October 2013 Briefing - Nursing

Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Nursing for October 2013. 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.

FDA Announces Moves to Avert Drug Shortages

THURSDAY, Oct. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Drug makers would have to promptly notify the federal government of potential drug shortages under a new rule proposed Thursday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The companies would be required to alert the FDA at least six months before a possible interruption in supply, or no later than five days after the interruption has occurred.

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Top 100 EHR Systems Sorted by Company Revenue

THURSDAY, Oct. 31 (HealthDay News) -- The top 100 electronic health record (EHR) systems have been sorted, mainly by company revenue, in an article published Oct. 25 in Medical Economics.

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'Safe Swaddling' Recommended to Prevent Hip Dysplasia

THURSDAY, Oct. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Health providers need to provide correct advice about how to swaddle infants safely, to reduce the risk of hip dysplasia, according to an article published online Oct. 28 in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.

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Sebelius: 'Hold Me Accountable' for Website 'Debacle'

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Wednesday claimed responsibility for the failed rollout of HealthCare.gov and committed to fixing the website's many software and system problems.

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Twin Study Shows Smoking Causes Premature Facial Aging

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Visual evidence in identical twins shows that smoking hastens facial aging, particularly in the middle and lower thirds of the face, according to research published in the November issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

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2013 Health Care Quality Report Shows Some Improvements

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Five key quality issues are showing some positive trends, according to the 2013 State of Health Care Quality Report published by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

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Expedited Review Speeds Approval of New Drugs by FDA

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30 (HealthDay News) -- In 2008, new drugs that received expedited review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration were approved more rapidly, but many questions about safety remain unresolved, according to research published online Oct. 28 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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Health Agency Chief Apologizes for Federal Website Woes

TUESDAY, Oct. 29 (HealthDay News) -- The head of the federal agency responsible for HealthCare.gov issued a public apology Tuesday for problems that have plagued the health insurance website since its Oct. 1 launch. "I want to apologize to you that the website has not worked as well as it should," Marilyn Tavenner, administrator of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, told members of the House of Representatives' Ways and Means Committee at a hearing on the Affordable Care Act.

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Consultant Offers Tips for Training Staff to Use EHR System

TUESDAY, Oct. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Six tips can help educate staff to use new electronic health record (EHR) systems, according to an article published Oct. 25 in Medical Economics.

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Pediatric Flu Death Also Occurs Without High-Risk Conditions

TUESDAY, Oct. 29 (HealthDay News) -- For children, influenza can be fatal even for those without high-risk medical conditions, according to a study published online Oct. 28 in Pediatrics.

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Point-of-Care Xpert MTB/RIF Testing Feasible in Primary Care

MONDAY, Oct. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Point-of-care Xpert MTB/RIF tuberculosis testing is associated with more patients getting same-day diagnosis and having same-day treatment initiation but does not result in improved tuberculosis-related morbidity, according to a study published online Oct. 28 in The Lancet.

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CRC Risk Up With Family Hx of Adenoma, Advanced Adenoma

MONDAY, Oct. 28 (HealthDay News) -- For people with a family history of colorectal adenomas and advanced adenomas, the risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC) is significantly elevated, according to a study published online Oct. 21 in Cancer.

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Clinical Pharmacists Can Aid Patients With Uncontrolled T2DM

MONDAY, Oct. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Clinical pharmacists can play a role in helping patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes, according to a case study published in the October issue of Clinical Diabetes.

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One in 10 Teens Using ER Report Non-Rx Opiate, Sedative Use

MONDAY, Oct. 28 (HealthDay News) -- About one in 10 young people who use the emergency department report non-medical prescription opiate use (NPOU) or non-medical prescription sedative use (NPSU), according to a study published online Oct. 28 in Pediatrics.

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FDA Approves Brain-Imaging Drug for Alzheimer's Detection

FRIDAY, Oct. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Vizamyl (flutemetamol F 18 injection) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use with positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of the brain to screen adults for signs of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.

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FDA Approves Extended-Release Hydrocodone Painkiller

FRIDAY, Oct. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Zohydro ER (hydrocodone bitartrate extended-release) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for severe pain that requires round-the-clock long-term treatment, the agency said Friday in a news release.

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Chronic Condition Prevention Urged for Better Life Quality

FRIDAY, Oct. 25 (HealthDay News) -- For older adults, multiple chronic conditions are associated with worse health in terms of activities of daily living and health-related quality of life, according to a study published Sept. 26 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Preventing Chronic Disease.

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Smoking Cessation Ups Survival for Patients Undergoing PCI

FRIDAY, Oct. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Smoking cessation is associated with improved survival for patients who undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), according to a study published in the Nov. 1 issue of The Journal of Cardiology.

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Coffee Consumption Linked to Reduced Risk of Liver Cancer

FRIDAY, Oct. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Coffee consumption is associated with a 40 percent reduction in the risk of liver cancer, according to a meta-analysis published in the November issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

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Many Interns Don't Practice Etiquette-Based Communication

FRIDAY, Oct. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Internal medicine interns overestimate the extent to which they practice an etiquette-based communication approach, according to a study published online Oct. 12 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.

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Social Media Can Professionally Benefit Pediatric Clinicians

FRIDAY, Oct. 25 (HealthDay News) -- There are increasing opportunities for social media to enhance the personal and professional lives of pediatric clinicians, but professionalism online needs to be modeled and taught, according to an article published online Oct. 21 in Pediatrics.

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Coexisting Pain Tied to Worse Knee Replacement Outcomes

FRIDAY, Oct. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Musculoskeletal pain in the low back, hips, and the nonoperatively treated knee before total knee replacement is associated with poorer physical function at six months after surgery, according to a study published in the Oct. 16 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.

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Most Negative Online Posts Aren't Defamation

FRIDAY, Oct. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Few negative online posts about doctors reach the level of defamation, according to an article published Oct. 10 in Medical Economics.

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FDA Urges Tighter Controls on Certain Prescription Painkillers

THURSDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDay News) -- On Thursday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration called for tighter controls on prescription painkillers containing the narcotic hydrocodone.

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Physicians Should Motivate and Retain Top Employees

THURSDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Even in a time of declining reimbursements, smart employers should know how to motivate and retain superstar employees in their practice, according to an article published Oct. 10 in Medical Economics.

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Race/Ethnicity Has No Impact on Long-Term Mortality in T2DM

THURSDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDay News) -- For adults with type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease, race/ethnicity has no significant impact on the long-term risk of death, according to a study published in the Nov. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.

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Free Online Games Advertise Non-Nutritious Food to Children

THURSDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Free online games designed to promote branded products ("advergames") are being used to market foods, snacks, and beverages with low nutritional value to young children, according to a study published Sept. 26 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Preventing Chronic Disease.

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Penalty Delayed As Federal Exchange Comes Under Fire

THURSDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. consumers who sign up for health insurance by March 31 won't face tax penalties for being uninsured during the first three months of 2014, the Obama administration said Thursday.

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Global Burden of Stroke Increased From 1990 to 2010

THURSDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDay News) -- From 1990 to 2010 there was an increase in the global burden of stroke, and of incident ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, according to two studies published online Oct. 24 in The Lancet and The Lancet Global Health.

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State Parity Laws Increase Access to Substance Use Tx

THURSDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Implementation of legislation incorporating parity for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment has correlated with improved access to specialty treatment, according to a study published online Oct. 23 in JAMA Psychiatry.

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Blood Glucose, HbA1c Levels Linked to Memory Performance

THURSDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Lower hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and blood glucose levels are associated with better memory performance in healthy, older adults, according to a study published online Oct. 23 in Neurology.

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Sunny Regions Have Lower ADHD Prevalence

THURSDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Sunny areas of the world have a lower prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a study published in the Oct. 15 issue of Biological Psychiatry.

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Carotid Stenting Tied to Higher Stroke Risk in Seniors

THURSDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDay News) -- For patients undergoing a carotid intervention, age influences outcomes, according to a review published online Oct. 23 in JAMA Surgery.

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Teen Tdap Vaccines May Cut Infant Pertussis Hospitalization

THURSDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Universal administration of the tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine to adolescents correlates with a decrease in pertussis hospitalizations among vulnerable infants, according to a study published online Oct. 21 in Pediatrics.

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>5 Percent Readmitted After Total Joint Arthroplasty

THURSDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDay News) -- More than 5 percent of patients who undergo total hip and knee arthroplasty have unplanned readmission within 90 days, according to a study published in the Oct. 16 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.

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CDC: Trends in Cholesterol Levels of U.S. Adults Estimated

THURSDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDay News) -- From 2009-2010 to 2011-2012, there was no change in the percentage of adults with high total cholesterol, or in the percentage undergoing cholesterol screening, according to an October data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

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FDA Approves Opsumit for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Opsumit (macitentan) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

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Mobile Device Use to Aid Rx Common in Nursing Homes

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Nursing home physicians who use mobile devices with drug reference software believe they are helpful for preventing adverse drug events (ADEs), according to a study published online Oct. 4 in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association.

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Recovery Room Imaging Has No Added Value Post-Lumbar Fusion

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Following lumbar fusion, recovery room radiographs provide no incremental clinical value above intraoperative images, according to a study published in the Oct. 15 issue of Spine.

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Most Parents Want Email Consultations for Minor Illness

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Most parents would seek email advice for their children's minor illness if the service was available, according to a report published by the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital.

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BP Drugs Linked to Lower Risk of Alzheimer's Disease Dementia

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23 (HealthDay News) -- For older adults, antihypertensive medications are associated with a decreased risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia, according to research published in the Sept. 3 issue of Neurology.

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ADHD Linked to Defecation Disorders in Children

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are significantly more likely to have constipation and fecal incontinence issues than children without ADHD, according to a study published online Oct. 21 in Pediatrics.

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Physical Symptoms From Prostate Biopsy Can Cause Anxiety

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Problematic symptoms of prostate biopsy can lead to increased anxiety in men, even when the biopsy results are negative for cancer, according to research published online Oct. 21 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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CDC: U.S. Flu Activity Remains Low Through Mid-October

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23 (HealthDay News) -- During the week of Oct. 6 through Oct. 12, flu activity remained low in the United States, according to FluView, a weekly influenza surveillance report prepared by the Influenza Division of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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CDC: Use of Flavored Little Cigars, Cigarettes Up in U.S. Adolescents

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23 (HealthDay News) -- More than 40 percent of student cigar or cigarette smokers report using flavored little cigars or flavored cigarettes, according to a study published online Oct. 23 in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

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Modest Survival Benefits Seen for Family Caregivers

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Being a caregiver to a family member may provide a small survival benefit to the caregiver, according to a study published online Oct. 3 in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

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Exercise Boosts Academic Performance in Adolescents

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Objectively measured physical activity is positively associated with academic achievement in adolescents, according to research published online Oct. 22 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

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Regular Internet Use Linked to Cancer Prevention Behaviors

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Regular Internet use among older adults is associated with greater cancer-preventative behaviors such as colorectal cancer screening, physical activity, consumption of fruits and vegetables, and not smoking, according to a study published online Oct. 22 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

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Flu Vaccine Linked to Lower Cardiovascular Risk

TUESDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Influenza vaccination is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular events among those at high risk of cardiovascular disease, particularly among those with more active coronary disease, according to a review and meta-analysis published in the Oct. 23/30 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Counseling + Rapid HIV Test Has No Effect on STI Incidence

TUESDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Brief HIV risk-reduction counseling given at the time of a rapid HIV test does not reduce the incidence of sexually transmitted infections six months later, according to a study published in the Oct. 23/30 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Intranasal Oxytocin Application Enhances Placebo Effect

TUESDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Intranasal application of the hormone oxytocin enhances the placebo response, according to a research letter published in the Oct. 23/30 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Anti-Obesity Messages May Inadvertantly Up Eating Disorders

TUESDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Anti-obesity messages may be backfiring, encouraging the development of eating disorders, according to an article in The Wall Street Journal.

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ACP Presents Recommendations for Screening, Treating CKD

TUESDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) -- The American College of Physicians (ACP) has presented recommendations for the screening, monitoring, and treatment of adults with chronic kidney disease, according to guidelines published online Oct. 22 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Pill Effects on Breast, Ovarian CA Same in High-Risk Women

TUESDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Among women who are BRCA1/2 mutation carriers, the associations between ever use of oral contraceptives (OCs) and ovarian and breast cancers are similar to those observed in the general population, according to research published online Oct. 21 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

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Short, Poor Quality Sleep Tied to Increased β-Amyloid Burden

TUESDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) -- In older adults, shorter sleep duration and poor sleep quality are associated with increased β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition, according to a study published online Oct. 21 in JAMA Neurology.

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Bottle Feeding Ups Risk of Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis

TUESDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Bottle feeding is associated with an increased risk of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS) in infants, with significant modifications by maternal age and parity, according to a study published online Oct. 21 in JAMA Pediatrics.

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Few Patients Told About Risks of Overdiagnosis Pre-Screening

TUESDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Few patients who are eligible for cancer screening are aware of the risks of overdiagnosis and overtreatment, according to a research letter published online Oct. 21 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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Research Backlog at NIH Due to Shutdown

TUESDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) -- It will take some time before research programs return to normal at the U.S. National Institutes of Health after the end of the federal government shutdown, officials say.

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Scribes Can Be Beneficial in Medical Practices

TUESDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Medical scribes can accurately document physician or independent practitioner dictation and activities, allowing providers to spend more time with patients, according to an article published Oct. 10 in Medical Economics.

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Rocker Sole Shoes Show No Benefit for Low Back Pain

TUESDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Rocker sole shoes seem no more beneficial than flat sole shoes for people with low back pain (LBP), according to a study published in the Oct. 15 issue of Spine.

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Study Probes Why Truckers Use Booze, Illicit Drugs

TUESDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) -- The use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol, amphetamines, and marijuana, appears common in truck drivers, particularly when working conditions are poor, according to research published online Oct. 21 in Occupational & Environmental Medicine.

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Varying Radiation Exposure in Cath Lab Procedures Analyzed

TUESDAY, Oct. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Endovascular peripheral procedures are associated with higher radiation exposure for catheterization laboratory operators than coronary procedures, according to a study published in the October issue of JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.

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Obama: 'No Excuse' for Troubled HealthCare.gov Website

MONDAY, Oct. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Saying he's confident the problems will get fixed, President Barack Obama admitted today that there is "no excuse" for the troubles plaguing the beleaguered HealthCare.gov website. "There's no sugar-coating it. The website has been too slow, people have been getting stuck during the application process, and I think it's fair to say that nobody's more frustrated by that than I am," he said during the nearly 30-minute-long address in the White House Rose Garden.

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USPSTF: Evidence Lacking for Cognitive Impairment Testing

MONDAY, Oct. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Screening instruments can detect dementia but there is insufficient evidence to determine the clinical effect of screening and interventions, according to a review conducted for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and published online Oct. 22 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Seniors Rarely Consider Switching Medicare Plan, Provider

MONDAY, Oct. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Most seniors report being satisfied with Medicare coverage and most would not consider switching plan or provider even though the Medicare annual open enrollment period, which lasts from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, allows people the opportunity to make changes, according to a report from Allsup.

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Pediatrician-Led Motivational Interviews Aid BMI Control

MONDAY, Oct. 21 (HealthDay News) -- For overweight children aged 4 to 7 years, an intervention comprised of pediatrician-led motivational interviews (MIs) is effective for body mass index (BMI) control, according to a study published online Oct. 21 in Pediatrics.

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7 Percent of Chinese Adults Have Unruptured Cerebral Aneurysm

MONDAY, Oct. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Unruptured cerebral aneurysms (UCAs) seem to be common in the Chinese population with an overall prevalence of 7.0 percent, according to a study published in the Oct. 15 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Phentermine, Topiramate Reduce Progression to T2DM

MONDAY, Oct. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Over two years, phentermine and topiramate extended-release (PHEN/TPM ER) treatment plus lifestyle changes lead to significant weight loss and a considerable reduction in progression to type 2 diabetes in high-risk, overweight/obese individuals, according to a study published online Oct. 8 in Diabetes Care.

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Internet-Purchased Human Milk Often Has High Bacterial Growth

MONDAY, Oct. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Human milk purchased over the Internet exhibits high overall bacterial growth and is often contaminated with pathogenic bacteria, according to a study published online Oct. 21 in Pediatrics.

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Considerable Morbidity With Disc Herniations in NFL Players

MONDAY, Oct. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Disc herniations represent a substantial source of injury in the National Football League (NFL), according to a study published in the Oct. 15 issue of Spine.

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Parental Spanking Negatively Impacts Child Behavior

MONDAY, Oct. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Maternal and paternal spanking of children at age 5 impacts children's externalizing behavior and receptive vocabulary scores at age 9, according to a study published online Oct. 21 in Pediatrics.

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Psychotropic Drugs Commonly Prescribed to Children With ASD

MONDAY, Oct. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Psychotropic medications, singly and in combination, are commonly prescribed for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), according to research published online Oct. 21 in Pediatrics.

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Timing of First Dose of Measles Vaccine Questioned

MONDAY, Oct. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Children who receive the first dose of a two-dose schedule of measles vaccine at 12 to 13 months compared with 15 months or later have a greater risk of developing measles, according to a study published online Oct. 21 in Pediatrics.

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Small Businesses Weigh Health Insurance Options

MONDAY, Oct. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Small businesses rated most features of the Small Business Health Options (SHOP) exchanges favorably, but reasonable prices for premiums are especially important to them, according to research published online Oct. 16 in Health Affairs.

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Study Compares Treatment Options for Nose Bleeds

FRIDAY, Oct. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Treatment for epistaxis is highly variable, with similar outcomes seen for embolization and arterial ligation, but increased costs with embolization, according to a study published online Oct. 17 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.

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Treatment Interval Doesn't Affect Benefit of Acne Laser Tx

FRIDAY, Oct. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Fractional CO2 laser treatment is safe and seems effective for atrophic acne scars, with no difference observed for treatment with a one- or three-month interval, according to a study published online Sept. 9 in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.

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Eye Contact Affects Patients' Perception of Clinician Empathy

FRIDAY, Oct. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Physicians who make direct eye contact and engage in a moderate amount of social touch are perceived by patients as being more empathetic, according to research published online Aug. 14 in the Journal of Participatory Medicine.

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Inpatient Diabetes Education Linked to Lower Readmissions

FRIDAY, Oct. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Inpatients diagnosed with diabetes who receive inpatient diabetes education (IDE) have significantly lower frequency of all-cause hospital readmission within 30 days, according to a study published in the October issue of Diabetes Care.

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Physician Wait Times Analyzed by Specialty in Massachusetts

FRIDAY, Oct. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Wait times for new patients for non-emergency care in Massachusetts in 2013 have been stable or shorter in all specialties except internal medicine, orthopedic surgery, and pediatrics, according to a report issued by the Massachusetts Medical Society.

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Legal Claims Against Non-Physician Laser Operators Up

FRIDAY, Oct. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Medical professional liability claims related to cutaneous laser surgery by non-physician operators (NPOs) are increasing, according to a study published online Oct. 16 in JAMA Dermatology.

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Behavioral Therapy Effective for Health Anxiety

FRIDAY, Oct. 18 (HealthDay News) -- Cognitive behavioral therapy is effective in reducing excessive health anxiety compared with standard care, with similar costs at two years, according to a study published online Oct. 18 in The Lancet.

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In Buying Exchange Insurance, It Helps to Have Help

FRIDAY, Oct. 18 (HealthDay News) -- You have to wade through a lot of insurance jargon and be a skilled number-cruncher to choose the right health insurance plan on the new health exchanges, health literacy and consumer decision-making experts say.

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Sebelius: Exchange Launch 'Rockier Than We Would Have Liked'

THURSDAY, Oct. 17 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius admitted Wednesday that the troubled launch of the federal government's new health insurance exchange hasn't gone as planned. However, she said technicians were working to fix the glitches that have plagued the HealthCare.gov website, and improvements should be evident shortly to consumers, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported Wednesday.

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Surgical Implements Too Often Left Behind in Patients

THURSDAY, Oct. 17 (HealthDay News) -- There have been more than 770 reports of retained foreign objects in surgical patients over the last seven years, according to the watchdog group The Joint Commission.

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CDC: Number of Obese Adults in U.S. Holding Steady

THURSDAY, Oct. 17 (HealthDay News) -- The number of obese adults remained constant at more than 78 million in the United States for 2011 to 2012, according to an October data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

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Risk Factors for VTE Post-Spine Surgery Identified

THURSDAY, Oct. 17 (HealthDay News) -- There are multiple independent risk factors for the development of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and/or pulmonary embolism (PE) after spine surgery, according to a study published in the Oct. 1 issue of Spine.

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'Coverage Gap' Likely to Affect 5.2 Million Uninsured Adults

THURSDAY, Oct. 17 (HealthDay News) -- About 5.2 million uninsured adults are expected to fall into the Affordable Care Act (ACA) 'coverage gap,' with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid programs but below the level eligible for federal subsidies to purchase private insurance, according to a report issued by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

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No Increase in Risky Sex After HIV Prophylaxis

THURSDAY, Oct. 17 (HealthDay News) -- HIV-uninfected partners of HIV-infected individuals do not substantially increase risky sexual behavior even after taking prophylactic drugs to prevent HIV transmission, according to a study published online Oct. 17 in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

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Adverse Drug Events More Likely to Present on Hospital Admission

THURSDAY, Oct. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Adverse drug events (ADEs) were more likely to be present upon admission than to originate during the stay for U.S. hospitals in 2011, according to a statistical brief issued by the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP).

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Ablative Carbon Dioxide Laser Effective for Rhinophyma

THURSDAY, Oct. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Good cosmetic outcomes are possible using fractionated ablative carbon dioxide laser therapy for mild-to-moderate cases of rhinophyma, according to research published online Oct. 5 in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine.

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Negative Affectivity Linked to Alcohol Use During Pregnancy

THURSDAY, Oct. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Negative affectivity, a tendency to have negative emotions and views, is associated with light alcohol use and binge drinking during pregnancy, according to a study published online Oct. 16 in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica.

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Steps Given to Minimize Burden of Prior Authorizations

THURSDAY, Oct. 17 (HealthDay News) -- Prior authorizations are a time-consuming part of work, but the process can be simplified, according to an article published online Oct. 10 in Medical Economics.

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Arterial Stiffness Linked to β Amyloid Plaques in Elderly

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Arterial stiffness correlates with β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition in the brain of dementia-free older adults, according to a study published online Oct. 16 in Neurology.

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Additional, Unnecessary Tests Driving Cost of Pap Smear Up

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Ordering of unnecessary tests is one factor driving the costs of Papanicolaou smears up, with indications of the costs reaching $1,000, according to a perspective piece published in the Oct. 17 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Case Vignette: Calcium Supplements in Fracture Prevention

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16 (HealthDay News) -- The issues related to calcium supplementation in postmenopausal women are discussed in a clinical practice piece published in the Oct. 17 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Nurse Practitioners Report High Job Satisfaction

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Nurse practitioners report high job satisfaction and are positive about the future of their profession, according to an article published Oct. 7 in Medical Economics.

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Medicare, Medicaid Will Be Affected by Federal Debt Default

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Failure to raise the debt ceiling by Oct. 17 will have a substantial effect on health care programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, according to a report published by the American Association of Family Physicians (AAFP).

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Gastric, Esophageal Cancer Risk Linked to Teen Overweight

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Adolescents' weight and socioeconomic status (SES) may affect their subsequent risk of developing esophageal and gastric cancer, according to a study published online Oct. 15 in Cancer.

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Lifestyle Changes Cut Diabetes Risk in High-Risk Patients

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Comprehensive lifestyle interventions decrease the incidence of type 2 diabetes in high-risk patients, but the benefits are less clear in diagnosed patients, according to a review published in the Oct. 15 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Algorithm Developed to Guide Physicians in Obesity Care

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16 (HealthDay News) -- An algorithm has been developed to help physicians navigate medical treatment for obesity care, according to a report published by the American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP).

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Clinical Effects Committee Can Mitigate Investigator Bias

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16 (HealthDay News) -- An independent Clinical Effects Committee (CEC) can improve the accuracy of investigational device-related adverse event assessment, according to a study published in the Aug. 21 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.

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No Link Between Nausea Drug and Birth Defects

TUESDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Metoclopramide use during pregnancy for nausea is not associated with an increased risk of birth defects, spontaneous abortion, or stillbirth, according to a study published in the Oct. 16 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Rates of PSA Screening in Older Men Vary Among Doctors

TUESDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening rates in older men vary considerably among primary care physicians (PCPs), according to a research letter published in the Oct. 16 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Nonprofit U.S. Hospital CEO Compensation Varies Widely

TUESDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) Nonprofit hospital chief executive officer (CEO) compensation is associated with technology and patient satisfaction, but not with processes of care, patient outcomes, or community benefit, according to a study published online Oct. 14 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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More Steroid Courses No Better in Preterm Birth Strategy

TUESDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Compared with a single course of antenatal corticosteroid therapy, multiple courses do not increase or decrease the risk of death or disability for the child at age 5 years, according to research published online Oct. 14 in JAMA Pediatrics.

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Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Hospitals Do Follow Guidelines

TUESDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Get With The Guidelines-Stroke (GWTG-S) hospitals are more likely than Primary Stroke Center (PSC)-certified hospitals to provide all the recommended guideline-based care for patients, according to research published in the October issue of the Journal of the American Heart Association.

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Admin Data May Misclassify Hospital Complications

TUESDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Use of administrative data frequently misclassifies hospitals' rates of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (HAPUs), compared to surveillance data, according to a study published in the Oct. 15 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Sexual Minorities at Higher Risk of Teen Pregnancy

TUESDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Adolescent sexual minorities other than lesbians use less hormonal contraception and continue to be at an increased risk for teen pregnancy, with the exception of lesbians, according to a study published in the September issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

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Marathon Running Tied to Transient Myocardial Changes

TUESDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Marathon runners, particularly those who are less fit or less trained, may experience transient myocardial changes, according to a study published in the October issue of the Canadian Journal of Cardiology.

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Hospital Nurse Staffing Tied to Readmissions Penalties

TUESDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Hospitals with higher nurse staffing have lower odds of Medicare readmissions penalties than hospitals with lower staffing, according to a study published in the October issue of Health Affairs.

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Delayed First Measles Vaccine May Up Risk of Adverse Effects

MONDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- The increased risk of seizures following immunization with measles-containing vaccines is lower when the first dose is administered on schedule at 12 to 15 months, according to research published online Oct. 14 in JAMA Pediatrics.

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Lifestyle Advice Should Be Similar With/Without Diabetes

MONDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Lifestyle advice for patients with diabetes should be similar to that given to people without diabetes, according to a study published online Oct. 13 in Diabetologia.

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CBT Equal to Intensive Medical Care for Peds Abdominal Pain

MONDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is as effective as intensive medical care (IMC) for the treatment of pediatric functional abdominal pain (FAP), according to a study published online Oct. 14 in Pediatrics.

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Smoking Cessation Meds Don't Increase Suicidal Behavior

MONDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Use of varenicline or bupropion is not associated with an increased risk of self-harm or depression compared with nicotine replacement therapy, according to a study published online Oct. 11 in BMJ.

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Review: Vitamin D Supplements Have Minimal Effect on BMD

MONDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Vitamin D supplementation has minimal effect on bone mineral density, according to a review published online Oct. 11 in The Lancet.

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Alternative Medicine Often Used by Youth With Headache

MONDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Youth with headache frequently use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), according to a study published online Oct. 14 in Pediatrics.

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Communication Factors Aid Cancer Diagnosis Disclosure

MONDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Ensuring disclosure of a gynecological cancer diagnosis takes place in a private setting and that the conversation lasts for more than 10 minutes improves patient satisfaction, according to a study published online Oct. 7 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.

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Irregular Bedtimes Linked to Behavioral Difficulties

MONDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Children with irregular bedtimes are more likely to have behavioral difficulties, while switching to regular bedtimes significantly improves behavior, according to a study published online Oct. 14 in Pediatrics.

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Study Discusses How to Create Value in Insurance Marketplaces

MONDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Based on experience from other markets, health insurance exchange marketplaces can create greater value for consumers, according to research published in the September issue of Health Management, Policy and Innovation.

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Hospital Care Quality Varies by Insurance Coverage

MONDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Examining hospital quality differences by various patient insurance groups would help reduce care disparities, according to a study published in the October issue of Health Affairs.

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'Cyberchondria' Worse in Those Troubled by Uncertainty

FRIDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- In a vicious cycle, those who have trouble handling uncertainty turn to the Internet to search for medical information which in turn leads to greater health anxiety ("cyberchondria"), according to a study published online Aug. 31 in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.

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Regional Variation Seen in Medicare ACO Formation

FRIDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Underlying provider integration in a given geographic region may drive the formation of Medicare accountable care organizations (ACOs), according to a study published in the October issue of Health Affairs.

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Home-Delivered Meals Could Lessen State Medicaid Costs

FRIDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Programs like meals-on-wheels that help older adults live independently in the community can also yield net savings to states on the costs of long-term supports and services provided under Medicaid, according to a study published in the October issue of Health Affairs.

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Gene Variant Linked to Marital Satisfaction

FRIDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Individuals with two short alleles of the serotonin transport gene are more sensitive to positive and negative emotional behaviors that affect their marital satisfaction, according to a study published online Oct. 7 in Emotion.

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Higher Magnesium Intake May Lower Diabetes Risk

FRIDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Higher magnesium intake may lower risk of incident diabetes, particularly among those at highest risk, according to a study published online Oct. 2 in Diabetes Care.

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Consumers Frustrated With First Days of ACA Exchanges

FRIDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- A new poll of consumer satisfaction with the Affordable Care Act's health insurance exchanges confirms what headlines having been saying since the online marketplaces' launch: things have not gone smoothly.

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Rate of Cardiovascular Disease Expected to Rise in the U.S.

FRIDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- The combined effects of aging of the population and the obesity epidemic are expected to increase the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in the United States, according to research published in the October issue of Health Affairs.

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Unexplained Post-Op Pain in 7 Percent of Teen Scoliosis Cases

FRIDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Unexplained pain after the six-month postoperative period occurs in 7 percent of patients undergoing surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), according to a study published in the Oct. 1 issue of Spine.

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Checklist Developed to Cut Radiation Exposure in Children

FRIDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- A checklist has been developed to minimize radiation exposure to children during radiography; the checklist has been published in the October issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology.

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AAFP Issues Primary Care Workforce Projections by State

FRIDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- The American Association of Family Physicians (AAFP) has issued primary care physician workforce projections for the next 25 years for each state, according to a statement from the association.

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Incidentally, Non-Incidentally Discovered Thyroid CA Compared

FRIDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with thyroid cancer, those with incidentally discovered (ID) versus non-incidentally discovered (NID) disease are older at presentation, have higher stage disease, and are more likely to be male, according to a review published online Oct. 10 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.

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Levothyroxine May Be Overused for Borderline Thyroid Issues

THURSDAY, Oct. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Levothyroxine sodium is increasingly prescribed for borderline thyroid hormone levels, according to a study published online Oct. 7 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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Fall History Predicts Increased Post-Op Complications in Seniors

THURSDAY, Oct. 10 (HealthDay News) -- A history of a fall in the six months prior to elective surgery predicts increased postoperative complications, the need for discharge institutionalization, and 30-day readmission, according to a study published online Oct. 9 in JAMA Surgery.

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Maternal Antenatal Depression Tied to Offspring's Depression

THURSDAY, Oct. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Antenatal depression in mothers is a risk factor for adult depression in their offspring, according to a study published online Oct. 9 in JAMA Psychiatry.

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State-Run Health Exchanges Off to Smoother Start

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Unlike the highly publicized problems that have plagued the federal health exchange website created to help Americans register for insurance coverage, many state-run exchanges are operating well, according to published reports.

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Peer Review of Bariatric Surgical Skill Level Studied

THURSDAY, Oct. 10 (HealthDay News) -- For bariatric surgeons, peer review of surgical skill correlates with improved postoperative outcomes, according to a study published in the Oct. 10 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Quality-Adjusted Survival Low Five Years After Stroke

THURSDAY, Oct. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Five years after stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA), quality-adjusted survival is low, according to a study published online Oct. 9 in Neurology.

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Antibiotic Resistance Ups Salmonella Hospitalizations

THURSDAY, Oct. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Because of antibiotic resistance, 42 percent of patients stricken with Salmonella tied to a California chicken farm have required hospitalization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Wednesday.

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Triathletes Tolerate Pain Better Than Non-Athletes

THURSDAY, Oct. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Triathletes have less fear of pain and are better able to tolerate pain compared with non-athletes, according to a study published online in Pain.

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Public Insurance Up for Those With Mental Illness

THURSDAY, Oct. 10 (HealthDay News) -- From 2009 to 2010, compared with 1999 to 2000, individuals with mental illnesses were more likely to have public insurance and less likely to have private insurance, according to research published in the October issue of Health Affairs.

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Bleeding Disorder Often Seen With Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Bleeding disorders play an important role in both explained and unexplained cases of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) due in many cases to low but not deficient factor XI levels, according to research published in the September issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

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Aircraft Noise Tied to Cardiac-Linked Hospital Admission

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Aircraft noise is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular-related hospital admission, according to two studies published online Oct. 8 in BMJ.

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Insufficient Evidence to Support Probiotics for Crying Infants

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 9 (HealthDay News) -- There is still insufficient evidence to support probiotic use to manage colic, especially in formula-fed infants, or to prevent infant crying, according to a review published online Oct. 7 in JAMA Pediatrics.

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AAFP Urges Congress to End Federal Government Shutdown

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 9 (HealthDay News) -- The American Association of Family Physicians (AAFP) is urging Congress to end the federal shutdown, according to a statement from the association.

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Greater Potential for Health Gains From Delayed Aging

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 9 (HealthDay News) -- The most effective way to stall disease, extend years of life in good health, and enhance public health would be to delay aging, according to research published in the October issue of Health Affairs.

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Daytime Sleepiness Predicts Hypoglycemia in Diabetes

TUESDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Elderly patients with type 2 diabetes who experience increased daytime sleepiness may be at increased risk for hypoglycemia, according to a study published online Oct. 2 in Diabetes Care.

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Use of Single-Fraction Radiation for Pain Found Rare in Elderly

TUESDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Although single-fraction radiotherapy has been shown to be effective for pain relief of bone metastases in patients with prostate cancer, only about 3 percent of elderly patients receive single-fraction compared with multiple-fraction radiotherapy, according to a research letter published in the Oct. 9 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Very Preterm Birth, Macrosomia Up Women's Diabetes Risk

TUESDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Women with a very preterm birth or with macrosomia may be at increased risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), according to a study published Sept. 19 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Preventing Chronic Disease.

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Doctors Need to Focus on Treatment of Unhealthy Lifestyles

TUESDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Physicians need to focus on preventing cardiovascular disease by addressing unhealthy lifestyles as much as treatment, according to an American Heart Association science advisory published online Oct. 7 in Circulation.

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Nearly One in 10 Young People Perpetrate Sexual Violence

TUESDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Sexual violence perpetration appears to emerge earlier for males than females, with a link seen between perpetration and the viewing of violent sexual media, according to a study published online Oct. 7 in JAMA Pediatrics.

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Mortality Increases Among Elderly in Good Economic Times

TUESDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Mortality rates among the middle-aged and elderly rise during better economic times and fall during worse economic times in developed countries, which cannot be explained by traditional explanations such as work stress or traffic accidents, according to a study published online Oct. 7 in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.

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Lifetime Societal Net Benefit From Total Knee Arthroplasty

TUESDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with end-stage osteoarthritis of the knee, total knee arthroplasty is associated with a lifetime societal net benefit, according to a study published in the Aug. 21 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.

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PTSD Linked to Increased Risk of Metabolic Syndrome

TUESDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are at increased risk for metabolic syndrome, according to a review and meta-analysis published in the Sept. 19 issue of Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders.

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Confusion Still Surrounds ACA Health Insurance Exchanges

TUESDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Much confusion still exists surrounding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) health care insurance exchanges, which opened on Oct. 1, according to an article published online Sept. 30 in Medical Economics.

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Patient Satisfaction Is Poor Measure of Hospital Quality

TUESDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- The Pridit approach can be used to predict hospital quality and health outcomes, according to a study published online Sept. 30 in the Risk Management and Insurance Review.

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Patterns of Health Insurance Coverage Vary by State

TUESDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Patterns of health insurance coverage among adults vary by state, and these differences may be used to guide efforts to expand coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), according to research published online Sept. 25 in Health Affairs.

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USPSTF: Evidence Lacking for HTN Screening in Children

MONDAY, Oct. 7 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has found that there is currently insufficient evidence to weigh the benefits and harms of screening for primary hypertension in children and adolescents in order to prevent subsequent cardiovascular disease, according to a final Recommendation Statement published online Oct. 8 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Both Patients and Doctors Tend to Be Creatures of Habit

MONDAY, Oct. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Doctors often struggle with their patients' reluctance or inability to modify behaviors for the sake of their health, but physicians themselves are prone to stay the path they're on even if it isn't working or recommended, according to an opinion piece published Oct. 5 in The New York Times.

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Design and Software Problems Plague Health Exchanges

MONDAY, Oct. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Problems signing up for health insurance through HealthCare.gov, the federal website serving health exchanges in 36 states, are the result of design and software problems, The Wall Street Journal reported.

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U.S. Health Exchange Website Faced Intermittent Shutdowns

MONDAY, Oct. 7 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Health and Human Services Department announced late Friday that the healthcare.gov site -- a key to the launch of the new health care insurance exchanges -- would be unavailable during "off-peak" hours over the weekend for repairs.

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Senators Request Delay in Transition to Meaningful Use 2

MONDAY, Oct. 7 (HealthDay News) -- A group of U.S. senators has requested that the transition to meaningful use 2 be delayed by one year, according to an article published Sept. 30 in Medical Economics.

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Two-Dose Vaccination Program Cuts Varicella Incidence

MONDAY, Oct. 7 (HealthDay News) -- There have been declines in varicella incidence during the first five years of the two-dose vaccination program, according to a study published online Oct. 7 in Pediatrics.

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Pro Athletes Peddle Nutrient-Poor Products to Youth

MONDAY, Oct. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Adolescents are exposed to the most athlete-endorsed food and beverage commercials, the majority of which promote nutrient-poor products, according to a study published online Oct. 7 in Pediatrics.

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Delayed Gluten Introduction Linked to Increased Celiac Risk

MONDAY, Oct. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Delayed gluten introduction and increased length of breastfeeding are associated with increases in the risk of celiac disease (CD), according to a study published online Oct. 7 in Pediatrics.

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Restaurant Menus Are Not Becoming Healthier

FRIDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Although the Affordable Care Act required restaurants to post nutritional information, the energy and sodium content of menu items at chain restaurants did not change significantly from 2010 to 2011 despite industry pledges to offer healthier foods, according to a study published online Oct. 3 in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

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Regional STEMI Transfers Can Attain 90 Minute Balloon Times

FRIDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- A network approach to transfer ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients can achieve consistent first door-to-balloon times (1st D2B) for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) within 90 minutes, according to a study published online Sept. 18 in the Journal of American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Interventions.

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Smokers With Diabetes More Likely to Attempt Quitting

FRIDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Smokers with diabetes have higher smoking quit attempts than smokers without diagnosed diabetes, according to a study published online Sept. 19 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Preventing Chronic Disease.

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Majority of Physicians Concerned About Future of Medicine

FRIDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Although physicians are concerned about the future of medicine, the majority are satisfied with practicing medicine and feel financial incentives could provide a way to motivate patients to change behavior, according to a survey conducted by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions.

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Flu Vaccine Recommendations Updated for Egg-Allergic

FRIDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with egg allergy face no increased danger from receiving injectable inactivated influenza vaccine as a single dose, according to a letter published in the October issue of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

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Melanoma Patients Increase Sun Exposure After Diagnosis

FRIDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) may actually increase their exposure to ultraviolet radiation in the first three years after diagnosis, according to a study published online Sept. 30 in JAMA Dermatology.

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Ethics of the Commercialization of Plastic Surgery Considered

FRIDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Despite the increasing commercialization of plastic surgery, surgeons have a responsibility to provide individualized treatment to each patient, according to a study published in the September issue of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal.

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Patient Portal Market Earned $279.8 Million in 2012

FRIDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- The total U.S. patient portal market for hospitals and physicians earned $279.8 million in 2012, and this is expected to increase in the coming years, mainly due to stage 2 meaningful use requirements, according to a report published by consulting firm Frost & Sullivan.

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Number of EMR Functions Linked to Physician Stress

FRIDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- For primary care physicians, the number of electronic medical record (EMR) functions is associated with stress and satisfaction, according to a study published online Sept. 4 in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association.

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Walking Linked to Reduced Breast Cancer Risk

FRIDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Walking for as little as an hour per day can significantly reduce the risk of breast cancer among postmenopausal women, according to a study published in the October issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

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Late-Preterm Birth May Lead to Socioeconomic Disadvantage

FRIDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Late-preterm birth (at 34 to 36 weeks of gestation) may lead to long-term socioeconomic disadvantages not explained by the parents' socioeconomic position (SEP), according to a study published in the Oct. 1 issue of Pediatrics.

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VTE Occurs in 13 Percent of Head, Neck Cancer Surgery Cases

FRIDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Venous thromboembolism (VTE) rates in a prospective cohort of head and neck cancer surgical patients are higher than previously reported in retrospective studies, according to research published online Sept. 26 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.

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ICU Strain Leads to Earlier Patient Discharge

THURSDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- When intensive care units (ICUs) are capacity strained, patients are discharged more quickly and have slightly greater odds of being readmitted, but short-term patient outcomes are unaffected, according to a study published in the Oct. 1 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Various Oral Estrogen Drugs May Differ in Cardiovascular Risk

THURSDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Among oral hormone therapy users, conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) use is associated with a higher risk of incident venous thrombosis and possibly myocardial infarction than estradiol use, according to a study published online Sept. 30 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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Glitches Still Dog Online Health Exchanges

THURSDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Problems navigating the new federal and state computer-based health insurance exchanges spilled into a third day Thursday.

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Impact of Shutdown on Docs, Patients Discussed

THURSDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- The shutdown of non-essential government services as of midnight Oct. 1 has led to questions about what the shutdown means for primary care physicians and their patients; answers have been issued in an article published Oct. 1 in Medical Economics.

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High Statin Dose Reduces Gum Inflammation

THURSDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- High doses of statins may reduce gum inflammation in heart disease patients, according to a study published online Sept. 25 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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Yoga Ineffective for Reducing Hot Flashes in Menopause

THURSDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Yoga classes plus home practice, compared with usual activity, do not reduce frequency or bother of vasomotor symptoms (VMS) in healthy menopausal women, according to research published online Sept. 16 in Menopause.

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Elderly Blacks, Hispanics Have More Post-Op Complications

THURSDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Elderly blacks and Hispanics have a greater risk of postoperative complications, which are largely explained by procedure type and health care status and differ between men and women, according to a study published in the September issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

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Government Shutdown Impacting Health Care Agencies

THURSDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- The government shutdown is having a serious impact on health care agencies, according to an article published Oct. 1 in Medical Economics.

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Expanding Scope of Nurse Practitioners Practice Discussed

THURSDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Non-physician practitioners could ease the anticipated increased demand for physicians, but broadening their scope of practice is controversial, according to an article published Sept. 10 in Medical Economics.

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Demand for Doctors Remained High in 2012

THURSDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- Demand for physicians, particularly primary care physicians remains high, according to a report published by the Association of Staff Physician Recruiters (ASPR).

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Fallout From Increase in High-Deductible Plans Examined

THURSDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- The expected increase in high-deductible health plan (HDHP) enrollment due to implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) highlights the need for more research into the health impact of HDHPs, according to a perspective piece published online Oct. 2 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Technical Problems Still Vex Day 2 of ACA Exchange Rollout

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Computer troubles continued to plague the launch of the Affordable Care Act's health insurance exchanges on Wednesday. But Obama administration officials said Wednesday that the computer glitches were a reflection of heavy consumer interest in the exchanges, not flaws with the online registration system.

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Cognitive Impairment Common After Critical Illness

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Cognitive impairment after critical illness is very common and can persist, according to a study published in the Oct. 3 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Depression Linked to Higher Risk of Parkinson's Disease

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with depression have a three-fold higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease, according to a study published online Oct. 2 in Neurology.

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Outcomes Similar for Planned Twin C-Section, Vaginal Delivery

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- There is no increase or decrease in serious neonatal morbidity or mortality with either planned cesarean section or vaginal delivery for twins between 32 and 38 weeks of gestation, with the first twin in the cephalic presentation, according to a study published in the Oct. 3 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Technical Glitches Mar Affordable Care Act Exchange Debut

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- The Affordable Care Act health insurance exchanges rollout did not run smoothly on Tuesday as many consumers were frustrated by long delays and computer system failures.

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Midlife Stress May Up Risk of Later Dementia for Women

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Common psychosocial stressors may increase the risk of dementia or Alzheimer's disease for women later in life, according to research published online Sept. 30 in BMJ Open.

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USPSTF: Evidence Lacking for Tools to Lower Teen Drug Use

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- There is currently insufficient evidence to weigh the balance of benefits and harms of primary care-based behavioral interventions to prevent or reduce illicit drug use among children, according to a draft Recommendation Statement issued Oct. 1 by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).

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Exercise May Be As Effective As Drugs for Some Conditions

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Exercise and drug interventions may be similar regarding their effect on mortality in the secondary prevention of coronary heart disease, stroke rehabilitation, and prevention of diabetes, according to research published online Oct. 1 in BMJ.

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Acupuncture, Counseling Improve Depression Symptoms

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Acupuncture and counseling both significantly reduce depression symptoms, compared to usual care alone, according to a study published online Sept. 24 in PLOS Medicine.

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AMA: More Than Half of Doctors Self-Employed in 2012

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- More than half of physicians are self-employed, and 60 percent work in practices that are fully owned by physicians, according to the results of the 2012 Physician Practice Benchmark Survey.

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Higher Neonatal Morbidity With Early-Term Birth

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Early-term births are associated with high neonatal morbidity and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or a neonatology service, according to research published online Sept. 30 in JAMA Pediatrics.

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Early IV Metoprolol May Reduce Infarct Size in MI Patients

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention within six hours of symptom onset, the early administration of intravenous (IV) metoprolol reduces infarct size, according to research published in the Oct. 1 issue of Circulation.

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Technological Advances in Health Care for Google, Apple

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 2 (HealthDay News) -- Google and Apple have launched developments in health care technology, according to a report published Sept. 20 in Medical Economics.

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FDA Approves Brintellix for Major Depressive Disorder

TUESDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Brintellix (vortioxetine) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat adults with major depressive disorder.

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Opioid Use Often Continues After Bariatric Surgery

TUESDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Among chronic opioid users who undergo bariatric surgery, about three-quarters continue chronic opioid use after surgery, with an increase in opioid dose, according to a study published in the Oct. 2 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Breast Cancer Incidence Rates Up for African-American Women

TUESDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Incidence rates of breast cancer among U.S. women are stable for most racial/ethnic groups, but are increasing for African-American women, with the incidence rates converging for whites and African-Americans, according to a study published online Oct. 1 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

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Hormone Therapy Not Useful for Chronic Disease Prevention

TUESDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- An extended follow-up of two hormone therapy trials in postmenopausal women has shown that the benefits of hormone therapy do not outweigh the risks, although it may be useful for symptom management, according to a study published in the Oct. 2 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Bystander CPR Linked to Improved Survival

TUESDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Over the last decade in Denmark, bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) doubled and survival significantly improved for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, according to a study published in the Oct. 2 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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AAFP Adds Five More Choosing Wisely Recommendations

TUESDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Five additional recommendations have been made as part of the Choosing Wisely campaign, according to a report published by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).

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Peanut Butter Intake in Pre-Teens Tied to Breast Health

TUESDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Vegetable protein and fat intakes, including peanut butter and nuts, during pre-adolescence may subsequently help reduce the risk for benign breast disease (BBD), according to a study published in the September issue of Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.

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Recreational Physical Activity Inversely Linked to HTN Risk

TUESDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Recreational physical activity, at moderate and high levels, is associated with a significantly decreased risk of hypertension, according to a meta-analysis published online Sept. 30 in Hypertension.

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Infant Bed Sharing Doubled Since 1993

TUESDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Sharing a bed with an infant has doubled over the last two decades and is higher for black and Hispanic infants, according to a study published online Sept. 30 in JAMA Pediatrics.

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More Primary Care Visits, Less Colorectal Cancer Incidence

TUESDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Higher utilization of primary care among Medicare beneficiaries reduces colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality, according to a study published in the Oct. 1 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Affordable Care Act Exchanges Are Up and Running

TUESDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Despite the first federal government shutdown in 17 years and a push by Republicans in the House of Representatives to delay further implementation of "Obamacare," the Affordable Care Act's health insurance exchanges opened for business today.

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Many Health Care Professionals Oppose ACA Proposals

TUESDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- The majority of health care professionals are concerned about negative outcomes relating to enactment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), although they recognize the benefits, according to a survey conducted by Coupa Software.

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In the Doctor's Lounge With Dr. Cindy Haines

TUESDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Please allow me to introduce myself: I am HealthDay's chief medical officer and the managing editor of Physician's Briefing, HealthDay's news service for health care professionals. This service is intended to provide busy physicians, nurses, and pharmacists with easily accessible, digestible health news that can keep them up-to-date and not missing a beat in their busy days providing care for those in need (and navigating the headaches and heartaches the business of medicine can too often bring). In short, this service is intended to make your professional life flow more smoothly in the way that helpful, useable, relevant, and timely information can.

Exchanges Will Be Cornerstone for Coverage Choices
Young Adults May Be Key to Making It All Work
Expect Pluses, Minuses for Those With Job-Based Coverage
If You're an Uninsured Worker, It's Your Chance to Get Covered
Medicaid Expansion Will Allow More to Get More
Many on Medicare Already Enjoying Benefits
AMA Presents: The National Journal
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Poor Performance Triggering EMR Switch for Small Practices

TUESDAY, Oct. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Small physician practices are leaving electronic medical record (EMR) vendors as software systems have failed to meet growing expectations, according to a report from KLAS research.

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