Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pathology for April 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.
Cholesterol Metabolism Linked to Lack of HIV-1 Progression
WEDNESDAY, April 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Cholesterol metabolism seems to be associated with a lack of HIV-1 trans infection, seen in HIV-1 infected nonprogressors (NPs), according to a study published online April 29 in mBio.
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J&J Halts Sales of Device Used in Uterine Fibroid Surgery
WEDNESDAY, April 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Morcellator sales have been halted due to concerns that use of the device in fibroid removal may worsen undetected uterine sarcoma, Johnson & Johnson said Tuesday.
Health Highlights: April 30, 2014
Waist Circumference Linked to Breast Cancer Risk
WEDNESDAY, April 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Larger waist circumference correlates with increased risk of postmenopausal breast cancer, but not beyond its contribution to body mass index (BMI), according to a study published online April 9 in Cancer Causes & Control.
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Alcohol + Tobacco Combo Markedly Ups Esophageal CA Risk
WEDNESDAY, April 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The combined use of alcohol and tobacco has a synergistic effect on the risk of developing esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), according to research published in online April 22 in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
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Drinking More Coffee May Cut Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
TUESDAY, April 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Increasing coffee consumption may lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to research published online April 24 in Diabetologia.
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ACOG Issues Guidelines for Routine HIV Testing for Women
TUESDAY, April 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Females aged 13 to 64 years should undergo HIV testing at least once in their lifetime, with annual testing thereafter recommended based on risk factors, according to a Committee Opinion published in the May issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Aspirin Use Cuts CRC Risk With High 15-PGDH Expression
TUESDAY, April 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Regular aspirin use is associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer in association with high hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase 15-(nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) (15-PGDH) expression, according to a study published in the April 23 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
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High Prevalence of Oncogenic Oral HPV in HPV-OPC Patients
TUESDAY, April 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with human papillomavirus-positive oropharyngeal cancer (HPV-OPC), but not their partners, have a high prevalence of oncogenic oral HPV DNA and oral HPV16 DNA, according to a study published online April 28 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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SLIP-2 Tops Original SLIP Model for ID'ing Post-Op ARDS
FRIDAY, April 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The updated surgical lung injury prediction 2 (SLIP-2) model outperforms the original SLIP model for identifying patients at risk for postoperative acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), according to a study published in the May issue of Anesthesiology.
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FDA Approves HPV Test for Cervical Cancer Screening
FRIDAY, April 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA test for women aged 25 years and older that can be used to assess the need for a woman to undergo additional diagnostic testing for cervical cancer. In addition, the test can provide information about a patient's future risk for developing cervical cancer.
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Serum Marker Predicts Cardiovascular Events in Diabetes
FRIDAY, April 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Elevated levels of polyclonal serum immunoglobulin combined free light chains (cFLCs) may indicate adverse cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to research published online April 17 in Diabetes Care.
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Dermatologist Care Tied to Better Self-Detection of Melanoma
FRIDAY, April 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with self-detected primary melanoma who have an established dermatologist are more likely to have thinner lesions at the time of diagnosis, according to research published in the May issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
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CDC: Measles on Upswing Despite Vaccines' Effectiveness
FRIDAY, April 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Vaccinations have prevented an estimated 732,000 deaths, 21 million hospitalizations, and 322 million illnesses among U.S. children born in the last 20 years, according to a government report published in the April 25 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Multiple-Gene Sequencing IDs Mutations in Non-BRCA Genes
FRIDAY, April 25, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A considerable number of women testing negative for BRCA1/2 may have pathogenic mutations in other genes, according to a study published online April 14 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Impact of Rising Incidence of Measles Discussed
THURSDAY, April 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- With the rising incidence of measles, the importance of vaccination should be emphasized and precautions must be exercised in cases of suspected measles, according to a commentary piece published online April 24 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Physician Groups Find Fault With Medicare Payment Data Release
THURSDAY, April 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Physician groups cite major problems associated with the release of Medicare payment data, according to an article published April 16 in Medical Economics.
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Chronic Prostate Inflammation Tied to High-Grade Cancer
THURSDAY, April 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The presence of chronic inflammation in benign prostate tissue samples is associated with prostate cancer, especially high-grade disease, according to a study published online April 18 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
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Educational Changes Suggested for Patient-Centered Medicine
THURSDAY, April 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Changes in medical education and training are suggested to help new physicians address the needs of patients and their families, according to an ideas and opinions piece published in the April 22 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Methylation-Specific Assay Can Detect Advanced Breast Cancer
WEDNESDAY, April 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A methylation-specific 10-gene panel can detect advanced breast cancer and reflects chemotherapy response, according to a study published in the April 15 issue of Cancer Research.
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Pre-HPV Vaccine, Most Oropharyngeal Cancers HPV+
TUESDAY, April 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Most oropharyngeal cancers in the United States diagnosed between 1995 and 2005 were positive for human papillomavirus (HPV), specifically HPV 16 or 18, according to a study published in the May issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Emerging Infectious Diseases.
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Lipid Genes Have Pleiotropic Impact on Glucose-Linked Traits
TUESDAY, April 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Genetic predisposition to dyslipidemia has a pleiotropic lowering effect on glucose-related traits, according to a study published online April 10 in Diabetes.
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New Muscular Dystrophy Drug's Chances for Approval Improve
MONDAY, April 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new drug to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy may be closer to becoming the first approved treatment for the disease.
Health Highlights: April 21, 2014
Task Force Recommends Ways to Improve Price Transparency
MONDAY, April 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Price transparency frameworks, which provide price information presented in the context of other relevant information, should be developed to meet patients' needs, according to recommendations presented in a report from the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA).
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AMA Examines Economic Impact of Physicians
FRIDAY, April 18, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Physicians who mainly engage in patient care contribute a total of $1.6 trillion in economic output, according to the American Medical Association (AMA)'s Economic Impact Study.
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Int'l Medical Education Standards Not Equivalent to U.K. Standards
FRIDAY, April 18, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- International medical graduates passing the Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board (PLAB) of the General Medical Council (GMC) have lower performance on MRCP(UK) (Membership of the Royal Colleges of Physicians) and MRCGP (Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners) and on annual review of competence progression (ARCP) examinations, according to two studies published online April 17 in BMJ.
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White House: 8 Million People Signed Up for Health Insurance
FRIDAY, April 18, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Eight million Americans signed up for private health insurance during the just-concluded first enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act, the White House announced Thursday afternoon.
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FDA Warns Against Procedure for Uterine Fibroids
FRIDAY, April 18, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Laparoscopic power morcellation for treatment of fibroids could increase a woman's risk of cancer, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Thursday.
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Experimental Measles Drug Shows Promise in Animal Trials
THURSDAY, April 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists have successfully tested in animals a new drug that might one day protect people infected with measles from becoming ill, according to research published in the April 16 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
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One in 20 U.S. Adults a Victim of Diagnostic Errors
THURSDAY, April 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Diagnostic errors affect at least one in 20 U.S. adults, according to research published online April 17 in BMJ Quality & Safety.
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Cancer 'Vaccine' for Advanced Disease Passes Early Hurdle
THURSDAY, April 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Early progress has been made in developing a treatment that might one day help the immune system defend itself against cancer, according to research published in the April 16 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
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Patient-Clinician Relationship Impacts Health Care Outcomes
THURSDAY, April 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The patient-clinician relationship has a small but significant effect on health care outcomes, according to a study published online April 9 in PLOS ONE.
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Educator Discusses Key Issues for Future Doctors to Consider
THURSDAY, April 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The key issues for future physicians are discussed in an article published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
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MRSA Isolate Acquired vanA Resistance During Therapy
THURSDAY, April 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers report that a bloodstream infection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in a patient with a serious skin condition acquired vancomycin resistance during antibiotic therapy, according to a report published in the April 17 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Prevalence of Diabetes Has Skyrocketed in the U.S.
WEDNESDAY, April 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- During the past two decades, the prevalence of diabetes in the United States has increased substantially, according to research published in the April 15 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Continued Reliance on Windows XP May Threaten Data Security
WEDNESDAY, April 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Physicians who use Windows XP in their practices may be affected by Microsoft's recent discontinuation of support for the program, according to an article published April 8 in Medical Economics.
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Graves Disease Incidence Varies by Race
WEDNESDAY, April 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Graves disease is more common in blacks and Asian/Pacific Islanders compared with whites, according to a research letter published in the April 16 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Patients Paying Much More for Specialty Drugs
TUESDAY, April 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Many Americans are paying less for prescription drugs, but some are having to deal with sharp rises in the cost of specialty medicines for rare or serious diseases, according to a new report.
Health Highlights: April 15, 2014
U.S. Kids Exposed to Arsenic in Well Water Have Lower IQs
TUESDAY, April 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Exposure to arsenic in drinking water from wells may lower IQ in children, according to research published online April 1 in Environmental Health.
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Alcohol May Hinder Immune Response in Wound Healing
MONDAY, April 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Binge alcohol exposure impairs key components of the immune system involved in wound repair, which may account for the delayed wound healing seen in people who are injured while intoxicated, according to an animal study published online April 1 in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.
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Cytomegalovirus Tied to Anemia With Kidney Disease
MONDAY, April 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) may contribute to anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a study published online April 10 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
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Elderly African-Americans May Have Higher Alzheimer's Burden
MONDAY, April 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Older African-Americans may be disproportionately burdened by Alzheimer's disease, according to a study published in the April issue of Health Affairs.
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New Health Secretary to Confront Health Care Reform Hurdles
MONDAY, April 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- With the resignation of U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Friday, the Affordable Care Act will get a fresh face. But turning around public perception of the controversial health care reform law in a politically charged mid-term election year poses an enormous challenge for the department's next leader, policy experts said.
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High-Fat Diet Tied to Certain Subtypes of Breast Cancer
MONDAY, April 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- High intake of saturated fats is associated with increased risk of certain subtypes of breast cancer, according to research published online April 9 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
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Sebelius Stepping Down As HHS Secretary
FRIDAY, April 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is stepping down from her position, after overseeing the troubled rollout of the Affordable Care Act that remains unpopular with some Americans and virtually all Republican lawmakers.
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Brain Neuroinflammation Seen in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
FRIDAY, April 11, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Neuroinflammation markers are elevated in the brains of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) patients compared to healthy controls, according to a study published online March 24 in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.
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Cognitive Decline Inversely Tied to Cancer Mortality Risk
THURSDAY, April 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Elderly individuals who experience faster cognitive decline appear to be at reduced risk of dying from cancer, according to research published online April 8 in Neurology.
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Fewer Americans Overwhelmed by Medical Bills
WEDNESDAY, April 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- While millions of Americans still feel hamstrung by medical expenses, a new government report shows that some people are getting relief.
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More Justification Needed for Choosing Wisely Selections
WEDNESDAY, April 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Most services included in specialty medical societies' Top 5 lists for the Choosing Wisely campaign are based on evidence demonstrating equivalent but not superior benefit, with higher risk or higher costs compared to other options, according to a research letter published in the April 9 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Linked to CKD in T1DM
WEDNESDAY, April 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with type 1 diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is independently associated with the risk of incident chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a study published online April 2 in Diabetes Care.
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Some Doctors Paid at Least $3 Million Each by Medicare
WEDNESDAY, April 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A small number of doctors received at least $3 million each in Medicare payments in 2012, for a total of nearly $1.5 billion, according to an analysis of Medicare claims data released Wednesday by the White House. In total, Medicare paid individual physicians nearly $64 billion in 2012. The median payment was just over $30,000, the Associated Press reported.
Health Highlights: April 9, 2014
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Inverse Link for Carotenoid Intake, Benign Breast Disease
TUESDAY, April 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For adolescent girls, β-carotene intake is inversely associated with the risk of benign breast disease (BBD), according to a study published online April 7 in Pediatrics.
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CDC: U.S. Traveler Returning From Africa Has Lassa Fever
MONDAY, April 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A person returning to the United States after visiting West Africa has been confirmed as having Lassa fever and is recovering after being treated at a Minnesota hospital, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Friday.
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IL-18 Could Benefit Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration
MONDAY, April 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The inflammatory cytokine interleukin-18 (IL-18) prevents choroidal neovascularization but does not affect retinal pigment epithelial cell viability, and may be a viable therapeutic option for wet age-related macular degeneration, according to an experimental study published in the April 2 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
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U-Shaped Association for Sodium Intake, Mortality
MONDAY, April 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Low and high sodium intake are associated with increased mortality, according to a meta-analysis published online March 20 in the American Journal of Hypertension.
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AMA Provides Resources to Aid Physicians' Collections
FRIDAY, April 4, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The American Medical Association (AMA) has released resources to help doctors confront policy jumpers who may pose a financial risk to physicians during the Affordable Care Act's 90-day premium grace period, according to an article published March 25 in Medical Economics.
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Calorie Restriction Aids Aging in Primates; Contradicts Earlier Data
FRIDAY, April 4, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Calorie restriction (CR) may provide aging-related benefits, including a reduction in all-cause mortality, according to an animal study published online April 1 in Nature Communications.
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Emerging Drug Resistance May Up Gonorrhea Incidence
THURSDAY, April 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Ciprofloxacin resistance may be tied to increased gonorrhea incidence, according to a report published in the April issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Emerging Infectious Diseases.
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Worse Cutaneous Melanoma Outcomes for Men Living Alone
THURSDAY, April 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Men living alone have more advanced cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) at diagnosis and have reduced CMM-specific survival, according to a study published online March 31 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Half of Uninsured Don't Intend to Sign Up for Health Coverage
WEDNESDAY, April 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- About 50 percent of uninsured adults do not intend to sign up for coverage through the Affordable Care Act's health care exchanges, according to an article published March 26 in Medical Economics.
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β-Amyloid Deposits in Brain Linked to Arterial Stiffness
WEDNESDAY, April 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Cerebral β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition increases with age in nondemented individuals, and this deposition is strongly associated with arterial stiffness, according to a study published online March 31 in JAMA Neurology.
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Individualized Risk Should Guide Mammography Screening
TUESDAY, April 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Better decision aids that incorporate individualized risk could improve breast cancer screening, according to a review published in the April 2 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Three DNA Methylation Markers ID Recurrence in Bladder Cancer
TUESDAY, April 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with noninvasive urothelial carcinoma, three DNA methylation markers are able to accurately predict tumor recurrence, according to a study published in the April 1 issue of Clinical Cancer Research.
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Next-Gen Sequencing May Soon Affect Breast Cancer Care
TUESDAY, April 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Next-generation sequencing (NGS) could significantly impact breast cancer services in the near future, according to a review published online March 27 in the British Journal of Surgery.
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Hormones, Vaginal Flora Impact Cervicovaginal Lavage
TUESDAY, April 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Hormonal contraception use and vaginal flora all impact the properties of cervicovaginal lavage, according to a study published online March 24 in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Aspirin Benefit in Colon Cancer Varies With HLA I Antigen
TUESDAY, April 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Aspirin use after colon cancer diagnosis improves survival if tumors express human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I antigen, according to a study published online March 31 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Research Provides Clues on How Gut Microbes Boost Immunity
TUESDAY, April 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Gut bacteria direct innate immune cell development via promoting hematopoiesis, according to a mouse study published in the March 12 issue of Cell Host & Microbe.
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