screening. These findings form the basis of a draft recommendation statement based on an evidence review published online Oct. 28 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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'Prehabilitation' Before Surgery May Aid Recovery

TUESDAY, Oct. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Exercising, eating a healthy diet, and learning relaxation techniques before colorectal cancer surgery appear to speed a patient's recovery, according to a small study published in the November issue of Anesthesiology.

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Kidney Stones May Increase Fracture Risk

TUESDAY, Oct. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Urolithiasis patients may be at increased risk for fractures and may require treatment to protect their bone health, according to a new study published online Oct. 23 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

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Colleges Could Do More for Students With Chronic Illnesses

MONDAY, Oct. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Many college health centers may lack the resources to fully care for students with chronic health conditions, according to new research published online Oct. 27 in Pediatrics.

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Cadavers Beat Computers As Med School Teaching Tool

MONDAY, Oct. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Cadavers are better than a computer simulation of the human body for teaching anatomy to college students, according to research published in the September/October issue of Anatomical Sciences Education.

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Maintenance Opioid Agonist Tx Linked to Lower HCV Incidence

MONDAY, Oct. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For young adult injection drug users, maintenance opioid agonist therapy is associated with lower incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, according to a study published online Oct. 27 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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New York, New Jersey Ease Ebola Quarantines

MONDAY, Oct. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Faced with pressure from the White House and criticism from infectious disease experts, the governors of New York and New Jersey have eased their quarantine measures that required all medical workers returning from West Africa who had contact with Ebola patients to be forced into isolation.

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CDC Issues Revised Interim U.S. Guidance on Ebola

MONDAY, Oct. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Today, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a revision of their Ebola guideline document -- Interim Guidance for Monitoring and Movement of Persons with Ebola Virus Disease Exposure.

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Telephone Intervention Doesn't Aid Diabetes Meds Adherence

MONDAY, Oct. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Telephone outreach does not improve medication adherence or metabolic control in adults with diabetes, according to a study published online Oct. 14 in Diabetes Care.

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Lab-Created Cocoa Drink May Improve Memory Loss

MONDAY, Oct. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A lab-created cocoa drink appears to improve normal age-related memory loss, according to a small new study. The findings have been published in the Oct. 26 issue Nature Neuroscience.

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Knowing Genetic Risk of Cancer Doesn't Change Behavior

MONDAY, Oct. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Knowledge of genetic colorectal cancer (CRC) risk does not influence screening behavior, according to research published in the Oct. 21 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Suboptimal Staging Linked to Mortality in Bladder Cancer

MONDAY, Oct. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with bladder cancer, the omission of muscle in the specimen or its mention in the pathology report is associated with increased mortality, according to a study published online Oct. 22 in Cancer.

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Healthy Lifestyle Independently Tied to Lower CHF Risk in Women

MONDAY, Oct. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Living a healthy lifestyle may decrease the risk of heart failure among women, even in the absence of antecedent coronary heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes, according to research published in the Oct. 28 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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Two Biomarkers May Aid Diagnosis of Rhinosinusitis

FRIDAY, Oct. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Two protein markers may serve as biomarkers for chronic rhinosinusitis, according to a proof-of-principle study published in The Laryngoscope.

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Pharmacoinvasive STEMI Strategy Best for Smokers, Nonsmokers

FRIDAY, Oct. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, a pharmacoinvasive strategy after fibrinolysis is beneficial for smokers and nonsmokers, according to a study published in the Oct. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.

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Sleep Duration Linked to Ulcerative Colitis Risk

FRIDAY, Oct. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Not getting the right amount of sleep might raise the risk of ulcerative colitis, according to a study published in the November issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Those who sleep less or more than the recommended seven to eight hours per night may be more prone to developing the chronic condition.

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HSV Infection May Contribute to Development of Alzheimer's

FRIDAY, Oct. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection might increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease, two studies by Swedish researchers suggest. The findings were published in Alzheimer's & Dementia.

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More Attention to CVD Risk Assessment in T1DM Urged

FRIDAY, Oct. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a long-term complication of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), and more attention toward management of its associated risk factors and modifiers is urged in a scientific statement published in the October issue of Diabetes Care.

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Neurophysiological Assessment Aids in Identifying Back Injury

FRIDAY, Oct. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with lumbosacral disc herniation, neurophysiological tests together with neuroimaging and clinical examination allow for accurate preoperative assessment of injury, according to a study published in the Oct. 1 issue of Spine.

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New York City Health Officials Confirm First Ebola Case

FRIDAY, Oct. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- New York City health officials said Thursday that a health care worker who recently returned from West Africa has tested positive for Ebola. The patient, identified as Craig Spencer, M.D., by city officials, had been working with Doctors Without Borders helping to treat Ebola patients in Guinea, one of three West Africa countries hit hard by the disease.

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Airborne Transmission of Ebola Highly Unlikely

FRIDAY, Oct. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- People face no threat of airborne transmission of Ebola, according to a panel of Ebola experts gathered by the New England Journal of Medicine for an issue briefing Wednesday.

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Seniors Should Remove Dentures at Bedtime

FRIDAY, Oct. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Seniors who wear their dentures when they sleep are at increased risk for pneumonia, according to a study published online Oct. 7 in the Journal of Dental Research.

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Risk-Adjusted Readmission Rates Similar After Colorectal Sx

FRIDAY, Oct. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- There is little variation in risk-adjusted hospital readmission rates after colorectal surgery, according to a study published online Oct. 22 in JAMA Surgery.

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Breast Cancer Markers Commonly Used for Routine Surveillance

FRIDAY, Oct. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Breast cancer tumor markers are frequently used for routine surveillance in nonmetastatic breast cancer, and their use has been found to increase the number of diagnostic procedures performed as well as the total cost of care, according to a study published online Oct. 20 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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NT-proBNP Modestly Improves CVD Risk Prediction in Women

FRIDAY, Oct. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) modestly improves cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk prediction for women, according to a study published in the Oct. 28 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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Study Estimates Costs at 10 Years After Stroke

FRIDAY, Oct. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For stroke survivors, annual direct costs are comparable at 10 years and between three to five years for ischemic stroke but are higher at 10 years after hemorrhagic stroke, according to a study published online Oct. 23 in Stroke.

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T2DM-Linked Hypoglycemia Doesn't Impact Brain Pathology

THURSDAY, Oct. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Hypoglycemia related to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) doesn't appear to impact brain pathology, according to a study published online Sept. 29 in Diabetes Care.

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Learning Tool Aids Residents' Care of Substance Abuse

THURSDAY, Oct. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A learning model and discussion can improve residents' attitudes and communication skills towards patients with substance abuse disorders (SUDs), according to a study published online Oct. 7 in Academic Medicine.

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Coworker Response 'Crucial' in Workplace Bullying Resolution

THURSDAY, Oct. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Targets of workplace bullying can offer chaos, report, or quest narratives about their experiences, and coworker response plays a role in narrative development, according to a study published online Sept. 25 in Management Communication Quarterly.

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Aspirin May Cut Mortality in Nonmetastatic Prostate Cancer

THURSDAY, Oct. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Daily aspirin use, even at low doses, may reduce mortality among men with high-risk nonmetastatic prostate cancer, according to research published online Oct. 20 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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Mortality Declines for Aortic Dissection Patients

THURSDAY, Oct. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Over the last decade, mortality rates for patients undergoing surgical repair for aortic dissection have improved, according to a study published online Oct. 21 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

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U.S. Diets Still Contain Too Many Trans, Saturated Fats

THURSDAY, Oct. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Over the last three decades, Americans have cut their intake of saturated and trans fats -- but not enough, according to research published online Oct. 22 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

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Doctors Often Unaware Their Patients Have Catheters

THURSDAY, Oct. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Doctors don't always know about the presence of a central venous catheter in their patients, according to research findings published in the Oct. 21 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Hospital Study Addresses 'Alarm Fatigue'

THURSDAY, Oct. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Monitoring devices among intensive care patients set off 2.5 million alarms in one month at a U.S. hospital, a new study of "alarm fatigue" reveals. The research was published online Oct. 22 in PLOS ONE.

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Even Severe Ebola Cases Can Be Treated With Intensive Care

THURSDAY, Oct. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Even severe Ebola virus disease (EVD), with multiple complications, can be treated effectively with routine intensive care, according to a case study published online Oct. 22 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Taking a 'Selfie' May Help With Dermatology Care

THURSDAY, Oct. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- While in-office visits may still be best, virtual analysis may be a valuable option in atopic dermatitis care, according to a new study published online Oct. 22 in JAMA Dermatology.

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Weight-Loss Surgery May Raise Risk of Severe Headaches

THURSDAY, Oct. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- After weight-loss surgery, some patients may be at risk for developing severe headaches, a new study suggests. The report was published online Oct. 22 in Neurology.

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U.S. Ranks Last Among Wealthy Nations in Health Care Access

THURSDAY, Oct. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. health care system ranks last compared to other industrialized nations when it comes to affordability and patient access, according to a new survey published in the Oct. 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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FOLFOXIRI + Bevacizumab Ups Outcome in Metastatic CRC

THURSDAY, Oct. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with untreated metastatic colorectal cancer, chemotherapy with fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan (FOLFOXIRI) plus bevacizumab improves outcome versus fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) plus bevacizumab, according to a study published in the Oct. 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Team-Based Approach Can Improve Hypertension Control

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A team-based approach using evidence-based principles can be incorporated into practice workflow to improve hypertension control, according to a practice story published by the American Medical Association (AMA).

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Recalled Supplements Linger on U.S. Store Shelves

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Two-thirds of dietary supplements recalled by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration because they contained banned ingredients remained on store shelves at least six months after they were recalled, according to a research letter published in the Oct. 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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U.S. Residents Back From Ebola-Affected Areas to Be Tracked

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Public health officials plan to actively monitor all U.S. residents returning home from one of the three Ebola-affected nations in West Africa, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Wednesday.

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Americans Report Distrust of Medical Profession

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Americans are less trusting of the medical profession than people in many other countries -- even though they often like their own doctor, according to a new report. The findings were published in the Oct. 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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APIC Provides Resources for Ebola Management

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Resources are available to increase protection against Ebola transmission, according to a report from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).

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Drinking Sugary Sodas May Promote Aging at Cellular Level

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Drinking sugar-sweetened sodas may affect cellular aging by shortening telomere length, according to research published online Oct. 16 in the American Journal of Public Health.

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Hospice Doesn't Offset Intensive End-of-Life Ovarian Cancer Care

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Increasing use of hospice in the final days of ovarian cancer does not offset intensive end-of-life care in older women, according to a study published online Oct. 6 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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Few With Diabetes + Normal Heart Imaging Have CAD Events

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- High-risk asymptomatic patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and normal myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (MPS) have a low rate of first manifestations of coronary artery disease (CAD); however, patients with DM and abnormal MPS have a seven-fold higher rate of progression to overt or silent CAD despite therapy. These findings were published in the Oct. 1 issue of JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging.

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Depression Tied to Worse Lumbar Spine Surgery Outcomes

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Depressive symptoms are associated with poorer long-term outcome in patients undergoing surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), according to research published in the Oct. 1 issue of The Spine Journal.

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Drug Coupons Shrink Patients' Costs Considerably

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Drug coupons could reduce patients' out-of-pocket costs by 60 percent, according to a study published in the October issue of Health Affairs.

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No Link Between Vaccinations, Risk for Multiple Sclerosis

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- There is no link between vaccines and increased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) or other acquired central nervous system demyelinating syndromes, according to a study published online Oct. 20 in JAMA Neurology.

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Hospital Conversion to For-Profit Status Ups Financial Margins

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Hospital conversion to for-profit status is associated with improvements in financial margins, but has no effect on process quality metrics or mortality rates, according to a study published in the Oct. 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Price Transparency Platform Linked to Lower Claims Payments

TUESDAY, Oct. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Access to an employer-sponsored private price transparency platform is associated with reduced total claims payments, according to research published in the Oct. 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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CDC: 'Think Ebola' and 'Care Carefully'

TUESDAY, Oct. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued updated guidelines for the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by health care workers when caring for patients with Ebola, along with a reminder to health care workers to "Think Ebola" and to "Care Carefully."

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Twice-Yearly Doctor Visits Help Control Hypertension

TUESDAY, Oct. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Twice-yearly visits to the doctor can help keep hypertension under control better than only seeing the doctor once a year, according to a study published online Oct. 20 in Circulation.

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Urologist Adherence to AUA Guidelines for BPH Varies

TUESDAY, Oct. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Using data extracted from electronic medical records (EMRs), researchers have evaluated urologist adherence to the American Urological Association (AUA) guidelines for the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)-related lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). The findings have been published in the November issue of The Journal of Urology.

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Parkinson's Meds May Spur Compulsive Behaviors

TUESDAY, Oct. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Medications commonly used to treat Parkinson's disease may raise the risk of impulse control disorders such as compulsive gambling, compulsive shopping, and/or hypersexuality, according to a new review published online Oct. 20 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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Review: Many Common Symptoms Unrelated to Disease

TUESDAY, Oct. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- At least one-third of common symptoms have no disease-related explanation, according to a narrative review published in the Oct. 21 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Law Requiring Release of Health Information Upheld

TUESDAY, Oct. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A state law that requires plaintiffs to release relevant protected health information before proceeding with allegations of medical liability has been upheld by a federal appeals court, according to the American Medical Association (AMA).

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High-Dose Resveratrol Aids Bone Mineral Density

TUESDAY, Oct. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- High-dose supplementation with resveratrol (RSV) improves bone mineral density in obese men with metabolic syndrome, according to a study published online Oct. 16 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

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High-Intensity Statins Cut Diabetic Atherosclerosis

TUESDAY, Oct. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- High-intensity statin therapy can alter the progressive nature of diabetic atherosclerosis, according to a study published online Sept. 4 in Diabetes Care.

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Unplanned Hospitalizations With GI Cancer Patients Common

TUESDAY, Oct. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Unplanned hospitalizations among elderly patients with gastrointestinal cancer are common, according to research published online Oct. 6 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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CDC Tightens Guidelines on Caring for Patients With Ebola

TUESDAY, Oct. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has tightened previous infection control guidance for health care workers caring for patients with Ebola, the organization announced on Monday.

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3-Minute Diagnostic Assessment Accurately IDs Delirium

MONDAY, Oct. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A three-minute diagnostic assessment (3D-Confusion Assessment Method [CAM]) has high sensitivity and specificity for identifying delirium, according to a study published in the Oct. 21 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Viewpoint: Getting United States Prepared for Ebola Outbreak

MONDAY, Oct. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A case of delayed Ebola diagnosis in Dallas and subsequent infection of health care workers has highlighted the lack of preparedness for a U.S. outbreak of the disease, according to a viewpoint piece published online Oct. 17 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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New MCAT Shifts Focus, Will Include Humanities

MONDAY, Oct. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) has been revised, and the latest changes, including more humanities such as social sciences, are due to be implemented next April, according to a report from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).

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Is 'Slow and Steady' Weight Loss Really the Best Approach?

FRIDAY, Oct. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- An Australian study casts doubt on the notion that a more gradual approach to weight loss is always the most effective route to take. The findings were published online Oct. 16 in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.

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Two-Pronged Program Looks Best for Helping Smokers Quit

FRIDAY, Oct. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A combination of counseling and medication greatly increases smokers' chances of quitting, according to new research published in the October issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

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Patient Resources for Ventricular Assist Devices Info Suboptimal

FRIDAY, Oct. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Materials related to left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) discuss benefits, but less often discuss risks and rarely present alternate treatment options, according to a study published online Oct. 14 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality & Outcomes.

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Volume of Patient-to-Doc E-mails Up From 2001 to 2010

FRIDAY, Oct. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- From 2001 to 2010 the volume of patient-to-physician electronic messages increased, but the rate per-capita stabilized, according to research published in the October issue of Health Affairs.

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Obama Appoints Ron Klain As 'Ebola Czar'

FRIDAY, Oct. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- President Barack Obama on Friday appointed Ron Klain, a former chief of staff to Vice President Joe Biden, as Ebola "czar" to oversee the federal government's response to the presence of virus in the United States.

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Low Testosterone May Up Risk of Atherosclerosis in Diabetes

FRIDAY, Oct. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Low testosterone may exacerbate the risk of atherosclerotic complications in men with type 2 diabetes, according to research published online Oct. 16 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

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Specialized Care Centers May Be Needed to Contain Ebola

FRIDAY, Oct. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Specialized medical centers may be necessary to adequately treat and contain the Ebola virus in the United States, according to an ideas and opinions piece published online Oct. 16 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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70-Gene Signature Not Cost-Effective in Breast Cancer

FRIDAY, Oct. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with node-negative breast cancer (NNBC), the 70-gene signature is unlikely to be cost-effective for guiding adjuvant chemotherapy decision making, according to a study published online Oct. 6 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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Years of Endurance Exercise May Raise A-Fib/Flutter Risk

FRIDAY, Oct. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Cumulative years of regular endurance exercise are associated with an increased risk for atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter, according to a study published in the Oct. 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.

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Simulation-Based Training Improves Endoscopy Execution

FRIDAY, Oct. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Simulation-based training (SBT) improves clinicians' performance of gastrointestinal endoscopy in both test settings and clinical practice, according to research published in the October issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

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Many Docs Believe Mobile Health Apps Can Improve Patient Care

FRIDAY, Oct. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A Manhattan Research survey recently found that many physicians believe digital communication technologies, including mobile apps, can be used to improve patient outcomes, according to an article published Oct. 8 in Medical Economics.

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Prevalence of Familial Pancreatic Cancer About 9 Percent

THURSDAY, Oct. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The prevalence of familial pancreatic cancer (FPC) is about 9 percent, and patients with FPC have more precursor lesions and are less likely to smoke than patients with sporadic pancreatic cancer (SPC), according to a study published online Oct. 14 in Cancer.

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CMS Announces Two New Initiatives to Improve Care

THURSDAY, Oct. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Two initiatives have been announced to help improve the quality of post-acute care in nursing homes and ensure safe delivery of quality care to home health patients, according to a report published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

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Polyunsaturated Fats Mitigate Damage Tied to Weight Gain

THURSDAY, Oct. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- When gaining weight, polyunsaturated fats appear to be less detrimental to cardiovascular health than saturated fats, according to research published online Oct. 15 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

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Immune Therapy Induces Remission for Many With ALL

THURSDAY, Oct. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- An experimental immune-system therapy can often lead to complete remission in advanced acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients who have run out of other options, according to research published in the Oct. 16 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Limiting Malpractice Claims May Not Curb Costly Medical Tests

THURSDAY, Oct. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Malpractice reform may not keep physicians from ordering unnecessary and expensive tests, according to a study published in the Oct. 16 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Psoriasis Tied to Raised Risk of Uncontrolled Hypertension

THURSDAY, Oct. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- People with more severe cases of psoriasis may be at increased risk of uncontrolled hypertension, according to a study published online Oct. 15 in JAMA Dermatology.

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Getting an Appointment With a Psychiatrist Often Difficult

THURSDAY, Oct. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Residents of major U.S. metropolitan areas who need a psychiatrist are often likely to have difficulty securing an appointment, regardless of ability to pay, according to research published online Oct. 15 in Psychiatric Services.

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ER Visits Linked to Synthetic Pot Up Significantly in Recent Years

THURSDAY, Oct. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The number of visits to U.S. emergency departments linked to synthetic pot -- also known as "K2" or "Spice" -- have more than doubled in recent years, according to an Oct. 16 report from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

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Esbriet, Ofev Approved to Treat Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

THURSDAY, Oct. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Two new drugs have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

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'Lost Pleasure' From Smoking Not a Cost in Economic Analyses

THURSDAY, Oct. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- "Lost pleasure" represented by consumer surplus should not be considered in economic impact analyses of tobacco regulation, according to an ideas and opinions piece published online Oct. 14 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Overdetection of PSA Recurrence After Radical Prostatectomy

THURSDAY, Oct. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Prostate-specific antigen recurrence (PSA-R) may be overdetected after radical prostatectomy (RP), according to research published in the Oct. 15 issue of Clinical Cancer Research.

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Exercise Cuts Later CV Risk in Hodgkin's Lymphoma Survivors

THURSDAY, Oct. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Exercise may lower the risk of treatment-related cardiovascular events in adult survivors of childhood Hodgkin's lymphoma, according to research published online Oct. 13 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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Ebola Workshop Scheduled for Nov. 3 in Washington, D.C.

THURSDAY, Oct. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- At the request of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council will host a workshop to discuss research needed to prepare for handling the occurrence of Ebola virus disease in the United States, according to a press release from the National Academies.

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IBD Linked to Worse Prognosis After Myocardial Infarction

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients after first-time myocardial infarction (MI), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with worse prognosis, according to a study published online Oct. 14 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

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Change in Doc, Public Attitudes Needed to Cut Overtreatment

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Reform of malpractice laws as well as inclusion of patients in medical decision making may help reduce overdiagnosis and overtreatment, according to an article published online Oct. 14 in The BMJ.

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FDA: Weak Evidence for Removing Chantix Warning

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- There is little evidence to support removing a black box warning about suicide risk from the prescription anti-smoking drug Chantix, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.

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Embryonic Stem Cells Exhibit Long-Term Effectiveness, Safety

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new study is the first to show the long-term safety of embryonic stem cell transplants to treat human disease. The study was published online Oct. 15 in The Lancet.

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Second Health Care Worker in Dallas Tests Positive for Ebola

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A second health care worker who helped treat a patient who died of Ebola last week at a Dallas hospital has tested positive for the disease, health officials said Wednesday morning.

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CDC Takes Steps Toward Hospital Preparedness for Ebola

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has sent new resources to Dallas to support the highest standard of infection control, according to a news release issued by the organization Tuesday.

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Mediterranean Diet Again Linked to Better Heart Health

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Following the Mediterranean diet may help reverse metabolic syndrome, according to a study published online Oct. 14 in CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.

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Performance Measures Don't Influence Readmission

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Skilled nursing facility (SNF) performance measures are not consistently associated with the risk of readmission or death within 30 days for Medicare beneficiaries receiving postacute care at a SNF, according to a study published in the Oct. 15 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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FDA Approves Urinary Prosthetic Device for Women

TUESDAY, Oct. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A device to help women with impaired detrusor contractility (IDC) urinate has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

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CDC Develops a New, Faster Lab Test for Enterovirus D68

TUESDAY, Oct. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has developed and begun using a new, faster lab test for the detection of enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) in specimens from people in the United States with respiratory illness, according to a news release issued by the organization on Tuesday.

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Guidelines Issued for Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophies

TUESDAY, Oct. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Clinical phenotype, inheritance patterns, and associated manifestations should be used to guide genetic testing for diagnosis of patients with suspected limb-girdle muscular dystrophies (LGMDs), according to evidence-based guidelines published in the Oct. 14 issue of Neurology.

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Resident Proficiency in High-Value Care Is Hard to Test

TUESDAY, Oct. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The high-value care (HVC) subscore on the Internal Medicine In-Training Examination (IM-ITE) helps assess resident knowledge of HVC, but additional tools are needed to measure proficiency in practice, according to research published online Oct. 14 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Considerations for CMS Coverage of Lung Cancer Screening

TUESDAY, Oct. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The benefits and potential harms of low-dose computed tomography (CT) screening for lung cancer are discussed in relation to the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) evaluation of screening coverage. The two clinical reviews were published online Oct. 13 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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Experimental Tx Shouldn't Replace Critical Care for Ebola

TUESDAY, Oct. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Use of medications and vaccinations that have yet to be formally approved should not be a replacement for standard critical care, according to an ideas and opinions piece published in the Oct. 14 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Mental Stress Affects Heart Differently in Men, Women

TUESDAY, Oct. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- There are clear, measurable physical differences from mental stress in men and women, according to a study published in the Oct. 21 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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Obesity Appears to Speed Aging of the Liver

TUESDAY, Oct. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Extra pounds cause the liver to age faster, potentially explaining why obesity is linked to diseases like liver cancer and insulin resistance, new research suggests. The study appears online Oct. 13 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Sudden Cardiac Death a Risk for Women Living Near Major Roads

TUESDAY, Oct. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Women who live near major roads may be at increased risk for sudden cardiac death, according to a new study published online Oct. 13 in Circulation.

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Smoking-Related Illnesses in U.S. Total 14 Million

TUESDAY, Oct. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Cigarette smoking accounts for approximately 14 million major medical conditions that plague the lives of U.S. adults, according to a new government report published online Oct. 13 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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Review: Weak Power in Most CRC Neoplasia Risk Prediction Models

TUESDAY, Oct. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Most colorectal neoplasia risk prediction models have weak discriminatory power, according to a review published in the October issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

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Health Officials Reviewing Ebola Procedures at Dallas Hospital

MONDAY, Oct. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Federal and local health officials said Monday that they were re-examining infection-control efforts at the Dallas hospital where a nurse contracted Ebola while caring for America's first diagnosed victim of the deadly disease.

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Texas Hospital Worker Tests Positive for Ebola

MONDAY, Oct. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A health care worker who helped treat the Liberian man who died of Ebola in a Dallas hospital last week has tested positive for the virus, public health officials reported Sunday.

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Love Your Coffee? You May Have Been Born That Way

MONDAY, Oct. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- People who consume large amounts of coffee may have genetics to thank for their cravings, according to a study published online Oct. 7 in Molecular Psychiatry.

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Yoga Pose May Help Reduce Spinal Curve of Scoliosis

MONDAY, Oct. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Asymmetric strengthening with yoga may reduce abnormal spinal curvature in patients with scoliosis, according to research published in the September issue of Global Advances in Health and Medicine.

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Combining Healthy Habits Equals Greater Reduction in CRC Risk

MONDAY, Oct. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A few healthy habits could reduce the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), according to a study published online Oct. 10 in BMC Medicine.

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FDA: Akynzeo Approved for Chemo-Related Nausea/Vomiting

FRIDAY, Oct. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The combination drug Akynzeo (netupitant and palonosetron) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat nausea and vomiting among people undergoing chemotherapy, the agency said Friday in a news release.

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Even Decaf Coffee May Help Protect the Liver

FRIDAY, Oct. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Prior research has suggested that drinking coffee may help protect the liver, but new findings indicate caffeine might not be the active ingredient at work. The study was published online recently in Hepatology.

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FDA: Harvoni Approved for Chronic Hepatitis C

FRIDAY, Oct. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Harvoni, a daily pill that treats chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 infection, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday.

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High Cholesterol Tied to Prostate Cancer's Return

FRIDAY, Oct. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- After surgery for prostate cancer, elevated levels of cholesterol and triglycerides may be linked with greater risk of the cancer's return, new research suggests. The findings were published online Oct. 10 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

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Body May Change Bad Fat to Good After Exposure to Cold

FRIDAY, Oct. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Cold temperatures may prompt unhealthy white adipose tissue in the thighs and abdomen to turn into brown adipose tissue (BAT) that burns calories for body heat, according to a study published online Oct. 9 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

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Medicines Are Biggest Culprit in Fatal Allergic Reactions

FRIDAY, Oct. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Over half of allergy-related deaths are caused by medications, while less than 7 percent are caused by food allergies, according to research published online Sept. 30 in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

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Americans Increasingly Anxious About Ebola

FRIDAY, Oct. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- One-quarter of Americans now view Ebola as a major public health threat to the United States, with many saying they'd change their travel plans due to Ebola fears, a new Harris Poll/HealthDay survey reveals.

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CDC: Less Than Half of HIV+ U.S. Hispanics Are Getting Proper Care

FRIDAY, Oct. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Even though Hispanics in the United States become infected with HIV at rates triple those of whites, less than half of Hispanics with the virus are receiving adequate treatment, according to research published in the Oct. 10 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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Specialty Drugs May Be Worth the Higher Costs

FRIDAY, Oct. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Despite high costs, specialty drugs may provide value that balances the price difference compared with traditional drugs, according to research published in the October issue of Health Affairs.

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Anticoagulation Use in Urology Patients Requires Pre-Planning

FRIDAY, Oct. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Perioperative planning is needed for decisions of timing of anticoagulation therapy in patients undergoing urological procedures, according to a review published in the October issue of The Journal of Urology.

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Alternative Beats Conventional ABI Method for Predicting PAD

FRIDAY, Oct. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Ankle-brachial index (ABI) detected by an alternative method involving the lower of two systolic ankle pressures (LABI) is more sensitive and better for predicting peripheral artery disease (PAD), according to a study published in the Oct. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.

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AAFP Expresses Support for Bill Aiding Doc Re-Entry Into Practice

THURSDAY, Oct. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has expressed its support for proposed legislation designed to help primary care physicians return to clinical practice after a period away from patient care.

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Potential Clue to Ebola Treatments Uncovered

THURSDAY, Oct. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists who mapped out the shape and structure of a key protein in the Ebola virus say their discovery could help efforts to develop drugs to prevent or treat infection with the pathogen. Their research was published in the September issue of Acta Crystallographica Section D.

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Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Early Schizophrenia ID'd

THURSDAY, Oct. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Factors showing increased risk for cardiometabolic disorders are often present in patients with first-episode schizophrenia spectrum disorders (FES), according to research published online on Oct. 8 in JAMA Psychiatry.

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Airborne Particulates Beyond Traffic Fumes Affect Lung Health

THURSDAY, Oct. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Ambient particulates with median aerodynamic diameters of <10 µm (PM10) seem to cause more injury to airway epithelial cells (AEC) than traffic-derived airborne particulate matter, according to a study published online Sept. 14 in Respirology.

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Five Healthy Lifestyle Choices Cut Women's Stroke Risk

THURSDAY, Oct. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Women who follow five healthy habits can cut their stroke risk in half, new research suggests. The study was published online Oct. 8 in Neurology.

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Five Major U.S. Airports to Screen Travelers for Ebola

THURSDAY, Oct. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Five major U.S. airports will begin screening travelers entering the country from the three West African nations hit hardest by the ongoing Ebola epidemic, federal health officials announced Wednesday.

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Modified ACR Criteria Effective for Fibromyalgia Diagnosis

THURSDAY, Oct. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The 2011 modification of the 2010 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) preliminary criteria for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia (2011ModCr) has acceptable diagnostic accuracy compared with the 1990 ACR criteria, according to research published in the September issue of Arthritis Care & Research.

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Androgen Receptor Signaling Tied to Insulin Resistance

THURSDAY, Oct. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Mouse models show tissue-specific androgen receptor (AR) signaling is involved in regulation of metabolism, which may explain the link between androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and the development of metabolic syndrome in men, according to research published in the October issue of Diabetes.

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Reducing Residency Work Hours Doesn't Affect Patient Outcomes

THURSDAY, Oct. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Duty-hour reforms have not adversely affected hospital mortality or length-of-stay of patients cared for by new attending physicians who were partly or fully exposed to reduced duty hours during residency, according to research published in the October issue of Health Affairs.

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Nearly 10 Percent of Ketamine Abusers Have Liver Injury

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Liver injury is seen in about 10 percent of chronic abusers of ketamine, according to a study published in the October issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

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Risk of Upper GI Bleeding Varies for Drug Combinations

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Concomitant use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), low-dose aspirin or cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) selective inhibitors with other drugs can increase the risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB), and the magnitude of interaction varies according to drug combination, according to a study published in the October issue of Gastroenterology.

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Dallas Ebola Patient Has Died, Hospital Officials Confirm

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Thomas Eric Duncan, the Liberian national who was the first person diagnosed with Ebola in the United States, died Wednesday morning at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas.

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Laxative Type Might Influence Colorectal Cancer Risk

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The type of laxative a person takes might be a factor in their odds for colorectal cancer, according to a study published in the October issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

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CDC: U.S. Life Expectancy Hits Record High of Nearly 79 Years

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Average life expectancy in the United States reached an all-time high of 78.8 years in 2012, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Wednesday. For people 65 years old in 2012, life expectancy was an additional 19.3 years, up slightly from the year before. Women age 65 and older in 2012 can expect to live another 20.5 years, while men may get around an additional 18 years.

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Scientists Aim to Improve Vaccines Against Avian Flu

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Two groups of researchers report they are refining the vaccine strategies that will be needed in the event of an avian influenza pandemic. Both studies appear in the Oct. 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a theme issue on infectious disease.

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Tobacco Tied to Higher Risk of Oral HPV Infection

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Tobacco use in any form appears to be linked to an increased risk of infection with oral human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16), according to a research letter published in the Oct. 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a theme issue on infectious disease.

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FARE, ACEP Develop New Anaphylaxis Toolkit

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new anaphylaxis toolkit has been developed to help answer questions about managing life-threatening allergies after patients are discharged from the emergency department, according to a report from Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) and the American College of Emergency Physicians.

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Women Have Greater Atheroma Regression With Statins

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with coronary atheroma, high-intensity statin treatment is associated with greater regression in women than men, according to a study published online Sept. 17 in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging.

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AAFP Urges Docs to Check Accuracy of Open Payments Data

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) urges family doctors to check the accuracy of the first set of data published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Open Payments transparency program.

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Chemo Rx Patterns Changed Before Reimbursement Changes

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Other factors may affect chemotherapy prescription patterns more than changes in Medicare reimbursement, according to a study published online Sept. 29 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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Tips Provided for Maximizing Use of Patient Portals

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Patient portals should be designed to meet patient priorities and promoted in order to maximize their use and boost practice efficiency, according to an article published Oct. 1 in Medical Economics.

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CDC: U.S. Traffic Accidents Send 2.5 Million to ERs Each Year

TUESDAY, Oct. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Road crash injuries sent more than 2.5 million Americans to emergency departments in 2012. And, nearly 200,000 were hospitalized due to motor vehicle collisions, according to the Oct. 7 Vital Signs report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Despite Proper Cleaning, Endoscopes May Pass on E. coli

TUESDAY, Oct. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- An Escherichia coli outbreak at an Illinois hospital was caused by endoscopes that had bacterial contamination despite being disinfected in the recommended way, according to a study published in the Oct. 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a theme issue on infectious disease.

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About Half of All U.S. Hospital Patients Receive Antibiotics

TUESDAY, Oct. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- About half of all U.S. hospital patients receive antibiotics, and these drugs are commonly the ones more likely to promote the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, according to a new study, led by researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and published in the Oct. 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a theme issue on infectious disease. The CDC also funded the study.

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MRI May Spot Early Signs of Mental Decline

TUESDAY, Oct. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan that measures blood flow in the brain may help predict which older adults are at risk for future memory loss, according to a study published online Oct. 7 in Radiology.

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Cancer Diagnosis Can Take Toll on Mental Health

TUESDAY, Oct. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- One out of three people diagnosed with cancer also wind up struggling with a mental health disorder such as anxiety or depression, according to a German study published online Oct. 6 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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Obama Considers Tighter Ebola Screening for Travelers

TUESDAY, Oct. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- President Barack Obama said Monday that his administration is preparing additional screening measures to prevent the Ebola epidemic in West Africa from gaining a foothold in the United States.

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Docs More Likely to Prescribe Unneeded Antibiotics Later in Day

TUESDAY, Oct. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Doctors are more likely to prescribe unnecessary antibiotics for respiratory infections as the day progresses, according to a research letter published online Oct. 6 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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Factors Identified That Influence Overuse of Pap Testing

TUESDAY, Oct. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Demographic variables associated with overuse of Papanicolaou (Pap) testing have been identified, according to research published online Sept. 4 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

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USPSTF Recommends T2DM Screening for At-Risk Adults

TUESDAY, Oct. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening for abnormal blood glucose and type 2 diabetes in adults at increased risk (Grade B recommendation). This draft recommendation statement is based on an evidence review published by the USPSTF.

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Undiagnosed Hypertension More Likely in Rheumatoid Arthritis

TUESDAY, Oct. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Among patients meeting guideline-based criteria for hypertension, those with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are less likely to receive a diagnosis of hypertension, according to a study published in the September issue of Arthritis Care & Research.

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Insulin Dependence Ups Post-Op Complication Risk

TUESDAY, Oct. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) have an increased risk of a number of postoperative complications after lumbar fusion compared with those who have noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or no diabetes, according to a study published in the Oct. 1 issue of Spine.

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In HIV, Nonnucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors Equal

TUESDAY, Oct. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For treatment-naive patients infected with HIV-1, three nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-sparing initial antiretroviral regimens can attain similarly high rates of virologic control, according to a study published in the Oct. 7 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Handheld U/S Beats Physical Exam for Heart Abnormalities

TUESDAY, Oct. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with suspected cardiac abnormalities, handheld ultrasound (HHU) is more accurate for diagnosis than physical examination, according to a study published online Sept. 17 in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging.

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CDC Team Assisting Ebola Response in Dallas

MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Experts from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have arrived in Texas and are working closely with Texas state and local health departments to investigate the first Ebola case in the United States, according to a news release issued by the agency.

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Chasm Exists Between Cultural, Medical Definitions of Obesity

MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Cultural definitions of body size terms differ from a participant's actual body size, according to a study published in the September-October issue of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.

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Heart Bypass Patients May Not Need Tight Glucose Control

MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients might not need to follow strict glucose control after their surgery, according to a study published in the October issue of the Annals of Thoracic Surgery. Some previous research suggested that high glucose after CABG and other types of heart surgery was associated with increased risk of health problems and death, but more recent research has found that might not be the case.

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EPA Wants Less Dental Mercury Entering Environment

MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed new standards to reduce the amount of mercury released from dentists' offices.

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Ebola Patient in Dallas Hospital Takes Turn for the Worse

MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The first Ebola patient to be diagnosed in the United States has "taken a turn for the worse," federal health officials said Sunday. Thomas Eric Duncan, a native of Liberia, is receiving supportive care at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas. Hospital officials have changed his condition from serious to critical.

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Gout Independently Associated With Diabetes Risk

MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Gout appears to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, especially in women, according to a study published online Oct. 2 in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

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States Encouraged to Use Physician Assistant Workforce

MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Physician assistants (PAs) have an important role in the provision of health care and their role should be encouraged by appropriate state legislation, according to a report from the National Governors Association.

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Impact of Physician Payments Sunshine Act Discussed

MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The Physician Payments Sunshine Act is causing concern for manufacturers and providers, as well as physicians, according to a health policy brief published online Oct. 2 in Health Affairs.

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CHD Risk in Diabetes Correlates With BMI Seven Years Earlier

MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) over seven years increases with higher body mass index (BMI) at baseline among patients with diabetes, with a U-shaped association between BMI at the last visit and the risk of CHD among women, according to a study published online Sept. 23 in Diabetes Care.

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Study Clarifies LMWH Treatment for Cancer-Related DVT

MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Results of a randomized trial support the role of residual vein thrombosis (RVT) as a factor in determining the optimal duration of anticoagulant therapy in cancer patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower limbs. These findings were published online Sept. 29 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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Research Suggests Stroke Risk Up With β-Blockers in Select Patients

MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients without prior myocardial infarction (MI) with no heart failure, β-blocker use is not associated with lower cardiovascular events, and there may be an increased risk of stroke for patients without previous events but with multiple cardiovascular risk factors, according to a study published online Sept. 30 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

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Physician Payments Found Not to Favor Procedures

FRIDAY, Oct. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Physician Fee Schedule does not systematically provide higher valuation of physician work per unit time for procedure/test codes than for evaluation and management (E/M) codes, according to a study published online Sept. 18 in the Annals of Surgery.

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Experts Say Testosterone Rx Not Appropriate for Healthy Women

FRIDAY, Oct. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Healthy women should not be diagnosed with testosterone deficiency and should not be prescribed testosterone therapy, a new guideline from the Endocrine Society states. The new clinical practice guideline was published online Oct. 3 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

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ATA: Standard Treatment for Hypothyroidism Still Best

FRIDAY, Oct. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- An expert panel reviewing treatments for hypothyroidism has concluded that the drug levothyroxine (L-T4) should remain the standard of care. The American Thyroid Association's updated guidelines were published online Sept. 29 in Thyroid.

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Ebola Focus Shrinks to About 50 People in Texas

FRIDAY, Oct. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- About 50 people in Texas are now being checked daily for possible Ebola infection, based on their prior contact with the Liberian national undergoing treatment in Dallas for the virus, health officials said Friday.

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Too Much Alcohol May Harm Sperm

FRIDAY, Oct. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The more alcohol young men drink, the lower their sperm count and quality may be, according to a study published Oct. 2 in BMJ Open. In addition, high alcohol consumption was linked to a higher risk of contracting human papillomavirus (HPV), according to a study published Oct. 2 in Sexually Transmitted Infections.

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Major Bleeds Found to Be Rare for Patients With Stable CAD

FRIDAY, Oct. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Major bleeding events are rare in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD); however, concomitant antiplatelet therapy (APT) when oral anticoagulation is required increases bleeding risk -- an independent predictor of mortality -- and should be reconsidered in select patients, according to research published in the Oct. 7 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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Walking Protects Against Functional Limitation in OA

FRIDAY, Oct. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For individuals with or at risk of knee osteoarthritis, walking is associated with reduced incidence of functional limitation over two years, according to a study published in the September issue of Arthritis Care & Research.

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Only DM Duration Independently Tied to Microvascular Events

FRIDAY, Oct. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- In patients with type 2 diabetes, age or age at diabetes diagnosis and diabetes duration are independently associated with macrovascular events and death, but only duration of disease is independently associated with microvascular events, according to a study published online Sept. 17 in Diabetologia.

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Transient Ischemic Attacks May Lead to PTSD

FRIDAY, Oct. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) may not cause lasting physical damage but they may increase the risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a study published online Oct. 2 in Stroke.

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VTE Prophylaxis Effect Varies for Otolaryngology Patients

FRIDAY, Oct. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients undergoing otolaryngology surgery, the effectiveness and safety of venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis vary in patient subgroups, according to research published online Oct. 2 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.

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Aerobic Exercise Boosts Quality of Life for Dialysis Patients

FRIDAY, Oct. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Aerobic exercise may improve the physical and mental health of patients on maintenance hemodialysis and may also extend their lives, according to a study published online Oct. 2 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

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Second Baby 'Cured' of HIV Suffers Relapse

FRIDAY, Oct. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- An Italian toddler thought cured of HIV with early aggressive treatment following birth has suffered a relapse, his doctors report. The 3-year-old child's viral levels of HIV rebounded two weeks after doctors took him off antiretroviral medications, according to a case report published in the Oct. 4 issue of The Lancet. The child's HIV levels had been undetectable since he was 6 months old due to aggressive drug therapy that doctors started within 12 hours of his birth.

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Lung Cancer Screening Found Cost-Effective for Medicare

FRIDAY, Oct. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) is a low-cost and cost-effective strategy for screening Medicare beneficiaries for lung cancer, according to a study published in the August issue of American Health & Drug Benefits.

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CDC: Heroin Overdose Deaths Doubled in Much of U.S.

THURSDAY, Oct. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Deaths from heroin overdoses doubled from 2010 to 2012, according to research published in the Oct. 3 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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Remission of T2DM Without Bariatric Sx Found to Be Rare

THURSDAY, Oct. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For adults with type 2 diabetes, remission is possible without bariatric surgery, but rarely occurs, according to a study published online Sept. 17 in Diabetes Care.

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Medical Errors Should Be Used to Improve Patient Care

THURSDAY, Oct. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Medical errors occur and should be used to help improve medical processes, according to a report from the American Medical Association.

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Hydrocodone Combo Products Reclassified As Schedule II

THURSDAY, Oct. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new rule taking effect Oct. 6 reclassifies hydrocodone combination products as Schedule II controlled substances, which will impact prescribing practices for these products, according to a report from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

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CDC Offers Ebola Guidance for Health Care Providers

THURSDAY, Oct. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- In the wake of the first confirmed case of a patient being diagnosed with Ebola in the United States, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is offering information on Ebola diagnosis and management for health care providers, including testing protocol.

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Providers Received Billions From Drug/Device Companies

THURSDAY, Oct. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- About 546,000 doctors and 1,360 teaching hospitals in the United States received billions of dollars from drug and medical device makers in the second half of 2013, according to data released Tuesday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The financial benefits ranged from research grants to trips, and totaled nearly $3.5 billion from August through December last year, the Associated Press reported.

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Updated Count for Those Potentially Exposed to U.S. Ebola

THURSDAY, Oct. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Health officials in Texas say more than 80 people came into contact with Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan, on top of the 18 already under surveillance.

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Evolocumab Seems Promising for Familial Hypercholesterolemia

THURSDAY, Oct. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Evolocumab shows promise for patients with heterozygous or homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, according to two studies published online Oct. 1 in The Lancet.

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CDC Issues Ebola Best Practices Reminder for Providers

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a general reminder to travelers and health care providers on best practices regarding Ebola.

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CDC Monitoring Those Who Had Contact With Ebola Patient

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Federal health officials are monitoring up to 18 people who were exposed to the man being treated at a Dallas hospital for the first confirmed case of Ebola in the United States.

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In Cancer Prevention, 9-Valent HPV Vaccine Looks Promising

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A vaccine meant to protect against nine types of human papillomavirus (HPV) could prevent 90 percent of all cervical cancers, according to a study published in the October issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

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High Salt Intake + Smoking May Up Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Although no link has been found between sodium intake and risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA), there might be an increased risk for RA among smokers with high sodium consumption, according to research published online Sept. 10 in Rheumatology.

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Obesity Tied to Higher Cancer Risk for CRC Survivors

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Colorectal cancer (CRC) patients who are overweight or obese when diagnosed appear to face a slightly higher risk for developing a second weight-related cancer, according to research published online Sept. 29 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The finding didn't speak to the risk of CRC recurrence, only the potential for developing other cancers associated with obesity.

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Social Support May Be Key to Heart Attack Recovery

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Young and middle-aged heart attack survivors are more likely to have poor health and low quality of life if they have fewer family and friends to support them in their recovery, according to a study published online Sept. 30 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

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No Genetic Proof Vitamin D Guards Against Type 2 Diabetes

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- There's no genetic evidence that high levels of vitamin D can prevent type 2 diabetes, according to research published online Oct. 1 in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.

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Burnout on the Job Isn't Just About the Work

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Work, non-work, and individual factors explain a considerable part of psychological distress, depression, and emotional exhaustion, according to a study published online July 24 in Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology.

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CDC Confirms First Patient Diagnosed With Ebola in U.S.

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The first confirmed case of Ebola has surfaced in the United States, involving a man who recently flew here from Liberia, federal health officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced late Tuesday.

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Increased Toxicity for Many Newly Approved Anticancer Drugs

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Newly approved anticancer drugs that do not have a specific molecular target on cancer cells are associated with increased toxicity and the accompanying costs of management, according to research published online Sept. 29 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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