Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pharmacy 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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Guidelines Developed for Diagnosis and Treatment of PCOS
THURSDAY, Oct. 31 (HealthDay News) -- Evidence-based guidelines have been developed for the diagnosis and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS); the clinical practice guideline was published online Oct. 22 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
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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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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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Early ART Cost-Effective in Serodiscordant Couples
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30 (HealthDay News) -- In South Africa and India, early antiretroviral therapy (ART) is projected to be cost-effective over a lifetime for HIV-serodiscordant couples, according to a study published in the Oct. 31 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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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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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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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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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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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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Investigational Drug Effective for Asthma and COPD
FRIDAY, Oct. 25 (HealthDay News) -- An investigational dual-targeted drug is safe and an effective bronchodilator, bronchoprotector, and anti-inflammatory that may be useful for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a study published online Oct. 25 in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.
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Hands-Free Ultrasound + tPA Appears Safe, Effective in Stroke Tx
FRIDAY, Oct. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Sonothrombolysis using a novel operator-independent ultrasound device plus tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) is safe and effective in patients with ischemic stroke caused by proximal intracranial occlusion, according to a study published online Oct. 24 in Stroke.
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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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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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Four-Week Tapering Beneficial for Rx Opioid-Dependent
THURSDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDay News) -- For prescription opioid (PO)-dependent outpatients, response is better with a four-week than a two- or one-week tapering regimen plus naltrexone hydrochloride therapy, according to a study published online Oct. 23 in JAMA Psychiatry.
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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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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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Methylprednisolone Shot-Linked Fungal Infections Investigated
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 23 (HealthDay News) -- For patients who received epidural, paraspinal, or joint infections with contaminated lots of methylprednisolone acetate, infections caused by the outbreak associated pathogen Exserohilum rostratum result in a spectrum of clinical disease, according to a study published in the Oct. 24 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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'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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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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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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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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nab-Paclitaxel, Gemcitabine Up Survival in Pancreatic Cancer
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 16 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer, treatment with albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel) plus gemcitabine is more effective than gemcitabine alone, according to a study published online Oct. 16 in 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Performance Enhancing Drug Use Common in Young Males
MONDAY, Oct. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Many male youths are using appearance and performance enhancing drugs (APEDs), which include anabolic steroids and human growth hormone, and are finding them easily accessible online, according to a report published by the Digital Citizens Alliance.
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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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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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Oral Pazopanib Improves Sight in Macular Degeneration Cases
FRIDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Oral pazopanib is well tolerated and improves mean best-corrected visual acuity, central retinal lesion thickness, and central retinal thickness at day 29 in a small, per-protocol, non-rescued population of patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to a study published online Oct. 10 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
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Addicted Physicians Say Rx Misuse Is for 'Self-Medication'
FRIDAY, Oct. 11 (HealthDay News) -- Physicians who misuse prescription drugs report self-medication as a leading reason, according to research published in the September/October issue of the Journal of Addiction Medicine.
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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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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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Prolonged Sorafenib Linked to Pancreatic Atrophy
THURSDAY, Oct. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Prolonged treatment with the oral multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor sorafenib may be associated with pancreatic atrophy, according to a letter to the editor published in the Oct. 10 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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FDA Approves Adempas to Treat Pulmonary Hypertension
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Adempas (riociguat) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) of various causes.
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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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Gemcitabine Improves Overall Pancreatic Cancer Survival
TUESDAY, Oct. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Adjuvant gemcitabine treatment after surgical removal of pancreatic cancer significantly improves both disease-free and overall survival compared with observation, according to a study published in the Oct. 9 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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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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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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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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High-Dose rhBMP Linked to Increased Incidence of Cancer
FRIDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Patients receiving high-dose recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) as part of spine surgery have an increased risk of cancer and may be at risk for major complications, according to two studies published in the Sept. 4 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
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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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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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Small Interfering RNA Can Reduce LDL Cholesterol
THURSDAY, Oct. 3 (HealthDay News) -- A small interfering RNA (ALN-PCS) that inhibits proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is safe and seems effective for lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, according to a phase 1 study published online Oct. 3 in The Lancet.
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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