Home Rheumatology August 2017 Briefing – Rheumatology

August 2017 Briefing – Rheumatology

Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Rheumatology for August 2017. 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.

Minimal Evidence for Electronic Communication Guidelines

THURSDAY, Aug. 31, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Minimal evidence is available for guidelines for electronic communication between patients and providers, according to research published online Aug. 28 in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association.

Proactive Approach Encouraged for Online Patient Reviews

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 30, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Most patients are using online reviews as a first step to finding a new doctor, with 65 percent forming an opinion from reading one to six reviews, according to a report published in Medical Economics.

Sedentary Time a ‘Potent Risk Factor’ for Mobility Loss

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 30, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Excessive sitting, especially while watching television, poses a significant health hazard to older Americans, according to a study published online Aug. 30 in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences.

FDA Cites ‘Significant Deviations’ at Florida Stem Cell Clinic

TUESDAY, Aug. 29, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A Florida stem cell clinic has received a warning letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration about what the agency describes as serious problems that could pose health risks to patients.

Patient Beliefs May Explain High Rate of Medicine Intake

THURSDAY, Aug. 24, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Subjective norms and attitudes toward medicine consumption predict the intention and expectation to consume medicines, according to a study published online Aug. 19 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.

Nurse-, System-Related Factors Analyzed in Wrong-Patient Events

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 23, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Greater focus is needed on correct identification processes in order to prevent wrong-patient medication administration incidents, and system supports for nurses are critical, according to a study published online Aug. 17 in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.

Hours Worked Impacted by Kids for Female, Not Male Doctors

MONDAY, Aug. 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For women, but not men, in dual-physician couples, weekly hours worked are lower for those with versus those without children, according to a research letter published online Aug. 21 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Physical Activity Predicts Disability in Older Adults

FRIDAY, Aug. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Accelerometer-measured physical activity (PA) levels are strongly associated with major mobility disability (MMD) and persistent MMD (PMMD) events in older adults with limited mobility, according to a study published online Aug. 11 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Oral Contraceptive Use Linked to Lower Rheumatoid Arthritis Risk

FRIDAY, Aug. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Oral contraceptive (OC) use is associated with reduced risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to research published online Aug. 17 in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases.

Opioid Rx Frequently Issued for Nonspecific, Spinal Conditions

THURSDAY, Aug. 17, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Within a cohort of patients insured through TRICARE, the most common diagnosis associated with initial opioid prescription is other ill-defined conditions, according to a research letter published online Aug. 16 in JAMA Surgery.

Electrotherapy, Acupuncture Ease Post Knee Arthroplasty Pain

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 16, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Electrotherapy and acupuncture seem to be beneficial for pain management after total knee arthroplasty, according to a meta-analysis published online Aug. 16 in JAMA Surgery.

Studies Used for FDA Approval of Device Changes Often Low Quality

TUESDAY, Aug. 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Many studies used to support U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of high-risk medical device modifications are not controlled; and efficacy of drugs granted accelerated approval is often confirmed three years after approval, according to two studies published in the Aug. 15 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Specialist Access No Better With Adoption of Access Standards

TUESDAY, Aug. 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Adoption of specialty access standards does not improve access to specialists, according to a study published online Aug. 14 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Fecal Calprotectin Is Best Marker for Discriminating Pediatric IBD

TUESDAY, Aug. 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Fecal calprotectin adds most to discrimination between pediatric patients with and without inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to a meta-analysis published online Aug. 14 in JAMA Pediatrics.

Sonography May Aid Hyaluronic Acid Injections for Knee Arthritis

MONDAY, Aug. 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Sonography-guided hyaluronic acid injection may yield better results than surface anatomy-guided injection in patients with knee osteoarthritis, according to a study published online Aug. 9 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.

Ultrasound Findings Correlate With Inflammatory Myopathies

FRIDAY, Aug. 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Ultrasonography findings seem to correlate well with the disease activity of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs), and may be a useful tool for patient evaluation, according to a study published online Aug. 7 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.

Work Exposure to Noxious Fumes May Up Rheumatoid Arthritis Risk

THURSDAY, Aug. 10, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Certain occupations related to potential noxious airborne agents are associated with increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in workers, according to a study published online Aug. 10 in Arthritis Care & Research.

Hip Bone Mineral Density Tied to Knee Cartilage Defects

TUESDAY, Aug. 8, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Bone mineral density (BMD), particularly in the hip, is negatively associated with knee cartilage defects and bone marrow lesions (BMLs) in patients with knee osteoarthritis, according to a study published online Aug. 1 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.

Guidance Provided for Preventing Practice Billing Errors

MONDAY, Aug. 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Strategies can help to prevent medical practice billing errors, according to a report published in Medical Economics.

Review Suggests Benefits of Aerobic Exercise in Fibromyalgia

THURSDAY, Aug. 3, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Aerobic exercise seems beneficial for patients with fibromyalgia, with improvements in health-related quality of life (HRQOL), according to a review published online June 21 in the Cochrane Library.

Revenue Exceeds Expenditures for Many ABMS Member Boards

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 2, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Overall revenue exceeds expenditures for many American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) member boards, according to a study published in the Aug. 1 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

U.S. Doctors Still Writing Too Many Opioid Prescriptions

TUESDAY, Aug. 1, 2017 (HealthDay News) — More than one out of three average Americans used a prescription opioid in 2015, despite growing concerns these medicines are promoting widespread addiction and overdose deaths, according to a study published online Aug. 1 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Comprehensive Initiative Has Positive Impact on Opioid Rx

TUESDAY, Aug. 1, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A comprehensive initiative, including creation of prescribing and dispensing policies, monitoring and follow-up processes, and clinical coordination through electronic health record integration, can have a positive impact on opioid prescribing, according to research published online July 14 in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice.

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