Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pharmacy for February 2020. 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.
Vitamin D Tied to Back Problems in Postmenopausal Women
FRIDAY, Feb. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Vitamin D deficiency is associated with lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) and low back pain (LBP) in postmenopausal women, according to a study published online Feb. 10 in Menopause.
HIV-Infected Youth Less Likely to Achieve Viral Suppression
FRIDAY, Feb. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Youth newly diagnosed with HIV are linked to care at similar rates as adults but achieve disproportionately lower rates of viral suppression, according to a study published online Jan. 28 in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
Statin Use May Reduce Mortality in High-Risk Prostate Cancer
FRIDAY, Feb. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Statin use alone or in combination with metformin is associated with lower all-cause and prostate cancer (PCa) mortality among high-risk patients, according to a study published online Feb. 8 in Cancer Medicine.
Assisting Medication Continuity Cuts Readmissions for Seniors
FRIDAY, Feb. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Interventions that bridge care transitions have the greatest impact on older adults’ medication continuity, according to a review published online Feb. 20 in Age and Ageing.
Age of Onset May Affect Clinical Outcomes for MS Patients on DMT
FRIDAY, Feb. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Age of onset for disease is an important factor affecting clinical outcomes across the life span in patients receiving disease-modifying therapy (DMT) for multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a study published online Feb. 25 in the European Journal of Neurology.
CDC Makes Changes to Coronavirus Testing Efforts
FRIDAY, Feb. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Just how prepared the United States is to quell an outbreak of coronavirus on American soil came into question on Thursday, as federal officials changed guidelines for testing after a whistleblower complaint. The complaint claimed some federal health workers had been allowed to interact with quarantined Americans without proper training or protective gear.
Patients Report Cannabis Eases Spasticity in Multiple Sclerosis
FRIDAY, Feb. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Cannabis use is common among multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with spasticity, according to a research letter published online Feb. 11 in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders.
Varenicline Seems Safe for Adults Without Depression
FRIDAY, Feb. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For adults without a recent history of depression, use of varenicline for smoking cessation does not appear to be associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular (CV) or neuropsychiatric hospitalizations when compared with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), according to a study published online Feb. 19 in Addiction.
Recommendations Issued for R/R Pediatric Hodgkin Lymphoma
THURSDAY, Feb. 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In a EuroNet Pediatric Hodgkin Lymphoma Group guideline, published in the February issue of HemaSphere, recommendations are presented regarding salvage therapy for pediatric patients with first relapse or refractory (R/R) classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL).
Facebook Bans False or Alarming Coronavirus Ads
THURSDAY, Feb. 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Misleading ads about products that claim to cure or protect against the new coronavirus will be banned from Facebook, the social media company said Wednesday. It also said it will prohibit ads that may trigger alarm about the outbreak.
CBS News Article
Reproductive Health Guidelines Issued for Rheumatic Diseases
THURSDAY, Feb. 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In an American College of Rheumatology guideline, published online Feb. 23 in Arthritis & Rheumatology, recommendations are presented for the management of reproductive health in women and men with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMD).
Adults May Not Need Tetanus, Diphtheria Booster Shots
THURSDAY, Feb. 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The incidence rates of tetanus and diphtheria are not significantly lower in countries that routinely vaccinate adults for these diseases, according to a study published online Feb. 25 in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Antibiotic, Opioid Rx Common With ED Visits for Dental Conditions
THURSDAY, Feb. 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Antibiotics and opioids are frequently prescribed during emergency department visits for dental conditions, according to a study published in the March issue of the Journal of the American Dental Association.
Gefapixant Promising for Relief of Unexplained Chronic Cough
THURSDAY, Feb. 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with refractory chronic cough or unexplained chronic cough, the P2X3 receptor antagonist gefapixant 50 mg twice daily significantly reduces cough frequency, according to a study published online Feb. 25 in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.
First U.S. Case of ‘Unknown Origin’ COVID-19 Identified
THURSDAY, Feb. 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Vice President Mike Pence will lead the U.S. response to a potential global pandemic of COVID-19, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday evening.
AP News Article
CDC Media Statement
Intensive BP Control Has Positive Impact on Residual Life Span
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For middle-aged and older adults at high cardiovascular risk without diabetes, intensive blood pressure (BP) control improves projected survival by six months to three years, according to research published online Feb. 26 in JAMA Cardiology.
First U.S. Trial of Possible Coronavirus Treatment Begins
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The University of Nebraska Medical Center has launched the first clinical trial in the United States of a possible treatment for the new coronavirus.
Adding Pembrolizumab May Up Response in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with untreated stage II or III triple-negative breast cancer, pembrolizumab plus neoadjuvant chemotherapy, compared with placebo plus neoadjuvant chemotherapy, is associated with a significantly higher rate of pathological complete response, according to a study published in the Feb. 27 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Influence of Politics Has Not Waned in Opinions About ACA
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Public opinion about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) remains divided 10 years after its passage, according to a study published online Feb. 19 in Health Affairs.
Antibiotics, Corticosteroids Beneficial in COPD Exacerbations
TUESDAY, Feb. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For adults with exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), antibiotics and systemic corticosteroids are associated with less treatment failure, according to a review published online Feb. 25 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Long-Term Antidepressant Use Appears to Raise Risk for T2DM
TUESDAY, Feb. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Long-term antidepressant use increases the risk for type 2 diabetes onset in a time- and dose-dependent manner, according to a study published online Feb. 12 in Diabetes Care.
Medication Treatment May Lower Risk for Opioid Overdose Death
TUESDAY, Feb. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Medication treatment with methadone and buprenorphine is associated with a significantly lower risk for overdose death for people with opioid use disorder (OUD) compared with nonmedication treatment, but this lower risk does not persist after discontinuing treatment, according to a study published online Feb. 25 in Addiction.
Liraglutide Enhances Weight Loss With Intensive Behavioral Therapy
TUESDAY, Feb. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Intensive behavioral therapy (IBT) produces clinically meaningful weight loss in a primary care setting, which is enhanced in combination with liraglutide, according to a study published online Feb. 24 in Obesity.
Purdue Launches Ad Campaign for OxyContin Claims
MONDAY, Feb. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — An ad campaign to inform people harmed by the prescription opioid OxyContin as to where they can file claims against maker Purdue Pharma was launched Monday by the company as part of bankruptcy proceedings.
AP News Article
Children’s Vaccine Patterns Mainly Classified as Recommended
MONDAY, Feb. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Most children’s vaccination patterns are classified as recommended, although a considerable proportion are not up to date with vaccinations by 19 to 35 months of age, according to a study published online Feb. 21 in Pediatrics.
Racial/Ethnic Disparity Seen for Stroke in Dialysis Patients With A-Fib
MONDAY, Feb. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Among hemodialysis patients with atrial fibrillation, racial/ethnic disparities in all-cause stroke are partially mediated by lower anticoagulant use, according to a study published online Feb. 20 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
QOL Similar After Surgery, Antibiotics for Uncomplicated Appendicitis
FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients being treated for uncomplicated acute appendicitis, quality of life (QOL) is similar at seven years after appendectomy or antibiotic therapy, according to a study published online Feb. 19 in JAMA Surgery.
Longer Hormone Therapy Tied to Less Muscle Loss in Menopause
FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Longer use of hormone therapy (HT) is associated with high muscle mass and a low prevalence of sarcopenia in postmenopausal women, according to a study published online Feb. 10 in Menopause.
Major Malformations Up With Macrolide Prescribing in Pregnancy
FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Prescribing macrolide antibiotics during the first trimester of pregnancy is associated with an increased risk for major fetal malformation, according to a study published online Feb. 19 in The BMJ.
Most Doctors Perceive Benefits of Vaccines for Children Program
FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Most pediatricians report that the Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) has high perceived benefits, according to a study published online Feb. 21 in Pediatrics.
Vaccine Effectiveness 45 Percent for Flu Virus Linked to ARI
THURSDAY, Feb. 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The overall vaccine effectiveness (VE) against any influenza virus associated with medically attended acute respiratory illness (ARI) is 45 percent for the current influenza season, according to research published in the Feb. 21 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
More Side Effects Seen With Guideline-Recommended Chlorthalidone
THURSDAY, Feb. 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In real-world practice, chlorthalidone use is not associated with significant cardiovascular benefits versus hydrochlorothiazide, but it is associated with a greater risk for renal and electrolyte abnormalities, according to a study published online Feb. 17 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Out-of-Pocket Costs Impact Neurologic Medication Adherence
THURSDAY, Feb. 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with certain neurological conditions, increasing out-of-pocket medical costs is associated with lower medication adherence, according to a study published online Feb. 19 in Neurology.
Glycemic Control in T2DM Worse With Refusal of Insulin Therapy
THURSDAY, Feb. 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For individuals with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes, those who decline insulin therapy have worse glycemic control, according to a study published online Feb. 20 in Diabetic Medicine.
Prescription Medications Can Be Found on Craigslist
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Prescription medications, especially analog insulin, can be found on Craigslist, according to a research letter published online Feb. 17 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Several Drugs Have Similar Efficacy for Plaque Psoriasis
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Four drugs have similar Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) response rates for both short- and long-term treatment of plaque psoriasis, according to a review published online Feb. 5 in JAMA Dermatology.
Functional Outcomes Similar Across Localized Prostate Cancer Treatments
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Most functional differences associated with contemporary management of localized prostate cancer attenuate by five years, according to a study published in the Jan. 14 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
One-Quarter of Antibiotic Prescriptions at Children’s Hospitals Suboptimal
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — One in three children are prescribed antibiotics at children’s hospitals, and 25.9 percent prescribed antibiotics for infectious use are receiving at least one suboptimal antibiotic, according to a study recently published in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Rx Meds That Children Access Often Removed From Packaging
TUESDAY, Feb. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — More than half of prescription medication exposures among children involve access to medications that have previously been removed from their original packaging, according to a study published online Feb. 11 in The Journal of Pediatrics.
Low-Cost Marketing of Stimulants to Physicians May Increase Rx Rates
TUESDAY, Feb. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Low-cost marketing to physicians may be driving up stimulant prescribing rates, according to a research letter published online Jan. 21 in JAMA Pediatrics.
Risk for Adverse Events Up With Low-Dose Methotrexate
TUESDAY, Feb. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Use of low-dose methotrexate (LD-MTX) is associated with increased risks for adverse events (AEs), including skin cancer, and gastrointestinal, pulmonary, infectious, and hematologic AEs, according to research published online Feb. 18 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
AAP Addresses Fertility Preservation for Children With Cancer
TUESDAY, Feb. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Medical and ethical considerations of fertility preservation in children with cancer are addressed in a clinical report from the American Academy of Pediatrics, published online Feb. 18 in Pediatrics.
Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors Protect the Heart
TUESDAY, Feb. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors protect against cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a review published in the Feb. 4 issue of the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Amlodipine Better BP Drug for Lower Long-Term Risk for Gout
TUESDAY, Feb. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The antihypertensive medication amlodipine is associated with a lower risk for gout compared with other antihypertensive agents, according to a study published online Jan. 20 in the Journal of Hypertension.
Telemarketer Access to Medicare Information to Be Investigated
FRIDAY, Feb. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — An investigation into how telemarketers may be obtaining seniors’ personal Medicare information will be launched by the U.S. Health and Human Services inspector general office.
AP News Article
More Information: HHS
Medtronic MiniMed 600 Series Insulin Pumps Recalled
FRIDAY, Feb. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — More than 322,000 MiniMed 600 Series Insulin Pumps have been recalled by Medtronic due to a defect that could cause them to malfunction and put users at risk for serious harm or death.
FDA Requests Market Withdrawal of Belviq Due to Cancer Risk
FRIDAY, Feb. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A clinical trial of the weight-loss drug Belviq (lorcaserin) shows an association with an increased risk for cancer, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is requesting that its maker withdraw the drug from the U.S. market.
U.S. Life Expectancy to Reach 85 by 2060
FRIDAY, Feb. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Nearly a quarter of all U.S. residents will be older than 65 by 2060, and life expectancy will reach an all-time high of 85 by that year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
AP News Article
Short-Course Rifamycin-Based Regimens Preferred for Latent TB
FRIDAY, Feb. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), short-course rifamycin-based regimens are preferred over longer-course isoniazid monotherapy, according to guidelines published in the Feb. 14 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Congo Ebola Outbreak Seems to Be Easing
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Experts are “very encouraged” after just three new Ebola cases were reported in the past week in eastern Congo, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Tuesday.
AP News Article
Recommendations Issued for Sleep Disturbance in Pediatric Autism
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In an American Academy of Neurology practice guideline, published online Feb. 12 in Neurology, recommendations are presented for addressing sleep disturbances in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
2011 to 2018 Saw Decline in Problems Paying Medical Bills
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — From 2011 to 2018, there was a decrease in the percentage of families having problems paying medical bills in the past 12 months, according to a February data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.
S. aureus Colonization Increased in Skin Lesions in Lupus Patients
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have increased colonization with Staphylococcus aureus in cutaneous lupus erythematosus lesions, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.
Adding Maraviroc to c-ART No Better in Advanced HIV
TUESDAY, Feb. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients initiating therapy for advanced HIV, the addition of maraviroc, an antiretroviral drug with immunologic effects, to standard combined antiretroviral therapy (c-ART) does not improve clinical outcomes, according to a study published online Feb. 11 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Coronavirus Fears Have U.S. Pharmacies Running Out of Face Masks
TUESDAY, Feb. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — As millions in China scramble to find and wear face masks they believe will protect them against the new coronavirus, many Americans are trying to do the same.
National Community Pharmacists Association
AP News Article
Prophylactic Migraine Treatment Has No Effect in Children
TUESDAY, Feb. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There is little evidence supporting the efficacy of prophylactic pharmacologic treatments for pediatric migraine, according to a review published online Feb. 10 in JAMA Pediatrics.
Resting-State EEG Can Predict Sertraline Treatment Outcomes
MONDAY, Feb. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A latent-space machine learning algorithm tailored for resting-state electroencephalography (rsEEG) can predict treatment outcomes with sertraline in depression, according to a study published online Feb. 10 in Nature Biotechnology.
Two Experimental Drugs for Rare, Inherited Alzheimer Disease Disappoint
MONDAY, Feb. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Two experimental drugs do not appear to slow memory loss or mental decline in patients in the early stages of a rare, inherited, early-onset form of Alzheimer disease, according to initial results from a clinical trial.
Biologics Tied to Greater Reduction in Pediatric Psoriasis
MONDAY, Feb. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Biologics seem to be associated with greater reduction in psoriasis severity scores and higher drug survival rates than methotrexate in pediatric patients treated in a real-world setting, according to a study published online Feb. 5 in JAMA Dermatology.
Single Dose of HPV Vaccine May Cut Preinvasive Cervical Disease
MONDAY, Feb. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Receipt of one, two, or three doses of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine among females aged 15 to 19 years is associated with reduced incidence of preinvasive cervical disease at five years compared to that seen in unvaccinated females, according to a study published online Feb. 10 in Cancer.
Seniors Have Concerns About Affording Health Insurance
MONDAY, Feb. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Many adults aged 50 to 64 years are concerned about their ability to afford health insurance, according to a study published online Feb. 7 in JAMA Network Open.
GI Bleeding in OAC-Treated A-Fib Patients Indicates CRC Risk
FRIDAY, Feb. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Lower-gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is associated with high risks for colorectal cancer in patients with atrial fibrillation treated with oral anticoagulation (OAC) therapy, according to a study published online Feb. 6 in the European Heart Journal.
Hexavalent Vaccine Included in Vaccines for Children Program
FRIDAY, Feb. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The hexavalent combined diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis (DTaP) adsorbed, inactivated poliovirus (IPV), Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) conjugate (meningococcal protein conjugate), and hepatitis B (HepB; recombinant) vaccine (DTaP-IPV-Hib-HepB) has been included in the federal Vaccines for Children program, according to research published in the Feb. 7 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Recommended Immunization Schedule for Children, Teens Updated
THURSDAY, Feb. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Changes to the recommended immunization schedule for children and adolescents are presented in a report published in the Feb. 7 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report and a policy statement published online Feb. 4 in Pediatrics.
ACIP Recommended Immunization Schedule
AAP Policy Statement
Meta-Analyses Link Rosiglitazone to Increased Cardiovascular Risk
THURSDAY, Feb. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Rosiglitazone seems to be associated with an increased cardiovascular risk, particularly heart failure, according to data from a systematic review and meta-analyses published online Feb. 5 in The BMJ.
Speaker Conflicts of Interest May Bias Testimony About Drugs
THURSDAY, Feb. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Public speakers who disclose a conflict of interest (COI) with a pharmaceutical company are more likely to provide a favorable testimony for the recommendation of psychiatric drugs, according to a study published online Feb. 4 in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine.
Recommendations Developed for Management of Complex ADHD
THURSDAY, Feb. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In a Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Clinical Practice Guideline, published online Jan. 30 in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, recommendations are presented for the management of complex attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in childhood.
Reference Pricing Linked to Lower Prices Paid by Employers
THURSDAY, Feb. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Reference prices are associated with lower prices paid by employers and lower cost sharing by employees, according to a study published online Feb. 5 in JAMA Network Open.
Kratom Seems Safe for Pain, Anxiety, Opioid Withdrawal
THURSDAY, Feb. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Kratom is used for symptoms of pain, anxiety, depression, and opioid withdrawal, and serious adverse events are uncommon, according to a the results of a survey published online Feb. 3 in Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
Visit Adherence, Visual Acuity Linked in Macular Degeneration
THURSDAY, Feb. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Adherence to randomized clinical trial visits is associated with visual acuity in individuals with neovascular age-related macular degeneration, according to a study published online Feb. 6 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
Racial/Ethnic, Sex, Insurance Disparities ID’d in Acne Care
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Racial/ethnic, sex, and insurance-based disparities are seen in acne care, according to a study published online Feb. 5 in JAMA Dermatology.
Prenatal Vitamin D Does Not Reduce Asthma, Wheeze at Age 6
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Among children at risk for asthma, prenatal vitamin D supplementation does not affect the incidence of asthma or recurrent wheeze at age 6, according to a study published in the Feb. 6 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Some Lifestyle Changes Suffer With Start of Meds to Cut CV Risk
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Initiation of antihypertensive and statin medication is associated with favorable and unfavorable lifestyle changes, according to a study published online Feb. 5 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Negotiated Prices, Formulary Could Cut Medicare Rx Spending
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Using negotiated prices and a defined formulary, similar to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Medicare could save billions of dollars on prescription insulin for patients with diabetes, according to a research letter published online Feb. 3 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
H. pylori Eradication Cuts Gastric Cancer Risk in Those With Family History
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Among those who have Helicobacter pylori infection and a family history of gastric cancer in first-degree relatives, eradication treatment for H. pylori reduces the risk for gastric cancer, according to a study published in the Jan. 30 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Tramadol Linked to Increased Hip Fracture Risk in Adults Aged ≥50
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For older adults, initiation of tramadol is associated with an increased risk for hip fracture compared with initiation of codeine, ibuprofen, and other commonly used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, according to a study published online Feb. 5 in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
Many Antibiotic Rx Filled Without Infection-Related Diagnosis
TUESDAY, Feb. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Large proportions of antibiotic prescriptions for Medicaid patients are filled without evidence of infection-related diagnoses or clinician visits, according to a report published in the February issue of Health Affairs.
Bumetanide Promising for Reducing Autism Symptoms
TUESDAY, Feb. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Bumetanide seems effective for improving symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in young children, according to a study published online Jan. 27 in Translational Psychiatry.
Adult Dental Patients Frequently Overprescribed Opioids
TUESDAY, Feb. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Adult dental patients are frequently overprescribed opioids, with about half of prescribed opioids exceeding the recommended three-day supply, according to a study published online Feb. 4 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Costs of ART Regimens Increasing, Outpacing Inflation
TUESDAY, Feb. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Initial regimens recommended for most people with HIV (PWH) are priced above $36,000 per year, with antiretroviral therapy (ART) cost increases exceeding the inflation rate, according to a research letter published online Feb. 3 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
HIV Vaccine Ineffective, Clinical Trial Halted
MONDAY, Feb. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A clinical trial for an HIV vaccine has been halted after it was concluded that it did not prevent infection with the AIDS-causing virus, the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) said Monday.
CNN Article
U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
International AIDS Society
Experimental Antiviral Drug to Be Tested Against New Coronavirus
MONDAY, Feb. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A clinical trial to test an experimental antiviral drug’s effectiveness against the new coronavirus will be conducted in China as it battles a coronavirus outbreak there.
Bloomberg News Article
More Information: CDC
U.S. Adult Immunization Schedule Updated for 2020
MONDAY, Feb. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In a clinical guideline published online Feb. 4 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) outlines its 2020 Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule.
Altering Default Settings in EHR Influences Opioid Prescribing
MONDAY, Feb. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Altering the default settings in the electronic medical record can influence the quantity of opioids prescribed in an emergency department setting, according to a study published online Jan. 21 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Proactive Pain Management May Cut Postop Opioid Prescriptions
MONDAY, Feb. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — An enhanced recovery after surgery program complemented by a preemptive pain management program is associated with a decrease in opioid prescriptions at discharge following minimally invasive foregut surgery, according to a study published in the February issue of the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.
Whether HPV Vaccination Will Prevent Cervical Cancer Unclear
MONDAY, Feb. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Methodological problems and study limitations for trials of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine create uncertainty about its ability to prevent cervical cancer in the long term, according to a review published online Jan. 21 in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.
More Naloxone Orders Filled When Pharmacists Can Dispense
MONDAY, Feb. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A change in the law allowing pharmacists to dispense naloxone correlated with a large increase in the number of naloxone orders dispensed in Ohio, according to a study published online Jan. 31 in JAMA Network Open.
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