Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pharmacy for September 2015. 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.
Angioedema Induced by New Classes of Drugs
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Two newer classes of drugs, dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) and neprilysin inhibitors, can induce angioedema, according to research published in the October issue of Allergy.
Adjuvant Aripiprazole Beneficial in Tx-Resistant Depression
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Adjuvant aripiprazole is associated with achievement of remission among older adults with treatment-resistant depression, according to a study published online Sept. 27 in The Lancet.
Long Duration Dual Antiplatelet Treatment Increases Bleeding
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Routine use of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) beyond six months after second generation drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation yields mixed clinical results, according to a review published in the October issue of Cardiovascular Therapeutics.
Calcium Supplements May Not Benefit Bone Health
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 30, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Extra calcium may not protect aging bones after all. The findings appear online in two reviews published online Sept. 29 in The BMJ.
FDA Approves Two New Medications for Diabetes
MONDAY, Sept. 28, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Two new diabetes treatments, Tresiba (insulin degludec injection) and Ryzodeg (insulin degludec/insulin aspart injection), have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Spironolactone Seems Effective for Female Pattern Hair Loss
FRIDAY, Sept. 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Spironolactone may be an effective treatment for female pattern hair loss (FPHL), especially among patients with signs of hyperandrogenism, according to a study published in the October issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
CDC Estimates HIV Prevalence in U.S. Adults From ’07 to ’12
THURSDAY, Sept. 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The estimated prevalence of HIV is 0.39 percent among U.S adults, according to a study published online Sept. 24 in the National Health Statistics Reports published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Sleep-Time Ambulatory BP Predicts New-Onset Diabetes
THURSDAY, Sept. 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Sleep-time ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) predicts new-onset diabetes, and ingestion of hypertension medications at bedtime is associated with reduced risk of new-onset diabetes, according to two studies published online Sept. 23 in Diabetologia.
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Fewer Multiple Embryos With Femara in Unexplained Infertility
THURSDAY, Sept. 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Use of letrozole (Femara) may reduce a couple’s risk of having a pregnancy with multiple embryos — but it might also slightly lower their chances of a live birth, a new clinical trial suggests. The study was published in the Sept. 24 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Ebselen Shows Potential for Drug-Resistant Clostridium difficile
THURSDAY, Sept. 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — An experimental study suggests that ebselen might be a new weapon in the fight against Clostridium difficile. The research, which was funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, was published in the Sept. 23 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
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Saxagliptin Not Linked to Increased Fracture Risk in T2DM
THURSDAY, Sept. 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with type 2 diabetes, treatment with saxagliptin is not associated with increased fracture risk, according to a study published online Sept. 10 in Diabetes Care.
Study Looks at Costs for Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis
THURSDAY, Sept. 24, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Most patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (MSPP) are prescribed medications, with six-month total direct costs of $11,291 per patient, according to a study published in the October issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
SSRIs Recommended As First Treatment Choice for PMDD
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Antidepressants are the first treatment choice for premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), according to a new research review published in the September issue of the Journal of Psychiatric Practice.
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Health Insurance Deductibles Rising Faster Than Wages
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Health insurance deductibles have risen more than six times faster than American workers’ average wages since 2010, a Kaiser Family Foundation report says.
Shorter Antibiotic Prophylaxis Doesn’t Raise Infection Rates
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Compliance with American Urological Association (AUA) guidelines for shorter antibiotic prophylaxis does not result in higher rates of infection among patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy, according to a study published in the October issue of The Journal of Urology.
ACOG: Encourage Consideration of Contraceptive Implants/IUDs
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — All women at risk of unwanted pregnancy should be counseled on all contraceptive options, including long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), according to a Committee Opinion published in the October issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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Combo Drug May Calm Agitation in Alzheimer’s Patients
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A drug that combines dextromethorphan with quinidine might offer a safer option for calming the agitation that commonly affects people with Alzheimer’s disease, researchers report in the Sept. 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Intralesional IL-2 Promising for Cutaneous Melanoma Metastases
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients with cutaneous melanoma metastases have excellent response to intralesional interleukin 2 (IL-2) administered concomitantly with topical imiquimod and a retinoid cream, according to a case series published in the October issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
FDA Approves Lonsurf for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The combination pill Lonsurf (trifluridine and tipiracil) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat metastatic colorectal cancer in patients who aren’t responding to other treatments, the agency said Tuesday in a news release.
IOM: Most U.S. Patients Will Experience Diagnostic Error
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A new report commissioned by the U.S. government contends that most Americans will encounter at least one diagnostic error in their lifetime, sometimes with severe consequences for their physical and mental health.
Lower Beta-Blocker Dose May Boost Survival After MI
TUESDAY, Sept. 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients treated with low-dose beta-blockers after myocardial infarction may fare better than those given the standard dose, according to a study published in the Sept. 29 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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Harms From Unnecessary Abx Extend Beyond Resistance
TUESDAY, Sept. 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Use of antibiotics in patients with heart failure exacerbation in the absence of compelling evidence of infection is unnecessary and potentially harmful, according to teachable moment piece published online Sept. 21 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Leukotriene Receptor Antagonist Monotherapy Ups Asthma Control
TUESDAY, Sept. 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — As monotherapy, leukotriene-receptor antagonists (LTRAs) improve asthma control versus placebo, according to a review and meta-analysis published online Sept. 22 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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fMRI May Take Guesswork Out of Schizophrenia Rx
TUESDAY, Sept. 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) might someday help psychiatrists quickly determine which antipsychotic drugs work best for patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, according to research published online Aug. 28 in The American Journal of Psychiatry.
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Regorafenib Deemed Not Cost-Effective for Metastatic CRC
MONDAY, Sept. 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Given its high cost, regorafenib provides little added benefit as a third-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer, according to a study published online Aug. 24 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Proper Diagnosis Is Key in Managing Chronic Migraine
MONDAY, Sept. 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Effective management of chronic migraine starts with proper diagnosis of this subtype of migraine, according to guidelines published in the September issue of Pain Practice.
Cholecalciferol May Help Reduce BMD Loss After Bariatric Surgery
MONDAY, Sept. 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — An intervention including cholecalciferol, protein supplementation, and physical exercise reduces bone mineral density loss after bariatric surgery, according to a study published online Sept. 9 in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
Dextromethorphan + Sitagliptin Promising in Type 2 Diabetes
MONDAY, Sept. 21, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Dextromethorphan combined with sitagliptin shows potential for treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, according to a study published online Sept. 12 in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.
FDA Approves New Drug for Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder
FRIDAY, Sept. 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A new antipsychotic drug to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in adults has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The drug, Vraylar (cariprazine), is a capsule taken once a day.
Mid-Morning May Be Best Time for Workday Break
FRIDAY, Sept. 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Choosing preferred activities for a work break and taking a break earlier in the shift are linked to more resource recovery after a break, according to a study published online Aug. 10 in the Journal of Applied Psychology.
CDC Resource Set to Improve Nursing Home Antibiotic Use
FRIDAY, Sept. 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released a new resource: Core Elements of Antibiotic Stewardship for Nursing Homes, which has been developed to guide improvement in antibiotic prescribing practices in nursing homes.
Financial Toxicity Rife Among Patients With Multiple Myeloma
FRIDAY, Sept. 18, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Insured patients with multiple myeloma frequently report financial toxicity and use of coping mechanisms, according to a study published online Sept. 16 in The Lancet Haematology.
Addition of Orlistat Benefits Obese Patients With T2DM
THURSDAY, Sept. 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — In overweight and obese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), treatment with orlistat in addition to lifestyle modifications improves outcomes, according to research published online Sept. 8 in Obesity Reviews.
Metabolic Syndrome Common in Young Women With Lupus
THURSDAY, Sept. 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Metabolic syndrome is common in young, premenopausal women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and chloroquine appears to protect against metabolic syndrome in these women, according to a study published online Aug. 26 in Arthritis Care & Research.
Paroxetine Deemed Ineffective, Unsafe for Depressed Teens
THURSDAY, Sept. 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — In the first trial reanalyzed under the Restoring Invisible and Abandoned Trials (RIAT) initiative, the results contradict the original research findings that reported paroxetine to be a safe and effective treatment for major depression in adolescents. The new research was published online Sept. 16 in The BMJ.
Panel Develops Criteria for Appropriate Use of PICCs
THURSDAY, Sept. 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — An expert panel has developed the Michigan Appropriateness Guide for Intravenous Catheters (MAGIC), according to research published in the Sept. 15 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
FDA Orders Tobacco Company to Stop Sales of New Cigarettes
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has ordered the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. to stop selling four new cigarette brands because submissions for these products did not meet requirements set forth in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, according to an announcement issued Sept. 15 by the agency.
Risk of Colorectal Polyps Tied to Blood Pressure Medications
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Blood pressure medications may raise the risk of colorectal polyps, according to a study published online Sept. 10 in the Journal of Digestive Diseases.
Women Less Likely to Be Full Professors Than Men
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — In academic medicine, women are less likely to be full professors than men and have less startup funding than men, according to two studies published in the Sept. 15 issue of JAMA.
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Beta-Blockers Don’t Mar Acute Variceal Bleeding Prognosis
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 16, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For cirrhotic patients with acute variceal bleeding (AVB), being on non-selective beta-blockers (NSBB) is not a negative prognostic factor for short-term survival, according to a study published online Sept. 4 in Hepatology.
Racial Disparities in Analgesia for Children With Appendicitis
TUESDAY, Sept. 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For pediatric patients with appendicitis, racial disparities exist with respect to analgesia administration, according to a study published online Sept. 14 in JAMA Pediatrics.
USPSTF Recommendations for Aspirin Use Vary by Age
TUESDAY, Sept. 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has concluded that the benefits and harms of low-dose aspirin for prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer vary by patient age. These findings form the basis of a draft recommendation statement published online Sept. 14 by the USPSTF.
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Half of HIV-Positive Patients See Family Docs Exclusively for Care
TUESDAY, Sept. 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A large percentage of HIV-positive patients may see family physicians exclusively for their care, and these patients are more likely to receive antiretroviral therapy (ART) if their doctor has more experience in HIV care, according to research published in the September/October issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
Low HDL-C, High CRP Ups Mortality for Patients With CAD
TUESDAY, Sept. 15, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) on statin therapy after undergoing a first percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), the risk of all-cause mortality is increased with low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), according to a study published in the Oct. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.
Lasting Analgesia for Subcompartmental GON Block
MONDAY, Sept. 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with cervicogenic headache (CH), the classical technique for greater occipital nerve (GON) block results in two weeks of analgesia, compared with at least 24 weeks for the subcompartmental technique, according to a study published in the September issue of Pain Practice.
Anticoagulation Report Has Little Impact in Discharge Summary
MONDAY, Sept. 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients on warfarin, an anticoagulation report that is embedded in the discharge summary has no impact on clinical outcomes, although it is perceived to improve patient safety, according to a study published in the September issue of the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
NIH: Benefits for More Intensive Control of Hypertension
MONDAY, Sept. 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Clinicians should control hypertension much more aggressively than current guidelines suggest, to best reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in people 50 or older. That’s the message behind the potentially game-changing results of a U.S. National Institutes of Health study released Friday.
No Increase in Febrile Seizures With 2010-2011 TIV or PCV13
MONDAY, Sept. 14, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For the 2010-2011 influenza season, there was no increase in the risk of febrile seizures (FS) with the trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) or the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13), according to research published online Sept. 14 in Pediatrics.
California State Assembly Approves Right-to-Die Bill
FRIDAY, Sept. 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The California State Assembly approved a bill on Wednesday that would allow doctors to prescribe life-ending medications to patients expected to die within six months.
Migraine Frequency, Intensity Linked to Cholesterol Levels
FRIDAY, Sept. 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Migraine frequency and intensity seem to be positively associated with total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, according to a study published in the September issue of Pain Practice.
For Pharma Reps, Access to Physicians Continuing to Drop
FRIDAY, Sept. 11, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Physician access for pharmaceutical representatives is continuing to decline, with access restricted to some degree for more than half of physicians, according to an AccessMonitor survey published by ZS.
Supportive Evidence for Daily PrEP Curbing HIV Transmission
THURSDAY, Sept. 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Additional data supports daily pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV-negative gay men at high risk for infection. The findings were reported online Sept. 9 in The Lancet.
Vemurafenib Deemed Highly Effective in Hairy-Cell Leukemia
THURSDAY, Sept. 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with relapsed or refractory hairy-cell leukemia, a short oral course of vemurafenib is highly effective, according to a study published online Sept. 9 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Cannabidiol May Help in the Treatment of Epilepsy
THURSDAY, Sept. 10, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Cannabidiol from marijuana might help prevent epilepsy seizures, but drug laws have hampered research efforts, according to a report published in the Sept. 10 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Management, Treatment of Chronic Disease Up With ACA
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — More Americans are getting health insurance as a result of the Affordable Care Act, which may lead to many more people getting diagnosed and treated for chronic conditions, such as diabetes, a new study contends. The findings were published in the September issue of Health Affairs.
ICER: New Cholesterol Drugs Highly Overpriced
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Two newly approved medications to treat high cholesterol are extremely overpriced compared to the health benefits they give to patients, a new analysis finds. The drugs in question, Repatha (evolocumab) and Praluent (alirocumab), currently cost more than $14,000 per year, and because millions of Americans have high cholesterol, costs could be overwhelming, according to The New York Times.
CDC: ER Visits for Medication Overdoses in Children Down
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The number of pediatric emergency department visits for medication exposures in children aged 6 years and younger rose during the early 2000s, peaking at 75,842 in 2010, but declined to 59,092 visits in 2013, according to findings published online Sept. 7 in Pediatrics.
EHR Vendors Not Adhering to Usability Certification Standards
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 9, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Among electronic health record (EHR) products, there is a lack of adherence to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) standards, according to a research letter published in the Sept. 8 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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AAP Recommends Flu Vaccine for All Children, Health Care Workers
TUESDAY, Sept. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — All eligible children and health care workers should receive influenza vaccination, according to new policy statements from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The policy statements were published online Sept. 7 in Pediatrics.
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Metformin Linked to Lower Risk of Head, Neck Cancer
TUESDAY, Sept. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Metformin is associated with a lower risk of developing head and neck cancer in patients with diabetes, according to a study published in the September issue of Head & Neck.
Herpes Zoster Vaccine Not Cost-Effective in Adults Aged 50 Years
TUESDAY, Sept. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For adults aged 50 years, herpes zoster (HZ) vaccine does not appear to be cost-effective, according to a study published online Sept. 8 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Remission in Pemphigus Vulgaris With Strategic Steroid Tapering
TUESDAY, Sept. 8, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with pemphigus vulgaris, a severity-tailored starting dose of glucocorticoids with an initial tapering duration based on the starting dose and a subsequent 50 percent yearly tapering regimen can result in complete remission within three to six years, according to a study published online Sept. 1 in the Journal of Dermatology.
D.C. Needle-Exchange Program Curbed HIV Spread
FRIDAY, Sept. 4, 2015 (HealthDay News) — A needle-exchange program in Washington, D.C., has successfully prevented new HIV infections, according to a study published online Sept. 3 in AIDS and Behavior.
FDA Issues Warning Regarding Injectable Skin Lighteners
THURSDAY, Sept. 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning that injectable skin-lightening products are potentially unsafe and ineffective.
Daily PrEP Prevents HIV Infection in High-Risk Individuals
THURSDAY, Sept. 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — None of 657 patients who took a daily pill to prevent HIV infection contracted the virus over a period of more than two years, according to a study from Kaiser Permanente of San Francisco. The findings, published online Sept. 1 in Clinical Infectious Diseases, dispel concerns that use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) would lead to more HIV infections, The New York Times reported.
Addition of Glitazone to Chemo May Help Treat CML
THURSDAY, Sept. 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Patients with chronic myeloid leukemia who received a glitazone along with imatinib remained disease-free for up to nearly five years in a study published online Sept. 2 in Nature.
Imetelstat Deemed Active in Myelofibrosis, Thrombocythemia
THURSDAY, Sept. 3, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Imetelstat, a 13-mer lipid-conjugated oligonucleotide that targets the RNA template of human telomerase reverse transcriptase, is active in patients with myelofibrosis and essential thrombocythemia, according to two studies published in the Sept. 3 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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FDA Approves Varubi for Chemo-Induced Nausea, Vomiting
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Varubi (rolapitant) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to prevent delayed phase chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
Study Compares Hospitalized Infection Risk for Biologics in RA
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with prior biologic exposure, the risk of hospitalized infection is increased with etanercept, infliximab, and rituximab versus abatacept, according to a study published online Aug. 28 in Arthritis & Rheumatology.
Many Teens With Chronic Illnesses Use Alcohol, Marijuana
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Many adolescents with chronic diseases such as asthma and juvenile arthritis have consumed alcohol or smoked marijuana in the last year, according to a study published online Aug. 31 in Pediatrics.
Finerenone Linked to Improved UACR in Diabetic Nephropathy
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with diabetic nephropathy receiving an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker, the addition of finerenone results in improvement in the urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR), according to a study published in the Sept. 1 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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