Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pediatrics for October 2014. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Cosmetic Camouflage Benefits Youth With Visible Skin Issues
FRIDAY, Oct. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Cosmetic camouflage can improve quality of life in children and adolescents with visible vascular and pigmentary anomalies, according to a study published in the November issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Physician-Dentist Collaboration Recommended in Diabetes Care
FRIDAY, Oct. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Dentists are uniquely placed to identify patients with diabetes, and those with diabetes who are at risk for complications, according to an article published in the October issue of Clinical Diabetes.
Abstract
Full Text
Fewer Malpractice Claims Paid in the United States
THURSDAY, Oct. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The number of medical malpractice payments in the United States has dropped sharply since 2002, according to a new study. And compensation payment amounts and liability insurance costs for many doctors declined in recent years. These findings were published online Oct. 30 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Full Article
Full Text
Editorial
Review: Lower IQ With Prenatal Exposure to Sodium Valproate
THURSDAY, Oct. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Prenatal exposure to sodium valproate (VPA) is associated with a reduction in offspring IQ, according to a review published online Oct. 30 in The Cochrane Library.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Would Alternative Payment Plan Cut Medical Bills?
THURSDAY, Oct. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- New research supports replacing the traditional way of reimbursing doctors for care -- paying for each service provided -- with an alternative system that gives a set amount of money to health care organizations for patient care. The study was published in the Oct. 30 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Full Article
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
AMA Code of Ethics Offers Guidance for Physicians
THURSDAY, Oct. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The American Medical Association (AMA) Code of Ethics and other articles provide guidance for physicians in relation to public health emergencies, according to a report from the AMA.
More Information
Voters' Views on Affordable Care Act Split Along Party Lines
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Americans' opinions about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are sharply divided along political lines, according to research published online Oct. 29 in the New England Journal of Medicine. The findings come from 27 public opinion polls conducted by 14 organizations.
Full Article
Full Text
FDA Cautions Against 'Undeclared' Food Allergens
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Some food labels may not reliably list all possible food allergens, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency added that these "undeclared allergens" are the leading cause of FDA-requested food recalls.
Full Article
More Information
Plastics' Chemical May Affect Boys' Genital Development
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Boys born to mothers with greater exposure to the chemical di-isononyl phthalate (DiNP) may have a shorter anogenital distance, according to a new study. The researchers said their findings, published online Oct. 29 in Environmental Health Perspectives, add to concerns about the possible effects of certain plasticizers on the male reproductive system.
Full Article
Abstract
Full Text
Less Competition Among Docs = Higher Medical Costs
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Competition between medical practices helps keep health care costs lower, according to a study published in the Oct. 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Full Article
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Noneconomic Damages Caps Cut Malpractice Payments by 15%
TUESDAY, Oct. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Adoption of noneconomic damages caps reduces average malpractice payments by 15 percent, according to research published in the October issue of Health Affairs.
Abstract
Full Text
Placebo Treatment May Quiet Children's Cough
TUESDAY, Oct. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Giving young children agave nectar or a placebo treatment of flavored, colored water both appear to help reduce cough symptoms at night more than not giving any treatment, according to a new study. The findings were published online Oct. 27 in JAMA Pediatrics.
Full Article
Abstract
Full Text
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Congenital CMV Causes >10 Percent of Hearing-Loss Cases
TUESDAY, Oct. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- More than 10 percent of infants with congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) will suffer permanent hearing loss, according to new research published online Oct. 27 in Pediatrics.
Full Article
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Colleges Could Do More for Students With Chronic Illnesses
MONDAY, Oct. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Many college health centers may lack the resources to fully care for students with chronic health conditions, according to new research published online Oct. 27 in Pediatrics.
Full Article
Abstract
Full Text
New York, New Jersey Ease Ebola Quarantines
MONDAY, Oct. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Faced with pressure from the White House and criticism from infectious disease experts, the governors of New York and New Jersey have eased their quarantine measures that required all medical workers returning from West Africa who had contact with Ebola patients to be forced into isolation.
Full Article
More Information
CDC Issues Revised Interim U.S. Guidance on Ebola
MONDAY, Oct. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Today, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a revision of their Ebola guideline document -- Interim Guidance for Monitoring and Movement of Persons with Ebola Virus Disease Exposure.
More Information
More Kids Harmed by Drinking in Pregnancy Than Expected
MONDAY, Oct. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- As many as one in 20 U.S. children may have health or behavioral problems related to alcohol exposure before birth, according to new research published online Oct. 27 in Pediatrics.
Full Article
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Overweight Youth With Asthma May Overuse Rescue Meds
MONDAY, Oct. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Overweight and obese children with asthma may mistake symptoms such as exertional dyspnea and esophageal reflux for loss of asthma control, leading to unnecessary use of rescue medications, according to a study published online Oct. 14 in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
AAP Updates Guidelines for Bronchiolitis in Infants
MONDAY, Oct. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new clinical practice guideline that offers physicians guidance for the diagnosis and management of infants with bronchiolitis was published online Oct. 27 in Pediatrics.
Abstract
Full Text
Two Biomarkers May Aid Diagnosis of Rhinosinusitis
FRIDAY, Oct. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Two protein markers may serve as biomarkers for chronic rhinosinusitis, according to a proof-of-principle study published in The Laryngoscope.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
More Attention to CVD Risk Assessment in T1DM Urged
FRIDAY, Oct. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a long-term complication of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), and more attention toward management of its associated risk factors and modifiers is urged in a scientific statement published in the October issue of Diabetes Care.
Abstract
Full Text
New York City Health Officials Confirm First Ebola Case
FRIDAY, Oct. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- New York City health officials said Thursday that a health care worker who recently returned from West Africa has tested positive for Ebola. The patient, identified as Craig Spencer, M.D., by city officials, had been working with Doctors Without Borders helping to treat Ebola patients in Guinea, one of three West Africa countries hit hard by the disease.
Full Article
More Information
Airborne Transmission of Ebola Highly Unlikely
FRIDAY, Oct. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- People face no threat of airborne transmission of Ebola, according to a panel of Ebola experts gathered by the New England Journal of Medicine for an issue briefing Wednesday.
Full Article
More Information
Coworker Response 'Crucial' in Workplace Bullying Resolution
THURSDAY, Oct. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Targets of workplace bullying can offer chaos, report, or quest narratives about their experiences, and coworker response plays a role in narrative development, according to a study published online Sept. 25 in Management Communication Quarterly.
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
U.S. Ranks Last Among Wealthy Nations in Health Care Access
THURSDAY, Oct. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. health care system ranks last compared to other industrialized nations when it comes to affordability and patient access, according to a new survey published in the Oct. 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Full Article
Full Text
Taking a 'Selfie' May Help With Dermatology Care
THURSDAY, Oct. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- While in-office visits may still be best, virtual analysis may be a valuable option in atopic dermatitis care, according to a new study published online Oct. 22 in JAMA Dermatology.
Full Article
Abstract
Full Text
Americans Report Distrust of Medical Profession
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Americans are less trusting of the medical profession than people in many other countries -- even though they often like their own doctor, according to a new report. The findings were published in the Oct. 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Full Article
Full Text
U.S. Residents Back From Ebola-Affected Areas to Be Tracked
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Public health officials plan to actively monitor all U.S. residents returning home from one of the three Ebola-affected nations in West Africa, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Wednesday.
Full Article
More Information
Hospital Conversion to For-Profit Status Ups Financial Margins
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Hospital conversion to for-profit status is associated with improvements in financial margins, but has no effect on process quality metrics or mortality rates, according to a study published in the Oct. 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Abstract
Full Text
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
APIC Provides Resources for Ebola Management
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Resources are available to increase protection against Ebola transmission, according to a report from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).
webinar
More Information
Drug Coupons Shrink Patients' Costs Considerably
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Drug coupons could reduce patients' out-of-pocket costs by 60 percent, according to a study published in the October issue of Health Affairs.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
No Link Between Vaccinations, Risk for Multiple Sclerosis
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- There is no link between vaccines and increased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) or other acquired central nervous system demyelinating syndromes, according to a study published online Oct. 20 in JAMA Neurology.
Full Article
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Price Transparency Platform Linked to Lower Claims Payments
TUESDAY, Oct. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Access to an employer-sponsored private price transparency platform is associated with reduced total claims payments, according to research published in the Oct. 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
CDC: 'Think Ebola' and 'Care Carefully'
TUESDAY, Oct. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued updated guidelines for the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by health care workers when caring for patients with Ebola, along with a reminder to health care workers to "Think Ebola" and to "Care Carefully."
More Information
Law Requiring Release of Health Information Upheld
TUESDAY, Oct. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A state law that requires plaintiffs to release relevant protected health information before proceeding with allegations of medical liability has been upheld by a federal appeals court, according to the American Medical Association (AMA).
More Information
CDC Tightens Guidelines on Caring for Patients With Ebola
TUESDAY, Oct. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has tightened previous infection control guidance for health care workers caring for patients with Ebola, the organization announced on Monday.
Full Article
More Information
Medication Errors Occur Every 8 Minutes in U.S. Children
MONDAY, Oct. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A child receives the wrong medication or the wrong dosage every 8 minutes in the United States, according to a study published online Oct. 20 in Pediatrics.
Full Article
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Circumcision Past Newborn Stage Poses Risk for Boys
MONDAY, Oct. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- About 6 percent of U.S. boys are circumcised later than the first days or weeks of life, which increases costs and risks, according to new research published online Oct. 20 in Pediatrics.
Full Article
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Children May Be at Lower Risk for Ebola Virus Disease
MONDAY, Oct. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Children may be at lower risk of Ebola virus disease (EVD), but physicians should be aware of the signs and symptoms, according to a viewpoint piece published online Oct. 17 in JAMA Pediatrics.
Full Text
Viewpoint: Getting United States Prepared for Ebola Outbreak
MONDAY, Oct. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A case of delayed Ebola diagnosis in Dallas and subsequent infection of health care workers has highlighted the lack of preparedness for a U.S. outbreak of the disease, according to a viewpoint piece published online Oct. 17 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Full Text
New MCAT Shifts Focus, Will Include Humanities
MONDAY, Oct. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) has been revised, and the latest changes, including more humanities such as social sciences, are due to be implemented next April, according to a report from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
More Information
Dutch Guidelines Do Not Cut Incidence of Group B Strep
MONDAY, Oct. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Dutch guidelines, implemented in 1999, do not appear to be effective for reducing the incidence of invasive group B streptococcal disease in newborns, according to a study published in the November issue of The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Enterovirus Infection Linked to Incidence of T1DM in Children
MONDAY, Oct. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The risk of type 1 diabetes is increased for children diagnosed with enterovirus infection, according to a study published online Oct. 17 in Diabetologia.
Full Text
Sustained Benefit for Parental Tobacco Control Program
MONDAY, Oct. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Practices that are part of a parental tobacco control intervention have higher rates of delivering tobacco control assistance to parents over a one-year follow-up period, according to a study published online Oct. 20 in Pediatrics.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Volume of Patient-to-Doc E-mails Up From 2001 to 2010
FRIDAY, Oct. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- From 2001 to 2010 the volume of patient-to-physician electronic messages increased, but the rate per-capita stabilized, according to research published in the October issue of Health Affairs.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Obama Appoints Ron Klain As 'Ebola Czar'
FRIDAY, Oct. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- President Barack Obama on Friday appointed Ron Klain, a former chief of staff to Vice President Joe Biden, as Ebola "czar" to oversee the federal government's response to the presence of virus in the United States.
Full Article
More Information
Specialized Care Centers May Be Needed to Contain Ebola
FRIDAY, Oct. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Specialized medical centers may be necessary to adequately treat and contain the Ebola virus in the United States, according to an ideas and opinions piece published online Oct. 16 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Full Text
Many Docs Believe Mobile Health Apps Can Improve Patient Care
FRIDAY, Oct. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A Manhattan Research survey recently found that many physicians believe digital communication technologies, including mobile apps, can be used to improve patient outcomes, according to an article published Oct. 8 in Medical Economics.
More Information
CDC: Most Kindergartners Are Getting Their Vaccinations
THURSDAY, Oct. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Most American children entering kindergarten are getting their required vaccinations, according to research published in the Oct. 17 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Full Article
More Information
Immune Therapy Induces Remission for Many With ALL
THURSDAY, Oct. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- An experimental immune-system therapy can often lead to complete remission in advanced acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients who have run out of other options, according to research published in the Oct. 16 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Full Article
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Limiting Malpractice Claims May Not Curb Costly Medical Tests
THURSDAY, Oct. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Malpractice reform may not keep physicians from ordering unnecessary and expensive tests, according to a study published in the Oct. 16 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Full Article
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
ER Visits Linked to Synthetic Pot Up Significantly in Recent Years
THURSDAY, Oct. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The number of visits to U.S. emergency departments linked to synthetic pot -- also known as "K2" or "Spice" -- have more than doubled in recent years, according to an Oct. 16 report from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Full Article
More Information
Ebola Workshop Scheduled for Nov. 3 in Washington, D.C.
THURSDAY, Oct. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- At the request of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council will host a workshop to discuss research needed to prepare for handling the occurrence of Ebola virus disease in the United States, according to a press release from the National Academies.
More Information
Repetitive Pitching Can Cause Teens Serious Shoulder Problems
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Young athletes who pitch more than 100 balls a week risk developing acromial apophysiolysis, according to research published online Oct. 14 in Radiology.
Full Article
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Change in Doc, Public Attitudes Needed to Cut Overtreatment
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Reform of malpractice laws as well as inclusion of patients in medical decision making may help reduce overdiagnosis and overtreatment, according to an article published online Oct. 14 in The BMJ.
Full Text
More Children Receiving Medical Care in the ER
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- More children are going to the emergency department for health care, according to a research letter published in the Oct. 15 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Full Article
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
CDC Takes Steps Toward Hospital Preparedness for Ebola
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has sent new resources to Dallas to support the highest standard of infection control, according to a news release issued by the organization Tuesday.
here
More Information
Second Health Care Worker in Dallas Tests Positive for Ebola
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A second health care worker who helped treat a patient who died of Ebola last week at a Dallas hospital has tested positive for the disease, health officials said Wednesday morning.
Full Article
More Information
CDC Develops a New, Faster Lab Test for Enterovirus D68
TUESDAY, Oct. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has developed and begun using a new, faster lab test for the detection of enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) in specimens from people in the United States with respiratory illness, according to a news release issued by the organization on Tuesday.
CDC Press Release
More Information
Resident Proficiency in High-Value Care Is Hard to Test
TUESDAY, Oct. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The high-value care (HVC) subscore on the Internal Medicine In-Training Examination (IM-ITE) helps assess resident knowledge of HVC, but additional tools are needed to measure proficiency in practice, according to research published online Oct. 14 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Exercise May Not Ward Off Teen Depression
TUESDAY, Oct. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Although exercise has long been thought to help improve the symptoms of depression, teenagers may not reap these benefits, a new British study suggests.
Full Article
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Diabetes Management Advice Provided for Child Care Setting
TUESDAY, Oct. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Young children with diabetes have unique management needs, which may necessitate special consideration in the child care setting, according to a position statement published in the October issue of Diabetes Care.
Abstract
Full Text
Health Officials Reviewing Ebola Procedures at Dallas Hospital
MONDAY, Oct. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Federal and local health officials said Monday that they were re-examining infection-control efforts at the Dallas hospital where a nurse contracted Ebola while caring for America's first diagnosed victim of the deadly disease.
Full Article
More Information
Sleeping on Sofa Can Be Deadly for Babies
MONDAY, Oct. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Of nearly 8,000 infant sleeping deaths in the United States, about 12 percent were sofa-related, with nearly three-quarters of the deaths occurring in newborns, according to research published online Oct. 13 in Pediatrics.
Full Article
Abstract
Full Text
Calm, Positive Family Meals May Help Ward Off Child Obesity
MONDAY, Oct. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Positive, calm, and friendly family meals might help a child avoid becoming overweight or obese, a new study suggests. The findings were published online Oct. 13 in Pediatrics.
Full Article
Abstract
Full Text
Texas Hospital Worker Tests Positive for Ebola
MONDAY, Oct. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A health care worker who helped treat the Liberian man who died of Ebola in a Dallas hospital last week has tested positive for the virus, public health officials reported Sunday.
Full Article
More Information
Yoga Pose May Help Reduce Spinal Curve of Scoliosis
MONDAY, Oct. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Asymmetric strengthening with yoga may reduce abnormal spinal curvature in patients with scoliosis, according to research published in the September issue of Global Advances in Health and Medicine.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Medicines Are Biggest Culprit in Fatal Allergic Reactions
FRIDAY, Oct. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Over half of allergy-related deaths are caused by medications, while less than 7 percent are caused by food allergies, according to research published online Sept. 30 in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
Full Article
Abstract
Full Text
Americans Increasingly Anxious About Ebola
FRIDAY, Oct. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- One-quarter of Americans now view Ebola as a major public health threat to the United States, with many saying they'd change their travel plans due to Ebola fears, a new Harris Poll/HealthDay survey reveals.
Full Article
Specialty Drugs May Be Worth the Higher Costs
FRIDAY, Oct. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Despite high costs, specialty drugs may provide value that balances the price difference compared with traditional drugs, according to research published in the October issue of Health Affairs.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
AAFP Expresses Support for Bill Aiding Doc Re-Entry Into Practice
THURSDAY, Oct. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has expressed its support for proposed legislation designed to help primary care physicians return to clinical practice after a period away from patient care.
More Information
Airborne Particulates Beyond Traffic Fumes Affect Lung Health
THURSDAY, Oct. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Ambient particulates with median aerodynamic diameters of <10 µm (PM10) seem to cause more injury to airway epithelial cells (AEC) than traffic-derived airborne particulate matter, according to a study published online Sept. 14 in Respirology.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Reducing Residency Work Hours Doesn't Affect Patient Outcomes
THURSDAY, Oct. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Duty-hour reforms have not adversely affected hospital mortality or length-of-stay of patients cared for by new attending physicians who were partly or fully exposed to reduced duty hours during residency, according to research published in the October issue of Health Affairs.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Five Major U.S. Airports to Screen Travelers for Ebola
THURSDAY, Oct. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Five major U.S. airports will begin screening travelers entering the country from the three West African nations hit hardest by the ongoing Ebola epidemic, federal health officials announced Wednesday.
Full Article
More Information
Gene Therapy Shows Potential for Severe Immunodeficiency
THURSDAY, Oct. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new form of gene therapy may offer a safe and effective way to treat severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), according to research published in the Oct. 9 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Full Article
Full Text
Dallas Ebola Patient Has Died, Hospital Officials Confirm
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Thomas Eric Duncan, the Liberian national who was the first person diagnosed with Ebola in the United States, died Wednesday morning at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas.
Full Article
More Information
CDC: U.S. Life Expectancy Hits Record High of Nearly 79 Years
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Average life expectancy in the United States reached an all-time high of 78.8 years in 2012, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Wednesday. For people 65 years old in 2012, life expectancy was an additional 19.3 years, up slightly from the year before. Women age 65 and older in 2012 can expect to live another 20.5 years, while men may get around an additional 18 years.
Full Article
More Information
FARE, ACEP Develop New Anaphylaxis Toolkit
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new anaphylaxis toolkit has been developed to help answer questions about managing life-threatening allergies after patients are discharged from the emergency department, according to a report from Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) and the American College of Emergency Physicians.
More Information
Toolkit
Tips Provided for Maximizing Use of Patient Portals
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Patient portals should be designed to meet patient priorities and promoted in order to maximize their use and boost practice efficiency, according to an article published Oct. 1 in Medical Economics.
More Information
AAFP Urges Docs to Check Accuracy of Open Payments Data
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) urges family doctors to check the accuracy of the first set of data published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Open Payments transparency program.
More Information
CMS - Open Payments
AMA - Talking Points
Fetal BPA Exposure to Tied to Childhood Wheeze
TUESDAY, Oct. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Exposure in pregnancy to bisphenol A (BPA) may increase a child's risk of respiratory issues, researchers say. The findings, published online Oct. 6 in JAMA Pediatrics, indicate that for every 10-fold increase in the average amount of BPA in the mothers' urine, there is a nearly 55 percent increase in the odds of some type of wheezing in their children.
Full Article
Abstract
Full Text
Obama Considers Tighter Ebola Screening for Travelers
TUESDAY, Oct. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- President Barack Obama said Monday that his administration is preparing additional screening measures to prevent the Ebola epidemic in West Africa from gaining a foothold in the United States.
Full Article
More Information
Docs More Likely to Prescribe Unneeded Antibiotics Later in Day
TUESDAY, Oct. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Doctors are more likely to prescribe unnecessary antibiotics for respiratory infections as the day progresses, according to a research letter published online Oct. 6 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Full Article
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Officials Report First Confirmed Death Due to Enterovirus D68
MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The first confirmed death due to Enterovirus D68 has been confirmed, a 4-year-boy in New Jersey, health officials report.
Full Article
More Information
EPA Wants Less Dental Mercury Entering Environment
MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed new standards to reduce the amount of mercury released from dentists' offices.
Full Article
More Information
CDC Team Assisting Ebola Response in Dallas
MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Experts from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have arrived in Texas and are working closely with Texas state and local health departments to investigate the first Ebola case in the United States, according to a news release issued by the agency.
CDC - Ebola Information
CDC - Travelers' Health
Texas Department of State Health Services
States Encouraged to Use Physician Assistant Workforce
MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Physician assistants (PAs) have an important role in the provision of health care and their role should be encouraged by appropriate state legislation, according to a report from the National Governors Association.
More Information
School-Based Health Centers Can Serve As Medical Homes
MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- School-based health centers (SBHCs) can serve as patient-centered medical homes, according to a study published online Oct. 6 in Pediatrics.
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Impact of Physician Payments Sunshine Act Discussed
MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The Physician Payments Sunshine Act is causing concern for manufacturers and providers, as well as physicians, according to a health policy brief published online Oct. 2 in Health Affairs.
Full Text
Researchers Further Explain the Role of Genetics in Height
MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- New research confirms that genetics play a huge role in determining height. The findings were published online Oct. 5 in the Nature Genetics.
Full Article
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
American Lung Association Offers Enterovirus D68 Advice
FRIDAY, Oct. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- As Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) infections continue to spread across the United States, the American Lung Association offers information for parents and providers of children at risk.
Full Article
More Information
Physician Payments Found Not to Favor Procedures
FRIDAY, Oct. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Physician Fee Schedule does not systematically provide higher valuation of physician work per unit time for procedure/test codes than for evaluation and management (E/M) codes, according to a study published online Sept. 18 in the Annals of Surgery.
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Hospital Charges for Adolescent Scoliosis Surgery Up
FRIDAY, Oct. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Over the last decade, the number of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) fusion procedures has remained constant, although hospital charges for the procedure have increased substantially, according to a study published in the Sept. 15 issue of Spine.
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Second Baby 'Cured' of HIV Suffers Relapse
FRIDAY, Oct. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- An Italian toddler thought cured of HIV with early aggressive treatment following birth has suffered a relapse, his doctors report. The 3-year-old child's viral levels of HIV rebounded two weeks after doctors took him off antiretroviral medications, according to a case report published in the Oct. 4 issue of The Lancet. The child's HIV levels had been undetectable since he was 6 months old due to aggressive drug therapy that doctors started within 12 hours of his birth.
Full Article
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Medical Errors Should Be Used to Improve Patient Care
THURSDAY, Oct. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Medical errors occur and should be used to help improve medical processes, according to a report from the American Medical Association.
More Information
Providers Received Billions From Drug/Device Companies
THURSDAY, Oct. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- About 546,000 doctors and 1,360 teaching hospitals in the United States received billions of dollars from drug and medical device makers in the second half of 2013, according to data released Tuesday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The financial benefits ranged from research grants to trips, and totaled nearly $3.5 billion from August through December last year, the Associated Press reported.
Health Highlights: Oct. 2, 2014
More Information
Updated Count for Those Potentially Exposed to U.S. Ebola
THURSDAY, Oct. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Health officials in Texas say more than 80 people came into contact with Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan, on top of the 18 already under surveillance.
Full Article
More Information
Four Patients Who Died Tested Positive for Enterovirus D68
THURSDAY, Oct. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Forty-two states and the District of Columbia now have a total of 500 confirmed cases of Enterovirus D68, the severe respiratory illness that has been infecting children since the summer, U.S. health officials reported Wednesday. Four people infected with the virus have died in recent weeks, but it's not clear what role -- if any -- the virus played in those deaths, officials said.
Full Article
More Information
Research Supports Free, Long-Acting Birth Control for Teens
THURSDAY, Oct. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Giving teenage girls free birth control -- especially long-acting implanted devices -- could slash pregnancy and abortion rates to well below the current U.S. average, researchers report in the Oct. 2 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Full Article
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Infant's Early Diet Doesn't Change Celiac Disease Risk
THURSDAY, Oct. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A newborn's risk of developing celiac disease isn't reduced by breastfeeding. Nor will delaying the introduction of gluten to an infant's diet help prevent celiac disease. These are the conclusions from a pair of new studies published in the Oct. 2 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Full Article
Full Text 1 (subscription or payment may be required)
Full Text 2 (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Preterm Birth, Pneumonia Leading Causes of Child Mortality
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly two million children younger than 5 died worldwide in 2013 of complications from premature birth and pneumonia, according to a study published online Oct. 1 in The Lancet.
Full Article
Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Appropriate Use Criteria Established for Pediatric ECHO
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Appropriate use criteria have been developed for the initial use of transthoracic echocardiography in outpatient pediatric cardiology. The guidelines were published online Sept. 29 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Full Text
Burnout on the Job Isn't Just About the Work
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Work, non-work, and individual factors explain a considerable part of psychological distress, depression, and emotional exhaustion, according to a study published online July 24 in Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology.
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
CDC Confirms First Patient Diagnosed With Ebola in U.S.
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The first confirmed case of Ebola has surfaced in the United States, involving a man who recently flew here from Liberia, federal health officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced late Tuesday.
Full Article
More Information
