Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pharmacy for April 2019. 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.
Targeted Therapy Promising for Rare Hematologic Cancer
TUESDAY, April 30, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Tagraxofusp appears effective for treating the rare aggressive hematologic cancer blastic plasmacytoid dendritic-cell neoplasm (BPDCN), according to a study published in the April 25 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Combo Nicotine Replacement Tx Ups Success in Quitting Smoking
TUESDAY, April 30, 2019 (HealthDay News) — People who use combination nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) are more likely to successfully quit smoking than people who use a single form of NRT, according to a review published online April 18 in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Confidence in Inhaler Technique Poor Proxy for Correct Use
TUESDAY, April 30, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Child and parent confidence are poor proxies for proper inhaler use among African-American children with asthma, according to a study published online April 30 in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
Intensive Blood Pressure Therapy Aids Patients With T2DM
MONDAY, April 29, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Patients with type 2 diabetes who receive intensive treatment to keep their blood pressure levels at 130/80 mm Hg or below experience fewer heart attacks, strokes, and other diabetes complications, according to a study published online April 29 in Hypertension.
Longer Duration of Antibiotic Use Tied to Risk for CVD in Women
FRIDAY, April 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For women in middle and late adulthood, longer duration of antibiotic use is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, according to a study published online April 24 in the European Heart Journal.
Psychostimulant Use Pervasive in Young Adults’ Fatal Strokes
FRIDAY, April 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Psychostimulant use plays a substantial role in fatal strokes among young adults, according to a study published online April 2 in the Journal of Forensic Sciences.
Dapagliflozin Improves Glucose Outcomes in Type 1 Diabetes
FRIDAY, April 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In patients with type 1 diabetes, treatment with dapagliflozin for 24 weeks improves time in range, mean glucose, and glycemic variability, according to a study published online April 9 in Diabetes Care.
Gender Differences Seen in Adverse Drug Reactions
FRIDAY, April 26, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The risk for adverse drug reactions (ADRs) may be higher for women, even when accounting for gender differences in drug use, according to a study published online April 2 in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
Naproxen Sodium Does Not Slow Presymptomatic Alzheimer Disease
THURSDAY, April 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Naproxen sodium twice daily is not associated with reduced progression of presymptomatic Alzheimer disease (AD) among cognitively intact people at risk for the condition, according to a study published online April 5 in Neurology.
U.S. Death Rate From Drug Poisoning Up for Teens, Young Adults
THURSDAY, April 25, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For adolescents and young adults, the death rate from drug poisoning increased from 2006 to 2015, according to a study published online April 24 in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
1998 to 2015 Saw Increase in Outpatient Depression Treatment
WEDNESDAY, April 24, 2019 (HealthDay News) — From 1998 to 2015, there was an increase in outpatient treatment of depression, according to a study published online April 24 in JAMA Psychiatry.
CDC Provides Clarification of Opioid Prescribing Guideline
WEDNESDAY, April 24, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Implementation of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention opioid prescribing recommendations should be consistent with the guideline’s intent, according to a perspective piece published online April 24 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Nusinersen Promising for Later-Onset Spinal Muscular Atrophy
WEDNESDAY, April 24, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Limited evidence suggests that nusinersen treatment provides long-term benefits for children with later-onset spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), according to a study published online April 24 in Neurology.
Sucking Ice Chips Cuts Oral Side Effects of Oxaliplatin Chemo
WEDNESDAY, April 24, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Chemotherapy patients who suck on ice chips during treatment with oxaliplatin infusion have less trouble with eating and drinking cold things, fewer negative effects on quality of life due to oral symptoms, and a shorter duration of oral symptoms, according to a study published in the April issue of the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.
Some Children With Asthma Miss Critical Step in Inhaler Use
WEDNESDAY, April 24, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Many children with asthma, especially older children using a spacer with mouthpiece, miss a critical step in inhaler technique, according to a study published online April 8 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
Sleeping Pill Use Tied to Greater Need for BP Meds in Older Adults
WEDNESDAY, April 24, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Consumption of sleeping pills is linked to a subsequent increase in the number of antihypertensive drugs taken among older adults, according to a study published online March 25 in Geriatrics & Gerontology International.
Malawi First Country to Immunize Children Against Malaria
TUESDAY, April 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Malawi has become the first country to start immunizing children against malaria, the World Health Organization says.
AP News Article
FDA Approves Pembrolizumab Plus Axitinib for Advanced RCC
TUESDAY, April 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The combination of pembrolizumab and axitinib has been approved as a first-line treatment in advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Friday.
Risks, Benefits of Long-Term Drug Therapy for Osteoporosis Reviewed
TUESDAY, April 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Long-term osteoporosis drug therapy (ODT) reduces fracture risk in women but may increase risk for rare adverse events, and research gaps surround use of long-term drug therapies for osteoporotic fracture prevention, according to a review and position paper published online April 23 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Abstract/Full Text – Review (subscription or payment may be required)
Abstract/Full Text – Position Paper (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Metformin May Help Obese With Prediabetes Maintain Weight Loss
MONDAY, April 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Metformin is associated with long-term weight loss (LTWL), according to the results of the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study (DPPOS) published online April 23 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Rates of Marijuana Use in Cancer Patients on the Rise in U.S.
MONDAY, April 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Many people with cancer use marijuana, and the rates of use in the United States have increased over time, according to a study published online April 22 in Cancer.
Injection Timing Tied to Risk for Infection in Rotator Cuff Repair
MONDAY, April 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, corticosteroid injections within the previous month are associated with an increased risk for surgical site infection, according to a study published in the April 17 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
FDA Approves First Generic Nasal Spray Against Opioid Overdose
FRIDAY, April 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The first generic naloxone nasal spray to treat opioid overdose has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Statins Safe, Effective in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
FRIDAY, April 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Daily atorvastatin is safe for the primary prevention of cardiovascular events (CVE) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, conferring a similar degree of risk reduction in these patients as in other populations, according to a study published online April 15 in Arthritis & Rheumatology.
Atrasentan Tied to Lower Risk for Kidney Events in T2DM With CKD
FRIDAY, April 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Atrasentan is associated with a reduced risk for renal events in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease, according to a study published online April 14 in The Lancet to coincide with the International Society of Nephrology World Congress of Nephrology, held from April 12 to 15 in Melbourne, Australia.
Need for Sedation Up for Regular Cannabis Users
FRIDAY, April 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Regular cannabis users require a significantly higher amount of sedation for endoscopic procedures compared with nonusers, according to a study published online April 15 in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association.
National Hand Hygiene Initiative Successful in Australia
FRIDAY, April 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The National Hand Hygiene Initiative (NHHI) has successfully sustained improvement in hand hygiene compliance, according to a study recently published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases and presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, held from April 13 to 16 in Amsterdam.
Risk for T2DM Increased With Use of 5α-Reductase Inhibitors
FRIDAY, April 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Men receiving 5α-reductase inhibitors have an increased risk for new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus, according to a study published online April 11 in The BMJ.
Acetaminophen Safe as First-Line Analgesic for Most Older Adults
FRIDAY, April 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Despite a potential increased risk for stroke in patients with diabetes, acetaminophen is a safe first-line analgesic for most older adults living in nursing homes, according to a study published online March 26 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Naltrexone Implant Helps HIV Patients Prevent Opioid Relapse
FRIDAY, April 19, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Slow-release implantable naltrexone is associated with better outcomes than the oral drug for HIV-positive patients with an opioid addiction, according to a study published in the April issue of The Lancet HIV.
Anti-Inflammatory Add-On May Be Beneficial for Depression
THURSDAY, April 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Anti-inflammatory add-on treatment is beneficial for patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) or depressive symptoms, according to a meta-analysis published in the May issue of Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica.
CDC: Recent Decline Seen in High-Grade Cervical Lesions
THURSDAY, April 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The number of cervical precancers (CIN2+ cases) in the United States declined from 2008 to 2016, likely in part because of prevention with the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, according to research published in the April 19 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Sixty People Charged in Massive Opioid Painkiller Investigation
THURSDAY, April 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Fifty-three medical professionals, including 31 doctors, are among the 60 people charged by U.S. authorities for their alleged involvement in the illegal prescribing and distribution of opioid painkillers.
AP News Article
UB-421 Monotherapy Maintains HIV Viral Suppression
THURSDAY, April 18, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Monotherapy with UB-421 antibody, which blocks the HIV virus-binding site on human CD4+ T-cells, maintains viral suppression for up to 16 weeks in HIV-infected persons undergoing analytic treatment interruption, according to a study published in the April 18 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Some Patients With Imminently Fatal Cancer Undergo Treatment
WEDNESDAY, April 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Some patients with imminently fatal de novo metastatic cancer undergo treatment, according to a study published online April 15 in JNCI: Cancer Spectrum.
Parenteral Antimicrobial Tx at Home Burdens Children’s Caregivers
WEDNESDAY, April 17, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The overall burden of outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) is substantially higher than that of oral therapy for caregivers of children on prolonged antimicrobial therapy after hospital discharge, according to a study published in the April issue of Hospital Pediatrics.
Intensive BP Lowering May Up Cognitive Decline in Elderly
TUESDAY, April 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Older adults (aged ≥75 years) undergoing antihypertensive treatment with systolic blood pressure (SBP) >150 mm Hg have less cognitive decline than those with SBP <130 mm Hg, according to a study published in the March/April issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
Barriers to Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Should Be Addressed
TUESDAY, April 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Barriers to accessing treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) need to be addressed to help curb the epidemic, according to a report published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
Reasons for TKI Discontinuation ID’d in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
TUESDAY, April 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy can be safely discontinued and yields high rates of treatment-free remission (TFR), according to a study published online March 16 in Hematology.
Over Half of Patients Have Suboptimal Response to Statins
TUESDAY, April 16, 2019 (HealthDay News) — More than half of patients initiating statin therapy have a suboptimal low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) response within 24 months, according to a study published online April 15 in Heart.
Canagliflozin Seems Effective for Patients With T2DM, Kidney Disease
MONDAY, April 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Canagliflozin is associated with a reduced risk for renal and cardiovascular events for patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, according to a study published online April 14 in the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with the International Society of Nephrology World Congress of Nephrology, held from April 12 to 15 in Melbourne, Australia.
WHO: Congo Ebola Outbreak Still Not a Global Emergency
MONDAY, April 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The ongoing Ebola outbreak in Congo is of “deep concern” but does not yet qualify as a global emergency, the World Health Organization says.
AP News Article
Standardizing Demographics Ups Accuracy of Patient Matching
MONDAY, April 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Standardizing demographic data can improve the accuracy of patient matching, according to a study published in the May issue of the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association.
AEDs Tied to Higher Pneumonia Risk in Alzheimer Patients
MONDAY, April 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Antiepileptic drug (AED) use may increase the risk for pneumonia in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD), according to a study recently published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Metformin May Cut Risk for Prematurity, Miscarriage in PCOS
MONDAY, April 15, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In pregnant women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), metformin treatment from the late first trimester until delivery might reduce the risk for late miscarriage and preterm birth but does not prevent gestational diabetes, according to a study published in the April issue of The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.
FDA Approves Personalized Tx for Metastatic Bladder Cancer
FRIDAY, April 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The first personalized treatment for patients with metastatic bladder cancer and susceptible fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) genetic alterations was granted accelerated approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the agency announced.
Pharmacy Practice Managers Report Frequent Drug Shortages
FRIDAY, April 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Medication shortages are frequently reported by pharmacy practice managers, and hoarding is widespread, according to a research letter published online March 25 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
ACR Issues Position Statements on Drug Pricing, Step Therapy
FRIDAY, April 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Two position statements developed in relation to drug pricing and step therapy have been issued by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR).
Position Statement – Drug Pricing
Position Statement – Step Therapy
Colchicine May Improve Obesity-Induced Inflammation
FRIDAY, April 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Colchicine is safe and effective at improving obesity-associated inflammatory measures among adults with obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) without diabetes, according to a pilot study published online March 14 in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
Prevalence of Extragenital STDs High in Men Who Have Sex With Men
FRIDAY, April 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Extragenital (rectal and pharyngeal) chlamydia and gonorrhea are prevalent among men who have sex with men (MSM), according to research published in the April 12 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
In Pregnancy, Buprenorphine Use Up, Methadone Use Down
FRIDAY, April 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — From 2009 to 2015, the prevalence of methadone use decreased and buprenorphine use increased among Medicaid-enrolled pregnant women with opioid use disorder, and the 4Ps Plus and Substance Use Risk Profile-Pregnancy (SURP-P) scale are sensitive for identifying illicit drug use, according to two studies published online April 5 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required) – Krans
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required) – Coleman-Cowger
CDC Clarifies Guideline on Opioid Prescribing for Chronic Pain
FRIDAY, April 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has clarified that the new guideline on prescribing opioids for chronic pain is not meant to limit access to appropriate pain management, according to a letter issued to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Society of Hematology, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.
Complementary, Alternative Medicine Use High in Cancer Patients
FRIDAY, April 12, 2019 (HealthDay News) — One-third of patients with cancer and cancer survivors report using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and many do not disclose use to physicians, according to a research letter published online April 11 in JAMA Oncology.
FDA: Patients Should Not Abruptly Stop Taking a Prescribed Opioid
WEDNESDAY, April 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Because of the danger of “serious harm” to patients, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is advising doctors not to suddenly stop patients from taking opioid painkillers, or drastically lower the dose.
Verubecestat, Atabecestat Not Beneficial for Preventing Alzheimer Disease
WEDNESDAY, April 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Use of the orally administered β-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 1 inhibitors, verubecestat and atabecestat, does not prevent clinical progression to Alzheimer disease, according to two studies published in the April 11 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Abstract/Full Text – Egan (subscription or payment may be required)
Abstract/Full Text – Henley (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
STI Incidence Up After Receipt of HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis
WEDNESDAY, April 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For gay and bisexual men, receipt of HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is associated with an increase in sexually transmitted infections (STIs), according to a study published in the April 9 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Review Links Adverse Events to Use of Herbal Meds in Pregnancy
WEDNESDAY, April 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The use of herbal medicinal products during pregnancy and the postnatal period is associated with increased risk of adverse events, according to a review published online April 9 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Same Services More Expensive in Outpatient Than Office Settings
WEDNESDAY, April 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The same services are more expensive when performed in outpatient versus office settings, according to a blog post from the Health Care Cost Institute.
Many NPs Unable to Prescribe Meds to Treat Opioid Addiction
TUESDAY, April 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Greater practice restrictions are associated with a lower percentage of nurse practitioners (NPs) with waivers to prescribe buprenorphine, but no association is seen for physician assistants (PAs), according to a study published in the April 9 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
FDA Approves Osteoporosis Tx for High-Risk Postmenopausal Women
TUESDAY, April 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Evenity (romosozumab-aqqg) was approved for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women with a high risk for fracture, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced.
More Secondary Prevention Meds May Reduce Deaths After AMI
TUESDAY, April 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For older nursing home residents, use of three or four secondary preventive medications following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is associated with reduced mortality, according to a study published in the April issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
Continued Smoking Among Cancer Patients Ups Costs by $3.4B
TUESDAY, April 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Continued smoking among patients with cancer and the associated increase in attributable first-line cancer treatment failure is tied to significant incremental costs for subsequent cancer treatments, according to a study published online April 5 in JAMA Network Open.
Dietary Supplement Use Not Linked to Mortality Benefits
TUESDAY, April 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For U.S. adults, dietary supplements are not associated with mortality benefits, according to a study published online April 9 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
High Response Seen for All Hep C Tx Models in Injection Drug Users
TUESDAY, April 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For people with hepatitis C virus (HCV) who inject drugs (PWID) and receive opioid agonist therapy (OAT), receipt of HCV treatment is associated with high sustained virologic response (SVR), according to a study published online April 9 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
FDA Warns Against Use of Preowned or Unauthorized Test Strips
MONDAY, April 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning patients not to use preowned test strips or test strips not authorized for sale in the United States because of possible infection or inaccurate results that could cause serious harm.
First Two-Drug Regimen Approved for HIV-1 Treatment
MONDAY, April 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced the approval of Dovato (dolutegravir and lamivudine), the first approved two-drug, fixed-dose, complete regimen for adults with HIV-1 who have not been previously treated with antiretroviral medication.
Telemedicine Leads to More Antibiotic Rx for Pediatric Respiratory Infection
MONDAY, April 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For children with acute respiratory infections (ARIs), antibiotic prescribing is higher and guideline-concordant antibiotic management is lower with direct-to-consumer (DTC) telemedicine visits compared with other settings, according to a study published online April 8 in Pediatrics.
Older Patients With Crohn Disease May Benefit From Early Combo Tx
MONDAY, April 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A post hoc analysis of data from a randomized trial shows no difference between older and younger patients for the safety and efficacy of early combined immunosuppression therapy compared with conventional management for Crohn disease, according to a study published online March 19 in Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics.
Preventive Drugs Often Used in Last Year of a Cancer Patient’s Life
MONDAY, April 8, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Preventive drugs are frequently used in the last year of life among older adults with cancer, according to a study published online March 25 in Cancer.
October May Be Best Time for Older Adults to Receive Flu Shot
FRIDAY, April 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) — It may be best for older adults to wait until October to receive their flu vaccine, unless that delay would cause them to skip getting their flu shot altogether, according to a study published in the April issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
No Benefit Seen With Rituximab for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
FRIDAY, April 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) — In patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), B-cell depletion using several infusions of rituximab over 12 months is not associated with clinical improvement, according to a study published online April 2 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Topical Corticosteroids Associated With Higher Risk for Type 2 Diabetes
FRIDAY, April 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) — There is a positive association between use of topical corticosteroids and incident type 2 diabetes (T2D), according to a study published online April 1 in Diabetes Care.
Histologic Clearance of CIN2/3 Seen With HPV Therapeutic Vaccine
FRIDAY, April 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For women with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 2 or 3 associated with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), an immunotherapeutic tipapkinogen sovacivec (TS) HPV vaccine is effective for achieving histologic resolution, according to a study published online April 4 in Gynecologic Oncology.
Ibrance Approval Expanded to Include Men With Breast Cancer
FRIDAY, April 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of Ibrance (palbociclib) capsules has been widened to include men with hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer, the agency said Thursday in a news release.
Calcium Intake Tied to Lower Rate of Late AMD
FRIDAY, April 5, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Higher levels of dietary and supplementary calcium intake appear to be associated with a lower incidence of progression to late age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to a study published online March 21 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
FDA Issues Warning on E-Cigarette Liquids Resembling Cough Syrup
THURSDAY, April 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Warning letters have been sent to two companies that make and sell electronic cigarette liquids that look like prescription cough syrups, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday.
FDA: High Levels of Heavy Metals Found in Kratom Products
THURSDAY, April 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Dangerously high levels of heavy metals have been found in dozens of kratom products, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday.
Drop Seen in Preinvasive Cervical Disease With HPV Vaccination
THURSDAY, April 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Routine vaccination of young girls aged 12 to 13 years with human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine results in a reduction in preinvasive cervical disease, according to a study published online April 3 in The BMJ.
Most Osteoporosis Guidelines Do Not Discuss Patient Choices
THURSDAY, April 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Less than 40 percent of osteoporosis clinical practice guidelines include any mention of patients’ beliefs, values, or preferences (BVPs), according to a study published online March 11 in Osteoporosis International.
Patient-Report Instrument Helps Identify ADEs in Older Adults
THURSDAY, April 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) — A patient-report instrument has good predictive value for identifying adverse drug events (ADEs) in older adults in the community setting, according to a study published in the March/April issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
Full Text
Beta Interferon Tied to Lower Mortality in Relapsing-Onset MS
WEDNESDAY, April 3, 2019 (HealthDay News) — For patients with relapsing-onset multiple sclerosis, beta interferon treatment is associated with a lower mortality risk, according to a study published online March 18 in Brain.
Almost Three-Quarters of Allergists Have Prescribed SLIT
WEDNESDAY, April 3, 2019 (HealthDay News) — More than 73 percent of U.S. allergists report prescribing sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), according to research published online April 1 in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
New Plan Limits Out-of-Pocket Costs for Insulin
WEDNESDAY, April 3, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Out-of-pocket costs for insulin could be restricted to $25 a month for people under a drug benefit plan announced Wednesday by Express Scripts.
The New York Times Article
Americans Borrowed $88 Billion in Past Year to Pay for Health Care
TUESDAY, April 2, 2019 (HealthDay News) — About one in eight Americans borrowed a total of $88 billion in the past year to pay for health care, a new West Health-Gallup survey shows.
CNN Article
West Health-Gallup Survey
Dolutegravir Feasible for HIV Tx in Women of Childbearing Age
TUESDAY, April 2, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Dolutegravir should be considered for antiretroviral therapy (ART) in treating HIV in women of childbearing potential in resource-limited settings, despite its associated risk for neural tube defects, according to a study published online April 2 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Over-the-Counter Meds Save Health Care System Money
TUESDAY, April 2, 2019 (HealthDay News) — On average, each dollar spent on over-the-counter (OTC) medicines saves the U.S. health care system $7.20, totaling nearly $146 billion in annual savings, according to a report released March 18 by the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA).
FDA Approves Mavenclad for Treating Multiple Sclerosis
MONDAY, April 1, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Mavenclad (cladribine) tablets were approved to treat adult patients with relapsing-remitting and active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) who have inadequately responded to or cannot tolerate an alternate drug for MS, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Friday.
Cannabis Products Used Differ for Cancer, Noncancer Patients
MONDAY, April 1, 2019 (HealthDay News) — The forms of medical cannabis used vary for patients with and without cancer, according to a study published online March 25 in the Journal of Palliative Medicine.
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