Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pharmacy 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.
Generic Meds May Help Breast Cancer Patients Stick to Therapy
FRIDAY, Oct. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Access to generic aromatase inhibitors (AIs) improves the chances that breast cancer patients will stick with their drug treatment, according to research published in the November issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
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Tinnitus-Linked Symptoms Improved With D-Cycloserine
FRIDAY, Oct. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A putative neuroplasticity-enhancing drug, D-cycloserine, in conjunction with a computer-assisted cognitive training (CT) program improves self-reported tinnitus-associated cognitive deficits, according to a study published online Oct. 30 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
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Almost One in Five Americans Plagued by Constant Pain
FRIDAY, Oct. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Almost one-fifth of Americans suffer from chronic pain, a large new survey reveals, with the elderly and women suffering the most. The findings were published in the October issue of the Journal of Pain.
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Fewer Malpractice Claims Paid in the United States
THURSDAY, Oct. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The number of medical malpractice payments in the United States has dropped sharply since 2002, according to a new study. And compensation payment amounts and liability insurance costs for many doctors declined in recent years. These findings were published online Oct. 30 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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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.
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Ketogenic Diet May Help Adults With Refractory Epilepsy
THURSDAY, Oct. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A ketogenic diet could help control refractory epilepsy in adults, according to research published online Oct. 29 in Neurology.
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Would Alternative Payment Plan Cut Medical Bills?
THURSDAY, Oct. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- New research supports replacing the traditional way of reimbursing doctors for care -- paying for each service provided -- with an alternative system that gives a set amount of money to health care organizations for patient care. The study was published in the Oct. 30 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Oral Bisphosphonate Use Cuts Risk of Post-Implant Revision Sx
THURSDAY, Oct. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients undergoing total joint replacement, oral bisphosphonate use is associated with a reduction in the risk of revision surgery, according to a study published in the November issue of Arthritis & Rheumatology.
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Pre-Angiography High-Dose Statins Cut Contrast-Induced AKI
THURSDAY, Oct. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients undergoing coronary angiography, pretreatment with high-dose statins reduces the risk of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CIAKI), according to a meta-analysis published in the Nov. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
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AMA Code of Ethics Offers Guidance for Physicians
THURSDAY, Oct. 30, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The American Medical Association (AMA) Code of Ethics and other articles provide guidance for physicians in relation to public health emergencies, according to a report from the AMA.
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Vaccine Approved for Serogroup B Meningococcal Disease
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A vaccine to protect against invasive meningococcal disease caused by serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis in individuals 10 through 25 years of age has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
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ADT May Up Heart-Related Deaths in Prostate Cancer Patients
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) may increase heart-related mortality in men with prostate cancer who also have certain heart conditions, according to research published online Oct. 29 in BJU International.
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Voters' Views on Affordable Care Act Split Along Party Lines
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Americans' opinions about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are sharply divided along political lines, according to research published online Oct. 29 in the New England Journal of Medicine. The findings come from 27 public opinion polls conducted by 14 organizations.
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Less Competition Among Docs = Higher Medical Costs
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Competition between medical practices helps keep health care costs lower, according to a study published in the Oct. 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Frequent Readmissions, High Costs After Cardiac Arrest
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 29, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Frequent readmissions and high inpatient costs are seen among older survivors of in-hospital cardiac arrest, according to a study published online Oct. 28 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
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Metformin Beats Other T2DM Meds for Initial Treatment
TUESDAY, Oct. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who are initially prescribed metformin are less likely to eventually need other medications to control their blood glucose, according to research published online Oct. 27 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Noneconomic Damages Caps Cut Malpractice Payments by 15%
TUESDAY, Oct. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Adoption of noneconomic damages caps reduces average malpractice payments by 15 percent, according to research published in the October issue of Health Affairs.
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Prescription Painkillers Fueling Overdose Cases in ERs
TUESDAY, Oct. 28, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new report estimates more than two-thirds of emergency department visits for overdoses of narcotic drugs involve prescription medications. The study was published online Oct. 27 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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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.
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CDC Issues Revised Interim U.S. Guidance on Ebola
MONDAY, Oct. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Today, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a revision of their Ebola guideline document -- Interim Guidance for Monitoring and Movement of Persons with Ebola Virus Disease Exposure.
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New York, New Jersey Ease Ebola Quarantines
MONDAY, Oct. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Faced with pressure from the White House and criticism from infectious disease experts, the governors of New York and New Jersey have eased their quarantine measures that required all medical workers returning from West Africa who had contact with Ebola patients to be forced into isolation.
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Maintenance Opioid Agonist Tx Linked to Lower HCV Incidence
MONDAY, Oct. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For young adult injection drug users, maintenance opioid agonist therapy is associated with lower incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, according to a study published online Oct. 27 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Telephone Intervention Doesn't Aid Diabetes Meds Adherence
MONDAY, Oct. 27, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Telephone outreach does not improve medication adherence or metabolic control in adults with diabetes, according to a study published online Oct. 14 in Diabetes Care.
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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.
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Pharmacoinvasive STEMI Strategy Best for Smokers, Nonsmokers
FRIDAY, Oct. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, a pharmacoinvasive strategy after fibrinolysis is beneficial for smokers and nonsmokers, according to a study published in the Oct. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
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FDA Approves New Treatment for Acquired Hemophilia A
FRIDAY, Oct. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Obizur (Antihemophilic Factor [Recombinant], Porcine Sequence) has been approved to treat acquired hemophilia A (acquired Factor VIII deficiency), a rare, non-inherited form of hemophilia.
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Airborne Transmission of Ebola Highly Unlikely
FRIDAY, Oct. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- People face no threat of airborne transmission of Ebola, according to a panel of Ebola experts gathered by the New England Journal of Medicine for an issue briefing Wednesday.
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New York City Health Officials Confirm First Ebola Case
FRIDAY, Oct. 24, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- New York City health officials said Thursday that a health care worker who recently returned from West Africa has tested positive for Ebola. The patient, identified as Craig Spencer, M.D., by city officials, had been working with Doctors Without Borders helping to treat Ebola patients in Guinea, one of three West Africa countries hit hard by the disease.
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Coworker Response 'Crucial' in Workplace Bullying Resolution
THURSDAY, Oct. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Targets of workplace bullying can offer chaos, report, or quest narratives about their experiences, and coworker response plays a role in narrative development, according to a study published online Sept. 25 in Management Communication Quarterly.
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Aspirin May Cut Mortality in Nonmetastatic Prostate Cancer
THURSDAY, Oct. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Daily aspirin use, even at low doses, may reduce mortality among men with high-risk nonmetastatic prostate cancer, according to research published online Oct. 20 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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U.S. Ranks Last Among Wealthy Nations in Health Care Access
THURSDAY, Oct. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. health care system ranks last compared to other industrialized nations when it comes to affordability and patient access, according to a new survey published in the Oct. 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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FOLFOXIRI + Bevacizumab Ups Outcome in Metastatic CRC
THURSDAY, Oct. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with untreated metastatic colorectal cancer, chemotherapy with fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan (FOLFOXIRI) plus bevacizumab improves outcome versus fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) plus bevacizumab, according to a study published in the Oct. 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Recalled Supplements Linger on U.S. Store Shelves
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Two-thirds of dietary supplements recalled by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration because they contained banned ingredients remained on store shelves at least six months after they were recalled, according to a research letter published in the Oct. 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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U.S. Residents Back From Ebola-Affected Areas to Be Tracked
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Public health officials plan to actively monitor all U.S. residents returning home from one of the three Ebola-affected nations in West Africa, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Wednesday.
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Americans Report Distrust of Medical Profession
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Americans are less trusting of the medical profession than people in many other countries -- even though they often like their own doctor, according to a new report. The findings were published in the Oct. 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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APIC Provides Resources for Ebola Management
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Resources are available to increase protection against Ebola transmission, according to a report from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).
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Drug Coupons Shrink Patients' Costs Considerably
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Drug coupons could reduce patients' out-of-pocket costs by 60 percent, according to a study published in the October issue of Health Affairs.
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Hospital Conversion to For-Profit Status Ups Financial Margins
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 22, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Hospital conversion to for-profit status is associated with improvements in financial margins, but has no effect on process quality metrics or mortality rates, according to a study published in the Oct. 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Price Transparency Platform Linked to Lower Claims Payments
TUESDAY, Oct. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Access to an employer-sponsored private price transparency platform is associated with reduced total claims payments, according to research published in the Oct. 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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CDC: 'Think Ebola' and 'Care Carefully'
TUESDAY, Oct. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued updated guidelines for the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by health care workers when caring for patients with Ebola, along with a reminder to health care workers to "Think Ebola" and to "Care Carefully."
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Parkinson's Meds May Spur Compulsive Behaviors
TUESDAY, Oct. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Medications commonly used to treat Parkinson's disease may raise the risk of impulse control disorders such as compulsive gambling, compulsive shopping, and/or hypersexuality, according to a new review published online Oct. 20 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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High-Dose Resveratrol Aids Bone Mineral Density
TUESDAY, Oct. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- High-dose supplementation with resveratrol (RSV) improves bone mineral density in obese men with metabolic syndrome, according to a study published online Oct. 16 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
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High-Intensity Statins Cut Diabetic Atherosclerosis
TUESDAY, Oct. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- High-intensity statin therapy can alter the progressive nature of diabetic atherosclerosis, according to a study published online Sept. 4 in Diabetes Care.
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CDC Tightens Guidelines on Caring for Patients With Ebola
TUESDAY, Oct. 21, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has tightened previous infection control guidance for health care workers caring for patients with Ebola, the organization announced on Monday.
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Sustainable Benefit Seen for Trastuzumab in Breast Cancer
MONDAY, Oct. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Adding a year of trastuzumab (Herceptin) to standard chemotherapy improves overall survival by 37 percent and raises 10-year overall survival rates from 75 to 84 percent, according to research published online Oct. 20 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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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.
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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.
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Viewpoint: Getting United States Prepared for Ebola Outbreak
MONDAY, Oct. 20, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A case of delayed Ebola diagnosis in Dallas and subsequent infection of health care workers has highlighted the lack of preparedness for a U.S. outbreak of the disease, according to a viewpoint piece published online Oct. 17 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Two-Pronged Program Looks Best for Helping Smokers Quit
FRIDAY, Oct. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A combination of counseling and medication greatly increases smokers' chances of quitting, according to new research published in the October issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
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Obama Appoints Ron Klain As 'Ebola Czar'
FRIDAY, Oct. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- President Barack Obama on Friday appointed Ron Klain, a former chief of staff to Vice President Joe Biden, as Ebola "czar" to oversee the federal government's response to the presence of virus in the United States.
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Specialized Care Centers May Be Needed to Contain Ebola
FRIDAY, Oct. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Specialized medical centers may be necessary to adequately treat and contain the Ebola virus in the United States, according to an ideas and opinions piece published online Oct. 16 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Many Docs Believe Mobile Health Apps Can Improve Patient Care
FRIDAY, Oct. 17, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A Manhattan Research survey recently found that many physicians believe digital communication technologies, including mobile apps, can be used to improve patient outcomes, according to an article published Oct. 8 in Medical Economics.
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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.
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Immune Therapy Induces Remission for Many With ALL
THURSDAY, Oct. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- An experimental immune-system therapy can often lead to complete remission in advanced acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients who have run out of other options, according to research published in the Oct. 16 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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ER Visits Linked to Synthetic Pot Up Significantly in Recent Years
THURSDAY, Oct. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The number of visits to U.S. emergency departments linked to synthetic pot -- also known as "K2" or "Spice" -- have more than doubled in recent years, according to an Oct. 16 report from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
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Esbriet, Ofev Approved to Treat Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
THURSDAY, Oct. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Two new drugs have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
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Ebola Workshop Scheduled for Nov. 3 in Washington, D.C.
THURSDAY, Oct. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- At the request of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council will host a workshop to discuss research needed to prepare for handling the occurrence of Ebola virus disease in the United States, according to a press release from the National Academies.
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'Lost Pleasure' From Smoking Not a Cost in Economic Analyses
THURSDAY, Oct. 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- "Lost pleasure" represented by consumer surplus should not be considered in economic impact analyses of tobacco regulation, according to an ideas and opinions piece published online Oct. 14 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Change in Doc, Public Attitudes Needed to Cut Overtreatment
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Reform of malpractice laws as well as inclusion of patients in medical decision making may help reduce overdiagnosis and overtreatment, according to an article published online Oct. 14 in The BMJ.
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CDC Takes Steps Toward Hospital Preparedness for Ebola
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has sent new resources to Dallas to support the highest standard of infection control, according to a news release issued by the organization Tuesday.
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Second Health Care Worker in Dallas Tests Positive for Ebola
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A second health care worker who helped treat a patient who died of Ebola last week at a Dallas hospital has tested positive for the disease, health officials said Wednesday morning.
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FDA: Weak Evidence for Removing Chantix Warning
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 15, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- There is little evidence to support removing a black box warning about suicide risk from the prescription anti-smoking drug Chantix, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.
Health Highlights: Oct. 14, 2014
Smoking-Related Illnesses in U.S. Total 14 Million
TUESDAY, Oct. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Cigarette smoking accounts for approximately 14 million major medical conditions that plague the lives of U.S. adults, according to a new government report published online Oct. 13 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Experimental Tx Shouldn't Replace Critical Care for Ebola
TUESDAY, Oct. 14, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Use of medications and vaccinations that have yet to be formally approved should not be a replacement for standard critical care, according to an ideas and opinions piece published in the Oct. 14 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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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.
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Health Officials Reviewing Ebola Procedures at Dallas Hospital
MONDAY, Oct. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Federal and local health officials said Monday that they were re-examining infection-control efforts at the Dallas hospital where a nurse contracted Ebola while caring for America's first diagnosed victim of the deadly disease.
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Texas Hospital Worker Tests Positive for Ebola
MONDAY, Oct. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A health care worker who helped treat the Liberian man who died of Ebola in a Dallas hospital last week has tested positive for the virus, public health officials reported Sunday.
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Love Your Coffee? You May Have Been Born That Way
MONDAY, Oct. 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- People who consume large amounts of coffee may have genetics to thank for their cravings, according to a study published online Oct. 7 in Molecular Psychiatry.
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FDA: Akynzeo Approved for Chemo-Related Nausea/Vomiting
FRIDAY, Oct. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The combination drug Akynzeo (netupitant and palonosetron) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat nausea and vomiting among people undergoing chemotherapy, the agency said Friday in a news release.
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FDA: Harvoni Approved for Chronic Hepatitis C
FRIDAY, Oct. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Harvoni, a daily pill that treats chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 infection, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday.
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CDC: Less Than Half of HIV+ U.S. Hispanics Are Getting Proper Care
FRIDAY, Oct. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Even though Hispanics in the United States become infected with HIV at rates triple those of whites, less than half of Hispanics with the virus are receiving adequate treatment, according to research published in the Oct. 10 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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Americans Increasingly Anxious About Ebola
FRIDAY, Oct. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- One-quarter of Americans now view Ebola as a major public health threat to the United States, with many saying they'd change their travel plans due to Ebola fears, a new Harris Poll/HealthDay survey reveals.
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Medicines Are Biggest Culprit in Fatal Allergic Reactions
FRIDAY, Oct. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Over half of allergy-related deaths are caused by medications, while less than 7 percent are caused by food allergies, according to research published online Sept. 30 in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
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Specialty Drugs May Be Worth the Higher Costs
FRIDAY, Oct. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Despite high costs, specialty drugs may provide value that balances the price difference compared with traditional drugs, according to research published in the October issue of Health Affairs.
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Anticoagulation Use in Urology Patients Requires Pre-Planning
FRIDAY, Oct. 10, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Perioperative planning is needed for decisions of timing of anticoagulation therapy in patients undergoing urological procedures, according to a review published in the October issue of The Journal of Urology.
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Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Early Schizophrenia ID'd
THURSDAY, Oct. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Factors showing increased risk for cardiometabolic disorders are often present in patients with first-episode schizophrenia spectrum disorders (FES), according to research published online on Oct. 8 in JAMA Psychiatry.
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Timing of Epidural May Be Best Left Up to Expectant Mother
THURSDAY, Oct. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The best time to give an epidural is likely when a woman asks for it, although the effect of early epidural on the length of time to reach full cervical dilation is unclear, according to a review published online Oct. 9 in The Cochrane Library.
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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.
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Five Major U.S. Airports to Screen Travelers for Ebola
THURSDAY, Oct. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Five major U.S. airports will begin screening travelers entering the country from the three West African nations hit hardest by the ongoing Ebola epidemic, federal health officials announced Wednesday.
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Reducing Residency Work Hours Doesn't Affect Patient Outcomes
THURSDAY, Oct. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Duty-hour reforms have not adversely affected hospital mortality or length-of-stay of patients cared for by new attending physicians who were partly or fully exposed to reduced duty hours during residency, according to research published in the October issue of Health Affairs.
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Androgen Receptor Signaling Tied to Insulin Resistance
THURSDAY, Oct. 9, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Mouse models show tissue-specific androgen receptor (AR) signaling is involved in regulation of metabolism, which may explain the link between androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and the development of metabolic syndrome in men, according to research published in the October issue of Diabetes.
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Nearly 10 Percent of Ketamine Abusers Have Liver Injury
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Liver injury is seen in about 10 percent of chronic abusers of ketamine, according to a study published in the October issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
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Risk of Upper GI Bleeding Varies for Drug Combinations
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Concomitant use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), low-dose aspirin or cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) selective inhibitors with other drugs can increase the risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB), and the magnitude of interaction varies according to drug combination, according to a study published in the October issue of Gastroenterology.
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Dallas Ebola Patient Has Died, Hospital Officials Confirm
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Thomas Eric Duncan, the Liberian national who was the first person diagnosed with Ebola in the United States, died Wednesday morning at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas.
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CDC: U.S. Life Expectancy Hits Record High of Nearly 79 Years
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Average life expectancy in the United States reached an all-time high of 78.8 years in 2012, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Wednesday. For people 65 years old in 2012, life expectancy was an additional 19.3 years, up slightly from the year before. Women age 65 and older in 2012 can expect to live another 20.5 years, while men may get around an additional 18 years.
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Laxative Type Might Influence Colorectal Cancer Risk
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The type of laxative a person takes might be a factor in their odds for colorectal cancer, according to a study published in the October issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
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Scientists Aim to Improve Vaccines Against Avian Flu
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Two groups of researchers report they are refining the vaccine strategies that will be needed in the event of an avian influenza pandemic. Both studies appear in the Oct. 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a theme issue on infectious disease.
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Tobacco Tied to Higher Risk of Oral HPV Infection
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Tobacco use in any form appears to be linked to an increased risk of infection with oral human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16), according to a research letter published in the Oct. 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a theme issue on infectious disease.
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FARE, ACEP Develop New Anaphylaxis Toolkit
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new anaphylaxis toolkit has been developed to help answer questions about managing life-threatening allergies after patients are discharged from the emergency department, according to a report from Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) and the American College of Emergency Physicians.
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Women Have Greater Atheroma Regression With Statins
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with coronary atheroma, high-intensity statin treatment is associated with greater regression in women than men, according to a study published online Sept. 17 in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging.
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AAFP Urges Docs to Check Accuracy of Open Payments Data
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) urges family doctors to check the accuracy of the first set of data published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Open Payments transparency program.
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CMS - Open Payments
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Chemo Rx Patterns Changed Before Reimbursement Changes
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Other factors may affect chemotherapy prescription patterns more than changes in Medicare reimbursement, according to a study published online Sept. 29 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Tips Provided for Maximizing Use of Patient Portals
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 8, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Patient portals should be designed to meet patient priorities and promoted in order to maximize their use and boost practice efficiency, according to an article published Oct. 1 in Medical Economics.
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About Half of All U.S. Hospital Patients Receive Antibiotics
TUESDAY, Oct. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- About half of all U.S. hospital patients receive antibiotics, and these drugs are commonly the ones more likely to promote the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, according to a new study, led by researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and published in the Oct. 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a theme issue on infectious disease. The CDC also funded the study.
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Obama Considers Tighter Ebola Screening for Travelers
TUESDAY, Oct. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- President Barack Obama said Monday that his administration is preparing additional screening measures to prevent the Ebola epidemic in West Africa from gaining a foothold in the United States.
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Docs More Likely to Prescribe Unneeded Antibiotics Later in Day
TUESDAY, Oct. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Doctors are more likely to prescribe unnecessary antibiotics for respiratory infections as the day progresses, according to a research letter published online Oct. 6 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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In HIV, Nonnucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors Equal
TUESDAY, Oct. 7, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For treatment-naive patients infected with HIV-1, three nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-sparing initial antiretroviral regimens can attain similarly high rates of virologic control, according to a study published in the Oct. 7 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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CDC Team Assisting Ebola Response in Dallas
MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Experts from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have arrived in Texas and are working closely with Texas state and local health departments to investigate the first Ebola case in the United States, according to a news release issued by the agency.
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Impact of Physician Payments Sunshine Act Discussed
MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The Physician Payments Sunshine Act is causing concern for manufacturers and providers, as well as physicians, according to a health policy brief published online Oct. 2 in Health Affairs.
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Study Clarifies LMWH Treatment for Cancer-Related DVT
MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Results of a randomized trial support the role of residual vein thrombosis (RVT) as a factor in determining the optimal duration of anticoagulant therapy in cancer patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower limbs. These findings were published online Sept. 29 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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Research Suggests Stroke Risk Up With β-Blockers in Select Patients
MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients without prior myocardial infarction (MI) with no heart failure, β-blocker use is not associated with lower cardiovascular events, and there may be an increased risk of stroke for patients without previous events but with multiple cardiovascular risk factors, according to a study published online Sept. 30 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
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Ebola Patient in Dallas Hospital Takes Turn for the Worse
MONDAY, Oct. 6, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The first Ebola patient to be diagnosed in the United States has "taken a turn for the worse," federal health officials said Sunday. Thomas Eric Duncan, a native of Liberia, is receiving supportive care at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas. Hospital officials have changed his condition from serious to critical.
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Physician Payments Found Not to Favor Procedures
FRIDAY, Oct. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Physician Fee Schedule does not systematically provide higher valuation of physician work per unit time for procedure/test codes than for evaluation and management (E/M) codes, according to a study published online Sept. 18 in the Annals of Surgery.
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ATA: Standard Treatment for Hypothyroidism Still Best
FRIDAY, Oct. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- An expert panel reviewing treatments for hypothyroidism has concluded that the drug levothyroxine (L-T4) should remain the standard of care. The American Thyroid Association's updated guidelines were published online Sept. 29 in Thyroid.
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Experts Say Testosterone Rx Not Appropriate for Healthy Women
FRIDAY, Oct. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Healthy women should not be diagnosed with testosterone deficiency and should not be prescribed testosterone therapy, a new guideline from the Endocrine Society states. The new clinical practice guideline was published online Oct. 3 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
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Major Bleeds Found to Be Rare for Patients With Stable CAD
FRIDAY, Oct. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Major bleeding events are rare in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD); however, concomitant antiplatelet therapy (APT) when oral anticoagulation is required increases bleeding risk -- an independent predictor of mortality -- and should be reconsidered in select patients, according to research published in the Oct. 7 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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VTE Prophylaxis Effect Varies for Otolaryngology Patients
FRIDAY, Oct. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients undergoing otolaryngology surgery, the effectiveness and safety of venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis vary in patient subgroups, according to research published online Oct. 2 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
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Second Baby 'Cured' of HIV Suffers Relapse
FRIDAY, Oct. 3, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- An Italian toddler thought cured of HIV with early aggressive treatment following birth has suffered a relapse, his doctors report. The 3-year-old child's viral levels of HIV rebounded two weeks after doctors took him off antiretroviral medications, according to a case report published in the Oct. 4 issue of The Lancet. The child's HIV levels had been undetectable since he was 6 months old due to aggressive drug therapy that doctors started within 12 hours of his birth.
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Medical Errors Should Be Used to Improve Patient Care
THURSDAY, Oct. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Medical errors occur and should be used to help improve medical processes, according to a report from the American Medical Association.
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CDC: Heroin Overdose Deaths Doubled in Much of U.S.
THURSDAY, Oct. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Deaths from heroin overdoses doubled from 2010 to 2012, according to research published in the Oct. 3 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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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.
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Evolocumab Seems Promising for Familial Hypercholesterolemia
THURSDAY, Oct. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Evolocumab shows promise for patients with heterozygous or homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, according to two studies published online Oct. 1 in The Lancet.
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Hydrocodone Combo Products Reclassified As Schedule II
THURSDAY, Oct. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A new rule taking effect Oct. 6 reclassifies hydrocodone combination products as Schedule II controlled substances, which will impact prescribing practices for these products, according to a report from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
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Providers Received Billions From Drug/Device Companies
THURSDAY, Oct. 2, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- About 546,000 doctors and 1,360 teaching hospitals in the United States received billions of dollars from drug and medical device makers in the second half of 2013, according to data released Tuesday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The financial benefits ranged from research grants to trips, and totaled nearly $3.5 billion from August through December last year, the Associated Press reported.
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In Cancer Prevention, 9-Valent HPV Vaccine Looks Promising
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- A vaccine meant to protect against nine types of human papillomavirus (HPV) could prevent 90 percent of all cervical cancers, according to a study published in the October issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
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Periarticular Injection Superior to Epidural Analgesia in TKA
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- For patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty, periarticular injection is superior to epidural analgesia for pain control, according to a study published in the Sept. 3 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
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No Genetic Proof Vitamin D Guards Against Type 2 Diabetes
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- There's no genetic evidence that high levels of vitamin D can prevent type 2 diabetes, according to research published online Oct. 1 in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.
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CDC Confirms First Patient Diagnosed With Ebola in U.S.
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- The first confirmed case of Ebola has surfaced in the United States, involving a man who recently flew here from Liberia, federal health officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced late Tuesday.
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Burnout on the Job Isn't Just About the Work
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Work, non-work, and individual factors explain a considerable part of psychological distress, depression, and emotional exhaustion, according to a study published online July 24 in Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology.
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Increased Toxicity for Many Newly Approved Anticancer Drugs
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 1, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Newly approved anticancer drugs that do not have a specific molecular target on cancer cells are associated with increased toxicity and the accompanying costs of management, according to research published online Sept. 29 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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