Home Pharmacy January 2016 Briefing – Pharmacy

January 2016 Briefing – Pharmacy

Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pharmacy for January 2016. 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.

High Level of Tenofovir Resistance for Those With HIV

FRIDAY, Jan. 29, 2016 (HealthDay News) — HIV resistance to the antiretroviral drug tenofovir (Viread) is common, according to a study published online Jan. 28 in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

FDA Approves Zepatier for Chronic Hepatitis C

FRIDAY, Jan. 29, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Zepatier (elbasvir and grazoprevir) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat chronic hepatitis C virus genotypes 1 and 4 infections.

Severe Reaction to Pneumococcal Vaccines in Patients With CAPS

FRIDAY, Jan. 29, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Pneumococcal vaccines can trigger a severe local and systemic inflammatory reaction in patients with cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS), according to a study published in the February issue of Arthritis & Rheumatology.

Ezetimibe/Simvastatin Ups Clinical Outcomes in IMPROVE-IT

FRIDAY, Jan. 29, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Lipid-lowering therapy with ezetimibe plus simvastatin is associated with improved clinical outcomes, with a reduction in total primary end point (PEP) events, according to a study published in the Feb. 2 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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Carbamazepine Affects Warfarin Anticoagulation

THURSDAY, Jan. 28, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For warfarin-treated patients, carbamazepine co-treatment is associated with subtherapeutic anticoagulative effect and increased warfarin dose requirements, according to a study published online Jan. 21 in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

FDA Approves Halaven for Advanced Liposarcoma

THURSDAY, Jan. 28, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Halaven (eribulin mesylate) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as the first chemotherapy drug shown to improve survival in people with advanced liposarcoma.

Tysabri Impacts Seroconversion in John Cunningham Virus

THURSDAY, Jan. 28, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with John Cunningham virus (JCV), natalizumab (Tysabri) treatment affects seroconversion and JCV index values, according to a study published online Jan. 27 in Neurology: Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation.

Review Explores Harms Linked to Antidepressant Treatment

THURSDAY, Jan. 28, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The harms associated with selective serotonin and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors cannot be estimated accurately, according to a review published online Jan. 27 in The BMJ.

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n-3 PUFA Tx After AMI Linked to Drop in Death, Recurrent AMI

THURSDAY, Jan. 28, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), the use of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) is associated with reduced risk of all-cause mortality and recurrent AMI through 12-month follow-up, according to a study published in the Feb. 1 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.

Vitamin D Treatment Has No Effect in Prediabetes

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 27, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with prediabetes or diet-treated type 2 diabetes, high-dose vitamin D treatment has no effect on β-cell function, insulin sensitivity, or glycemic control, according to a study published online Jan. 19 in Diabetes Care.

Belatacept Regimen Ups Kidney Transplant Survival

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 27, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For kidney transplant recipients, a belatacept regimen is associated with improved patient and graft survival compared with a cyclosporine regimen, according to a study published in the Jan. 28 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

No Beneficial Effects Seen for Cyclosporine A in Reperfused MI

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 27, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A single intravenous cyclosporine A (CsA) bolus just before primary percutaneous coronary intervention has no beneficial effects on ST-segment resolution in reperfused myocardial infarction (MI), according to a study published in the Feb. 2 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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Review: Dabigatran Comparable to Warfarin for Nonvalvular A-Fib

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 27, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, dabigatran 150 mg is comparable to warfarin for preventing ischemic stroke, and correlates with lower risk of intracranial bleeding but higher risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, according to a review published online Jan. 26 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

Prenatal Vitamin D Supplements Don’t Reduce Asthma

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 27, 2016 (HealthDay News) — There’s been speculation that a daily vitamin D supplement taken in pregnancy might lower the odds for asthma in children. However, two new studies find no evidence for such an effect. Both studies are published in the Jan. 26 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Drug Shortages Affecting Emergency Med Up 2008 to 2014

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 27, 2016 (HealthDay News) — From 2008 to 2014 there was an increase in drug shortages within the scope of emergency medicine (EM) practice, according to a study published in the January issue of Academic Emergency Medicine.

Serious Propranolol ADRs Rare in Infantile Hemangioma

TUESDAY, Jan. 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For children with infantile hemangiomas, severe adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are rare with propranolol treatment, according to a research letter published in the Jan. 26 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Possibility for Health Care Legislation Changes in 2016

TUESDAY, Jan. 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Given the current political climate and issues of bipartisan concern, 2016 could see certain changes to health care legislation, according to a report published in Medical Economics.

Varicella Zoster Vaccine Linked to Corneal Inflammation

TUESDAY, Jan. 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Varicella zoster virus vaccination has been linked to corneal inflammation, but the number of such cases is small, according to research presented recently at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology in Las Vegas.

Prednisolone Therapy Induces Procoagulant State

TUESDAY, Jan. 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For healthy subjects, 10 days of prednisolone therapy induces a procoagulant state, according to a study published online Jan. 21 in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

Adjuvant Therapy Ups Survival in Small-Cell Lung Cancer

TUESDAY, Jan. 26, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with early-stage small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) undergoing resection, treatment with adjuvant chemotherapy or chemotherapy with cranial irradiation is associated with improved survival compared with surgery alone, according to a study published online Jan. 18 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Dysgraphia Described After Sertraline Intake

MONDAY, Jan. 25, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Dysgraphia after sertraline intake has been documented in a case report published online Jan. 21 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.

Ivacaftor Appears Efficacious, Safe for Younger CF Patients

MONDAY, Jan. 25, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Ivacaftor is a potential new treatment to offer children aged 2 years and older with cystic fibrosis and a CFTR gating mutation, according to research published online Jan. 20 in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.

Hypoglycemia, Atherosclerosis Progression Link Explored

MONDAY, Jan. 25, 2016 (HealthDay News) — In the Veterans Affairs Diabetes Trial, hypoglycemia was associated with coronary artery calcium (CAC) progression only in the standard therapy group (versus intensive therapy), according to research published online Jan. 19 in Diabetes Care.

Considerable Symptom Burden With Adjuvant Endocrine Tx

MONDAY, Jan. 25, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Patients treated with adjuvant endocrine therapy (ET) for primary breast cancer have considerable symptom burden, according to a study published online Jan. 19 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Inhibition of mTOR Restores Corticosteroid Sensitivity in COPD

FRIDAY, Jan. 22, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) by rapamycin restores corticosteroid sensitivity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a study published in the Jan. 15 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

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Curcumin Cuts Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Mice

FRIDAY, Jan. 22, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Curcumin can attenuate acetaminophen-induced mitochondrial alterations in the livers of mice, according to an experimental study published online Jan. 15 in the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology.

Eluxadoline Eases Pain and Diarrhea for Some With IBS

THURSDAY, Jan. 21, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Eluxadoline (Viberzi) for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with diarrhea seems to reduce symptoms for some patients for at least six months, according to research published in the Jan. 21 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Based on these findings, eluxadoline was approved recently by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

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Blood Test May Help Guide Appropriateness of Antibiotic Rx

THURSDAY, Jan. 21, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Researchers say they’re closer to developing a blood test that distinguishes between viral and bacterial respiratory infections. The findings are published in the Jan. 20 issue of Science Translational Medicine.

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Slowing Noted in Growth of Cancer Expenditures

THURSDAY, Jan. 21, 2016 (HealthDay News) — From 1998 to 2012, cancer care expenditures increased at an annualized rate of 2.9 percent, although the growth slowed from 2007, according to a study published online Jan. 15 in Cancer.

Cystectomy Plus Chemo Ups Survival in Bladder Cancer

THURSDAY, Jan. 21, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with locally advanced bladder cancer, cystectomy plus adjuvant chemotherapy is associated with improved survival versus cystectomy alone, according to a study published online Jan. 19 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Antipsychotic-Exposed Youths Have Increased T2DM Risk

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 20, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Youths treated with antipsychotics have increased cumulative risk and exposure-adjusted incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), according to research published online Jan. 20 in JAMA Psychiatry.

TB Therapy-Linked Medication Errors Occur Frequently

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 20, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Medication errors associated with antituberculosis therapy occur frequently in an inpatient setting, according to a study published online Jan. 13 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.

Less Hypoglycemia With Weight-Based Insulin in Hyperkalemia

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 20, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Weight-based insulin dosing is associated with less hypoglycemia than standard dosing for patients with acute hyperkalemia weighing less than 95 kg, according to a study published online Jan. 13 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.

Physicians Choose Less Aggressive Care at End of Life

TUESDAY, Jan. 19, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Physicians facing death are less likely to demand aggressive care, according to two research letters published in the Jan. 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, a theme issue on death, dying, and end of life.

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B12 Deficiency Common in Long-Term Care Residents

TUESDAY, Jan. 19, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Vitamin B12 deficiency is common among seniors in long-term care, according to a study published online Jan. 19 in the Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism.

ACP, CDC Offer Antibiotic Rx Guidelines for ARTIs

TUESDAY, Jan. 19, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The American College of Physicians and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued new guidelines for prescribing antibiotics for acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) in adults. The guidelines were published online Jan. 19 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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QI Methods Can Cut Antibiotic Duration in Children With uSSTIs

TUESDAY, Jan. 19, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For children hospitalized for uncomplicated skin and soft tissue infections (uSSTIs), quality improvement (QI) methods can increase prescriptions for short courses of antibiotics, according to a quality report published online Jan. 18 in Pediatrics.

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Impact of T2DM Meds on Heart Failure Hospitalization Explored

TUESDAY, Jan. 19, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with type 2 diabetes, there is no association between hospitalization for heart failure and treatment with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4is) versus sulfonylureas (SUs) or treatment with saxagliptin versus sitagliptin, according to a study published online Jan. 6 in Diabetes Care.

Greater Transparency Being Promoted in Research

MONDAY, Jan. 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Greater transparency is being promoted in clinical research, according to a health policy brief published online Jan. 14 in Health Affairs.

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KRAS, BRAF V600E Mutations Impact Survival in Colon Cancer

MONDAY, Jan. 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with stage III colon cancer treated with leucovorin, fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX), KRAS and BRAF V600E mutations are associated with worse clinical outcome in patients with microsatellite-stable tumors, according to a study published online Jan. 14 in JAMA Oncology.

Medical Marijuana May Help Treat, Prevent Migraines

MONDAY, Jan. 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Marijuana may give relief to migraine sufferers, according to research published online Jan. 9 in Pharmacotherapy.

Ranolazine Added to Glimepiride Cuts HbA1c in T2DM

MONDAY, Jan. 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with type 2 diabetes on background glimepiride therapy, but not metformin, addition of ranolazine is associated with a significant reduction in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), according to research published online Jan. 8 in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.

Pre-Stroke Aspirin Use May Reduce Stroke Severity

MONDAY, Jan. 18, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with atherothrombotic stroke, pre-stroke aspirin use may reduce initial stroke severity, according to a study published online Jan. 11 in the Annals of Neurology.

Electronic Cigarettes May Hinder Smoking Cessation Efforts

FRIDAY, Jan. 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — E-cigarette use actually lowers smokers’ chances that they’ll quit tobacco by about 28 percent, according to an evidence review published online Jan. 14 in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.

Prophylactic Antibiotic Choice Impacts Post-Hysterectomy SSI

FRIDAY, Jan. 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For women undergoing hysterectomy, prophylactic antibiotic choice impacts the risk of surgical site infection rates, according to a study published in the February issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

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Intensified Tx Doesn’t Up Survival in Tuberculous Meningitis

FRIDAY, Jan. 15, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with tuberculous meningitis, intensified antituberculosis treatment is not associated with higher survival than standard treatment, according to a study published in the Jan. 14 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Pathway to Heroin Described in NEJM Commentary

THURSDAY, Jan. 14, 2016 (HealthDay News) — U.S. researchers are challenging a leading theory about the nation’s heroin epidemic, saying it’s not a direct result of the crackdown on opioids. The commentary has been published in the Jan. 14 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Geographic Factors Impact HPV Vaccine Initiation in Teen Girls

THURSDAY, Jan. 14, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Initiation of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is highest among teen girls in poorer communities and in populations that are mainly Hispanic or mixed race, according to a study published online Jan. 14 in Cancer, Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

Patient Race Linked to Failure to Achieve HbA1c Target

THURSDAY, Jan. 14, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Factors associated with failure to achieve a glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) target in the standard therapy arm of the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) glycemia trial have been identified, according to research published in the January issue of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.

Dementia Rx May Lower Risk of Falls Among Parkinson’s Patients

THURSDAY, Jan. 14, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Rivastigmine shows potential in reducing the risk of falls among patients with Parkinson’s disease, according to new research published online Jan. 12 in The Lancet Neurology.

Newborn Abstinence Sx Up, Tied to Increasing Prenatal Opioid Use

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 13, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Between 2000 and 2009, the incidence of neonatal abstinence syndrome among newborns rose from 1.2 to 3.4 per 1,000 live births, Nora Volkow, M.D., director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, reported in an editorial published online Jan. 12 in The BMJ.

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Infants, Not Just Older Children, at Risk of Accidental Poisonings

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 13, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Infants are just as susceptible to accidental poisonings as older children are, especially when it comes to medication errors, according to research published online Jan. 13 in Pediatrics.

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PPARγ Antagonist Imatinib Improves Insulin Sensitivity

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 13, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Imatinib (Gleevec) blocks CDK5-mediated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) phosphorylation as an antagonist ligand, improving insulin sensitivity and promoting browning of white adipose tissue, according to a study published online Jan. 6 in Diabetes.

Frozen Samples Comparable to Fresh in Fecal Transplant

TUESDAY, Jan. 12, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Frozen stool samples work just as well as freshly donated samples when treating Clostridium difficile infection through fecal transplantation, according to findings published in the Jan. 12 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Mislabeled Dose Cups Prompt Children’s Cough Syrup Recall

TUESDAY, Jan. 12, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Two flavors of over-the-counter children’s liquid cough medicine are being recalled across the United States because the dose cups that come with the medicine have incorrect markings and could lead to overdose.

Statins May Aid CABG Recovery

TUESDAY, Jan. 12, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Patients who take statins before and after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) have fewer complications and a reduced mortality risk during and soon after the operation, according to a new report published online Jan. 12 in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.

Nivolumab, Contact Immunotx Treats In-Transit Melanoma

TUESDAY, Jan. 12, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Nivolumab in combination with contact immunotherapy can successfully treat in-transit melanoma, according to two case reports published online Dec. 12 in the Journal of Dermatology.

Azithromycin Prescribed Despite Risk for QTc Prolongation

TUESDAY, Jan. 12, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Azithromycin is frequently prescribed to hospitalized patients despite the presence of risk factors for QTc prolongation, according to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of Hospital Medicine.

Recommendations Developed for Antithrombotic Tx in VTE

TUESDAY, Jan. 12, 2016 (HealthDay News) — New recommendations have been developed for antithrombotic therapy for venous thromboembolism (VTE). The Antithrombotic Therapy for VTE Disease: CHEST Guideline was published online Jan. 7 in CHEST.

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Review: Paroxetine Use in Pregnancy Tied to Malformations

TUESDAY, Jan. 12, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Gestational exposure to paroxetine in the first trimester is associated with increased risk of major congenital malformations and major cardiac malformations, according to a review published online Nov. 27 in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.

Excessive Hair Growth Documented After IFN-β Tx

MONDAY, Jan. 11, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Excessive hair growth can occur after local administration of interferon (IFN)-β treatment for malignant melanoma, according to a letter to the editor published online Dec. 12 in the Journal of Dermatology.

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Proton Pump Inhibitors Linked to Chronic Kidney Disease

MONDAY, Jan. 11, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) may be linked to long-term kidney damage, according to a study published online Jan. 11 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Dosing Errors Occur Frequently in Patients With Renal Failure

MONDAY, Jan. 11, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Patients on hemodialysis often have drug orders that are not adherent to renal dosing recommendations, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.

PF4/Heparin Antibodies Predict Mortality in HIT

MONDAY, Jan. 11, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is infrequent in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, but is associated with increased 30-day mortality, according to a study published in the Jan. 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.

Higher Costs for Traditional-Dose Isotretinoin Therapy

MONDAY, Jan. 11, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Traditional-dose isotretinoin therapy is associated with higher overall costs than high-dose therapy, according to a letter to the editor published in the January issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Extended-Release Niacin Lowers ApoB-48 Concentration in T2DM

FRIDAY, Jan. 8, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with type 2 diabetes, a statin plus extended-release niacin (ERN) lowers apolipoprotein B-48 (apoB-48) concentration compared to a statin alone, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.

More Testing, Treatment Could Dramatically Cut New HIV Cases

FRIDAY, Jan. 8, 2016 (HealthDay News) — As many as two-thirds of new HIV infections could be prevented in men having sex with men (MSM) if more men were tested for the virus, more were treated, and more who don’t have HIV took medication to prevent infection, a new Dutch study estimates. The study is published in the Jan. 6 issue of Science Translational Medicine.

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Trends in Insulin Use, Glycemic Control Explored

THURSDAY, Jan. 7, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Since 1988, the proportion of patients with diabetes currently on any insulin has remained stable, according to research published online Dec. 30 in Diabetes Care.

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Exposure to Oral Contraceptives Not Tied to Birth Defects

THURSDAY, Jan. 7, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Exposure to oral contraception in early pregnancy does not appear to increase the risk of birth defects, according to a study published online Jan. 6 in The BMJ.

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Review Examines Efficacy of PPI Tx for Esophageal Eosinophilia

THURSDAY, Jan. 7, 2016 (HealthDay News) — About half of patients with symptomatic esophageal eosinophilia have clinicohistologic remission with proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy, according to a review published in the January issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

LARC Deemed Safe for Women With Cardiovascular Conditions

THURSDAY, Jan. 7, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For women with cardiovascular conditions, long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) appears safe with few complications, according to a study published in the Jan. 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.

Antibody Tx Reduces Graft-vs-Host Post Stem Cell Transplant

THURSDAY, Jan. 7, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Antibody therapy before stem cell transplant may benefit patients with acute leukemia, according to research published in the Jan. 7 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

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Trio of Papers Reveal Lessons Learned From Ebola Epidemic

THURSDAY, Jan. 7, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A trio of papers published in the Jan. 7 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine reveal some of what has been learned about the Ebola virus.

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Statins May Reduce CVD Risks Linked to Sleep Apnea

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 6, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A new discovery about the way obstructive sleep apnea may raise the risk of cardiovascular disease also suggests that taking statins might reduce that risk. The findings were published in the Jan. 6 issue of Science Translational Medicine.

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Hyaluronic Acid Filler Degradation Down With Add-On Botulinum

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 6, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The combination of hyaluronic acid filler with botulinum neurotoxin type A is associated with reduced degradation, according to an experimental study published in the January issue of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery.

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DHEA Suppository May Ease Menopausal Vaginal Symptoms

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 6, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For postmenopausal women, suppositories containing the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) may reduce vaginal dryness, discomfort, and pain during sex without raising overall estrogen levels, according to research published online Dec. 28 in Menopause.

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Oral Fluconazole Exposure Linked to Spontaneous Abortion Risk

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 6, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Use of oral fluconazole in pregnancy is associated with increased risk of spontaneous abortion, according to a study published in the Jan. 5 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

For HIV-Infected, Number of Daily Pills Decreasing

TUESDAY, Jan. 5, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For HIV-infected patients, the number of pills and doses of antiretrovirals has decreased over the past seven years, according to a study published online Dec. 30 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.

Axillary pCR Linked to Improved Breast Cancer Survival

TUESDAY, Jan. 5, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For women with breast cancer treated with primary systemic chemotherapy (PST), achieving axillary pathologic complete response (pCR) is associated with improved survival, according to a study published online Dec. 30 in JAMA Oncology.

High Dose of Vitamin D Tied to Higher Risk of Falls in Elderly

TUESDAY, Jan. 5, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Higher monthly doses of vitamin D have no benefit on lower extremity function and correlate with increased risk of falls compared with lower doses in elderly adults, according to a study published online Jan. 4 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Support for First-Line Erlotinib in NSCLC With EGFR Mutations

MONDAY, Jan. 4, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with activating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations, erlotinib is active, and treatment beyond progression is feasible and may delay salvage therapy in selected patients, according to a study published online Dec. 30 in JAMA Oncology.

Angiotensin Receptor Blockers, ACEIs Deemed Equally Effective

MONDAY, Jan. 4, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are just as effective and safe as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), according to research published in the January issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

Women in Oregon No Longer Need Rx for Birth Control

MONDAY, Jan. 4, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Oregon has become the first state to allow women to obtain birth control without a doctor’s prescription.

Health Highlights: Jan. 4, 2016

Hawaii Becomes First State to Raise Smoking Age to 21

MONDAY, Jan. 4, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Hawaii has become the first state to raise the legal smoking age to 21 for both traditional and electronic cigarettes. State health officials hope the new law, effective Jan. 1, will make it harder for teenagers to try smoking or to develop the deadly habit, the Associated Press reported.

Health Highlights: Jan. 4, 2016

Not All PCPs Strongly Recommend HPV Vaccine

MONDAY, Jan. 4, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Pediatricians and family physicians (FPs) do not always strongly recommend the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, according to a study published online Jan. 4 in Pediatrics.

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Opioid Exposure Tied to Higher Odds of Low Testosterone Levels

MONDAY, Jan. 4, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Exposure to opioids is associated with increased likelihood of low testosterone levels, with increased odds as age and number of comorbidities increase, according to a study published in the December issue of Pain Medicine.

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